Reopening of the Menendez Brothers’ Trial and How it Changes Monsters Season 2

The news is out, folks! The Menendez Brothers’ trial is being reopened, and that raises a lot of questions in our heads.

Would we get a real-time closure to a true-crime docu-series? Or would the court of public opinion have its own way? Let’s find out!

Is the Menendez Brothers’ Trial Reopening?

The Menendez Brothers’ trial is set for a court hearing scheduled for this November.

Tracing back the history of the case, Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted of murdering their parents in 1989 and sentenced to life in prison.

Recently, new evidence has emerged, prompting the investigation to reopen. This new piece of evidence could be a game-changer in their conviction, potentially reducing their sentence or even setting them free.

This new evidence centers around a letter written by Erik Menendez in 1988, eight months before the murder. In the letter, Erik alleges that he was a victim of sexual abuse by his father.

This information is also the core defense taken by the brothers, claiming that the murder was an act of self-defense. The Los Angeles County District Attorney has verified that this new evidence is being thoroughly reviewed, as there is a moral and ethical obligation to do so.

What Does This Mean for Monsters Season 2?

The reopening of the investigation could have a significant impact on Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, the Netflix real-life crime series co-created by Ryan Murphy.

The show unearths the tragic and unexpected story of the brothers’ crime, followed by their subsequent conviction.

Recently, Murphy has signaled his interest in continuing the story, but not in the traditional form of a second season. Instead, he suggested adding a couple of extra episodes to the first season, provided the lead actors, Nicholas Alexander Chavez (Lyle) and Cooper Koch (Erik), agree to reprise their roles.

Will the Show Extend?

Ryan Murphy believes that the show has already played a role in shaping public opinion, giving the brothers “a moment in the court of public opinion.”

The outcome of the hearing and the actors’ willingness to return will likely determine whether the show will be extended.

Murphy has announced that the possible acquittal of the brothers could take the story in a new direction that would be worth exploring on screen.

Could This Bring Closure to Season 2?

If additional episodes are aired, they could offer viewers closure by following the brothers’ journey through the reopening of their case. This could reshape how audiences view the Menendez brothers and their motivations for committing the crime.

Murphy’s interest in reopening the case shows his commitment to exploring the complexities of the story further. Extending Monsters would provide a unique opportunity to cover the trial’s outcome and its impact on the brothers’ lives.

It would also offer a rare opportunity for the creative team to expand on a real-life event as it unfolds in real time.

Will The Lead Actors Return?

All fans are immensely excited to see Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch again, given their absolutely wonderful performance in season one.

But yes, their return not only depends on Netflix’s decision to bring them back, but also on whether or not they agree to return (that’d be great though, and we all know that).

Should the iconic duo reprise their roles for the upcoming season, the show could deep dive into the emotional depths that the brothers represent on-screen, showing an all-new insight into their lives.

Not only would their return be a fitting additional dimension to the show, but it would also allow the series to give a proper closure to the Menendez brothers’ story, which is a rarity every true crime fan would fall head over heels for.

A Few Final Thoughts

Every true crime fan has been eyeing Netflix with utmost hope the moment the trial reopened, expecting an expansion of Monsters: Season 2. And given that Netflix does have a friendly sense of responsibility towards its users, an extension can definitely be expected.

If all goes well, and the actors agree to share the screen again, we’re all in for a closure we all wanted for so long!

About Monster

Monster is an American biographical crime drama anthology television series created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan for Netflix. Murphy and Brennan both serve as showrunners. The series follows the lives of “monstrous figures”, with each season following a different killer or killers.

The first season, The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, focuses on serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer (Evan Peters), and released on Netflix on September 21, 2022. The series was initially conceived as a limited series, but was renewed for a second and third season in November 2022. The second season, The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, focuses on the murder case of the Menéndez brothers (Nicholas Chavez as Lyle Menéndez and Cooper Koch as Erik Menéndez), and released on September 19, 2024. In September 2024, the third season was announced to be focusing on killer Ed Gein (Charlie Hunnam).