Who Could Be The Featured Serial Killer In Monster Season 2?
The Netflix limited series "Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story" chronicles the life of infamous serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer (Evan Peters), who committed a slew of grotesque murders between 1978 and 1991. The series achieved an unprecedented amount of success upon release, smashing Netflix's record for the biggest series debut ever with an astounding 196 million hours of watch time during its first week on the streaming platform.
Yet, despite the series' incredible popularity, "Monster" was also steeped in controversy from the moment it premiered — with many viewers criticizing the series for its upsetting subject matter, alleged glorification of Dahmer's crimes, and tactless LGBTQ+ tag on Netflix. On top of that, several relatives of Dahmer's victims have spoken out about the way that the series itself has portrayed their respective families, saying that the show has exploited their family's suffering for entertainment.
Although the immense amount of controversy surrounding "Monster" is still quite prominent, it's undeniable that the series is still extremely popular amongst Netflix subscribers, which is perhaps why the streaming giant has already renewed the series for a second and third season, set to focus on "other monstrous figures who have impacted society" (via Deadline). Although it's unclear exactly who these "monstrous figures" are, there are a few notable serial killers who could fit the bill as the subject for "Monster" Season 2.
John Wayne Gacy could be featured in Monster Season 2
History is rife with famous serial killers who have become staples of popular culture due to the sheer shock value of their crimes, with perhaps the best example of this being Ted Bundy, who was already the subject of a movie and documentary series on Netflix. Because Bundy has already been featured in two prior series for Netflix, it's unlikely that he will be featured as the subject of "Monster" Season 2, though there are still plenty of monstrous serial killers to choose from.
Indeed, the most likely subject for Season 2 might be John Wayne Gacy — an infamous serial killer who was nicknamed the "Killer Clown" due to the fact that he regularly performed charity service while dressed as "Pogo the Clown." Gacy's story is significant because, although he infamously tortured and killed 33 people between 1972 and 1978, Gacy was also a prominent (and seemingly upstanding) member of his community (via Biography). Thus, the story of his twisted double life is one that seems perfect for "Monster" Season 2, especially considering the fact that the series has a history of adapting some particularly heinous and disturbing crimes.
Although Netflix has already featured Gacy in their documentary series "Conversations with a Killer" (the first season of which focused on the aforementioned Ted Bundy), they have not yet adapted his story in the form of a biographical drama, making him a prime candidate for the second season of "Monster."
Other possible subjects for Monster Season 2
Although Gacy is the most likely serial killer to be featured in "Monster" Season 2 due to the intriguing nature of his story alongside his notoriously vile crimes, there are still plenty of other infamous killers who could become the focus of this newfound anthology series. One possible option is the "Green River Killer," Gary Ridgway, who is believed to have killed 48 women during his lifetime, and evaded the police for 20 years before he was finally caught (via Crime Museum).
Dennis Rader is another possible subject for the series to explore. Known as "BTK" (which stands for "bind them, torture them, kill them"), he murdered 10 people during his lifetime and frequently sent notes and letters to local police and television stations which detailed his crimes. Outside of Gacy, perhaps the most obvious choice for "Monster" Season 2 is Joseph DeAngelo, also known as the Golden State Killer. DeAngelo is a former police officer who robbed, sexually assaulted, and murdered an estimated 106 victims across the state of California throughout the 1970s and '80s. DeAngelo evaded justice for four decades until finally being arrested in 2018 after he was linked to DNA evidence from several of the crime scenes (via LA Times).
Although all three of these men certainly fit the bill as "monstrous figures who have impacted society" due to the infamy of their crimes, there's still no telling which one will become the subject of "Monster" Season 2 — and as such, fans will have to wait for more information from Netflix to know exactly who this upcoming season will focus on.