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You've likely seen the Hitchcock classic, the iconic thriller, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Perhaps you've also explored the original novels that inspired the first two films. Now it's time to meet the man who inspired the Bates Motel owner, Buffalo Bill, and Leatherface. The infamous Ed Gein!

The initial installments of the series in question focused on Jeffrey Dahmer – an individual possessing strong recognition. Then came the Menendez brothers – a somewhat specialized case for dedicated true crime fans. Attention now shifts to the Butcher of Plainfield. While he may lack the household name status of Dahmer, Bundy, or Gacy, and only killed two people, his postmortem violations and macabre artistry with the deceased have left a lasting mark. Even now, any media featuring dismembered remains, flayed skin, or skin-based artifacts likely draws inspiration to Gein's exploits from many decades past.

A Tone of Flippancy

Is my tone too casual? This appears to be the intended style of the creators. Rarely have I seen a television series that dwells so eagerly on the worst depredations an individual – and humanity – can commit. This extends to a substantial narrative strand devoted to Nazi atrocities, presented with minimal moral context.

Structural and Stylistic Strengths

Structurally and stylistically, the series excels. The pacing is flawless, and the skillful blending of past and present is executed brilliantly. We see Charlie Hunnam as the killer in action – the homicides, grave robberies, and assembling his collection. Simultaneously, the contemporary storyline follows Alfred Hitchcock, Robert Bloch, and Anthony Perkins as they develop Psycho from Bloch's Gein-inspired novel. The integration of factual elements – Gein's religious mother and his obsession with female doppelgangers – and the unreal – lurid portrayals of Ilse Koch and Nazi party scenes – is handled with technical skill.

A Critical Shortcoming

What it lacks, and unforgivably so, is any moral dimension or deeper insight to offset the protracted, admiring visuals of Gein's depraved acts. The show presents his vibrant fantasy life and positions him as a man at the mercy 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 an unremarkable local.

Breaking from Past Success

One might contend that a Ryan Murphy production – known for sleek, exaggerated aesthetics – is the wrong place for profound human insight. However, earlier series like the OJ Simpson trial drama offered sharp analysis on media and justice. The Versace murder story delved into celebrity and society. The Clinton scandal series scrutinized systemic sexism. So it can be done, and the producer has succeeded before.

The Ultimate Assessment

But not here. The Ed Gein Story feels like a commercialization of a lesser-known criminal case. It asks for empathy for the man behind the masks without offering genuine insight into how he became a monster. Beyond the simplistic "religious mother" reasoning, there is little effort to comprehend the origins or prevent future cases. It is nothing but voyeuristic pandering to the basest instincts of viewers. The wartime sequences do have excellent cinematography, admittedly.