Law & Order Did The Menendez Brothers' Story Better Than Netflix, 7 Years Before Monsters Season 2 (2024)

This article contains mentions of sexual abuse.

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portrayed Lyle and Erik Menendez's story far better than Netflix's Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story seven years prior. Since Ryan Murphy's explosive portrayal of the Menendez brothers in season 2 of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, the show has been widely debated on the accuracy and creative liberties Murphy has taken. There are several details that Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story gets wrong about what really happened, suggesting that Ryan Murphy was not interested in portraying an accurate depiction.

Furthermore, the Monsters season 2 controversy was so significant that the real Menendez brothers voiced their disapproval of Ryan Murphy's portrayal of the story. The show is filled with inaccuracies, sensationalized theories, and the sexualization of abuse victims. However, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is not the only TV show to cover the tragedy. In 2017, the first season of Law & Order True Crime debuted, featuring their own interpretation of the Menendez brothers. Although this show still contains some inaccuracies, it is ultimately the better adaptation.

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Law & Order: True Crime Was A More Accurate Version Of The Menendez Brothers' Story Than Netflix

Law & Order: True Crime Depicted Accurate Events Without Sensationalizing Absurd Theories & Exploiting The Brothers

Law & Order True Crime is one of the many spinoffs in the Law & Order franchise, but it is the only Law & Order show dedicated to covering real-life cases, ideally one per season. The only season of Law & Order True Crime portrays the devastating story of the Menendez brothers, capturing their parents' deaths, the brothers' arrests, and the heart-wrenching truth of the sexual abuse they endured. While Monsters season 2 also depicts the true story of the Menendez brothers, it is quite clear that Law & Order True Crime is the more accurate portrayal.

Netflix's documentary The Menendez Brothers illustrates that Murphy is largely not interested in portraying accuracy. Not only is Law & Order True Crime's depiction of the Menendez brothers more accurate, but it is also more authentic. The writers did not sensationalize the brothers or sexualize their abuse claims. The show did not portray the sexual abuse as fictional or create illusions of incest. While Law & Order True Crime still has some inaccuracies, most involve convenience in making the show. It is still the superior fictionalized version of the Menendez brothers.

Law & Order: True Crime Featured An Exceptional Lead Performance

Edie Falco As Leslie Abramson Made The Show Feel Like A Documentary

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While the acting performances in Monsters season 2 are great, none compare to Edie Falco's extraordinary performance as criminal defense attorney Leslie Abramson. Ari Graynor also did an excellent job, but it is difficult to live up to Edie Falco. Although Law & Order True Crime is a fictionalized version of the events, Edie Falco's portrayal of Leslie Abramson is so believable that it mimics real footage from the courtroom in a documentary. After watching both Monsters and Law & Order True Crime, it is clear Edie Falco's Leslie Abramson is the superior version.

Why Didn't Law & Order: True Crime Season 2 Happen?

No Concrete Explanation As To Why Law & Order: True Crime Never Had A Second Season

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Law & Order executives had discussed a potential second season for Law & Order True Crime even before the first episode had aired. In August 2017, it was reported that Dick Wolf already had several ideas for further seasons of Law & Order True Crime (via Deadline). Wolf had cited the Oklahoma City bombing, David Berkowitz and the Son of Sam, and Richard Ramirez, also known as the Night Stalker. Notably, Netflix already has documentaries on the latter two cases, so if Law & Order True Crime were to cover these crimes, it would be another fascinating juxtaposition.

There is no concrete reason as to why the conversations for Law & Order True Crime season 2 fell flat—similarly to the show, they fell off the radar.

However, as of July 2018, there are no plans for further seasons of Law & Order True Crime, despite initial conversations. There is no concrete reason why the conversations for Law & Order True Crime season 2 fell flat—similarly to the show, they fell off the radar. Law & Order True Crime was an amazing opportunity to portray criminal cases in a fictionalized show while integrating critical factors about the events.

Related

The Law & Order franchise is losing several characters and actors ahead of the 2024-2025 season, with each show making changes to its cast.

It is disappointing to learn that Law & Order True Crime has no plans for further seasons, especially since it is an excellent fictionalized portrayal of well-known criminal cases thus far. Ryan Murphy has garnered a lot of criticism for leaving out critical details about the true story of Jeffrey Dahmer in Monsters season 1. While there was a clear opportunity to adjust the criticism for Monsters season 2, Murphy continued to dramatize aspects that did not happen and sensationalize serious subjects such as sexual abuse and murder. Hopefully, Ryan Murphy will learn from his mistakes for Monster season 3.

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Source: Deadline

Law & Order Did The Menendez Brothers' Story Better Than Netflix, 7 Years Before Monsters Season 2 (2)

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