Agree it was amazing. I though had little to no sympathy for him although I acknowledge his childhood abuse was awful and significant. They imply it with subtlety. Although a fascinating character and yes he is the show, it’s his portrait, he is a destroyer of lives. He takes, he destroys and wrecks havoc. Even in his pitiful last days I had no sympathy. The sadness I had was for his victims and the show did a good job of exploring their backgrounds not just Versace. Also Penelope Cruz is a powerful actor.
I really don't want to come across like I think Cunanan was a good person in any way, or that his actions were even forgivable. He was an unremorsful monstrosity who selfishly destroyed the lives of many. I'm not some bleeding heart who saw any amount of good in him by the end or throughout the story. Even as a teen he was a spoiled brat. But when you look at what kind of parents he had, especially his equally monstrous father (but for different reasons), who even betrayed his son when it counted most (he really could have at least intervened and brought his son to justice in the last moments). I just felt bad for the ENTIRE situation. I cried for the victims who all seemed like such bright young men with so, so, so, much ahead of them and had so much to offer in life. Who were already dealing with their own battles and facing discrimination only to be brutally snuffed out by one of their own. Do I blame Cunanan for what happened? Of course. Do I understand why Cunanan turned out the way he did (at least as far as the series is concerned) yes. But then I have to realize that I also had an awful relationship and still feel confusion and pain when it comes to my own father, and yet I've never wanted to resort to killing off those who didn't reciprocate my feelings for them. Maybe I just look in the gray areas too much in these sorts of situations, or maybe Criss was just so damn great in the role that any sympathy (which, isn't really the right word, not symphathetic to him, empathetic? that could be wrong too) I had for him, which again was more pity than sympathy, lied in his performance. Again, it's just a sad situation all around. I'm also not blaming all of Cunanan's actions on his father either, he is responsible entirely for his own actions, just like I don't blame my own for some of the poor decisions I've made. Even if mine never involved harming another person over it. I just don't want to be dragged across the rocks and misunderstood and have people think I have some soft spot for Andrew. I don't. Disgustingly, there are those who do. He was a terrible person and the world is better off without him, but he was handed quite the ****ty deck of cards being worshipped and used, possibly sexually abused, and given everything before losing everything because of his terrible father, that it's no wonder he eventually snapped when he could have found love from someone had it not been hammered into his head that he deservesd everything/everyone on a silver platter.. But my entire sympathy and heart goes out to the victims, their friends and families, and even Cunanan's own siblings. I did somehow talk to a relative of his (iirc, it was his nephew) and they said that Andrew is never brought up, ever, and that what happened essentially demolished the entire family, but that they do their best to move on, and that many go by different names now. I can't imagine what it'd be like to be share the same blood with him.
And yes, Criss is on another level, but the entire cast is brilliant throughout. I'm so glad so many of them got Emmy noms, especially Judith Light (love her), Finn Wittrock, and even Ricky Martin, who absolutely deserves it. Martin exuded such a deep pain and sadness that really surprised me as I've never seen him act before. Cruz was perfection as Donetella, if far too beautiful,but she nailed her voice and her later scenes confronting the situation was heartbreaking. The entire cast needs to be recognized. I wish Cody Fern had gotten some recognition, but I look forward to seeing him in AHS: Apocalypse. And Max Greenfield was another particular scene stealer, especially his last scene in the interrogation room.