Depicting the well-documented relationship between the late John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, the first episode of producer Ryan Murphy’s “Love Story” aired on Feb. 12 on Hulu. The eight-part series tells a dramatized narrative from the couple’s meeting in 1992 to their tragic death in 1999.
Carolyn worked in publicity at Calvin Klein, John was former President John F. Kennedy’s son and both led very different lives in 1990s New York City. Carolyn’s charisma impressed Calvin Klein, which led her to a party that Kennedy also attended. From then on, he was drawn to her confidence and ease — an attitude that he wasn’t used to, given his status and looks.
The show also follows plotlines outside of their relationship, including John’s break-up with actress Daryl Hannah and the passing of John’s mother, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
John grew up under the public eye, and he rarely shied away from it. In 1988, he was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive and was often referred to as “America’s Prince,” due to his family’s dynasty-like presence in U.S. politics.
Deeper into the series, as the two fall in love, Carolyn grapples with the pressure of dating and possibly marrying such an influential American figure. She prefers a private life, but a romance with JFK Jr. meant constant paparazzi visits and public scrutiny.
Carolyn desires a private life and is distressed by paparazzi, which is ironic considering that the show exposes her entire relationship with JFK Jr. until their death.
While the press caught some candid shots of the pair fighting in the park and managed to get a couple of interviews with Carolyn, the majority of her life was a mystery. Even their wedding, unlike other Kennedy weddings, was on a private island from which only one photo was released.
The fascination for Carolyn, besides her connection to JFK Jr., came down to her outfits — then and now. Since the show’s release, fashion trends on social media have taken off based on the real and fictionalized Carolyn’s clothes. Some of her staples — tortoise shell headbands, neutral sweaters, simple straight jeans and other timeless pieces — have been circulating on apps like TikTok and Pinterest.
The show did a good job replicating the iconic fashion of both Carolyn and John, who were often seen in backwards caps and suits when biking through Manhattan. It captured the mesmerizing exterior of the romance properly, but the accuracy of their private life and conversations is unclear.
Murphy said he is attempting to “honor” the legacy of Carolyn and John, but members of the Kennedy family have spoken out against the show. Jack Schlossberg, JFK Jr.’s nephew, encouraged viewers to recognize that the series is a fictionalized version of his uncle’s life, manipulating reality for drama and profit.
The stars — Paul Anthony Kelly as JFK Jr. and Sarah Pidgeon as Carolyn Bessette — are both upcoming actors, which I think strengthened the show. They resemble the real couple, and some of the couple’s friends have also commented on the series, explaining that so many “quirky nuances” are missing in addition to the inaccuracies.
Although I enjoyed the ‘90s soundtrack and natural cinematography, it felt wrong at times to be witnessing such intimate moments while knowing how much they wanted to keep from the public.
Just like the media during John and Carolyn’s lifetime, “Love Story” is exploiting the glamour and tragedy of the Kennedy clan. As entertaining as it is, the intimate and devastating story should have been a documentary instead of a cash-grabbing drama.