FX’sAmerican Crime Storyis one of the most unique and culturally relevant shows on TV. CreatorRyan Murphy applied a winning formula from his first anthology series,American Horror Story, to develop the thrilling and politically chargedAmericanCrime Story. Much like its predecessor, American Crime Story, features star-studded casts across its seasons, exciting, twisting storylines, and timely subject matter that often sends a powerful message about current issues.American Crime Story’sTV miniseries formatlives somewhere between often-boring docuseries and overdone crime dramas; it’s a style of storytelling that makes for an intriguing serialization of real-life events that audiences are already familiar and interested in. Murphy’s show thrives on capturing the shock-and-awe of the moments it’s reenacting, triggering nostalgia in viewers who lived through the moments and fascination in those who’ve heard the synopsis’ from family and friends. Because of the showrunners' willingness to dig deeper into these historic events, the show has something to offer both types of viewers. Additionally, each season is adapted from heavily researched, journalistic source material that similarly dissect each crime story and the many “characters” that inhabit their narratives.American Crime Story’sfirst three seasons have all received critical acclaim, and each is distinctive and powerful enough to stand on its own as a miniseries. With a fourth season focused on New York nightclub Studio 54 rumored to be in development, according toNewsweek, here isAmerican Crime Story’sfirst three seasons, ranked.Related:These Are Some of the Best Original TV Shows From FX
3Impeachment (2021)
The latest season ofAmerican Crime Storyfollows the late-90s affair, trial, and subsequent impeachment of America’s 42nd president, Bill Clinton. Beanie Feldstein stars as Monica Lewinsky, mistress and victim of Clinton’s abusive time in the White House.Impeachmentfeatures timely and important commentary on women’s rights, victimhood, and abuse of power; however, it also tackles unexpected storylines on loneliness, greed, and relationships. Airing soon after the impeachment of 45th president, Donald Trump, and in the midst of a cultural change regarding abuse of power and treatment of women,Impeachmentis a champion for marginalized voices throughout its 10 episodes.
The strength ofImpeachmentlies in the commitment of its cast,especially Sarah Paulsonwho simultaneously makes audiences cringe, empathize, and sear in frustration at the inexcusable nature of her character and real-life confidant of Lewinsky turned whistleblower, Linda Tripp.Impeachment’scast perfectly encapsulates the tension and fear of its main characters as they revel with the lies, public scrutiny, and life-altering consequences of their actions. Among the series’ best moments between characters is Bill and Hillary’s private discussions about his very public affair, Monica’s heartbreaking admissions of guilt and depression to her parents, and Linda’s attention-seeking interviews with reporters and law-enforcement.
Impeachment’sonly pitfall is that it tends to drag on certain storylines for slightly too long. Although its investigative plot makes it necessary, certain topics are revisited too often for the causal viewer and may result in sheer boredom. Despite this,Impeachmentmakes for a captivating retelling of the still-relevant affair and impeachment of President Bill Clinton.
2The Assassination of Gianni Versace (2018)
Season 2 ofAmerican Crime Storyis a departure from the courtroom and political drama of seasons 1 and 3; however, it’s examination of psychopathic serial killer Andrew Cunanan and his lesser-known victims before the famous Versace murder, is a welcomed addition to theCrime Storyseries. Cunanan’s struggle with identity (especially his queerness), narcissism, and his pathological need to lie, cheat, and use others to fit in, are the key pieces that form the season at large. The season aired at a time when gender and sexual identity issues were frequently debated across social media and news networks;Assassination’sunique perspective on characters dealing with their sexuality in very different ways is a valid contribution to the conversation and likely bolstered the show’s popularity.
Assassination’sbullseye is its deep dive into Andrew Cunanan’s actions and motives; the story is largely a character study of his psychology, based on Maureen Orth’s book,Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. History. Actor, Darren Criss embodies the slimy shape-shifter that Cunanan was, snaking into people’s lives and leaving a trail of destruction along the way. The juxtaposition of Cunanan’s miserable nature versus Versace’s love for life is an introspective commentary on the realities humans create for themselves; although many people suffer similar struggles, nobody has the same reaction and outlook on life.
The Assassination of Gianni’sweak points lie in its inverted narrative — a format that becomes hard to follow at multiple points in the show. Still, there’s a perceived yearning from the showrunners to make this season vastly different and that is both admirable and valuable to the show overall.
Related:Here’s Every Season of American Horror Story, Ranked
1The People v. OJ Simpson (2016)
American Crime Story’sinaugural season is a masterclass in storytelling, despite its focus on such a well-known case, the 1995 trial of O.J. Simpson. Simpson and his “Dream Team” of lawyers are pitted against the prosecution’s Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden in an all-consuming trial of the century.AmericanCrime Storydoes a great job of portraying the nuances of this case — the context in which race, public opinion, and class played a huge role in determining not only the outcome, but also the decision-making of the characters. Airing in 2016, the show forced a nation still divided on race to remember the mistakes of the past and rethink their positions on topics in the present.
People v. OJ’scast is stacked with high-caliber performances and one of thebest ensemble castsin television history. Cuba Gooding Jr. brings Simpson’s immaturity and bizarre character to a realistic and fully realized center. Around him are the conflicting, yet brilliant legal minds of Johnnie Cochran (Courtney B. Vance), Robert Kardashian (David Schwimmer), and Robert Shapiro (John Travolta). Each of them feels vividly justified in the backstory and reasoning that bring them to their legal opinions and tactics throughout the case. Finally, Marcia Clark (Sarah Paulson) and Christopher Darden (Sterling K. Brown) steal the show with their tragically accurate portrayal of two lawyers trying their best against insurmountable odds, scrutiny, and mentally taxing events.
American Crime Story’sfirst three seasons supply a diverse and culturally relevant perspective into some of America’s most controversial and important criminal cases. In times when society is struggling to find a middle-ground for discourse and compromise, Murphy’s series provides a safe-space and unique perspective to talk about pressing issues that are real and not far-removed from today’s problems.
