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
https://twitter.com/GGMcClanahan/status/838574431739863040
Like, seriously excited.
Only 15 minutes until @FeudFX, waiting in anticipation like: #FeudFX pic.twitter.com/1pUm8hjAxr
— Vanessa Clark (@FoxxyGlamKitty) March 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/AshleyDaniels/status/838583371747975168
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.
https://twitter.com/yrdreamgrrrl/status/838586209333100544
https://twitter.com/MarkHarrisNYC/status/838588363401740288
https://twitter.com/lauriecrosswell/status/838590540203585536
But viewers were over the moon for co-leads Lange and Sarandon.
https://twitter.com/mssweet666/status/838586654956756992
https://twitter.com/ChristoferNic/status/838586833256787969
Susan Sarandon is owning Bette Davis! #FeudFX pic.twitter.com/aTB6d7hwL1
— angiepenny (@TheAngiepenny) March 6, 2017
Susan Sarandon as Bette is perfect casting #FeudFX
— Jennifer (@Paper_Heart_Jen) March 6, 2017
And Kathy Bates as Joan Blondell wasn’t too shabby either.
https://twitter.com/910nikkimo/status/838595061805899781
Kathy Bates made me think Blondell is still alive. #FeudFX
— Harold Itzkowitz (@HaroldItz) March 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/blutjeans/status/838593992996634634
The shade thrown between Crawford and Davis was especially delicious. They were not ones to mince words and neither are Murphy and FX.
https://twitter.com/SharSaysSo/status/838589777511231488
https://twitter.com/ThatsSooJalen/status/838590647489687552
"Who is it?"
"Joan Crawford."
"You're fucking kidding me."
I'm in love.#FeudFX— Draper Harlow (@Drapervich) March 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/JessHSun/status/838598948415733766
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
— Shanny2875 (@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 🧘🏻♀️🌈🧋😷 (@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 and 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
https://twitter.com/Cyn190/status/838591962089390081
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
https://twitter.com/amandaafarensis/status/838594476037799936
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
https://twitter.com/campfeud/status/838589859728142340
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
— ️🏳️🌈 sunny day 🇺🇸 (@littlelostsunny) 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.
https://twitter.com/HeyItsMickey14/status/838600844954202113
https://twitter.com/JLyn2331/status/838599947603828736
https://twitter.com/tmkemps/status/838599773632532480
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
— Brandy Alexander (@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 (but in Arkansas) (@larryvillelife) March 6, 2017
Feud: Bette and Joan airs Sundays at 10/9C on FX
