The second season of “American Crime Story” literally opens with a bang.

“American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace” is a dramatized retelling of the events leading up to and following the 1997 murder of famous Italian fashion designer, Gianni Versace. It stems from the mind of executive producer Ryan Murphy, who has worked on “Glee”, “Scream Queens” and “American Horror Story.” “Versace” premiered Jan. 17 on FX.

It’s apparent from the season premiere that the true spotlight will not be on the famous designer, but instead, the mind and actions of his killer, Andrew Cunanan, played by Darren Criss. Criss also starred in “Glee.” The series also features Penelope Cruz as Versace’s sister, Donatella, and singer Ricky Martin as Antonio D’Amico, Versace’s boyfriend.

The retelling of events is done out of order; it jumps forwards and backwards in time between the years 1990 and 1997, allowing for the revelation of details and the establishment of Criss’ character. Laden with color, the darkness of the episode’s content is balanced out with stunning visuals, symbolism and a meticulous attention to detail.

Many of the scenes were shot in Versace’s former Miami beachfront mansion, The Villa Casa Casuarina, which is illustrious in the extreme and comparable only to a sumptuous palace. Almost the entirety of the episode has a sepia tint to it, which adds to the drama and to the ‘90s aesthetic. This vibrancy is both welcomed and absolutely necessary, as the series takes place in the 1990s, the pinnacle of high fashion.

In the eye of the storm was designer Gianni Versace who, in the series, is portrayed as both an ethereal genius and extremely down-to-earth individual. The opposing force to Versace’s genuine nature is the 27-year-old Cunanan, a pathological liar and power-hungry individual who has developed an obsession with the Italian fashion designer.

The suspense and horror woven throughout the episode is a direct product of Cunanan’s actions, which reveals just how twisted his mind was. Criss’ fans will be stunned to see him skillfully take on the role of the depraved murderer who, upon shooting Versace, stands over his body and cocks his head from side to side with a confused expression as if he doesn’t quite understand what he’s looking at.

As he turns and walks down the street away from the body, Criss’ Cunanan is smiling and begins to hysterically laugh and scream over what he has done when he jumps into his getaway car. Criss does an incredible job portraying the raw, unfiltered and crazed emotions of Versace’s killer. For those who enjoyed “American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson,” watching the second season of Murphy’s crime anthology is certainly worth a watch.

The premiere is currently available for free on Apple’s iTunes Store. “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” airs Wednesdays at 10pm on FX.