Charlie Hunnam has made an unusual transition inside Netflix's Monster anthology. After portraying convicted murderer Ed Gein in season three, he returns in season four as Andrew Borden, the father at the center of the Lizzie Borden story.
The biggest difference is the historical record
Hunnam told PEOPLE that portraying Andrew Borden gave him more freedom because relatively little is known about Andrew's private personality compared with the extensive material surrounding some other historical figures.
That distinction matters for a scripted true-crime series. The filmmakers have a documented outline of the Borden case, but the interior life of Andrew Borden has to be interpreted. The series therefore constructs a dramatic version of his family relationships rather than presenting every scene as historical fact.
Ed Gein required a different preparation
Hunnam's earlier Monster role involved a very different kind of preparation. For the Ed Gein season, he researched the historical record extensively and worked to understand the character without turning the crimes into simple spectacle.
Andrew Borden presents a different acting challenge. The audience already knows the broad historical endpoint — Andrew was killed in 1892 — so the drama focuses more heavily on the household and the relationships that the series imagines around him.
How the show uses Andrew Borden
Netflix's cast guide describes the show's Andrew as a difficult father whose behavior contributes to the tense atmosphere inside the Borden home. That portrayal is part of the series' dramatic framework and should not automatically be treated as a complete historical biography of the real Andrew Borden.
The series also places Lizzie's relationship with Bridget Sullivan at the center of its interpretation. Netflix's historical explainer makes clear that some of those relationships and motivations are fictionalized.
Why Hunnam's return matters to the anthology
Returning actors are unusual in an anthology where each season generally tells a different historical story. Hunnam's move from Gein to Andrew Borden makes the season a direct continuation of the actor's involvement while giving viewers a completely different character.
Showrunner Ian Brennan told PEOPLE that the production enjoyed working with Hunnam and wanted to keep him in the Monster world. Director Max Winkler likewise said the new role allowed a lighter working experience than the previous season.
What viewers should separate
There are three different layers to the story: the real 1892 case, Hunnam's performance as the fictionalized television version of Andrew, and the wider mythology that has grown around Lizzie Borden. Keeping those layers separate helps explain why some details in the show may differ from historical accounts.
Quick answer
Hunnam's Ed Gein and Andrew Borden roles differ because the characters occupy opposite positions in their respective stories and because the surviving historical material about Andrew is much less extensive. Hunnam has said that the limited record gave him more creative room when building Andrew for the series.
Sources
Fact-check note
This article distinguishes the Netflix dramatization from documented history. Lizzie Borden was acquitted in 1893; claims about guilt, private relationships, motives and events not established by surviving records are described as fictionalized or disputed rather than settled fact.
Netflix Tudum: The True Story · Netflix Tudum: Ending Explained · PEOPLE: Fact vs Fiction · PEOPLE: Emma/Lizzie Fact Check
Related: Why Charlie Hunnam Returned to Monster as Andrew Borden After Playing Ed Gein
Related: Monster Season 4 Ending vs Real Lizzie Borden History: What Netflix Changed
