It’s no secret that Ryan Murphy is one of the most notable creators working in Hollywood today. His recent work with Netflix, in particular, has allowed him evermore freedom in the sorts of stories that he chooses to tell. Murphy’s recent series Hollywood is, in many ways, peak Ryan Murphy, and in many ways, it’s an improvement on some of the other series that he’s produced throughout his career.
At the same time, there are also a few things that cause it to stumble, and that don’t match up too well with some of his other films and television series.
Is: It’s Perfectly Paced
Anyone familiar with Ryan Murphy’s work knows that he sometimes has trouble keeping his shows from wandering off into tangents, and this is often because his shows tend to have too many episodes that can’t be sustained by the story.
Fortunately, Hollywood is perfectly paced, and its limited format means that it can tell a story that remains perfectly paced from the beginning to the end, allowing the viewer to focus on the parts of the story that matter the most.
Isn’t: It’s A Little Too Preachy
Ryan Murphy is one of those who isn’t always very subtle in how he approaches his material. Given that the point of this series is in part to show how the often-conservative Hollywood could have been different had it just put its mind to it, it’s understandable that the show would try to convey that message.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t do so with quite the nuance and sophistication of some of Murphy’s other creative efforts.
Is: Its Characters Are Complex
While the story might not be as nuanced as one might wish, the characters certainly are. Each of the characters is given time to grow and evolve as the series advances, and there’s no character that doesn’t encounter at least some sort of struggle and challenge that they must overcome.
As just one example, the character of Jack has to confront the eventual collapse of his marriage, even as his career finally begins to take off and he has to contend with the consequences of his actions.
Isn’t: The Plot Resolves A Little Too Easily
This series is the perfect kind of wish-fulfillment. It offers the viewer a fantasy in which all of the characters get their reward in the end.
While this is fun to watch, it’s hard not to think that the series might have been a little better, or at least a little more sophisticated, if it had had a bit more ambiguity in its ending (as has often happened in some of Murphy’s other films and television series).
Is: The Outfits
Murphy is one of those creators who has a keen sense of style and panache, and this is always reflected in both the cinematography that he uses in his series. That is certainly the case in Hollywood, which is glamorous even by Ryan Murphy's standards.
Even if one weren’t inclined to tune in for the story and the characters, the series would definitely be worth watching just to see the glorious costumes that the characters frequently wear.
Isn’t: Some Of The Side Characters Don’t Make Sense
One of the biggest complaints about Hollywood is that there’s sometimes a blurring between history and fantasy and that the series doesn’t always make it clear where that line exists.
As a result, there are some side characters that, while clearly intended to give the series some historical texture, don’t make a lot of sense historically. This is certainly the case with both Hattie McDaniel and Vivien Leigh, neither of whom really seem to belong in this series’ universe.
Is: It Doesn’t Last Too Long
Ryan Murphy is good at many things, but one of his most frequent flaws is that he doesn’t really get when a series is supposed to end.
Thus it is that some of his franchises have started to outstay their welcome and, of course, many of his series have also had three or four more episodes than they strictly need. While there might be a second season of this new offering, even if it were just one season that would be enough.
Isn’t: Needed A Clearer Distinction Between Fact And Fiction
From the beginning, it was clear that this series was going to be a rather odd mix of what actually happened in postwar Hollywood and what might have happened. While this isn’t a problem in and of itself, it is rather confusing, particularly for those who don’t necessarily have a firm understanding of that period of movie history.
It definitely would have helped if Murphy, and the promotion team, had made this distinction a little clearer in the trailers for the series.
Is: Two Words: Patti Lupone
What’s not to love about Patti Lupone? After all, the woman is one of the most celebrated Broadway actresses of her generation (or, frankly, any generation). Thankfully, she’s shown again and again that she’s not only a great thespian; she also has a commanding screen presence.
As the character of Avis, she is simply divine, another reminder that Murphy has a keen eye for picking just the right kinds of women to portray the powerful characters that so often inhabit his series.
Isn’t: A Few Narrative Problems
While for the most part the series is perfectly paced, there are still some narrative problems that crop up, keeping this from being Murphy’s best project. Most notable in this regard is the death of Dick, which occurs near the end of the series.
The death of such an important character isn’t itself a problem; it’s the fact that it’s a bait-and-switch that makes it a frustrating moment for those who’d grown to love this character during the course of the series.