Monster (TV Series) The Cruelest Thing (2005) User Reviews

Darkest episode in my opinion yet

[ThomasP909 · 10/10 · 7 October 2021]

The only things to describe this episode was dark and sinister. It really was effective at showing Milos's perspective on how and why the world is cruel. The end also really got me emotional. 10/10.

One of the most important episodes in the series

[aheaddead-56499 · 10/10 · 10 April 2023]

This episode is perfect in everything it needs to be. But what I think it does particularly well is the contrast - by showing us one of the darkest and most tragic one-episode storylines in the series and, surprisingly, ending it with one of the most hopeful and bittersweet conclusions to a miniarc.

Where's hope, you may ask?

Well, I think that this is the first episode in the series where Johan's cynical worldview and cruel influence is finally being disproven in the character of Grimmer. He, as a product of the same conditions as Johan, has finally fully embraced empathy, which means that no matter how broken a person may be, there's always hope that they can eventually heal the wounds which were inflicted by the past (assuming if this person wants to change).

However, it is very tragic that this realization came at a terrible cost of an innocent child's psyche...

If this episode doesn't perfectly encapsulate the main themes of Monster (like the everlasting duality of humanity, shown in its' potential for cruelty and empathy) then I don't know what is.

best episode I've seen so far

[depressingmarshmallow · 10/10 · 10 February 2022]

I was tearing up at the end of it and nearly started crying. This is by far the best episode I've seen of the series so far. I'm very excited to keep watching.