Is Cooper Koch about to become Hollywood’s next IT boy, or are we all just thirsty for drama surrounding the Menendez brothers? Because honey, this man walked onto our screens in Netflix’s ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’ and absolutely SERVED looks and talent in equal measure.
First of all, let’s talk about how Cooper Koch came absolutely OUT OF NOWHERE to snatch all our wigs with his portrayal of Erik Menendez. The guy wasn’t exactly a household name before this, but the way he captured the complexity and vulnerability of Erik? Iconic. The critics are practically writing love letters to this man’s performance, and quite frankly, we’re here for it. His nuanced take on the controversial figure has literally everyone and their grandmother obsessed with finding out more about him.
Cooper, who happens to be the brother of actor Dylan Koch (yes, nepotism is REAL, people), has been quietly grinding in the industry without all the glitz and glamour. Before his Menendez moment arrived, he was doing the whole struggling actor thing—indie films, guest spots on random shows, the works. But Netflix decided to take a chance on him, and THANK GOD because we would have literally missed out on this masterclass in acting if they hadn’t.
What’s absolutely wild is how Cooper managed to make audiences sympathize with Erik Menendez, a character surrounded by literal murder allegations. The man had us crying in our living rooms, questioning everything we thought we knew about the case. That’s POWER, darling. That’s the kind of performance that gets you Oscar buzz and a lifetime supply of thirsty DMs from admiring fans.
The internet has absolutely exploded since the show dropped, with everyone from true crime podcasters to your random Aunt Linda on Facebook suddenly becoming Cooper Koch superfans. His social media follower count is skyrocketing faster than a kardashian’s Instagram engagement, and honestly, we’re obsessed with watching his career trajectory unfold in real-time. This is the kind of breakout moment that changes everything for an actor.
What do you think? A) Cooper Koch deserves all the awards recognition for his groundbreaking Erik Menendez performance B) The hype is getting a little out of hand and we should pump the brakes slightly