The Love Stories in February
– 3 min read
Heated Rivalry is the love story that has dominated pop culture for weeks, from before the holidays, through the holidays, and now a month into 2026. Next month, February, is themed around Valentine’s Day and we have multiple contenders trying to take the romance crown from the horny gay hockey series.
Bridgerton season four is coming first, with the first half premiering on Netflix this Thursday, and the second on February 26. Then in a couple of weeks we have options at the theatres and at home on television – Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights opens on February 13, a film that’s already been much debated and is potentially quite divisive, as all of Emerald’s films are.
Debated and divisive also applies to Ryan Murphy’s Love Story, about John F Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette. A press release went out today confirming the release schedule – first three episodes on February 12 and then one a week for six weeks after that. Valentine’s weekend is going to be pure chaos on TikTok with the “discourse” around these two projects.
You’ll recall, when the first photos from Love Story, starring Paul Anthony Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon as John and Carolyn, were released, everyone was mad – the hair was wrong, the clothes were wrong, the vibe was wrong. There seemed to be some mild corrections to the visuals after that but, really, it all comes down to the charisma and the chemistry, whether or not it’s even possible to dramatise one of the most iconic couples of our time.
Vanity Fair had the exclusive first look last week – these shots from production -and my first and only observation is that this series looks like it’s been lit like a Nicholas Sparks adaptation. This… isn’t really a compliment.
I’m feeling the poster though. It’s in black and white, their backs to the camera, and from this angle, I can almost believe this might sort of kind of be them, even though I’m not entirely convinced that Carolyn would wear her hair in that kind of a knot. Then again, that might be too nitpicky. And let’s be real, it’s not like I’m not going to watch.
What else happened today…
I mentioned that it’s mild in Park City right now for Sundance, and I guess Cristin Milioti is taking advantage in tiny shorts. I’m actually into the outfit, I just can’t with the shoes. (Go Fug Yourself)
I live in Toronto and the only thing we were concerned about here this weekend was the storm. They did not exaggerate the storm – there are parts of my backyard where the snow is up to my shoulders. Anyway, the point is, no one here was registering that there was a new Chris Pratt movie, and snow or not, it wasn’t exclusive to where I live. (Pajiba)
The Beyoncé song that Ben Affleck used to listen to on repeat. Jennifer Garner has just opened the door to everyone asking Ben Affleck about his playlists. (Celebitchy)
Not sure why people are so gagged that Eric Nam has great skin – he’s Korean and everyone in Korea is obsessed with skincare. See also Hudson Williams. (The Mary Sue)
There’s a trend for everything, including scents. Supposedly tea scents are what’s hot for 2026 and there’s a scent on this list that I love – Le Labo’s Thé Noir 29, my friend Lara has been wearing it for years and it smells SO good on her. But that’s the thing about scents, they don’t work for everyone. Thé Noir never smells on me the way it smells on just about anyone and anything else. I keep a sample tube in my backpack and it’s heaven. But the minute it goes on my skin it becomes foul. What is wrong with me. (Refinery 29)
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