The concluding moments of Monster Season 2, officially titled Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, present a somber flashback to pivotal moments leading up to the tragic murder of their parents in 1989 by the Menendez brothers.
It’s essential to acknowledge that every event depicted in this Netflix true crime series is based on factual accounts, including witness testimonies, allegations, audio recordings, and court documents.
Co-creators Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan invested years researching the disturbing intricacies of the Menendez case, which garnered two of the most widely publicized trials in U.S. history.
Ultimately, the jury found the brothers guilty of first-degree murder, but Lyle and Erik Menendez continue to assert that their actions stemmed from a lifetime of severe physical, emotional, and sexual abuse inflicted by their parents. Warning: spoilers ahead!
The Final Scene of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
In the closing scene of the series, parents Jose Menendez (played by Javier Bardem) and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez (portrayed by Chloë Sevigny) take Erik (played by Cooper Koch) and Lyle (portrayed by Nicholas Chavez) on a fishing excursion, entirely oblivious to their sons’ deadly intentions.
During the trial, it was revealed that on the day preceding the murders, Jose and Kitty chartered a boat for shark fishing. The boat’s captain noted that there was “minimal interaction” between the couple and their sons.
According to him, Erik and Lyle remained at the front of the boat, enduring cold and wet conditions. Defense attorney Leslie Abramson (Ari Graynor) suggested their distance stemmed from fear for their lives.
However, the show offers a contrasting narrative for their separation. While Jose apologizes to Kitty for his infidelity, Erik and Lyle are secretly plotting their parents’ murders. “You’re not chickening out, are you? You bought the guns,” Erik questions, to which Lyle asserts, “No. Let’s f**king do it.”
The Prosecution Is “Out for Blood”
The final Episode 9 of Monster Season 2 transports viewers to 1995, coinciding with the brothers’ third trial. Unlike the previous two trials that resulted in hung juries, this trial saw Erik and Lyle tried together without any live broadcasting.
By this time, the public’s perception of the Menendez brothers had evolved. With the OJ Simpson trial dominating headlines, the Menendez case had morphed into a punchline in pop culture, while Leslie stirred controversy in the courtroom, inadvertently bolstering the prosecution’s narrative.
The judge made a pivotal choice, permitting the jury to deliberate solely on murder charges and not consider lesser manslaughter charges, restricting the defense’s ability to present evidence of the abuse they endured.
Leslie pointed out significant pressure on District Attorney Gil Garcetti post-OJ Simpson acquittal, noting he was “out for blood… they need a win and they need it now.”
Adding complexity to their defense, Episode 8 unveils that Lyle jeopardized their case by allowing writer Norma Novelli to record their discussions, mistakenly believing she was assisting him in penning a book to fund his defense.
However, during a tense pre-trial encounter, Lyle’s lawyer Jill Lansing (played by Jess Weixler) reveals that Norma has taken full control of the book, planning its release independently.
This leads to incriminating content surfacing, including admissions that he’s been “practicing crying” and scheming to “blackmail” Dr. Jerome Oziel, the controversial therapist who covertly recorded their murder confession.
Lyle’s missteps strain his relationship with Erik, culminating in a confrontation before the trial. As courtroom proceedings commence, prosecutor David Conn (played by Paul Adelstein) portrays them as cold-blooded killers, driven by greed.
Despite Leslie’s persistent objections, her appeals are continuously overruled by the judge. Following their conviction for first-degree murder, the judge presents only two sentencing alternatives: life imprisonment without parole or death.
The Menendez Brothers’ New Life
As the jury debates, one juror suffers a heart attack. After her urgent transport to the hospital, a new juror joins, advocating for the brothers by emphasizing the abuse they allegedly endured at the hands of Jose and Kitty.
“If there’s even the slightest chance that what they said is true, I’ll tell you right now, I’m not gonna be the one responsible for taking their lives because I think that would be a huge mistake,” he argues.
After three days of deliberation, the brothers are sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Later, Erik contemplates his appeal with a prison priest, who urges him to accept his reality, stating, “Your life is in here now.”
Erik and Lyle are subsequently transferred from jail to separate prison facilities. In reality, they weren’t reunited until 2018 when their joint residency requests were finally approved.
As they are driven to their respective locations, they exchange smiles through the windows, signifying that despite everything they’ve faced, their bond remains intact.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is currently available for streaming on Netflix. For more true crime insights, check out the most shocking moments in Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter, explore if Brenda Bowman was ever arrested, and learn how to watch the Huw Edwards documentary in the U.S.
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