Brother, Can You Spare A Dime? The episode opens on March 8, 1990. Dr. Jerome Oziel (Dallas Roberts) is driving when he receives a call from Dr. Laurel Oziel (Tessa Auberjonois) insisting he return home and ending the call. The police can be seen searching the Oziel house. He makes a U-turn. In the meantime, Lyle Menendez (Nicholas Alexander Chavez) and Erik Menendez (Cooper Koch) are looking at a property in proximity to the UCLA campus. Thrilled with the location, Lyle embraces Erik and shakes Hayden Rodgers’ (Jake Elliott) hand. He receives a concerning call from Gus. Elsewhere, Jerry returns home to find his home filled with cops and Laurel frantic. Detective Les Zoeller (Jason Butler Harner) says a search warrant has been executed on his property because it is believed that he possesses recordings regarding the Menendez murders. Oziel asks who told them. At the police station, Judalon Smyth (Leslie Grossman) claims Oziel recorded Kyle’s confessions. She claims Lyle and Erik never showed remorse. Back at the Oziel home, Laurel insists it was the “crazy bi**h” who told the police. Looking at the camera, Oziel denies violating patient confidentiality. Zoelle asks for the tapes.

Frantic, Lyle tosses Erik and Hayden a roll of cash each for his bail if he is arrested. He wants them to notify his lawyer, Gerald Chaleff (Brad Culver). Hayden asks why he is being paranoid. Lyle says the cops believe he and Erik killed Jose Menendez (Javier Bardem) and Kitty Menendez (Chloe Sevigny). Glenn assures him that it is the cop’s responsibility to find the killer. Frantic, Lyle voices concern about what will happen if the cops gain access to their therapy session tapes. In Oziel’s office  Detective Tom Linehan (Drew Powell), Zoeller, and several other people listen to Lyle and Erik say they had to kill Kitty. Back at the Menendez house, Lyle is much calmer after a swim. As he, Hayden, and Glenn pull out of the driveway, they find themselves surrounded by dozens of cops. A cop (Robert Burke) pulls Lyle out of the Jeep, forces him to the ground, and cuffs him. Zoeller reads his Miranda Rights. Later, Lyle is booked at the police station.

On the phone, Erik reminds Gerald that he said the police couldn’t touch them. Gerald promises to call high-profile Attorney Robert Shapiro (Salvator Xuereb) and in the meantime, he should leave Israel to avoid getting arrested by Interpol. At the jail, a guard escorts Lyle to his cell. An inmate recognizes him. Looking at his cell, Lyle says there is no way he can live in it. The guard shoves him into the cell and locks the door. Lyle sees a roach on the sink. Zoeller and Linehan are waiting on Erik when he arrives at LAX. He agrees to go with them willingly but Zoeller insists on handcuffing him. Later, Erik is escorted to his cell. He sits on the stained mattress and gags. Lyle admits to being worried that he would never see him again. Erik asks what will they say and reaches through the bars to hold Lyle’s hand. Lyle says it is just the two of them now. The next day, Lyle talks to his Grandma Maria (Blanca Araceli) on the phone about hair care products. During a phone call, Shapiro tells Lyle that their story needs to be more compelling than that prosecution. Whispering, Lyle suggests targeting the Bambino family.

At mealtime, Erik refuses to eat. Lyle gives him his milk and urges him to eat. Erik looks up to see Tony staring at him and hurriedly leaves. In the shower, an inmate snatches Lyle’s toupee off his head. Lyle curses and picks up his toupee. During a phone call, Lyle asks Jamie Pisarcik (Jade Pettyjohn) to send him some mousse, toupee tape, and dimes. Seeing Erik with a tray of milk cartons, Lyle asks if he wants to speak to Jamie. Erik ignores him and continues on his way. Lyle asks several guards for some Topstick wig tape. A guard points to the complaint form box. He visits Erik’s cell to find the toilet full of milk cartons. Erik says it keeps the milk cold. Lyle urges him to eat. Erik complains about the food making him nauseous. In a phone, Lyle asks Jamie to send Erik some moist wipes because he is afraid of the showers. Tony continues to watch Erik. Lyle cleans his toupee with Erik’s wig which doesn’t sit well with Erik. Lyle becomes upset when he receives $50, instead of dimes. Lyle tells Erik that they’re millionaires and can’t even get a roll of dimes. Erik calls Carlos to say they had nothing to do with the murders. Lyle tells the inmates he isn’t giving them 100 dollars for nine dimes. Tony ends up giving Erik dimes. Lyle still struggles to get more dimes. Erik overhears Tony saying showers used to scare him but they don’t anymore. He waits 20 minutes until everyone else is done and goes in. As a result, he has the showers all to himself. Lyle calls Uncle Carlos multiple times. One day, Erik goes into the shower around the same time as Tony. Lyle cries in his cell. Erik and Tony shower while looking at each other. Tony finishes and tells Erik he’ll see him around. The brothers talk to Robert about what they need. Robert tells them they have to get real here.

Lyle tells him that this is 1990 and the trial will be on camera. Therefore, they have to look the right way. Robert shows them a picture of the gas chamber because that’s what he’s most concerned about. He warns them they’re not sympathetic people. Robert reminds them that their arraignment was a disaster. Erik says they did not kill their parents. Robert says the public thinks they did. They need to try a different strategy if they want to avoid a death sentence. Erik almost says something. He says they haven’t talked about what really happened and the stuff that went on before the murders. Lyle asks for a brief moment alone. Then, Lyle insists they’re not going to talk about that. He claims it’s just being boys.

Lyle tells Erik they’re not going to talk about it. Robert Shapiro learns that he’s been fired. Shapiro claims the boys are impossible to defend. He says they were arrested because of the audio tapes. Robert insists they need to consider that the brothers are guilty. They need to find a better or they’re going to be put to death. Tony (Brandon Santana) talks to Erik about his sentence. Tony admits he’s confused about Erik. He believes he’s gay. Erik says he doesn’t even like that word. Tony still believes he likes being with guys. Erik says no because of what he went through at home, but he likes being around Tony. As for Tony, he knows who he is and doesn’t care. Erik is strip searched. A letter is found. In a flashback, Erik reads the letter from Lyle suggesting Mark should drive the Porsche through the prison loading dock.

Then, they can get plastic surgery and change their hair. He talks about getting passports and heading to Canada. Erik watches as Lyle is pulled from his cell and moved to a different block. During a visit, Erik speaks to Carlos about the letter. Carlos asks if there is someone on his cellblock that he can trust. Erik says yes. Tony meets him outside a bit later. Leslie Abramson (Ari Graynor) and her husband, Tim Rutten (Michael Gladis), talk to a woman about adopting a child. Leslie believes it’s way too easy to have a kid because so many kids are neglected. Leslie is asked why she’s ready to do motherhood all over again. She admits she doesn’t actually remember being a mother. She believes she’s at a point where she could enjoy being a mother and it wouldn’t be such a struggle.

Dominick Dunne (Nathan Lane) speaks to Sharon (Earlene Davis) who asks if he believes the Menendez boys are evil. He says yes and he also believes they did it. He tells Joyce (Kristin Lindquist) that nothing shocks him anymore. It disgusts him that the justice system puts the rights of killers and rapists above their victims. Leslie tells a man that the justice system is biased against defendants. Dunne overhears her and calls her the dragon lady. Leslie explains you have to understand a person’s state of mind when they committed the crime. Dunne believes she’s everything wrong with the system. Leslie speaks to Dunne moments later. When Leslie leaves, she gets a call from Gerry Chaleff. She tells him about the interview she just did. Leslie meets with the family of the brothers.

They say they just fired Robert Shapiro (Salvator Xuereb) because they didn’t think he was doing enough for the boys. Leslie tells Bob that she understands. She insists Shapiro isn’t who you want on a case like this. He likes cutting deals while she prefers fighting and winning. She tells them about her recent client, Arnel Salvatierra (Rhied De Castro) who admitted to killing his father who tortured him. Lesley explains how she defended Arnel and showed the jury that he wasn’t a monster. He was acquitted of first-degree murder and was sentenced to three years’ probation. Leslie would defend Erik, but Lyle would need separate counsel. She insists she will put up a heck of a fight although she can’t promise an outcome. She’s asked when she can start. Leslie tells Carlos Baralt (Enrique Murciano) that they should discuss her fee first. Leslie visits Erik and speaks to him about the last few weeks.

She tells them the spending spree was a mistake. Confessing to Oziel and letting them record it were mistakes as well. Threatening to kill Oziel is why the tapes are going to be admissible. Erik claims they didn’t kill their parents. Leslie read the letter Lyle wrote about the crazy escape plan. She points out that he wrote, “We alone know the truth.”

Leslie wants to know what Lyle meant about the family’s dark secrets. She has hired a forensic psychiatrist, Dr. William Vicary (Gil Ozeri), to speak to Erik about what happened. She has to convince him that Vicary is nothing like Oziel. Vicary tells Erik he needs to help him get to the bottom of this. Erik admits he and Lyle did it but there was a reason. William Vicary rushes to a phone. He meets Leslie to show her the notes from the session. Leslie meets Erik and thanks him for telling the truth. She says Erik was sexually molested by his brother Lyle. Leslie asks when it started. Erik says he was five or six. He thought he liked it at first but didn’t. Erik admits he never blamed Lyle because his dad did it to Lyle. He told him this is what the Spartans did and it made you tough. At some point, Lyle told him to stop and he did. Erik remembers when that happened.

That’s why his dad started doing it to him. Erik explains why he sprinkled cinnamon on his dad’s coffee or food. His dad started putting lemon juice on his food so it would numb his taste buds. Erik admits that didn’t work but he had to keep trying. He knew he’d be willing to do anything to make it stop at some point.

 

Monsters The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story Review

The third episode of Monsters was pretty dull and drawn out. The series is quickly becoming a parody of the case since it’s so unbelievable and even stupid at times. Many of the characters barely look like the people they’re supposed to resemble. The performances are not strong leading to humorous moments when they should be bleak and emotional.

Jail life isn’t accurately portrayed either. One would think this is a jail for all male models with gorgeous pearly whites. It definitely feels like someone involved is using the show to fulfill their warped fantasies. Furthermore, the prison has no security and the brothers wouldn’t be walking around with money.

That’s what the commissary is for. The brothers aren’t remotely worried about their safety despite being with violent individuals. The placement ads continue. The show has multiple issues. For starters, the story is stretched thin and never needed so many episodes in a season.

Secondly, it stretches believability to the point that it’s nearly stupid. It’s unfortunate but the story, the victims, and everyone involved deserved so much better. This really shows that a third series wasn’t warranted. The episode scores a 4 out of 10.

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