The Series
Ever heard of Jeffrey Dahmer, the Menendez Brothers, or Ed Gein? Monster is a Netflix original series, created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, following these monstrous figures. This show is a biographical crime drama based on true events and insight into their life and what ultimately happened with each heinous murder.
The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
The first of the series showcased Jeffrey Dahmer, played by Evan Peters, who murdered over 17 young men between 1978 and 1991. The show focuses on his life, from early childhood to his death, displaying what caused his love for killing innocent men and how he evaded arrest for so many years.
Jeffery Dahmer is one of the most notorious serial killers in the world. Dahmer is known for dismembering the bodies of his victims and often engaging in acts of necrophilia and cannibalism. He had a difficult childhood; he was introverted, had unstable parents, and was fascinated with death. Dahmer was arrested after one of his victims, Tracy Edwards, escaped Dahmer’s apartment and alerted authorities. The season starts with his escape.
The Jeffrey Dahmer season received mixed reviews but overall good ratings. Netflix statistics show that after its debut on Sept. 21, 2022, DAHMER spent seven weeks in the Netflix Global Top 10. The season received four nominations at the 80th Golden Globe Awards, with Evan Peters winning for Best Actor.
The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
The second season highlights Lyle and Erik Menendez, played by Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch, who murdered their wealthy parents in 1989. The season displays all the controversial narratives of what truly happened, including court proceedings, their motive, and an insight into the brothers’ jail life.
The brothers weren’t caught until 1990, when Erik had confessed the double murder to his therapist. Their motive was that they killed their parents out of the fear of further physical, emotional, and sexual abuse by their father and the emotional neglect from their mother.
However, others argue a different motive: greed and a desire to inherit their wealthy parents’ fortune. This complex case caught attention from around the world, with many arguing that the brothers deserve to be free.
According to Forbes, “The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story was the most-watched series on Netflix for two weeks in a row before falling to second, third and fourth places in the subsequent weeks for a total of 506.5 million viewing hours from Sept. 23 to Oct. 20.” Although the season did well, it faced immense backlash on Murphy’s Portrayal of the brothers.
The Ed Gein Story
The most recent of the series, released on October 3, 2025, follows serial killer Ed Gein, played by Charlie Hunnam. Gein is one of the most inspirational serial killers of all time, influencing many famous horror films and novels. The season covers many narratives, including the gruesome movies he inspired, like Psycho and The Chainsaw Massacre, based on Gein.
Ed Gein, also known as the “Butcher of Plainfield,” fell into a deep psychosis after his mother, whom he idolized, passed away in 1945. Gein is infamous for his kills and grave robbing. He would collect body parts and make macabre creations such as masks, chairs, belts from human skin, and even bowls made from skulls. This season of Monsters doesn’t hold back when showing Gein’s despicable crimes.
With the season being relatively new, it’s hard to tell if reviews are largely negative or positive. Despite the contrasting opinions, there’s no denying the season has caught millions of people’s attention. Recent data from The Wrap shows The Ed Gein Story snatched 20.7 million views in week 2, up slightly from the previous Menendez season.
Controversy
Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan gathered their information through various historical records, recordings, interviews, personal testimonies, and hundreds of pages of police transcripts. However, while based on true events, the show presents a fictionalized version of what truly happened.
The Menendez family told BBC News that the show was a “grotesque psychodrama” and a dishonest portrayal of the brothers. The family additionally claimed that Murphy never spoke with them for his research. Similar statements have been made throughout the Dahmer and Gein seasons.
The series overall received mixed reviews; many argued that the show was uncomfortable or even lurid. Viewers are confused as to why directors like Ryan Murphy are showing these life tragedies for entertainment and re-traumatizing victims’ families. Critics dislike the series due to inaccurate and insensitive portrayals.
