In 1893, Lizzie Borden was found not guilty of murdering her father, Andrew Borden, and her stepmother, Abby Borden. The case remains one of the most famous unsolved crimes in American history, and Lizzie’s name has become synonymous with mystery and controversy. The murders, which took place in Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1892, have inspired everything from nursery rhymes to books and films. Now, the story is getting a new look in the latest season of Ryan Murphy’s Netflix true-crime series Monster, set to premiere on September 17. This installment will explore the life of Lizzie Borden, focusing on the pressures of her family life and the relationships that may have led to the brutal killings. The new drama stars Ella Beatty as Lizzie, Vicky Krieps as the maid Bridget Sullivan, Rebecca Hall as Abby Borden, and Charlie Hunnam as Andrew Borden. The series portrays Lizzie as a young woman stifled by the strict expectations of her father and stepmother, and caught in a forbidden relationship with the family’s new maid, Maggie. On August 4, 1892, Andrew left the house, leaving Lizzie, Abby, and the maid behind. When he returned, he found his wife dead and himself severely injured. According to Lizzie’s testimony, she discovered her father’s body after he had been struck repeatedly in the head with an axe. Abby’s body was found upstairs, and evidence suggested she had died about an hour earlier. Lizzie was arrested and tried for the murders in June 1893, but she was acquitted due to a lack of conclusive evidence. Despite this, the case has continued to fascinate the public, inspiring a wide range of creative works. These include a 1948 ballet by Agnes De Mille titled Fall River Legend, a 1965 opera by Jack Beeson and Kenward Elmslie, and the infamous nursery rhyme: “Lizzie Borden took an axe / And gave her mother forty whacks / And when she saw what she had done / She gave her father forty-one.” Several books have also chronicled Lizzie’s story, including The Trial of Lizzie Borden by Cara Robertson and The Fall River Tragedy by Edwin H. Porter. In recent years, the story has been adapted for film, with Christina Ricci starring in Lizzie Borden Took an Ax (2014) and Chloë Sevigny in Lizzie (2018). The new Monster series promises a fresh take, with a trailer showing Lizzie covered in blood, suggesting a more graphic and intense portrayal of the events. The series’ logline describes a tale of repressed desire and revenge, framing Lizzie as a woman who defies the constraints of her time. As with previous Monster episodes, this installment will explore the psychological and emotional complexities behind the crimes, offering a fictionalized yet compelling look at one of America’s most enduring mysteries.