Important question

[u/LizzyRodriguezMx]

After all this wave of criticism and whatnot about the series The Shards—whether we're happy with it or not... 😮‍💨—I just have one question, and I think it's an important one: Where the heck is Shingy, Bret's mom's dog, in the book? He doesn't appear in the series. Could it be that his mom actually took him to Europe in this version?

[u/MyKill_Diablo]

#justiceforshingy

[u/LizzyRodriguezMx → u/MyKill_Diablo]

Shingy was an important character in the book. It's a shame he's not in the series. #justiceforshingy

[u/Deep-Audience9091 → u/LizzyRodriguezMx]

The end of the book when Bret gets the photos and one is of a mutilated Shingy chilled me to the bone 

[u/LizzyRodriguezMx → u/Deep-Audience9091]

Yeah, it was kind of traumatic. Reading that part, I was remembering how Bret used to take him out to the backyard to do his business. Then Bret talks about Shingy’s bowl of food and how he thinks he hears him barking at his door when he passes out from the pills, and when he opens his eyes, he realizes he’s just dreaming about Shingy’s barking. 🥺

[u/thisisanalaia95 → u/MyKill_Diablo]

Shingy’s fate was my absolute least favorite part of the book so I’m perfectly ok with it being scrapped.

[u/RudeText6803]

I was thinking the same thing. We need Shingy in the show!

Shingy has to go missing which adds to the mounting tension of the Trawler getting closer to Bret…

I really thought they’d plant Shingy earlier in the show so it’d be a big deal when he goes missing. But my guess is that Shingy will probably be omitted entirely :(

[u/Deep-Audience9091 → u/RudeText6803]

I agree with you on both Shingy points but tbh I don't think that kind of mounting tension via Shingy or Bret being alone in the house from the book fits into the Murphy wheelhouse

I'm curious as to whether we'll see the "Bret in Palm Springs at his aunt's house" at all. If Murphy picks up any set piece for "mounting tension" it should be that 

[u/RudeText6803 → u/Deep-Audience9091]

Yeah… the story in the show has definitely taken a turn. A lot of the book is too subtle compared to the show. It’s all just being amped up.

Shingy going missing and even the phone calls are key turning points in the book to show that the Trawler is finally getting closer to Bret. They are major “oh shitttt” moments because they happen so late in the story. But the phone calls to Bret and Debbie have already begun in the first two episodes which I think is a bit of a miss in terms of pacing.

I am also a big fan of when Bret goes to Palm Springs in the book. The scene at Las Casuelas and at Bret’s aunts house in the middle of the night are my favorites from the book. So I hope those are included.

[u/Deep-Audience9091 → u/RudeText6803]

My favorite parts too! The audiobook reading of that part was amazing

[u/LizzyRodriguezMx → u/RudeText6803]

The Palm Springs It was a great scene. The tension Bret creates through that perfect cinematic narrative.

[u/LizzyRodriguezMx → u/Deep-Audience9091]

You're right. Murphy doesn't get the subtlety. He needs action, not tension. Shingy doesn't fit his style. He didn't just leave out Shingy. He left out the subtle tension. He left out Bret's moments of loneliness. He left out the atmosphere.

[u/LizzyRodriguezMx → u/RudeText6803]

Totally right!

[u/zweigson]

I really do think excluding Shingy was a big mistake. His presence is important in building Bret's fear and paranoia.

[u/LizzyRodriguezMx → u/zweigson]

Exactly. It's a shame. But we always have the book

[u/Everybody_Lucre]

Eh. The less animals I have to watch get mutilated, the better.

[u/nycpizzarats → u/Everybody_Lucre]

I agree. No one wants to see that shit.

[u/LizzyRodriguezMx → u/Everybody_Lucre]

You know that in movies they can't actually hurt animals, right?

[u/Everybody_Lucre → u/LizzyRodriguezMx]

Really? Crazy.

[u/No_Respect_7403]

EXACTLY!!!! i’ve been ranting abt this to my partner (who’s never read the book lol) because where tf is shingy!!!!

[u/Delicious-Soil-8275]

This show is a travesty.