TV Series Dramatises Kennedy-Bessette Romance as American Royal Fairy Tale
A new nine-part television series has ignited discussion by portraying the relationship between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy through the lens of a made-for-TV royal romance. The production, which premiered its first three episodes recently, attempts to capture the glamour and tragedy of a couple often described as America's closest equivalent to royalty.
The American Princess Diana
Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, frequently characterised as slender, blonde, photogenic, and a fashion icon, is presented in the series as the United States' answer to Princess Diana. The narrative positions her within the Kennedy family dynasty, which has long been viewed as American political royalty. This framing establishes the foundation for what critics are calling a cringingly awful yet predictably popular television treatment of their love story.
The series opens with the tragic conclusion of their relationship: the July 1999 plane crash that claimed both their lives when Kennedy piloted a light aircraft that ditched into the sea en route from New York to Martha's Vineyard. From this sombre beginning, the story flashes back seven years to explore their lives before they met.
Character Portrayals and Creative Liberties
Sarah Pidgeon portrays Bessette as a feisty, ambitious ice maiden navigating New York City's social scene while working for the Calvin Klein fashion label. Her character delivers questionable advice to friends about relationships and engages in behaviours including chain-smoking and gate-crashing parties. Meanwhile, John F. Kennedy Jr. is depicted by newcomer Paul Anthony Kelly as an all-American jock struggling with both his love life and academic pursuits, particularly his repeated failures to pass bar exams.
Their initial meeting occurs at a 1990s-era fundraiser for the Amazon Rainforest, where Calvin Klein introduces them. The series shows Kennedy instantly smitten, though Bessette initially rebuffs his advances with what many viewers might find to be unrealistic dialogue. Their subsequent courtship faces a significant obstacle in the form of actress Daryl Hannah, portrayed by Dree Hemingway as a clingy, uninvited presence in Kennedy's life.
Family Dynamics and Production Background
Naomi Watts takes on the role of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, presenting a frail, cancer-stricken matriarch in her final months attempting to guide her son toward what she considers suitable relationships. The series suggests her disapproval of Hannah contributed significantly to the relationship's difficulties.
The production comes from Ryan Murphy, the television powerhouse behind hits like Glee and American Horror Story, who has recently faced criticism for sacrificing artistic credibility for what some describe as low-rent, tawdry popularity. Despite this, the series maintains a sleek, expensive aesthetic filled with famous name-dropping and committed performances from its cast.
Critical Reception and Cultural Impact
While the tragic romance between the Calvin Klein fashionista and the son of President John F. Kennedy may be less familiar to British audiences, the series has generated significant attention for its glossy yet frequently clunky approach. Dialogue often feels unnatural, characterizations border on caricature, and historical accuracy appears secondary to dramatic effect.
Nevertheless, the production seems poised for commercial success, capitalizing on enduring public fascination with the Kennedy mystique and the tragic narrative of two glamorous figures whose lives ended prematurely. The series represents another entry in the ongoing cultural processing of American royalty, blending fact, fiction, and fairy-tale tropes into a television event that, for better or worse, will likely find its audience.
