“Not everyone’s past should be revisited,” pronounces Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (Naomi Watts) to her daughter Caroline (Grace Gummer) in Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. On the basis of the first installment of Ryan Murphy’s newest anthology—this one about real-life celebrity romances, for which he serves as executive producer—that certainly applies to his latest subjects.
Exceedingly watchable despite being slight, repetitive, and often campy, Murphy’s attempt at elevating John and Carolyn’s courtship and marriage into the stuff of fairy tale myth is like an even shallower version of The Crown, complete with impressive lead performances incapable of enhancing inherently skimpy material. Decrying tabloids even as it embraces their peek-behind-the-curtain spirit, it’s a People magazine feature in TV form.
The best thing about Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette (February 12, on FX) is its stars Paul Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon. The former is a newcomer who doesn’t just look like John-John but captures his unassuming playboy charm, ego, and immaturity. The latter envisions Caroline as an equally formidable presence and partner in this high-profile relationship.
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