Another AMERICAN CRIME STORY

Article first published as THE ASSASSINATION OF GIANNI VERSACE: AMERICAN CRIME STORY on Seat42F.

THE ASSASSINATION OF GIANNI VERSACE: AMERICAN CRIME STORY, the second season of the franchise, kicked off its run this week with episode one, “The Man Who Would Be Vogue.” Set in both 1990 and 1997, we see the eventual killer, Andrew Cunanan, as he first encounters the legendary designer, as well as the murder and its aftermath. The mostly non-fiction story apparently seeks to examine the relationship between the two men, as well as the manhunt for Cunanan, and how Gianni’s sister, Donatella, steered the company following her brother’s death.

That’s a lot to cover, but it doesn’t seem like too much for nine hours of television, which is how many episodes this will run. By keeping the story focused to only four leads (the three above plus Versace’s long-time partner, Antonio D’Amico), it avoids the sprawling that some such dramas get into, and provides a cohesive narrative, even as the timeline jumps back and forth.

THE ASSASSINATION OF GIANNI VERSACE: AMERICAN CRIME STORY feels very Ryan Murphy. What I mean by that is, like other Murphy properties, there are strong, colorful characters, sometimes understated, at its center, the direction and design are artsy while remaining relatively grounded, and the pacing is slow but purposeful. There’s a certain tone and style that has become a Murphy hallmark, and even with most of his familiar band of recurring actors absent from this outing, his fingerprints are noticeable on the work.

As usual in a Murphy show, the casting is spot-on. He brings back Glee’s Darren Criss as Andrew Cunanan, who appears to be the lead character in the first episode. Criss is a talented man, and this role stretches him. Cunanan is a habitual liar, acting his way through life, and it’s hard to gauge his sincerity, even in the moments where he is alone. Criss balances this while still showing us why people would fall for Cunanan’s falsehoods and charm. It’s a complex and difficult performance, and Criss nails it.

The other leads are Edgar Ramirez (Gold) as Gianni Versace, singer Ricky Martin as Antonio D’Amico, and an almost unrecognizable Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) as Donatella Versace. Ramirez doesn’t have a whole lot of chance to show his skills yet, almost being set dressing in his own show, but Martin and Cruz prove themselves right away.

They are joined by a whole bunch of great recurring players, including Will Chase (Smash), Dascha Polanco (Orange Is the New Black), Jay R. Ferguson (Mad Men), Max Greenfield (New Girl), Jose Zuniga (Snowfall), Joe Adler (Grey’s Anatomy), Annaleigh Ashford (Masters of Sex), and more, with Judith Light (Transparent) and Finn Wittrock (American Horror Story) slated for later this season. So the troupe should be solid.

The setting itself is necessarily opulent. Versace did not live simply, as one might expect, given what he’s known for. And Miami Beach in the 1990s was not a boring place. This makes for a locale that looks almost Hollywood glitzy, but is true enough to the reality. It makes one think of the trappings of wealth and celebrity, and the murder itself shows how none of that protects anyone from the darkest parts of the human soul. I don’t mean this to sound overly metaphorical, because it’s not; it’s a grounded show.

The frequent back-and-forth time jumps aren’t my favorite way to tell a story, but are the right choice for THE ASSASSINATION OF GIANNI VERSACE: AMERICAN CRIME STORY. There’s really no other way to depict both the lead up and the aftermath without it feeling like two separate shows. By splitting it in this manner, it helps with overall cohesion.

THE ASSASSINATION OF GIANNI VERSACE: AMERICAN CRIME STORY airs Wednesdays on FX.

Glee americano

This week's installment of FOX's Glee is called "The Spanish Teacher." Figgins (Iqbal Theba) tells Will (Matthew Morrison) that he is up for tenure, but that he should probably learn some Spanish if he wants to be considered for the position. Will is, after all, a Spanish teacher. Enrolling in a night class taught by David Martinez (singer Ricky Martin), Will realizes just how little he knows, but tries to correct that by bringing a Latino flair to glee club, as well as his normal teaching duties. In the end, remembering what passion is all about, Will opts for a transfer to the history department, leaving his old job open for David. Emma (Jayma Mays), who is already comfortable in her position, is chosen for the tenured position over Will.

While Glee has never shied away from camp, exposing Will as a fraud of a Spanish teacher crosses the line. Will says that Spanish was the only teaching position open at the time he was seeking employment, so he took the subject. And that was how many teachers settled into their jobs decades ago. However, such hiring practices have not been realistic in Ohio, or almost any other state, in quite some time. There is no way that Will would be hired to teach a foreign language without majoring in it in college and passing tests. The educational process in Ohio is pretty strict, and he could not teach a subject he knows nothing about. As such, the entire thing is completely ridiculous.

And that's not even getting into the outdated system of tenure shown in this episode.

Does McKinley not have a choir director position? It is understood that glee club is an extracurricular, but most high schools of any size have a teacher devoted just to vocal music. McKinley certainly qualifies as such. If there is a teacher already holding that position, why haven't they been seen on the show before? It would make sense, given the musical focus. And if there is not, why aren't Will and the club lobbying for a levy to pass to restore their music program to normal, basic standards? Certainly this is something that they could get people in the community behind.

Those involved in the educational system have plenty of reason to be offended by "The Spanish Teacher," but those of Latin descent may have even more beef. Will and the guys massacre "La Cucaracha" in a silly performance. Later, Will's "A Little Less Conversation," an Elvis number by the way, is not any better. Both have mediocre vocals and unacceptable costumes. Adding bulls into the dance in the latter song is terrible.

But "The Spanish Teacher" does have a handful of redeeming qualities. For one, Santana (Naya Rivera) is as angry at the racism and the injustice as any viewer, and she shows it. She puts Will in his place, and tells him just how wrong what he's doing is. In this, she serves as the voice of the audience. Thank goodness Glee chooses to include this position.

Also, most of the Latin music is actually quite good, owing mainly to the fact that Rivera and Martin perform it. Their "La Isla Bonita" is exciting, and Martin's "Sexy and I Know It" lives up to its title. By showing an alternative to the bad performances, Glee somewhat salvages the plot, even though it can't save the character of Will this week.

Martin does pretty well in his acting gig. There really is nothing to complain about in his character of David, nor the way he plays the role. While it is regrettable that David did not sing any Ricky Martin songs in "The Spanish Teacher," perhaps this can be corrected in a future appearance. And if David starts dating Holly Holiday (Gwyneth Paltrow), it could be a perfect match up!
 
Other plots in "The Spanish Teacher" come out better than the A story. Mercedes (Amber Riley) and Sam (Chord Overstreet) go to Emma for advice, and after giving them some very funny pamphlets, Emma advises them not to talk to each other for a week. They sort of break this rule when Mercedes sings "Don't Wanna Lose You," and Sam comes back with "Bamboleo / Hero." If there is anything Glee delivers as a recurring message, it's that music can speak louder than words. But the pair does not have any actual conversation for seven days.

The problem is in the way this story ends. After a week, both appear anxious to talk to one another. But then Mercedes leaves with Shane (Lamarcus Tinker). Based on every physical and stated clue in "The Spanish Teacher," one would assume that Mercedes would dump her boyfriend to be with Sam. And maybe she still will. But she certainly doesn't tell the devastated Sam that as she walks away. It's an interesting story that drops the ball at the last moment.

Will and Emma's romance is given a happier ending. Will gets annoyed with Emma's pamphlets when he is stressed out by the tenure issue. Seeing that he is wrong to criticize, and that the pamphlets are a wonderful achievement, he apologizes. It's pretty inexcusable that Will treats Emma so meanly, but at least he understands that he is in the wrong and tries to make up for it. And Emma getting the tenure, totally justifying her career performance, overshadows her boyfriend's bad behavior.

Rachel (Lea Michele) tells Kurt (Chris Colfer) and Mercedes about her engagement to Finn (Cory Monteith). Kurt is supportive when Rachel asks him to think about his relationship with Blaine (Darren Criss, taking a short break from Glee to do Broadway), but later, Kurt confronts Finn. Kurt tells Finn that he is getting married for all the wrong reasons and selling himself short. It gives Finn something to think about, and Kurt is completely correct in his assertions. The question is, can Rachel and Finn survive as a couple after calling off their engagement? And how much have things been set into motion for the nuptials already? If next week's preview is any indication, the marriage plans have hit the ground running.

Finally, Sue (Jane Lynch) has the strangest scenes this week. For some, her character is extremely erratic, first chewing out Santana for reporting her misbehavior to Figgins, then saying to Becky (Lauren Potter) that Sue understands why Becky turned her in. So Becky is the culprit, and because Sue likes Becky, Sue is willing to consider motivation behind the act. However, is that any excuse for the drastically different reactions Sue has towards the two students? Or for her misbehavior in the first place, which involves asking high school boys for their sperm?

Yet, there is a really sweet bit between Sue and Emma where Sue explains why she is asking for Will's swimmers. Sue's words are sincere and heartfelt. While Emma is still not comfortable with the arrangement, suddenly fans can get on board with a Sue/Will baby. Then the plot is abandoned without explanation, when Sue says that she has found another donor. She gave up so easily? Who's the new daddy? So, again, erratic, and strange.

If the writers can decide which version of Sue they'd like to right for, please let us know. It would be nice to have a consistent character. There is a difference between have a layered persona, and acting contrary to established behavior patterns, and "The Spanish Teacher" definitely achieves the latter.

Which means between the music, Sue's story, Will's character, Mercedes's decision, and everything else going on, "The Spanish Teacher" comes across as a garbled mess. Not one of Glee's best efforts, unfortunately, though it contains a handful of solid moments.

Watch Glee Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

MORE GLEE: If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of the Glee reviews I've ever written. To purchase Glee DVDs, streaming episodes, music, and more, please click here. Article first published as TV Review: Glee - "The Spanish Teacher" on Blogcritics.