Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story: when a modern serial killer is pulled out of a hat, the series goes off the rails

The fourth season of Ryan Murphy’s Monster anthology series explores the 1892 double murder case of Lizzie Borden, famously associated with a gruesome nursery rhyme. The show depicts Borden, played by Ella Beatty, murdering her parents after suffering under the abuse of her caricature-like stepmother, Abby. The narrative introduces a mysterious maid named Bridget Sullivan, who encourages Lizzie to embrace violence as a path to power and freedom. Their relationship quickly escalates into a romantic affair, with Bridget even gifting Lizzie an item allegedly purchased in Amsterdam as part of their bizarre bond.

Murphy, known for his stylized true-crime dramatizations, takes significant creative liberties by incorporating absurd and farcical elements into the historical tragedy. While actors like Rebecca Hall deliver intense performances, the series is criticized for its increasingly eccentric tone. By the final episode, the show loses its grounding entirely when modern serial killer Aileen Wuornos is inexplicably introduced, marking a departure from the historical facts of the Borden case.