Viewers stunned and ‘had to take a break’ after ‘best acting they’ve ever witnessed’ in controversial Netflix show

Warning: This article contains discussion of child abuse which some readers may find distressing.

Netflix users are conflicted over a new series which features 'the best acting' they've 'ever witnessed' but in a 'raw' and 'shocking' scene.

A recent addition to Netflix has been causing quite the stir with the real life family on which the biographical crime drama is based having slammed the show as 'gross'.

The season has faced backlash from viewers too, with director Ryan Murphy even branded 'vile.'

However, others are speaking out in support for the actors involved, particularly after one scene saw an actor showcase 'an unbroken, single camera masterclass' which left them 'floored'.

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is the second season of Netflix's biographical crime drama anthology series and was created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan.

It stars the likes of Javier Bardem (Skyfall), Cooper Koch (Swallowed), Nicholas Alexander Chavez (General Hospital) and Chloë Sevigny (Bloodline).

The season centers around the fatal shootings of José (Bardem) and Kitty Menéndez (Sevigny) in 1989 and their sons Lyle (Chavez) and Erik Menendez (Koch) being convicted of their murders.

The whole season has been reviewed as controversial, not only as a result of its subject matter and the real life family speaking out but also one scene in episode five dealing with 'a difficult subject matter'.

Cooper Koch portrays Erik Menendez (Netflix)

A user took to LADbible Facebook Group Netflix Bangers to re-share a tweet about the series and one episode in particular.

The tweet reads: "I have no interest in any version of the Emmys or the Globes in 2025 where Cooper Koch is not given every possible award for 'Episode 5: The Hurt Man' - in which he delivers an unbroken, single camera masterclass in acting that has floored me entirely."

The scene in question features a 33-minute single take which takes place shortly after Erik (played by Koch) is detained alongside his brother for the murder of their parents. In the scene, Erik breaks down to his lawyer Leslie Abramson (Ari Graynor), describing the childhood abuse he suffered.

And it hasn't taken long for other viewers to weigh in on the scene too.

The scene consists of a 33-minute single take (Netflix)

One Facebook user wrote: "100 percent agree - the best acting I think I’ve ever witnessed. A difficult subject matter, single take, natural, heartbreaking and emotional. If he doesn’t get an award for this then there is no justice…"

"Agree! This is the episode that I had to take a break from," a second added, to which multiple other users responded: "Me too."

A third wrote: "Same, very hard to watch."

And a fourth resolved: "It was one of the most raw, intimate, shocking scenes I have ever watched, I felt every emotion and THAT people is a great actor! Felt a bit unscripted at times which made is feel all the more 'real' and not actors. One of the hardest programs I have ever watched due to the amount of graphic content but I felt it was extremely well portrayed."

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues or want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and receives calls from throughout the United States, Canada, US Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico.