‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’ Finale Intertwines Wuornos and Borden Legacies

The Netflix series 'Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story' concluded its run with an eighth episode, "Carnival," that bookended the narrative with the trial, conviction, and execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Created by Ian Brennan, the finale employed VHS-style aesthetics to simulate news magazine segments and Court TV broadcasts, featuring a cameo by Ari Graynor as a reporter.

Aileen Wuornos's testimony about her assault is depicted unflinchingly, cutting abruptly to her death sentence. The episode highlights her defiance upon conviction and her anger over suppressed evidence regarding a victim's history. Her final moments involve listening to Natalie Merchant's "Carnival" before receiving a lethal injection. In a thematic connection, the spirits of Lizzie Borden and Bridget Sullivan appear to Wuornos in the afterlife, guiding her to a place of forgiveness and understanding.

The narrative then shifts to Lizzie Borden's later life. Following her acquittal, Borden lived a life of luxury, supporting actress Nance O'Neill and turning her estate into an animal sanctuary. However, she remained unhappy and isolated, with her sister Emma struggling with addiction due to the trauma of their parents' murders. Bridget Sullivan, after a difficult marriage on the frontier, eventually returns to Borden, and together they find solace and forgiveness through prayer.

This newfound peace leads Lizzie and Bridget to actively support the women's suffrage movement, contributing to the passage of the 19th Amendment. The episode culminates with scenes of suffrage activists celebrating and Lizzie and Bridget living as an openly lesbian couple. The music from this scene then transitions back to "Carnival," cutting to Wuornos's execution.

The series' conclusion emphasizes the thematic weight placed upon the legend of Lizzie Borden, particularly her acquittal, contrasting it with Wuornos's conviction and execution. The episode also touches on the meta-commentary of the 'Monster' series itself, acknowledging the sensationalization of figures like Jeffrey Dahmer. The creator, Ian Brennan, is suggested to be critiquing his own project through this meta-narrative.

The finale aims to explore the humanity of individuals who have committed terrible acts, fostering empathy and understanding without condoning their actions. The episode closes with the poignant use of Fiona Apple's "I Know" over the credits, reflecting on the societal gap between advancements like the 19th Amendment and the systemic issues that led to Wuornos's death. The series uses figures like Wuornos and Borden to provoke thought on justice, patriarchy, and the state's role in societal narratives.