The Ed Gein ending in Netflix’s latest Monster installment just destroyed viewers emotionally, and honestly, Charlie Hunnam’s final performance as the infamous serial killer might be Ryan Murphy’s most devastating character study yet. After eight episodes of psychological horror, the finale focuses on mental illness, redemption, and the complex legacy of America’s most influential murderer.
Ed Gets His Diagnosis
Charlie Hunnam’s Ed Gein finally receives proper psychiatric care at Central State Hospital, where doctors diagnose him with schizophrenia and provide medication that helps him understand his crimes. The Ed Gein ending reveals how proper mental health treatment might have prevented his horrific acts if available earlier in his life.
“We always intended to culminate our narrative with an examination of mental illness and its impact on Ed,” Hunnam told Netflix Tudum. “If he had received appropriate treatment earlier, one wonders if he would have committed the atrocities he did. I found myself sobbing uncontrollably when I read that scene for the first few times.”
Ted Bundy Connection
The Ed Gein ending includes a fascinating subplot where Ed helps FBI agents capture Ted Bundy (John T. O’Brien) through information gleaned from fan letters sent by other imprisoned killers. This fictional element demonstrates Gein’s cultural impact on subsequent serial killers who viewed him as inspirational figure.
Ed receives constant correspondence from murderers across America who praise his innovations in human furniture and skin masks. The Monster series uses these letters to explore how real-world violence becomes mythologized and celebrated by disturbed individuals seeking notorious role models.
Augusta’s Final
Laurie Metcalf’s Augusta Gein appears throughout the Ed Gein ending in flashbacks and deathbed visions, demonstrating her lasting psychological control over her son. “Only a mother could love you,” she tells him in the series’ final flashback, encapsulating the toxic relationship that created a killer.
The mother-son dynamic anchors the entire series, showing how Augusta’s religious fanaticism and emotional abuse systematically destroyed Ed’s ability to form healthy relationships with women. Her approval-seeking behavior continues even during his final moments, suggesting childhood trauma never fully heals.
Legacy Scene
The Ed Gein ending features a meta-theatrical sequence where Ed envisions the fictional killers he inspired – Norman Bates, Buffalo Bill, and Leatherface – defending his grave from teenage vandals. This surreal moment acknowledges Gein’s influence on Psycho, Silence of the Lambs, and Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
Co-creator Ian Brennan explained: “He’s sort of haunting the proceedings. In a way, you wanted to really pay off how influential he was.” The scene connects real-world horror to Hollywood fiction, showing how true crime becomes entertainment that perpetuates violent fascination.
Charlie’s Devastating Performance
Charlie Hunnam delivered his most vulnerable performance during Ed’s final hospital scenes, with Ryan Murphy revealing that the actor nailed the crucial death scene in a single take. “The remarkable aspect of that episode was that the take you see of Charlie’s performance was his very first, which he executed perfectly,” Murphy said.
The Ed Gein ending allows Hunnam to humanize a monster without excusing his crimes, showing how untreated mental illness contributed to horrific violence. Ed’s final tear while dying suggests genuine remorse that his schizophrenia prevented him from feeling during his killing spree.
Murphy’s Mental Health Message
Ryan Murphy used the Ed Gein ending to address society’s responsibility toward mentally ill individuals, particularly those in crisis. “Ed was the ideal subject to discuss this because when he was captured, he was quickly diagnosed and received excellent care from society,” Murphy explained.
The series contrasts Ed’s eventual proper treatment with modern America’s defunded mental health systems, suggesting that early intervention might prevent similar tragedies. The Monster franchise continues examining how society creates and responds to its most dangerous individuals.
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