Ryan Murphy’s latest biographical anthology details a relationship that dominated the ‘90s, but paints a very rosy picture.
“Love Story” details the intense relationship between John F. Kennedy Jr., son of former President John F. Kennedy, and Caroline Bessette, who, along with Bessette’s sister, perished in a plane crash in 1999. The show interestingly starts with the group taking off before cutting to the title.
One of the show’s main focuses is the apparent Cinderella story at the heart of the relationship. Kennedy, who was in an on-again-off-again relationship with actress Daryl Hannah, met Bassette during a fitting at the Calvin Klein headquarters in New York City in 1992. Bassette, who grew up with an average middle-class background, started as a saleswoman at Calvin Klein but eventually became the director of publicity.
The couple dated on and off for two years until Kennedy’s split with Hannah following his mother Jacqueline Kennedy’s death in 1994. Kennedy proposed a year later on his boat. A year into their marriage, the couple had what became their most infamous moment, a screaming match in the middle of Central Park. Photos of the couple fighting were plastered all over newspapers across the country. In the years leading up to their demise, the couple faced intense media scrutiny and speculation.
Sarah Pidgeon gives a decent performance as Bassette, truly emulating her individuality. Paul Anthony Kelly portrays JFK Jr. in his breakout role. Kelly takes some time to settle into the role, truly, but once he finds his footing, he steps into the shoes of someone with a monumental shadow looming over them. The most shocking performance comes from Naomi Watts as Jacqueline Kennedy. For the short amount of time Watts is in the show, she fully shines as she mirrors the finesse of America’s widow.
Murphy has come under fire in the past for misrepresenting gravely serious situations. Most recently, audiences were disappointed with his portrayal of serial killer Ed Gein and his victims in the latest installment of his anthology series “Monster.” Viewers were upset that it seemed to glorify Gein instead of highlighting the severity of his actions.
“Love Story” seems to follow a similar pattern. It portrays a complex relationship without the nuance it requires. It also seems to focus very heavily on Kennedy’s family life. While this is to be expected, Kennedy ends up heavily overshadowing. So far, it seems that the show is at its best when it is not focused on the core relationship. The best episode so far focuses entirely on Kennedy grappling with grief as his mother becomes more ill and eventually passes away. Once again, Watts absolutely steals every scene she is in.
Despite only four out of the nine episodes being out, the show does little to leave any impression as it constantly leans into the melodramatic instead of looking at one of the most powerful relationships of the ‘90s through a more nuanced lens.
The first five episodes of “Love Story” are available to stream on Hulu.
