I’m one episode in Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, and, well, guys. The truth is, I couldn’t stop to write a one episode in review. I smashed it and now I’m here writing a full series review instead. But I guess this says enough. Dahmer is exceptional. It’s perfect in it’s is own twisted way. I could kiss Ryan Murphy and co, and all I want to do is hug Evan Peters tight and tell him it’s over now.

So, as most of you know already, I love me some true crime. Serial killer shit interests me so much. It’s mostly the psychology behind it that intrigues me the most. Not so much the murders themselves, though of course, I feel for the families that are affected by these monsters. Irrespective, getting into these peoples heads, trying to navigate their thought process, attempting to understand them, is what I find myself doing when I hear, read or watch their stories. Jeffrey Dahmer’s story was always up there with Ted Bundy’s and Richard Ramirez’s as one of the most fascinating for me. And if you want to see his story unfold, and also see it in both his direct and indirect victims viewpoints, despite many exaggerations and plenty of edits, than this is done very well.

For those living under a rock at the moment, Netflix recently released this ten part series about the Milwaukee monster, Jeffrey Dahmer. Showcasing his family life, including his mothers departure from his life and his dads willingness to guide him, the show also takes time to acknowledge the social injustice that were extremely apparent here. Though his first victim was white, a crime that took place in his family home, Dahmer would eventually move into a black dominated area, and a mostly black tenet apartment. With his neighbours hot on his back about the awful smell, and suspicious noises coming from a vent that separated their rooms, Dahmer, a homosexual with a fear of being neglected, would bring back young, attractive men, even boys, to his apartment, drug them and then completely disembody them. Some, he would even cook their organs for dinner. He would collect them like a hobby and keep them around, completely ignorant to the foul smell of a rotting corps, because he just didn’t want them to go.

First, let’s give it up for Evan Peters. He would have had to get into a very dark place in order to become the serial killer. It’s scarily brilliant how well Peters plays him, or even just the idea of Jeffrey Dahmer, because in all fact, we’ll never really know that mans mindset. But you would swear this was a ten out of ten depiction. An accurate replica, even. I have a different level of respect for Peters due to this performance. The man served up perfection.

Then there’s the role of desperate witness, Glenda played by the unforgettable Niecy Nash. I have no words for her performance. She is so deserving of all the accolades the industry can give her for this. Glenda is served up as the voice of all the victims combined into one character. Nash would have made the real Ms Cleveland very proud, because her portrayal of the woman who did all she could to save those men, but was constantly ignored by the police, was respectful, honourable, and definitely etched into my mind forever.

I am grateful for the perspective this was done in. To focus on the victims and give their stories a spotlight, to take note of the terrible policing, and to emphasis the obvious discrimination faced, though I find the serial killer mindset and backstory interesting, this series was able to tell us Dahmer’s story, as well as touching of those other aspects I mentioned, without Dahmer’s part completely overrunning the show. I cannot compliment the direction here enough. I love the fact that, despite knowing exactly what this psycho did, I was still in shock, moved and disturbed by the retelling of a familiar story.

The truth is, is that there are plenty of characters worth mentioning here. Richard Jenkins as the ignorant father, Lionel Dahmer. Shaun J. Brown who played Tracy Edwards, the would-be victim who would ultimate bring Dahmer’s torture to an end. These guys and so many others did incredibly. There’s not one bad egg here.

Oh, how I want to talk about episode 6 so much, but I’ll wait until someone wants to join the conversation below in the comments section, or on my Instagram.

Watch it. Even if true crime isn’t your thing, watch it. Watch it for good story, great visuals and brilliant performances. Netflix’s Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is worth the time.