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They were one of the most talked-about couples of the 21st century; in a way, they were as close to royalty as you could get in America at the time, and their love story was cut tragically short in 1999, when a flight they were on crashed close to Martha’s Vineyard. We’re talking about John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, of course, who are getting the spotlight in a new FX TV series by Ryan Murphy. “Love Story” is a romance-centric offshoot of Murphy’s expansive “American Story” franchise, and its first nine-episode installment takes viewers on a journey through Bessette’s (played by Sarah Pidgeon) career at Calvin Klein; the death of Jackie Kennedy and its impact on her son (Paul Anthony Kelly takes the role of Kennedy); the blissful moments in Bessette and Kennedy’s marriage, laced with turbulent, highly publicized, and even physically violent ones at times; and the untimely end of their relationship.
The first three episodes aired on February 12, with the next one releasing on February 19, to be followed by new episodes every Thursday at 9 p.m. EST/6 p.m. PST on FX.
Don’t have cable? No problem. You can stream the channel on DirecTV and Hulu + Live TV. In addition to FX, “Love Story” will be made simultaneously available on Hulu (which can be watched as part of the aforementioned streaming destinations’ lineups or through a direct membership).
John F. Kennedy Jr. strolls in Tribeca with Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy on October 18, 1997.
Courtesy Lawrence Schwartzwald/Getty Images
How to Watch ‘Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette’ Online for Free
Not only can you catch the buzzy drama online, but there are a number of ways to do so for free. Below, we’ll be walking you through the leading live TV services’ free trial options, which will allow you to tune into the fourth episode of “Love Story” — focusing on the pains Bessette had to go through when adapting to Kennedy’s world and a big secret discovered by the political dynasty heir — without paying a cent.
EDITOR’s CHOICE
DirecTV
Good news: FX and Hulu content is accessible through all major DirecTV packages, like Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate, and Premier. These channel bundles start at $49.99 a month (DirecTV gives new clients up to $40 off their first month of streaming), but you can also take advantage of the platform’s free five-day trial on all packages. Our recommendation? Sticking with your plan of choice for the long haul, so as to treat yourself to more not-to-miss entertainment (think Bravo’s “The Real Housewives” and Freeform’s greatest hits such as “Love Thy Nader” and “Project Runway”).
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV is another streaming top pick that comes with a free trial (three days this time) and includes FX in its roster. “Love Story” can also be watched on Disney+, which is tacked onto the Hulu + Live TV plan alongside ESPN. After your trial ends, committing to the offering will cost $89.99 per month, and you can use Hulu + Live TV to continue your “Love Story” binge beyond Kennedy and Bessette’s season.
Hulu
Alternatively, you can invest solely in a Hulu subscription if you don’t have one already, which has the most generous free trial period of 30 whole days. Sans Disney+ and ESPN, a Hulu plan is also much more affordable — clocking in at a monthly price of $11.99 with ads and $18.99 for the Premium, ad-free option. Once you get the scoop on the romance that captivated a generation, go on to watch other Hulu titles like Pamela Anderson’s “Pamela’s Garden of Eden,” “America’s Next Top Model,” or “The Kardashians.”
As evident in the circa-1997 photo above, Bessette and Kennedy were style icons through and through — frequently lauded for pulling off a kind of chic effortlessness in their everyday ensembles. While Kennedy could often be seen alternating sharp tuxes with seemingly incongruous looks powered by fabric headbands and oval sunnies or those made complete by old-money knitwear and the occasional backwards baseball cap, Bessette was a beacon of cool-girl minimalism: sticking to staples in muted hues and popularizing high-quality accessories like the L.L. Bean Boat and Tote that came to be associated with East Coast summers — à la the Kennedys vacationing at their Hyannis Port compound in Massachusetts.
Besides exposing viewers to the twists and turns of the marriage between the lawyer-slash-magazine publisher and fashion publicist, “Love Story” pays sufficient tribute to the couple’s joint sartorial powers. Interestingly enough, the show’s costume designer had to be switched out after fans expressed early disappointment with the costumes and how detached from reality they were.
Pidgeon can be seen in no shortage of quiet-luxury getups — all body-hugging black turtlenecks and LBDs and bootcut jeans (Bessette had a soft spot for Levi’s’ take) and camel-colored coats. On-screen, Kelly also gives off major “I went to Brown and was the Sexiest Man Alive in 1988” energy. What this means? You’re going to be compelled to change up your own wardrobe rotation after streaming the show online.
John F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife walk their dog on January 1, 1997, in New York City.
Courtesy Evan Agostini/Getty Images
Shop the Couple’s Era-Defining Style
L.L. Bean Boat and Tote Open-Top Bag
Price upon publish date of this article: $39.95
Machete Wide Headband
Price upon publish date of this article: $60
Cartier Tank Louis Watch
Price upon publish date of this article: $14,800
Hermès Birkin Bag 35, Pre-Owned
Price upon publish date of this article: $18,160
Quince Mallorca Polarized Acetate Sunglasses
Price upon publish date of this article: $50
J.Crew Kenmare Suit Jacket in Italian Wool
Price upon publish date of this article: $550
Shop the Book That Inspired the TV Series
‘Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’
Price upon publish date of this article: $15.19
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Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on trending TV show releases and how to stream them online for free.