Ryan Murphy is renowned for bringing compelling, real-life stories to the screen. His American Crime Story series has previously tackled significant events such as the O.J. Simpson trial, the murder of Gianni Versace, and President Bill Clinton’s impeachment.
Each of these seasons has featured intriguing scripts that show the behind-the-scenes details of these high-profile cases.
The series has been well-received, with exceptional performances by actors like Courtney B. Vance, Sarah Paulson, Sterling K. Brown, and Darren Criss, who have earned numerous awards, including Emmys. Murphy’s ability to blend fact with dramatic storytelling has made his shows notable.
Now, Ryan Murphy is shifting his focus to the world of sports with his new series, American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez.
This series, which will premiere on FX on September 17, goes into the life of Aaron Hernandez, a former NFL player whose career ended in scandal and tragedy. The show will provide viewers with an in-depth look at Hernandez’s rise to fame, his fall from grace, and the complex circumstances surrounding his life and death.
The Rise of Aaron Hernandez
Aaron Hernandez’s story begins with a promising start. Born in Bristol, Connecticut, Hernandez began playing football as a young child. His love for the game grew as he continued to excel on the field.
Despite facing several challenges during his youth, including legal troubles and a difficult family life, Hernandez made his way to the University of Florida.
There, he quickly became known for his exceptional talent as a tight end. His impressive performances caught the attention of NFL scouts.
In 2010, Hernandez was drafted into the NFL by the New England Patriots. His debut was highly anticipated, and he made a significant impact, including an appearance in Super Bowl XLVI. However, his career was marred by various controversies.
Hernandez was known for drug use and was rumored to be involved in several violent incidents.
Despite these issues, in August 2012, the Patriots extended Hernandez’s contract for five years, worth $39.58 million, with a $12.5 million signing bonus—the largest ever given to an NFL tight end at that time. Hernandez seemed to have a bright future ahead of him. But his life was about to take a dramatic turn.
Aaron Hernandez’s Dramatic Fall from Grace
On June 26, 2013, Aaron Hernandez’s life changed forever. He was charged with first-degree murder and faced five additional gun charges. The Patriots wasted no time in releasing him from the team, bringing his football career to an abrupt end.
Still from American Sports Story Aaron Hernandez (Credit: Hulu)
The murder charges were connected to the death of Hernandez’s friend, Odin Lloyd. Lloyd’s body was discovered in a field near Hernandez’s home, and the circumstances surrounding his death were both shocking and mysterious.
At the beginning of the case, the motive for the murder was unclear. Hernandez pleaded not guilty, and his defense team attempted to shift the blame to two other men who were present at the scene. Despite their efforts, there was substantial physical evidence linking Hernandez to the crime.
The jury deliberated for seven days before returning with a guilty verdict, resulting in a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole. Hernandez’s promising future was effectively over, and he faced a lifetime behind bars.
The Mysterious Link to Other Crimes
As investigators continued to probe Lloyd’s murder, they uncovered additional troubling evidence. Hernandez was potentially linked to a 2012 drive-by shooting in Boston.
Prosecutors argued that Hernandez felt disrespected when a man bumped into him at a nightclub and spilled a drink on him.
Allegedly, Hernandez shot and killed the man and his friend while leaving the club. This piece of evidence was not introduced in Hernandez’s first trial to avoid unfairly prejudicing the jury.
However, prosecutors wondered if Lloyd’s murder might have been connected to Hernandez’s knowledge of the 2012 shootings.
In April 2017, Hernandez was acquitted of the double homicide, although he continued to serve his life sentence for the murder of Odin Lloyd. The acquittal was a bittersweet victory for Hernandez, as it did not change his full situation but did offer some relief in the face of additional charges.
The Tragic End of Aaron Hernandez
The story took another tragic turn shortly after Hernandez’s acquittal. On April 19, 2017, just days after the acquittal, Hernandez was found dead in his cell at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Massachusetts. At the age of 27, Hernandez had taken his own life.
He had written “John 3:16” on his forehead before his death. His suicide shocked many, including those who worked at the facility, as there were no prior indications that Hernandez was contemplating such an action. Hernandez left behind several suicide notes, including messages to his fiancée, their daughter, and his lawyer.
Still from American Sports Story Aaron Hernandez (Credit: Hulu)
Following Hernandez’s death, a posthumous study of his brain revealed severe damage. Hernandez’s brain was found to have advanced CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), a degenerative brain disease associated with repeated head injuries.
The study showed significant atrophy and perforations, with deposits of tau protein in nerve cells. This level of brain damage was comparable to what might be seen in individuals much older than Hernandez was at the time of his death. CTE is known to result from repeated impacts to the head, which are common in football players.
The Impact of CTE and Legal Battles
CTE can only be definitively diagnosed after death, but it has been identified in over 100 former football players. The disease is associated with symptoms such as aggressive behavior, mood swings, and poor judgment—traits that could help explain some of Hernandez’s violent actions and criminal behavior.
The tragic death of other well-known players, like Junior Seau, who also suffered from CTE, underscores the seriousness of the issue.
Hernandez’s estate sued the NFL for $20 million, seeking compensation for the brain injuries he suffered and aiming to secure financial support for his daughter. However, in 2019, a federal judge dismissed the case, ruling that Hernandez had missed the deadline to qualify for a $4 million settlement under a class action lawsuit.
The court determined that since Hernandez had stopped playing football before the lawsuit was filed, his daughter was not entitled to the $20 million separately.
The Continued Fascination with Hernandez’s Story
Aaron Hernandez’s story continues to attract the public. The combination of his once-promising career, the shocking turn of events, and the subsequent revelations about his mental health has kept his story in the spotlight.
In 2020, Netflix released a three-part docuseries called Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez, which shows various facets of his life, including his troubled childhood, relationships, and violent tendencies.
Hernandez’s name even came up in jokes during various facets of the Roast of Tom Brady, highlighting the ongoing interest and controversy surrounding his life and career.
Still from American Sports Story Aaron Hernandez (Credit: Hulu)
Ryan Murphy’s new series, American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez, promises to offer another perspective on this complex and tragic figure. The series will examine Hernandez’s rise and fall, providing a detailed look at the darker side of sports and the impact of mental health on athletes.
Ryan Murphy’s American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez shows the tragic rise and fall of NFL star Aaron Hernandez. Once a promising athlete, Hernandez faced a life sentence for murder, struggled with severe CTE, and ultimately took his own life. The series goes into his complex life and shocking downfall.
American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez will premiere on FX on September 17 and will be available to stream on Hulu.
In “Bad Monkey” Episode 6, darkness took both Jodie Turner-Smith’s Dragon Queen and us off the screen. For her, it was a rough burlap bag, and for us, it was the end credits and a long wait. The show, directed by Bill Lawrence, often ends episodes with cliffhangers that keep us eager for the next one.
Episode 7 brought us into the Dragon Queen’s past, revealing her as Gracie. As she struggles in a vehicle’s trunk, Tom Nowicki narrates her life flashing before her eyes.
We see her childhood, dreams, and fears in a heartfelt montage. Meanwhile, Vince Vaughn’s Andrew Yancy continues to annoy his neighbor with his threats.
Yancy Gets His Job Back in “Bad Monkey” Episode 7 Yancy is finally cleared of the murder charge his rival, Officer Mendez (Gonzalo Menendez), tried to pin on him. He grows closer to his friend Rogelio (John Ortiz) after getting a reluctant apology from him.
With Mendez fleeing for tampering with a witness, Yancy and Rogelio stake out the vet where Mendez takes his cat. Yancy’s hunch pays off when Mendez is arrested after picking up his sick cat.
Mendez briefly escapes with Rosa’s (Natalie Martinez) lost unicorn hair clip and shoots Rogelio in the leg. With the help of a former security guard, Yancy catches Mendez in a shootout in a parking lot.
Yancy Meets Neville and Gets Reinstated as a Detective At the hospital, Yancy meets Neville (Ronald Peet), who Rosa had found in the last episode.
Neville provides information about Nick Stripling (Rob Delaney) and proof of Nick’s existence. With this new lead, Yancy and Rogelio convince their boss to reopen the case and investigate further.
Neville agrees to testify in court. Yancy receives a call from Chief Sonny (Todd Allen Durkin) and meets him in a parking lot.
He is reinstated as a detective but is warned by the FBI director (Lauren O’Quinn) to move on from the Nick case or face demotion. Yancy’s response is unclear, but he is determined not to ignore crime.
Episode 7 Reveals the Dragon Queen’s True Past Episode 7 dives into Gracie’s childhood and how she became the powerful Dragon Queen. After her mother’s death, she lived with her Ya-ya (L. Scott Caldwell).
Still from the episode (Apple TV+)
Although close, Gracie was not interested in learning her ancestral practice. After a teenage heartbreak, she decided to embrace the practice, spending a year in seclusion. We also learn from Asia (Lauren F. Walker) that Gracie lost many friends but became attuned to her powers.
The Dragon Queen’s Abduction and New Deal The Dragon Queen was abducted by Eve Stripling (Meredith Hagner) and her accomplice Nick.
Eve wanted to show her power and expose the Queen’s weakness. The Queen realizes she has more in common with Eve than she thought.
They make a deal, and the Queen uses some of the money to buy a new wheelchair for Ya-ya. However, Asia questions the property’s deed, causing a heated argument between Gracie and Ya-ya.
Gracie wants to leave the island and does not believe in the practice. Ya-ya warns Gracie about the dark path she is on, and they part ways with tears.
Bonnie’s Struggle and Return Bonnie (Michelle Monaghan), who was last seen fleeing from the feds, considers giving herself up to nature. Instead, she goes to Yancy’s house, still feeling lost. She reluctantly listens to Yancy’s “pickle speech” about taking accountability.
Bonnie leaves again but finds herself in her storage unit, surrounded by familiar things. She notices a camera and breaks down under the pressure. Finally, she decides to turn herself in, but she remains calm and makes jokes during her arrest.
Yancy and Rosa Find Moments of Peace Amid the chaos, Yancy and Rosa find peace in each other’s company, though their relationship remains undefined. Rosa leaves work after being overwhelmed by a tragic case and seeks comfort from her sister.
They share a beer and cuddle, only to be interrupted by an unexpected intruder. Jim, not wanting Cody (Alex MacNicoll) at his place, takes him to Yancy’s house.
Unidentified figures with guns are seen sneaking around Yancy’s home, suggesting more trouble ahead. Episodes 1-7 of “Bad Monkey” are available on Apple TV+, with new episodes coming every Wednesday.
Gracie Faces Her Past and Yancy Gets His Badge Back (Apple TV+)
The storylines of Gracie, Yancy, and Bonnie reach turning points. Gracie, revealed as the Dragon Queen, struggles with her past, her connection to her ancestors, and the choices she made to gain power. Her internal conflict becomes clear as she questions her path and argues with her beloved Ya-ya.
This turn into her motivations shows that even the most powerful characters face personal battles. Yancy, now reinstated as a detective, faces a moral dilemma as the FBI warns him to drop the Nick case.
Despite this, his determination to pursue justice is unmarked, making it clear that his journey is far from over.
Meanwhile, Bonnie, overwhelmed by guilt and fear, reaches a breaking point. Her decision to turn herself in marks a significant shift in her character, showing that even in her darkest moments, she still has a desire for redemption.
With the show’s hallmark mix of emotional depth, intense action, and complex characters, Episode 7 of Bad Monkey sets the stage for what is sure to be an explosive continuation of the series.
As tensions rise and secrets come to light, viewers are left eager to see how each character’s story will unfold in the coming episodes.
