Nauseatingly, yet dreamily American. With an average TV-series logic and eye-catching wardrobe, Love Story dives into the inner kitchens of 90s U.S. old-money families and pop culture icons. And, what’s better than those two coming together in a couple, like America’s golden prince, John F. Kennedy Jr. and one of the most effortless chic “it” girls of the time, Carolyn Bessette.

The first three episodes of the show follow an introduction of the characters and their complicated professional and personal lives. John (Paul Anthony Kelly) is pushed by his mother, Jackie Kennedy-Onassis (Naomi Watts), to pass the bar exam after failing it twice, while also trying to pursue his true passions, like journalism, and dealing with his appearing-and-disappearing LA-famous partner, actress Daryl Hannah (Dree Hemingway). Carolyn (Sarah Pidgeon), on the other hand, is a saleswoman at Calvin Klein who, standing out as the “V.I.P. whisperer,” gets promoted to high-level publicist, gaining access to V.I.P. events and eventually meeting John Kennedy Jr.

As John is troubled figuring out his private and public personas, dealing with expectations, unapproved relationships, and his mother’s death, Carolyn becomes a safe space for him. While consistently turning America’s prince down, Carolyn’s self-containment and nonchalantness towards John’s life are what exactly draw him deeper under her spell.

Carolyn is the perfect 90s chic “it” girl, an embodiment of New York-ian quiet luxury. She’s a free spirit with a life and mind of her own. Men want to date her, women want to be her, yet she’s the one holding the reins. Always. As Carolyn’s character evolves under fast-paced, cliff-hanger-heavy montage, and a catchy original score alongside carefully curated 90s pieces, Carolyn’s on-screen “hot mess” charm becomes even more irresistible.

In the meantime, John goes through a lot of self-discovery. The third episode ends with him crashing at Carolyn’s place, exhausted from cycling under the heavy rain in NYC streets. As John finally processes the tragedy that befell his family with his mother’s death, he breaks down in Carolyn’s arms, and the young people have their first kiss, marking the start of their relationship.

This series is good, but not great. Perhaps its biggest flaw is that a series of this importance for the U.S. context is shot to be perfectly bingable in the background. The first three episodes were interesting, but I will hardly continue watching after writing this review.

Nevertheless, it’s chic and has a certain target audience – an army of it-girl-wannabees obsessed with style and drama. And, judging from the reactions I’ve seen on Instagram reels, the target has been reached.

Will it become an “it” series itself, though – or will it soon collect dust in online databases? Time will tell. For now, it’s a 6/10 to me at best. Perhaps, a “royal” love story deserved a less cliché presentation. Yet, maybe this is exactly what makes this series so poignantly American.