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Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan's Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story concludes with a finale that challenges audiences to wrestle with the tough questions of morality, justice, and evil. In this series, one meets the real-life brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez, convicted in 1996 of murdering their parents.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story presents several accounts of the Menendez brothers' actions and what motivated them, leaving the question of who the monsters are, open to interpretation.
In short, the brothers are convicted on a first-degree murder count and are imprisoned for life without hope of parole. The struggle to determine their intentions and the actual degree of their crime left room for discourse, making it one of the most infamous cases ever seen.
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The verdict: Conviction and sentencing
Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted on a first-degree murder charge for the murder of their parents, José and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez.
While the defense defined the brothers to be victims of abuse, through a series of legal arguments, the prosecution managed to prove before the jury that there was premeditation to commit these murders and the brothers were sentenced to life imprisonment with no chance of parole. Despite repeated appeals, the brothers continue to serve time in prison.
The trial of Erik and Lyle
The final segment of the Netflix program centers on the outcome of the trial. Lyle Menendez's decision to choose not to testify was what ultimately led to his sentencing. A book, co-authored and taped, with someone who played a sympathetic role, plays out against him. That devastates the rest of their defense strategy.
Through Erik Menendez's testimony, it is revealed that the murders happened to be a desperate act of self-defense after years of abuse. However, the prosecution argued that such a story would present premeditation, leaving no choice but for the jury to convict the brothers.
The filmish twist within the case in the court and all the testimonies that came to reinforce have given a seal of fate to the Menendez brothers to be convicted and put into life terms.
The final scene of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
The show concludes with a bitter-sweet final shot of José and Kitty Menendez in reverse, from their point of view. This graphic fish-by-shark trip is a far cry from everything that came before it and provides much insight into what this couple had planned for their sons and how they interacted with them.
The rest of the episode of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story then centers on Lyle and Erik as they reflect on their actions. The final frames are ambiguous with respect to the brothers' motives. In an end card, it is revealed that Lyle and Erik Menendez still claim to have been abused, and therefore, the monsters may yet lie in plain sight.
In short, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story shows a rather balanced view of the Menendez brother's case, closing off with a verdict that leaves more questions regarding the case.
The conclusion cements a central notion of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story questioning what constitutes a monster while presenting viewers with a captivating yet unresolved deconstruction of justice and morality. The series is currently streaming on Netflix
