It was meh for me too. I do think it will get better as it goes along. I was surprised to see Catherine Zeta Jones in the credits. I'm still trying to think which part she played. Obviously I wasn't paying enough attention.

I know exactly what you mean, AusFem! Either I was too bored, or she was in heavy make-up. I didn't pay attention (or notice) Catherine, either.

Seems I paid more attention to the credits than the episode lol

@ausfem said: I was surprised to see Catherine Zeta Jones in the credits. I'm still trying to think which part she played. Obviously I wasn't paying enough attention

She played Olivia de Havilland. She looked familiar but I didn't get her right away.

Thanks Mrs. Y

Just saw the second episode. I think it's pretty disgusting the way the studio manipulated these two women. Hollywood must have been a cesspool in those days.

I am loving this show, I really liked the way they did the flash back of how their feud began and just find it all very yummy! This and Big Little Lies, are my two current favorites!

@BryanB said:

First of all, Jessica Lange is my favorite actress working today. Quickly, before my topic, fans of Jessica should see Normal, Frances, Tootsie, Blue Sky, Grey Gardens, A Thousand Acres, Sweet Dreams, and even Don't Come Knocking, solely and if for nothing else than one powerful scene she does with Sam Shepard. It's only about two-three minutes long, filmed as they walk down a street. It makes the entire movie worth watching. She's that good. Oh! And don't miss Hush, because the movie is so bad, it's good. Even Lange doesn't like to discuss the movie, and when you see it, you'll know why. The whole ending was reshot, and it's a mess altogether, but it's worth it to see Jessica have meltdown after meltdown. It rivals "Mommie Dearest" in the camp factor, I'd say.

Anyway, with Jessica, I was of course excited to watch Feud, but disappointed. Not with Lange's acting, but with the script overall. As far as Sarandon is concerned, I agree with other posters that she's not the one to play Bette Davis. Besides having large eyes and yes, she can be made to look quite like Bette...well, IMO she's not disappearing into the role enough to be believable. While Jessica shows restraint (she could easily make Joan a caricature), Sarandon acts as if she's not really trying much at all. While it's true I'm biased due to my love for Jessica Lange and her abilities, I'm trying very hard to have an open mind and be as equitable as possible, my take is that Jessica is holding back...she has to, or she'll end up worse than Faye Dunaway...and Susan's well...just not that great of an actress to begin with. Other than fandom from The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Thelma & Louise, Dead Man Walking (Sean Penn made that film more than Sarandon, IMO), and Bull Durham, she's really not done much to acclaim. Sarandon throwing too much of her personal life (e.g., her political agendas, etc.) out there doesn't help her in the believable part of playing someone other than herself, either.

I'll obviously keep watching, for Jessica alone. There are seven more episodes, so hopefully it will get better. So far, though, the first episode left me going, "Meh. It's nothing special if it stays like this."

I don't understand these criticisms about Susan's performance. She is doing well as Bette Davis. I think that perhaps people are judging based upon another performance about Joan? Like the one already portrayed on film **Mommy Dearest **by Faye Dunaway and the fact that Joan has such a strong personality, even stronger than Bette's. There are several interviews that Joan did for Jessica to rely on. We really do not have much backstory about Bette or anything to compare the real her to Susan's interpretation. Therefore Susan is creating a character based off of not much to go on. Also, I see a lot of Jessica in her portrayal as Joan. I saw that in this past episode, but still, both actresses are about equal. Bette and Joan were two different women with different backgrounds. Why would Susan need to overact to be convincing to you?

I was so excited to see this because it involved 2 of my favorite classic actresses but, so far, it's been pretty lackluster for me bordering on boring. I guess I set myself up for that going in with high expectations, though. I really have nothing wholly negative to say about Jessica and Susan's portrayals.

So far, it's falling flat for me.

@Drayvin said:

I was so excited to see this because it involved 2 of my favorite classic actresses but, so far, it's been pretty lackluster for me bordering on boring. I guess I set myself up for that going in with high expectations, though. I really have nothing wholly negative to say about Jessica and Susan's portrayals.

So far, it's falling flat for me.

I missed the second episode, but I also thought parts are rather boring as well. I'm wondering how Bette and B. D. had such an estranged relationship because they don't say it here. I believe B.D. did say their relationship was good when she was a child, but when she got married Bette became angry and would badmouth her husband, and didn't like their kids either.

i think Susan is doing a great job as Bette, into the third episode she gets better as the series goes along. I'm still not convinced with Jessica playing Joan.. Although it would probably be easier to play Bette due to her unique voice and mannerisms.

Episode 3 was the weakest so far. But still very good. I have read reviews stating it was the best episode so far, digging deeper in their back stories, peeling away more layers of the onion. Joan Crawford is clearly the insanely envious villain, with sprinkles of humanity. I mean, did that really happen? She put weights attached to her belt so Davis would injure her back lifting and dragging her. Purposely screwing up the take so she would have to do it again and again? No wonder she got kicked in the head. "I barely touched her!" lol The Davis put-down of Hedda Hopper, busting her chops was a highlight. The revelations about children of famed icons was sad. Davis loved her daughter B.D., giving her a shot at acting but torn apart by it because it was always all about the work, the finished product.

I was hooked the second I started watching it. I love it.

@SkyPowers said:

Episode 3 was the weakest so far. But still very good. I have read reviews stating it was the best episode so far, digging deeper in their back stories, peeling away more layers of the onion. Joan Crawford is clearly the insanely envious villain, with sprinkles of humanity. I mean, did that really happen? She put weights attached to her belt so Davis would injure her back lifting and dragging her. Purposely screwing up the take so she would have to do it again and again? No wonder she got kicked in the head. "I barely touched her!" lol The Davis put-down of Hedda Hopper, busting her chops was a highlight. The revelations about children of famed icons was sad. Davis loved her daughter B.D., giving her a shot at acting but torn apart by it because it was always all about the work, the finished product.

I loved this episode. I think the show gets better and better. But Susan's performance is hit or miss at this point. She's not as convincing playing Bette performing Baby Jane Hudson whereas Jessica remains in character while playing Joan in character as Blanche Hudson. Over the weekend, I re watched "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" and Jessica plays the role almost identical to Joan as Blanche. Jessica is going to get a nomination. I would bet on it.

@NorthernLad said:

I was hooked the second I started watching it. I love it.

Me too.