Ryan Murphy’s latest project, The Beauty — an FX and Hulu’s body horror TV series — grabbed attention the moment it dropped its trailer and then its first episodes on January 21, 2026. The show blends grotesque transformations, a satirical edge on society’s beauty fixation, and a pulpy mystery that pits FBI agents against a contagion that makes people beautiful — before it kills them.
This The Beauty TV series review explores everything from its shocking premise and visuals to thematic depth and cultural comparisons, including whether the show is The Substance in television form. By the end, you’ll know what The Beauty TV show is about and whether it earns more praise for style than substance.
What The Beauty TV Series Is About
At its core, The Beauty TV series plot revolves around a sexually transmitted treatment known simply as “The Beauty,” which grants users heightened physical attractiveness through biological transformation. But the catch is devastating: the virus eventually causes lethal side effects that escalate into deaths around the world.
FBI agents Cooper Madsen (Evan Peters) and Jordan Bennett (Rebecca Hall) are assigned to investigate a series of mysterious deaths linked to the outbreak, leading them into a sprawling global mystery steeped in ultra-wealthy stakeholders, corporate cover-ups, and body horror spectacles.
The first season consists of 11 episodes, each following intersecting character narratives and escalating dread as superficial beauty turns into grotesque transformation and chaos.
Aesthetic Horror Drama with a Body Horror Core
Visually, The Beauty leans into what many have called an aesthetic horror drama — a TV experience where gorgeous production design collides with grotesque body transformation. Critics note that the show’s reflective critique of beauty standards is often overshadowed by its flashy execution. (Houston Chronicle)
The series doesn’t shy away from intense, often disturbing transformation scenes. These moments place it firmly in the beauty obsession horror realm, where the sickening process of physical metamorphosis is as much a centerpiece as its thematic critique.
Plot Progression and Key Characters
The Beauty TV series’ plot primarily follows:
- FBI Agents Cooper Madsen and Jordan Bennett investigate strange deaths and unravel the truth behind the Beauty virus.
- Byron Forst, a tech billionaire and architect of the Beauty drug, whose ambition and indifference raise questions about corporate ethics.
- A revolving cast of characters whose lives — and bodies — change irrevocably because of the virus, blending satire with violence and shock.
The scale of characters and locations gives the series a near-global feel, as agents chase leads from Paris to other major cities while the epidemic spreads.
Is The Beauty Like The Substance Movie?
One of the most talked-about questions around this show is: Is The Beauty like The Substance movie? Yes, comparisons are widespread — and even one of the show’s stars acknowledged them publicly. Ashton Kutcher commented on the resonance between his series and The Substance, noting that both works explore cultural beauty ideals, though his emphasis was on diverse perceptions and consequences of cosmetic enhancement.
Media outlets have described The Beauty TV series vs The Substance comparison as inevitable because both projects satirize physical perfection, transformation, and societal vanity.
Yet the two differ in tone and format: The Substance is a film with concentrated satire, while The Beauty is a sprawling series that uses a satirical horror series approach with procedural investigation, frequent tonal shifts, and broader commentary on beauty culture.
Shock Value and Body Horror Elements
In terms of shock and gore, The Beauty frequently resorts to shock value TV series tactics. Reviews highlight the visceral transformation scenes and sudden violence — including spontaneous combustions, fluid-filled cocoons, and grotesque physical changes — as central to its appeal.
This approach places The Beauty squarely within body horror TV series conventions, where the terror comes from the body itself—not external monsters. Some critics find these scenes entertaining and bold, while others argue they distract from deeper themes.
Themes and Social Commentary
The Beauty attempts to tackle contemporary issues like:
- Beauty standards and societal pressure, particularly in a world obsessed with perfection.
- Aesthetic transformation and personal identity as driven by external validation.
- Corporate influence on health and beauty narratives through the figure of the billionaire creator of the Beauty drug.
While the show clearly aims to criticize our current beauty culture — drawing on anxieties from tech-driven body modification trends to social media influence — many critics describe the execution as “skin-deep satire.” They argue that the thematic critique often gets lost amid flashy visuals and chaotic plotting. (Bloody Disgusting!)
Performances and Production Values
The cast includes notable names such as Evan Peters, Rebecca Hall, Anthony Ramos, Jeremy Pope, and Ashton Kutcher, with guest appearances by celebrities like Bella Hadid.
Rebecca Hall’s character undergoes a shocking transformation early in the series, a twist noted for its physical intensity and narrative impact.
Production values are often praised, with slick cinematography, high-budget set pieces, and visual effects that match the show’s blend of glamour and horror.
Critiques: Style Over Substance
Despite its ambitious premise, many reviews of The Beauty series observe that the show sometimes favors its visual spectacle over meaningful substance. Critics at Variety describe it as imperfect but memorable in its body horror sequences, while others call it shallow or uneven in its narrative satire. (Variety)
Some find the dialogue and story structure clumsy, and others note that thematic threads — such as societal beauty critique — are often underdeveloped or overshadowed by grotesque imagery and stylistic flourishes. (The New Yorker)
Is The Beauty TV Series Disturbing?
Given its frequent use of intense transformation sequences and violence, one common question is: Is The Beauty TV series disturbing? Yes — for many viewers, the grotesque body horror and graphic content can be unsettling. Its visceral approach to body transformation qualifies it as a series that won’t be suitable for all audiences.
The blend of horror, blood-soaked visuals, and stark commentary on beauty makes it compelling for fans of horror and dark satire, but potentially off-putting for casual viewers.
Where to Watch The Beauty TV Series
The Beauty premiered on FX and Hulu in the United States on January 21, 2026, with the first three episodes released immediately, followed by weekly drops. International viewers can stream the show on Disney+ in select regions.
Final Thoughts: The Beauty TV Series Honest Review
This The Beauty TV series honest review finds the bold in visual design and is often arresting in its grotesque set pieces. For viewers who enjoy body horror TV series with a satirical edge and shocking moments, the series delivers memorable imagery and provocative ideas.
Yet the narrative sometimes feels overwhelmed by its stylistic flourishes and punishing tone, leaving deeper thematic exploration undercooked. If you came for pure spectacle and vibrant horror, The Beauty offers that in spades. If you hoped for a nuanced critique of beauty culture akin to more tightly written satire, you may find it uneven.
If you enjoy intense body horror and disturbing visuals, you may also want to explore our curated list of the Top 10 Scariest Movies of All Time for Horror Fans for must-watch nightmares.
FAQ
Q: What is The Beauty TV series about? The Beauty follows an FBI investigation into deaths caused by a virus that grants physical attraction before lethal side effects, blending horror and satire.
Q: Where to watch The Beauty TV series? The series streams on FX and Hulu, with international availability on Disney+.
Q: Is The Beauty TV series disturbing? Yes — its body horror elements and transformation scenes can be unsettling for sensitive viewers.
Q: Is The Beauty like The Substance? Many viewers and cast members acknowledge thematic similarities, but the two differ in format and tone.
Q: What genre is The Beauty about? It’s a body horror and aesthetic horror drama with elements of dark satire and procedural mystery.