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Law and order VS Monsters. Why L&O worked by monsters didn’t

Introduction:

After rewatches, brainstorming, and discussions with others, I have finally decided what is truly the biggest issue with Monsters: The Erik and Lyle Menendez story. No, it’s not the inaccuracies or the incest undertones (although both are a real problem). However, multiple factors hinder this show’s potential as a fresh and unique telling of the Menendez Brothers case. To exhibit this, I will be comparing this show to the much more accurate and much better-written Menendez brothers dramatization, and that is Law and Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders, a Law and Order spin-off that premiered in 2017. It’s far from perfect, has its fair share of inaccuracies, and suffers from pacing issues. But it’s still far better executed than Monsters and the best out of the five Menendez dramatizations. 

This will not be a usual review. Instead, I will compare and contrast the two shows and explain why Law and Order worked and Monsters did not from a pure storytelling perspective. I will break down this comparison into several sections, including plot, subplots, characterization, character development, structure, conflict, abuse allegations, sexual topics, purpose, and overall storytelling.

Just a heads up, I will not compare the characters to their real-life counterparts unless relevant (for example, I address how Monsters wrote Erik’s sexuality and compare it to the actual Erik’s sexuality). In addition, I will not fact-check the inaccuracies in either show; I will look at each show as just that: two series inspired by the same case.

Plot:

(I will keep this brief since this is just a synopsis of both shows)

Both shows take inspiration from the real-life Menendez murders. On August 20th, 1989, Jose and Kitty Menendez were shot dead in their Beverly Hills home. Their two sons, Erik, 18, and Lyle, 21, Menendez, at first deny having anything to do with their parent's murders; however, eventually, the investigation leads back to the brothers being the perpetrators. The brothers eventually admit guilty to killing their parents and, during their infamous trial, make graphic allegations of physical, mental, emotional, and sexual abuse at the hands of both of their parents. However, they claimed they killed their parents in a state of panic, thinking their parents would kill them first to avoid the family secret from getting out. Despite these disturbing allegations and a mistrial, both brothers were sentenced to life in prison at their second trial in 1996; they are still currently incarcerated. 

Both series turn the actual case into a dramatization; despite being based on the same event, both stories use different plots to tell a dramatized story. 

In Law and Order, the main plot is Leslie Abramson’s (Edie Falco) goal of trying to win the Menendez case. Still, along the way, she deals with her issues, such as adopting a baby, disagreements with her husband Tim (Chris Bauer), her problems with her parents, and her growing bond with Erik Menendez (Gus Halper) and Lyle Menendez (Miles Gaston Villanueva). Law and Order is a franchise that consists of police procedural and legal drama; this spin-off Law and Order series, in particular, is being told through the perspective of Leslie, she is the main character here, and the show is about the Menendez Murders is mainly about the behind the scenes drama between the cops, lawyers and legal system surrounding it. 

On the other hand, Monsters aims to create a Rashomon effect about the Menendez case. The Rashomon effect is "a storytelling technique and a phenomenon that describes how people can have different perspectives on the same event." An example would be the film “Elephant,” a 2003 movie loosely based on the Columbine massacre. The film follows the lives of different characters doing their daily routine before the massacre happens at school. Monsters includes perspectives from Dr Oziel (Dallas Roberts), Lyle (Nicholas Alexander Chavez), Erik (Cooper Koch), Dominick Dunne (Nathan Lane), Jose Menendez (Javier Bardem), and Kitty Menendez (Chloe Sevigny), for example. We (the audience) are supposed to explore their different viewpoints regarding this case; by the end, the audience should conclude who the “real monsters” are. 

Both plots are unique in their own right. Before both shows, the only dramatizations of this case were through TV movies: A Killing in Beverly Hills, Honor Thy Mother and Father, and Blood Brothers. All three movies were A to Z stories of the case (before the killing, the killings, spending spree, jail time, and trial) that don’t stand out independently (except Blood Brothers with its ‘Kitty haunting Erik’ thing). Law and Order is a legal drama, and Monsters is a show with multiple perspectives. However, as I will explain, Law and Order had a more polished plot. Despite some pacing issues, it understands its end goal and does better at getting to the show's purpose.

Subplots

A subplot is a secondary plot that acts as a support story for the main story. By the end, the subplot is supposed to enhance and connect to the main plot. Some L&O subplots include Leslie and her husband struggling to adopt a baby, Lyle and his ex Jamie (Jamie Nobel) getting back together, Judge Weisburg’s (Anthony Edwards) reputation and job as a judge, and infighting between the Menendez (Jose’s) and Anderson's (Kitty’s)  families. Some subplots in Monsters include Erik becoming infatuated with another inmate (and trust me, I will get to that), Lyle and Norma Novelli’s (Natalie Taylor Gray) phone calls, and Dominick Dunne’s anger with the justice system after his daughter's killer was given manslaughter instead of first degree murder. Overall, the subplots in Law and Order do what a subplot should do to enhance the story. Even the unimportant subplots go somewhere; for example, at one point early in the series, Lyle is conversing with his lawyer, Jill Lansing (Julianne Nicholson). At one point in the conversation, she mentions her daughter wanting a baby brother, but Jill doesn’t want to give her one.

Lyle, in response, encourages Jill to give her one by saying, “Little brothers are the best.” Lyle then gushes about Erik and how happy he was and still is to have him around. This moment builds Lyle’s character by establishing how much Erik means to Lyle but also later sets up Jill’s exit at the end of the series when she decides not to represent Lyle in the second trial. She explained that while she still cares for Lyle, she felt like she missed out on her daughter growing up because she had spent so much time working on the case for the past three years. This is another issue I had with Monsters; it would introduce plots that lead to nothing significant. While not precisely a subplot, in episode 2 of Monsters, Erik mentions a new girl he’s seeing to his friend Craig Cignarelli (Charlie Hall). This girlfriend is most likely Noelle Terlesky, a girl the real-life Erik was seeing at the time of his arrest. Anyways, after this mention, she’s never seen in the show or mentioned by Erik again. It felt like the writers only mentioned her because she was an actual person in this case, but they had no real plans for her (something I will mention later). It makes me wonder why Erik would mention her if she wasn’t going to do anything in the story. As stated before, Monsters would introduce certain subplots or characters that wouldn’t do anything long-term for the plot. Completely stripping away the point of a subplot, which is supposed to create conflict, develop a character, and add depth to the main story, but the subplots in Monster failed to do that. 

For example, let’s compare the subplot between Erik and Tony's (Brandon Santana) subplot in Monsters vs Judge Weisburg’s subplot in Law and Order. In episode 3, Erik becomes infatuated with another inmate at the LA County Jail who also seems to like Erik, such as staring at him when he isn’t looking and helping Erik get dimes. Later, they’re seen working out together, and Tony brings up the fling to Erik; Erik denies being gay, although he did question his orientation at one point. Later, Erik and Tony are the only ones in the jail shower, and they shower seductively in front of each other. The subplot seems to be leading somewhere, such as a hookup or romance between the two, but no. Two episodes later, we learn from Erik that Tony was moved to another jail. That’s it. No moment shows them hooking up or having a “what are we?” conversation about their little fling. Erik mentions missing Tony to Dr Vicary (Gil Ozeri) in episode 7 (which, btw why would  Vicary's first response to that be "Miss the sex?" LMAOOOO), but this subplot has no conclusion. There’s no epiphany moment for Erik and his sexuality; this subplot did nothing for the plot. 

Let’s compare this to Judge Weisburg’s (Anthony Edwards) subplot in Law and Order. Judge Weisburg, at first, is portrayed as a fair and unbiased judge. He has his banter in court with Leslie before the Menendez trial, but it’s not shown that he has a particular issue with her. However, as the series progresses, he gets a lot of bad press because of the outcome of the Rodney King trial. His reputation as a judge is beginning to crumble, and he’s afraid that not getting a conviction in the Menendez case will be the beginning of the end for his career as a judge with election season coming up. The negative press explains why he becomes more harsh to Leslie during the trial and sabotages the second trial by not allowing any abuse evidence. Even though he is an antagonist in the story, his subplot

Gives his actions a motivation

Develops Weisburg and Leslie's character

It amplifies the plot by causing Leslie a conflict during the second trial (his actions lead to the brother's conviction).

Law and Order did a better job of leading its subplots somewhere, giving them all a conclusion and enhancing the show's main plot, while Monsters did not. The biggest issue with Erik and Tony’s subplot, in particular, is not the nude scene or the ethics of the writing of Erik’s sexuality, but the fact that you can take this subplot out and nothing would have changed. Nothing would’ve been gained or lost; it doesn’t develop Erik’s character, enhance the main plot, or raise any stakes. If Weigburg’s subplot were taken out, it would have taken away Weisburg’s and Leslie’s character development, not given Weisburg a motive, and it wouldn't have given Leslie a conflict for the second trial. A good subplot gives the main plot layers and adds complexity to the story and characters, but monsters don’t seem to know what to do with their subplots. 

Characterization

Law and Order and Monsters both have characters inspired by the real-life people involved in the Menendez case. Of course, we have the Menendez family, Leslie, and Jill, but both projects also include Pam Bozanich, Lyle’s prosecutor; Detective Zoller, the lead detective in the case; Judge Weisburg, the judge for both Menendez trials; Dr. Oziel Erik’s psychiatrist who he confessed to in October 1989, Judalon Smyth, Oziel’s lover who eventually told the police about the brother's crime and members of the brothers extended family such as their aunts, uncles, and cousins. In both shows, their roles seem to be drastically different. 

For one, in Law and Order, Pam Bozanich (Elizabeth Reaser) is a recurring character, but she still has her own story arc and character development. In law and order, she was the prosecutor in the McMartin trial. During the show's events, we learn that she failed to get a conviction during that trial. Still, she wants to desperately prove that she’s a reasonable prosecutor to the District Attorney’s Gil Garcetti (MArk Moses). Eventually, the DA is convinced to give her the Menendez trial, and Pam, thinking about her reputation, is desperate to get a conviction during the trial. Unfortunately for her, she doesn’t, and the DA takes her off the second trial, much to her dismay. Despite this, Pam develops a dislike for Leslie, so she doesn’t seem to mind being taken off the second trial. She said she’d rather eat glass than spend another hour in a room with Leslie. 

Pam Bozanich (Milana Vayntrub) is a character in Monsters; however, she takes on a much smaller role. She only shows up towards the end of the series when the trial begins, but she doesn’t have much of a role despite being a key figure in the Menendez case. This could be because of the two series' different premieres. Law and Order is a legal drama, and she is an antagonist to Leslie’s protagonist there, so it’s understandable why she takes a more significant role there than in Monsters. 

Still, given that Monsters is a show about multiple perspectives, I think the show could’ve benefited from an episode about how she looked at the murders. Dominick Dunne was just a gossip columnist in the show and real life and didn’t know the brothers personally, yet he gets so much screen time dedicated to his perspective on things. 

I had another issue with this show: despite wanting to explore multiple perspectives, it rarely gives time to explore the perspectives of characters who knew the brothers personally, such as their aunts, uncles, cousins, partners, and friends. I think an episode where both sides of their families are discussing their perspectives on what led to the murders would’ve been a great episode idea. Instead, their extended family members are reduced to background characters only added because the writers felt they had to add them because of their real-life counterparts. Even if the writers wanted to focus more on the immediate Menendez family, I still think members of their extended family could have worked as minor characters. Minor characters can be just as important as the main characters sometimes; if written right, they can add depth to the plot, help develop the main character, and help move the main plot forward. Unfortunately, it seemed like monsters didn’t know how to use their minor characters while also focusing on the Menendez family's story and different perspectives on what led to the murders.

On the other hand, Law and Order used their minor characters to move the plot, resolve conflicts, and develop characters. For example, minor characters Andy (Davi Santos) and Diane (Ashley Lenz) show up to tell Leslie and Jill about Erik and Lyle, revealing to them they were being molested when they were younger, and later testify for the defense about it on the stand during the trial. Even though they don't have much to do with the overall story, their testimonies and what they tell Leslie and Jill give the defense the corroboration they need for the brothers' sexual abuse claims in court. Diane's reveal to Jill and Leslie happens before Lyle admits Jose also molested him, so it also makes way for Lyle to be honest about his abuse from his father finally. 

To avoid this getting too long, I will only stick to the Menendez family and their characterization since they are the main focus of both shows (besides Leslie in Law and Order, but I feel it would be an unfair comparison to compare L&O Leslie to Monsters Leslie). But I will say that the Law and Order show does a better job at characterizing not only the main characters but also its recurring, minor, and antagonistic characters. All of the characters, including the antagonistic ones, are well-written. They all have unique personalities, are realistic and relatable, and are developed throughout the series. The main characters are also likable, making the audience want to root for them. I can’t say the same for the characters in Monsters. The characters were not relatable, developed, likable, or even realistic. They seemed more like caricatures instead of actual well-written characters.

Lyle Menendez as a character in Monsters

I won’t beat around the bush; I don’t like the character of Lyle Menendez in Monsters. Lyle is written as a fly-off-the-handle, bratty, arrogant, self-centered, spoiled, disrespectful, foul-mouthed diva that makes him unlikeable. It’s not like this happens when he’s on an adrenaline high or frustrated, but all of the time. In this series, he curses out and yells at his parents multiple times, yells at kids who are trick or treating, yells at a service workers, threatens Dr Oziel, is rude to Leslie (Ari Graynor), makes faces while his brother is testifying, doesn’t seem to care about Erik’s feelings most of the time, and is more concerned about dimes and his hairpiece over the fact that his life is on the line.

As stated before, Monsters was aiming for a Rashomon effect of storytelling. If that was the case, I could understand situations where Lyle is being a dick. I can see people like Oziel or his parents looking at him as a little bastard, but I'm supposed to take his attitude at face value because this storytelling isn’t made clear to the audience. Lyle, in this show, has almost no redeeming qualities. We hardly see a lighter side to his character; the bratty diva thing could have given Lyle’s character more depth and complexity had we seen a more sensitive side to him. Some moments show that he cares for Erik a lot, such as during their reunion at the jail, he advises Erik that he can’t just drink milk in the jail and he frequently tells Erik that he loves him. But the problem is that these are just that, moments. Lyle doesn’t get more layers to his character to balance out his negative qualities. Despite not saying it verbatim, Nicholas Chavez has implied that he took issue with Lyle's character, such as saying in interviews that he was written as the least sympathetic brother. But because he couldn’t do much about Lyle’s characterization, he wanted to play him as someone who acts the way he acts because he’s a profoundly hurt person wearing a mask to shield that hurt. I can see what he means on my second watch of the show. In episode 4, Lyle gets vulnerable about his abuse of Leslie and Jill. In that episode, it’s like Lyle is an entirely different person. You see that he still feels the need to protect his father’s image, and he feels the guilt and shame of being molested but also molesting Erik himself. There, we see just how much he loves Erik. While he wants to protect his father’s image, he also wants to safeguard Erik by not revealing this embarrassing and shameful encounter. We begin to understand that Lyle acts the way he acts because the root of that is insecurity, and his abuse is the main reason why he acts like a child because he’s still mentally a child himself. This episode would’ve been the perfect time to develop Lyle’s character, but the next time he’s on screen, he goes back to being a bratty dick. There’s no personal growth, no change in his morals, and no lesson learned from his moment of vulnerability. As a character, Lyle seems to stick to the “Status Quo is God” trope, where things always go back to the way things were before. It's like the writers didn’t understand the importance of character development.

Despite this, I do have to praise Nicholas’s performance. He is genuinely entertaining to watch and has excellent comedic timing. I am unsure if the writers intended to make his lines as funny as they were, but I mostly laughed when he was on screen. In addition, I can see that he studied the real-life Lyle Menendez. During the trial and court hearing scenes, he’s spot on with Lyle's mannerisms, facial expressions, and speaking. He even got Lyle’s child-like way of speaking when he was being directly examined by Jill down to a T. Unfortunately, his talent was wasted entirely. 

(Real-life Lyle’s wife was also SO excited for him to play Lyle; what a waste, lmao)

Lyle Menendez as a character in Law and Order

Law and order Lyle is a bit more tricky to describe.  Because Leslie is the main character, we don’t spend as much time with the brothers as in Monsters. But we see in Lyle that he’s confident, smooth, overly protective of his brother, naive, empathetic, and puts on a tough exterior even though he’s hurt and secretly emotional. He still has his flaws and moments of being obnoxious. He’s rude to the waitress and his bodyguards and is actively lying to his family, friends, and partner about his involvement in killing his parents. That said, his character flaws are justified from a storytelling perspective. He’s lying because he doesn’t want to hurt his loved ones, and his rudeness reflects how he was groomed at home, which we later see through flashbacks and his opening up about his family life. His rude moments can be chalked up to him mimicking his father; after his rude remark to the waitress, he says, “My dad always gave waitresses a hard time.” From the first episode during his police interview and what Jamie says to him at the hotel, it's clear how much Lyle admires his father and wants to make him proud. In episode 3, Dr. Conte (Raphael Sbarge), Lyle explains to Leslie and Jill that even though Lyle was sexually abused by his father, he still brags about how great of a man his father was and claims to love him; he’s doing something many survivors of abuse do, and that’s idolizing his abuser. So his rude moments are just him reflecting on his father, who he idolizes. This also explains to the audience why he didn’t want to reveal his father's abuse and why he felt so betrayed by him when Erik told him the abuse was still happening. While close to his father, through a flashback narrated by Donovan (Ben Winchell), it’s revealed that Lyle was upset by his father cheating on his mother, and we see multiple moments that show how deeply Lyle loves Erik. This also adds more depth to Lyle’s character. Even with his closeness to his father, he still needs to protect everyone in his family. This plants seeds for the brother's eventual allegations of what led up to them killing their parents. By the end of the series, Lyle has grown from the experience of his parents' murders and the trial. While still putting on a tough exterior, he has learned to be comfortable showing his more sensitive side and more open when expressing his feelings to Erik. At the beginning of the series, he seems to be unbothered by his parents' deaths and brushes off Erik's emotional hysteria. Still, in the second to last episode, he can tell Erik how much he misses his parents. While sticking to the main status quo of his character, Lyle's character still shows excellent character development. He still has most of his main character traits, but he also grows and learns from his experiences, and his sensitive side gives more depth to his character to show that he is a complex individual.

Even though I wish we had more time to explore Lyle’s character, his character here is way better written, realistic, likable, and relatable than his Monsters counterpart. 

Erik Menendez as a character in Monsters: 

As for Erik’s characterization, it's an unpopular opinion, but Erik was pretty unlikable in this show, too. I think the hurt man episode and people being biased towards Cooper have clouded judgment towards Erik’s character here. But in this show, Erik: Gets aggressive with Craig after Craig asks about the murders, yells and curses at Kitty for misspelling a word (a word he also misspelled too, might I add), and continues to scold her, blames his brother for the murders multiple times, yells at Leslie, says he should’ve killed Lyle too, robbed multiple houses, is rude to Oziel, doesn't care that his mom is spazzing in the kitchen, and is the one who came up with the murder plan. Watching this show, I got the opinion that Erik was bratty, passive-aggressive, sneaky, spoiled, and the mastermind behind the killings. Yes, he is more likable than Lyle, but not enough to think he's anything besides a disrespectful spoiled brat. I could say he’s more emotional and feels more guilty than Lyle. In The first episode, Erik is seen as being overly emotional over his parent's deaths, having near mental breakdowns and experiencing nightmares. But it's like his emotions have wholly dropped after the Oziel confession. There’s a lack of complexity in Erik’s character. I left the show looking at him like a toned-down Lyle. To echo what I said earlier, I can see someone like Dr. Oziel and his parents view him as a bratty kid, but with the lack of a narrator or establishing the story’s goal, I am supposed to accept that Erik is just as bratty as his brother. 

Erik also comes across as quite a jerk. When Craig tries to pry a confession out of him, Erik, for some reason, tries to intimate him. The show does not clarify why Erik got aggressive like this; it makes him seem like a passive-aggressive cold-blooded psycho. He doesn’t develop from this either; in the last episode, he pushes Lyle against the wall and says he should’ve killed him, too. Yes, the argument could be made that Lyle had been picking on him before this, but it shows Erik's lack of character development by showing that he is still an aggressive jerk. 

However, Cooper Koch's outstanding performance also saves Erik's characterization. The Hurt Man episode was excellent. Not only does Erik lay out his abuse at the hands of his father, but we also explore other things about Erik. Such as his complex feelings towards his parents, his idolization of Lyle, his confusing sexuality, and the root of his insecurities. Cooper does a fantastic job of displaying Erik’s emotions; one of the best things about this episode is that it feels like a real conversation between two people, not an exaggerated Hollywood script. Leslie tries to comfort Erik when he’s tearing himself down, and he keeps interrupting Leslie while she tries to comfort him. It is so natural to have a real-life conversation when someone is trying to reassure you when you are venting and vice versa. Like Nicholas, he’s also spot on when portraying the real-life Erik when necessary. At times, he even sounds like the honest Erik; it's almost eerie. Cooper is also entertaining, “Lyle, is that my toothbrush?” And “That’s where I keep it cold!”  It never fails to make me laugh. 

And yes, I am going to address the elephant in the room. The writers were awful in how they addressed Erik’s sexuality. I know he denies being gay multiple times in the show; however, between the Tony subplot and Pam telling Dominick that Erik was having oral sex with other inmates (they show this, too, by the way). Lyle and Jose making comments about Erik (allegedly) having sex with Craig, the average viewer might come out of this show thinking Erik is gay. I know the real Erik said he was confused about his sexuality, but it’s like Ryan took that one statement and ran with it. He ignores that Erik also said he did like girls and eventually had intercourse with girls and the fact that Erik did have multiple girlfriends. Yes I know there is an acknowledgment of Tammi, but that came towards the show's closing. There is a way to explore Erik’s sexuality from a storytelling point of view. Episode 5 did a decent job of addressing Erik’s confusing sexuality, and I wouldn’t have minded it if that was the only incident of it. But the sheer amount of gay subplots and jokes with Erik seemed more like a fetish as opposed to exploring how the sexual abuse confused the real-life Erik. Story aside, it feels offensive to the actual Erik.

Erik Menendez as a character in Law and Order:

Again, in Law and Order, we don’t spend that much time with the brothers. However, what we do see of Erik is that he’s very close to completely breaking down mentally. He’s outwardly more sensitive than Lyle and cries quite a bit in the show. He looks up to Lyle, calls him for everything, and loves and misses his parents. After their deaths, he focuses full time on tennis to make his father proud. He even recalls Jose encouraging him from the stand (although Lyle corrects him by reminding him that Jose was yelling at him). Erik seems closer to his mom; he tells his girlfriend that his mom would’ve been proud of him for having a girlfriend because she always gave him deadlines to get one. Kitty, in flashbacks, is shown as very sensitive and also cries often. In a way, Lyle is taking after his mom and Erik his mom. Even before the audience knows that he killed his parents, we see him close to breaking multiple times and know that he’s struggling to accept the fact that his parents were dead. Erik is also feeling the heat from guilt; his mental break isn't just over his parent's death but the fact that he was responsible for it. So, it is justifiable to the audience when he confesses to Craig and Dr Oziel. With Dr. Oziel, Erik only confessed to him because the only person he wanted to talk about it with, his brother, kept blowing him off, so when he confesses, it shows that Erik did it out of desperation and under the impression that he would be safe in doing so. It doesn’t make him seem sneaky, but he can’t take it anymore. He isn’t passive-aggressive or a jerk when Craig tries to pry a confession out of him. He still gaslights Craig but tries to brush it off like Craig is crazy instead of getting aggressive with him. It is explained here, though. He finally got it off his chest after the guilt was eating him alive, and after the drama with Dr Oziel and Lyle, he doesn’t want to talk about it anymore with anyone but them. Erik also develops by the end; even though he sticks to his same emotional self, he learns that it’s unhealthy to keep his emotions bottled up. Because his confession to Dr Oziel leads to his arrest, it stands to reason why he would feel cautious about being honest with his feelings. He also doesn’t reveal his abuse to Dr Oziel, but he learns to trust Leslie and is entirely open with her to avoid going on death row. Sure, it doesn’t stop him from shedding a few tears, but his honesty and relationship with Leslie develop him from someone close to breaking at any moment to someone in touch with his emotions and learning how to express them. I do prefer Cooper as Erik, but I still loved Gus’s portrayal and I think Law and Order did a better job at matching how the real-life Erik was feeling at the time.

Jose and Kitty Menendez as characters in Monsters:

Before I start, I will say regarding performance and chemistry alone; I prefer Javier and Chloe.  They are great with their material, and I think they capture Jose and Kitty's real-life energy. Javier, like Jose, is legitimately intense and intimidating, and Chloe nailed Kitty’s “I hate my kids; they ruined my marriage and life” spirit. 

Now, in both dramatizations, they take a smaller role. However, their roles are different in each series. In Monsters, Jose and Kitty are more characterized. For one, it explores the issues in their marriage, such as Jose’s affairs, his telling Kitty he doesn't love her and only wants her to give him children, and Kitty’s frustration with how he treats her and her loneliness. 

Kitty states multiple times that she hates her kids. She is characterized as a sad, pathetic, bitter, and insecure woman. We learn about Kitty's trauma from her abusive childhood, which explains why she treats her sons the way she does. Kitty’s resentment toward her sons was explained; she felt like she gave up her whole life for Jose only for him to treat her like garbage later, cheat on her, not love her, and pay more attention to their kids over her. Not that it justifies any abusive behavior, but it adds more layers to her character and actions. We also learn that she’s turned to alcohol to deal with her emotions, as seen when she reaches for the wine bottle for help after spazzing out in the kitchen.

Jose also has his fair share of trauma. He is characterized as a stern, strict, cunning, savvy, perfectionist, prideful, and abusive man. We also learn that he also has his fair share of trauma; he reveals to Kitty that his mother used to molest him as a kid, and when Lyle calls out his physical punishments to him and Erik as abuse, Jose brushes it off. Stating that his father used to hit him harder and that his sons' out-of-control behavior (the robberies, Lyle’s Princeton suspension) was the result of him not hitting them hard enough. This does not excuse his actions, but it explains his mentality.

Now that’s out the way, here is my issue with their characters: The show seemed to take more time to make the audience believe that Erik and Lyle were spoiled and bratty than they did, showing how scary Jose and Kitty were in Erik and Lyle (and others') perspectives. The moments that do show them as tyrants are limited and rushed quickly. I feel like the episodes that showcased last week’s events were rushed. I didn’t even mind the light-hearted moments, such as the Christmas moment, not because I felt terrible for them but because the audience would understand that no one is a Monster all the time. It also showed how the brothers could still love their parents even after all they did to them. Even the real  Lyle said during his cross-examination that he and his father had plenty of good times. 

Despite that, they are more sympathetic and complex than Erik and Lyle are. The brothers claimed they feared their parents, but I never got that feeling. How the show presents it, they came across as more strict, harsh, inconvenient, and demanding than they did someone to fear. It seemed more like two bratty kids who killed their parents because they resented them than people they killed out of fear and desperation. The deep horrors of how they allegedly treated their kids are only left to the imagination. If Ryan wanted the audience to decide who the “real” monsters were, he failed at showing just how monstrous they were to their boys (I will elaborate on this when we get to the abuse section).

Jose and Kitty as characters in Law and Order:

Jose and Kitty, in law and order, are explored even less than the brothers were. I’ve already explained why (the show is told from Leslie’s POV). What we see of them is shown through flashbacks from the brothers and other relatives. We see that Jose is controlling, intimidating, a bully, powerful, and abusive. We also learn that Lyle really looks up to his father, and at the beginning of the series, he constantly talks about making his dad proud. There’s no character growth to Jose here because this is ultimately a story about Leslie. Even though I preferred Javier, Carlos was also great at embodying Jose. The real Jose was said to be scary and intimidating even to grown adults, and Carlos made me feel afraid of him.

On the other hand, Kitty is shown as what Lyle describes as a “basketcase,” and Erik tells his cousin Henry that she is “so unhappy.” Flashbacks and comments of Kitty show her as constantly breaking down crying, dependent on drugs, passive, and showing little interest in her boys. Kitty also doesn’t grow much character; we learn that Jose had an affair with her, and Lyle tells Donovan it destroyed her. It helps the audience understand why Kitty turned into a basketcase, not necessarily to feel bad for her but to understand her more. Again, I prefer Chloe over Lolita; she did a better job embodying Kitty’s “I hate my kids” energy, but it’s not Lolita’s fault. I think she did great with what she had, but she wasn’t exactly playing the real-life Kitty. Lyle even pointed out on Facebook that Kitty here wasn’t shown as scary and violent as she was in real life. Law and Order even had a moment where the boys reminisced on a funny moment with their parents and flashbacks where Lyle remembered good times with his parents. I think it handled showing that Jose and Kitty weren't awful all the time without humanizing them too much. By the end of the show, the audience has seen why the brothers feared their parents so much and why they felt like killing them was their only option but there are still moments that show the brothers still love them and had good times with them.

Despite the flaws, law and order made the audience hate Jose and Kitty better. I will talk about the abuse later, but Law and Order did a far better job showing just how Monstrous Jose and Kitty were, even though Monsters did develop their characters more. A criticism I often see towards Law and Order is that the brothers were too sympathetic and the Menendez family were one-dimensional, and I can understand that viewpoint. We spent way more time with Leslie and behind-the-scenes legal drama than with them and their parents, which is why it was tough to explain their characters. However, this is excused because this is a legal drama explained through Leslie's eyes, which explains why the brothers are more sympathetic here. Throughout the series, we see that she begins to care for them like they are her children; it’s how she views them, and everything she knows of Jose and Kitty is being told to her from the point of view of other people, including their victims. Hence, it stands to reason why (Jose and Kitty) are only looked at as vile and one-dimensional. From a pure story point of view, it makes perfect sense.

Character development:

Monster’s storytelling also suffers from little to no character development. By the end of the show, almost everyone stays the same as they were. Lyle is still obnoxious and rude, Erik is still bratty and aggressive, and Dominick is still a bitter journalist who takes his distrust of the legal system out on the brothers. It’s like everyone stayed at point A and didn’t learn anything from their experiences. Out of the significant characters, the only ones who got real development seemed to be Jose and Kitty. In episode 6, they are struggling with their marriage and seem to hate each other, but by the end of the episode they seem to work out their differences and have a happy marriage. But like….their personalities don’t seem to change or develop. Kitty still hates her kids and Jose is still a controlling tyrant. Good storytelling means developing their characters, it doesn’t mean that they should have a complete 180 with their personalities, but they should have learned something from their experiences that leads to a change in their flaws, morals, and actions. This is another example of the characters here being over the top and cartoony. It’s not just the hyperbolic personalities, but the fact that no one seems human enough to develop. Lyle throughout the whole show is an obnoxious prick who is always yelling and cursing. Episode 4 showed a more vulnerable and soft side to him, giving the audience the impression that he acts the way he does because the abuse stunted his growth and he’s still mentally a child himself. However, for the remainder of the episodes he doesn’t change. He’s still rude and obnoxious, he’s learned nothing from this experience and it takes away the impact of seeing his more vulnerable side. It’s another example of lazy and ineffective storytelling. The show seemed to want to stick to a certain status quo, not understanding that characters are allowed to change without becoming completely different people.

I won’t talk too much about the characterization since I’ve already talked about that. Law and Order did a great job at developing its characters. By the end, everyone has grown, learned, and evolved from being a part of this case. I will be using as an example since she is our main character here. By the end of the series, Leslie turned a whole new leaf from losing her case. By the end, Leslie is heartbroken that she lost her case and the fact that Erik and Lyle both get life sentences. However, we see her grow throughout the series. She stays her same fierce, brash, bold and confident self, however we see her more vulnerable side. She has issues with her parents, her mother passes away and she reconnects with her estranged father. In the midst of all this, she becomes a mother again and adopts a baby boy. Her new son, own issue with her parents and closeness with the brothers is a factor on why she became so passionate about their case and why she turned a new leaf after the second trial to focus on raising her son and working at a toy store. Of course her decision was because of her loss, but also because learning about the horrific abuse the brothers suffered made her appreciate family and want the best for all children. As a result of both, she understands the real impact of a healthy and normal family and not only wants to be there for her child but other people’s children. 

Not only is there great development, but none of the protagonists are unlikable. Sure, they have their flaws, but it makes them come across as more complex and human. Even the antagonist characters (Weisburg, Detective Zoller, Pam, Gil Garcetti and David Conn) have their own subplots that fulfil the antagonistic role by having motivations behind their actions and having a foil for the antagonist that makes the audience question the protagonist. For example David Conn (Robin Thomas), as a part of the California DA office is assigned as the prosecutor in the second trial. Throughout the show, we see how desperate the DA office is for a conviction after losing the McMartin, Rodney King, and later OJ Simpson trial. After the OJ loss, the office is determined to convict the brothers. Later during the second trial, Conn reveals to the jury and the audience during his cross examination of Erik’s psychiatric in jail Dr. Vicary that Leslie had  hand in altering Dr Vicary’s (Todd Weeks) notes about Erik’s view of his mother. While this a small example, it shows how smart the law and order team was with its writing and storytelling. Not even the antagonists are over the top and cartoony, but real relatable people with their own backstories, goals, and motivations that makes the audience understand their viewpoint. 

Sexual/adult situations:

It’s no secret that monsters heavily sexualized the brothers. While I cannot praise Cooper and Nicholas’s performances enough, it’s clear that Ryan also cast them based on their looks and bodies. There are far too many scenes of them nude, shirtless, or in sexual situations, even when not necessary. I have no issues with nudity or sex scenes/suggestions in the media, but it was very excessive here. Law and Order had a scene of Erik’s girlfriend Noelle (Anna Osceola) teasing him with sex when he got out of jail. However, the most significant difference is context. Erik’s girlfriend teasing him made sense because she’s assumingly a young girl who wants to give her boyfriend a “gift” when he gets out of jail. It doesn’t seem out of the ordinary, and it’s not “in your face,” so to speak. It’s subtle and not distracting, like the sexual moments between Oziel and Judalon. The over-sexualization was so bad that monsters included incest undertones between the brothers. In the second episode, Lyle kisses Erik on the mouth, and later, they dance seductively with each other at a party. Then, in episode 7, Dominick Dunne gives people his theories of the Menendez family and suggests that the real family secret was Erik and Lyle's incestuous relationship. The scene then cuts to Kitty catching the brothers in the shower together. 

In Law and Order, one juror commented that Erik probably got his stories of sexual abuse from having sex with Lyle, which is a disgusting comment; it’s nowhere near as awful as Ryan deciding to showcase an incest scene between them. Even if it was Dominick Dunne’s imagination, I still don’t understand why it had to be shown. The juror's comment in Law and Order is met with disdain from the other jurors; unlike Monsters, the whole “brother incest” is brought up but not even entertained.

I will admit I laughed at the scene where an inmate sarcastically tells Lyle he’ll give him a dime if Lyle gives him head and Dr.Vicary’s “Miss the sex?” When Erik says he misses Tony, gave me a chuckle. If everything else weren’t so in your face and had the gross incest stuff, I wouldn’t have minded these moments so much. But the layers of over-sexualization, including sibling incest, showed (to me) what was on Ryan’s mind when he cast two good-looking 20-something-year-olds to play the brothers.

The abuse:

In Monsters, the brother's allegations of abuse weren’t shown like they should’ve been to get the point across. I’m going to start with Kitty. In real life, the brothers alleged that Kitty was also violent and abusive to them. We also know that she sexually abused them both. The show attempts to address that Kitty was also an abuser and not just an enabler. However, it is poorly executed, and there is not enough time to show that. The only incident of this is her raging out on her kids after they accuse her of trying to poison them, but just before that, we see them cussing her out and ganging up on her. It comes across that she is justified in her rage out, and considering her kids are sociopaths, her kids were being dicks to her, and she got frustrated. Add onto the fact that they just watched her spazz out on the kitchen floor unconcerned. So when she tells her therapist, “I hate my kids,” someone may think, “Well, they cuss her out, gang up on her, accuse her of poisoning them, and are thieves. I get why she hates them and feels like they ruined her life.” To make it worse, we see her kissing Erik on the head and calling Lyle “sweetheart” (we all know the real kitty would never lmao) and telling her therapist that she still feels the umbilical cord connecting them. It makes it seem like she has love for them, but their attitude makes her hate them. Even if I can give it the “this is Kitty’s perspective” excuse, as stated earlier, the show does a terrible job of providing more corroboration to the brother's perspective of the abuse they say they suffered and what led to them fearing their parents. In addition, the only incident of sexual abuse of hers that is shown is her looking at Erik’s penis to check for AIDS, but the show leaves out that she used to pop blisters on them (Erik was also much younger when this happened) and even then it’s seen as justified and not motivated by the real Kitty’s perverted nature. Before that, she and Erik were talking about how Erik could bring AIDS in the house because he isn’t using the condoms they bought (and they are aware of his sexual relationship with another boy). It makes it seem like Kitty was just a concerned mother instead of the pervert she was. Erik mentions Kitty sexually abusing Lyle in episode 5, but it’s wildly “blink and you’ll miss it,” and Lyle does not even talk about it. The naked pictures are shown in court, but it came after it was implied that Leslie coached the brothers to lie on the stand. However, the show spent more time showing that the brothers were rude brats who talked back to their parents instead of showing how vile Kitty could also be.

As for Jose, my issues are pretty much similar. We don’t see enough of him being abusive to his sons besides slapping, degrading, and yelling at them. Yes, it’s still abuse, but it's not abusive enough to make us hate his guts.  If I recall correctly, the only incident that shows his sexual abuse was in episode 6, when he drags Erik to his room, and there’s a bunch of thumbs behind the door. Everything else about his sexual abuse of them is only talked about. I’m not saying they should’ve shown explicit rape scenes, but Law and Order was able to show the abuse of both parents that makes the audience hate them both. Jose, like Kitty, is seen as justifiably angry with his boys because of their burglaries and Lyle’s suspension in episode 6. Again, I understand this episode is his point of view, but I found myself understanding Jose’s frustration. Perhaps that’s what the writers were aiming for; they explored multiple perspectives and let the audience decide who the monsters were. Still, less time was dedicated to showing how monstrous Jose and Kitty were in the brother's eyes. Again, it suffers from telling and not showing.

Law and Order was able to show Jose and Kitty’s abuse without being explicit but also bad enough to make you hate them and sympathize with the brothers. Through flashbacks, we see that Kitty is negligent (how she handles Erik’s nightmares, ignoring Jose and bearing Erik), relies on pills and alcohol, keeps kiddy porn pictures of them, and that she also molests Lyle. It’s not explicit, but it’s clear what’s happening as it leaves little to the imagination. Jose, in these flashbacks, is also shown as abusive. Multiple times, he is seen striking fear into his boys, and the sexual abuse is not explicit, but it leaves little to the imagination of what is happening. By the end of the series, the audience has seen how disgusting and frightening Jose and Kitty are to their boys. Someone might say, “Well, the show is biased for the defense, so it will be in their favor. Monsters are trying to give multiple perspectives and letting the audience decide.” That’s true, but the writers took plenty of time to show how bratty and annoying Erik and Lyle were to others. But, there was barely any time spent showing the audience just how vile Jose and Kitty were from the perspectives of their boys. While I appreciated episodes 4 and 5, their telling their stories would not have been as impactful as showing their stories to the audience. The last episode of Law and Order was also better at addressing generational trauma. The last episode has Jose’s sister Marta (Constance Marie) and Kitty’s sister Joan (Molly Hagan) telling Leslie that they were abused as children, which shows the impact of generational curses but doesn't humanize them too much to forget their abuse.

Overall Storytelling:

Lastly,the storytelling is what makes Law and Order work but not Monsters. While the plot in Law and Order is about the Menendez case, the show sticks to the Law and Order formula by sticking to the legal drama that surrounds the case. The story, like any good story, has a beginning, middle, and end. Its storytelling is polished, shows instead of telling, well structured, has conflict, well developed characters and has a clear purpose and identity. 

Beginning, middle, and end. The beginning of the story is the murders of Jose and Kitty Menendez and the investigators in the case trying to find the killers and ultimately their investigation leads them to the couple’s own two sons.

Middle: Erik and Lyle are arrested and adjust to life in jail. Meanwhile, the prosecution and defense are both building their case.

End: Both sides present their case during both of the brothers' trials. The defense, despite being the protagonist, loses the case and the brothers are sentenced to life in prison and Leslie turns a new leaf.

Polished and structured: As explained by the beginning middle and end, the storytelling in Law and Order is structured and clear. It’s organized in the kind of story it’s telling but also has important elements a well structured story needs like conflict and purpose.

Conflict: This is another reason why I feel like Law and Order dealt with the subplots better because they added to the story by adding conflict to drive the plot forward. As mentioned earlier, Judge Weisburg’s subplot at the end provided conflict for both him and Leslie. For him, the bad press gives him a conflict because he is desperate to get a conviction to keep his job and save his reputation. For Leslie, Weisburg’s desperation causes him to not allow any abuse evidence in the second trial. This causes her conflict because she struggles on how she’ll be able to argue her case without abuse evidence. The conflict here does what it’s supposed to do by creating tension, advancing the main plot forward, and once the story ends, the created closure.

Purpose: Lastly, the core thing that makes Law and Order better executed than Monster’s is its purpose. The show has an identity and knows exactly what message it is trying to send. For Law and Order, the purpose of the show is to showcase the corruption and unfairness of the legal system. To prove this point, it takes the real life Menendez murder case, a case that was a prime example of legal corruption and unfairness and dramatized it into a TV show. It makes sure to stick to the Law and Order format by being a legal and courtroom drama, as a result the brothers don’t get much attention, but they are still important as characters. Their testimony and allegations help build a case for the defense and their relationship with Leslie Abrahmson gives her character development.

Monsters like mentioned have a Ransom effect type of storytelling. The purpose of the Rashomon effect is supposed to show how multiple views of the same event can be interpreted in different ways and the contradictions that can arise from that. An example would be the 1970s sitcom “Good Times" episode “When there’s smoke”, after the couch catches on fire, the characters JJ, Michael and Thelma all tell Willona their story of what happened. Each story contradicts each other, making each narrator look favorable and the others look bad. In the end, it’s revealed that the character Penny is the one who lit the couch on fire after she tried to have a cigarette and dropped it on the couch after JJ says that he doesn’t like smokers. While this could have been a fresh and unique twist on dramatization of the Menendez brothers, the show drops the ball by failing to establish this. It’s not well structured, the timeline is off, the characters are not developed, it tells instead of shows, there’s a lack of proper conflict, and there’s no real purpose or identity for this show’s existence. 

Structure and timeline: One big difference between Law and Order and Monsters storytelling is how it’s structured. Law and Order for one had a clear cut story beginning, middle, and end where Monster’s does not. To give it the benefit of the doubt, it follows the timeline of the actual crime. That being, the murders, the brothers shopping spree, the Dr. Oziel drama, their arrest, then revealing the abuse to build the case, the first trial being a hung jury, the second trial, and the brothers conviction. However, the timeline seems jumpy and unfocused. For example, we see some of the same plot points multiple times such as Lyle’s Princeton suspension. Lyle explains his Princeton suspension in episode 4, in this episode this is his side of the story. We see this same plot point again in episode 6, the episode that is supposed to be the perspective of Jose and Kitty. However, the timeline is confusing because by the time the Jose and Kitty perspective episode happens, it’s after the brothers are in jail and Jose and Kitty are dead. So who is exactly telling the story? Again I understand wanting to incorporate a Rashomon effect story but the timeline is jumpy and is not structured in a way that makes it clear to the audience that the story being told is how different people interpret things. 

I mean, I’ve seen children’s shows write a better Rashomon effect story then this show has. One example I can think of is the cartoon “The powerpuff girls” in the episode “The Bare facts”, the Mayor of Townsville is kidnapped and blindfolded by the show’s main villain Mojo Jojo. The girls eventually save the mayor and take him back to his office, but the girls are giggling when they save him but he’s still blindfolded so he wants to know what’s so funny. When he is finally unblindfolded, he continues to ask the girls what’s so funny but they don’t want to tell him so they all change the subject by telling the story of how they found out he was kidnapped and how they rescued him. Each girl narrates the story from their perspective, but each account contradicts each other and is extremely hyperbolic. By the end, it is revealed that the girls were giggling about the fact that Mojo Jojo had stripped the mayor nude during the kidnapping and the girls were telling the mayor this story to avoid telling him the truth about why they were laughing. 

This kind of storytelling concept could have worked with the Menendez story because there are alot of characters in this case that have different perspectives on what exactly happened. But the problem is the story makes no effort to let the audience know that this is the case, so when we see Erik and Lyle ganging up on their mom and cursing her out, the audience doesn't know that in this particular episode it is supposed to be Kitty and Jose’s perspective so we are supposed to their behavior at face value. There’s no narrator or anything else to indicate that this multiple perspectives show. If episode 1 had stayed exactly the way it is and had ended with Dr Oziel on the stand or talking to his wife, Judalon, a journalist, or Jill and Leslie explaining what he thinks happened, and every episode began or ended like that, I probably still wouldn’t be a fan of the show but at least I could understand the kind of storytelling. Unfortunately, it seems like the show did not know how to properly structure that kind of story it is telling and thus comes across as sloppy, confusing, and inconsistent. 

Conflict: I’ve already touched on this in the subplots section, so I will keep this brief, Monsters includes very little conflict or tension for the story. Of course there are conflicts such as Judalon and Oziel’s drama and Dominick Dunne’s articles. But the conflicts don’t really do much to drive the plot in a unique way, but because they happened in real life. The show took many creative liberties when it came to the brothers' personalities but not when it came to plot points. The conflict between Leslie and David Conn was based on actual events, yet it was still highly dramatized enough to give the main plot a conflict and a resolution. Monsters, when it did have a conflict, didn't seem to know how to resolve it. Dominick Dunne’s storyline did not have an antagonist to foil his plans, and as a result the conflict created no tension and no flakes. This creates what’s called a forced conflict, or a conflict that’s added in just to create a conflict. In this show, it feels like Domonick Dunne’s gossip is added in just because Dominick was an actual figure, he was in the Law and Order show but he is reduced to a minor character. Ryan Murphy has stated that Domonick was heavily involved in the series because he was a key figure in how the public viewed the brothers. This can be a valid point, however Dominick's gossip comes across as more of a nuisance as opposed to an actual conflict for the brothers. A conflict is supposed to raise stakes, create tension and develop characters but his involvement doesn’t do much for the main plot. Unfortunately, it seemed like the writers didn’t know how to write a proper conflict.

Lack of purpose: Lastly, the biggest issue is that it has no purpose. Unlike Law and Order, the show has no real identity and doesn’t know what message it's trying to send. I understand wanting to let the audience decide who is telling the truth. Although I am on the brothers' side, there are perspectives out there that could put the brothers in hot water, the show doesn’t seem to know how to portray the multiple perspectives thing. So, on my first watch I was left confused on what the point was. Who are the monsters here? Erik and Lyle? Jose and Kitty? Domonick? If the writers wanted to let the audience decide then they did an awful job at establishing the Rashomon effect storytelling. The biggest proof that this was a terrible storytelling decision is the cast and writers having to explain this in every interview. If the show made it’’s purpose and identity clear then the case wouldn’t have to explain the show’s message. Simply put, Monster’s has reason to exist and doesn’t know what message it wants to convey,

Final thoughts:

All in all, Law and Order, while far from being perfect and having its fair share of inaccuracies, it’s still by far the most accurate out of the five Menendez dramatizations and blows Monsters out of the water. It does struggle with pacing issues, especially towards the end and I think Monsters had better acting, production quality, and chemistry between the actors than Law and Order. I do prefer Nicholas and Cooper over Miles and Gus as Lyle and Erik. They’re both very talented and entertaining to watch and are more believable as brothers in my opinion. I enjoyed their brotherly moments and their back and forth bantering scenes, it may not be accurate but it really establishes them as believable siblings. Javier and Chloe also have more chemistry as Jose and Kitty in my opinion, although Carlos and Lolita were given better material, I still prefer Javier and Chloe. I think the main cast had better chemistry and we’re more believable as a family then Miles, Gus, Carlos and Lolita.  The production team for Monsters also did a better job at establishing an 80s and early 90s aesthetic by the costuming, set designs, and music. The brothers costuming, especially when it came to their court outfits were spot on.

However, overall Law and Order did a better job when it comes to storytelling. Sure, it is biased for the defense but because it’s covering the case from a legal standpoint and Leslie is the main character, we are seeing the version of events from her eyes so storytelling wise it makes sense that the story would be in her favor. The biggest issue with Monsters is not the inaccuracies or the oversexualization but because it doesn’t know what it’s trying to say. It’s clear that Ryan wants the audience to decide who the Monsters are, but because he isn't clear with his aim to tell a Ransom effect storytelling, the audience is left confused on whose side they are supposed to be on. It comes across as inconsistent, unorganized, and lacking in identity. It’s frustrating too because you can see a lot of potential here for a good or even passable show, but it seemed like Ryan was more into capturing his fantasies as opposed to writing a good story. Really the only saving grace of this trainwreck of a show is the actors who are really putting on their best performance to save this mess of a series. 

[dankusner]

That time I interviewed NELL CARTER

Holy moly! Legendary diva Nell Carter performs at Cathedral of Hope's Easter services

By DANIEL KUSNER | April 13, 2001

When Nell Carter thinks about Easter, idyllic images of candy, games, children and unity flood her mind.

"To me, Easter is a festival — a chance for children not to dwell on the crucifixion. It's a time for them to wear their Sunday's best and enjoy egg hunting. But it's also a very sacred time when you listen to the beautiful songs like, 'Were You There.’ It's not a down season at all. In fact, there are less suicides around Easter," she says during a recent phone interview.

Carter, best known for her for her illustrious Broadway career, including her show-stopping performance in Ain't Misbehavin' and her six-year stint on the NBC sitcom Gimme a Break, will be in Dallas with her adopted sons, Joshua and Daniel, on Sunday to celebrate Easter with Cathedral of Hope at the Meyerson.

"'I’m proud of every gay person I know. I'm in awe of those who are open. And I'm proud enough that I'll bring my children to the services," she says.

 "My children are being raised to respect and understand as best as they can for their age — they're only 11. They're going there for a holy time, a joyous time. And the reason I wanted them to come is to let them know that no matter what they hear, when it comes to God, God is there for everyone."

Born Catholic, raised Presbyterian and now a practicing Jew, Carter has always tried to expose her children to a liberating belief system.

"Whether you believe in Jesus or not, Easter is a time to acknowledge that a very important person died. And my children have gone to the Baptist church, to the Catholic church. As long as you don't try to baptize my child, I don't care. They should know about other religions. I don't want them to be so negative where they think they're the only ones who are right. I think that's a bad mistake," she says.

But this Sunday might be the first time she's ever performed before a gay congregation.

"I swear, I can't remember anything," the Beverly Hills resident laughs.

"But we have gay churches in California. We have a gay temple, and the rabbi is a practicing lesbian, so it's no big deal. Some of the best singers in the church are gay. So what?"

The last time she performed in Dallas was last year, when she was the Turtle Creek Chorale's featured guest for their 20th anniversary celebration.

"I had a great time. Those guys were a lot of fun — they weren't snobs. In a lot of cities, the gay men's choruses can be a bunch of snobs. You'd think it was a Cinderella dress contest — believe me. But they weren't snobby at all. They were perfect for me," she says.

The subject of gay choruses brings about very special memories for Carter.

Her beloved brother, Dr. Bernard Carter, a respected lawyer and professor in Chicago who died of AIDS in 1988, turned Nell Carter onto the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus.

"My brother was connoisseur of music, and he really liked San Francisco. When he came to New York, he told me that he had a growth. He didn't tell me the truth, but I knew what it was, and we both looked at each other knowingly. So he came out to California, and I was really furious that I couldn't get help for him," she remembers.

"When I heard the gay men's chorus there sing, it was then that I started my healing, which was almost 10 years after he died. It took that long to really come to terms with it."

In 1999, Carter performed with the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus which raised money for the Chorus' Financial Assistance Network.

"I think my healing started right in the middle of the concert," she says.

"I always sing to him. But at that concert, I could feel that the pain was getting less and less. It was not a pain that he was dead, it was pain that I didn't have my best friend, because he was my best friend, I knew everything about him — who he was with — everything."

Those attending services on Sunday can expect to hear Carter deliver a spirit-lifting version of "From a Distance," the "God is watching us" song that Bette Midler popula ized.

"That song is a non-Baptist, non-anything. In the end, no matter who you believe in — and I really believe that there's only one God — if you are practicing your religion, your whatever, you will be protected," she says. "If you're teaching goodness, honesty and love, you are a child of God.

Nell Carter kicks off Cathedral of Hope's "Easter 2001" services on Sunday at 9 and 11 a.m. at the Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora. During the services Rev. Michael Piazza will also interview Carter. The services are free and open to all. Child care provided. 214-351-1901.

[merrock]

CHARACTER INFORMATION

face claim: Haley Lu Richardson

full name: Stevie May Lane

nickname(s) / goes by: Stevie, Ms.Lane, Mama

pronouns & gender: Cis woman & She/Her

sexuality: Heterosexual

birth date: August 14th, 1995

birth place: Waco, Texas

arrival to merrock: Arrived in November of 2023

housing: small house in the suburbs that she rents

occupation: Sixth grade English teacher 

work place: Merrock Junior High

family: Elijah Jaxon Lane (July 8th, 2013), Joshua Lane (Cousin), Mom & Adopted Father in Texas

relationship status: single

PERSONALITY

Stevie is sunshine personified. She’s seen around town with her sketchbook. Always willing to help, if she has the time. She’s the one who always has a book in her bag, and hosts the weekly silent book hour at the library. The coveralls that fit over her hips, doodles on her converse and bandanas in her hair showcase just how her style is. She would do anything for her son, and if that means be snarky, you bet she’ll be snarky. She would give up her own world to make sure her son has everything in his. Stevie is caring and considerate. 

WRITTEN BY: Kay (she/her), est.

BACKGROUND / BIO

triggering / sensitive content: pregnancy, bullying

Stevie May Lane was born in San Antonio, Texas on a beautiful and hot summer day. Stevie grew up in Waco, Texas. A small city in between Dallas and San Antonio. She grew up in an easy household. Her mother being a stay-at-home mom, and her father was a lawyer. She was a good kid in school, gravitating more towards the artsy kids. She liked getting her hands dirty. Being able to sculpt, or draw, or paint was her favorite pastime. Stevie was about 16 when she found papers in her mothers drawers while she was looking for a pair of shoes, claiming that her father was not her real father and that he adopted her at the age of one. That had immediately put a divide in their relationship. Stevie was hurt and confused as to why they had never said anything. She became someone who’d stay out all night, getting high with some friends. When she was just about to graduate high school, Stevie found herself pregnant at eighteen. Her family wasn’t the most supportive when it came to Elijah, her beautiful baby boy. But she fell in love. Her parents kicked her out and she did her best to try and make ends meet by selling some of her artwork online. She did her best going to college with a newborn, but it was almost impossible. Online classes, a lot of coffee and energy drinks, late nights studying and feeding, and night classes where she could have friends watch her child became the norm. Graduating from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, she became a middle school teacher. Elijah being the sole reason for her to continue pursuing a degree, and job. He is the one person in her life that she would do anything for. And that meant doing everything in her power to make him happy. Thus, moving. 

After finding out from the local gossip mill in Waco that her son was getting bullied, she decided it was time to leave her hometown full of gossip and rude looks.  With the help of her cousin, Josh, she was able to move to Merrock. She had no idea what was in store for her in the Northeast, but she figured she’d might as well try. With the little money she was able to save over the years and having her ten year old child in tow, she was able to rent out a small house in the suburbs. She took over a position in the junior high as an english teacher and has gotten Elijah into school, and even flag football where he exceeds expectations. As an almost twenty-nine year old mom, she’s starting over. It’s been over six months of them finally able to settle in. They adopted a cat named Button, Elijah has made some friends, They’ve been able to get to know their family, and have finally found their footing in this cute little town. 

[thewrightfirmllp]

The Wright Firm, LLP

The Wright Law Firm is one of the top-rated family law firms providing legal representation to clients in Lewisville, Dallas, and Frisco, TX. Our family law lawyers offer legal representation and counsel in family issues like divorce, custody, support, adoption, and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. 

Before marriage, some couples prefer to create prenuptial agreements, not in anticipation of a divorce, but to protect their assets and loved ones in case the unexpected happens. Our prenuptial agreement lawyers can oversee the drafting of the documents to ensure they are enforceable if that time comes.  

We also have postnuptial agreement lawyers who can draft and review postnuptial agreements, ensuring couples agree on asset division if a divorce happens. Other issues we can help clients discuss with their ex-spouses are spousal support, marital debt, child custody and support, and asset distribution after death. 

Couples who want to get started on parenthood through adoption can find the support they need through our adoption lawyers. Adoption is often complex and involved, but we work hard to help couples understand their rights and responsibilities before, during, and after adoption. We can also provide legal representation at adoption hearings. 

In divorce cases, we have skilled and compassionate divorce lawyers who provide the needed legal support to help clients rebuild and move on with their lives after a divorce. Our mediation lawyers and spousal support lawyers can help couples in a contested divorce to reach an agreement and try to resolve their issues out of court before finalizing the divorce. 

Child custody and support are crucial issues that couples must discuss before finalizing the divorce. We have compassionate child custody lawyers, child support lawyers, and visitation lawyers who fight aggressively to ensure the children's best interests are protected when their parents divorce. 

We can help clients create agreements that work for both parties without hurting the children. If significant life changes affect a client's ability to act as per the agreement, our modification lawyers can help them modify the terms. Doing so ensures they don't get in trouble for violating court-given divorce decrees. 

Grandparents who wish to petition the court for visitation or custody of their grandchildren can do so with the help of our grandparents rights lawyers. We can help them determine their eligibility depending on the circumstances surrounding the divorce of the child's parents. We fight hard to uphold grandparents' rights, especially if they're the child's primary caregiver. 

The circumstances and process of a military divorce may differ from a civil divorce. Military divorces are complex, and you need the help of a skilled military divorce lawyer for the most favorable outcome in the case. Our military family law lawyers understand the nuances of military law and can help ensure the issues are properly addressed to protect your rights. 

The Wright Law Firm, LLP also hosts bankruptcy lawyers to help clients with bankruptcy issues. We provide comprehensive legal counsel to people who want to understand how federal bankruptcy laws work and how they can use them to their advantage. 

Our Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyers and Chapter 13 bankruptcy lawyers can evaluate the circumstances leading to bankruptcy and advise on the best option for each case. We can also provide legal representation against creditors who come after you before you finalize filing for bankruptcy. 

Another area of law that we handle passionately is estate planning. Most people think it's a reserve for wealthy individuals with many assets. However, our estate planning lawyers and estate planning administration lawyers advise clients to plan how they would love their assets to be distributed after their demise. 

Having a Will or trust is the easiest way to ensure your assets are divided according to your wishes and end up in the right hands. Our Wills lawyers and trusts lawyers can help clients create legally binding estate planning documents to protect their legacy. You should have a legal plan to protect what you have worked so hard for, and we can help you do that. 

Clients whose loved ones passed on without proper estate planning documents may have to go through probate to distribute the deceased's assets. Our probate lawyers can provide counsel and representation through the process to make it easier for the beneficiaries. 

We know that legal battles can be challenging, and we want our clients to get through them without worrying about the case's outcome. That's why we fight hard to protect our client’s rights in family law, bankruptcy, or estate planning matters. Whatever your issue in these areas of law, call us at  972-353-4600 for an initial consultation. The Wright Firm, LLP

8150 N. Central Expressway Suite 775, Dallas, Texas 75206

469-405-2608

[rosy0124]

The Worrell Law Firm is an adoption and family law firm featuring an experienced legal team. Together, we've earned the respect of the judiciary and our peers, and know how to get results that you can see. Our firm is committed to providing the highest-quality, most cost-effective legal services within the framework of professional ethical standards. We represent individual clients in family law matters, including adoptions, estate planning, and mediation.

Always seeking to understand your loved ones' needs, we have built a sound reputation by delivering value to our clients. Our commitment to hard work and exceeding client expectations are some of the reasons our firm has grown to become a premier choice for families. Reach out to us when you need counsel for family law or adoptions.

Contact us to learn more about our family law services. We are located in Dallas, TX, and serve clients throughout counties in North Texas, including Dallas, Collin, and Tarrant Counties.

Contact Us:-

Address: -   4144 N Central Expressway, #230 Dallas TX75204

Phone:   8666791686

Website: - https://www.theworrelllawfirm.com/

[myallison0234]

Adoption Agency Lawyer Dallas

It's a rare condition in this day and age to find a family law firm in Dallas, TX, truly dedicated to providing compassionate legal services. Receive the experienced representation you deserve by allying with The Worrell Law Firm. For years, our team has emphasized the virtues of honesty, dedication, and accessibility by providing individuals and families with effective legal support in a range of family law-related practice areas.

Matters related to family law are complex. Consider options that look out for the best interests of your loved ones. Our legal team understands your situation. Our attorneys are well-versed in legal representation. We take the time to learn about your family’s situation. In turn, we can discuss your options with clarity and insight, and steer your case towards the best possible outcome.

Our firm provides the following family law services:

Family Law: Family matters are complex. Let our firm guide you and your loved ones towards a future with certainty. We cover a wide range of legal issues, including divorce, child support, custody, domestic violence, and protective orders.

Adoptions: Adopting a child can be an exciting, life-changing experience. Let our law firm guide you through the entire process. We will advise you on your rights and obligations, as well as guide you through the adoption process.

Estate Planning: Having a plan in place for your loved ones can save a lot of grief, uncertainty, and confusion in the future. Our estate planning services can help you prepare and ensure your wishes are honored.

Mediation: Mediation ensures both parties in a conflict have a chance to discuss their differences in an unbiased environment. We’ll help you set up negotiations that provide an opportunity to reach a mutually agreeable outcome.

About Us

The Worrell Law Firm is an adoption and family law firm featuring an experienced legal team. Together, we've earned the respect of the judiciary and our peers, and know how to get results that you can see. Our firm is committed to providing the highest-quality, most cost-effective legal services within the framework of professional ethical standards. We represent individual clients in family law matters, including adoptions, estate planning, and mediation.

Always seeking to understand your loved ones' needs, we have built a sound reputation by delivering value to our clients. Our commitment to hard work and exceeding client expectations are some of the reasons our firm has grown to become a premier choice for families. Reach out to us when you need counsel for family law or adoptions.

Contact us to learn more about our family law services. We are located in Dallas, TX, and serve clients throughout counties in North Texas, including Dallas, Collin, and Tarrant Counties.

Contact Us:-

Address:-   4144 N Central Expressway, #230 Dallas TX75204

Phone:   8666791686

Website:- https://www.theworrelllawfirm.com/

[labyriinths]

The Ewings of Dallas are allies of the Duttons of Yellowstone. Their father's fathers met during the war, and kept in touch with letters. If they needed help acquiring/raising cattle they would lean on each other. While The Duttons had no desire with fracking like the Ewings did, they always kept that part of their lives separate. Pledging loyalty to the others should they need it--politically or personally. 

In common: Ranch with several acres passed down from generation, Well connected and respected. Strong patriarch trying to keep everyone together. Big sense of family. Sibling rivalry and defending what they believe is theirs.

Some of my major players & their connection:

Bobby- Best friends with John Dutton. While he still is in the oil industry, he has a big heart for the ranch. He prefers to be riding and tending to the animals. Enjoys camping and can do without the money, though you can see in the littlest of things that he does have it. In the boots, and in the riding gear, gold chain and belt.

Christopher- Around the same age as Beth, loves ranching. Has a soft touch with animals. Can be very down to earth, but also extremely spoiled and naïve. He is much more likely to say something he regrets out of anger, only to take it back in the next encounter. Likely was shipped off to the Dutton ranch once or twice in his high school years to ‘start fresh’ so he would see the value of hard work. He always seemed to be wanting validation from women since his own mother abandoned him when he was just a baby. Can also see him getting along with Rip but then getting into disagreements since Chris can’t seem to see how good he’s had it despite being ‘adopted.’ 

Elena- Deeply rooted in right and wrong. Would most likely get along most with Monica. Grew up on the ranch, but always felt like an outsider because she was never rich, and overlooked due to her heritage. But it doesn’t mean she can’t hold her own. Very knowledgeable with land and minerals, and quick to call people out if it’s needed.

John Ross- Same age as Lee. Hyper-ambitious, but secretly likes the simple things in life. He just needs someone to remind him of that, and make him believe he actually deserves it. He often thinks he doesn’t, so he’s always going after some larger than life deal so he can ‘prove himself.’ Would likely vibe with Jamie since he’s a bit lost himself. But I can see him disagreeing with his tactics and siding with Beth most of the time. With Beth, he’s far more likely to keep her at arm’s length having grown up and seen her fire first hand. He knows he can’t fully trust her, but feels that if they were challenged against each other he might have a semi fair shot of giving her a run for her money. He’s always had a thing for women with some fire. 

Pamela Rebecca- Same age as Jamie;  a lawyer herself can easily go toe to toe with contracts/negotiations/technicalities and loopholes. Most likely to understand and also have friction with Beth. Could make formidable opponents as well as best friends. A wild card of personalities. You never know which version of her you’ll get. The sweet compassionate, or the cutthroat and vengeful type. While there very well be an in between, she can be a tad unpredictable if she’s pushed too far.

[novalunarps]

alrighty y’all it’s time to get my character groove on. and no i won’t throw you out a window if you throw off my groove i swearsies! i’ve got some bbies that need some love and attention, so feel free to hit me up at harder daddy™#0001 if you’ve got some ideas before we open! this is a part 1, part 2 coming soon! ASHTON MONTGOMERY > ash is a born and bred new yorker, born in manhattan he’s always had that silver spoon dangling from his mouth for as long as he can remember. even though he’s the oldest of three heirs to the montgomery name, ash is the only one that his father has ever talked about with disdain.  > he met the first love of his life during college - the intended major is totally free for whomever takes this lovely request - and the two had a bit of forbidden romance going on for a while. but ash knew what he wanted, and he knew well enough that if he wanted something that bad, he was going to get it. he’s kinda shallow, don’t blame him.  > the two adopted a son together who may or may not be currently on bad terms with ash for many, many reasons. the first of which being ash is married to his newly appointed firm partner. not only does the age gap make jackson wanna barf, but it also raises some questions at the office that ash adamantly denies. [ he’s in love with kit, kit’s a hell of a lawyer, end of story. ] the second thing being the fact that ash paid off the judge in his custody battle with his ex husband so ash had full custody and his ex husband basically had nothing but a feather up his ass. so there’s definitely some animosity in this family for sure. > what this baby needs: his ex husband first and foremost, gimme that sweet sweet drama [ preferred face: mark ruffalo, tom hiddleston, anyone from the marvel-verse that’s in their late 40s really ] // his adopted son jackson [ preferred face: tom holland ] // lawyers, secretaries, anyone that would work with for him at his law firm: montgomery & co. 

OLYMPIA TORRES [ tw: parental death from cancer ] > ollie is a new york implant originally from the sunny dallas, texas. she’s the youngest of seven children and has always been described as the golden child- even though she absolutely hates that ideology and she doesn’t claim to be special in any way really.  > her old man is a police officer and the family got uprooted when she was fifteen and he got transferred to the nypd. not long after, her mother died of ovarian cancer and he honestly wasn’t the same. her oldest brother sort of became the head of the family and stepped up while their father was incapacitated. she helps out as the authoritarian when none of the siblings listen to him. she’s tiny but fighty.  > she’s currently wanting to go into law enforcement to be like her dad, but her one year sabbatical turned into two and she honestly doesn’t know what she’s doing with her life at this point.  > what this baby needs: the fam !! [ sort of a hybrid of inspo from shameless and the umbrella academy, just a big ol’ family that’s big fucked up ] // a scooby doo inspired roommate plot [ we just need scooby and shaggy k thanks <3 ]  // a current boyfriend she’s totes in love with // an ex boyfriend that’s still lowkey into her

GWENDOLYN DONOVAN > this rich bitch, is literally an real house wife of new york. her daddy worked hard to get to where they are today and he did it all on his own. that instilled a deep set work ethic in gwen, and a sort of if you can take it, grab it sort of attitude that she’s instilled in her every day life. if she wants something, she’s going for it- and all but nothing will stop her from getting what she wants.  > she married jameson donovan as soon as she turned eighteen. he was her rock during a dark time and she wouldn’t be the person she was today without him. her family definitely wasn’t as rich as the donovan family- and his side always looked down on her for not being good enough for their son. but in actuality it’s probably him that’s not good enough for her.  > the donovans own a large security company that’s more recently branched into the new age of technology and started providing cyber security as one of their specialties. gwen has a masters degree and a pretty high up position in her husband’s company. so of course there’s going to be talk of an affair here or there concerning jameson and his secretary- who happens to change every other month because of all the rumors.  > gwen selflessly defends him to the public eye, but secretly, she’s tired of all of it. she’s tired of always having to listen to the accounts of women that her husband has supposedly slept with. so now she’s getting back, getting her revenge so to speak. in the form of a tinder account. > what this baby needs: first and foremost her husband [ preferred face: jeffrey dean morgan ] // the childhood best friend that she may or may not end up sleeping with [ preferred face: skeet ulrich ]  // the oldest children [ preferred faces: dacre montgomery & liz gillies, in accompaniment to the youngest daughter being lili reinhart ] // bitchy housewife friends that probably trash talk her behind her back not like she doesn’t do the same thing // her twin sister [ can be either fraternal or identical idk, but i do stan some wendy beauchamp ] // staff that have been with the family since before she became a donovan // a real nanny mcphee majordomo that’s helped her raise all three of her children

[waywardnerd67]

SPN Fluff Bingo Masterlist

Below the cut is the summaries for my SPN Fluff Bingo Card

Twirling in Love – Jared x Reader Summary: (Y/N)’s friends decided to sign her up for dance lessons to get her out of the house after a bad break-up. After begrudgingly going to her first lesson she finds her teacher to be a handsome man who is similarly going through the same thing.

Deep Down – Dean x Reader Summary: Dean and Sam call on (Y/N) to help them with a case in her hometown. When things going terribly wrong, Dean is faced with feelings he had buried deep down from when they were kids.

Mystery Girl – Jensen x Reader Summary: Working his way through college, Jensen works at the campus bookstore in between studying and playing baseball. When (Y/N) comes in to the bookstore, Jensen ends up in between a rock and a hard place.

Not What It Seems – Misha x Reader Summary: Having enough of Jensen and Jared’s pranks, Misha asks (Y/N) to help him get back at them.

Saving Me – Jensen x Reader Summary: (Y/N) has relapsed back into a dark place. As she makes one final decision fate steps in with a hero to save her.

Forever and Beyond – Sam x Reader Summary: Sam met (Y/N) during one of the darkest times in his life. Through the good and bad, she stood by his side. Now, he wants the one thing he never believe he could have.

Team Free Will – No Pairing Summary: (Y/N) is the new kid at Lawrence High School. When a few of the popular kids decide that it’s their mission to make her sophomore year the worst one yet a group steps in to help her out.

Wild and Free – Dean x Reader Summary: Before the birth of his first child, Dean decides to take (Y/N) on a road trip to fulfill some items on their bucket list.

A Place to Call Home – Sam x Reader Summary: Sam is trying to balance studying for the California Bar Exam and his relationship with (Y/N). When (Y/N) is at her wits in he suggests something that he never had before in his life.

Stand of Fate – Jared x Reader Summary: (Y/N) just moved to Austin with her son who is constantly get made fun of for his long hair at his new school. She decides to take him to Austin’s most popular barber shop The Moose.

Crash – Sam x Reader Summary: (Y/N) is involved in a serious car accident involving a celebrity. Now she must find a lawyer to help her with a settlement. She never figured that one of the worst days of her life would lead to what she had always dreamed of having.

The One Who Got Away – Jensen x Reader Summary: Jensen has a new student starting in his eighth-grade social studies class. After a rough start he decides to have a conference with her mom who ends up being the one girl he let slip through his fingers.

Coffee Mate – Dean x Reader Summary: (Y/N) begins working at Family Business Coffee Shop after moving to Sioux Falls to escape her life in New York. Instantly she is adopted into misfit family and tries to avoid the feelings that are developing for the owner’s eldest son.

Weather the Storm – Jensen x Reader Summary: Jensen takes a job as a new rancher with one of the largest farms in Dallas. When he meets (Y/N) another worker on the farm he cannot help but fall for her instantly.

Woman of the Water – Dean x Reader Summary: Dean is taking some R&R when he finds a woman hurt on a beach in Maine. Finding her takes him and his brother on a whirlwind adventure in a whole new world of the Supernatural.    

Inside My Mind – Jensen x Reader Summary: (Y/N) has been best friends with Jared since they were kids, always escaping from her harsh home life. When she meets his co-star the three of them become inseparable. That friendship would take her on a journey of healing from a past she desperately wanted to forget.

Winchester Curse – Sam x Reader Summary: Sam and Dean meet up with a new hunter that has been staying with Jody and the other Wayward Daughters. At first, it seems to Sam that Dean and she have hit off, but he cannot help the feelings building up inside him. Determined he is cursed to never have what he desires he pushes her away. Will (Y/N) be able to provide Sam’s theory wrong or will she end up the next victim of the Winchester curse.

Firefly – Dean x Reader Summary: (Y/N) adopts a cat whose previous owners were murdered. When strange things start happening around the cat she calls on the one person she swore to never speak to again.

Eternity – Castiel x Reader Summary: (Y/N) has suffered from horrible anxiety and panic attacks all her adult life. Trying to overcome her panic, she pushes herself to far and ends up being saved by an angel. Together they find the are tied to one another is more ways than they could have ever dreamed of.

Light in the Dark – Misha x Reader Summary: Being a paramedic, Misha would see the worst in humanity. When he meets (Y/N), she in one of the darkest moments of her life. Can they both help each other heal from the darkness they have experience?

You and Me – No Pairing Summary: (Y/N) takes a walk down memory lane as she flies up to celebrate her best friend’s 40th birthday.

Love and Ink – Sam x Reader Summary: (Y/N) gets hired on at a local tattoo shop in Lawrence, Kansas where she meets the Winchesters. When she gets into an accident, (Y/N) must rely on Sam to help her with her clients. Working closely with him brings up feelings she promised herself she would never have again.

Bedtime – Dean x Reader Summary: Dean and (Y/N) are babysitting his nephew and he decides to read him some of his favorite bedtime stories.

Heavenly Treats – Castiel x Reader Summary: (Y/N) is writing an article on a world-famous bakery that is in Lebanon, Kansas. When a blizzard comes through snowing her in the small town, (Y/N) gets to see truly how special the bakery and the baker are.

Obsessed – Dean x Reader Summary: (Y/N) is filming a documentary on Dean Winchester, the newest rising star in rock music. During her time on his tour she finds a fan who is following him from city to city. When she approaches him and his manager/brother, they both dismiss her and end their contract with her film. Will she be able to convince Dean his life is in danger before something bad happens?

[cobraxangel]

⋆ ◦ ° ☾ kat mcnamara + female + she/her — have you seen angelique frost? they sure have been hanging out at the volstead a lot recently. they are a twenty four year old known as the mechanic, and they currently work for the cobras as a soldier, which they’ve been doing for two years. a bisexual pisces, they are loyal + creative, as well as sarcastic + impulsive. fast cars, art supplies, scarred skin . × tink. twenty-six. she/her. central. ×

Angelique Frost was born to two loving parents in Dallas, TX. until the age of 8, Angel lived a happy life. The daughter of a mechanic and former prima ballerina turned lawyer, Angel was a well rounded child. She was loved and well taught and taken care of. At an early age, the little girl showed a talent for art. She loved drawing and colring. It was one of the few things that could get the energetic girl to sit still. She could sit for hours and color or draw without any problem. The other thing she enjoyed doing was was working on a car with her dad. He started teaching her at a young age and she picked it up quickly, enjoying it. Of course it was a bonus that it was with her dad. They were a happy little family.

When Angel was 8, tragedy struck which turned her world completely upside down. Angel had slept over at a friend’s house for a birthday party. When her parents didn’t pick her up the next morning, her friend’s mom drove her home only to find the front door wide open. Angel ran in only to scream when she found her parents dead on the floor with blood all around them. When the police got there, it was determined it had been a robbery gone wrong as some of their valuables and cash were missing. Angel was then put into the system. She was sent to a group home first and after a few months, a foster couple took her home. Unfortunately, she wasn’t exactly what they had hoped for. They hadn't thought about the fact that Angel had gone through some serious trauma. They had wanted a bright, smiling little girl who would bring joy to their life. Angel, still dealing with the death of her parents, was moody and withdrawn, barely talking. She would wake up screaming every night from nightmares. They decided they didn’t have the energy or time to work with the traumatized girl and sent her back instead. Thus started the string of foster families Angel had.

Angel wanted to make it work. She wanted to be able to find a new home. To be able to move on. But every place she went, she felt alone. No one understood what she had gone through and no one tried to help her. So Angel shrunk into herself. She gradually became withdrawn, sarcastic, and occasionally had a real problem with authority figures. By the time she was 15, she’d had 7 different foster families.

Angel wanted to make it work. She wanted to be able to find a new home. To be able to move on. But every place she went, she felt alone. No one understood what she had gone through and no one tried to help her. So Angel shrunk into herself. She gradually became withdrawn, sarcastic, and occasionally had a real problem with authority figures. By the time she was 15, she’d had 7 different foster families.

When she was 14, Angel got placed with the worst family yet. A woman who was just awful. There were a two other foster kids in the house; a young boy and a boy a year older than her. Andy, a fellow mechanic. Ms. Renner was a horrid woman who would lock the fridge and pantry to make sure they didn’t get anything extra, she would cut the power off at a certain time to make sure they went to sleep, she would give them the least amount of food she could get away with, and she would do nightly searches of their belongings to make sure they weren’t keeping any money they might have acquired from her. After all, she was giving them shelter and food and they shouldn’t be greedy. Angel would notice well hidden bruises on Andy but she hadn’t been there long.

In the first few months, Angel was closed off with Andy. It wasn’t until she found out that he was also a mechanic that she started to open up. Andy quickly became her lifeline. He helped her get better at mechanics, would giave her some of his food when she looked hungrier than normal, even got her a job at the garage he worked at. He showed her the best places to hide any money she made from the awful woman. Andy also showed her how to sneak out as well as how to street race and steal cars for extra cash. The two of them were practically attached at the hip and Angel thought she had finally found someone that she could trust.

Andy became Angel’s lifeline. He taught her all the good places to hide her stuff, gave her some of his food when she looked hungrier than normal, and even helped her get better with her mechanics. She learned that he was hiding his money from their caretaker so that, when he had enough, he could run away. So she began to do the same, fixing anyone’s car at school who could spare the cash and even did some work at Andy’s garage when she was able. Andy taught her the world of drag racing and introduced her to the world of stealing cars. She tagged along with him and learned quickly. It was through him and the mechanic's shop that she learned about the Southside Serpents. She eventually joined, feeling like maybe she'd finally found a family that would care about her. She saved her money the best she could, hiding it in different places around her room.

When she was 16, she was thrown for yet another loop. she came home one day after a work shift to find Andy and his belongings gone. He had run off. Angel was devastated. The two of them had made a plan to run away together when Andy turned 18 in less than a year. But he’d left her there. When Ms. Renner got home, she was furious. She was convinced that Angel knew where he was and proceeded to try and beat the information out of her. But Angel didn’t know anything and she was locked in her room that night battered, bruised, and heartbroken. The next night, Ms. Renner tore through Angel’s room, finding two of her five hiding places for her money. After that night, Angel became Ms. Renner’s new punching bag. The teenage girl wanted to run away but knew she couldn’t leave the younger boy alone with her. Not like Andy had done to her. A few months later, he got adopted and as soon as he was gone so was she. She gathered only the things she would need and booked it.

Angel laid low until she turned 18, living on the streets and trying to avoid getting put back in the system. She survived on the money she’d saved and whatever she could get for racing and stealing cars. She traveled from city to city doing odd jobs where she could and trying to conserve her money the best she could. Eventually, when she was about 22, she traveled to Colorado, . Angel started working at a garage temporarily, only planning to stay a few months at the most. A few days before she had planned to leave, Angel found a car to steal. However, she hadn’t planned on picking a car that belonged to a high up member of the Cobra's. Angel thought she was going to die when a gun was pulled on her. Instead, it was decided that her talents could be useful. She was then initiated into the cartel as an soldier, and usually ended up as a driver because of her skills. For the first year or so, she was resentful of being caged within the gang. After about a year, she was sent up to Montreal to help get a foothold there. Despite the fact that she started out resentful about being locked in, she is loyal to her gang.

[thetexasattorneys]

Reasons To Hire Expungement Lawyers Houston Texas

It is not uncommon to come across the term "expungement" or a court-issued expungement order during a juvenile court proceeding. What does it imply? 

To "expunge" means to "completely erase or remove." In law, "expungement" refers to erasing or sealing a criminal conviction record from a state or federal record. An expungement order instructs the court to treat the criminal conviction as if it never happened, removing it from the defendant's criminal history and, ideally, the public record.

It is critical to note that expungement is not "forgiveness" for committing a crime; instead, it is a legal pardon. Pardons, like expungements, do not require the removal of a conviction from a criminal record. Public officials in the United States may grant pardons. The President, for example, grants pardons on an annual basis. State governors may also grant pardons to certain defendants in their respective states. On the other hand, a judge or court must order expungement proceedings.

Some of the reasons to hire an expungement lawyer

Assist with the procedure

One reason to hire an expungement lawyer is to have a better chance of completing the process successfully. Many factors, including the highly complex process, can make it challenging to complete the process successfully. When you work with someone who has completed the process for others, you are more likely to find success. Find someone with this level of experience to ensure the process goes smoothly.

You have a better chance of success What exactly are Class C misdemeanors?What are some specific examples?

Those who work with an attorney for this process are more likely to obtain the favorable outcomes they seek. You need someone who has had previous success, but you also need to feel confident that you have the resources to be worthy of the decision. The attorney can assist you in presenting the best case possible for your situation.

What is a class c misdemeanor texas?

In Texas, Crime related offenses are in this Class. They are the mildest misdemeanor type and are, however, more serious than infractions.

Convictions for Class C misdemeanors can result in fines of up to $500. Unlike other criminal offenses, a Class C misdemeanor carries no jail time.

Class C misdemeanors include the following:

Possession of drug paraphernalia (Health and Safety Code 481.125)

Allowing a child to have access to a firearm (Penal Code 46.13), and 

Voyeurism (Penal Code 46.13). (Penal Code 21.17)

In Texas, Criminal offenses are the type of Class C Misdemeanors, and they are the state's least serious type of misdemeanor.

What is a class c misdemeanor texas? Misdemeanors in Class C are more severe than all other infractions. The following offenses, however, carry harsher penalties than a Class C misdemeanor:

All felony offenses, as well as Class A and B misdemeanors.

Class C misdemeanors, while the least serious criminal offense, are not insignificant. 

Convictions are a blot on a defendant's criminal record. Even if jail time is not an option, this can make life difficult in various ways.

Class C misdemeanors include the following:

Intoxication in public (Penal Code 49.02),

Assault by contact (Penal Code 22.01(a)(3)),

Theft of less than $100 (Penal Code 31.03),

Bail jumping (Penal Code 38.10),

Alcohol in the hands of a minor (Alcohol and Beverage Code 106.02),

Disorderly conduct (Penal Code 42.01), and

Attempted Class B misdemeanors are all possible penalties (Penal Code 15.01).

Dallas expungement lawyer

It's no secret that criminal charges can long-term impact your ability to find work, obtain professional licenses, get a mortgage, rent an apartment, adopt children, and more.

Most Texans are unaware that even if a Dallas charge is dismissed or a person is found not guilty, the arrest and indictment remain on their criminal record indefinitely. It is where legal remedies such as record expunction and nondisclosure orders can be life-changing.

To conclude:

Contact expungement lawyers houston texas, if you have been charged with a severe offense threatening your life and need an expungement in Texas. The procedures for completing this are complex and detailed; only an attorney can guide you through them. With their help, you can get out of your problem quickly.

[merrock]

CHARACTER INFORMATION

face claim: Haley Lu Richardson

full name: Stevie May Lane

nickname(s) / goes by: Stevie, Ms.Lane, Mama

pronouns & gender: cis woman and she/her

sexuality: heterosexual

birth date: August 14th, 1995

birth place: Waco, Texas

arrival to merrock: definitely not a local. Has just arrived maybe a week or two ago. Beginning of November.

housing: small house in the suburbs

occupation: Sixth grade English teacher

work place: Merrock Junior High

family: ten year old son, named Elijah. Mom and step father back in Texas; cousin, Josh

relationship status: Single

PERSONALITY

Stevie is sunshine personified. She’s seen around town with her sketchbook. Always willing to help, if she has the time. The coveralls that fit over her hips, doodles on her converse and bandanas in her hair showcase just how her style is. She would do anything for her son, and if that means be snarky, you bet the Mama bear will come out. She would give up her own world to make sure her son has everything in his. Stevie is selfless, and considerate. She’s also a bit aloof and doesn’t always see the perspective from all angles thus making her a bit focused on the wrong things sometimes.

WRITTEN BY: Kay (she/her), est.

BACKGROUND / BIO

triggering / sensitive content: pregnancy, bullying

Stevie May Lane was born in San Antonio, Texas on a beautiful and hot summer day. Stevie grew up in Waco, Texas. A small city in between Dallas and San Antonio. She grew up in an easy household. Her mother being a stay-at-home mom, and her father was a lawyer. She was a good kid in school, gravitating more towards the artsy kids. She liked getting her hands dirty. Being able to sculpt, or draw, or paint was her favorite pastime. Stevie was about 16 when she found papers in her mothers drawers, claiming that her father was not her real father and that he adopted her. That had immediately put a divide in their relationship. She became someone who’d stay out all night, getting high with some friends. When she was just about to graduate high school, Stevie found herself pregnant at eighteen. Her family wasn’t the most supportive when it came to Elijah, her beautiful baby boy. But she fell in love. Stevie moved out, trying to make ends meet by selling some of her artwork online. She did quite okay for a 19 year old. She tried her best going to college with a newborn, but it was almost impossible. Online classes, and night classes where she could have friends watch her child became the norm. Graduating from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, she became a middle school teacher. Elijah being the sole reason for her to continue pursuing a degree, and job. He is the one person in her life that she would do anything for. And that meant giving him doing everything in her power to make him happy. Thus, moving.

She was able to take the bullying from all the people in the small town but after finding out from the local gossip mill in Waco that her son was getting bullied, she decided it was time to leave her hometown full of gossip and rude looks. She had heard about Merrock through her cousin, Josh, and decided “what the hell.” She had no idea what was in store for her in the Northeast, but she figured she’d might as well try. With the little money she was able to save over the years, with having a child, she was able to rent out a small house in the suburbs. She took over a position in the junior high until the end of the year, and has looked into getting Elijah into the elementary school, and even baseball or flag football camps. As a 28 year old mom, she’s starting over. Now they’ve officially arrived, excited and nervous for their new adventure with her child’s hand in hers, to the doorsteps of Merrock, Maine.

[thewrightfirmllp]

The Wright Law Firm

The Wright Law Firm is one of the top-rated family law firms providing legal representation to clients in Lewisville, Dallas, and Frisco, TX. Our family law lawyers offer legal representation and counsel in family issues like divorce, custody, support, adoption, and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. 

Before marriage, some couples prefer to create prenuptial agreements, not in anticipation of a divorce, but to protect their assets and loved ones in case the unexpected happens. Our prenuptial agreement lawyers can oversee the drafting of the documents to ensure they are enforceable if that time comes.  

We also have postnuptial agreement lawyers who can draft and review postnuptial agreements, ensuring couples agree on asset division if a divorce happens. Other issues we can help clients discuss with their ex-spouses are spousal support, marital debt, child custody and support, and asset distribution after death. 

Couples who want to get started on parenthood through adoption can find the support they need through our adoption lawyers. Adoption is often complex and involving, but we work hard to help couples understand their rights and responsibilities before, during, and after adoption. We can also provide legal representation at adoption hearings. 

In divorce cases, we have skilled and compassionate divorce lawyers who provide the needed legal support to help clients rebuild and move on with their lives after a divorce. Our mediation lawyers and spousal support lawyers can help couples in a contested divorce to reach an agreement and try to resolve their issues out of court before finalizing the divorce. 

Child custody and support are crucial issues that couples must discuss before finalizing the divorce. We have compassionate child custody lawyers, child support lawyers, and visitation lawyers who fight aggressively to ensure the children's best interests are protected when their parents divorce. 

We can help clients create agreements that work for both parties without hurting the children. If significant life changes affect a client's ability to act as per the agreement, our modification lawyers can help them modify the terms. Doing so ensures they don't get in trouble for violating court-given divorce decrees. 

Grandparents who wish to petition the court for visitation or custody of their grandchildren can do so with the help of our grandparents rights lawyers. We can help them determine their eligibility depending on the circumstances surrounding the divorce of the child's parents. We fight hard to uphold grandparents' rights, especially if they're the child's primary caregiver. 

The circumstances and process of a military divorce may differ from a civil divorce. Military divorces are complex, and you need the help of a skilled military divorce lawyer for the most favorable outcome in the case. Our military family law lawyers understand the nuances of military law and can help ensure the issues are properly addressed to protect your rights. 

The Wright Law Firm, LLP also hosts bankruptcy lawyers to help clients with bankruptcy issues. We provide comprehensive legal counsel to people who want to understand how federal bankruptcy laws work and how they can use them to their advantage. 

Our Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyers and Chapter 13 bankruptcy lawyers can evaluate the circumstances leading to bankruptcy and advise on the best option for each case. We can also provide legal representation against creditors who come after you before you finalize filing for bankruptcy. 

Another area of law that we handle passionately is estate planning. Most people think it's a reserve for wealthy individuals with many assets. However, our estate planning lawyers and estate planning administration lawyers advise clients to plan how they would love their assets to be distributed after their demise. 

Having a Will or trust is the easiest way to ensure your assets are divided according to your wishes and end up in the right hands. Our Wills lawyers and trusts lawyers can help clients create legally binding estate planning documents to protect their legacy. You should have a legal plan to protect what you have worked so hard for, and we can help you do that. 

Clients whose loved ones passed on without proper estate planning documents may have to go through probate to distribute the deceased's assets. Our probate lawyers can provide counsel and representation through the process to make it easier for the beneficiaries. 

We know that legal battles can be challenging, and we want our clients to get through them without worrying about the case's outcome. That's why we fight hard to protect our client’s rights in family law, bankruptcy, or estate planning matters. Whatever your issue in these areas of law, call us at  972-353-4600 for an initial consultation. The Wright Firm, LLP

 8150 N. Central Expressway Suite 775, Dallas, Texas 75206

1469405260

[rosy0124]

The Trusted Family Law Firm in Dallas, TX

It's a rare condition in this day and age to find a family law firm in Dallas, TX, truly dedicated to providing compassionate legal services. Receive the experienced representation you deserve by allying with The Worrell Law Firm. For years, our team has emphasized the virtues of honesty, dedication, and accessibility by providing individuals and families with effective legal support in a range of family law-related practice areas.

Matters related to family law are complex. Consider options that look out for the best interests of your loved ones. Our legal team understands your situation. Our attorneys are well-versed in legal representation. We take the time to learn about your family’s situation. In turn, we can discuss your options with clarity and insight, and steer your case towards the best possible outcome.

Our firm provides the following family law services:

Family Law:

Family matters are complex. Let our firm guide you and your loved ones towards a future with certainty. We cover a wide range of legal issues, including divorce, child support, custody, domestic violence, and protective orders.

Adoptions:

Adopting a child can be an exciting, life-changing experience. Let our law firm guide you through the entire process. We will advise you on your rights and obligations, as well as guide you through the adoption process.

Estate Planning:

Having a plan in place for your loved ones can save a lot of grief, uncertainty, and confusion in the future. Our estate planning services can help you prepare and ensure your wishes are honored.

Mediation:

Mediation ensures both parties in a conflict have a chance to discuss their differences in an unbiased environment. We’ll help you set up negotiations that provide an opportunity to reach a mutually agreeable outcome.

About Us

The Worrell Law Firm is an adoption and family law firm featuring an experienced legal team. Together, we've earned the respect of the judiciary and our peers, and know how to get results that you can see. Our firm is committed to providing the highest-quality, most cost-effective legal services within the framework of professional ethical standards. We represent individual clients in family law matters, including adoptions, estate planning, and mediation.

Always seeking to understand your loved ones' needs, we have built a sound reputation by delivering value to our clients. Our commitment to hard work and exceeding client expectations are some of the reasons our firm has grown to become a premier choice for families. Reach out to us when you need counsel for family law or adoptions.

Contact us to learn more about our family law services. We are located in Dallas, TX, and serve clients throughout counties in North Texas, including Dallas, Collin, and Tarrant Counties.

Contact Us:-

Address:-   4144 N Central Expressway, #230 Dallas TX75204

Phone:   8666791686

Website:- https://www.theworrelllawfirm.com/

[myallison0234]

Adoption Agency Lawyer Dallas

It's a rare condition in this day and age to find a family law firm in Dallas, TX, truly dedicated to providing compassionate legal services. Receive the experienced representation you deserve by allying with The Worrell Law Firm. For years, our team has emphasized the virtues of honesty, dedication, and accessibility by providing individuals and families with effective legal support in a range of family law-related practice areas.

Matters related to family law are complex. Consider options that look out for the best interests of your loved ones. Our legal team understands your situation. Our attorneys are well-versed in legal representation. We take the time to learn about your family’s situation. In turn, we can discuss your options with clarity and insight, and steer your case towards the best possible outcome.

Our firm provides the following family law services:

Family Law: Family matters are complex. Let our firm guide you and your loved ones towards a future with certainty. We cover a wide range of legal issues, including divorce, child support, custody, domestic violence, and protective orders.

Adoptions: Adopting a child can be an exciting, life-changing experience. Let our law firm guide you through the entire process. We will advise you on your rights and obligations, as well as guide you through the adoption process.

Estate Planning: Having a plan in place for your loved ones can save a lot of grief, uncertainty, and confusion in the future. Our estate planning services can help you prepare and ensure your wishes are honored.

Mediation: Mediation ensures both parties in a conflict have a chance to discuss their differences in an unbiased environment. We’ll help you set up negotiations that provide an opportunity to reach a mutually agreeable outcome.

About Us

The Worrell Law Firm is an adoption and family law firm featuring an experienced legal team. Together, we've earned the respect of the judiciary and our peers, and know how to get results that you can see. Our firm is committed to providing the highest-quality, most cost-effective legal services within the framework of professional ethical standards. We represent individual clients in family law matters, including adoptions, estate planning, and mediation.

Always seeking to understand your loved ones' needs, we have built a sound reputation by delivering value to our clients. Our commitment to hard work and exceeding client expectations are some of the reasons our firm has grown to become a premier choice for families. Reach out to us when you need counsel for family law or adoptions.

Contact us to learn more about our family law services. We are located in Dallas, TX, and serve clients throughout counties in North Texas, including Dallas, Collin, and Tarrant Counties.

Contact Us:-

Address:-   4144 N Central Expressway, #230 Dallas TX75204

Phone:   8666791686

Website:- https://www.theworrelllawfirm.com/

[richataylor17]

Texas Family Law & Divorce Attorneys

Serving the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex and the Houston Area

When your marriage has ended and divorce is inevitable, you need an experienced and assertive family law attorney to protect your rights. The emotions that come with a marital breakup can make it difficult to objectively determine what’s in your best interest. You want proven divorce attorneys to help you make the right decisions about custody, visitation, support and property distribution.

Our law firm has aggressively protected the rights of men and women facing divorce and family law issues for 40 years. We understand the challenges that come with the end of a marriage and offer compassionate, but strong, counsel in all matters arising out of the termination of a marriage. We know that every case is unique and that every client has different needs. We’ll listen carefully to learn the details of your situation and find out what you need to move forward with your life.

We also understand the stress and anxiety that come with uncertainty—with not knowing where you stand and what your options are. We will keep you informed and involved at all times so that you can make educated decisions that are in the best interests of you and your family.

At Bailey & amp; Galyen we offer a free initial consultation to all prospective divorce and family law clientsdivorce laws. Contact us by email or call our office at 855-810-7010 for an appointment.

Our Family Law and Divorce Attorneys Are Here to Help You

We protect the rights of women and men in all family law and divorce matters, including disputes involving:

Custody and visitation — We will help you establish physical and legal custody agreements that are in the best interests of your children, while protecting your rights as a parent. We will also work with you to set up effective parenting time arrangements.

Support — We will review all proposed child support orders to ensure compliance with Texas guidelines and confirm that all relevant income has been included in the calculation. We will also help you determine whether alimony or spousal support is warranted and, if so, how much should be paid and for how long.

Property division — Our attorneys will ensure that all marital property is distributed in accordance with the community property laws in Texas.

Post-judgment modification and enforcement — We will prepare and file all necessary documents to amend an existing divorce decree, when appropriate. We will also be your advocate in enforcement proceedings to ensure that your ex honors custody, visitation or support orders.

Collaborative divorce — If you want to minimize the involvement of the courts in your divorce proceeding, we can use the collaborative divorce process to end your marriage.

We also advise men, women and families on other related issues including:

Adoption — We will prepare all necessary documents and handle all meetings, hearings or proceedings to help you build your family through the adoption process.

Pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements — If you are bringing significant assets into a marriage or have children from a prior marriage, we can help you protect yourself with a prenuptial agreement.

Talk to Our Skilled Family Law Attorneys Today

For a free initial consultation with a family law and divorce lawyer near you, contact our office by email or call us at 855-810-7010. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Appointments are available evenings and weekends upon request.

At Bailey & Galyen, we provide comprehensive legal counsel to individuals seeking help with a wide range of family law issues including divorce across the state of Texas. We have offices conveniently located in Arlington, Bedford, Burleson, Carrollton, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Mansfield, Mesquite, Midland/Odessa, Plano, Texarkana and Weatherford.