Look, I’ll happily admit that Ryan Murphy did his big one with Love Story, FX’s biographical romance anthology series starring Paul Anthony Kelly as John F. Kennedy Jr. and the great Sarah Pidgeon as the one and only Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.
Armchair-psychologically speaking, I find it interesting that Murphy’s American Story projects (which tend to be less fantastical, messy, and/or baroque than his other shows) are the ones that tend to pop off, critically speaking; in a 2018 interview with The New Yorker’s Emily Nussbaum, Murphy called his hit show American Crime Story: The People v. O. J. Simpson “an experiment in constraint, and that was the side of me that critics love the most—when it’s the side of me that I love the least.” Much to think about, certainly… but I’m too locked in on the saga of John-John and Carolyn—as interpreted by Murphy, creator Connor Hines, and the rest of the show’s team—to dwell on it. Below, find absolutely every thought I had about Season 1, Episode 4 of Love Story, titled “I Love You”:
- Stealing a Calvin Klein Obsession ad featuring Kate Moss? What are these crazy girls up to?
- Honestly, CBK is so often presented as such an untouchable, ultra-minimal, and perfect pop-cultural figure that I treasure these little moments when she’s having fun.
- I love that the appropriate way to greet JFK Jr. is “Who are you with?”
- What a slut (complimentary).
- Not Calvin Klein casting gay aspersions! Shouldn’t he, of all people, know better?
- Oh, it’s so on between Carolyn and John.
- This is my new Wuthering Heights.
- “I have to sleep at home tonight” are the famous last words of every dickmatized single girl.
- Ooooh, Carolyn’s never been heartbroken? Flex!
- John’s apartment is so…cream-colored.
- I feel like Daryl decorated it.
- Kate Moss cameo WHEN?
- How does Carolyn’s hair actually look better a little messy?
- Some girls have all the luck.
- Actually, I just remembered how her actual life story played out, so…never mind, and I’m sorry.
- John in the open flannel shirt is very Paul Rudd in Clueless (the cutest a man has ever been).
- Narciso Rodriguez spotted!
- The Rules mentioned!
- Ah, the famous and epic love between an up-and-coming designer and his hag.
- John putting this skirt on Carolyn… sexy as hell.
- Almost as sexy as that cherry-red muscle car.
- “What animal doesn’t like Sade?” Tea!
- This is, indeed, no ordinary love.
- Did men really wear suspenders in the ’90s?
- “Rent-a-dog company”? Did JFK Jr. invent Rover?
- Not Carolyn artfully dodging the drug allegations!
- The Odeon! I know her! From Lena Dunham’s butt tattoo!
- “What happened to the movie star he left you for?” Brutal, Carolyn’s mom!
- Who, if I’m not mistaken, is played by Entourage’s Constance Zimmer!
- Bummed at the frost I’m detecting between Caroline and Carolyn, who, by the law of similar names, should be besties.
- I feel like Carolyn’s blowout is a subtle attempt at respect, but girl, be yourself! Your wild, blonde mane is part of you!
- The term “my person” wasn’t really in the conversational zeitgeist in the mid-’90s, was it?
- I love how much Kelly Klein lives for drama.
- Ah, to be a handsome, square-featured white guy playing sports in Central Park.
- Now I’m thinking about this time when my best friend and I were walking through the park in high school and someone accidentally hit her in the head with a football, and I fear I’m laughing.
- Bro, why are you listening to some bullshit anonymous letter about Carolyn when she’s so beautiful and nice?
- I mean, king, what did you think her reaction would be to “Hey, someone stuck a letter about what a conniving druggie slut you are in my bag”? Of course she’s leaving!
- Damn, Sarah Pidgeon is rocking that white T-shirt.
- Good for Caroline for dragging John’s ass!
- “You’re not an idiot, you’re just weak.” Exactly, queen.
- Did men in the ’90s strictly have to dress like the boys from Friends?
- Aw, he loves her!
- Hence the title of the episode, I suppose.
- Why am I misting up?
- Bro, I need a girlfriend.
- Or a boyfriend. Whatever.
- Damn, nobody want u (me) for real.
- Not the Cranberries needle drop!
- Well, now I’m crying more.
- Look at that big, in-love smile and slicked-back ponytail! That’s the CBK we all knew and loved.
- Well, that romantic euphoria was fun while it lasted.
