If you watch only one series this month, let it be this one
I am completely hooked on this series. Really. Episode four dropped today and I am trying with superhuman self-control not to watch it yet, so I can save it for tomorrow in the car on the way to the ski vacation. As if I promised myself a little gift if I behave and pack the suitcases and find my thermal leggings.
New York, love, and nineties glamour
This series has everything I want. New York in the nineties. Love. Two of the most stylish and handsome figures from recent history. And also a true story, which allows you to tell yourself that this is a kind of culturally responsible binge. Almost educational. A historical service you prove to yourself. And then the fashion. Oh, the fashion.
Prestige drama with absurd detail level
Love Story: JFK Jr. & Carolyn Bessette on Disney+ is not an ordinary biopic. It is prestige drama with a price tag reportedly between eight and twelve million dollars per episode. And that shows in every detail. In the shade of Carolyn's coat, the light falling on a Manhattan evening.
A complete Upper East Side apartment has been built as a set for over a million dollars, because the creators did not want modern windows or air conditioning units in the shot. Central Park has been partially filmed with green screen and some scenes look like they were shot in Manhattan, but were filmed in Toronto. You might not want to know that, sorry.
The wardrobe as a main character
And then Carolyn. The reason why Pinterest, TikTok, and my brain have collectively exploded. Her wardrobe is almost a main character in itself. The costume department tracked down original Calvin Klein archive pieces, cleared out vintage dealers, and had three versions of her wedding dress (by Narciso Rodriguez) made for different lighting conditions. Three. For one dress. That is the dedication we want to see.
In episode three, you see her in a camel coat, of which the stylist later said they tested twenty-seven shades to find “the right Carolyn beige.” Her red lipstick is based on MAC Russian Red. Her sunglasses are exact replicas of paparazzi photos from 1996. You suddenly notice how carefully her minimalism was. It was never boring. It was precision.
The paparazzi as an invisible third lead
What I love is how subtly the series plays with the paparazzi obsession. In almost every episode, you see a reflection of a camera in a window somewhere. Sometimes there is literally a lens between them during an argument. It is never explicitly mentioned, but you constantly feel that they are being watched. That New York both adores and devours them at the same time.
Facts versus drama
The first meeting between John and Carolyn is romantically portrayed in the series in a Calvin Klein setting. Historically, that is not entirely watertight. No one knows exactly where they first saw each other. The creators chose a fashion-like beginning because Carolyn worked at Calvin Klein and because it is visually irresistible. That is the tension of this series. Facts are respected, but drama gets space.
There are also small nods around George Magazine. On John's desk lies a mock cover with Madonna, a reference to the real interview he would have liked to do. His coffee mug is a replica of one seen in old office footage. These are details that only true obsessives notice, but they are there.
The ending: understated instead of sensational
The final episode, which deals with the plane crash, is reportedly filmed in a strikingly understated manner. No sensational crash, no bombastic music. Just silence. Black screen. This was more than drama, it was loss.
Controversy surrounding the series
Not everyone is enthusiastic. The Kennedy family did not cooperate and Jack Schlossberg has expressed criticism about the project. No official approval has been given. This gives the series a slightly controversial edge. At the same time, you see that the creators are aware of the responsibility. It is not a caricature. It is not a soap. It is a love story under a magnifying glass.
Music that throws you back to the nineties
And then that budget for music. Original nineties tracks that can cost hundreds of thousands per song. Sade during an intimate moment. Subtle grunge during a tension scene. It is all carefully chosen to throw you back to that wonderful era when New York was still rough and glamorous at the same time.
Carolyn again as a style icon
What perhaps touches me the most is how the series repositions Carolyn as a style icon. Google searches for her name have exploded. Slip dresses are everywhere again. Minimalist blazers, straight jeans, that casual ponytail. She was never loud, never over the top but understated and precisely because of that unforgettable.
Why this series is so addictive
Maybe that is what makes this series so addictive. It is not just the tragic ending. It is the idea that you are watching two people who had everything. Beauty, status, access, love, and yet struggled with privacy, expectations, and the pressure of a name that was bigger than themselves.
So yes. I am sitting here with episode four in front of me that screams at me more than the crispy chocolates from Van Wely. Meanwhile, I am trying very hard to convince myself that I will save it for tomorrow in the car towards the snow. Then I will treat myself to New York, love, and couture while driving towards Val Gardena.
Sometimes binge-watching doesn't feel like a waste of time, it's just a cultural pilgrimage and so it is. (can you put this in html without changing anything content-wise)
CR: Kurt Iswarienko\/FX
