New Lizzie Borden Series Shines Most in Its Queer Storylines
The new Lizzie Borden series on Netflix received mixed reviews overall. However, its queer storylines were seen as the strongest and most interesting part of the show.
Netflix released a new series about Lizzie Borden. It is called 'Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story'. The show was created by Ian Brennan. Brennan also made other popular TV shows before.
The series tries to tell a feminist story. A feminist story focuses on the strength of women. But many viewers felt the show did not succeed. The feminist message felt unclear and weak to many people.
Brennan seemed to believe he made something very important. However, critics and viewers disagreed. The show received mixed to negative reviews overall. Many felt it tried too hard to say something big.
But there is one part of the show that stood out. The queer storyline in the series was praised by many. Queer means people who are not straight or not cisgender. Lizzie Borden's possible same-sex attraction was explored in the show.
Historically, there have been questions about Lizzie Borden's personal life. Some historians believe she had a relationship with a woman. The show tried to bring this part of her story to life. Viewers who care about LGBTQ+ representation appreciated this effort.
The website Autostraddle reviewed the series. Autostraddle focuses on LGBTQ+ culture and news. Their review was honest and direct. They said the gay parts of the show were the best parts.
In fact, the review suggested something bold. It said the show maybe should have focused only on the queer story. Everything else could have been removed. That is how strong those scenes were compared to the rest.
This is an important point for LGBTQ+ storytelling. Queer stories deserve full attention and care. They should not be a small part of a bigger story. They can carry an entire show on their own.
The Lizzie Borden series is a missed opportunity in some ways. But it also shows something positive. When queer stories are told well, audiences notice and respond. Creators should take note of this for future projects.
LGBTQ+ viewers continue to look for real and honest stories. They want stories that reflect their lives and history. This show gave a glimpse of that. But it could have gone much further.