Twitter

Where to Stream:

The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

The appeal of The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story isn’t just that we all get to re-experience the trainwreck-y thrill of the Simpson trial all over again. It’s also that Ryan Murphy has assembled an incredibly accomplished all-star cast to step into the roles of the major (and also minor) players of the case. Every week, we’ll be ranking that cast from worst to first. Whose performance really stepped up in that week’s episode? Who wilted in the presence of a room full of stars?

This week’s episode, “The Race Card,” sees the defense implementing their strategy to racialize every aspect of the case, and Johnnie Cochran strong-arming nearly ever aspect of the trial, to the point where people are dropping of heart attacks in the wake of his offensive. John Singleton directed this one, and it is a corker, right down to the shiny Nazi memorabilia at the end.

But how did the cast rank?

Cuba Gooding Jr. as O.J. Simpson

It may be more of a function of the character than of the performance, but the energy on screen takes a real nosedive whenever O.J. is on screen. Literally everything happening on the show is more interesting than the defendant. The good thing about this episode is that O.J. isn’t in it much, but even the scene where he hollers at Christopher Darden to get off his bench plays weirdly and not believably.

Previous rank: 9

Dale Godboldo as Carl Douglas

Nobody knew Carl Douglas’ name before tonight, and I’m not sure we’ll have much cause to know it after, but he’s the male half of Cochran’s two flunkies, and last night, he was tasked with falling on his sword in order to let Cochran play some dirty tricks on the prosecution. I’m not sure of Godboldo let us in on Carl enough to really feel bad for him.

Previous rank: N/A

Nathan Lane as F. Lee Bailey

Lane is giving such a good performance as Bailey that he stands out even episodes where he only has one line. In this case, it’s a “Blow it out your ass, Bob,” directed at Shapiro. I’d watch an F. Lee Bailey spinoff, I really would.

Previous rank: 6

Steven Pasquale as Mark Fuhrman

Pasquale got the thankless role of playing Mark Furhman, the universally loathed yet still utterly bland racist cop whose documented past of racist language really allowed Cochran to open the doors to the racist-cops defense. Pasquale is a talented actor who’s too good for his part. I’d really like to give him credit for that last shot of him caressing his case of Nazi memorabilia, though.

Previous rank: N/A

John Travolta as Robert Shapiro

Shapiro REALLY took a back seat to Cochran this week, and Travolta with him. But even with his reduced presence this week, Travolta proved what a great asset he’s been to this show. His Shapiro skulking around the boardrooms and Brentwood homes felt almost Shakespearian. The old ghost haunting the new you’s legal strategy.

Previous rank: 3

Christian Clemenson as Bill Hodgman

This might be our last chance to praise Clemenson’s wicked side-eye after Hodgman got worked up and collapsed during pre-trial motions. The moment felt very much like that scene in Primary Colors when Jack Stanton (hello Travolta connection) makes a rival so angry that he keels over. No keeling for Hodgman, though it’s unlikely he’ll be back. It was fun while it lasted.

Previous rank: 7

Robert Morse as Dominick Dunne

Mad Men‘s own Robert Morse stepped in as famed crime writer Dominick Dunne. The scene where Dunne regales party guests (though not the help) with trial gossip was yet another great piece of color and more evidence of the O.J. trial as the new television.

Previous rank: N/A

Sterling K. Brown as Christopher Darden

Another incredibly strong week for Sterling K. Brown, who is shouldering a lot more of the emotional weight of this series than anybody could have expected. His conflict over representing the prosecution in a case where the racial balance was tilted heavily in favor of the defense is being portrayed with an intimacy that really stands out on a show this theatrical.

Previous rank: 5

Sarah Paulson as Marcia Clark

Marcia is starting to come off dangerously naive, or stubborn, or both, and Paulson is managing to play those notes while still feeling relatable and righteous. Would love to see more scenes of her at home though.

Previous rank: 4

Courtney B. Vance as Johnnie Cochran

Vance was a powerhouse tonight, from his grandstanding, showboating, and occasionally nasty antics in and out of the courtroom to that cold-open flashback where he had to watch his daughters witness his indignity at the hands of a cop. Vance has always been a great actor, and finally the right show came along to let him loose. What a thrill.

Previous rank: 1