Ryan Murphy's Love Story: A Tedious Slog Through Kennedy Dynasty Drama
Ryan Murphy's latest television offering, Love Story: John F Kennedy Jr & Carolyn Bessette, premieres on Disney+ from 13 February, but it is a punishingly boring nine-episode series that may leave viewers cross-eyed with boredom. The drama, which chronicles the relationship of America's so-called royal family, fails to capture the fascination that the Kennedys hold in the United States, making it a tedious watch for UK audiences.
The Kennedy Fascination and UK Disinterest
Ever since patriarch Joe Kennedy successfully manoeuvred his telegenic son John F Kennedy into politics, the Kennedy dynasty has been viewed as the United States' answer to the royal family. Their privileged, cursed lives have been breathlessly chronicled in books, tabloids, and media, but in the UK, interest has naturally been less enthralling. This series, inspired by the book Once Upon a Time and created by Connor Hines with Ryan Murphy as executive producer, attempts to delve into this world but falls flat.
For clarity, John F Kennedy Jr is JFK's son, famously known as little John-John who saluted his father's coffin at age three. Carolyn Bessette was his wife, with their relationship spanning from 1994 to their tragic deaths in a 1999 plane crash off Martha's Vineyard. Sarah Pidgeon plays Bessette, managing to do a lot with a sparse script, while Paul Anthony Kelly, in his first major role, portrays Kennedy, though his performance may leave viewers wanting more.
A Story Ripe for Drama, But Dull in Execution
The series should have been compelling, given the elements at play: class warfare, celebrity culture, and glamour. John Jr was seen as a god-like figure, while Bessette, a feisty girl from a less privileged background, worked for Calvin Klein and became a style icon. Their relationship was complicated by fame, paparazzi intrusion, Bessette's alleged drug use, and her unwillingness to start a family.
However, Love Story emerges as an endless, drab slog that charts every moment of their courtship and marriage, no matter how narratively pointless. Extended sequences, such as Bessette sending back bouquets of red roses, are mind-numbingly dull. The dialogue includes clichéd lines like "She's unlike anyone I've ever met" and warnings about entitlement, which may make viewers want to escape.
Painful Performances and Lack of Razzle-Dazzle
Adding to the woes are two truly painful performances: Naomi Watts as Jackie Onassis and Dree Hemingway as Darryl Hannah, whose depictions border on caricature. Shorn of Murphy's trademark razzle-dazzle, the series feels like watching a couple you've never met and couldn't care less about. For diehard fans of Murphy's work, this drama is a disappointing departure from hits like American Horror Story or Glee.
Despite its flaws, the series is unlikely to slow down production for the Murphy market, but UK viewers should brace themselves for a punishing slog. Love Story: John F Kennedy Jr & Carolyn Bessette is available on Disney+, but it may not be worth the nine-hour investment.
