Ryan Murphy is back with a bold, provocative TV series: The Beauty. Airing on FX and Hulu, the 2026 show mixes body horror, satire, and mystery to tell the story of a miraculous beauty treatment that turns deadly. Critics are divided — some praise its audacious style and social commentary, while others find it chaotic and over-the-top. With grotesque visuals, intense performances, and a global narrative, The Beauty is one of the year’s most talked-about shows. This article explores the premise, characters, themes, critical reception, and why the series has become both a spectacle and a polarizing conversation starter.
What Is The Beauty About?
At its core, The Beauty is a satirical body-horror thriller. The premise is strikingly outrageous: a biotech company creates a treatment that promises perfect beauty, but it’s sexually transmissible and ultimately fatal. The narrative follows FBI agents Cooper Madsen and Jordan Bennett as they investigate mysterious deaths linked to the outbreak, uncovering a web of corporate greed, elite indulgence, and moral corruption.
The first episode, set against the glitz of Paris fashion week, introduces the stakes with a dramatic and gory incident: supermodel Ruby collapses on the runway, her body transformed in a horrifyingly spectacular fashion. From there, the show escalates into a global conspiracy thriller, featuring tech billionaires, corporate cover-ups, and high-stakes investigations that span continents.
Murphy’s signature style is evident: dramatic visuals, over-the-top fashion sequences, and jaw-dropping horror moments, all layered with social satire targeting beauty obsession, wealth, and cultural vanity.
Ryan Murphy’s Signature Style at Full Blast
If you’ve followed Ryan Murphy’s career, you’ll recognize his maximalist approach in The Beauty. From American Horror Story to Nip/Tuck, Murphy has long explored human obsessions with transformation, perfection, and moral ambiguity.
In The Beauty, he pushes these themes further by blending:
- Body horror — gruesome, visually arresting transformations.
- Camp satire — exaggerated characters and dialogue that skew toward absurdity.
- Procedural elements — FBI investigations and a crime-thriller backbone.
Critics note that while this style is undeniably entertaining, it also contributes to narrative chaos. The show’s pacing can feel uneven, and the blend of horror, satire, and melodrama sometimes overwhelms the core story. Yet for viewers who thrive on Murphy’s flamboyant storytelling, this is precisely what makes the series enjoyable.
Story and Characters: A Glimpse Into Chaos
The show’s strength lies in its colorful and exaggerated characters, though critics argue the depth is uneven.
- Jordan Bennett, played by Rebecca Hall, is an FBI agent balancing sharp investigative skills with personal stakes. Her storyline grounds the series emotionally, even amid chaotic spectacle.
- Cooper Madsen, portrayed by Evan Peters, is the fast-talking, stylish partner whose bravado provides humor and tension.
- The billionaire antagonist, brought to life by Ashton Kutcher, embodies corporate greed and amorality. He is charming yet terrifying, representing the extremes of wealth and beauty obsession.
Supporting roles and cameos — including Bella Hadid and Isabella Rossellini — add a surreal, larger-than-life energy. These characters inhabit Murphy’s satirical world, highlighting societal obsessions with perfection, fame, and aesthetic dominance.
However, the series’ overstuffed plot can make it challenging to follow. Exposition-heavy dialogue, moral monologues, and rapid scene shifts occasionally overshadow character development, leaving some viewers disoriented.
Themes: Beauty, Perfection, and Cultural Satire
At its heart, The Beauty is a commentary on society’s obsession with appearances. It exaggerates contemporary anxieties about cosmetic procedures, viral beauty trends, and social media culture.
- The beauty treatment virus is an allegory for the pressure to achieve perfection at all costs.
- Corporate exploitation and celebrity-driven hysteria reflect capitalism and performative culture.
- Characters’ moral compromises underscore the tension between ethical behavior and societal expectations of beauty and success.
While the series attempts social critique, its delivery is often blunt. Subtlety gives way to shock value, making it clear that Murphy is more interested in spectacle than nuanced exploration. Yet, the thematic resonance still sparks conversation about real-world beauty standards, technology, and morality.
Visuals and Horror: A Feast for the Eyes
One of the show’s most striking aspects is its body-horror spectacle. Transformation scenes, grotesque deaths, and fashion-runway mayhem dominate the visual palette.
Murphy’s team employs practical effects and makeup artistry to shocking effect. From characters literally cooking from the inside out to violent mutations, these moments are designed to be memorable, visceral, and conversation-worthy.
Some critics argue the gore is gratuitous, prioritizing visual shock over narrative coherence. Others see it as essential to Murphy’s satirical vision — an exaggerated mirror of society’s obsession with surface-level perfection and the extremes it produces.
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Performances: Star Power Amid Chaos
The cast delivers performances ranging from compelling to intentionally over-the-top:
- Rebecca Hall shines in dramatic sequences, offering moments of emotional depth amid the absurdity.
- Evan Peters adds charisma, humor, and procedural energy, keeping audiences engaged.
- Ashton Kutcher excels as a satirical antagonist, embodying corporate vanity and moral corruption.
Cameos by supermodels and iconic actors blur the line between satire and surreal spectacle, reinforcing Murphy’s signature style: a world where glamour and horror collide in equal measure.
Critical Reception: Divisive, but Unforgettable
The Beauty has polarized critics and audiences alike.
- Positive reviewers praise its audacity, visual flair, and cultural commentary, arguing that Murphy’s chaotic approach is part of the fun.
- Negative reviewers call it messy, inconsistent, and narratively confusing, questioning whether the show’s social satire lands effectively.
Audience reactions reflect this divide. Some viewers revel in the shocking visuals, outrageous scenarios, and over-the-top characters. Others struggle with the pacing, convoluted plot, and overwhelming spectacle.
Ultimately, the show thrives as a conversation starter, even if it doesn’t satisfy every viewer’s narrative expectations.
Why The Beauty Matters
Even with its flaws, The Beauty is significant because it:
- Highlights society’s obsession with beauty, perfection, and social media culture.
- Pushes the boundaries of television horror and satire, blending genres in unexpected ways.
- Reinforces Ryan Murphy’s reputation as a bold, risk-taking showrunner unafraid of polarizing audiences.
In a crowded streaming landscape, The Beauty distinguishes itself through spectacle, ambition, and provocation — qualities that ensure it will be remembered and debated long after its finale.
What to Expect From the Series
- Genre Mashup: Body horror, satire, mystery, and melodrama coexist.
- Intense Visuals: Graphic transformations, fashion show set pieces, and visceral horror moments.
- Social Commentary: Satirical exploration of beauty, ethics, and societal obsession with perfection.
- Star-Studded Cast: Strong performances from Rebecca Hall, Evan Peters, Ashton Kutcher, and surprise cameos.
Whether you watch for the horror, the satire, or the spectacle, The Beauty is an unforgettable TV experience.
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FAQs
What is The Beauty about?
The Beauty is an FX/Hulu series where a beauty-enhancing virus spreads globally, leading to grotesque transformations and deaths. FBI agents investigate the mystery while uncovering corporate corruption and societal obsessions.
Who created the series?
The show was created by Ryan Murphy and Matthew Hodgson, based on a graphic novel by Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley.
Where can I watch The Beauty?
It streams on FX and Hulu in the U.S., and on Disney+ in select international markets.
Is it suitable for all audiences?
No. The series contains graphic body horror, violent imagery, and intense themes, making it suitable for mature audiences only.
Why is it called a “hot mess”?
Critics use the term to describe the show’s chaotic narrative, over-the-top visuals, and uneven execution, despite its bold style and provocative themes.
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I’m Atul Kumar, founder of Cine Storytellers and an entertainment creator with 5+ years of experience. I cover films, celebrities, music, and OTT content with a focus on accurate, ethical, and engaging storytelling. My goal is to bring readers trustworthy entertainment news that informs, inspires, and goes beyond gossip.
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