Overview

• Netflix premiered the eight-episode season on October 3, and it quickly rose to the top of the platform’s viewership charts over the weekend.
• Reviewers fault what they describe as sensationalism and historical liberties, with Rotten Tomatoes critics’ scores hovering around 29%, the lowest for the Monster anthology.
• Coverage notes that some striking sequences and interactions are presented through stylized devices yet lack corroborating historical evidence, fueling debates about accuracy.
• Co-creator Ian Brennan and lead actor Charlie Hunnam argue the season is an exploration of mental illness and cultural impact rather than an attempt to glorify violence.
• Viewers are sharply divided over Hunnam’s high, childlike vocal portrayal, which he says drew on a rare Gein audio tape and character research.