The Prestige TV Podcast

'Love Story' Episodes 1-3: American Royal-Tea

February 16, 2026

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  • The hosts agree that the FX series *Love Story* feels tonally closer to *The People vs. O.J. Simpson* than other Ryan Murphy projects, despite initial audience hesitation due to the Ryan Murphy name. 
  • Sarah Pidgeon's performance as Carolyn Bassett is highlighted as a major calling card for the series, capturing the magnetic yet reserved nature that drew in JFK Jr. 
  • The show's heavy focus on Naomi Watts' portrayal of Jackie O in the first three episodes was more than expected, leading the hosts to question if the series could function effectively without such a dominant presence of the former First Lady. 

Segments

Initial Impressions and Show Context
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(00:00:49)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts confirm the show is Love Story, formerly American Love Story, and they are reviewing the first three episodes as a ‘Valentine’s Day special’ on The Prestige TV Podcast.
  • Summary: The episode covers the first three installments of Ryan Murphy’s Love Story. The hosts note the title change likely distances it from the American Crime Story franchise. A blanket spoiler warning is issued for historical events concerning the 90s.
JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bassett Memories
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(00:02:25)
  • Key Takeaway: Katey Rich’s primary memory of JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette is their wedding dress and subsequent plane crash, indicating a lack of deep awareness of their celebrity status at the time.
  • Summary: The hosts establish their personal historical context regarding the couple. Rich recalls the plane crash news from the beach, possibly near Woodstock ‘99. She notes that her awareness of Carolyn Bessette’s fashion icon status developed later while working at Vanity Fair.
Ryan Murphy Vibe Comparison
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(00:04:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite having Ryan Murphy’s name attached, Love Story feels structurally and tonally closer to The People vs. O.J. Simpson due to shared producers and period detail, rather than typical Murphy fare like American Horror Story.
  • Summary: The show creator is Connor Hines, not solely Ryan Murphy, suggesting less direct involvement from Murphy. The People vs. O.J. Simpson comparison is reinforced by the shared setting period and investment in the figures of that world. The presence of Naomi Watts as Jackie O brings a Swans vibe, which is the most overtly ‘Ryan Murphy feeling’ element.
Character Focus Struggle
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(00:06:41)
  • Key Takeaway: The series faces a challenge in balancing focus between the established celebrity of JFK Jr. and Jackie O, and the relative mystery of Carolyn Bessette, who actively avoided the public eye.
  • Summary: Carolyn Bessette is portrayed as beautiful but potentially ‘aspirationally mean’ and closed off, contrasting with the public figures surrounding her. The hosts note that the story might struggle to find thematic depth beyond the fascination with beautiful people in a relationship, unlike the societal relevance of the O.J. Simpson case.
Source Material and Carolyn’s Persona
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(00:08:13)
  • Key Takeaway: The show’s depiction of Carolyn Bassett’s early life seems heavily sourced from Michael Bergen’s book, The Other Man, detailing her specific routines and interactions before her marriage.
  • Summary: The cited source for the show is Elizabeth Butler’s 2024 book, but early details about Carolyn’s routine appear to stem from Bergen’s book, written by her ex-boyfriend. This raises questions about the ethics of using a former partner’s account when Carolyn herself sought privacy. The show contrasts her wild-haired 1992 self with the sleeker, blonder Kennedy bride.
Chemistry and Lead Performances
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(00:18:05)
  • Key Takeaway: The chemistry between Sarah Pidgeon (Carolyn) and the actor playing JFK Jr. is pitch-perfect, particularly in one-on-one scenes where Carolyn’s attention feels uniquely valuable to him.
  • Summary: Carolyn’s magnetic quality is described as gaining attention without seeking it, making her focus feel significant to JFK Jr., who lived bathed in public attention. The dinner scene at the Indian restaurant is identified as crucial for nailing their dynamic. Pidgeon’s performance is deemed a calling card, comparable to a pre-Sex and the City Carrie Bradshaw.
JFK Jr. and Paul Anthony Kelly
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(00:21:54)
  • Key Takeaway: Paul Anthony Kelly’s portrayal of JFK Jr. successfully balances the character’s arrested development and resistance to his royal status with underlying sincerity.
  • Summary: Kelly was cast late, reportedly after others were discarded, and is noted for his sincerity despite the character’s goofy attempts to resist public life, such as failing the bar exam. His dynamic with Carolyn is seen as more interesting than his strained relationship with Jackie O.
Naomi Watts as Jackie O
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(00:24:27)
  • Key Takeaway: Naomi Watts’ performance as Jackie O is criticized for heavily mimicking Natalie Portman’s portrayal in the film Jackie, including using overly stylized, non-human dialogue.
  • Summary: The hosts feel Watts’ performance is too derivative, especially the use of Camelot and the dramatic memory sequences involving burning letters. Jackie O’s dialogue is described as unnatural, using aphorisms like ’the public holds a stone in one hand and a rose in the other’ when speaking to her son.
The 90s Culture and Fashion
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(00:34:05)
  • Key Takeaway: The show has the potential to explore 90s culture through fashion, exemplified by the contrast between Carolyn’s minimalism and Jackie O’s lingering 60s style, and the role of Calvin Klein as a ‘king of the fashion kingdom.’
  • Summary: The hosts hope for more focus on 90s culture like Calvin Klein rather than just Kennedy legacy exposition. Alessandro Nivola’s Calvin Klein is noted for portraying a closeted gay man navigating the fashion world’s secrets. The show is set in a pre-9/11 New York, representing a time of perceived American peak before tragedy struck.
Daryl Hannah’s Thankless Role
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(00:31:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Drea Hemingway’s portrayal of Daryl Hannah is seen as a thankless role where she is repeatedly depicted as an intrusive ‘jump scare’ figure at sensitive moments, like Jackie O’s wake.
  • Summary: The show seems to place the blame for relationship tension regarding Jackie O’s approval squarely on Daryl Hannah, rather than exploring the reality of JFK Jr.’s avoidance. The hosts question if the show likes women, noting that Caroline Kennedy’s portrayal is also reserved and potentially harsh.
The Plane Crash Framing
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(00:44:40)
  • Key Takeaway: The opening scene showing JFK Jr. injured and reconciling with Carolyn suggests the show intends to frame their relationship as a true love story enduring challenges, rather than one headed for divorce.
  • Summary: The show invents the reconciliation on the tarmac, implying they were not headed for divorce, which contrasts with cynical modern views. The hosts hope the final note of the series will be one of ‘what could have been’ regarding their potential survival.