No Ryan Murphy show is without controversy, but the backlash and revulsion levied towards every season of Monster makes the rest of his shows look as wholesome as Bake Off. Monster has always provoked and created extremely dominating discourse around the ethics of true crime and the nasty and exploitative gore based on real life horrific crimes. Controversy aside, and if you have the stomach to get through a full season of Monster – there is clearly a lot of great television in here. Even if it makes you feel disgusting afterwards. There’s a reason it break records and gets Emmy nominated every time. Now we’ve had three divisive seasons of Monster on Netflix, here’s my definitive ranking of them all.
3. The Ed Gein Story
The latest season of Monster takes on the truly gruesome and horrific tale of Ed Gein. It does so in a way that personally feels like all the worst aspects of Monster, and it’s an easy pick for bottom of the ranking of all the Netflix seasons. There is a grossness to The Ed Gein Story that makes binging through it feel insidious – and I don’t think it has the POINT and the message that the other seasons did to help you reckon with the ethical murkiness you feel engaging with it.
2. The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
The first Monster is still arguably the most horrific. What Jeffrey Dahmer did was so evil and nasty – but where this series shines over The Ed Gein Story is how much is puts focus on the victims affected by his crimes. Niecy Nash makes this season a hit – not that Evan Peters isn’t terrific, but her exploration of the neighbour character gives it so much depth. Whilst the content was grim, the elevation of the production was brilliant.
1. The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
What Ryan Murphy and Netflix did with The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story was show how true crime productions on the streamer can cause real change and debate. Because of the crime and the split on if the pair are guilty – the dynamic changed swiftly. It really felt like this season educated and instigated a renewed interest in justice and I think that’s really important. It also is the least bleak season of the show and, Nicolas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch became the men of the moment thanks to their outstanding portrayals.
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