The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Review: Manhunt (Season 2 Episode 2)

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Season 2 Episode 2 “Manhunt” is disturbing, emotional, and compelling. It still is struggling with time jumps, but overall, “Manhunt” is really starting to show us who these characters are—for better or for worse.

On the premiere episode, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story “The Man Who Would be Vogue” (Season 2 Episode 1), I didn’t feel much of a connection with Donatella. However, on “Manhunt,” we see their close bond as well as some points of contention.

Donatella: What is Versace without you?

Gianni: It is you.

Donatella: And what am I without you?

Gianni: You will find out.

The look on Donatella’s face as she sees Gianni in the casket—wow. Seeing Donatella lose her composure is just heartbreaking.

On “Manhunt,” we get a glimpse into Gianni and Antonio’s relationship and see that American Crime Story is going with the theory that Gianni was HIV Positive. Donatella thinks that Antonio is to blame for her brother’s illness. These scenes provide more insight as to why Donatella has been so dismissive of him after Gianni’s death.

As Antonio points out, Gianni is not a saint. However, Antonio is enough for Gianni but is Gianni enough for Antonio?

The question is answered with a particularly sweet moment at the end of the episode where Gianni and Antonio kiss outside the nightclub and go home together. It’s also bittersweet because it won’t be long before Gianni is gunned down.

Meanwhile, we see Andrew in May 1997 as he hits the road towards Miami after stealing license plates in South Carolina. He is jubilant as he sings to “Gloria” and it’s hard to imagine that he has already killed four men.

In Miami, Andrew’s lies continue, and he makes a friend in Ronnie, an HIV positive addict who is also staying at the Normandy Hotel.

I find the scenes between Ronnie and Andrew to be really interesting. Andrew loves an audience and spinning tales of his life but Ronnie doesn’t completely buy it.

I also may have a tiny crush on Max Greenfield with his handlebar mustache.

There are a few scenes with Miami detectives and the FBI and we see how the FBI has already bungled up the investigation of Cunanan in Miami. They don’t distribute flyers, which is a huge mistake as pointed out when Andrew goes to the pawn shop and uses his own identification.

The pawn shop owner actually looks at a bulletin board of wanted men in the area.

Andrew Cunanan is not one of them.

They also don’t listen to Detective Lori Wieder who says that they should look at all the gay nightclubs, including Twist, which is where Andy ends up at the end of the episode. The FBI say that Andrew is probably hitting up old men in Fort Lauderdale.

That isn’t entirely inaccurate as Andrew goes back to an older man’s hotel room after meeting him on the beach. He’s a married CEO of a company and tells Andrew he can be submissive.

The following scene is incredibly disturbing as Andrew wraps the man’s face with duct tape and restricts his breathing and then dances around in the hotel room before straddling the man with a pair of scissors.

Darren Criss as Andrew Cunanan continues to amaze me.

The weakest part of “Manhunt” is the time jumps. The episode starts in 1994 with Versace being very sick. I didn’t mind this flashback because it shows the close relationship between Donatella and Gianni and then explains why Donatella doesn’t like Antonio.

It also shows that Gianni was once close to death but then managed to survive. It’s sad to know that he’ll be dead only a few years later.

The episode then jumps to May 1997, the day after Gianni’s murder in July 1997, a fashion show a few weeks before his death, and then some time in the months/weeks leading up to the murder while Andrew’s in Miami.

What was the point of seeing Andrew in South Carolina? It only showed us how strangely calm he is after he’s already committed a few murders.

And the Versace fashion show? It does show Donatella and Gianni butting heads, but I kind of think it’s purely so Gianni can talk about how life is beautiful.

It makes it all the sadder when his life ends so violently.

Overall, “Manhunt” is a riveting episode and I can tell how much I enjoyed it because I simply didn’t want it to end. The acting is incredible, the music is upbeat but oddly unsettling, and the subject matter is compelling.

Now, if The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story could only get their act together when it comes to timelines and flashbacks.

What did you think of this episode of The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on FX.

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