20 TV Storylines We Can't Believe Are Real

17. Ed Gein's Love Interests - Monster

The third season of Monster tells the story of Ed Gein, a Wisconsin farmer who slaughtered, mutilated, and defiled numerous locals for a decade.

While biographical dramas regularly embellish details for effect, there's little to no incentive to exaggerate Gein's sickening crimes. After all, this maniac turned his victims' remains into lampshades, belts, and corsets, among other disturbing acts we dare not detail here. Even with the strictest historical accuracy imaginable, this sicko's actions would be challenging to believe (and even harder to stomach).

And yet, the season takes monstrous liberties, cramming in a subplot in which Gein's girlfriend, Adeline Watkins, becomes his willing accomplice. Her involvement is so nonsensical that viewers may assume Adeline's behaviour stems from one of Gein's delusions - it doesn't - and it feels like this storyline was designed to humanise Gein and add a romantic angle, which is profoundly inappropriate.

One entire episode is even devoted to Ed Gein conversing with the Nazi war criminal who inspired his crimes, Ilsa Koch, despite the fact that no such conversation took place.

These additions aren't just misleading and needless, but disrespectful to Ed Gein's victims.