Episode 8: Seismic Shifts Review

This episode explains generational (sexual) abuse. Children getting raised in a new generation with a different lifestyle than you had, and never having to experience the struggles you as a person had to go through to get to al the financial benefits everyone in the family is enjoying. Making your children experience traditional disciplining methods, which you as a child might have hatted to experience, but still apply because you don’t know anything else to ‘toughen’ your children up. These are the thoughts we process while watching this episode.

Nathan Lane acts as Dominick Dunne in this episode. Dunne is an investigative journalist for Vanity Fair, who covers the trial of the Menendez brothers Lyle and Erik. Dunne has his own perspective and conclusions about this case. He has gone through the evidence and points out holes in the story of Lyle and Erik. He even brings out a new motive for the murder of José Menendez and Mary Louise 'Kitty' Menendez.

Los Angles is hit by earthquakes that also hit the prison Lyle and Erik Menendez where in. We can see Erik going crazy in his cell and fearing for his safety and sanity. On the stand when Erik is trying to give his testimony he is constantly interrupted because his microphone was not working. This resulted in his story not coming over as sympathetic as it should be. As a viewer you then experience the case just like the jury present not sympathetic enough. The main question: was it self-defence, do they deserve freedom, is this all true? 

The mini-series ends with a moment back in time on the boat where José Menendez and Mary Louise 'Kitty' Menendez are seen reconnecting and rekindling their love marriage and wondering why their boys are acting weird. On the other side Erik is confirming to kill their parents and makes sure Lyle doesn’t back out. This episode leaves questioning who the mastermind was in this whole case, and still what the main motive of the Menendez brothers was to murder their parents José and Kitty Menendez?

The Menendez brothers Lyle and Erik got caught because of Dr. Oziel. He pissed of his mistress Judalon, who then told the police every secret Dr. Oziel told her about the sessions between the Menendez brothers. Apparently, the doctor recorded all the sessions between the boys (with their approval) and stored all his notes and tapes at different save places to ensure his own safety. For me that seemed a little bit off. In the series the Menendez boys don't come over as trusting people fast, so what let them trust Dr. Oziel that much? 

Kill or be Killed gave deeper details of the emotions and events that took place. It is a trigger for anyone that experienced sexual abuse. Lyle Menendez shares his part of the story, how the abuse of his father José Menendez started. While watching this episode you will see that some ‘Monsters’ are created, not born this way.

Can we call this episode a 30-minute monologue, by Cooper Koch? The details in which the abuse that Erik Menendez might have experienced is presented with so much emotion by the creators of Monsters. You can see the stages of an abused man who doesn’t know if he should hate what happened to him, be glad it’s over, love his father, hate himself and the most important stage: questioning if who he is, is because he is born like this or created like this? This episode shows that men can also be sexually abused. In this time of of age we know it is possible. In that time of age it might not have been this accepting by the public. 

The focus of the second episode was the alibi of the boys and what they did after they killed their father José Menendez and their mother Mary Louise 'Kitty' Menendez. The moment they came back to the house expecting people to have found the bodies, yet the whole Beverly Hills neighborhood was quiet. You can see them being portrayed as emotionless creatures, the way they ‘discovered’ the bodies, and watched the result of their actions laying in the room. They were walking in sync with each other communicating without words.

The first episode shows an overall Beverly Hills vibe. It is full of pastel colors, sunshine and beautiful people. While watching the show you feel there is a dangerous secret, it keeps you hooked and on an edge. You can see the closeness of the Menendez brothers Lyle and Erik. The emotional struggle Erik is experiencing after the murder of their parents. Erik is struggling to life with a big secret and is having suicide thoughts. Lyle is trying to act normal picking up his life walking in his father’s shoes, while fighting the monsters in his head.