After nine grueling and emotionally draining weeks, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story came to an end this week in one epic finale episode. Weeks of flashbacks have been leading up to this episode, and the pay off was worth it.

We’ve been saying this for weeks but Darren Criss’ performance in this episode really brought home all of the emotions of this horrible tragedy, and I daresay, made us feel a little sorry in the end to see him go, though the pain Andrew Cunanan caused everyone is one that will linger on for years. Criss wasn’t the only stand out performer from this episode as both Ricky Martin and Penelope Cruz did amazing in displaying their utter heartbreak and devastation caused by Gianni’s death.

Without further ado, let’s discuss “Alone.”

Back To The Start: The episode picked up exactly where the season premiere began, with Cunanan frantically strolling down the streets of Miami Beach, gun in hand, waiting for the perfect shot at Gianni Versace. We all know how that ended. Shortly after the murder, Marilyn Miglin was the first familiar face to reappear; the FBI showed up at her Miami hotel room to inform her that it was no longer safe for her to be in Florida, offering to help transport her to safety. She said no and promptly proceeded to let the police have it for their epic screw-ups.

Justice Served Wrong: Miglin wasn’t the only one displeased on how the authorities have been handling the whole Cunanan situation. Ronnie was also interrogated, providing him the chance  to roast the cops on how seriously they’d been taking this case. To him, they haven’t been doing all that they can because Cunanan killed a bunch of gays.

Hiding In Plain Sight: As for Cunanan, he was holed up in some stranger’s houseboat literally eating dog food, practically daring the feds to bust him. He spent most of his time watching reports about himself on the news, and interviews with his father, which triggered Cunanan so badly that he shot his television screen. Speaking of the homeowner, it was his call to his caretaker that triggered the beginning of the end for Andrew. A burglary was reported by the caretaker, and the next thing Cunanan knew, the police helicopters were circling overhead. A negotiator tried to reason with Cunanan but he wasn’t about to give in. The infamous killer then placed a gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger before he could be apprehended.

A Tragic End Of A Life And Love: Shortly afterwards, we were taken inside Gianni’s funeral, during which Antonio discovered that he might as well have died along with his lover. The priest at Gianni’s funeral ignored him, and adding insult to injury, Donatella tells him that he’s not allowed to live in one of Gianni’s house as promised. In closing, Cunanan is later buried in a public mausoleum while Donatella prepares to meet with Versace’s lawyers and Antonio attempts suicide.

ACS: Versace Finale Recap: “Alone” Marks The End Of Pain For One And The Beginning For Others

It’s hard to believe that we are one week away until the finale of The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. And while it’s been one hell of a ride with one hell of an acting tour de force from Darren Criss as Andrew Cunanan, I must say that there are times that I wish the episodes had shared equal focus on both the leads of the show. For a program to be named after the famed designer, he hasn’t appeared much in it.

Luckily in this episode, both the men were featured as we have gotten to the very end of the flashbacks as far as the events leading up to Gianni’s death go. In the Matt Bomer directed episode and featuring an amazing turn by Jon Jon Briones, we finally got to meet Cunanan’s father, and it is safe to say that the apple did not fall far from the tree as far as behaviors go.

Gather round and let’s discuss the episode aptly titled “Creator/Destroyer”.

Daddy Dearest:  Cunanan’s childhood, as it turned out, wasn’t as bad as one might have thought it to be, at first anyway. His dad worked for Merrill Lynch, talking his way into a highly coveted job with his professed work ethic and track record of upward mobility. Cunanan’s father also spoiled him terribly: the would-be killer got the master bedroom of the house and a car before he was even old enough to drive. His father constantly told him that he was better than anyone else, even though Andrew had siblings.

Life Of The Party: Cunanan’s luck doesn’t end at the house with his father either as he gets into a prestigious private school, where he’s voted “most likely to be remembered.” We also get to see how he meets Lizzie at a house party while spinning on the dance floor in a red, leather one-piece jumpsuit.  This version of Cunanan isn’t quite the liar just yet; just a charmer who dated older men.

Two Worlds: We get one glimpse of Gianni Versace’s childhood, mostly as a means to contrast Cunanan’s. When Versace is sketching, and called a “pansy” in school, his mother comforts him and promises to teach him. “You must do what you love, Gianni,” she says. As for Cunanan, he doesn’t get that kind of love and support, especially when   Cunanan tells his father he dreams of being a writer, his dad reminds him that writing isn’t an effective way to make money.

End Of A Fairytale: We then flash forward to see Modesto “Pete” Cunanan working not at Merrill Lynch, but in a cubicle, scamming the elderly out of their money. The FBI comes for him sooner than anyone might have expected as they pop up to his office, barely giving Modesto enough time to escape home, pry out some cash from underneath floorboards, and exit through a backdoor  before flying away to Manila and leaving his family with nothing. They lose the house but Cunanan still believes in his father so he packs his case and leaves his mother to go to Manila alone to find his father, where he confronts him for his crimes. “Weak, like your mother,” Modesto tells him when Cunanan makes it to the shack where he has been living right before spitting in his face.

A Liar Is Born: When Cunanan returns home and gets a job at the pharmacy where we saw him at the beginning of last week’s episode, he’s a defeated person. That sense of utter rock bottom doesn’t last long as  Cunanan tells his first lie, which gives him the idea that he can build his own future based on said lies. His yearbook quote was in French after all, and as it turned out, oddly prophetic: “After me, destruction.”

Quote of the night:

“You’re not upset that I stole; you’re upset that I stopped.” Modesto

ACS: Versace Recap: Andrew’s And Gianni’s Childhoods Reveal Polar Opposite Lives In “Creator/Destroyer”

After giving us a week to recuperate from the devastating episode that was “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story is back, and it gives us the episode that many of us have been waiting for: the one that slightly explains Andrew Cunanan’s motives. While there are still a lot of missing pieces of the puzzle that explain why Cunanan killed Versace, we do get some insight as to why Jeffrey, Lee, and David ended up on his kill list.

For this week’s episode, we are traveling back in time once again, which brings us even more spectacular performances from Finn Wittrock, and David Fern.

Gather ’round and let’s discuss “Descent”.

The Dream Life: We are first taken to Andrew Cunanan living the life in a beautiful beach home, arms laden with shopping bags, wearing sunglasses, and diving naked into a pool. It looks like Cunanan found a way to live that rich and famous life.  Later on, it appears that Cunanan is having a birthday party, and Lizzie, his pre-serial killer days’ friend, has a lot of questions about  his new gay lifestyle and questionable relationship with a much older man, Norman, whose house it happens to be. Lizzie wants to know what Andrew is doing with him but he is very vague in his answers, though we know he’s with Norman not out of love. That “love” is apparently reserved for David.

Let’s Play Charades:  For the birthday party, Jeffrey arrives first, and Cunanan tries to manipulate the scene a little better for David’s benefit, so Cunanan looks more “loved.” He also asks Jeffrey to lie about still being the Navy because being an officer is much more impressive than what he currentl does. All these things, Andrew does to impress David,  whofinally arrives, all the way from Minneapolis, and who Cunanan kisses him on the lips immediately. It’s obvious that David is impressed, and also impressed when Jeffrey presents Cunanan with his self-bought gift, one that is in a Tiffany’s box to boot. Unfortunately for Cunanan, the chemistry between Jeffrey and David is quite evident, and that sends Cunanan into a tizzy and straight into the bathroom for another line of coke.

The Library Is Open: One of Norman’s friends finally snaps at Cunanan, putting the would-be killer in his place as an attempt to protect his friend: “Too lazy to work, too proud to be kept,” he tells Cunanan. “That room is full of people who love me,” Cunanan said, gesturing to the party. “That room is full of people who don’t know you,” the man replies. Cunanan is then thwarted by a familiar face on his way to stop Jeffrey and David from getting too chummy: Lee Miglin, who came all the way from Chicago, clearly crazy about Cunanan even though Cunanan is embarrassed by him. Cunanan is surrounded by all of his future victims in a group photo—the next scene shows he’s scratched out all of their faces but David’s.

An Ultimatum: Cunanan later on gives Norman a list of demands in order to stay together: an increased living allowance, a car, and his entire inheritance. But unfortunately for Cunanan, Norman is a businessman, and he reminds the future killer about the one thing Cunanan hates the most: the truth about who he is. Norman knows Cunanan’s real name. He knows that he had been working minimum wage and living with his mother. After presenting the facts, Cunanan walks away, silenced. Sadly, Norman is too generous with Cunanan, much like David, and he offers to increase his living allowance and pay for his college. He sees through the lies and still wants to help him. Norman offers to help if only Cunanan stays with him. Cunanan throws a temper tantrum and ends up leaving and going home, which is a miserable oatmeal apartment with a bare mattress.

The Ball Starts Rolling: It is in this apartment where the chain of events kicked off as Cunanan delivers his first vindictive act: the postcard attempting to out Jeffrey to his father, for the sin of Jeffrey hitting it off with David at the party. Jeffrey confronts Cunanan and holds Cunanan against the wall. He tells Cunanan he got a new job — in Minneapolis. Where David lives. “I’m leaving,” he says. “I thought you should know.”  Later, Cunanan offers David a full funded trip to LA, which he accepts out of pity.  Cunanan drowns him in expensive gifts and fancy food, which makes David feel guilty. “Andrew, I’m not the one,” he says, after offering to pay for half of everything. “I’m sorry.” The truth of their “relationship” then comes out: they had one great night together in San Fransisco. David just wants to get to know the real Cunanan but loses interest once Cunanan starts up with his lies again.

Completely Undone: Cunanan ends up returning to his home, out of money and drugs, which leads him back to Norman, who doesn’t let him back in and threatens to call the cops. Cunanan has nowhere to go but his mother’s house. She believed his lies and preps him for his next adventure. What city is next, she asks. “Minneapolis,” he responds.

Instant Reaction:

Criss, Fern, and Wittrock all deliver amazing performances once again in this episode.

Cunanan is crazier than I thought.

I’m still confused about whether Cunanan ever really met Versace….

Quote of the Night:

“I…curate his art.” Cunanan

ACS Versace Recap: “Descent” Brings Us To A Time Before Death