The new miniseries on FX, “Feud: Capote vs. The Swans,” is a deep dive into the life and relationships of Truman Capote. It’s a look at not only Capote’s flamboyant life and work but shines a heated spotlight on the high-society, snobby, influential movers and shakers in New York in the 1960s and 1970s.

The cast is phenomenal. Tom Hollander plays the enigmatic Capote. Naomi Watts portrays magazine editor and socialite Babe Paley and Treat Williams (in his final role before passing away) plays CBS founder and influential businessman Bill Paley. Diane Lane plays Slim Keith, Hollywood socializer and possibly the woman on which Lauren Bacall modeled her life. Chloe Sevigny is C.Z. Guest, actor and socialite. Calista Flockhart is Lee Radziwill, socialite and sister of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Demi Moore is Ann Woodward, wife of banking heir William whom she killed but was not convicted of murder. Molly Ringwald is Joanne Carson, wife of late-night talk show host Johnny. Jessica Lange is Capote’s deceased mother who manifests in his mind and with whom he talks and even dances. Kerry O’Shea, daughter of Capote’s lover, is played by Ella Beatty, daughter of Annette Bening and Warren Beatty. With this cast, the show is one that is not to be missed.

So why is it called “Feud: Capote vs. The Swans”? The swans refers to the name Capote gave his group of women. They were not intimately involved yet they were at times even closer to him than their own husbands. He lent them a shoulder on which to unburden their lives, gave them sage advice, provided plenty of fun and was their complete confidante. They were important to each other and were the tightest group in all of New York. So, what did he do? He betrayed them by writing about all their secrets.

The “ladies who lunch” phrase could be attributed to this little group. They would meet at the extravagant New York restaurant La Cote Basque, where they would gossip, trade personal stories and be each other’s best friends. Joined by Capote, this group was a regular at the restaurant until his brutal betrayal. After that they shunned him, but it proved to be more difficult for some than others to let this man out of their lives. After all, he had been important to them in many ways and provided the support they often needed, not to mention the gossip and fun to survive at the top of the heap.

Their lives and betrayals to each other is like a fiction novel; however, they did lead these enormous existences. It might be difficult for the average viewer to imagine the extravagant lifestyles portrayed on screen, but that is what this show is all about.

The famed Black and White Ball at the Plaza in 1966 was thrown by Capote in honor of Katharine Graham. This was the must-go-to event of the year. Other little tidbits that come out in the series is the little slip of the tongue by Radziwill who refers to sisters stealing boyfriends. Many people do not know that she was a friend of Aristotle Onassis before her sister married him. Was this a dig at Jackie?

The miniseries is based on the book “Capote’s Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era” by Laurence Leamer.

The lives of the women, aka The Swans, are extraordinary. They are perfection personified, especially Paley, who is always impeccably dressed, knows how to set a table, how to order invitations and how to run everything with class to the nth degree. Carson is less stuffy than the others. She loves Capote like they do; however, she is more laid-back and Californian than Manhattan/Long Island.

The first episode lays out the groundwork for this intriguing look at the super rich and high society of the past. Throughout the rest of the show, the relationship between the women and Capote is like a roller coaster ride, and this show takes viewers through the emotional turmoil within each of the characters. It is also a nod to the class and dignity of the past and the end of social graces, fine dining and dressing in a classy way rather than in T-shirts and flip flops.

The initial two episodes of the eight-episode series premiere Wednesday on FX, and after broadcast the episodes are available to stream on Hulu the day after airing on FX.

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