Feud: Capote vs. the Swans Review


The following is a spoiler-free review of all eight episodes of Feud: Capote vs. the Swans, which premieres on FX at 10 p.m. on Wednesday, January 31 and streams on Hulu the following day.

Truman Capote’s (Tom Hollander) flair for captivating showmanship takes center stage less than halfway into the first episode of Feud: Capote vs. the Swans, immediately signaling why the acclaimed writer is at the center of this long-awaited anthology about real-life feuds. The choice of noirish black and white for Truman’s dramatic retelling of the night Ann Woodward (Demi Moore) shot her husband adds visual depth to the premiere and casts doubts on his accusations, which lead to the author’s falling out with the “swans” – his glamorous clique of socialites and benefactors. The battle of wills that follows proves to be heartbreaking, tantalizing, and a worthy successor to 2017’s Feud: Bette and Joan.

Feud depicts Capote’s mid-century triumphs and exile from high society in a crisscrossing timeline that’s as much about petty grievances, gossip, and celebrity as it is about the weight of conjuring a masterpiece. Perspective is everything in Capote vs. the Swans, and beneath the New York elite’s glossy veneer are bloodstained sheets and dead husbands perfect for witty yarns.

Feud: Capote vs. the Swans Gallery