The premiere of The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story wasted no time getting to the action when it premiered on Wednesday night. The opening followed Versace (Édgar Ramírez) as he went through his morning routine on July 15, 1997, and the first scene ended with him being shot point blank in the head by Andrew Cunanan (Darren Criss) on the front steps of his Miami Beach home in broad daylight.
The depiction of the shooting was shocking violent, which is barely evidenced in the screencap below (far more graphic images can be found here).
But that’s just the part of the story that most of us already knew. The rest of the season promises to give us an inside look at the life of the Italian fashion designer and the serial killer who murdered him. And we’re off to a good start.
The Beauty
The sweeping cinematography used to tell the true crime story instantly captivated fans, and the show was trending worldwide on Twitter all night.
American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace.
Episode One Cinematography 📸🌻. pic.twitter.com/OGuZ2VPtyi— ∀ (@1TheAziz) January 18, 2018
only 2 minutes in and i’m already BLOWN AWAY by the cinematography!!! #ACSVersace
— female roman roy (@sarahburhans_) January 18, 2018
The Actors
Viewers were also losing their minds over the impeccable casting of the series. In addition to Ramírez and Criss, who both look shockingly like the real-life people they’re portraying, we were introduced to Ricky Martin’s character, Antonio D’Amico, who was Versace’s partner of 15 years. And in the moment everyone was waiting for, Penélope Cruz lit up the screen as Versace’s grieving sister, Donatella.
The moment Penelope steps off the plane and we get our first look at her as Donatella #ACSVersace pic.twitter.com/dNyu4Lc0eO
— mmmmm (@poppykulture) January 18, 2018
This!!!! casting!!!!! #ACSVersace pic.twitter.com/SeA1etTn4p
— female roman roy (@sarahburhans_) January 18, 2018
The Real-Life Aspect
Aside from the award-worthy acting and cinematography, one of the most engaging aspects of the show is that it is a true story that dominated headlines when it took place in 1997. Part of the fun is breaking down fact from fiction — Did Cunanan really shoot the dove? (Yes!) — and analyzing how things have changed since the ’90s. Themes of homophobia in the decade and how it impacted the case are going to be a huge part of the series moving forward.
This woman took a Versace ad and dipped it in his blood on the stairs. Did somebody actually do this? I mean I know it’s a tv show, but still…#ACSVersace
— Matty Moorhead (@mattyj1294) January 18, 2018
Folks out here getting blood samples and auctioning Polaroids at the crime scene? Got me wondering how that would have went down if Twitter existed back then. #ACSVersace
— Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) January 18, 2018
I know this is 1997, but lets really get at how notions of sexual orientation factored into this case. #ACSVersace
— . andy. (@imsdoublea) January 18, 2018
There will be plenty to unpack as American Crime Story‘s second season continues, but for now, what did you think of the premiere?
