With Ryan Murphy, executive producer of “Love Story,” creating controversial hits like “Glee” and “Monster,” I expected his new project to be dramatized. The series follows John F. Kennedy Jr., played by Paul Anthony Kelly, and Carolyn Basette’s, played by Sarah Pidgeon, relationship against the backdrop of 90s New York.
The series starts off at the end of their relationship, in which tensions are high whilst heading over to a friend’s wedding with Carolyn’s sister via John’s plane and piloting skills. For anyone who has prior knowledge of the trio’s fate, this moment is bitter sweet and seems even more dreadful as John and Carolyn share a final kiss before a cut to black.
However, once the timeline is flashed seven years in the past, the atmosphere shifts into the perspective of Carolyn, as a cool-headed sales associate at Calvin Klein, and John, after his heavily publicized second failure of the New York Bar Exam.
I found that John’s starting point was very useful in the story-telling, as it set a precedent in his life as a Kennedy, always being watched by paparazzi, and how it would later affect his relationship with Carolyn. It also adds stark juxtaposition between the two New Yorkers’ lives.
One thing that “Love Story” does well is tension. Pidgeon and Kelly’s chemistry through the entire series does not falter and is palpable in every scene together. I would assert that the argumentative scenes between the two are far more indicative of their connection than the “meet-cute” scenes near the beginning of the show.
The greatest assets of the series are its audio and visual elements. The show constantly recreates iconic minimalistic looks of Carolyn and the corporate casual ones of John. Especially for Carolyn, the casting of Pidgeon and Kelly helped balance out the simplicity of the clothing by having near look-alikes play the couple. I also appreciate how Murphy casted “unknown” actors for the main characters. “Love Story” is Kelly’s actorial debut and Pidgeon’s breakout role in the industry. For such iconic figures like Carolyn and John, I am glad that it felt like I was looking at a genuine performance rather than famous actors attempting to play a role.
The series features a stacked sound track, with songs from the Cocteau Twins, Mazzy Star, and Björk. The use of primarily 90s songs not only made me nostalgic for a time that I was not even alive in, but it fully immersed me in the atmosphere and culture of the time.
In short, “Love Story” is fun to watch but, like most historical Ryan Murphy projects, it is not incredibly accurate. We must remember that we are watching a dramatized retelling of these people’s lives, and not take it as gospel.