Constance is great

It took me a while to finish Love Story: John F Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette – totally get why the first few episodes were so compelling, Sarah Pidgeon is so good as Carolyn, the charm, the enigma, the style. But a lot of it was roughhhh. Like, why aren’t we talking more about how unnecessary it was to imagine Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis on her death bed, WTF?

That’s just one creative decision that, in my opinion, was entirely unnecessary, but probably my biggest issue with the series is that while they set it up so well why Carolyn was so irresistible to John, can’t say the same for how John was portrayed. Most of the time I was like, why was someone so cool, so unique and charismatic, why would she want to be with him because they did not do enough to establish him as an interesting, compelling person who could actually hold her attention. Gorgeous yes. Personality? Flat.

You know who brought it, though? One of the best parts of the show was Constance Zimmer’s performance as Ann Bessette, Carolyn’s mother who was, at least in the series, completely unimpressed by the Kennedy family and wasn’t exactly the most enthusiastic about the wedding. Constance made every scene better and was spectacular in the final episode, holy sh-t. Her reading at the funeral, the way her voice cracked so subtly, the heartbreak and defiance and anger in her delivery – everything was perfect, she was so believably brittle in those moments, I believed I was watching the real thing, and if there should be anyone nominated from this show, it should be her. I’m not convinced that anyone else should be, but Constance Zimmer? She’s the MVP.

Constance was photographed making the talk show rounds today in New York in an outfit that’s probably more Jackie than Ann, including a gorrrrgeous pair of oxfords with a low and embellished heel. Didn’t know she had such a strong shoe game, but that’s because we need to see her in more things. Put Constance Zimmer in more things!