“What do a high school glee club full of outcasts, a serial killer terrorizing a sorority house, and a coven of witches in New Orleans have in common? They were all dreamt up by Ryan Murphy.” That line opened an article I wrote last year titled American Love Story or Fateful Tragedy: Ryan Murphy and the Biopic. I wrote it after Murphy (best known for stylized shows like Glee and American Horror Story) announced that his next project would tackle legendary American love stories. His first target was Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and John F. Kennedy Jr., whose tragic romance captivated the nation and left a lasting mark on American pop culture.
In that article, I broke down everything we knew at the time: who had been cast, who hadn’t, and when the series might be released. Nine months later, in January 2026, Murphy announced that Love Story season one would premiere on February 12, with three episodes dropping at once and the remaining six released in the following weeks. As I write this now, five episodes are out, so it feels like the right moment to check back in. The good, the bad, and the unknown.
The Casting
The biggest question I had last year was who would play the iconic JFK Jr. Sarah Pidgeon had already been cast as Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, but there was still a looming question mark over who would step into the role of America’s crush, John. After what I can only assume was a long search, Canadian actor Paul Anthony Kelly was chosen to fill those very large shoes.
In my original article, I wrote about how relieved I was that Pidgeon, an “underground” actress, had been cast. Television is oversaturated, and passing over an A-list name was definitely a strategic move. A new face is refreshing and exciting. For that reason, I’m happy with the decision to cast Kelly, who is also quite unknown. While Pidgeon certainly resembles Carolyn, Kelly looks like JFK Jr.’s long-lost twin. He embodies him, right down to the hair and the voice.
So far, most critics have been satisfied with their performances. After the most recent episode, Kelly’s portrayal has faced some mild criticism, but I’ll take an okay performance from Kelly over a “good” one from some of the other names people were throwing around, like Jacob Elordi.
The Good
What I’ve liked most about Love Story so far is its attention to atmosphere and detail, especially when it comes to fashion and visuals. Early sneak peeks were concerning, Sarah Pidgeon’s hair as Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, in particular, was off. But those concerns seem to have been addressed. Her styling now looks much more refined, and the wardrobe overall does a great job of recreating CBK’s iconic aesthetic: simple, timeless, and understated. I don’t think anything can fully replicate Carolyn’s effortlessness, but the show gets pretty close, all things considered.
Love Story’s cinematography also deserves praise. Whether it was actually shot on film or enhanced in post-production, I am not sure, but the subtle grain gives the series a romantic quality that perfectly encapsulates the mood of 1990s New York City. Love Story’s vibe is furthered by a perfectly curated soundtrack. From Jeff Buckley, the Cocteau Twins, Bjork, Sade, and the Cranberries, it is clear their music budget was hefty.
Beyond aesthetics, I appreciate that Love Story doesn’t limit itself to being just “the Carolyn and John show.” By exploring John F. Kennedy Jr.’s relationships with his mother, the iconic Jackie Kennedy, his sister, and his friends, as well as Carolyn’s relationships with her mother, sister, and her boss Calvin Klein, the series builds a fuller picture of the world they lived in. These additional storylines deepen our understanding of both people and the pressures surrounding them. Importantly, the show also resists the temptation to overly romanticize their relationship. That was a big concern of mine going in, and the most recent episode, which recreates their infamous fight in a park, makes it clear that this was a complicated and toxic love story.
The Bad
All that being said, Love Story has faced its share of criticism. With any series or film that depicts real people with real lives, filmmakers have to tread carefully and be prepared for backlash. I don’t think there has ever been a biopic that hasn’t been scrutinized or picked apart, and honestly, that’s fair. When you’re handling people’s lives, especially those who are still alive or who have living family members, there is an added responsibility to be thoughtful.
Ahead of Love Story’s release, Jack Schlossberg, son of Caroline Kennedy, publicly stated that no family members were consulted or involved in the show. Schlossberg explained, “For the record, I think admiration for my uncle John is great. What I don’t think is great is profiting off of it in a grotesque way.” That criticism is understandable. Turning real people’s lives into dramatic narratives inevitably comes with ethical complications, and having deeply personal family details repackaged as entertainment is not an easy thing to accept. So, I can completely see where Schlossberg is coming from.
When asked about this backlash, Sarah Pidgeon told The Hollywood Reporter, “He [Schlossberg] has every right to share how he feels about it. We were approaching this with integrity and respect, and I think we were successful in that, but we were also understanding that these weren’t just real people—but they also have family and friends still with us today, and that their legacy reverberates and lives on through them as well. That was always part of my consciousness.” I think this is a genuinely respectful and measured response, and it highlights just how complicated this situation is overall.
Another critique that has surfaced is that Love Story feels redundant and struggles to find a new angle on familiar territory. An IndieWire article compared the series to the Crown, and claimed that Love Story “struggles to find a fresh angle into its real-life, oft-told romance.” The Crown comparisons have come up repeatedly, which makes sense considering that many people view the Kennedy Family as American royalty. Time Magazine argued that the Crown worked and Love Story does not because the Crown “balanced its royal characters’ travails with bigger questions.” While I understand that argument, I don’t entirely agree that Love Story fails on this front. The series does stay closely focused on its central characters, but so far, it still feels like it’s commenting on what it meant to live as a Kennedy, and what it meant to marry into that world. Much like Princess Diana’s struggles reflected broader societal pressures, Carolyn’s experience in the spotlight speaks to the expectations placed on women, particularly those who are pulled into powerful, public families and expected to carry that weight with grace.
On a much lighter and admittedly sillier note, one minor criticism I have so far is that Pidgeon bites her lip a lot. It’s not a huge issue, but paired with the constant flipping of her long hair, it can come off a bit comical and slightly over-the-top at times.
The Unkown
All that being said, we are still left with many questions. The show’s pilot opened with CBK, her sister Lauren Bessette, and JFK Jr getting into the plane that would then crash, taking their lives. If you did not know their story then you might not necessarily clock this, so I am assuming that Love Story will revisit the crash in some way. Will they? How will Murphy go about it?
By the time this article has been published, the next episode will have been released, which is rumoured to depict the couple’s intimate wedding in Georgia. How and what will they show? Will CBK’s wedding dress look just as beautiful?
Despite the controversy and critique, I am excited to keep watching Love Story and see where Murphy, Pigeon, and Kelly take us.