'Feud: Capote vs. The Swans': Tom Hollander Shines in a Different Kind of Horror Story

“Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.” Truman Capote (Tom Hollander) quotes this famous line when confronted about exposing the secrets of his high society New York friends, the titular Swans of FX’s Feud: Capote vs. The Swans. This is the second season of the Ryan Murphy series following the original run of Feud: Bette vs. Joan in 2017. Although the acting is superb, and the show is often moving, the second season fails to tell a cohesive story. It aims for but doesn’t quite reach the heights of past Murphy offerings.

The show doesn’t look like other Murphy productions – it lacks the characteristic crispness of American Horror Story, The Politician, and even Feud’s own first season. The color scheme is drab and washed out, with an abundance of sepia tones and scenes drenched in yellow light. Are we supposed to infer that high society is not so glamorous, though Capote loves it so? Even the food the Swans eat at their favorite restaurant doesn’t look appetizing. The fashion is forgettable, disappointing for a show so steeped in the idea of presentation. Although Zac Posen is prominently credited with designing the gowns for the Black and White Ball sequence, they’re not that memorable.

Feud supposes you already know the basics about Truman Capote, the eccentric, influential gay writer of In Cold Blood with a famously odd, childlike voice. It goes on to showcase Capote as a deeply flawed person, one that’s often hard to like. Tom Hollander disappears into the character, delivering a stunning portrayal of Capote. Despite the missteps of this show, his acting alone is worth the price of admission.