Writer and director Ryan Murphy does not shy away from sensitive topics, especially when they pertain to real people. “Love Story” is a new biographical anthology romance television show. Murphy is listed as an executive producer, but Connor Hines created the show. Season 1 covers the love story between John F. Kennedy Jr. (Paul Anthony Kelly) and Carolyn Bessette (Sarah Pidgeon). Each season will center around a new couple, much like Murphy’s show “Monster” does with killers.
The Kennedys have always been largely adored and scrutinized by the public eye. With the release of this series, it seems that not much has changed.
Based on early paparazzi photos, fans criticized the hair choices made for Bessette. The costume designer switched from a wig to Pidgeon’s real dyed hair for a more authentic look.
“[The criticism] was really hard on our actors, though, because they were in a situation where we were being stalked by paparazzi, just like [Bessette] was,” said Brad Simpson, another executive producer of the show, to The Hollywood Reporter.
One of the biggest critiques came from JFK Jr.’s nephew, Jack Schlossberg. In a video posted to his Instagram stories on June 19, 2025, Schlossberg said, “For the record, I think admiration for [JFK Jr.] is great. What I don’t think is great is profiting off of it in a grotesque way.” He also mentioned that the Kennedy family was not consulted about the show.
The series released three episodes on Feb. 12, with weekly episodes airing every Thursday on Hulu since then. With just five episodes out, we have seen how the Kennedy family dealt with Jackie Kennedy Onasiss’ (Naomi Watts) death, Bessette working her way up in Calvin Klein before her fame and the notorious public argument that JFK Jr. and Bessette had in Battery Park.
There’s a thin line with these types of series. Viewers start feeling like they know the Kennedys personally and start nitpicking what is true or false in their eyes. The reality is: We didn’t know these people. Each episode begins with a message stating, “This story is inspired by actual events. Certain depictions of people and events have been dramatized or fictionalized for storytelling purposes.” At the end of the day, someone will always be making a biography of a public figure for entertainment.
The series has showcased fresh faces, like Paul Anthony Kelly. In an interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Paul Anthony Kelly said that he had been pursuing acting for “like 12, 13 years” and “wasn’t moving forward with anything.” After the recent success of “Love Story,” Kelly went from someone who was ready to move on from acting to the internet’s newest fancast for Batman.
The show’s cinematography and production are top-tier. The warm tones create a nostalgic feeling that places the viewer in New York City during the 1990s. Despite previous discourse, the fashion choices are now getting praise, with TikTok already attempting to make “‘90s minimalism” a 2026 trend. The soundtrack also includes heavenly ‘90s needle drops, such as “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over” by Jeff Buckley.
Pidgeon and Kelly’s chemistry is undeniable. You sometimes forget you’re watching a series based on the Kennedys because the actors make every scene feel like a romantic comedy. Due to this, the internet is already romanticizing the famous political couple, forgetting that they were real people with real issues. It is important in cases like this to tread carefully.
Discourse will continue, especially when real people are involved, but so far, I have not read anything that I perceive as distasteful. The series has grown to be addictive, creating anticipation in viewers each week. Whether you choose to engage or not, the show has stories to tell that are worth looking into.
