The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Review: Creator/Destroyer (Season 2 Episode 8)

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Season 2 Episode 8, “Creator/Destroyer,” shows both Gianni Versace and Andrew Cunanan as children and for the first time makes us feel just a tad bit sad for Andrew.

The episode is a little too long and delves further into Andrew’s past while only showing Gianni before the cold open.

Gianni and Andrew had very different childhoods.

“Creator/Destroyer” shows Gianni as being very close to his mother and being encouraged at a young age to do what he loves as his mother did. She tells Gianni that success only comes from hard work. It’s not easy but it’s worth it.

How funny that for Andrew, he is told the exact opposite. Andrew expects everything without hard work because he is “special.”

Andrew’s father, Modesto “Pete” Cunanan, is doting but in an over-the-top and threatening way. He is certainly an interesting character played amazingly well by Jon Jon Briones. We get a glimpse into perhaps why Andrew became the person he did.

For one, Andrew is completely spoiled by Modesto and even his siblings call him “Prince Andrew.” While they all suffer in a small, shared bedroom, Andrew gets the master suite to himself.

After Andrew gets accepted into an elite private school, Modesto buys young Andrew a car, which is utterly ridiculous. He’s about twelve.

Modesto often calls Maryanne, his wife, weak and abuses her verbally and physically. From previous episodes, Maryanne seems unstable, but from “Creator/Destroyer,” I definitely feel a little sorry for her.

Modesto also turns Andrew against her–or he at least shuts her out.

Modesto is a wheeler and dealer who spins lies and who wants the most from his American Dream. After beating out hundreds of Ivy-leaguers for a job at Merrill Lynch, we see Modesto isn’t quite as good as finding clients to invest as he once bragged.

He’s a liar and ultimately a con-man who leaves his family broke as he runs off to the Philippines.

Andrew is distraught when his father leaves but still believes that Modesto has money and that he’s just in hiding from the FBI. So, he goes to Manila to find him.

The confrontation between Modesto and Andrew is the highlight of the episode and showcases the acting talents of both Jon Jon Briones and Darren Criss. The whole scene between them is utterly mesmerizing and difficult to watch.

Modesto berates Andrew and says that he’s just like Maryanne—weak. He spits on Andrew and for a moment, as Andrew holds a knife in his hand, it seems plausible that Andrew could begin his spree of violence here.

Instead, Andrew presses the knife in his hand and cries.

Andrew returns to the US and nearly shrinks in embarrassment as neighbors watch them move out of their grand home. He’s broken.

Andrew reluctantly goes to his local pharmacy to apply for a job. The pharmacist is a Filipino man and presses Andrew about his father.

It is there where Andrew begins the big lie—he says that his father owns pineapple plantations:

Andrew: As far as the eye can see.

And this is the Andrew we know.

“Creator/Destroyer” shows us that Andrew had seen violence in his home and that he was taught that things should be given to him without actually putting the work in. It’s also alluded to that Andrew was sexually abused by his father.

There are moments throughout the episode where I feel for Andrew, however, I’m impressed that The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story still does not make excuses for Andrew.

We can see why Andrew is obsessed with portraying a certain image, but his childhood does not give absolve him for the brutal murders. Andrew could have taken the Gianni route by working hard to earn money, but instead chose the wrong path.

“Creator/Destroyer” is the penultimate episode of the series, so we should see Andrew’s demise on the last episode. Just like Modesto, he will be hunted down by the FBI.

Overall, “Creator/Destroyer” is an insightful episode with some great scenes (including Andrew owning the dance floor to “Whip It”) but it’s not the most compelling. I do appreciate though, that we see Andrew before he sets out on his path of lies.

Just like the rest of the stories on The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, I can’t help but feel sad for everyone involved, except for Modesto.

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!

Reviewer Rating:

 

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

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