Étoile

First a definition, the title means "Star." In the context of ballet, 'étoile' is used to designate the leading dancer in a ballet company, often referred to as a "principal dancer" in English.

This new show just became available, streaming on Prime. My wife and I watched all episodes over a week, and my overall summary is "never a dull moment." We watch a series like this to be entertained and this one is thoroughly entertaining. I did have some issues, too much profanity from one character and the France part moves so fast that the small English subtitles are hard to read in real time.

The husband and wife Palladino team are responsible for two of my favorite series, "Gilmore Girls" and "Mrs. Maisel." As I reflect, while the stories are interesting, the real fun are the interesting characters and unique dialog. The main characters are always somewhat "off center" and quirky. People we would rarely encounter in real life.

This new show, 'Etoile", is like that too. It starts with a meeting and negotiation, New York and Paris based ballet companies. Both are in some financial trouble and it is thought exchanging stars, select dancers and choreographers, would ignite interest for both companies. So over the 8 episodes we alternately see what is going on in each city, and the stories, including a few love affairs, that develop from all that.

All the main characters here are very "off center" and very quirky, but the actors are talented and mostly pull it off well. My wife's favorite was Tobias, the creative but antisocial choreographer that was loaned to France. My favorite was Cheyenne, the "etoile" loaned to the New York company.

Ballet is the overall theme but isn't really the total focus. The entertainment arises from the characters and their interactions. And there are some real "characters."

It ends in a way that could set up for a second season. I hope it does, I'd like to see all the characters continue on. This has been for us one of the more entertaining TV miniseries.

Once i saw who the producers were it all made sense! A few misfires (the clones???) and the tone can be slightly out of step, and the characters a bit too caricature but i loved the dance, and the drama, not as whipsmart as Mrs Maisel but still great and fun.

I like that the story revolves more around the teachers and management rather than ballet drama, although theres enough dancing and beauty to make it about ballet and the performing arts crazy world. The trademark snappy rambling quirky dialogue is there in its glorious almost too much fashion. Luke Kirby is great i cant wait to see him in more.

First I was quite a bit skeptical about watching Etoike, set in the ballet world. However I was in quite for some positive surprise. The series' tone is light, fresh and quite funny. Great actors throughout, esp Kirby, Gainsborough and Brit national treasure Callow. I went away thinking: "what an energetic,great breath of air" Etoile is.exactly what we need in these dark days. Highly recommended. I personally like it more than Mrs Maisle and Bunheads. Great music, cinematography and locations, especially from Lincoln Center in the premiere. Good dialogue & direction, the Paldinos did it again.

My Review - Étoile My Rating 8/10 Streaming on Amazon Prime

I'll be honest my reaction to the first episode of Étoile was similar to my reaction to the first episode of Ted Lasso a series I came to love because of its originality and warm humour .

I knew nothing or have any interest in American college football so I thought Ted Lasso wouldn't appeal to me at all however the lead character and the ensemble personalities really won me over.

Why I'm comparing The Corporate world of football to The Corporate World of Arts and Ballet is because some viewers may think ballet is stuffy or dull and I can guarantee the characters and unique world of Étoile will certainly prove that theory incorrect.

Written by Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino who created the hit series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel this new series Étoile meaning Star in the English translation entirely centres around 2 famous international ballet companies which swap their top talent for a year running tandem seasons complete with a splashy transatlantic marketing campaign.

The two executive directors are played appealingly by Charlotte Gainsbourg as Geneviève the interim general director of l'Opera Francais and Le Ballet National and Luke Kirby as Jack Mc Milan the executive director of of the Metropolitan Ballet Theater at New York City's Lincoln Centre .

I've often thought that the personality and everyday life experiences of some not all successful megastars living in their arts bubble of public adulation and fame is totally disconnected from the everyday world that us mere mortals inhabit which may explain their sense of entitlement and narcissism.

These individuals seem to live in a bubble of ego and artistic temperament and this is portrayed humorously sometimes manically in Étoile .

Lou de Laâge is wonderful cast as renown French prima ballerina Cheyenne Toussant opposite Gideon Glick as the talented but ditzy man child New York choreographer Tobias Bell.

Then we have the fly in the ointment an effervescent multi millionaire entrepreneur Crispin Shamblee played with delicious glee by Simon Callow whose wealth equals power even to change the name of respected institutions,sound familiar?

As the series progresses there are many humorous and some touching interactions with the Principle characters and the ensembles of both companies.

Étoile is a beautiful and lush series to watch the ballet segments are sublime set in actual locations that include The Lincoln Center and the Palais Garnier.

While many of the cast members are professional dancers who perform their own dance routines, the lead actors playing the title roles, Ivan du Pontavice as Gabin and Lou de Laâge as Cheyenne, are not professional dancers. They did extensive training and took daily ballet classes and Pilates for a year, but they still required dance doubles for some of their scenes.

I found Étoile an interesting,funny and unique series plus a "love letter" to both New York City and Paris.

I look forward to Season 2 which has already been commissioned and should begin production in the next few months .

Whip-Smart dialogue, absurd sub text, world building, absolutely BRILLIANT casting.

GO IN EXPECTING A LIGHT SHOW AND GIVE IT A CHANCE TO PULL YOU IN - otherwise you won't get it. The first episode didn't pull me in, I stopped and came back later knowing what to expect watching ep 2 and binged entire thing

I think all the negativity is coming from people who are expecting a far more serious show; I've always felt even with Mrs Maisel her work is very marmite- You either "click" with Amy's POV or you don't.

If you surrender to the unique pacing of the show it completely absorbs you; it's world building, it takes you on these absolutely absurd detours you wouldn't have guessed in a million years that are hilarious IF you never take the show too seriously

Using Charlotte to solidify Kirby's talent for people who dont know him or had any doubts is brilliant and I adore Cheyenne; so admittedly I think this would be difficult to watch if you can't see the fun in her character.

ADORE the fact that they went all out with a bizarre tortured genius choreographer; everything about him feels like an indulgence to Mrs. Maisel fans. The character top to bottom and dialogue is superb. I always felt that if given absolute freedom we'd have full episodes around these wonderful side characters in Mrs Maisel like the magican. Since that show was such a success it walked so that Etoile could boldly run - giving us what feels like an encore for those characters catering to this niche audience that is forever grateful!

A big fan of Kirby I was expecting a different show, admittedly I watched the first episode and worried. When I came back I guess I went in knowing how silly it could be and willing to embrace it binged the entire season and I as left absolutely CRAVING more at the end and feeling EMPTY back in the real worlds

I will be heartbroken if they don't get a next season (it's giving me flashbacks to Pushing Daisies but I'm hoping the incredible work they've given Amazon will count for something)