With the nosedive Hollywood is going through (I'm sure most cinephiles can tell from the shoddy films churned out this past year), I'm beginning to enjoy TV series more than movies. So when I saw the trailer of Love Story (2026) online, I was skeptical simply because of the title. I mean, I have nothing against romance movies or series but they are not usually my first choice. Then I read the synopsis and my interest was piqued.
I don't know much about American history but one would have to be living under a rock not to know who John F. Kennedy was. This biographical romance series is inspired by the book, Once Upon A Time written by Elizabeth Beller. We don't often get biographies that focus on the love stories of celebrities, so this nine-episode TV series is worth watching.
Interestingly, every episode opens with a disclaimer:
This story is inspired by actual events. Certain depictions of people and events have been dramatized or fictionalised for story telling purposes.
This cautions viewers not to think the show portrays the couple's story exactly as it happened. I don't mind a little embellishment, I'm happy to know a bit more about this couple.
Created by Connor Hines and produced by Ryan Murphy and others, Love Story begins from the end. The opening scene shows John F. Kennedy Jr. prepping to fly his plane while Carolyn Bassette is at the salon getting her nails done. They are painted red but she changes her mind and asks the manicurist to paint it nude colour.
She later meets up with John and they almost get into an argument. Carolyn's sister, Lauren Bassette, calms them down. John holds his wife and they both declare their love for each other before boarding the plane. The scene changes and we are taken seven years back and their story begins to unfold.
My Review And Rating
After watching this series centered around the myth and image of the Kennedy family, I'm sober and wonder how a family so famous could go through so much tragedy. It's heartbreaking to read about or watch.
I binge-watched the series and enjoyed it. Even-paced and well done, this show is compelling and heartbreaking. We are given a front row seat into this couple's worlds. They meet at a party and the attraction is instant. How they navigate their relationship around the fame, expectations and crazy media attention is the main theme of the show.
Carolyn is a confident woman who knows herself and lives simply. She's bold and loved by her family and friends. John on the other hand is not so much a likable character in my opinion. Maybe because of his privileged upbringing, I see him as a man who struggles through life while trying to please everyone. There are times I wanted him to stand up for what he truly wants. I fault him for not protecting Carolyn from the relentless harrassment by the media which seems like a big issue in their relationship.
From bold and confident, Carolyn quickly becomes a shell of herself, hiding from the press and struggling to live up to the image people expected of her. The pain and harrassment this couple went through reminds me of the high expectations leveled on celebrities like the late Princess Diana and now recently, Meghan Markle.
The characters are well developed and after the cast's excellent performance, it's hard to imagine anyone else in these roles. They are simply perfect.
Naomi Watts is brilliant as Jackie Kennedy. She embodies the character so well it's remarkable. She's empathetic yet stern and courageous where her children are concerned. The scenes were she bows out of the show is just heartbreaking. Grace Gummer acted well as JFK's sister but I see her role as an attachment, not really necessary in the show.
I admire Paul Anthony Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon as JFK Jr and Carolyn Bassette. These actors depict their characters convincingly well. They have fantastic chemistry and their steamy scenes together are not at all awkward. I especially like the scene at the park that led to their engagement. It's real and emotional.
Apart from the cinematography that is good (but could be better), I enjoy the 1990s soundtracks played throughout the show especially Peter Gabriel and Sade songs. It's nostalgic and brings back memories of some artists we are slowly forgetting.
Rating this biography show, I will give it a solid 8 stars out of 10. The creator and producers did a great job bringing this couple to life. Their story is compelling and my heart breaks at how they end up. Have you seen this show? Let me know your thoughts on it.
All images above are from the movie screenshots
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