Dahmer – Monster The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is a true crime mini-series on Netflix that takes us through the gruesome murders committed by Jeffrey Dahmer during his life and the events that followed his subsequent arrest. The show consists of 10 episodes that are 50-60 minutes long.
The show stars Evan Peters as Jeffrey Dahmer, Niecy Nash as Glenda Cleveland, Richard Jenkins as Lionel Dahmer, Molly Ringwald as Shari Dahmer, Michael Learned as Catherine Dahmer and Rodney Burford as Tony Hughes.
DAHMER Episode 6: Silenced
Episode 6 begins in 1960 as we see a black family in Milwaukee welcome a young baby boy. The family soon finds out that due to some medication their son is permanently deaf. What could have then led to a sad and frustrating life for the boy and the family actually brings them all together. Throughout the episode, we see how Tony Hughes is this high-spirited young gay man with big ambitions. He aspires to be a model in the big city however his life comes to a sudden halt when he encounters serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.
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By this time in the show, the audience is already aware that this character is doomed before his story has even started. The creators keep us invested in this new character by showing us his life before his eventual death. The motivation behind this is not just to make the audience emotional but also to highlight how each of these victims had dreams, goals, family and a purpose that was taken away from them too soon.
Tony grew up in the 60s when being black was already a barrier a tag that prevented him from getting certain opportunities to grow in his career. At that time being gay, not only made things harder but also made life more dangerous. Certain clubs and bars acted as a safe haven for many gay people. When Dahmer used gay bars and clubs as a way to lure men to his apartment; it escalated the fear and only made it easier for society to alienate gay people.
As Tony turns 19 he decides to move to the City to build his portfolio so he can further his chances of becoming a model. When he tries to get a job, he is constantly rejected by every store because his deafness is viewed as an inconvenience. Despite being disheartened, he manages to find an ad for a modelling gig at his college campus.
When he has a flirtatious encounter with the photographer, he lets him know he’s only interested in finding love. His character is someone who is not afraid to ask what he deserves.
The beauty of the show is that the creators make an effort to take us into Tony’s world through his lens. Most of the show is signed and there are major scenes throughout the episode where we can only hear a faint sound to understand what it’s like to be in his shoes. We see how at every moment it becomes a challenge for Tony to be seen by other people whether it is looking for the right partner or finding his dream job.
When Tony meets Dahmer at a club and sees his eagerness to communicate with him via his notepad, he finally feels seen. Instead of going to his apartment, he tells Dahmer that he must work for his affection. Soon we see a montage of dates between Dahmer and Tony there is music, affection and connection.
However, beneath the surface, there are things at play that Hughes is unaware of. When Tony does eventually spend the night, things take an ugly turn. We see two days later Tony’s mom files a missing complaint report. What follows is a painful journey of figuring out what happened to Tony.
Final Thoughts
Tony’s character is a breath of fresh air much needed when watching such a dark and disturbing show. Not only does his character show us the difficulties of growing up deaf and the lack of importance placed on sign language but it also represents all that was taken away from the victims and their families.
You can watch Dahmer – Monster The Jeffrey Dahmer Story on Netflix now.
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