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| Scene from American Crime Story |
Welcome to a new column called Channel Surfing, in which I sporadically look at current TV shows and talk about them. These are not ones that I care to write weekly recaps for and are instead reflections either on the episode, the series, or particular moments. This will hopefully help to share personal opinions as well as discover entertainment on the outer pantheon that I feel is well worth checking out, or in some cases, shows that are weird enough to talk about, but should never be seen.
With American Crime Story, creator Ryan Murphy created one of the definitive miniseries of the modern era. In the first season, he had a doozy in a dramatic retelling of the O.J. Simpson trial. It was something that was universal enough that everyone who had a faint memory of the event could enjoy its strange mix of camp and serious drama. After all, it was a series dedicated to the complicated relation between Simpson's celebrity persona and the complicated race relations in the late 90's. It was a story that made any second entry into a possible fluke, though Murphy wasn't going to go without a challenge. Much like his similarly named American Horror Story, he has decided not to do more of the same, but instead go in a different and more niche direction regarding crime in America.
In fact, The Assassination of Gianni Versaci (season 2) doesn't at all feel like a spiritual successor. Its first scene involves the actual murder, of which is tensely played out in intricate detail as Versaci goes for a walk. The scene is filled with small details, including the dreading detail of a man about to murder this fashion icon. The reason for why isn't clear yet, but it's still one of Murphy's finest moments as he adds his flair to a murder scene. We don't see the bullet enter Versaci, but the sound is enough to make one cringe. Versaci stares forward with a known disappointment, which raises more questions. Why is this man murdering Versaci? Instead of dissecting it via a trial - at least so far - it is about an origin story that feels more prescient than it should.
It's a story about homosexuals in the 90's during a time where being out and proud was dangerous. The love affair between Versaci and the young Andrew Cunanan is touched upon here, exploring how one night club visit leads to a relationship built on deceit, but full of flaring passion. There's a sense of perfection in their chemistry, though there's plenty left to explore in this narrative. For instance, the show manages to avoid being a retread not by asking how Versaci was murdered, but why he was. Cunanan isn't yet seen as an evil face, but a man stuck in a toxic system of oppression. If anything, this is the deconstruction of a love story gone wrong, with the exploration of celebrity and obsession being once again at the center. Murphy's choice to pick eccentric icons for the series so far has allowed everything to be more compelling without being redundant.
Yet the series isn't just about the love affair. It's about the aftermath of that opening scene, where Versaci's body is held in autopsy as the figures in his life slowly get introduced. It's a tragic confusion, and the series will likely explain how this web of characters will intersect and become the downfall of a man who became a fashion icon. Not much is known at the moment, but the reactions that many have towards Versaci's death suggests more about their personal involvement with the man. It's an odd affair full of its own mystery, and odds are that this Memento-style approach will allow the intimate story to play out in a way that keeps things interesting.
If there's nothing else that's evident about American Crime Story's return, it's that this series is going to try and be about more than conventional trial dramas. Murphy has lofty goals in mind, of which he'll likely use to explore how crime brings out the odd impulses of American culture. Why do we idolize these people? Why do we behave the way that we do? Season 2 may seem more rooted in niche themes like celebrity and being gay in a judgmental society. It's a show that seems prime to touch on important issues while mixing in campy drama from people who cannot help but be somewhat self-parody. If the series is anything like this first episode, there's a good chance that this will be Murphy's defining series, of which has the potential to be more than entertainment. It can be commentary on a society needing to explore its own conscience.
In fact, The Assassination of Gianni Versaci (season 2) doesn't at all feel like a spiritual successor. Its first scene involves the actual murder, of which is tensely played out in intricate detail as Versaci goes for a walk. The scene is filled with small details, including the dreading detail of a man about to murder this fashion icon. The reason for why isn't clear yet, but it's still one of Murphy's finest moments as he adds his flair to a murder scene. We don't see the bullet enter Versaci, but the sound is enough to make one cringe. Versaci stares forward with a known disappointment, which raises more questions. Why is this man murdering Versaci? Instead of dissecting it via a trial - at least so far - it is about an origin story that feels more prescient than it should.
It's a story about homosexuals in the 90's during a time where being out and proud was dangerous. The love affair between Versaci and the young Andrew Cunanan is touched upon here, exploring how one night club visit leads to a relationship built on deceit, but full of flaring passion. There's a sense of perfection in their chemistry, though there's plenty left to explore in this narrative. For instance, the show manages to avoid being a retread not by asking how Versaci was murdered, but why he was. Cunanan isn't yet seen as an evil face, but a man stuck in a toxic system of oppression. If anything, this is the deconstruction of a love story gone wrong, with the exploration of celebrity and obsession being once again at the center. Murphy's choice to pick eccentric icons for the series so far has allowed everything to be more compelling without being redundant.
Yet the series isn't just about the love affair. It's about the aftermath of that opening scene, where Versaci's body is held in autopsy as the figures in his life slowly get introduced. It's a tragic confusion, and the series will likely explain how this web of characters will intersect and become the downfall of a man who became a fashion icon. Not much is known at the moment, but the reactions that many have towards Versaci's death suggests more about their personal involvement with the man. It's an odd affair full of its own mystery, and odds are that this Memento-style approach will allow the intimate story to play out in a way that keeps things interesting.
If there's nothing else that's evident about American Crime Story's return, it's that this series is going to try and be about more than conventional trial dramas. Murphy has lofty goals in mind, of which he'll likely use to explore how crime brings out the odd impulses of American culture. Why do we idolize these people? Why do we behave the way that we do? Season 2 may seem more rooted in niche themes like celebrity and being gay in a judgmental society. It's a show that seems prime to touch on important issues while mixing in campy drama from people who cannot help but be somewhat self-parody. If the series is anything like this first episode, there's a good chance that this will be Murphy's defining series, of which has the potential to be more than entertainment. It can be commentary on a society needing to explore its own conscience.
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