United States of Kennedy: Ryan Murphy’s ‘Love Story: JFK Jr. & Carolyn Bessette’

Podcast: United States of Kennedy (iHeartPodcasts)
Hosts: George Civeris, Julia Claire
Air Date: February 23, 2026
Episode Focus: A critical review and cultural discussion of Ryan Murphy’s series “Love Story: JFK Jr. & Carolyn Bessette.”

Episode Overview

This episode of "United States of Kennedy" explores the new Ryan Murphy-produced mini-series “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette.” The hosts delve into the show’s source material, casting, cultural impact, the mythos of the Kennedys, and the balance of reverence and dramatization in biographical television. They analyze standout performances, critique the show's approach to history and camp, and situate it within Murphy's broader TV oeuvre and the ongoing Kennedy fascination.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Context & Source Material

• The show is based on Elizabeth Beller’s book, Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and dramatizes the high-profile courtship, turbulent relationship, and tragic deaths of JFK Jr. and Carolyn (02:57).
• The podcast has previously covered related topics—including JFK Jr.’s magazine George, Carolyn as a 90s it-girl, and Kennedy family fashion (03:55).

2. Initial Reactions, Controversies, and Casting

• Controversial Rollout: First look photos of the show’s leads were heavily mocked for historical inaccuracies, especially regarding Carolyn's hair and wardrobe (04:23).
  • Carolyn’s real hair colorist publicly criticized the production, prompting reshoots and a new wardrobe/hair approach (04:46).
• Family Backlash: JFK Jr.’s nephew, Jack Schlossberg, labeled the show “grotesque,” causing a minor online feud with Ryan Murphy (05:05).
• Critical Reception: Response to the series is “generally mixed,” with appreciation for its style and lead performance, but some finding it “a little boring overall in its Wikipedia-ness.”
  “People appreciate some parts of it and maybe find it honestly, a little boring overall in its Wikipedia-ness.” – George (05:23)
• Sarah Pidgeon’s Performance: Universally praised as Carolyn, despite the challenge of reconstructing her character with little archival voice footage (05:52–07:02).
  “She does truly the impossible... creating a character that feels both like a tribute to Carolyn and also an imaginative rendering of what she could have been like…” – George (07:02)

3. Setting and Nostalgia: 90s New York

• The show’s rendering of 90s New York is evocative and seductive:
  • Scenes at iconic locations like Michael’s, the Tribeca shots, Four Seasons (now The Grill), and Calvin Klein’s offices create a rich aesthetic (09:15–10:05).
  • “Point at the TV” moments, like Carolyn discovering Kate Moss, are highlighted as irresistible fan service (10:05).
    “It makes you want to work in fashion in the 90s...” – George (09:15)

4. Cast Breakdown and Characterization

• JFK Jr. (Paul Anthony Kelly):
  • Good looks and physical resemblance but missing the “secret sauce” and charisma of the real John (11:09–12:46).
  • Portrayed with reverence and humility, lacking JFK Jr.’s documented confidence and playboy edge.
  • Quote: “He plays him so reverently… the original sin of this performance is that he’s playing him with kind of like an aw-shucks humility completely… that's not who he was.” – Julia (12:46)
• Jackie Kennedy (Naomi Watts):
  • Praised for balancing a tricky accent and bringing appropriate camp to the performance (19:46–21:14).
  • The “drunk woman dancing to Camelot” trope noted but Watts's experience with Murphy’s projects is seen as an asset.
• Other Notable Cast:
  • Grace Gummer (Meryl Streep’s daughter) as Caroline Kennedy – great casting and wig, especially.
  • Dre Hemingway as Daryl Hannah – gets the voice and look but written very one-note, depicted as the “villain”/bohemian (21:15–22:56).
  • Generational “nepo baby” casting is noted humorously.

5. The Tone and Thematic Approach

• The show is extremely reverent to the Kennedys, bordering on mythologizing:
  • “It feels like it was produced by the Kennedy family… but… they do not approve of it.” – George (13:15)
  • Non-Kennedy characters (e.g., Daryl Hannah) get unfair villain edits.
  • Attempts to reclaim Carolyn’s legacy sometimes result in other women being portrayed negatively (24:08–24:40).
• The series struggles to balance dramatization with accuracy—too cautious to “go there” with the Kennedys’ flaws or the juicier, more dramatic possibilities for the story.

6. The Ryan Murphy Factor

• Although created by Connor Hines, this is positioned within the “Ryan Murphy universe.”
• The hosts compare it to Murphy’s American Crime Story and other anthology series, noting his “baroque” rather than “camp” aesthetic (25:15–30:42).
• Murphy’s prolific output (“the White Tyler Perry”) is humorously discussed, as is his eventual embrace of “campiness” (30:20–30:42).
  • Quote: “He really doesn’t like [campy]… he prefers baroque.” – George (30:35)

7. Episode Structure & “Wikipedianess”

• The first three episodes focus on:
  • Early 90s NYC; JFK Jr. failing the bar (“the hunk flunks” headline), his open celebrity lifestyle, and his encounters with Carolyn as she ascends at Calvin Klein (34:13–36:17).
  • Noted for precise period details (“The world you want to live in…” – George, 48:39), but possibly at the expense of dramatic conflict.
  • The series’ devotion to historically accurate detail can be both a strength and a drag on narrative excitement (43:10, 49:34).
• The “Wikipedia approach” means showrunners shy away from taking imaginative or critical liberties, aiming for “preemptive defense” against critics (50:11).

8. Media Criticism and Cultural Context

• Referencing Doreen St. Felix’s New Yorker review, the hosts highlight shared criticisms: a lack of grit, absence of broader 90s context, and overly reverent performances, especially Paul Anthony Kelly’s JFK Jr. (39:34–41:08):

  • “The review is called ‘Love Story is a forgettable elegy for Gen X’...” – Julia (39:34)
  • “Kelly is much too recalcitrant or reverent of an actor…”

• The show’s intersection with modern trends like “quiet luxury” and the “clean girl” aesthetic is explored. Carolyn’s real personal style was driven by individuality, not contemporary trendiness (46:36–48:39).

9. Where the Show Falls Short—and Where It Shines

• What’s missing:
  • The series is sometimes “boring,” with real-life drama often richer than what’s depicted.
  • JFK Jr.’s portrayal is too passive; the show misses his “swaggering, dumb guy confidence.”
  • Dialogue can be anachronistic or too “explaining” (e.g., characters talking about their own legacy for the audience’s benefit).
• What works:
  • Visual and setting details, and Sarah Pidgeon’s three-dimensional Carolyn, evoke strong engagement and longing for “that world.”
  • The hosts agree it’s highly watchable, and are eager to keep following.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Sarah Pidgeon’s performance:
  “She does truly the impossible, which is take a famous woman who was known basically only for her looks… creating a character that feels both like a tribute… and an imaginative rendering…” — George (07:02)

• On Paul Anthony Kelly as JFK Jr.:
  “He plays him so reverently… that’s not who he was.” — Julia (12:46)

• On the show’s reverence:
  “It feels like it was produced by the Kennedy family, which is actually ironic because… they do not approve of it.” — George (13:15)

• On Daryl Hannah’s depiction:
  “They did Daryl Hannah so dirty… made her into a really exaggerated Hollywood trope…” — Julia (22:18)

• On style & aesthetic:
  “You look at the outfits she’s wearing and they look completely appropriate for today.” — Julia (48:14)

• On Murphy’s style:
  “Ryan Murphy doesn’t like it when people use the word ‘campy’… prefers ‘baroque’.” — George (30:35) “That’s maybe the campiest way you could respond to that.” — Julia (30:39)

• On the show’s narrative approach:
  “The entire show feels almost like it’s trying to preempt criticism… afraid to actually be messy in the way that Ryan Murphy likes being messy.” — George (50:33)

• On Kennedy myth-building:
  “I think people are hungry for the Kennedy mythology to be punctured. Like, I don't think people would be mad if, you know, you showed them in a slightly less positive light.” — George (54:13)

• Final thoughts:
  “I think overall it’s a really well done series. My two main criticisms… the reverence to the Kennedys… and that it is a little boring… afraid to go there in terms of the more dramatic moments.” — George (54:13) “It could have made for such a more interesting show.” — Julia (58:16) “I know we’re ending on a sort of negative note, but both of us, generally speaking, I think are enjoying this show…” — George (58:23)

Important Timestamps

• 02:57 — Introduction to the Ryan Murphy show and its source
• 03:55 — Quick refresher on JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette’s backgrounds
• 04:23–05:05 — Early controversies surrounding the show’s rollout
• 05:23 — Mixed critical reception and “Wikipedia-ness”
• 05:52–07:02 — Praise for Sarah Pidgeon’s performance
• 09:15–10:05 — Authentic 90s New York on screen
• 11:09–12:46 — Casting and critique of Paul Anthony Kelly as JFK Jr.
• 19:46–21:14 — Naomi Watts as Jackie Kennedy and Murphy’s ensemble casting
• 24:08–24:40 — The show’s double standard in “saving” Carolyn while vilifying other women
• 25:15–30:42 — Placing the series in the “Ryan Murphy universe” and discussion of “baroque vs. camp”
• 34:13–36:17 — Recap of first three episodes: settings, events, narrative structure
• 39:34–41:08 — Quotes and analysis from Doreen St. Felix’s New Yorker review
• 46:36–48:39 — Carolyn’s style and the “quiet luxury” phenomenon
• 50:11–52:17 — On the show’s reluctance to “go for it” and its “preemptive defense” mode
• 54:13–58:23 — Final thoughts: strengths, weaknesses, and why hosts will keep watching

Summary Conclusion

The hosts deliver a nuanced, entertaining overview of “Love Story: JFK Jr. & Carolyn Bessette”—highlighting Sarah Pidgeon’s standout performance and the mesmerizing 90s NYC aura, while critiquing the lead’s lack of magnetism and the show’s overly reverential, Wikipedia-like approach. Despite these flaws, the sheer style and subject matter keep it watchable, leaving both hosts eager for more—especially if the series dares to puncture the Kennedy myth in future episodes.