LOVE STORY: JOHN F. KENNEDY JR. AND CAROLYN BESSETTE – Review by Abby Perkins

Posted by awfj-admin on Feb 25, 2026 | 0 comments

Executive Producer Ryan Murphy just can’t quit, and he won’t quit, regardless of whether people love him or hate him. No matter how much criticism gets thrown his way, he will continue to produce what he wants, when he wants it. Coming off the review bombing of Kim Kardashian’s All’s Fair, the failure of medical drama Doctor Odyssey, and the controversy of the true crime anthology series Monster, Murphy has risen from the ashes with Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.

Spanning over seven years, Love Story follows John F. Kennedy Jr. (Paul Anthony Kelly) and Carolyn Bessette (Sarah Pidgeon) from their first meeting to the day they tragically lost their lives. Kelly has come out of nowhere, quickly making a name for himself with an emotionally grounded performance and electrifying chemistry with Pidgeon – you may recognize her from last year’s I Know What You Did Last Summer reboot and her Tony-nominated performance in Stereophonic in 2024.

The overall sleek ‘90s aesthetic of the show really lands. Carolyn’s iconic fashion sense and bright blonde hair are stunningly emulated in Pidgeon’s makeup and wardrobe. When the first look of the series was released, the public was outraged, calling out her much-too-modern look of pin-straight yellow-blonde hair and 2020s Zara-like clothing. It is safe to say that the costume team, led by Rudy Mance (Monster, American Fiction, The Alienist), and hair and makeup crew, spearheaded by Pidgeon’s personal stylist Barry Lee Moe (Pam and Tommy, Pose, Hollywood), listened to the criticism. One true homage is in episode four, where Carolyn asks to borrow John’s white button-up, a subtle nod to her iconic minimalist look at the Whitney Museum in 1999. It didn’t take long for her style to start trending online, catching the attention of young viewers who didn’t witness it in real time. Everyone on TikTok is in love with the minimalist chic of Bessette, whether they are discovering it for the first time or reminiscing on ‘90s nostalgia.

The third episode, titled America’s Widow, delved heavily into Jackie Kennedy Onassis’ death. I was surprised to see Naomi Watts as Jackie, as both Pidgeon and Kelly are relative newcomers, but I was more surprised that her performance was my least favorite. It felt like she was in a different show, performing in a Broadway play about Jackie’s life. Her larger-than-life expressions and vocal impression of Jackie tended to be distracting rather than compelling. The fact that she was the only A-List actor among a collection of mostly fresh faces felt unnatural.

The big elephant in the room is the Kennedy family’s lack of involvement or support of the series. Jack Schlossberg, nephew of John F. Kennedy Jr., spoke out months ago, confirming that no family members of his uncle or Bessette were consulted about the limited series. This is not the first time this has happened and a show has remained successful. Hulu did this a couple of years ago with Pam and Tommy, much to the upset of Pamela Anderson herself. However, the ethics of the situation aren’t steering people away from the show, whether they should or not.

While Carolyn Bessette chose to keep her opinions private about her highly publicized relationship, Love Story shows the world a different side of her. Pidgeon dazzles playing Bessette as clever, complex, and most importantly, likeable. For example, in the pilot, Bessette styles a young Annette Bening in a men’s suit jacket after sensing her discomfort in a plain black gown, stepping outside the bounds of her position to put the client first. From the start, Bessette’s keen eye, nonchalant poise, and ambitious nature demonstrate how she rose from sales associate to publicist. Viewers get to see who she truly was behind the blinding camera flashes.

There are still several episodes to come, releasing weekly on Hulu. The three-episode premiere was a decently strong start, with the fourth episode honing in on our star couple. I hope the second half continues on this path, chronicling the lives of two people deeply in love – both battling the media’s unwanted and unwarranted presence.

ABOUT ABBY PERKINS

Raised in Richmond, Virginia by a large family of actors, artists, dancers, and singers, Abby Perkins has been surrounded by art since she was born. As a directing student at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Abby has developed short films and scripts focusing on coming-of-age, social commentary and satire, and the perspective of women. She will be moving to Brooklyn in Spring 2026, hoping to chart a career in digital marketing and short form content in the commercial and independent filmmaking worlds.

ABOUT AWFJ/UNCSA MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) and the Alliance of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ) have partnered to launch the AWFJ/UNCSA Mentorship Program, an initiative designed to bridge the gap between academic study and the professional world of film criticism. The program creates a vital pathway for the next generation of cultural commentators to transition into the industry. Its mission is to support aspiring film, television, and streaming reviewers by providing them with a professional platform and direct mentorship from established critics. By connecting UNCSA’s rigorous arts conservatory training with the AWFJ’s extensive journalistic experience, the program seeks to cultivate critics who are not only knowledgeable about cinema but also skilled in the craft of engaging, analytical writing for a broad audience. This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to the future of film criticism, ensuring that emerging talent is nurtured, equipped with practical skills, and given the opportunity to build a professional portfolio before graduation.