Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story episode 9 recap and review: “Hang Men”
As a gamer who has lived through the ’90s and early 2000s, I can’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu while watching “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.” The show brings back memories of OJ Simpson’s trial, where we all played armchair detectives, trying to figure out who really did it.
In the final episode of Netflix’s “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” we find ourselves in 1995. The verdict in OJ Simpson’s case has just been announced, leaving the nation stunned as he is declared not guilty. This unexpected outcome puts extra pressure on the prosecution, who are eager to secure a victory, particularly in the Menendez case. As a result, the brothers face an even more challenging trial as they navigate through their second court proceeding.
Major spoilers for Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story episode 9 are below.
Trigger Warning: This episode references child sexual abuse.
Prior to the second court hearing, Lyle changes lawyers, leaving Leslie exasperated. Despite this, Lyle persists in gathering funds for his own defense through the “Lyle Menendez Defense Fund,” a move that Leslie believes harms their image. Erik and Lyle clash, with Erik expressing justified anger over his brother’s actions affecting their defense. During their argument, Lyle insults Erik, calling him “pathetic” and a “coward,” which sets Erik off. In response, Erik shoves Lyle against the wall and threatens him, stating that he should have also been killed. It comes as no surprise that they are in a precarious position going into the second trial.
The prosecution is determined to win
The second trial commences, and the prosecution enters with a fiery demeanor. They present testimonies that severely tarnish the brothers’ reputation, among them Craig, who discusses the screenplay and discloses that Erik admitted to them they murdered their parents while they were asleep. Craig informs his listeners that the brothers essentially modeled their actions on the movie “Billionaire Boys Club”, and it wasn’t a mere coincidence that Erik became familiar with the film; they had all been acquainted with the son of the parents from the actual events.
In this scenario, Erik is called to test the truthfulness of his statements, as he struggles with recalling specifics regarding the incident. The attorney focuses on questioning Erik about a mafia-related lie he and Lyle concocted and aims to demonstrate that the killings were carefully planned. A pool repairman serves as a witness, recounting instances where he heard the brothers arguing and swearing at their parents. He testifies that Kitty and José seemed fearful of Erik and Lyle, contrary to what is commonly believed. Additionally, the captain of the boat they went fishing on takes the stand, asserting that the brothers did not exhibit any signs of fear during their trip.
As a gamer, I’d rephrase that as: “In the heat of this intense story, Flor, the Menendez family maid, steps forward and shares that she never once heard any shouting or fights coming from the family. The prosecution continues, calling more witnesses who seem to be siding with José and Kitty, painting Erik and Lyle in a less favorable light.
The lawyer accuses Leslie of fabricating the sexual abuse story because it helped her in a past trial. This allegation is made since she claims it didn’t occur. At the same time, Leslie and Erik are pointed out for playing hangman, which doesn’t reflect well on them. In the end, the prosecution suggests that Erik and Lyle’s goal was financial gain.
The verdict is in
In this case, what’s the jury’s decision? The verdict has been delivered, and Lyle and Erik have been convicted of first-degree murder. They face two possible sentences: life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or capital punishment. A discussion ensues among the jurors regarding the appropriate sentence, with one woman emphasizing that the defendants were victims of abuse throughout their lives. Another juror, who appears to be quite forceful, dominates the conversation, raising her voice and even collapsing on the floor before being replaced by the alternate juror. This substitute juror is notably empathetic towards the brothers.
The verdict on Erik and Lyle is life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. It’s not a triumph, but at least they’ll continue living. Leslie makes an effort to ensure they remain together, though it appears they might be assigned to different prisons. A priest that Erik speaks with in prison advises him that freedom isn’t the only thing he should aspire for. Instead, he needs to discover purpose within his confinement because it’s probable he’ll spend the rest of his days there, even after exhausting appeal procedures. Ultimately, Erik and Lyle are relocated to separate prisons, which seems distressing for both of them.
At the end of the season finale, we revisit the day prior to the murders, during a leisurely fishing trip where José and Kitty share laughter and jokes. However, the mood shifts when Kitty mentions José’s former mistress. José reassures her that their relationship is resolved and expresses his deep need for her. He even suggests she should return to journalism as they discuss their upcoming plans. In a separate scene, Erik and Lyle meet up, with Erik questioning if Lyle is reconsidering the plan after purchasing the firearms. Lyle responds by saying he’s not backing out, followed by an ominous “Let’s get this done.
In a surprising twist at the end of “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story“, it becomes clear that their killings were deliberately planned. However, if they had been subjected to abuse throughout their lives, does this change anything significant? I ponder what could have transpired if they’d confessed initially and revealed the abuse, instead of leading us to a tale without a happy ending.
Does Monsters have anything to say?
Ultimately, I found the finale satisfactory, yet it left me annoyed with the season’s narrative trajectory, particularly in regards to Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. This series had a golden opportunity to spark discussions about male sexual abuse and why so many individuals – even today – disbelieve victims. Regrettably, the trial’s first instance in reality denied this notion, claiming that men could not be raped, which is an astonishingly absurd argument. However, the Netflix production only brushes upon this topic in episode 8 and fails to delve deeper into its implications.
Instead, the overall message is muddled, confusing, and disappointing. Erik Menendez has already made a statement about the show, calling it out for “horrible and blatant lies.” Not a good look.
Regardless of whether you support the Menendez brothers’ story, their trial raises important issues that the series didn’t fully explore.
In real life, the Menendez brothers, Erik and Lyle, are currently serving life terms at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in California. Similar to the series portrayal, they were initially housed separately upon sentencing but were reconnected in 2018 following a 22-year separation. It is known that both brothers have since married. The Netflix show reveals that the Menendez brothers continue to assert that their parents subjected them to abuse.
I wouldn’t call “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” a poorly made show; the powerful acting keeps it watchable. However, it’s disturbing and out of place, and after reading Erik’s statement, I think it borders on exploitation. If you’re intrigued and haven’t seen it yet, the entire season is available for streaming on Netflix.
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2024-09-21 21:58