✨ Let’s get into it ✨
⏱ 2 min read
💡 TLDR
Ryan Murphy is officially leaning into the drama by giving Lizzie Borden a queer romance in season 4! There’s zero historical proof for a fling with the maid, but it’s definitely going to make for a messy, high-stakes binge.
Ryan Murphy is officially entering his female-led era with Monster season 4, and he’s already stirring up some major historical drama. This time around, we’re following the story of Lizzie Borden (played by Ella Beatty), who was accused of brutally murdering her father, Andrew Borden (Charlie Hunnam), and stepmother, Abby Borden (Rebecca Hall), back in 1892. While the real Lizzie was eventually acquitted, the new Netflix series is leaning hard into a spicy subplot: an intimate romance between Lizzie and the family maid, Bridget Sullivan (Vicky Krieps). It’s giving high-stakes tension, but we have to ask if this is actually true or just pure Hollywood magic.
Where The Romance Theory Came From
If you’ve been wondering why this feels so familiar, it’s because the “secret lovers” trope has been living rent-free in pop culture for decades. There is zero actual historical evidence that Lizzie and Bridget were anything more than employer and employee. The idea of a romance between them comes primarily from widespread theories and fiction. Most of the tea actually traces back to the 1984 novel Lizzie by the late author Evan Hunter, also known as Ed McBain. He reimagined their relationship as the motive for the entire crime, suggesting that the murders happened because the family found out about them.
💫 The idea of a romance between them comes primarily from widespread theories and fiction.
Fiction vs. Historical Reality
The drama didn’t stop with books; it moved straight to the big screen too. The 2018 film Lizzie depicted the two women as partners in crime who murdered Andrew and Abby together. Even in a 1999 interview on the docuseries Case Reopened, McBain doubled down on his theory: he speculated that Abby caught them together and reacted with total disgust, leading Borden to kill her. Then, when Andrew came home and had an equally negative reaction, she allegedly took him out, too. While these scenarios make for a wild binge-watch, they remain purely speculative. Without any authenticated accounts to back it up, the Netflix version is definitely choosing entertainment over accuracy.
Whether you crave hard facts or just want to be obsessed with a messy period drama, season 4 is clearly designed to keep us talking. Ryan Murphy isn’t shy about rewriting history to turn a cold case into a full-blown soap opera.
Do you prefer your true crime docs to be 100% factual, or are you totally fine with some creative liberties for the vibes?
❓ People Also Ask
What is the plot of Monster season 4?
Monster season 4 follows the historical story of Lizzie Borden, who was accused of murdering her father and stepmother in 1892. The upcoming Netflix series, led by creator Ryan Murphy, explores the high-stakes drama surrounding the crime with a focus on a queer romance subplot. The production features Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden, alongside Charlie Hunnam and Rebecca Hall, reimagining the infamous cold case through a lens of intense emotional tension and historical speculation.
Why do people believe Lizzie Borden and Bridget Sullivan were lovers?
The theory that Lizzie Borden and the family maid, Bridget Sullivan, were involved in a romance stems primarily from fictional interpretations rather than historical evidence. This idea gained significant traction through the 1984 novel Lizzie by Evan Hunter, which suggested their relationship was the motive for the murders. Pop culture has since embraced this trope, including a 2018 film that depicted the two women as partners in crime, fueling ongoing speculation about their relationship.
How does the Netflix series differ from historical facts regarding Lizzie Borden?
The Netflix series chooses entertainment and creative liberty over strict historical accuracy by including a romantic subplot between Lizzie Borden and Bridget Sullivan. While there is no authenticated historical evidence to prove the two women were anything more than employer and employee, the show leans into the spicy drama of their relationship. This approach mirrors previous fictional works that suggest the murders were committed to hide their secret connection from the Borden family.
Who are the main cast members in Ryan Murphy's Monster season 4?
The main cast for the fourth season of Monster includes Ella Beatty, Charlie Hunnam, Rebecca Hall, and Vicky Krieps. Ella Beatty takes on the central role of Lizzie Borden, while Charlie Hunnam portrays her father, Andrew Borden. Rebecca Hall plays the stepmother, Abby Borden, and Vicky Krieps is cast as the family maid, Bridget Sullivan. This ensemble brings a dramatic new perspective to the famous 1892 murder case through Ryan Murphy's stylized storytelling.
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📰 Source: StyleCaster