America’s royal family, ‘90s nostalgia and a devastatingly beautiful couple. This is what makes “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette” a captivating, dramatized retelling of the couple’s lives, including relationships, highs and lows. 

The reception of the show however, has been controversial. While fans are loving a new on-screen romance to obsess over with fresh-faced actors, Sarah Pidgeon portraying Carolyn Bessette and Paul Anthony Kelly as JFK Jr., there has been some backlash on the respectability of the show. 

John F. Kennedy Jr.’s nephew, Jack Schlossberg, spoke out against the show's Executive Producer, Ryan Murphy, saying, “The guy knows nothing about what he’s talking about, and he’s making a ton of money on a grotesque display of someone else’s life.” Schlossberg also added that he wanted people who do watch the show to “watch it with one letter in mind, and that’s a capital F for fiction,” during his CBS interview. 

Daryl Hannah, actress, and long-time off-and-on-again girlfriend of JFK Jr., also scolded the FX series for her inaccurate portrayal. In her essay for The New York Times, she stated that “The actions and behaviors attributed to me are untrue… These are not creative embellishments of personality. They are assertions about conduct – and they are false.” Hannah shared the same sentiment as Schlossberg that there was no real insight into the lives of those portrayed in the show. 

While those closely tied to the show’s portrayal may not be ecstatic about the FX series, fans are glued to their TV’s every Thursday night. The show encapsulates every aspect of the ‘90s that made the era so special. The music, fashion, and New York’s prime and beautiful faces have taken over people’s minds. 

The soundtrack of the show is enough to keep any music lover watching. With glimpses of Lenny Kravitz, Mazzy Star, Sade, Radiohead, The Cranberries and more, the ‘90s sounds are transformative. You are taken to a different time period where you feel like you get to experience the streets of Greenwich Village as a New Yorker yourself. 

The positive response to the show has been widely highlighted on social media. People are sharing their take on the Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, aka “CBK,” minimalist style or giving hauls of vintage Calvin Klein they found raiding their mom’s closets. People also shared glimpses of the iconic JFK Jr. backwards hat trademark making its way to the heads of New York City men. A backwards baseball cap or Kangol may take over men's spring fashion, while a simple tee paired with vintage Levi’s and a bare face may signal spring has sprung for women. 

If you are looking for a new bingeable series, grab your popcorn and settle in to watch the series ASAP. While the show is in fact a dramatized retelling of John F Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette’s love story, it is one drama worth watching. The finale aired Thursday March 26 and is streaming on Disney+. Tune in to learn how the love story ends. 

 

Tags: Review

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