Behind the Trials

The newest addition to Netflix’s Top 10 TV Shows in the U.S. strikes the world with the story of the Menendez family through multiple different lenses. “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” is the second season to the American biographical crime drama anthology known as “Monster” created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan. Following the first season of “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” Netflix awards the second season “Monster: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” a number three spot for Top TV Shows in the U.S. In just the first four days of release, Monsters recorded a total of 12.3 million views. Ryan Murphy, a respectable Hollywood writer, director, and producer co-created this growing television show alongside Ian Brennan. Ryan Murphy’s most celebrated TV shows include “Glee,” “9-1-1,” “American Horror Story,” and of course, “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.” 

This new season is based on true and horrific events starring Cooper Koch, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Javier Bardem, and Chloё Sevigny as Erik, Lyle, José, and Kitty Menendez respectfully. “Monsters” is centered around the 1989 murders of Kitty and José Menendez— killed by their two sons Lyle and Erik. In nine episodes, the story provides an inside look at the lives of these two brothers growing up in their household located in Beverly Hills, California. Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan do a great job portraying the attitudes towards the case at the time, including the urgency the Los Angeles Police Department had in the 1980s and 1890s due to its corrupt and misconduct activities leaked to the public at the time. 

This series was particularly interesting due to the incredible details it includes: the costume design, the set design, song choice, and most importantly the story line. José and Kitty Menendez were shot and killed in their home in Beverly Hills in 1989 by their two sons Lyle (21) and Erik (18). At the time, the police had believed the Mafia had been after the Menendez family. But after a few months, the brothers admitted to killing their parents as a result of their years and years of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse from their father and mother. Their trial aired on national television becoming a worldwide sensation which brought out the differences in society as to whether their actions were as self defense or were actions of greed to inherit millions of dollars. Their first trial in 1993 led to deadlocked juries and ultimately called for a retrial. After the retrial, in which Erik and Lyle were not allowed to discuss their sexual abuse claims, the brothers were found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Today, the two brothers are both serving time at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in Southern California. 

After 30 years in prison, the brothers didn’t give great reviews on Ryan Murphy’s show. Erik accuses co-creator Ryan Murphy of intentionally distorting the facts behind their case and how there are “blatant lies rampant in the show.” Erik goes on to say, “Murphy shapes his horrible narrative through vile and appalling character portrayals of Lyle and me disheartening slander.” In a response to this stern opinion, Murphy explains how this show is “the best thing that has happened to the Menendez brothers in 30 years,” and how it has “informed an entire generation about that case and launched millions of conversations about sexual abuse.” After many of the brothers’ family members have recently voiced their emotional pleas for the release of Lyle and Erik. José Menendez’s niece Anamaria Baralt voices, “Over time, it became clear there were two other victims on that day, my cousins Lyle and Erik… They became victims of a culture that was not ready to listen.” Following these pleas, the Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón has scheduled a new hearing for the boys on November 26th.