Erik_Surewaard

In 2022, the genre of true crime content was rocked by the release of an awesome show named "Monster" with in its first season focussed on serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. But sadly enough, Netflix didn't follow up its initial success. The second season of Monster, which was focussed on the relatively unknown Menendez Brothers, was in my opinion very weak. And third season?! Well, at the moment of writing, it was released just two weeks ago. And sadly to say, it was even worse than season two. Focussed on Ed Gein, it is in my opinion a huge disappointment. It is true that Ed Gein committed heinous acts, but he is not really a serial killer. He is a serial graverobber and necrophile (having intercourse with dead people). It is also clear that with "Monster", writer and director Ryan Murphy is focussed on exploring storylines about gay (Dahmer and the Menendez Brothers) or transgender (supposedly Ed Gein) serial killers. This instead of providing the viewer with the most accurate storyline of some of the world's famous serial killers. A case in point is the recent Ed Gein release, which includes lots of untrue events, whilst at the same time jumping around to storylines about the second World War or for instance Alfred Hitchcock whom is basing his movie "Psycho" on elements taken from Ed Gein's heinous crimes. Fact is also

But lucky for us, it is the streaming platform of Comcast / Universal named Peacock that saw the potential of a series that would continue in the same way as the first season of "Monster"! And the serial killer?! Well, for the first season they chose to base it on John Wayne Gacy. One of the most renowned serial killers of modern history. Way better known than e.g. The Menendez Brothers or Ed Gein.

And the result is excellent! I have to admit that it is not at the same level of the first season of Monster, i.e. The one focussed on Jeffrey Dahmer. But whilst watching it, one really gets the same feeling of quality and top-notch acting that we also saw in Dahmer! Totally different than the 'thirteen-a-dozen' Lifetime productions about murderers. Note: I honestly never understood why Lifetime never took the opportunity to significantly upgrade its production quality of its movies about murderers. Especially considering the huge interest there is with true crime.

With great acting and awesome sets that make you go back to the 1970's, this show about John Wayne Gacy is a gem to watch! The 8 episodes are such an awesome watch, that you can easily bingewatch it in one go! Of course if you have the time available! But with this show being released during the more cold and dark October month - close to Halloween - it is actually there at the right moment and time for 'doing a bingewatch'!

With a second season that is focussed on serial killer Richard Ramirez, known under the name 'The Night Stalker', we can already look forward to a second season of serial killer madness! And I hope that, different from Netflix, Comcast / Universal is destined to continue this show in the same way as it started! My score for this first season that is focussed on John Wayne Gacy, is a very deserved 8.5/10, just making it an IMDb rating of 9 stars! A very clear recommendation for anyone with an interest in true crime!