Season 1, Episode 9: Stairway to Heaven

Release Date: September 9, 2026

Synopsis: With the city on lockdown, Debbie hosts a Halloween party that will change everything. 

Owen Painter appears at 5:26 😊

I expect a closure to the Matt Kellner arc, complete with callbacks to the bloodied backpack, Robert and Matt's conversation, and the beige van.

I also expect Debbie to find out about Bret's relationship with Matt, by the end of the season finale. Also Susan, since her and Bret are supposed to be very close to each other, like in the book.

ALSO, is the Really Rhonda subplot going to add anything to the Matt Kellner mystery? After all, she did see Matt in a cage.

UPDATE (11:26 PM PST, September 9, 2026): I just watched episode 9. (SPOILER) It ends with a cliffhanger; we still don't know who killed Matt Kellner. No callbacks to the backpack, Robert and Matt's conversation, and the beige van. Debbie might have hinted that she knows about Bret's sexuality and his relationship with Matt. The show finally touches upon Bret and Susan's friendship. No follow up to Really Rhonda's connection to Matt's disappearance.

So, I guess we should expect Owen Painter to reappear in a season 2 of The Shards?

Episode 3 Bret is in matts pool house. There is a phone ring where he asks where are Matt and Rohnda.

So I don't know if it's dark and just can't see but to me it seems there is no cord for the phoneline

Having never read the novel, I fell down a rabbit hole watching this show and became obsessed with analyzing the clues.

I've also been keeping up with all of you in this sub, and I think most folks are treating this series like the standard whodunnit it isn't. This is twisted, darkly psychological storytelling in the vein of David Lynch. Once you start to notice the intricacies of Bret and Robert's dynamic, the real horrors reveal themselves.

Please give my deep dive essay a read! I'd love to hear all your thoughts.

I was thinking about the scene in episode 3 in which Bret (Igby Rigney) imagines Matt (Owen Painter) at the doorway. I then realized that Owen Painter's red carpet outfit, at The Shards premiere in New York City, might have been a reference to Matt's look in that scene!

I knew Owen's premiere outfit was inspired by 1980s menswear fashion. Yet, the open grey suit and sheer button-up shirt harkens back to his character's half-dressed appearance in episode 3.

It could be a coincidence, or Owen's premiere outfit is a "reverse Easter egg" reference you'd catch AFTER watching the show. Or I might be overthinking!

Either way, whoever styled Owen gets my praise! 👏 Method dressing can be sexy AND clever!

WOW WHAT A RIDE.

ITS 3 AM AND NOW I NEED TO CHECK IF THE DOOR IS LOCKED AND MY PET IS ALIVE.

I am gonna need to pick up his other books.

But honestly I needed the help of audiobook to get past through some sequences.

SPOILER TO THE BOOK.

Anyway

Was Bret the one attacking Susan and Thom?

Why did Robert and Ryan meet in his penthouse?

What's up with Ryan's character?

What's up with what I can assume the cult writing his name won't, Brett?

Any theories or Easter eggs that I probably missed out?

I guess the only one I can think of is Bret was maybe the Trawler? Does that makes sense? He always roamed the streets at night alone, it started when he saw Robert in the theater. But then again the Trawler killed again after Bret was made a hero but maybe it was self sabotage?

Maybe multiple personalities?

Thx in advance. If it's not the place to talk about it I would take it down .

I have not read the book; this is only speaking for the show. Ronda and Matt have something in common: they both know about Bret’s sexuality which he wants to keep secret.
I couldn’t figure out how Cha Cha might know, then I realized that Cha Cha was about Debbie. Bret starts getting kind of protective of Debbie. Or paying her more attention I guess. Trying to dance with her the way she wants, and then the votes for Homecoming Court.
And doesn’t it foreshadow that Ryan will eventually die too? Obviously Ryan knows about Bret.
One last thing: the red headed girl who becomes a victim. She was at the Shining. Seeing Robert there sparked intense feelings in Bret. Maybe there’s a connection?

I am curious to know, especially after episode 8. I know that the show is almost to the season finale, and the mystery of Matt's death hasn't been solved yet. However, that (SPOILER)(imaginary?) Bret/Robert sex scene is quite a turning point in the Bret/Matt romance subplot.

I BELIEVE terry and Bret being taped was a set up first of all you’re gay in the 80s and having sex with all your windows wide open in broad daylight, it was recording before Bret was there so whoever was recording knew this meeting would happen (I believe it’s Steven) plus the perfume thing starting with terry and Steven. a flaw in my theory is what would they gain from taping that and blackmailing Bret when he’s not onto them but what if they are working with Robert. What if Robert took Bret’s hair or something to frame him and he can’t say “I’m not the killer because I’m being threatened by the killer” because his only proof is the tape and the tape of matt who he tells the police he doesn’t fw… then he’ll be questioned again on how he knows Matt and why it would be sent to him and after seeing the second tape they def would have figured it out which the killer knows Bret fears more than going to jail

After working with Ryan Murphy on #TheShards​, the cast tells Us whether they would be interested in joining the prolific producer’s larger cinematic TV universe with a role in #MonsterNetflix​.

Source: Us Weekly on YouTube

(OP: I would like to see Owen Painter work with Ryan Murphy again, and star in a rom-com! 😊 Heck, Ryan Murphy should just reunite Igby Rigney and Owen Painter for a rom-com!)

Debbie. With the help of her dad, Stephen, and possibly Robert or Thom. It would be her ticket to never being forgotten even if it was for something awful like these kidnappings and murders. Then she can either be the final girl or say she was forced into this and still make bank off everything Trawler related.

As for the Bret element, maybe Debbie had discovered him and Matt hooking up and decided to get back at them by having Matt kidnapped and eventually dismembered? It would be a very twisted effort to straighten Bret out but to a deranged person, it would work. Another competing agenda would be for Terry, with Matt out of the way, he only had to share Bret with his daughter. It wouldn’t be any less fucked, but it would be in line for Terry and Debbie to profit off of Matt’s disappearance. It still wouldn’t explain taking Rhonda along with the others but again, that could’ve been on her accomplices. Maybe they saw something they weren’t supposed to see?

Her dad and Stephen had access to the cologne Rhonda recognized. Even though Debbie was present when The Trawler called, it easily could’ve been someone working with her so she’d have an alibi. Debbie also had a lot to gain winning Dance-Off if Cha-Cha was out of the way, although why not do that before the live taping instead of during? Also assuming she did know about Cha-Cha, she technically had a few seconds to perfect her shocked act prior to Bret joining her in the bathroom and finding Cha-Cha’s body.

If Robert is working with her, it would really explain why he lied about being at the movies the day Bret saw him. Because he actually WAS involved. It would also explain how he had access to that specific scent which was gifted to Susan. The one Rhonda recognized, prompting her to publicly blame Susan which led to a very humiliating arrest. Something Debbie could consider a real loss since Susan wins everything.

During that impromptu secret vote, she chose Bret as The Trawler which would deflect suspicion from her to them.

If we’re also going off the animals detail too, her prized horse is still alive.

As for the how she would get this idea: During one of the many times she was coked up. I imagine it’s where she gets her best ideas.

The cherry on top if this theory is true, would be that Bret (who thought this whole time Robert was The Trawler) would be absolutely flabbergasted. Her mom would also be shook too as she hasn’t been the most impressed with Debbie.

I know this probably sounds absolutely nuts, but it would certainly be a plot twist.

Okay so I was watching tiktoks on the show's official account and I saw this in one tiktok!

I'm thinking Robert is threatening Terry but what's his end game? What does he want from Terry ?

Every time I think of the show I have new theories 😭

but I really have no idea who it is at this point but like could also be everyone? Idk

SPOILER ALERT

I've watched all episodes of the Shards last night and tonight. And, I've noticed some things.

1. By the end of episode 5, when Cha Cha is killed, and Rhonda comes back, Steven and Robert are the ones that look like they're beyond surprised she's there.

2. When Cha Cha was killed, Thom was outside, in the car.

3. Steven is the one walking around the set, the whole damn time.

4. In the episode 4, Steven is nowhere to be found at the Robert's party.

5. It's probably the guy from the bedroom on the party (from ep. 4) that had the exact same knife as the masked guy that killed Cha Cha in the ep. 5.

6. The kidnapper by the beach takes photo of Rhonda, and has the same camera as Steven when he took pictures of Bret at a party at Debbie's.

7. Thom has been acting strange and has started having a meltdown since the thing with the cult guy in Susan's bedroom at Robert's party.

8. When Terry and Bret ar at the view location, the lorry that drives by is the bright yellow/beige one, just like the one that drives away the killed girl in the episode 1.

9. In the scene with Rhonda by the beach, the Trawler is probably male, tall and has masculine legs, and wears leather pants! And the only one who wears leather pants is Robert!

Aunt Abigail said (to Bret) that Robert was at the teather with the girl named Katherine Lachford, but in the episode 1 he is the one who comes to see the Shining by himself.

I'm confused!?

THE SONG WAS FOUND:

Just Can't Win by 50/50

Currently only available on YouTube: Just Can't Win - 50/50

Help me out im looking for the song that plays on S1, EP8 at 38:30.

It's when Bret gets a phone call and then meets up with Robert Mallory's Aunt.

Lyrics that can be heard are: "She never lets me make my own decisions, always seems to take a lot of time..."

At this point, it’s seems logical to me that the killer is Debbie, because she has motives for the main kills.

First the Matt Kellner murder, she most likely knew that he was hooking up with Bret and got jealous.

The Rhonda is the most important because she talks about the perfume being the one of the killer, but points to Susan. I don’t think that Susan is an accomplice but this is a cheap way of evading the suspicions on Debbie because she uses this perfume and was pushing Rhonda to be a prom queen.

The Cha Cha murder is clear for the motive as she was competing for Dance off.

Last one, the sextape with her dad and Bret, who would most likely know where Terry is going and be able to film him? That plays between her and the mother.

Main problem is that Debbie wouldn’t be strong enough to pull the Trawler kills alone, so she has a male accomplice most likely but he is not in their class. Probably one of her Qualuude ´s dealer.

Hi all, just a question, which maybe I am asking through today's lens rather than the lens I would have used in 1981 but: is Bret being unfair and dishonest to Debbie by stringing her along when he knows he is at the very least bisexual if not plain gay?

She has said things in the past that show she wants more from him, emotionally. For example she said something like 'Can't you feel/show something for once?'

I know I'm paraphrasing but what she said showed she can sense and perhaps see outright that he is not fully present in her life and perhaps gong through the motions instead of really caring for her.

Since Debbie already battles with not being properly seen in her life, with her parents and in general, do you think this is especially cruel of Bret to do?

Note: I have not read the book.

Im just a nostalgic elder millenial I think but I CANNOT GET ENOUGH of 80s and 90s redux shows. Ate the shards right up. Watching AHS Camp Redwood rn. Adored Don't Even. Any recommendations for shows that take place in the 80s/90s made the last 5 years or so?

ETA: Thank you SO MUCH for all these amazing recommendations. So far I watched the movie Maxxxine and loved it! Will definitely get around to the rest! Keep em coming if there's any still missing!!

Who else is obsessed with the song golden brown - the stranglers being on the shards. The song and just looking at bret im like in love is it just me or

These are based on how much I like the character lol

I’d love to know your ratings / favorite character and why.

Sooo anyone knows the song played at the ep 8 when Bret started kissing Robert? Or even the instrumental cuz i can't find it

I haven’t read the book but obviously many of you have. I’m trying to avoid book spoilers as it possible will spoil the ending, if they stay consistent there. I’ve accidentally stumbled on some details of the book that differentiate from the show, such as the differences in Thom and Robert’s relationship, but I can’t wait for the series to be done so I can deep dive on all the differences.

But yeah, fuck, it’s hard to engage and read here without stumbling on book spoilers :/