Why “Love Story” is so Good

Illustration by Molly Hunter

Why “Love Story” Is So Good

I thought I was sick of biopics until I watched “Love Story,” a limited series about the passionate and tragic story of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and JFK Jr. As always, Ryan Murphy took a story that got lost in time and told it in the most captivating way, making it a cultural spectacle all over again. This article will break down some of the qualities that make this show worth watching, and rewatching over and over again.

The balance between fact and fiction
Going into this show knowing that it’s based on reality but takes creative liberties in its storytelling had me watching documentaries and reading articles about the Kennedys after every single episode. This helped me learn much more about them than if the show had claimed to tell their story exactly as it was. One thing that this show excelled in was making educated inferences about what Carolyn was like, given the fact that her life was much less documented than JFK Jr.’s. When her story was documented, it was often under the predatory perspective of the press and mainstream media, which made her the antagonist of JFK Jr.’s story. “Love Story” reverses this, showing Carolyn as the people close to her knew her, to the best of its ability. Most of all, it shows that the world’s perception of her during her relationship with JFK Jr. was the real antagonist of her story. This sheds light on the realities that people pushed into the limelight experience.

Carolyn’s story told through her hair
My favorite character in this show was undeniably Carolyn’s hair. In the first few episodes, I couldn’t keep my eyes off it. It was bouncy, big, and so golden. It captured Carolyn’s essence, her ability to command a room as she walked in and wrap anyone around her finger. It reflected her power, confidence, and her likability. As the show progressed, and as her relationship with JFK Jr. evolved, her hair started to lose these qualities. Carolyn began to lose herself under the pressures of the relationship, and you could see it in her hair. She flipped it around and played with it less and less, actions that once symbolized her easygoing and alluring nature. I don’t see it as a coincidence that she tussled with her hair the most during the turning point and climax of her story: the infamous fight at the park. By the last episodes, Carolyn spent her days alone at home, her hair no longer capturing my attention the way it once did.

A rare sighting of new actors
I cannot overemphasize how refreshing it was to watch media that revolves around characters portrayed by unfamiliar faces. Sarah Pidgeon and Paul Anthony Kelly completely stole the show. They both portray their respective characters as people worth rooting for, despite their flaws, and they truly had me captivated in each moment. Had there been overly recognizable actors, as many shows and movies now rely on, I think the story would have been much less convincing. New media’s obsession with big actors has centralized the actors’ ability and versatility rather than the content of the art itself. This show focused on casting people who could not only act like their characters but also looked a whole lot like them. It’s also nice to be able to support up-and-coming talent for a change.

We’re all infatuated with the ’90s
There’s something about the ’90s, especially for those of us who didn’t live through them. “Love Story” took me right back to a time I know nothing about. No one is looking down at their phone. It’s honestly beyond me how they were able to capture New York City so convincingly without the presence of smartphones. One aspect of the show that has taken over the internet is the fashion. CBK (Carolyn Bessette Kennedy) style is now an actual term people use to describe her sleek yet effortless look. It’s become a microtrend in itself, with many people buying pieces similar to those worn by her character in the show, as well as by her in real life. This comes from a desire to embody her confidence and the joie de vivre people seemed to have at the time. JFK Jr.’s style has also seen similar levels of admiration from audiences. He was effortlessly cool and often sported a backward newsboy cap, something now being revived after the release of the show. His style is emblematic of his character. He knew he was being observed, and nearly everything he did fed into that, but he performed authenticity and nonchalance, and it worked. People liked it, and now they want to embody it. This desire to revisit the past through style isn’t new, but “Love Story” has brought attention back to ’90s fashion yet again.

These are just a few of the reasons why I loved “Love Story” and why I’m so eager to see what other American love stories Murphy will bring to light in the future. Now that I’ve reminded myself of how good the show is, I might just give it another go.