
The character of John, while perhaps accurately portrayed as emotionally distant, could have been more impactful with a stronger push or a more talented actor. Like Princess Diana, Carolyn was unfairly criticized and painted as difficult in the media. The show Love Story tries to redeem her image, but she needs a real conflict, and John simply doesn’t provide it. He lacks the dramatic depth you’d expect from a soap opera character. The show’s alteration of the timeline highlights a core problem: the real-life incident that caused a two-year breakup between John and Daryl, and Carolyn and Michael, is downplayed, making John seem passive. His first major argument with Carolyn is triggered by someone else and has no lasting effect – she expresses her anger, and then everything returns to normal. This keeps John from being proactive and diminishes the conflict.