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You've likely seen the Hitchcock classic, The Silence of the Lambs, and the horror staple. Perhaps you've also explored the original novels that inspired the first two films. Now prepare to meet the man behind the Bates Motel owner, the serial killer, and the chainsaw-wielding villain. The infamous Ed Gein!

The initial installments of the series in question focused on the Milwaukee monster – a name with widespread notoriety. Then came the Menendez brothers – a more niche story for dedicated true crime fans. Now the spotlight turns to the Butcher of Plainfield. Although he doesn't possess the household name status of other notorious killers, and his confirmed victims number just two, his grave desecrations and gruesome creativity with female corpses have left a lasting mark. Even now, any media featuring dismembered remains, removed epidermis, or items crafted from human tissue probably owes a debt to his actions from many decades past.

A Dismissive Approach

Do I sound flippant? This appears to be the intended style of the creators. It's uncommon to witness a television series that dwells so eagerly on the worst depredations an individual – and mankind – can commit. This extends to a significant plotline devoted to the horrors of the Third Reich, presented with minimal moral context.

Effective Pacing and Narrative

Structurally and stylistically, the show is impressive. The pacing is flawless, and the skillful blending of past and present is executed brilliantly. We see Charlie Hunnam as Gein committing his crimes – the homicides, grave robberies, and assembling his collection. Simultaneously, the present-day narrative follows Alfred Hitchcock, Robert Bloch, and Anthony Perkins as they craft the iconic film from Bloch's Gein-inspired novel. The blending of the real – his devout parent and his obsession with female doppelgangers – and the unreal – lurid portrayals of Ilse Koch and SS officer gatherings – is handled with technical skill.

The Glaring Omission

The missing element, in a truly unacceptable way, is any moral dimension or meaningful analysis to offset the protracted, admiring visuals of his immoral deeds. The series portrays his vibrant fantasy life and frames him as a helpless individual of his domineering mother and an accomplice with dark interests. The implied message seems to be: What is a poor, schizophrenic guy to do? In one scene, the novelist theorizes that without seeing certain images, Gein would have remained a small-town simpleton.

Breaking from Past Success

You could argue that a show from this stable – renowned for glossy, high-camp style – is an unlikely source for deep psychological exploration. However, earlier series like the OJ Simpson trial drama offered brilliant commentary on the press and the legal system. The Assassination of Gianni Versace explored celebrity and society. Impeachment scrutinized embedded misogyny. Thus, it is possible, and Murphy has done it.

The Ultimate Assessment

But not here. This installment feels like a commercialization of a lesser-known criminal case. It demands sympathy for the man behind the masks without offering genuine insight into his transformation. Beyond the simplistic "religious mother" reasoning, there is little effort to comprehend the origins or avert similar tragedies. It is nothing but voyeuristic pandering to the basest instincts of viewers. The wartime sequences do have excellent cinematography, though.