There is something about this show that is irresistible. Now, I know I can’t be the only one who normally doomscrolls while watching television, and Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette is one of those shows that you stop, put down the phone, and close the computer. You will find yourself captivated with what is happening – even though you know that this is a dramatized version of their love story.
But Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette was made for a reason. There is a fascination withJohn F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette’s relationship, and that is something that will never fade. Why? It’s the fascination with the Kennedys, but it’s also the idea that they are American royalty.
And John F. Kennedy Jr. is the uncrowned prince that we wanted, but never had.
“Back with Daryl!” was the headline on the Post, which found its way to Carolyn’s desk. There may have only been one date with JFK, but there is something. She feels something. Is there an expression of that? Well, no. But in all fairness, there are very few women (that I know) who would admit feelings so openly, so quickly.
Everyone at Calvin Klein can see that Bessette is affected by the headlines. JFK Jr. keeps sending her roses, and she keeps sending them back. Why is it that a man who has a girlfriend would keep sending flowers to a woman with whom he went on one date? Well, there are obviously feelings there. Red roses, too? Those are never cheap. The card is always something short and sweet, but it means something.
Even if she acts like it means nothing.
There is a part of me that wonders why Carolyn is so guarded. Maybe it is a coping mechanism. Maybe it’s her personality or just the way that she survives New York. Then again, maybe it’s thatJohn F. Kennedy Jr. was a man who was hunted down, and every part of his life was splashed across anything that could be printed.
John is working hard on trying to launch George. People may not understand why he wants to do it. Jackie sure doesn’t. She’s confused as to why it is that he wants to do it. He wants to bridge the gap between pop culture and politics. And I think that it was aspirational. George was a good magazine. It was the first time that I saw that politics wasn’t out of reach, but something that we all need to take an interest in.
It wasn’t just for the elites. Politics was for everyone.
Quite frankly, I wish it were still around. Jack Schlossberg should bring it back for a new generation.
When the two bump into each other at a party, he tries to explain his situation with Daryl. Carolyn tries her best to let him off the hook, as he feels so bad over what she may think is happening with Daryl. I don’t think that he understands that it doesn’t matter what she does or doesn’t understand – there is hurt there. Once you hurt someone, that stays with them.
It didn’t matter if it was only one date.
I think that JFK Jr. was in this space of having to prove himself, and he didn’t want something to fail again. He didn’t want the judgment, but you can tell by all his conversations that he was always examining everything and the way that it could be perceived. I don’t think that was unfair for him to do, because it would be him who would be judged before anything.
As he was with Daryl, Carolyn found a space for someone wanting and needing her someplace else. Michael Bergin. I’ve read his book and find it interesting the way that he is portrayed in this series. I am not sure that I trust his words, but I am not sure that I don’t.
Noah Fearnley plays Bergin. Being a fan of Fearnley’s, I do think that he does a good job of playing Bergin, but I do think that we don’t get enough of Bergin and Bessette’s relationship to really understand why it mattered so much to her and why it is that she went out of her way for him.
She helped him become a model at Calvin Klein. When Marky Mark did some seriously gross stuff, Bergin was his successor, and we do get to see the moments that she put into him. She reminded him to dress for the part that he wanted and made sure he did just that.
She’s letting him into her world, especially after the first episode, when he said that she basically doesn’t acknowledge him in public. But here she was – making sure that she did the best job that she could, but also allowing him in.
He loved her unconditionally, and she craved that. She wanted to be accepted for what and who she is. She didn’t want to have to change.
Daryl was trying to get Jackie to like her, but honestly, that felt like a losing battle. Jackie wouldn’t set foot in the same room as her. When it was a family dinner, that infuriated Daryl – who stormed out. John followed, and what happened next – well whatDaryl said was wrong.
“Have you ever asked yourself why your mother doesn’t like me?” she asks John on the street. “Or why she might have a tainted perception towards famous blonde actresses? It doesn’t take Freud to connect the dots.”
I woulda dumped her there. I was glad that she threw her fit and left.
But what happened next was just horrible. JFK was out walking the dog, who got free and was hit by a car. Hank passed away, and he took the ashes to LA to get to Daryl,
But at that moment, Jackie was getting worse. She called John and wanted to make nice. I don’t think that she wanted her son to be in any kind of pain, and she knew that she had to protect him more than she had to protect Caroline. The world has always given Caroline some grace and privacy. But John, well, that was different.
It wasn’t right. It just was.
We end the episode with Jackie collapsing and John on a plane. I don’t think he’ll ever forgive Daryl for having to go to LA. He shouldn’t have gone.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- I love that Calvin Klein listens to Caroline and values her opinion
- I love parties in movies and TV
- The in-bed scene where Caroline lets her walls down, I thought was sweet
Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette airs Thursdays on FX.
You can read the review for Episode One Here!
