Ryan Murphy productions aren't synonymous with romance, nor are they everyone's cup of tea. They certainly aren't mine, so imagine my surprise when I found myself moved to tears less than five minutes into FX/Hulu's Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette (2026). For those of us who grew up in the '90s, even if we were too young at the time, we came up hearing about the Kennedys. We know their story and the endless, heartbreaking tragedies that surround them all. So, in a sense, we know what we're walking into with Love Story. Yet with impeccable casting, surprisingly dazzling directing, and moments of genuine yearning, what we're actually watching on our screens is, in fact, a romance.
Typically, in order for something to be deemed a romance in the literary world, the genre requires an indisputable happy ending. But in the world of TV and film—and I suppose, reality—some tragedies are still brimming with romance. Love Story is, in many ways, a romance, and here's why you should watch it.
'Love Story' Feels Like a Classic '90s Romance
Since the story of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette begins in 1992 and ends in 1999 with their fatal aviation accident, the majority of the story takes viewers through this time and taps into what's arguably the best timeline for rom-coms. It's when legends like While You Were Sleeping (1995), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), You've Got Mail (1998), and more came to us, changing the genre as we know it in a way that set new standards. While there's a ton of heartache attached to the history of the Kennedys, and the tabloids were hugely responsible for much of their struggles during this time, the show gracefully taps into the heart of their love story and explores the tumultuous waters with so much yearning that it's utterly breathtaking.
It's always a bit challenging to write about real people the way we write about fictional ones, but the scale of this story is unlike anything we've had surrounding the Kennedy family. From a production standpoint, the costumes, the soundtrack, and the performances touch on an art form that doesn't just look like the '90s on our screens, but it feels like a '90s production. There's a tone throughout the first three episodes that have aired that isn't easy to replicate today, and it's present all throughout Love Story, making it an absolute masterclass in taking a challenging point in history and adapting it with sincerity, style, and raw human emotions at the center.
The Historical Tragedy Doesn't Take Away From The Love Story
Often, when we know that something dark and unfortunate is ahead, it takes away from the moments in between. I, for one, could never rewatch Titanic (1997) knowing what's in store because it ruins the happiness of watching Jack and Rose fall in love. However, even though Roman Holiday (1953) is one of the most heartbreaking movies of all time, there's still tremendous comfort in it despite the painful ending. This much is the same for Love Story. Although it isn't a spoiler to know how history pans out for the two of them, their beginning, middle, and end are still enormously worthwhile.
A large part of the reason why Love Story also works is that the performances of the entire cast are worth paying attention to. Sarah Pidgeon and Paul Anthony Kelly are sensational in bringing heartfelt vulnerability, tender emotions, and all-consuming passion to every interaction, even the quieter ones. Their performances elevate the tension, quiet moments, and remind us that, at the end of the day, despite the Kennedys being public figures, they were first and foremost human beings.
It's that very human story about falling in love that's worth watching because the darkness that looms over them doesn't take away from the emotions that are present throughout. Romance as a genre hinges on real human experiences and character development as part of the plot, and here, that's a large part of what comes to life through their interactions. We're watching their romance develop while we simultaneously see their individual character journeys. At the same time, with the help of a truly brilliant soundtrack and classic tropes, the small moments that the show highlights reflect why romance is so prevalent as a genre. It's about embracing every human interaction and small moment, like the conversations that pass through characters in silence, and seeing the warmth in them.
So, while we'll all surely be sobbing in the end, every beat of Love Story thus far proves that this could be the type of series we'll find ourselves going back to over and over again. We'll understand a point of history in a different way, and it can hopefully inspire viewers to do more research outside of the series, too.
