Show Notes
Content note: This episode discusses sexual violence, which is depicted in the Netflix series. Please make sure this episode is a good fit for you.
In a spoiler-filled review of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan's eight-part series MONSTER: THE LIZZIE BORDEN STORY, ax expert Rachel McCarthy James joins us in the studio to discuss how closely the show follows the historical record.
Were Lizzie and her maid, Bridget, in a sexual relationship?
Was Lizzie obsessed with doves?
How similar is the house in the show to the actual Borden house?
Did Mr. Borden really have a closet full of axes with women's names?
How did Lizzie clean up a double ax murder in thirty minutes?
Did she even commit the crime?
And, perhaps most importantly, we tackle the pressing question of whether cherry trees can bloom and bear ripe cherries at the same time, from April to June.
If you don't plan to watch the show (and no one would think less of you), this is still a great episode for learning the true story of Lizzie Borden from Rachel McCarthy James, author of WHACK JOB: A HISTORY OF AXE MURDER, and for a look at how men tell women's stories. For starters, the series throws in nearly every woman ever linked to murder: Aileen Wuornos, Elizabeth Báthory, and Bertha Manchester all somehow make an appearance.
Created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, written by Brennan, and with six of its eight episodes directed by Max Winkler, the series may end up being a revealing window into how men think about women in 2026. Rather than shedding light on Lizzie Borden, it tells us more about what men think they understand about female relationships, psychology, and rage.
Along the way, Sonja does her Beavis and Butt-Head impression, Vanessa asks about imperforate hymens, and Rachel recommends a good "beginner murder weapon."
REFERENCES:
Rachel McCarthy James's 2025 book, WHACK JOB: A HISTORY OF AXE MURDER, is a far more reliable source on Lizzie and all things axe-related. Plus, it's a fascinating read!
We also recommend THE MAN FROM THE TRAIN: THE SOLVING OF A CENTURY-OLD SERIAL KILLER MYSTERY, co-authored by Rachel McCarthy James and her father, baseball statistician Bill James. It's a great read!
If you, too, missed the wild song about vaginas in THE LIZZIE BORDEN STORY, check out Episode 2 and fast-forward to the scene where the rotten oyster soup is made.
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