'Everyone should watch this’: Disney+ just dropped the hottest romantic drama of the year so far — but prepare for a heartbreaking ending

Caroline sits on John's lap with her arms around his neck
Ah, happier times. (Image credit: FX)

It's no secret that Ryan Murphy is having a tough time of late, with both All's Fair and The Beauty failing the make the right impression. But when he's purely executive producing, he strikes gold. This time, it's with new romantic drama Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette.

With the first four episodes on Disney+, this unexpected hit has taken audiences and social media by storm. As one fan on X/Twitter puts it: "Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette is easily the best thing Ryan Murphy has done in eons. It’s truly terrific, from beginning to bitter end. Sarah Pidgeon is an absolute star."

As you might have guessed, the nine-episode series follows the highly-documented relationship between John F. Kennedy Jr. ( Paul Anthony Kelly) and Carolyn Bessette (Sarah Pidgeon), who, as FX points out, had a "whirlwind courtship and marriage".

The pair married in secret in 1996, and so far, the new TV show is nailing the 90s aesthetic. The romantic chemistry is undeniable, and if I'm honest, I've never felt more single while watching it.

However, if you know your American history, you'll know why the remaining half of the series is going to be absolutely devastating.

Why you need to stream Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette on Disney+ this week

Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette | Official Trailer | FX - YouTube Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette | Official Trailer | FX - YouTube
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Don't get me wrong: episodes of Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette so far have been absolute magic. It touches on everything from a deep dive of the Kennedy family (including a highly kitsch Naomi Watts as Jackie Onassis), tabloid gossip and a top-secret wedding.

Pidgeon and Kelly have exceptional chemistry, and that only sets us up to be even more heartbroken when the series eventually comes to an end. Three years after they were married, in 1999, the pair died in a plane crash.

After wanting lessons since he was a child, Kennedy got his pilot's license in 1998. On July 16, 1999, the Piper Saratoga light aircraft he was piloting crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. Carolyn and his sister-in-law, Lauren Bessette, also died in the crash.

Given that the Love Story anthology will likely follow the Crime and Sports Story template of telling one story per season, we can assume the plan crash will be shown in either episode 8 or 9. If it takes inspiration from The Crown, we might even see funeral scenes.

Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette has pumped our hearts full of love and hope only to probably send us crashing back down to the bottom. As one of the best TV shows to stream this month, there's no doubting that the pair's death will be handled impeccably, but that doesn't make sitting through the tragedy any easier.


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Jasmine Valentine
Streaming Staff Writer

Jasmine is a Streaming Staff Writer for TechRadar, previously writing for outlets including Radio Times, Yahoo! and Stylist. She specialises in comfort TV shows and movies, ranging from Hallmark's latest tearjerker to Netflix's Virgin River. She's also the person who wrote an obituary for George Cooper Sr. during Young Sheldon Season 7 and still can't watch the funeral episode.

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