None of Ryan Murphy's true crime series have ever surpassed his first

With two true crime-themed anthology shows, there is no filmmaker today more associated with the subgenre than Ryan Murphybut that does not mean that all his efforts were equally successful. To date, his first story is – The People v. OJ Simpson – might still be his greatest, and not just because of its ensemble cast. More than his recent stories, the first season of American crime story tackled a major case with extreme care, depicting it from every angle and still making a definitive statement inform the audience about the result. Since then, future seasons and those of Monster have rarely attempted to infuse their shows with the same nuance and have never achieved a similar level of quality.

With his cast, Ryan Murphy created his own dream team

When it came to casting a series about the OJ murder case, the sheer number of personalities meant that an ensemble was required, but this was a task that the miniseries handled absolutely brilliantly. Of course, his long-time employee is also there Sarah Paulsonwhose portrayal of Marcia Clark is a woman who is as brilliant as she is flawed, but Sterling K. Brown is almost as convincing as Chris Darden. His status as a voice of reason, whose warnings about the racist optics of the case go unheeded by the prosecution, triggers one of the most infamous moments of the trial and contributes significantly to the final result. Ultimately, The two act as a tragic protagonist couplethat still feels unique to the true crime genre.

Opposite the two prosecutors is the dream team, whose actors are almost as theatrical as the people they play. As Johnny Cochran, Courtney B. Vance is both inspiring and infuriating Nathan Lane portrays F. Lee Bailey with an arrogance that makes him incredibly loathsome. On the other hand, David Schwimmer brings a vulnerability that you might not expect from someone like Robert Kardashian, and John Travolta is convincing as Robert Shapiro, even if they look completely different. Not least, Cuba Gooding Jr. delivers a performance like OJ equal parts creepy and charismaticand shows how people can be both attracted and repelled by his charm, sometimes even both at the same time.

“The People v. OJ Simpson” gives each page a story

Image via FX

To younger viewers today, the OJ case may seem like a comedy of errors, and perhaps with good reason, but it's also important to remember that it was one of the most divisive cultural moments of the 1990s. The series itself begins with footage of the Rodney King riots from two years earlier, looming in the background as much as the actual murder in a time when police brutality has rarely been as visible as it is today. For some, the trial was just another murder case, for others it could be a clear political statement or the ultimate celebrity scandal, and the miniseries reflects all of these perspectives.

Fittingly, however, the series makes the most of this balance in the finale, where the final verdict is only as important as the actual reactions to itwhether in scenes from the show or real footage. From confusion over DNA to major prosecutorial errors, the verdict can and has been attributed to many different factors, but the high weight of evidence shows that the decision to acquit was legally sound, even if the jury suspected OJ of murder was guilty. At the same time, it never exonerates him morally for a murder he most likely committed, and makes it clear that he will remain forever guilty in the court of public opinion.

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Since OJ, American crime history has never been the same

When it debuted, The People v. OJ Simpson became an awards darling, so it's no surprise that more seasons soon followed. The second film, which focused on the murder of Gianni Versace, was certainly not bad, but was still clearly a massive change in tone and style. With the Monica Lewinsky scandal in the third season The series returned to its rootsbrings Paulson back in a starring role, adapts another book by Jeffrey Toobin, and presents a '90s scandal with a modern sense of perspective, even bringing Lewinsky himself on board to produce the project. Nevertheless, the first season simply managed to do this in a more natural and sympathetic way, presenting each side with the attention it deserved.

Outside American crime storysuch a balance has rarely been so visible. When it debuted as the first anthology under the Monster Label, Dahmer was often accused Glorification of the crimes committed and even violate the wishes of the victims and their families The story of Eric and Lyle Menendezhas recently dealt with similar allegations. In contrast, the first season of American crime story was based on the actual reporting of those who witnessed it and be treated with more grace than any season or spin-off since. If Murphy wants to return to what made his true crime stories great, he should be much more careful about which stories he adapts for the small screen and how they are presented to audiences.