After six seasons of the ever-popular American Horror Story and a highly praised, critically acclaimed first season of American Crime Story, Ryan Murphy‘s latest FX project, Feud: Bette and Joan, debuted Sunday.
This dramatization of the famed rivalry between silver screen legends Joan Crawford (Jessica Lange) and Bette Davis (Susan Sarandon) has looked like a visual feast in the previews and fans were duly excited.
GAYS, assemble! Feud is on tonight. #FeudFX pic.twitter.com/zGuBNznlMT
— Bob's Clutch (@BobsClutch1) March 6, 2017
I saw All About Eve in the theaters today and now watching Whatever Happened to Baby Jane. All ready for tonight's Feud. #FeudFX
— Liam_Padraic (@GGMcClanahan) March 6, 2017
Like, seriously excited.
Only 15 minutes until @FeudFX, waiting in anticipation like: #FeudFX pic.twitter.com/1pUm8hjAxr
— Vanessa Clark (@FoxxyGlamKitty) March 6, 2017
OMG @FeudFX is starting in 8 minutes!!!!! I feel like it's Xmas right now #FeudFX #FeudBetteAndJoan pic.twitter.com/5YQeS9Dud3
— Ashley Daniels (@AshleyDaniels) March 6, 2017
OMG @FeudFX STARTS IN LESS THAN 30 MINUTES #FeudFX pic.twitter.com/XCSrNqi2sO
— Jill Grunenwald (@Jill_Grun) March 6, 2017
As the characters were introduced, several people objected to the casting of Catherine Zeta-Jones as Olivia de Havilland, which is admittedly kind of a weird choice.
in what world does catherine zeta-jones look like olivia de havilland #FeudFX
— em (@yrdreamgrrrl) March 6, 2017
Very puzzled by the Catholivia deZetaJonesilland accent. #FeudFX
— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) March 6, 2017
Apparently casting Catherine Zeta-Jones to play Olivia de Havilland was comic relief. #FeudFX
— Laurie Crosswell ? (@lauriecrosswell) March 6, 2017
But viewers were over the moon for co-leads Lange and Sarandon.
Joan is SOOO my mother ??? minus the booze and cigs! #FeudFX pic.twitter.com/RGXGrUkY5h
— Kelli Asherman (@mssweet666) March 6, 2017
No one plays an alcoholic on TV like Jessica Lange #FeudFX pic.twitter.com/PDvdjyykdI
— Chris Nicoletti (@ChristoferNic) March 6, 2017
Susan Sarandon is owning Bette Davis! #FeudFX pic.twitter.com/aTB6d7hwL1
— Angie E. Morris (@TheMBAMoms) March 6, 2017
Susan Sarandon as Bette is perfect casting #FeudFX
— Jennifer Ann (@Paper_Heart_Jen) March 6, 2017
And Kathy Bates as Joan Blondell wasn’t too shabby either.
#FeudFX @MsKathyBates I just realized it was her. My soul… pic.twitter.com/4HgKgMZcN3
— Nicole Bennett (@910nikkimo) March 6, 2017
Kathy Bates made me think Blondell is still alive. #FeudFX
— Harold Itzkowitz (@HaroldItz) March 6, 2017
kathy goddess bates i am living #FeudFX pic.twitter.com/HvSg2VPO98
— ㅤ (@blutjeans) March 6, 2017
The shade thrown between Crawford and Davis was especially delicious. They were not ones to mince words and neither are Murphy and FX.
The fact that Bette keeps calling Joan by her birth name, Lucille, is abundant shade. #FeudFX (and it's tacky) lol
— Shar Jones (@SharSaysSo) March 6, 2017
"The lead?"
"…you can call it that" #FeudFX pic.twitter.com/SgAyvPKAbc
— Jalen F. Chapman (@ThatsSooJalen) March 6, 2017
"Who is it?"
"Joan Crawford."
"You're fucking kidding me."
I'm in love.#FeudFX— Draper Harlow (@Drapervich) March 6, 2017
This shade fest is everything #feudfx pic.twitter.com/a3Pw8T1zgg
— JSun (@JessHSun) March 6, 2017
In fact, the swearing was one of the most tweeted-about topics during the premiere.
THERE's BEEN 5 F-WORDS AND 1 C-WORD OMG. Ryan Murphy runs this channel and doesn't give a shit. #FeudFX #TeamBette
— Alexa Branco (@alexa_branco) March 6, 2017
To this day, the c-word is the only word unable to be mentioned on the BBC. Everything else is a go. #FeudFX
— vbspurs (@vbspurs) March 6, 2017
Wow. We can say f— on basic cable now? Ryan Murphy is amazing. #FeudFX #FeudBetteAndJoan
— Shannon (@Shanny2875) March 6, 2017
It was hard to tell what fans liked more, the F-bombs or the fashion.
The set design is amazing. As is wardrobe. #FeudFX
— Lisa Lisa??? (@gspmona) March 6, 2017
SO GLAD to see #TheAmericans Alison Wright as Pauline Jameson. She's so talented. LUUUUUV the costumes. @FeudFX #FeudFX #FeudBetteAndJoan pic.twitter.com/4iV9Ei8NFf
— Tom + Lorenzo® (@tomandlorenzo) March 6, 2017
EVERYONE'S pajama game is on point. #feudfx pic.twitter.com/UIxystIqLl
— Head Over Feels (@HeadOverFeels) March 6, 2017
The costumes alone have already won 6 Emmys #FeudFX
— Kiana (@MissKianaO) March 6, 2017
This production design, though. Yowza. #FeudFX #FeudBetteAndJoan
— Joey Moser (@JoeyMoser83) March 6, 2017
I don't know who did the costumes & set design, but their work is impeccable! #FeudFX #FeudBetteAndJoan
— Cyn (@Cyn190) March 6, 2017
But the writing and visuals aside, Murphy, Lange, and Sarandon have all said that the sexism and ageism in Feud is still alive and well in Hollywood, and that’s what the show is really about.
“What happened when the beauty is no longer viable?” Lange posited to the TCA winter press tour in January. “What we’ve tried to do [in Feud] is not see just the overall milieu of Hollywood, but what happens to women when they become less than important.”
That running theme was not lost on viewers.
These conversations are still being had in Hollywood today, in the exact same way #FeudFX
— Candice Frederick (@ReelTalker) March 6, 2017
#FeudFX shows dichotomy of women needing each other & also being tempted to tear each other down given the limited space allowed to them.
— amanda burfiend (@amandaafarensis) March 6, 2017
That's the thing, guys: take away the vitriol, and you are left with two women who admired the hell outta each other's craft. #FeudFX
— vbspurs (@vbspurs) March 6, 2017
#FeudFX highlighting Old Hollywood (and current Hollywood, tbh) sexism and ageism! I'm here for it. pic.twitter.com/ISGClN9ggJ
— Joy Puder (@JoyPuder) March 6, 2017
now more than ever #FeudFX pic.twitter.com/FpK8dTzOnS
— Camp FEUD: A TV show (@campfeud) March 6, 2017
This feud is more tragic than it is anything else. Women v Women. Pitted against each other due to a lack of role availability. #FeudFX
— sundayzed (@SunbearSmith) March 6, 2017
Oh my God, they're seriously trying to make the story about the younger women? ? #FeudFX
— hannah (@cathlintons) March 6, 2017
Overall, the reactions were largely positive. It sounds like there are a lot of tweeters ready to take up the mantle for Team Bette or Team Joan every week.
Wow #FeudFX is actually good, wasn't expecting this
— Ⓜ️ickey (@HeyItsMickey14) March 6, 2017
Loving #FeudFX so far! Casting is pretty spot on; can't wait to watch it all unfold! #teamBette
— Jenn (@JLyn2331) March 6, 2017
@FeudFX I have been so excited for this series and so far it is living up to the hype! #FeudFX #teamjoan
— traceyhermann (@tmkemps) March 6, 2017
They’re even predicting a real-life “feud” over who is going to win the Emmy for the show.
.@SusanSarandon as Better Davis portraying Baby Jane Hudson deserves an Emmy #FeudFX
— Whoria Trevi (@sexidance) March 6, 2017
Someone want to go ahead and engrave Jessica Lange's name on an Emmy ward ? It will save some time later. #FeudFX
— gene vestal (@cleangene3) March 6, 2017
Can't wait for the feud between Sarandon and Lange over who wins the Emmy next year. So far: Sarandon. @FeudFX
— LarryvilleLife (@larryvillelife) March 6, 2017
Feud: Bette and Joan airs Sundays at 10/9C on FX
