Just finished the series, and wow, I'm surprised at the number of positive reviews. First, anyone who has done a lot of reading and research about this case across sources will be shocked at its bias. Extremely relevant information was left out and vital facts were significantly altered. According to Variety (9/21/17), even show creator Dick Wolf admits to an agenda.
Regardless, simply in terms of series entertainment, I found it slow and unexpectedly boring given the intriguing, disturbing nature of this high-profile family and case. It felt super contrived, which made it difficult to connect with the tragic, real-life characters and to their allegedly horrific story as it unfolded on the screen. The "boys", who were actually adults at 21 and 18 when they murdered their parents, shift between snooze-fest flat and over-the-top annoying as they try to play their emotionally complex characters. Writing? Acting? In my opinion, both. And, although Edie Falco probably did an excellent job portraying the aggressive, "always pushing the envelope" Leslie Abramson, the mini-series felt like its primary purpose was to ensure she attains sainthood, stat, rather than portray her as the passionate but very human, possibly deeply flawed real-life self as described in other accounts.
I'm a sucker for L&O and true crime dramas, but between the misrepresentation of and missing key facts about the "boys", the crime, and the trial, the "meh" pace and "meh" Menedez character portrayals, the fact that there were so many drawn out scenes focused on Leslie Abramson and her "flawless" passion and devotion to "her boys", I think the L&O franchise is capable of much better work.
Regardless, simply in terms of series entertainment, I found it slow and unexpectedly boring given the intriguing, disturbing nature of this high-profile family and case. It felt super contrived, which made it difficult to connect with the tragic, real-life characters and to their allegedly horrific story as it unfolded on the screen. The "boys", who were actually adults at 21 and 18 when they murdered their parents, shift between snooze-fest flat and over-the-top annoying as they try to play their emotionally complex characters. Writing? Acting? In my opinion, both. And, although Edie Falco probably did an excellent job portraying the aggressive, "always pushing the envelope" Leslie Abramson, the mini-series felt like its primary purpose was to ensure she attains sainthood, stat, rather than portray her as the passionate but very human, possibly deeply flawed real-life self as described in other accounts.
I'm a sucker for L&O and true crime dramas, but between the misrepresentation of and missing key facts about the "boys", the crime, and the trial, the "meh" pace and "meh" Menedez character portrayals, the fact that there were so many drawn out scenes focused on Leslie Abramson and her "flawless" passion and devotion to "her boys", I think the L&O franchise is capable of much better work.