Judith Light makes only two appearances in FX’s “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.” But boy, does she make an impact, especially in the season’s third episode, giving what Joe Reid (Decider) called “one of the all-time best single-episode performances in a Ryan Murphy series.” It’s a performance that deserves to be recognized at this year’s Emmys, and could bring the veteran Tony and Daytime Emmy-winning actress an overdue first win at the Primetime ceremony.
In the season’s third episode, “A Random Killing,” Light plays Marilyn Miglin, a high-profile cosmetics mogul whose husband Lee (Mike Farrell), a prominent developer and philanthropist, was brutally murdered by Andrew Cunanan (Darren Criss) in the months leading up to Cunanan murdering famed designer Gianni Versace (Edgar Ramirez). The Miglins were well-known Chicago socialites, and their marriage is portrayed as one of deep love and mutual respect. However, Lee is also a closeted gay man who regularly hires Cunanan as an escort when Marilyn is out of town.
Though Lee’s brutal murder is the key plot point of the episode, it is Light who resonates, giving a richly layered performance that alternates between stoic anger and deep pain. While it is never clear whether or not Marilyn was aware of Lee’s sexual proclivities, she refuses to allow her husband’s name to be tainted by scandal, and she uses her connections in the police department to squash the embarrassing details of Lee’s death, insisting that Cunanan was nothing more than a common thief and murderer.
Sewell Chan (The New York Times) called the episode “a tour de force [for] Judith Light, whose portrayal of a wife in denial is simply magnificent.” And he’s right. “A Random Killing” gives Light one Emmy-worthy moment after another, beginning with the episode’s cold open, which shows Marilyn’s chilling reaction to the discovery of Lee’s body, a simple mouthing of the words, “I knew it.” Later, when explaining her decision to keep the details of Lee’s death under wraps, she proclaims with equal parts heartbreak and venom, “Dollars, jewelry, socks, suits — that’s all I’ll allow that man to steal from me. He won’t steal my good name. Our good name.” What is Marilyn is trying to protect more: her family’s reputation or the now-shattered illusion of her fairy-tale marriage?
But Light also gets to show Marilyn’s grief in a devastating monologue in which she describes her relationship with Lee — their adventures and their accomplishments, the respect they felt for each other. When she finally breaks down in sobs after being questioned about her lack of public grief, she cries, “Am I a real wife now?” The episode ends with Marilyn selling her cosmetics on The Home Shopping Network and addresses her husband’s murder on air. As the camera slowly zooms in on her, Light delivers a devastating monologue about love and loss, listing all of the things that her husband was to her, that they were a team. “How many husbands believe in their wives’ dreams?” she asks. The episode ends in a close up of Light’s face as she closes her eyes, a moment of stunning emotional impact.
Although Light is no stranger to awards — having won Featured Actress Tony Awards for “Other Desert Cities” (2012) and “The Assembled Parties” (2013), and two Daytime Emmys for her iconic role as Karen Wolek on “One Life to Live” (1980, 1981) — she has gone zero for three at the Primetime Emmys, earning a Comedy Guest Actress nomination in 2007 for “Ugly Betty” and nominations in 2016 and 2017 for Comedy Supporting Actress for “Transparent.” Light’s status as a respected veteran can only help her in the Movie/Mini Supporting Actress category at the Emmys, which counts among its winners such respected actresses as Mary Tyler Moore (1993), Vanessa Redgrave (2000), and Eileen Atkins (2008), as well as Jessica Lange (2012) and Kathy Bates (2014), both whom won for their performances in separate seasons of “American Horror Story,” also created by Ryan Murphy.
This season of American Crime Story was a drastic difference than the season preceding it. While many were not as informed about the assassination of Gianni Versace, the show did a phenomenal job of explaining the man behind the murder — and what made him who he was.
On Wednesday, the story came to close, taking us back to 1997 when Cunanan shot Versace in Miami. That haunting moment is instantly brought back as Cunanan approaches Versace on his doorsteps and shoots him point-blank execution style.
The finale focuses on how Cunanan evades the police and finds refuge in a houseboat on Collins Avenue that he breaks into. It is here where he spends his last days hiding out, watching the news talk about the manhunt focused on him. He spends his day listening to the radio and watching his family members and friends go on national television to share their thoughts about him and if they saw this coming.
This level of “celebrity” makes Cunanan happy and he celebrates by wrapping a scarf around his neck and flaunting around in excitement — he thinks he’s finally made it.
These moments are short-lived as the police inch closer and closer to discovering his whereabouts. The first place they go? His mother’s home, where she is pulled out of her apartment to be brought in for questioning as all of Miami is on the lookout for her son.
The authorities inform Marilyn Miglin (remember Lee?) that the man that shot Versace is the same man that murdered her husband. In their questioning, they also go to Ronnie who insults the police for not finding Cunanan earlier and stating that he was out in the open and wanted to be seen — they just didn’t look his way.
Much to Cunanan’s displeasure, he is unable to find a way out of Miami which inevitably leads him to the houseboat he takes over. He almost gets caught when he sneaks onto a boat and the owner comes in but manages to run away and watches the cops from the houseboat as they look around for an intruder. When push comes to shove Cunanan resorts to eating dog food and decides to call his father in the Philippines to get his help.
His dad tells him not to worry and that he will soon be on his way (despite the warrants out for his arrest). However, Andrew soon learns his father plans to bank on his newfound fame and sees him on the news talking about Andrew and how he plans to make a movie about Andrew’s life. At this point, Andrew truly feels alone and isolated in the world, trapped in the houseboat all alone.
The finale also closed the chapter on Versace’s life by showing Donatella and Antonio preparing for his funeral. Antonio learns that all of Versace’s properties are under the control of the board and he will soon be homeless — without Versace, the love of his life. Cunanan decides to tune in to watch Versace’s funeral which is taking place in Milan with guests like Princess Diana and Elton John in attendance.
At some point, a man enters the houseboat to check in on it only to realize someone is already inside. Cunanan hears him coming and shoots off his gun to scare the man away. Unfortunately, these are the last few moments of his life as the police begin to surround the home, demanding he come out.
Andrew walks into his room, gun in tow, and has a few moments of contemplation and even sees visions of his younger self, sitting next to him. The entire season comes down to this very moment, the man we have gotten to know, for all the good, the bad, and the unfortunate, is realizing where his actions have brought him.
When Cunanan refuses to surrender, the cops cut off the power and throw in smoke bombs to smoke him out. Unbeknownst to them, Cunanan decides to take matters into his own hands and shoots himself in the head. The somber moment switches to the conversation between Cunanan and Versace where Versace politely declines Andrew’s offer to spend more time together.
While Versace’s remains are placed in an altar in Lake Cuomo, Cunanan’s remains are placed in a mausoleum amongst many others. For a man that fought tooth and nail to gain attention, he finds his resting place lost amongst the crowd. What an ironic twist in his life, right?
This season was so extremely addicting to watch, and every moment was so pivotal to the character development of Andrew Cunanan. It was an intricately woven storyline that illustrated the life of a man who no one truly ever knew. The nod to the 90’s and homosexuality was a big theme in the season and highlighted the discrimination of the time. Darren Criss was hands down the standout performer of the season and his portrayal of Cunanan will be one for the books–hopefully Emmy books, right?
For many episodes of the season, he single-handedly took on most of the work and carried the show on his back. And while the season had its share of ups and downs, we will surely miss seeing Criss’ angsty manipulative portrayal of Cunanan.
americancrimestoryfx: “Andrew is not hiding. He’s trying to be seen.” #ACSVersace
jonjonbriones: Modesto speaks German too when needed! @americancrimestoryfx#TheAssassinationOfGianniVersace#aufdeutsch @darrencriss @mattbomer@mrrpmurphy #ModestoSprichstdeutsch
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