As a total movie buff, I’ve been really struck by how much detail Love Story puts into getting that early ’90s vibe right – the clothes, the music, even just seeing people light up cigarettes everywhere. But this week’s episode made me think about something more. It reminded me of a time when magazines and tabloids made celebrities, for better or worse. Before Twitter and Instagram, those publications controlled the story. They had the power to build someone up or tear them down, and they needed a narrative – a hero and a villain. That’s what’s happening with Carolyn; the paparazzi aren’t just interested in her, they’re actively trying to make her the bad guy. Her sister, Lauren, nails it when she says John is the perfect protagonist – he’s a Kennedy, and he’s willing to play the game, even letting a photographer join his football game. It’s a really clever way of showing how the media used to work.
Coming back from our honeymoon, John and I were totally blissed out, still lost in that newlywed glow. But the second we stepped out, it was chaos. A swarm of photographers descended on us, instantly shattering that intimate moment. John tried to manage them, offering a quick, staged photo – honestly, it felt like a tiny concession – hoping it would satisfy them. He really believed if they got something, they’d back off. He asked me to trust him, and he seemed so sure he could handle the situation. He even appealed to them, reminding them that just weeks ago, I was a private person and needed time to adjust to all this attention. As a sort of peace offering, he held my hand and posed for a few shots. He chatted with some reporters, trying to be friendly, but the flashes were honestly terrifying. It quickly became clear his approach wasn’t working. They were relentless, even climbing onto their cars as we tried to drive away. It was a truly awful experience.
Throughout the episode, John repeatedly tells Carolyn he’ll protect her and guide her through the intense media attention. A later scene visually emphasizes this with John reaching for Carolyn’s hand as they navigate a crowd of photographers. However, by the end, Carolyn begins to see that John’s belief he can control the paparazzi is simply another example of his sense of privilege – he naturally assumes people will do as he asks. His constant reassurance, while seemingly supportive, unintentionally makes Carolyn feel delicate and in need of help, a point her sister Lauren will later bring up. John doesn’t seem to realize he can’t be there for her constantly, especially since she has her own life and commitments, like a job interview at Ralph Lauren, which they discuss while writing thank-you notes. Carolyn is concerned that her recent fame, rather than her skills, is what’s making her a strong candidate.
Her celebrity ultimately destroyed any chance of getting the job. The interview went downhill quickly when the paparazzi crowded around the Ralph Lauren building. A flustered Carolyn could only apologize and admit that her presence would be a problem for the company. John offered to call Ralph Lauren to try and resolve things, but Carolyn asked him not to. It’s a shame we didn’t see the moment they officially withdrew the job offer – they seemed eager to do so, likely anticipating the media attention. Carolyn even suspected they’d invited her in specifically to create a buzz. The scene could have shed light on why she left Calvin Klein in the first place. It would have been insightful to see Carolyn interacting with someone she needed something from, someone outside of her usual circles of Kennedys and photographers, to reveal more about her feelings. Unfortunately, the show prefers to hint at things rather than show them directly.
When John and his wife arrive at Caroline’s party, he’s prepared to confront Ed about a betrayal he learned of earlier that day. At a meeting, it came out that Ed had told HBO John would narrate a documentary about his father’s life without getting John’s permission. Berman, furious that John won’t support the struggling George TV show, angrily shared this news. The magazine is facing declining readership, and executives claim it’s a branding problem—George isn’t appealing to either serious readers or those looking for celebrity gossip. Berman, working with a publicist, suggests John and Carolyn pose for a cover to boost sales, but John refuses, believing Carolyn would rather spend three hours stuck in an elevator with Ethel Kennedy than participate.
Ed claims he only suggested John as the narrator, and it wasn’t an official part of the project proposal. When John accuses Ed of exploiting his father’s reputation, Caroline brings up an old issue of George magazine featuring Drew Barrymore as Marilyn Monroe with the headline “Happy Birthday, Mr. President!” – implying Ed is a hypocrite, as he’s happy to benefit from legacies himself. The argument escalates until John abruptly cancels the entire production, leaving Ed shocked and Caroline furious. It’s a disastrous party, and Carolyn and Lauren are relieved Ann couldn’t attend, fearing further conflict. Even Lauren, who bears a resemblance to Ann, cautiously criticizes John for asking the paparazzi not to upset his wife while seemingly enjoying the attention himself.
The tabloids were always fascinated by John and Carolyn, but now the attention has become much more intrusive, with reporters camped outside their home and making hurtful comments about Carolyn. John seems to think the pressure will ease when people lose interest – a belief that shows either his unwavering optimism or a sense of privilege. It’s similar to how he downplays Anthony Radziwill’s illness. After protecting Carolyn from overbearing relatives eager to know which charity she’ll support, Anthony tells her she’ll now be responsible for keeping tabs on his cousin, as he plans to step back. Earlier, while sharing a beer and playing gin rummy, Anthony revealed to John that his cancer had returned. John immediately offered to call a contact at the National Cancer Institute, but Anthony simply wants to spend time with him. This episode features some of Paul Anthony Kelly’s strongest work this season.
There’s a genuine connection between Carolyn and Anthony that feels refreshing amidst the stiff atmosphere of the party. The situation escalates when Carolyn offers a small bribe to the doorman for some candy. Outside, a chaotic crowd of photographers nearly breaks into the lobby. Caroline rushes down, dramatically claiming Carolyn was putting their daughter in danger. Back upstairs, Caroline silently leads Carolyn to a room and warns her about the intense media attention she attracts, especially if she wants to be around her children. Carolyn attempts to get some understanding from her sister-in-law, but Caroline remains unyielding, stating she didn’t ask for this life and Carolyn needs to learn to handle the publicity. This happens just as the two women seemed to be building a connection!
Upstairs, John is flattered by a political consultant he’s never encountered before. She points out that “Senator” sounds better than “former editor of George,” and this appeal to his ego visibly bothers him. However, he doesn’t seriously think about her offer until his conflict with Berman escalates. Back at the George offices, Berman finally explodes, furious about John’s tardiness, his lack of involvement with the magazine, and his stubborn refusal to consider the TV show. Already having a bad morning, John tears up the TV deal and throws it at Berman, leading to a physical fight. I found myself shouting at the screen for Berman to quit, which thankfully he does. John quickly realizes George can’t survive without Berman, so he reaches out to the political consultant. They meet in a shadowy, secretive setting, hinting at a deal being made. I’m excited to see Love Story evolve into a political thriller.
If John considers a career in politics, things will become even more difficult for Carolyn, who is trying to stay strong despite intense public attention. The tabloids are constantly watching her, and so are the Kennedys. She tries to avoid reporters, but they discovered she’s in therapy and taking medication for anxiety and insomnia – details they’re quick to judge. It doesn’t help that she can’t stop reading the negative press, even though it disgusts her. John is going to lunch to try and repair his relationship with Caroline, whom he hasn’t spoken to since the disastrous party. Honestly, I wouldn’t want to talk to my sisters either if they threw me such a terrible party. Carolyn, who can’t avoid her family as easily as she avoids the paparazzi, urges John to be open and honest when he talks to Caroline. He should avoid getting caught up in a silly argument over how her name is spelled.
John and Caroline have always had issues with each other – he thinks she talks down to him, and she feels like he acts superior. After seven episodes, the show Love Story finally makes them feel like believable people, portraying a typical dynamic between an older and younger sibling. They both avoid admitting the other has a point, quickly changing the subject to Carolyn. John asks Caroline to help his wife adjust to her newfound fame, but Caroline, who only expresses sympathy for Carolyn in private, doesn’t offer much useful advice. Unlike her brother, she avoids the press and doesn’t engage with them. Ultimately, she gives John some helpful advice: Carolyn’s relationship with the media won’t improve until his does.
Carolyn meets her sister, Lauren, in Tribeca for lunch. Lauren recently received a promotion to Vice President at Morgan Stanley. However, Carolyn is upset that Lauren won’t even open the gift Carolyn got her, because of the reporters and protesters gathered outside. The media has painted such a negative picture of Carolyn that even her grandmother is afraid to call, worried Carolyn might be struggling with medication. But the most painful part is that Carolyn is starting to believe the negative image everyone has of her, and it’s making her feel lost and unable to make decisions about her own life. She used to be confident and know exactly what she wanted, but now she feels helpless.
As Ann foresaw, Carolyn’s life has become a whirlwind of glamorous events at the Guggenheim, unfortunately coupled with harassment from strangers. It’s understandable she’s avoiding the media, especially while John, who seems to have always been treated with respect, handles them with good humor. The tabloids quickly start a rumor that she’s pregnant, and this proves to be the final blow. Carolyn breaks down completely in their apartment, overcome with emotion. John claims he can manage the press, but Carolyn feels he’s actually making things worse. His willingness to engage with them gives them more and more access, and it’s escalating quickly. The argument deeply upsets John, and as he leaves, he accidentally knocks a camera from a photographer’s hand, suggesting the situation is spiraling out of control.
Kennedy Memorabilia
John briefly mentions wanting to be an actor, excitedly telling Carolyn he’ll be on Murphy Brown and even giving Candice Bergen a copy of George magazine. This moment highlights a key theme of the episode: John secretly enjoys being the center of attention more than he lets on.
On her way to Caroline and Ed’s house, Carolyn passed a store window displaying a wedding dress alongside a life-sized cardboard cutout of John. A sign read, “It could have been you,” but Carolyn didn’t find it amusing.
I was wrong about Lee Radziwill attending John and Carolyn’s wedding. Carolyn wanted her there, but she wasn’t invited. However, she did send a nice gift of hair accessories to her new relative. As Anthony jokingly pointed out, the Bouvier family doesn’t take slights lightly.
I’ll be honest, the Fiona Apple song playing at the end of the episode, as Carolyn sadly looks out the window while smoking, really got to me.
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2026-03-13 05:56