There was some hesitation when it was announced that we’d be having another biographical limited series with Ryan Murphy attached as executive producer. Either his shows are generally good or borderline guilty pleasures. It also didn’t help that he was coming off the critically maligned All’s Fair and, most recently, The Beauty. But it seemed this latest anthology series, Love Story, created by Connor Hines, wasn’t going to focus on horrible people, unlike the humanizing murder stories we’ve seen. The fact that this first season would center on an iconic couple of the decade whose lives were tragically cut short sounded interesting on paper. But I started to get concerned about whether it was still coming out, given how the early test photos drew criticisms, or how the trailer dropped only a week before it premiered on FX. What was going to be the reaction in recounting the romance people knew from headlines, but may not know to the public? Over the course of watching all nine episodes weekly, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette won’t be remembered as the most faithful depiction of its characters. But thanks to unforgettable performances from its leads, it’s the kind of imperfect celebrity romance to fall for three decades later.

What’s the Story: In New York City, 1992, Carolyn Bessette (Sarah Pidgeon) is a sales associate working under fashion designer Calvin Klein (Alessandro Nivola), while John F. Kennedy Jr. (Paul Anthony Kelly), son of the 35th U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (Naomi Watts), failed the bar exam for the second time, as printed in the headlines. As fate would have it, Calvin introduces Carolyn to John at a charity gala, instantly sensing an attraction between them. But John has a seemingly on-and-off relationship with actress Daryl Hannah (Dree Hemingway), and Carolyn has an occasional fling with aspiring model Michael Bergin (Noah Fearnley). They began dating a couple of years later, before getting married in 1996, before their untimely death, along with her sister, Lauren Bessette (Sydney Lemmon), from a small plane crash on the coast of Martha’s Vineyard in the summer of 1999.

If anybody was alive in the late ’90s, there weren’t many celebrated people from around the world clamoring to be part of history. I knew JFK Jr. and Besestte by name, but didn’t know anything about their relationship aside from what I’d read about their deaths, which I’d just turned 3 when it happened (same with Pidgeon, as we were born 3 days apart). But it was impossible to know how Love Story would relive this couple’s lives, making it believable that what they had was real. Right from the start, when we meet the two, we see that John is used to being seen in public, since he was the most handsome American bachelor. Carolyn, on the other hand, has an eye for fashion under Calvin’s mentorship at his headquarters. But it was a ballsy move to open on the day leading to the crash, the last time we’ve seen them on land. To the show’s credit, this makes a commendable effort to blend historical accuracy (based on Elizabeth Beller’s book Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy) with a true romance that doesn’t seem perfect, but still makes us believe it was powerful enough to think about because of the impact it turned out to have that wasn’t trying to exploit the memory of its characters.

There was one sole reason I wanted to watch this series in the first place, and her name is Sarah Pidgeon. I’ve been following her career for a couple of years now, ever since her outstanding performance as young Clare in Tiny Beautiful Things and as Leah in the highly underrated series The Wilds. Safe to say, she’s been one of my favorite rising actress and I was hyping her up before the show aired. Knowing she had to portray this woman had to be the most daunting career path, but, as luck would have it, Pidgeon finally gets her most-deserved moment in the spotlight with a performance of Carolyn Bessette that will simultaneously melt your heart and make you fear for her well-being when in the public eye. Knowing she had to transform into her, she worked with limited footage of her speaking, drawing on countless still photographs taken on New York streets to capture her style. As with her other work, she knows how to completely disappear into a character, replicating Carolyn’s ambitious self-confidence that would draw attention. It’s her dedication and effort that inspire and connect fans, showing how much she cares about her craft. Even implementing these lip bites as a mannerism felt natural. Plus, she’s one of those actresses who excels in her crying scenes, from the realization that she wants to be married to her mind getting to her reading the desperate tabloids about her.

As for newcomer Paul Anthony Kelly (who’s a cross between Christopher Abbott and Darren Criss), there’s no denying the 37-year-old Canadian’s striking resemblance to his famous counterpart. Unlike Pidgeon, Kelly had the most extensive research on JFK Jr., meticulously studying his mannerisms and vocal tones to deliver a believable performance. Often perceived as the American son burdened by the tragedy in Dallas, Kelly recognized the heavy expectations placed on him and pushed himself to exceed them. He does not aspire to follow in his father’s footsteps towards the presidency; instead, he forges his own path, as exemplified by the launch of the political magazine George. Kelly captures the essence of JFK Jr.’s charm. I won’t go as far as to say it’s an amazing performance, but it’s definitely a worthwhile career boost for Kelly. There are some instances in later episodes where he expresses his frustration, but they don’t always come off as convincing to his scene partners. But I’ll give him some slack since this is his first acting role.

The primary objective of Love Story was to convince viewers of a romantic narrative resonant with the ’90s sensibility. The characters come from distinct backgrounds: Carolyn is clear about her aspirations, while John grapples with uncertainty about his future direction. Fortuitously, the undeniable chemistry between Pidgeon and Kelly validates the effectiveness of the casting, as they imbue the characters with their unique perspectives. The instant their eyes met, accompanied by Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work,” an intimate spark ignited. I found myself captivated, recognizing it as an instant connection, observing Pidgeon’s Carolyn’s blue eyes, as if time stood still. A cherished scene unfolds in the first episode, as they share dinner at an Indian restaurant and candidly discuss their current circumstances, recognizing the burgeoning connection between them. It’s almost reminiscent of when I was writing my short story around the time they were shooting, which is pure coincidence. It’s when they find a pure commitment to each other that changes the rest of their lives, for better or worse.

It was a palatable romance between them that’s been kept private, since the publicity would have been wild for the country’s biggest bachelor to be in the hands of someone not famous. She knows everything about her life will change. However, it seems not everything between them is perfect, like their tense fight in the fifth episode, captured at Battery Park, that turned physical after she said no to his marriage proposal and their need to discuss their future. The challenges are there to make you root for them, but even the quieter moments I hoped to imagine hit. Everybody has always had the fantasy of dating someone famous, whether they’re an actor, a model, or a royal, but you can never predict how the public will view them. We would be the luckiest people in the world if all we wanted were to find that one person who would make our lives better. Even for Carolyn, becoming part of the family, which had to deal with tragedy left and right, made Carolyn feel uncomfortable, especially when political talk was involved, and she was made to feel out of the loop, with Ethel Kennedy (Jessica Harper) making her look dumb. And it was their right to pull off a beautiful, intimate wedding on a remote island in Cumberland, Georgia (where I was only two months old at the time). The recreation of her dress from designer Narciso Rodriguez couldn’t be more gorgeous.

Everybody in America knows who John is, while you can sense that Carolyn likes her privacy. The minute they returned from their honeymoon, paparazzi and reporters were waiting outside their apartment to get photos, and they knew one wasn’t enough. It’s already a stressful situation with the flashing lights and the cameras’ shutters going off where you are, hounding them to get any personal information. The pressure led Carolyn not to take a perfect job at Ralph Lauren, fearing her presence would be a distraction to the company. This relentless media intrusion can take a toll on celebrities’ mental health, causing anxiety and distress, as seen in Carolyn’s fears of rumors about her being an alleged drug addict, cold-hearted, or pregnant, which would cause distress to step outside. And if that’s not enough, this brought forth eerie foreshadowing of them together in the vast ocean, or of a dreamlike sequence of them floating in the air during their first dance.

Besides the pilot, the eighth and penultimate episode, “Exit Strategy,” stands out. The news of Princess Diana’s death in a car crash in Paris, pursued by paparazzi, immediately exposed the cracks in their marriage. The episode felt like a bottle episode; despite a few scenes of John jogging at night, it’s almost entirely contained within the loft, making the 40 minutes fly by, much like watching a captivating stage play. It’s impossible not to see the parallels between Diana and Carolyn. But Pidgeon delivers a heartbreaking performance, showcasing her emotional depth and command of the material, proving she’s a promising actress on the rise. The episode’s intimate setting pulls you in, letting you feel the characters’ vulnerability firsthand, whether it’s fiction or not. While some might perceive it as venturing into soap opera territory, the final moments evoke a poignant longing for the couple to reconcile. I found myself deeply empathizing with John’s situation – loving her but knowing he must leave to prevent further harm. Knowing their tragic fate a year later only amplifies the emotional impact. I would be disappointed if Pidgeon doesn’t receive an Emmy nomination, let alone a win, for this remarkable performance. Honestly, after it ended, my immediate thought was, “Did I unknowingly rewatch Blue Valentine?”

And need I mention the soundtrack this got? Not only does Bryce Dessner provide a nice score (its main theme is reminiscent of his work on We Live in Time), but it also brings together some of the best ’90s songs that fit your taste. Give me some Duran Duran (“Come Undone”), Sade (“No Ordinary Love”), or Annie Lennox (“No More ‘I Love You’s”), and you get my highest compliment. This even got us two songs from Radiohead in their heyday: “Nice Dream” during their aforementioned first dance and “Exit Music.”

It wasn’t a perfect show, which may help fans accept its limitations and better understand its flaws. The episode doesn’t push the idea that the press and public become fascinated with Carolyn near the end, and it doesn’t have a larger opportunity, given the episode count, to go in-depth on Carolyn’s background from when she was younger. And given that you care more about John and Carolyn in the forefront, and maybe less about a few of the supporting characters. Anything that had to do with George and John’s business partner, Michael Berman (Michael Nathanson), wasn’t that interesting for a magazine.

That being said, Grace Gummer, as John’s older sister, Caroline Kennedy, might’ve been seen as a bit cold-hearted, but you understand why she’s the voice of reason for her brother and the closeness they had. And the limited time Naomi Watts, her fourth collaboration with Murphy, had is quite elegant as Jackie O in her last years before her death from non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Watts brought grace and an unexpected sense of humor I wouldn’t have expected from one of the most influential first ladies in America, who wanted the best for her children. Maybe not on the same level as Natalie Portman’s ten years ago, but in the few episodes she appeared in. And, as a biographical series, it’s a portrait of Daryl Hannah, which might seem unbelievable since I don’t think of her as clingy to John, and Hannah herself criticized the show for its depiction.

Anytime you sit down to watch a biopic, film, or television show, you can’t help but wonder how different life would be if certain tragedies involving celebrities hadn’t occurred. After watching the series, one can’t help but wish John and Carolyn had overcome their challenges, remained together, and started a family, thus reinforcing our belief in the power of love. By the final episode, the outcome is already known. While I wasn’t moved to tears because I was prepared, the tragedy still had a significant impact on those close to them. Even after 27 years, their names remain iconic and continue to spark interest in their marriage, whether it’s attributed to the Kennedy family’s mystique or Carolyn’s enduring impact on the fashion world.

So far, the series has been receiving generally positive reviews, which could be enough to get some recognition at this year’s Emmys. But I’m sure Pidgeon is an early frontrunner for Lead Actress in a Limited Series, unless someone else is better. There’s one thing that remains, should this get renewed for a second season, and how could it not be after becoming a streaming hit: Who should be the focus? The only couple I had in mind would be Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III. Famous actress married into royalty, why not? Someone recently mentioned Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, which sounds like a good idea.

Overall, Love Story turned out to be a pleasant surprise that’ll please those who remain fascinated by the lives of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. You’re given standout performances from both Sarah Pidgeon and Paul Anthony Kelly that allow them to capture the romance and hardships of a couple the world lost too soon. This show won’t be for everyone, but while it’s not amazing, it’ll still leave you captivated enough to watch a series that feels respected and worth enjoying.

Grade: B