Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story episode 6 recap and review: “Don’t Dream It’s Over”

As a seasoned therapist with decades of experience under my belt, I’ve seen families come and go, some thriving, others crumbling under the weight of their secrets. This family, however, is a unique case – a perfect storm of toxicity, denial, and a dark past that refuses to stay buried.

In the sixth installment of “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” on Netflix titled “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” we experience a stark change from the previous episodes as it delves into flashbacks primarily focused on José and Kitty, the parents. After the harrowing accounts of abuse in episode 5, I must admit that I find their perspective less compelling. This sixth episode seems disjointed and oddly placed, making me yearn for the trial scenes already. Despite Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny delivering powerful performances, they fail to salvage an episode that feels unnecessary.

Major spoilers for Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story episode 6 are below.

Trigger Warning: This episode references child sexual abuse.

The show “Don’t Dream It’s Over” tries to explain the complexities of Jose and Kitty’s personalities, yet it falls short in presenting anything captivating. The story starts by depicting their initial encounter in 1962, where they quickly fall in love despite familial opposition to their union. Despite the obstacles, they get married, only for the narrative to leap forward to a session with Kitty and her therapist. In this conversation, Kitty expresses her dislike for her children – Lyle and Erik – finding them frightening and weak, respectively, although she claims to care about them in her own way. She feels neglected by Jose and believes that her sons are trying to take him away from her. Additionally, she mentions José’s mistress, Louise.

At home with Kitty and José

Kitty chooses to undergo cosmetic surgery (a facelift), but is disappointed that José doesn’t comment on it. On Christmas Eve, she inquires about his silence and he admits she looks good, but also suggests she should slim down. As the boys arrive home to exchange presents, José shares that when he relocated to New York with their mother years ago, his only job was as a dishwasher. He gifts Erik a book he used to read during those tough times, which inspired him greatly.

In this scene, we witness José retrieving the boys who had been arrested for burglary, displaying his profound emotional state. Tears stream down his face in the parking lot as “Don’t Dream It’s Over” by Crowded House starts playing, giving off an unexpectedly humorous vibe. José confides in Kitty about their predicament and suggests they depart from town since the boys have tarnished the Menendez reputation. They subsequently relocate to Beverly Hills and start visiting Dr. Oziel. Prior to a therapy session, José phones the therapist and advises him not to trust anything the boys say, clarifying that they’re only attending because it’s court-ordered.

During a therapy session with Erik and Lyle, Jose dominates the discussion, leading it throughout before departing with Kitty. On the job, Jose confides in a coworker named Marzi regarding his parenting abilities and children.

One morning, Kitty encounters José sitting in the downstairs area, who informs her that he no longer loves her or their sons, considering them all as failures. He admits that his feelings for her were never genuine, and proceeds to label her as a drug addict and an alcoholic. He further discloses his intention of traveling to New York to increase their wealth. Kitty challenges him about his mistress, accusing him of deceit regarding his past love for her. She confesses her suicidal thoughts and inability to cope with the children, expressing a desire to end her life. He plants a kiss on her and departs, disregarding her pleas for help.

José’s trip to New York

In New York City, José finalizes the contract for the boy band Menudo at a meeting, and successfully seals the deal. Later in his hotel room, he employs the services of a male escort, who is left uncomfortable by José’s behavior. As they prepare for intimacy, an unusual turn of events occurs as José starts discussing the Romans and even puts a Roman wreath on the escort’s head before their encounter.

When José is in New York, Erik and Lyle have a dispute with their mother, leading her to express that she might as well poison them instead of dealing with their troubles. During dinner, the brothers detect something strange in their pasta and accuse Kitty of actually adding poison. As they prepare to depart, Kitty collapses on the floor, convulsing before crawling towards the counter and drinking from a bottle of wine. Erik and Lyle suspect it’s a trick, so they exit.

Jose returns from New York and informs Kitty that he ended things with Louise. We witness the breakup moment to confirm his honesty. He’s thrilled to share news about the Menudo business deal next. Curious about what transpired between her and the boys during his absence, he advises her to cut down on her pill intake. She admits her anger often gets out of control, and he expresses a desire to assist her, proposing they seek help from a couples counselor. He aims to mend their family. Upon waking the boys, he makes them apologize for the houses they had stolen and writes each a check as reparation. In the car, Jose explains that Erik will take the blame with the authorities since he’s a minor. He assures the brothers that he will aid them in this matter, but it will be their last chance.

During work hours, José shares with Marzi that he’s just one major opportunity away from relocating to Florida and seeking a position in the Senate. He invites her to join him. In the evening, José spends time with Kitty, relaxing by watching TV and indulging in some dessert.

José’s parenting

Jose receives a call from Princeton regarding Lyle copying someone else’s work, so he travels to New Jersey. Following a meeting with the dean, Jose and Lyle visit a cemetery where Lyle accuses his father of abuse due to physical violence and verbal insults. In a passionate speech about tough love, José likens Lyle to a dog and criticizes him for not being adequately disciplined. He expresses his affection for him, apologizes for not punishing him more in the past, and gives him a kiss on the cheek.

At their residence in Beverly Hills, a disagreement arises between Jose and Erik when Erik expresses doubts about Jose’s sexuality. In response, Jose hands Erik a cream for Athlete’s Foot, suggesting he use it, and teases him about his inability to play tennis in college. He further manipulates the situation by stating that Erik will attend UCLA’s business school and continue living at home under his watchful eye. Stunned, Erik voices his opposition, but Jose presents modeling photographs of Erik he had found earlier. He inquires about the photos and accuses Erik of being gay, which angers him. Jose also reveals that he has arranged for a girl to attend the prom with him and has discussed it with her parents. It’s clear that Jose values appearances above all else, as demonstrated by his emphasis on the importance of the prom photo.

Jose persists in shouting at Erik, insisting he retreat to his chamber, which he does. We can infer from the noise that a confrontation may be taking place, although we cannot confirm this since we are not privy to the scene. Kitty listens from outside Erik’s room, contemplating whether to intervene but ultimately deciding to keep her distance.

Later on, I peer into Erik’s private space and share with Kitty my concern that he might not be using condoms, hinting at his possible orientation. I express my worry about the possibility of him having AIDS, and Kitty becomes assertive, wanting to examine Erik physically for any signs. I’m hesitant but she persists, so I ultimately reveal his body to her. She doesn’t find any abnormalities.

Kitty confronts José

In a different setting, Kitty encounters José in the dining room, and she decides it’s time to address the elephant in the room regarding his connection with Erik and Lyle. She queries him about any romantic or sexual involvement, to which he denies. He retorts by asking if she’s had too much to drink. He then discloses a hidden truth, sharing that as a baby, his mother used to touch his genitals while changing him. He dismisses this revelation as insignificant. He admits to showering with the boys following tennis games, considering it a normal practice. He confesses to attempting to mold their sons into men, and acknowledges at times he may have overstepped boundaries. However, he justifies his actions by stating that family is all that truly matters to him.

The scene transitions to Kitty and José during a counseling session, where Kitty confides to the doctor that she harbors disdain for her children and feels fortunate to have José by her side. She reminisces about her father physically abusing her mother, herself, and her siblings, acknowledging a potential attraction to such behavior. Despite José not being like her father, she describes them as possessing a “strong, masculine demeanor.” The therapist inquires if José ever strikes Kitty, with José swiftly denying it on her behalf. When the therapist probes further about any sexual abuse in their household, Kitty denies it, but José remains silent. Under pressure from the therapist’s questions, José becomes agitated and exits the session.

At nightfall, José phones his mother and accuses her of past sexual abuse, sobbing throughout the conversation. His mother denies any knowledge of his claims, and José reveals that he believes she too was victimized by a relative. Unwilling to discuss it further, she ends the call. In another sequence, we witness José inviting an attorney over to initiate alterations in his will.

Their last night

I’ve been attending therapy sessions with Dr. Oziel, but recently, my sister Kitty announced she’s dropping out of our shared sessions. She expressed feelings of regret towards us, her brothers Erik and Lyle, going so far as to say she never wanted us in the first place. This confounded us, especially since our father started gazing at us with a strange, unsettling smile. We decided to go to Sears for a family photo shoot, but later that night, Kitty and their partner José were found dead – our sons were responsible for the tragic event.

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2024-09-20 22:58