‘Dumbest show ever’ tops Netflix charts with 12,000,000 views despite backlash

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A controversial show that at least one viewer dubbed the ‘dumbest thing ever’ has shot to number one on the Netflix charts. Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story — which tells the true story of Lizzie Borden, who was tried and acquitted of murdering her father and stepmother with an axe — was released on September 17. This new adaptation, which was created by Ryan Murphy, stars Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden and puts a new gruesome spin on the tale. Since hitting Netflix, however, the show has found itself facing a mounting backlash. Some viewers have criticised Murphy for yet again treating real-life criminals as if they were characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, while others claim the show exploits other people’s tragedies for entertainment. Yet these criticisms clearly haven’t put off viewers who have spent the last few days binging the series. Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story courted controversy (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo) But that didn’t stop fans from watching (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo) The show is currently ranked number one on the global Netflix top 10 with more than 12,000,000 views. Still, The Lizzie Borden Story hasn’t impressed critics. The show only has a rather paltry 41% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and it’s been savaged by critics. The Guardian TV critic Lucy Mangan praised the show’s performances but criticised the writing, saying it was like adolescent boys wrote it. Ben Travers at IndieWire criticised the series’ lazy take on feminism and its recycling of old ideas. The show tells the ‘true story’ of Lizzie Borden (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo) the series has not been well recieved by critics (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo) Reactions from fans weren’t much better either. On X, @HowieBlingy wrote: ‘everyone involved should be industry blacklisted’ while @Script_Samurai added: ‘This is the dumbest goddamn thing I’ve ever seen.’ @hasanshahbaz19 gave a slightly more nuanced take, writing: ‘It’s a shame how after Dahmer, it went on a downward spiral; it became clear after Ed Gein that Ryan Murphy has made this series about his fantasies, not about the actual story.’ And this sentiment wasn’t just contained to X; on Reddit, user Shockinglyunoriginal asked: ‘How does Ryan Murphy continue to get work? Still, the series has some defenders (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo) Meanwhile, another user, Versakii, complained about the creative liberties the series took. ‘The entire story is flat out just not real in any way,’ they wrote. ‘Nothing about it is accurate in any way. And how they tried to make a connection with Aileen and make it about feminine empowerment and woman’s rights was just awful.’ All that said, the show does have its defenders, most notably Variety’s critic Aramide Tinubu, who claimed the series put a fresh spin on the Monster formula. Deals of the Day Oodie’s cosy blanket sale has arrived just in time for Christmas shopping Save over £700 on Simba's top-rated mattresses in this limited-time sale Topman’s new-season collection has arrived and prices start at just £10 An Instagram mattress left me with back pain – this one completely changed my mind From £700 MacBooks to discounted iPhones, the best Apple tech for studentsb Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is available to watch now on Netflix Arrow MORE: Inbetweeners stars share new behind-the-scenes photo and ‘disappointing’ warning for fans Arrow MORE: Prince Harry ‘set to release Diana documentary’ after uncle’s bombshell tell-all Arrow MORE: Patrick Clancy and new wife reveal they are ‘starting a family’ TV Newsletter Sign up and tell us which TV shows you love to watch to get personalised updates every morning.