The reality is that Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette should’ve never been made without the two of them here to consent to it. And while it doesn’t sensationalize the reality, at times, it still feels like we’re watching something we shouldn’t. There are scenes and moments that feel… wrong. We’re watching something that wasn’t meant for us. While Elizabeth Beller’s Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy takes its time to research in order to ensure that she tells the truth, Love Story does, at times, feel like it’s pushing too far, especially in the last few episodes.
Still, the heart that Sarah Pidgeon and Paul Anthony Kelly convey throughout is utterly breathtaking, making the entire series a captivating treasure trove that’s impossible to look away from.
As a love letter to the ’90s and everything that made the time period an absolute wonder far from the overstimulation we’re used to today, part of Love Story shines because it feels like a quintessential romance. And a majority of it is. Though we might never have all the details of John and Carolyn’s story as they were when they were alive, the glimpses of their love story give us the chance to experience beauty in a fleeting moment.
And the beauty all comes down to the excellence in the performances. These roles demand a tremendous amount from the actors, and with every step, Pidgeon and Kelly deliver both charming moments that are genuinely adorable and achingly complex scenes that are utterly devastating. In an episode like “Battery Park,” they give us an authentic exploration of how messy relationships can be, and in “Obsession” and “Exit Strategy,” they explore every underlying issue that isn’t just unique to John and Carolyn, but to countless couples. We also get plenty of softness and warmth in “I Love You.”
While every person doesn’t have the watchful eye of paparazzi, countless people—women especially—can understand the harrowing anguish that comes from constant scrutiny. The story is unique to John and Carolyn, but Pidgeon and Kelly add layers that ensure they feel relatable to normal people, too. Pidgeon especially does a breathtaking job throughout, securing the Emmy win come next fall.
At the same time, the enigmatic essence that both JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette had also plays a large role in how the series shines. Their love is relatable, but simultaneously unattainable because the heart of the ’90s is something we’ll never get back, making the series feel that much more magical in its wake. Cell phones and social media, and everything at our disposal, take away from the art of going to someone’s doorstep. There are a number of breathtaking shots throughout Love Story, but some of the best ones are close-ups of the actors—the ones where you can momentarily believe that we’re in a different time. The two of them give their all to these roles, ensuring that they’re handled with care, which easily allows us to digest everything that’s unfolding in front of us.
From beginning to end, there’s a magic in Love Story that’s impossible to describe. The quiet conversations, the loud fights, the kisses, and every slow dance encapsulate the heart of what makes a romance so dreamy, and though this one ends in tragedy, the journey we take with them is profoundly memorable. It’s not a series anyone will forget about anytime soon, and even that’s a rarity when we’re so oversaturated with content.
Imperfect, yes, but there’s something indescribable about Love Story, and that alone makes it special. The finale, “Search and Recovery,” is especially haunting, leaving us with the kind of heartache that’s going to linger just as details in history do. It forces us to examine so much of what’s in front of us while we watch two people love each other with every bone in their bodies, through the good, the bad, and the ugly. From the performances to the perfectly nostalgic needle drops, it all comes alive beautifully despite the flaws.
First Featured Image Credit: ©FX/Hulu