I’m A Longtime Ryan Murphy Apologist, But I Just Watched The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story And It’s Broken My Faith

I'm A Longtime Ryan Murphy Apologist, But I Just Watched The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story And It's Broken My Faith

As a passionate enthusiast of compelling storytelling who has followed Ryan Murphy’s work for years, I must say that my recent experience with “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” left me deeply disheartened and questioning my support for this prolific creator.


Alright, where do I start?

The series titled “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” made its debut on Netflix as per the 2024 TV lineup, sparking my initial curiosity. Given my longstanding fascination with this case, I must confess that I was eager to revisit it after all these years.

To put it plainly, I’ve often found myself defending Ryan Murphy’s work. While I acknowledge that not all of his creations have been top-notch, my longstanding affection for his previous projects has led me to continue backing him, a point I’ll elaborate on shortly.

Yet, I find that this series has shaken my faith in Murphy’s character, and I feel compelled to watch it further as my thoughts are disorganized and require clarification.

I'm A Longtime Ryan Murphy Apologist, But I Just Watched The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story And It's Broken My Faith

First Off – I Know Ryan Murphy’s Shows Have Declined In Quality, But I Still Enjoyed Them

To begin with, let me express that, indeed, I’ve noticed a decline in quality across Ryan Murphy’s productions as time goes by. I’m not oblivious to this fact. Although I’ve revisited American Horror Story and adjusted my ratings slightly, and I can still appreciate the top performances from Glee, it’s undeniable that some of Murphy’s seasons and shows lack quality.

Although AHS: Delicate started off powerfully, it ultimately lost steam and left me struggling to remember its conclusion. The Watcher was disappointingly executed. Hollywood had potential but was undermined by a weak narrative—the list continues. Yet, I’ve persisted with Murphy because I truly appreciated much of his earlier productions.

The initial seasons of “American Horror Story” were outstanding, boasting impressive performances from Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters, among other compelling tales. “Glee,” up until Season 5, was entertaining (though we can discuss its later seasons another day). “Scream Queens” certainly left a mark, despite being limited to two seasons. I’ve enjoyed many of his earlier works, and while some of his newer projects have had their moments, I found myself yearning for more, albeit not as intensely as before.

I'm A Longtime Ryan Murphy Apologist, But I Just Watched The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story And It's Broken My Faith

And I Actually Enjoyed The First Iteration Of Monster About Jeffrey Dahmer

I know I know – there was a lot of controversy about Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, but I actually enjoyed that series. I think it’s mainly because I was able to separate the dramatized version from the facts of the case that I already knew from the several documentaries I had seen.

If you view it as a play, the program becomes quite engaging. Evan Peters delivered a superb performance, just as I anticipated he would, and the narrative holds your interest from one episode to the next. However, I must admit that the way they handled the victims left much to be desired. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the series enough to explore the subsequent adaptation focusing on the Menendez brothers… which also fell short of expectations.

I'm A Longtime Ryan Murphy Apologist, But I Just Watched The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story And It's Broken My Faith

However, I Am Truly Disgusted With The Portrayal Of The Menendez Brothers

I may not be a professional crime expert, and I don’t pretend to be one, but after consuming numerous documentaries on the Menendez Brothers and reading extensively about their case, I felt well-prepared to understand the content of this series.

And I am utterly disgusted at this portrayal.

I wasn’t too upset since I was already aware of the details surrounding the case. What concerns me, however, is that some viewers might be tuning in because it’s a popular show on Netflix’s 2024 TV lineup, and they may not know much about this case. This could lead them to believe that certain facts presented are truthful.

It seems clear to me what your upcoming point is – it falls upon the audience to discern truth from falsehood; however, given that the production of a show at such a high level on the most prominent streaming service calls for a certain level of attention to detail, I would hope for more careful execution.

Instead of finding authenticity when watching this show, I find it feels incredibly contrived. The brothers appear not as victims, but rather troubled individuals with questionable undertones and bizarre implications that are deeply unsettling. If you’re familiar with the case, you know about the true horrors they faced and the solid evidence supporting their story. It’s disheartening to see such a poor representation of their experiences.

Ryan Murphy, who created the series, stated he never interacted with the Menendez Brothers prior to producing the show, as reported by Variety in September 2024. He expresses no desire to meet them now. The fact that the show’s creator has no intention of meeting the subjects of his own creation is a bit unsettling and troubling for me.

I'm A Longtime Ryan Murphy Apologist, But I Just Watched The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story And It's Broken My Faith

I Also Don’t Like How The Series Made Jose And Kitty Out To Not Be “As Bad” As They Really Were

In our discussion about this topic, my boyfriend expressed his viewpoint that I may have been overly judgmental when I mentioned “Don’t Dream It’s Over.” He believes the song romanticizes Kitty and Jose, but in a way that also acknowledges their complexities, as they were both individuals who did heinous acts yet made choices for their family and future.

I get your point, but there’s something troubling about the presentation. In this court case, the two parents would technically be considered victims since they were killed. However, considering what those boys experienced, it’s hard for me to find anything positive about them. Some individuals can embody pure evil, and from what I’ve gathered about the Menendez Brothers, their parents seem to have been quite flawed.

I find it simple for me to express my thoughts since I’m not directly involved in the situation and haven’t experienced such hardships myself. I don’t understand the emotional complexities of loving someone who has done terrible things, as I haven’t walked in those shoes. However, as a compassionate individual yearning for justice, I abhor instances like this – where it allows perpetrators to remain hidden behind masks.

I'm A Longtime Ryan Murphy Apologist, But I Just Watched The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story And It's Broken My Faith

I Really Don’t Know If I Can Keep Supporting Ryan Murphy After This

I’ve been eagerly awaiting several new projects from Ryan Murphy, but what particularly piques my interest now are two upcoming productions:

But I just… don’t know if I can keep supporting Ryan Murphy after this.

There are plenty of great Ryan Murphy TV shows of the past you can watch, but watching Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story really put a sour taste in my mouth. It makes me wonder what other cases he could potentially cover that might be told in the wrong way.

Personally, I don’t want to support a creator who delivers a story in this way.

What you’ve presented is more than incorrect; it’s heartless and disrespectful. It inflicts pain and trivializes the actual experiences of those who were impacted. For that reason, I find it impossible to engage with anything similar.

It’s possible that something might occur in the future which could alter my perspective, but as of now, I believe the “Ryan Murphy” influence on me has effectively ended, and I’m not planning on rekindling it anytime soon.

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2024-10-06 01:07