For the last few years, pop culture enthusiasts like myself have taken part in a yearly ritual. We are united by Reddit threads, video essays, and deep dives separating fact from fiction in a Ryan Murphy production. This year’s research project has been mixed with TikToks of New York women and girls in search of the perfect headband, eBay bids on the September 1996 issue of George magazine, and a statement from Daryl Hannah condemning her portrayal in FX’s Love Story.
Murphy, known for camp classics like Nip/Tuck and Glee, has become infamous for taking creative liberties when depicting the lives of notable people. The new series follows an anthology-style similar to American Crime Story and Murphy’s Monster series on Netflix. The first subjects are John F. Kennedy Jr. (Paul Anthony Kelly) and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy (Sarah Pidgeon).
John, the son of former President John F. Kennedy, is drawn to the magnetic yet guarded Carolyn, a Calvin Klein publicist. John and Carolyn’s dissimilar lifestyles appear plucked from the rom-com lexicon, especially considering the idealized setting of New York City in the ’90s. Perhaps that’s what drew America’s curiosity at the time — Carolyn, pulled from obscurity, marries into American royalty by way of People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive.” Behind the tabloids and paparazzi snaps was something sadder — a woman who took a chance on love at the cost of her privacy. But there’s still so little known about Carolyn. Her life is much more interesting than just being a Kennedy wife.
There’s much lore around John, too, given the Kennedy lineage. Murphy does an interesting job exploring his complexities and influences. The first few episodes focus heavily on his relationship with his mother, Jackie Kennedy-Onassis (Naomi Watts); and his sister Caroline (Grace Gummer) is a major force throughout the show. Kelly portrays John as a kind, grounded man who always welcomes interactions with strangers, and even carries the ashes of his ex’s dog on a plane. As someone who didn’t grow up during John’s lifetime, I appreciate the focus on his humanity. Given the current state of the Kennedy name in politics, it was imperative for Murphy to portray what the family meant to the public years after JFK’s assassination. John’s fame wasn’t something he brought on himself and Love Story portrays him as a man America had cast their hopes and dreams on in the wake of grief. This, coupled with consistent loss and despair, creates sympathy for him, but can it completely excuse his propensity to keep up appearances when it comes at the price of his wife’s comfort?
The first few episodes work to define Carolyn and John individually before fleshing them out as a couple. This leaves the latter half feeling a bit rushed, especially as it aims to tackle their post-newlywed challenges. It all builds to the inevitable finale as John and Carolyn die in a plane crash alongside Carolyn’s sister Lauren (Sydney Lemmon). Though you’re braced for it, nothing can quite prepare you for its aftermath and impact. The latter half of the episode gives an intimate and harrowing look at Caroline Kennedy and Ann Messina Freeman (Constance Zimmer), Carolyn and Lauren’s mother. Gummer and Zimmer give visceral, raw portrayals of grief-stricken family members grappling with how to say farewell after a public tragedy. It’s not often that a show ends its run with the main characters’ deaths — even if it is inevitable. Love Story leads the audience to grieve in an uncomfortable, yet necessary way.
Pidgeon does a good job at capturing the essence of a woman who few really knew completely, while Kelly delivers as an American heartthrob begging to be understood. A soundtrack of bangers is an added bonus against the backdrop of a beautifully depicted ’90s NYC. Love Story is one of Murphy’s better biographical pieces, showing he can do more than create shock value.
Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy is now streaming on Hulu , Disney +, and more.