La Maison

I would have loved to see a fun, soapy, behind-the-scenes tale of what 'really' goes on in a French couture house, but this is not it.

Every character is ripped from the cliché attic: the house's art director is foppish and authoritarian, oblivious to what's happening in the world of style outside his microcosm. His sister, a former model, obsessively records her weight daily in a series of hundreds of notebooks dating back to her glory days. The head of La Maison's rival fashion house is comically villainous.

Then there is the 'new girl', who designs raggedy clothes that literally look like rubbish - but is suddenly appointed the fashion house's new art director because of her amazing talent.

Awful. An absolute slog to watch.

Great locations, wonderful architecture, feminine and LGBT support, but where is the fashion?

Beside the evilnees in Vincent, and the wicked Diane, the rest of the cast are out of the shape, no soul at all.

The character of Paloma is what France trying to tell the world like (the Olympics): we are mixing everything with everything, just swim the wave no strings attached, no rules, no history, no nothing.

Come on guys, if you want to stick feminine and LGBTQ in every hole, do it nicely, softly, and professionally. Can anyone make something like (The devil's wear prada) again?!

Or those days are gone.

The french version of 'Succesion', yes to all the negative reviews and yes to all to good ones. No one will like everything from this series, some will like or dislike the writing, others will like or dislike the fashion aspect of it. Yes there are some weak points and sometimes cliches present themselves, but thats okay.

The case for me is that this series shows me a great cast with great acting, interesting visuals, thorough thoughtful production design. But above all i see all the hard work and enthusiasm of the people working on this production. My hope is that Apple will give 'La Maison' the room to breathe and to elevate itself to the level of 'Succesion', especially concerning the psychology between the main characters. Also I ask the viewers and reviewers to consider looking at the aspects that are motivating for you to watch and don't let your biases and preconceived notions about how the show should be, stand in the way of your viewer experience.

Of the current shows streaming, this is the only one I am excited to watch every week. The premise probably isnt for everyone, much like couture fashion is not for everyone. Judging a show because it's too high brow without really giving it a chance is just hypocritical in itself.

The story is relevant, the acting is superb, the fashion is realistic, the power of the great French fashion houses is spot on. Halfway through the season right now, I'm hopeful it continues to get better and better. This is the type of show that shines a spotlight on an elusive industry that to this day is still very private and guarded. I'm not sure if this is meant to be a limited series or if more seasons are planned, but i for one, am all in!!

La Maison tries to weave together an ambitious tapestry of modern-day hot topics-eco-warriors, convoluted family dynamics, improbable relationships-all set against the stunning backdrop of a Parisian fashion house. And while the setting is undeniably gorgeous, the series fails to rise above its glossy surface, leaving viewers feeling more confused than enthralled.

Unlike the brilliance of Call My Agent, which balanced wit, heart, and authenticity, La Maison feels like a haphazard mix of themes that never quite gel. The characters are either caricatures or shallow imitations, and the acting often borders on soap-opera levels of melodrama. The young woman at the center of the story, whose very existence is the result of an absurdly convoluted relationship, serves more as a plot device than a character we can empathize with.

Instead of pulling us into the glamour and drama of the Parisian fashion world, the show stays firmly in the realm of the unbelievable. It's hard to invest in a story that feels both superficial and unnecessarily complicated.

Apple, you've proven capable of great storytelling before, but La Maison doesn't meet the bar. If you want to earn our viewing time, you'll need to put in more effort-and maybe focus less on trying to cram every current social issue into one series.