The Monster anthology, created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, has established itself as one of Netflix’s most thought-provoking and controversial series. Revisiting true crimes from a social and psychological perspective, the production explored the stories of famous killers, such as Jeffrey Dahmer, the Menendez brothers and Ed Gein.
The series already has a fourth season confirmed. This time the story will revolve around Lizzie Borden, the woman accused of killing her father and stepmother with an ax in 1892.
But with the success and strength of the franchise, the question arises: where can the series go from here? What themes, figures, and formats might broaden the anthology’s reach and make it even more relevant?
What would we like to see in the next seasons of Monster on Netflix?
So far, all seasons of Monster(s) have focused on men, exploring the stories of each character and discussing controversial issues on the topic, such as male archetypes of power and social and family repression.
The fourth season promises to change this axis a bit. The production will delve into the story of Lizzie Borden, played by Ella Beatty, the anthology’s first female protagonist.
The assassins’ turn
Lizzie Borden was born in 1860 in Fall River, USA, and in 1892 she was accused of killing her father and stepmother with an axe. Despite suspicions and circumstantial evidence, the jury acquitted her in 1893 due to lack of evidence. The case remains one of the biggest mysteries in the United States.
Ryan Murphy told Variety that the new cycle will be about “women labeled as monsters,” including historical figures besides Borden, such as Elizabeth Báthory and Aileen Wuornos. The goal, he believes, is not to glorify violence, but to explore the boundaries between guilt, public perception and gender.
The choice is consistent with the original proposal of the series, which uses crime as a starting point to discuss how society constructs the idea of ”monster”. However, is this already a significant change that alters the dynamics of the series? Or can it expand in other directions?
Other emblematic cases from the USA
Since the series’ debut, creators Murphy and Brenna have said the interest isn’t just in the shock value, but in the social and psychological impact of the crimes. They have already stated that they do not intend to portray characters such as Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy or the Golden State Killer, as they believe these stories only focus on “purposeless violence”.
In light of this, many fans theorize about what other cases might arise:
Beyond the USA: monsters from other countries
Another point to note is the geographic area. All seasons so far have explored American crimes, which makes perfect sense, given that this is a US production. However, this focus may limit the series’ potential.
Cases from other countries could refresh the format, offering new readings on crime, showing how different cultures deal with these cases and the impact they have on their societies.
Below we list some examples of famous cases worldwide:
And what could Monstro, the Brazilian version, be like?
There are several national cases that could be adapted if Netflix decides to produce a Brazilian version of the series. So far there is no information on whether the Monster series will address cases in other countries, but this is not impossible, just as it happened with “Round 6” (Squid game), which will have an American version.
Seasons with more than one case
A season with more than one case would also expand the series’ narrative potential. Not all stories would need to be stretched into long, complex plots; some crimes could be explored in just two or three more intense episodes, with a clear beginning, middle and end.
This structure would allow us to tackle different forms of monstrosity (psychological, social or moral), as well as giving space to lesser-known but equally disturbing cases, making the production more complete and unpredictable.
The post What would we like to see in the next seasons of Monster on Netflix? appeared first on Olhar Digital.
Source: Olhar Digital
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
