Spooky Season Series Selection Part 2 - Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story

Austin Price, Editor in Chief  

In continuing my Spooky Season Series Selection, we have another series created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan for Netflix. Today’s selection is the second season of the Monster series and focuses on a controversial and highly debated case. The disputation of this case was mainly due to the extensive media coverage and exploitation of all involved through the televised process. In a harrowing account of childhood abuse and the greed of the American Dream, comes the biased story of the Menendez brothers. Today’s Spooky Season Series Selection is Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.  

On September 19, 2024, nearly two years after the show’s debut, the second installment in the Monster anthology series hit the streams. The second series centers on the 1989 murders of José and Kitty Menendez. The murders were later determined to be parricides, as the couple was killed by their own sons, Lyle and Erik Menendez. Nicholas Alexander Chavez portrays the eldest brother, Lyle, while Cooper Koch embodies the younger brother Erik. Javiar Bardem plays the head of the house, José, and Chloë Sevigny accompanies him as José’s wife, Kitty.  

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story incorporates the Rashomon effect. The Rashomon effect is the phenomenon of the unreliability of eyewitnesses. It is used by the show’s creators, Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, to allow viewers to form their own interpretations of the story, by presenting key events through unreliable narrators. The narrators of the series are the brothers, Lyle and Erik, the leaders of the family, José and Kitty, Erik's lead defense attorney, Leslie Abramson, Erik's therapist, Dr. Jerome Oziel,  Dr. Oziel's mistress, Judalon Smyth, and Dominick Dunne, a journalist whose biased perception of the boys’ story was published in Vanity Fair.  

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story has received a plethora of criticism, mainly due to the overly sexual themes seen in the episodes. While childhood sexual abuse is one of the main aspects of the Menendez brothers' case, many argue that the explicit sexual content and portrayal of the characters discount the severity of the issue in the true story. Additionally, the show garnered controversy for implying an incestuous relationship between the brothers. This relationship has been denounced by both Erik and Lyle. However, Lyle later expressed gratitude for its depiction of child abuse, that gave a new light to his side of the story, and a better reasoning for his motive.  

The series has 9 full episodes, each of which bounces between featuring different viewpoints and accounts of those involved. The soundtrack, costumes, set design, and mannerisms of each episode clearly demonstrate the spirit of 1989, when the crime took place. Out of the 9 episodes, halfway through the series, at episode 5, is The Hurt Man.  

Directed by Michael Uppendahl and written by Ian Brennan, episode 5 is a one-shot episode that features the magnificent talents of Cooper Koch and Ari Gaynor. The episode centers on a conversation between Erik, played by Koch, and his lead defense attorney, Leslie Abramson, played by Gaynor. This conversation reveals Erik’s account of the atrocities committed by his father, while his mother, aware of the situation, neglected to protect him. In a haunting conversation formatted in a confessional style, Erik expresses the nightmares of his past. Leslie serves as a mentor, guardian, and safe space for him to finally relieve himself of the horrors of his childhood.  

The series has gained various opinions from the public. Some were swayed by the passionate performances of Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez. Their depiction of the brothers garnered an unexpected sympathy from the current generation. This is due to the current generation’s more inclusive and empathetic outlook on life, as well as our distrust of the legal system. With this outlook, Erik and Lyle’s stories were finally told to a captivated audience, bringing their supposed injustice in punishment and time served under scrutiny. As a member of Generation Z myself, I will say that the performances of Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez were heartfelt and raw and gave a voice to the unexpected victims of the story.  

Unlike the first season of the series, Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, season 2 is much more entertaining and is written for audience appeal. Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, was written in a no-nonsense way, clearly painting Dahmer as the villain, with no room for debate. Season 2 of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, is a more Hollywood studded, glamorized version of true crime, blurring the line between hero and villain and skewing the perception of truth and reality.  

Despite the multiple controversies, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story achieved global commercial success, debuting as the number one series on Netflix worldwide, the most-viewed streaming content on the Nielsen Streaming Chart, and the third most-watched Netflix series in the second half of 2024. Critics and academy members praised the performances of the actors involved. At the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, it earned 11 nominations, including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for Koch. For the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, nominations included Miniseries or Television Film for Koch, and Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film for Bardem.  

With the incredible success of the first two seasons of Monster, the series was again renewed for a third season, Monster: The Ed Gein Story which was released on October 3rd, 2025. It stars Charlie Hunnam as murderer and graverobber Ed Gein. Tune in again next week for the third installment of Spooky Season Series Selection for analysis of Monster: The Ed Gein Story, along with more productions by Ryan Murphy.  

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is available to stream on Netflix.  

Hit TV Show, Stranger Things, Highlights A Variety of Human Relationships

Schuyler Kropp, Staff Writer 

Stranger Things is a TV Show set in the 1970’s through the 1980’s that was introduced to Netflix in July of 2016. It was made by the Duffer Brothers, as a multi-genre series including science fiction, horror, drama, and action. The show quickly gained a lot of popularity and views, making many of its young actors famous. In the beginning of the show, the character Will Byers, played by actor Noah Schnapp, goes missing in the town of Hawkins. The past of Hawkins is uncertain in the beginning of the film but then, the cause behind tragedies in this town are revealed. 

The show often centers around the character, Eleven. She grew up inside a mysterious lab and eventually made an attempt to run away. She escapes through the underground tunnels leading out into a forest away from the lab. When she escapes, she is found by three boys— Micheal, Dustin, and Lucas— who help her learn about the outside world. As she starts to explore this new world, she starts to learn how to form meaningful relationships and love the people around her. You can learn about love through Eleven’s journey of discovery. She explores different types of relationships in her life. Those types of relationships are friendship, romantic, self, and parental love. 

She experiences friendship and love through the relationship she has with Max. At first, Eleven doesn’t like Max because she is jealous over a boy, but when Max asks her about him, they learn about their likes and dislikes. Max gives Eleven relationship advice, and allows her to discover her taste of who she wants to be. This is how she finds happiness with Max. Later on in the show, they understand each other better as their friendship grows. Throughout the show, they support each other through difficult and even violent times as they face issues with both friends and supernatural forces. Their friendship teaches us how we can rely on friends through hard times.

Eleven experiences romantic love in the show with her boyfriend, Mike. Mike and Eleven become friends during her time when she first escaped the laboratory. They become closer as they both struggle with bullies in their lives. Throughout the show, they are both willing to stand up to these bullies for each other. As she defends Mike, Eleven learns that she wants to use her powers for the greater good rather than showing them off or hurting others. As he finds safety in Eleven, he discovers that he can always have someone to rely on through tough times. This relationship teaches us that our partners are supposed to be people who always have our backs. 

Eleven learns about self love throughout the show as she tries to figure out who she is. At the beginning of the show, she had been stuck in a lab for her entire life and therefore, had never been able to discover herself. Once she breaks out and is able to explore the world, she starts to gain a sense of independence. She starts to be able to make her own decisions, including who she hangs out with, how she dresses, and what her values are. This teaches her about herself as she is no longer just a tool for someone else. She also takes time to discover her past and meets her sister, Kali and her mom. From her journey of self discovery, we discover that no matter how bad our pasts may be, it is always okay to keep moving forward and make our own decisions about how our futures shape us.

This show also models parental love with the characters Hopper and Eleven. Hopper adopts Eleven when she escapes from the lab and quickly becomes her father figure. The beginning of their father and daughter relationship is a bit tough as Hopper becomes controlling of her. Hopper wants to protect Eleven as she fights the evil in Hawkins, but at one point ends up pushing her away as she tries to find independence. Eleven returns to him once they both open up about how they have lost important people in their lives. Hopper has made mistakes but his relationship with Eleven allows him to reflect on this, move forward, and become a better person. Hopper helps her understand what parental love is and what it means to be unconditionally supported. Their relationship shows us that parents are supposed to love and support us even through disagreements.

Character based storytelling is important because it allows us a new way to learn about ourselves and how to navigate the real world. Stranger Things shows how people love each other and what that is like. I like to relate some of my writing to this show, as I like to tell stories and express different relationships between characters. The beauty of stories is that they can show how everyone deserves to be loved.

The 5th and final season of Stranger Things will premiere later in 2025 on the streaming platform, Netflix. 

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Peeling Back the Layers – The Brilliance behind Rian Johnson’s Newest film, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

By Austin Price, Staff Writer

In November of 2019, a new film of a lesser-known genre shocked the world with its intricate plot, star-studded cast, and complex writing. This film was Rian Johnson’s Knives Out. Featuring A-list actors including Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana De Armas, and Jamie Lee Curtis; Knives Out is a murder mystery masterpiece with unexpected plot twists, elaborate details, and clever character development. Knives Out brought new life to a seemingly dead genre of murder mysteries while also incorporating dark comedy and thriller crime. 

Knives Out was heavily recognized for its talents and took home accolades including winning the Academy Award for Writing (Original Screenplay) (2020) and the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (2020). Knives Out was also nominated for a plethora of awards and both the actors and writers were nominated in various categories. 

Because of the immense success held by Knives Out, the anticipated sequel, Glass Onion, was predicted to flop and the expectations were low. However, Glass Onion shocked the academy and delighted audience members with an excellent story and newly fueled cast, led by returning actor from the first film, Daniel Craig. 

Glass Onions made its debut in 2022. Following its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2022, Glass Onion began a one-week limited theatrical release on November 23, 2022, receiving the widest theatrical release ever for a Netflix film and grossing $15 million; Netflix began streaming it on December 23. This astounding level of success was well deserved as Rian Johnson once again delivered a well-orchestrated story with the perfect mix or humor, mystery, and ironic comedy. 

As a true crime addict and murder mystery fanatic, Glass Onion was on the top of my list of movies to watch. Luckily, Glass Onion reached my Netflix account amidst Christmas break, making it a perfect time to watch, appreciate and analyze this fabulous film. 

Rian Johnson introduced a new cast led by Daniel Craig and involving Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Kathryn Hahn, Janelle Monae, Leslie Odem Jr, Dave Bautista. Madelyn Cline, Jessica Henwick, and many more. This cast is comprised of actors, athletes, musicians, and most of all, storytellers. As a movie lover, this menagerie of actors was both exciting and entertaining. Each actor involved brought skills and characteristics to some of the most unlikeable characters, also known as disruptors, that made us both love and hate them at the same time. 

In simple words, Glass Onion can be summarized as a story where a tech billionaire Miles Bron invites his friends for a getaway on his private Greek island. When someone turns up dead, Detective Benoit Blanc is put on the case. However, this seemingly simple summary is anything but simple and the amount of easter eggs, inside jokes, and Knives Out callbacks keep the audience on the edge of their seats until the credits roll. 

Glass Onion, the movie’s unique title

Glass Onion’s very first Easter egg is in its title. “Glass Onion” is also a Beatles song that can be found in the band’s self-titled tenth studio album most popularly known as “The White Album." With lyrics such as “Lady Madonna trying to make ends meet” and “The walrus was Paul," “Glass Onion” pokes fun at fans that are constantly trying to look for hidden meanings behind the band’s songs, telling us that sometimes, things that seem deep and complex can be quite simple and see-through – much like Miles Bron (Edward Norton) and his mysteries. The reference to the song can also have something to do with the movie’s intent of showing the truth behind the obscenely rich and famous, as one of the verses says, “Looking through the bent backed tulips/To see how the other half live." This easter egg is directly addressed as an intentional reference in the movie’s end credits where the song is featured.

Celebrity Cameos 

Continuing into the first scene of the movie, we open to witness Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) killing time during the COVID-19 initial lockdown by playing the hit game, Among Us, with some famous faces. Sitting in his bathtub, Benoit has a two-screen setup, one of which shows a Zoom chat between him, actress Angela Lansbury, Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim, actress Natasha Lyonne, and basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 

One thing all these stars have in common is their connection to murder mystery content in pop culture.  After retiring from basketball, Abdul-Jabbar wrote a series of novels based on Sherlock Holmes’ brother, Mycroft. Natasha Lyonne is set to star in Rian Johnson’s upcoming Peacock murder mystery series Poker Face. One of Stephen Sondheim’s greatest plays is Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street; and one of Angela Lansbury's best-known performances is as Jessica Fletcher on Murder, She Wrote. These group of murder mystery enthusiasts are also recognized in their screen names on Among Us with Sondheim’s alias as FleetSt, and Lansbury’s as MSheSolved. 

Up next is one of my favorite celebrity cameos in the movie which is that of Hugh Grant. The British actor appears briefly as Phillip, a character that was later confirmed by Grant himself to be Benoit Blanc’s husband. With one of Daniel Craig’s most famous roles being that of James Bond, the summary and takeaway of audience members is that Hugh Grant is married to James Bond. Good for him, I think a lot of us would love to be married to a mega rich, very attractive, worldwide super spy. Relationship goals in my opinion. 

Puzzle Boxes and Clues

As the character’s receive their invitations to Bron’s party in the form of complex puzzles, we see a rather harrowing and infamous symbol. After Miles' friends complete his game box, they find an invitation to his private island in Greece. What's interesting about the card is there's a symbol of an evil eye, or a mati, which has had different meanings throughout history. Its inclusion could be a connection to Greece, where the film takes place. It could also be because the symbol is worn to ward off evil and may be a reference to how the so-called disruptors group, the name Miles gives his friends, protects Miles and helps keep him in power. 

While the presentation is intricate, the puzzle boxes are actually very simple, essentially dumbing down clever games and mind tricks to better suit the intelligence level of the disruptors. When Miles’ guests all receive their intricately designed mystery box, it appears to be an array of mentally taxing puzzles. However, one of the games is a telling reveal that Miles isn’t the genius he pretends to be. In the chess box, the pieces are set to what’s known as “Fool’s Mate,” one of the least complicated and easiest positions to score a checkmate.

Incorporating COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic brought countless hardships to most of the world. However, the use of facemasks in Glass Onion clearly demonstrates the different stereotypes, both good and bad, that have come forth because of the pandemic. The way each of the characters wear their mask tells us a lot about their personalities. Lionel’s (Leslie Odom Jr.) properly-fitted, sober black mask is a clear indicator of his science-oriented mind. It’s the mask of a man that knows just how severe this pandemic is. Meanwhile, Claire’s loose mask, with her nose popping out, tells us that she is a busy woman with no time for vanities, but also that she doesn’t care as much as she pretends to. Birdie’s golden mesh mask shows a complete misunderstanding of what the masks are even for, and Duke (Dave Bautista) and Whiskey’s (Madelyn Cline) lack of a mask speak of their blatant disregard for others. I think I can safely say all of us know or have seen these different types of people throughout the pandemic. 

Continuing with our recognition of COVID-19, we see Bron’s assistant (Ethan Hawke) administer questionably intense doses of a COVID-19 like shot. A shot doesn’t mean you get to stop wearing your mask, but, in the world of Glass Onion, it kind of does. After all, the vaccine that Miles Bron got while we were all still locked up at home is certainly much more powerful than the ones going around. 

The Idiocy of Miles Bron

Alright, I think that’s enough COVID talk. The next easter egg we have is the name of Miles Bron’s company, Alpha. However, it is not the first letter of the Greek alphabet that appears all throughout Glass Onion. Instead, it is the letter omega, the alphabet’s very last one, that we see all around: on Bron’s yacht, on Lionel’s lapel, and even on Benoit’s watch, an Omega Seamaster 1948. Together, the two letters form the expression “alpha and omega”, meaning the beginning and the end of something. This indicates that Miles’ empire is coming to an end.

Another easter egg given to us by Miles Bron (Edward Norton) is his wardrobe choice in a flashback scene. We see the “disrupters” hanging out at a bar when Miles comes in. His outfit in this scene is identical to that of another movie character, Frank T.J. Mackey (Tom Cruise), a pick-up artist from the 1999 movie Magnolia, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The fact that Bron is emulating Mackey speaks of his desire to charm everyone around him, and a cockiness that he apparently admires in the Mackey character.

One of the biggest hints the film gives us to predict the ending is through the murder mystery game, created by Bron and solved by Blanc within the first five minutes of the game. The fictional story maps out a lot of what happens in the film.

First off, Miles has a packet of fake blood in his shirt to simulate being killed, which mirrors the hot sauce packet Benoit uses later to make it look like Helen was shot on the stairs. Second, the solution to the "murder" is actually very simple, but it's filled with nonsensical layers to confuse the guests (and the audience). Third, the answer to the mystery is hidden in plain sight. While the necklace containing the diamond is right in front of them during the meal, the napkin with the plans for the company is in Miles' office, hidden behind the false napkin. And finally, Miles took credit for something he didn't create. He introduces the game by saying that he spent a lot of time crafting the plot, but later confesses that someone else wrote the whole thing. It's exactly how he took credit for Andi's hard work building Alpha and then stole the company out from under her. Basically, Miles has no originality whatsoever. 

Callback to the original film, Knives Out

Glass Onion also gives recognition to its parent film, Knives Out. When Benoit arrives on the island, Miles tells him that he didn't actually invite him to his murder mystery weekend despite receiving the same invitation as everyone else. Miles allows Benoit to stay because he thinks it will be fun, but the detective warns him to not think lightly about the mistake.

"An anonymous invitation is not to be trifled with," Benoit says.

This is a callback to the first film when Benoit was hired to solve Harlan Thrombey's (Christohper Plummer) murder. It turns out Harlan's grandson Ransom (Chris Evans) hired Benoit anonymously, hoping to frame Harlan's nurse, Marta (Ana De Armas).

Batman Benoit Blanc

Benoit Blanc continues to be our favorite hero by humbling claiming, “I am Not Batman” while conversing with Andi about the plan to expose Miles’ crime and get justice for her sister, Helen. During the film’s reveal that Helen (Janelle Monae) is Andy’s twin sister, Benoit offers to help her infiltrate Bron’s island getaway. However, he notes, “I am not Batman,” which is slightly undermined by the score. As Benoit formulates a plan to catch Miles, a small sample of Danny Elfman’s iconic score from Tim Burton’s Batman can be heard.

The Film’s Structure

The Glass Onion metaphor gets spoken about a lot in the film for all the layers built into Miles' mansion, with its twisting corridors, numerous rooms, and hidden secrets. But it also could serve as a reference to the film itself. The plot has so many different layers, with multiple suspects all with their own motives, secrets, and ways their lives and careers overlap. 

Another Murder Mystery Masterpiece is on the way

All in all, Glass Onion is filled with easter eggs, inside jokes, ironic undertones, beloved characters, infamous villains, gorgeous settings, and clever tricks that keep the audience guessing and stressing over the potential endings. While that is all I have for Glass Onion, I can promise you murder mystery lovers that here is more to come for the Knives Out series. The third in the Knives Out series has been confirmed since March 31, 2022, when Netflix closed a huge deal for Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (the second film) and a third movie. The deal was reportedly worth more than $400 million, making it one of the biggest streamers deals in history. While the title, cast, and plot is still unknown for the 3rd film, we can anticipate yet another brilliant whodunnit story brought to us by our favorite mystery screenwriter, Rian Johnson.

Must Watch Christmas Movies and TV shows on Netflix

By Sofia Flores, Staff Photographer

I don’t know about y’all, but Christmas is definitely my favorite time of the year! What’s not to love about the smell of freshly baked Christmas cookies, dressing the beautifully bare evergreen tree, snowball fights, quality time with friends and family, and not to mention… CHRISTMAS DINNER! But the one thing that effortlessly gets me into the holiday spirit without a doubt is Christmas movies! Ever since I was a kid, every year I would look forward to gathering into the living room with my family and watching a classic like Home Alone or Elf.

Trust me…I know the struggle. It’s hard to find the perfect movie or TV show on Netflix. It’s like no matter how hard you look, you can never seem to find the perfect choice. It’s almost as if you wished you had a list you can turn to or some kind of generator…

That’s where I come in! Sadly, I do not have a Netflix Christmas Generator, but I do have a list! I have compiled a Christmas themed list filled with movies and TV shows that you MUST watch on Netflix. So, kick back, relax, grab a cozy blanket, your favorite snack, and enjoy!

When you need a laugh…

1.       Unaccompanied Minors

This film will always be a classic. If you love pure, innocent fun and mischievousness, then this is definitely the choice for you! If I could only explain it using a couple of phrases it would be airport, Christmas, group of kids, freedom, and trouble.

2.       Love Hard

I would hands down give this movie a 10000000/10. This movie made me laugh out loud about 20 times throughout the whole film. This is a movie that would make you do the same, guaranteed! Want a romantic comedy that is genuinely comedic? This is the perfect match for you!

3.       Let it Snow

I think this is a movie that we would all be able to relate to, no matter what situation you find yourselves in this Christmas. Not only does it include a great deal of laughs, but it also gives you a great message that you cannot miss. Of course, I can’t spoil that for you! I guess you’ll just have to watch to find out…

When you’re in the baking spirit…

1.       The Great British Baking Show:

Holidays I have to admit… I SUCK at baking. Unlike my boyfriend, I can never seem to have a successful baking attempt, even if I follow the directions step by step. However, one thing I am great at is watching baking shows. And what’s more perfect than watching Christmas baking shows!

2.       Sugar Rush: Christmas

If you like the first choice, then you’re definitely going to love this one! Let the Christmas Baking continue!

3.       The Great British Baking Show

I know, I know…this is not a Christmas themed show, but I just HAD to include this in our list, my friends. What’s one thing we instantly feel when it comes to Christmas: cozy! That’s exactly the vibes that this show gives off. Just picture it: fireplace crackling, you’re all wrapped up in your most soft blanket, hot chocolate in your hand, and The Great British Baking Show is playing on the TV. Who wouldn’t love this?

When you’re feeling in love…

1.       Dash & Lily

Dash & Lily is by far one of the most amazing treasures I have had the honor of stumbling upon. You’re probably thinking this is just another cheesy, rom com of a show. Well dear reader, I hate to be the one to tell you that you’re wrong. It’s a show that includes two perspectives of Christmas: “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” and “It’s the worst time of the year.” If you’re looking for an intriguing, thrilling, romantic show; look no further!

2.       A Christmas Prince

Is this movie cheesy? Maybe a little bit. Is it amazing? Yes! Will it put you into the romantic Christmas Spirit? Heck yes! I admit, I was a bit skeptical when I first watched this movie but once I started watching it, I did not regret it a single bit. It’s a beautiful film that not only includes wonderful nuggets of wisdom, but a story of unexpected love!

3.       The Knight Before Christmas

This movie is definitely one of my favorite Christmas romance movies. It makes you fall in love with love, much like A Christmas Prince. Does that make sense? Probably not, but you get what I mean.

When you’re looking for something to enjoy with the family…

1.       Klaus

This film is a work of art, to say the least. The animation is absolutely beautiful, and the story line is even better. This is definitely a movie that you will enjoy with your family. It is the perfect way to keep the spirit of Christmas alive throughout the holiday season!

2.       The Princess Switch

One characteristic that is always correlated to the Christmas season is love. There is love being spread every second from partner to partner, friend to friend, and family to family. This movie is a perfect embodiment of that. It shows us that love is what connects us all together.

3.       The Holiday Calendar

This is a movie filled with…MAGIC! I have always thought of the Christmas season to be magical, and in this movie, it literally is! If there’s anything I have learned from this movie it's that there is always magic floating in the air, but it’s our job to notice it.

When They See Us Film Screening

By: Morgan Jacobus, Staff Writer

On Feb. 11, the Black Student Alliance (BSA) helped host the fourth screening of the docuseries, When They See Us. BSA President Eryn Rideout coordinated with the mayor’s office along with other organizations around Denver about this series around three months ago. When They See Us is a Netflix docuseries that was released May 31, 2019 about the Central Park Five who were accused and wrongfully convicted of the assault and rape of a jogger. The story of the five spans over a quarter of a century, from when the teens are first questioned about the incident in spring 1989 to their exoneration in 2002 to the settlement reached with the city of New York in 2014.

“I think the mayor’s office wanted to show this series now even though it came out like a year ago because these things are still happening today… it is not something that we can just act like it is not happening anymore,” said BSA president Eryn Rideout. 

Eryn mentioned how Regis was able to host two of the screenings, which was a unique opportunity to inform and encourage Regis students and community to make a change. 

“I think it is important to have it here, because Regis is a very much, I sometimes call it an ally-ship school. I don’t consider it a social justice institution necessarily just because these issues don’t get talked about at all in the depth they need to be talked about, and they don’t get talked about in the right ways, so I feel like this was pertinent to us doing it especially during black history month. It is still happening every day and we need to have these discussions so we as students can know what to do so that this doesn’t happen again,” said Rideout. 

The series consists of four episodes: The Crime, The Trial, The Aftermath, and The End. At each screening, there were different focuses in the conversations depending on what each episode was about. 

The first screening, held at Metro State University, had attendance of about 15 people, “Because that episode talked about the interrogations that the boys had to go through we mainly focused on that and we also went into things we can do, students especially, in our own communities and out in Denver to help with police brutality and these kinds of situations,” said Rideout. 

The second screening was at Regis, and featured some students and an alumni as panelists, with a crowd of around 20 people. Since that episode was about the boys being tried and convicted, “We were focusing on media because in that episode that was a big proponent to why the boys were vilified before they even went to trial,” said Rideout. Each episode prompts new topics for discussion and consideration for those that chose to attend. 

Though the third screening was unfortunately cancelled due to weather, Rideout explained how that episode entailed life after being convicted, in which three of the boys got out of juvie or finished their sentences. This episode brought up questions of how people are supposed to reenter society when so many factors are against them. 

The last episode and final screening was the most attended and likely most anticipated event. It was about Korey: the oldest of the five that had to serve his sentence in adult prison which came along with its own set of challenges. This episode also showed the person who actually committed the crimes stepping forward to confess, and how they were finally exonerated. For this screening they had a panel comprised of six individuals from various organizations around Denver that all see importance in this issue. There were attorneys, the mayor, and community members from the National Association of Real Estate Brokers.

“I loved the panel, I’m glad that they brought such great people who have seen these things unfortunately, but I think it was a great perspective to understand that these things are still happening every day and I think it just made it more than a docuseries or more than a movie to people and they are wonderful, they are doing great work out in the Denver community,” said Rideout. 

The panel discussed several issues, from the justice system, parenting, the media, and the impact we have an opportunity to make as a community and as students. Each of the panelists had experiences with wrongful conviction or had someone (sometimes more than one person) they knew that was a victim of wrongful conviction. With each of them coming from different perspectives, along with bringing their own personal experiences with these issues, they each had their reasons for being a part of the panel as well as why they thought this docuseries was important. 

For some of the panelists, they see the recurrence of unfortunate events like those in When They See Us, and how it is not an isolated incident, but one that continues to happen and will happen if we do not change something. 

“What I got from the movie is how little things have changed, and how much we are still doing the same things … we are still trying children as adults. We are doing the exact same thing over and over again now,” said Attorney Joyce Akhahenda. 

All the panelists had their own take on why the docuseries showings were so vital.

“This particular event is put on by the mayor’s office of community outreach. We were talking about how it is so important for you all not only to be involved but to lead the charge. It’s easy to say well that happened in New York that is certainly not happening here or its not happened in my life,” said Gloria Neal, who is a part of constituency affairs in the mayor’s office. 

Other panelists were struck by the sheer injustice in the docuseries, as well as in our society. 

“The reason I wanted to be a part of this was this case is famous, but also there are so many other cases that aren’t famous. I have been blessed throughout my life and I feel that it is important for me to give back and that is why I do the work I do but, also, this showing is about the things that are most important to me: social justice, racial justice, and juvenile justice, and all three of those are all linked together in the Central Park Five case,” said Attorney Courtney Denson. 

Angela Hutton-Hall, vice president of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, who was involved as one of the sponsors of the event, explained how she didn’t really know the real story behind the exonerated five, and emphasized the importance of becoming aware and informed that these things happen. “Like Dr. Martin Luther King said, ‘injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,’” she said. 

Many panelists were advocating for the rights of juveniles, and how cases like these treat them unfairly. 

“What it says to me is these are children, their brains are not fully developed. It really does say to me that it is a crime to be a person of color… You cannot forget that these are still children, and I think that is what is often lost,” said Attorney Nicole Duncan, who is a juvenile public defender. 

Overall though, each of the panelists expressed the importance of change, as well as emphasizing the impact that us as students can make. 

“I thought it was important to at least start a discussion and talk about it. We aren’t going to fix anything by having a discussion in this room, but it is the start of the solution… I hope the lesson you can take from this is the opportunity to be just and fair… use that in your everyday lives and in your future careers,” said panelist Steven Tilghman. 

That sentiment was obviously shared.

“This movie is a call to action. I think we continue to need new leaders to step up to accommodate and find out the injustice in our community. If we can make a difference that is really what we want to do. I am really passionate about equal rights and fair for all,” said panelist Milford Adams. 

Ultimately, the basic goal of these screenings, panelists, and discussions was to prompt thought and reflection within the Denver community. Just being able to get people to see what they previously hadn’t allows them to expand their perspective on what is happening in the world around them. 

“A lot of people here hadn’t seen the docuseries, so I honestly mainly wanted people to come and see it and be in a space where they would be able to discuss it since it is such a powerful docuseries. That was my main hope, is that people would come see it here,” said Rideout. 

Rideout’s goal was achieved in the end with great attendance at the final event.

 “It was such a powerful movie, if you haven’t seen it you got to see it,” said Denver mayor, Michael Hancock. 

Must watch Netflix shows/movies for break

Photo source: broknowsmovies.files.wordpress.com

By: Rose Ferrie, Staff Reporter

Rose’s Picks:

1. Queer Eye

2. Stardust

3. Friday

4. Parks and Recreation

5. New Girl

6. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

7. Merlin

8. Big Mouth

9. Fullmetal Alchemist- Brotherhood

10. Sense 8

Coming Soon:

1. The Bird Box

Comedy Specials:

1. Trevor Noah- Son of Patricia

2. John Leguizamo’s Latin History for Morons

3. John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City

4. Bert Kreischer- Secret Time

5. Hasan Minhaj- Homecoming King

6. Ali Wong- Baby Cobra

Hero Movies/Shows:

1. Black Panther

2. Guardians of The Galaxy (1 and 2)

3. Thor Ragnarok

4. The Defenders (and all of their seperate TV Shows)

Rom-Coms:

1. Sixteen Candles

2. #realityhigh

3. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

4. The Kissing Booth

5. Set It Up

Holiday movies:

1. The Princess Switch

2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

3. Love Actually

4. A Very Murray Christmas

Disney movies:

1. Emperor’s New Groove

2. Beauty and the Beast

3. Moana

4. Coco

5. Lilo & Stitch

6. Atlantis The Lost Empire

7. Tarzan

8. Hercules

9. Mulan