Netflix Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is the second installment in Ryan Murphy’s controversial true-crime series, and it came with a built-in controversy that Monsters Season 3 will smartly avoid. The series offers dramatized reenactments of infamous murder cases that captured national attention. The first season detailed the crimes and trial of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, but season 2 focused on a much more complex case – the self-defense killing of the Menendez brothers of their parents in 1989, which resulted in the brothers being sentenced to life in Jail. .
Given that the show is titled MonstersThe main debate of season 2 remains whether Murphy intends to portray Lyle and Erik Menendez (Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez, respectively) as the monsters, or their parents, José and Kitty Menendez (Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny). The Mendez brothers Parents allegedly sexually and psychologically abused them throughout their lives, serves as a motive for the murders. The Netflix series helped to tarnish public perception of Lyle and Erik Menendez, but made them the primary “villains” of the series’ final season.
Ed Gein’s Story Avoids Monster Season 2’s Controversial Villain Debate
Gein is undeniably the villain
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Continues to spark debate about what the true titular monsters really are. At the time of the real-life Menendez trial, the public is largely inclined to assume that the brothers killed their parents for their inheritance, because none of the people in their jury believed their claims and evidence of sexual abuse. Juror Hazel Thornton recently said, “The men in the room, it was a classic battle of the sexes. The men did not believe that Jose abused his sons. (via The Daily Beast).
In the years since the trial, the public has moved to believe the abuse allegations the Mendez brothers suffered at the hands of their parents, in part because of new evidence that has come to light. Roy Rosselló of Menudo, a band founded by then-RCA Records executive José Menendez, has since come forward and alleged that he too was abused by the late Menendez ( via Billboard). The nature of the crime is imperfect self-defense, the Ryan Murphy show has court controversy for its approach to representing the now incarcerated brothers.
rather, Monster Season 3’s focus on Charlie Hunnam’s serial killer Ed Gein will remove the controversy. Gein is a clear monster, known for his depraved murders of women in the 1950s Midwest. His methods have inspired several fictional killers in the horror genre, including Norman Bates, Leatherface, and Buffalo Bill. The silence of the lambs. His crimes are horrific, his victims methodically selected, murdered and skinned. Gaines’ motives appeared to be rooted entirely in a thirst for brutal and sexist violence, Making him an undeniable villain who will divide Monsters Season 3 of Season 2’s Morally Gray Controversy.
Monster season 3 returns to the original focus of the show after the divisive story of the Menendez brothers
This monster is undeniable
While Monster: The Ed Gein Story will certainly avoid the controversy about the main crimes in discussion, Murphy’s production will likely continue to court controversy for its treatment of victims’ families. In season 1, while Jeffrey Dahmer (Evan Peters) was undeniably a monster, the actual surviving family members of Dahmer’s victims criticized the production for not contacting them in advance, with some feeling that they were forced to relive their trauma on a national Scale (by . Forbes). This complaint is unfortunately not a new one for Murphy’s true crime-focused shows.
While the main villain of the monster season 3 will not have any sad qualities or his motives called into question.The lingering controversy shrouding the franchise remains the real-life ramifications for survivors. Now that Monsters will avoid a repeat of his season 2 debate, the question remains whether those impacted by Gein’s crimes will play a role in consulting the ethics of the production. Murphy confirmed that he did not contact the Menendez brothers directly (although Cooper Koch met with Erik Menendez), and will likely follow suit in Monsters Season 3.
Sources: The Daily Beast, Billboard, Forbes