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