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.

I don't know how to describe the first episode, it certainly isn't a representation of the following episodes. It is even almost redundant. I suspect the low marks stopped watching here. Luckily I read a enthusiastic and motivated review and I am so glad I kept watching!

Just start with episode 2, and if you want to, watch episode 1 after that.

What you get after episode 1 is adjustment to the format, clarity in characters, humor, more and more balance and a great development of the main storyline and the sublines.

My favorite character is Cheyenne. She is the French epiphany of a (very) rough exterior and a (developing) soft interior.

Of course on point as always are Luke Kirby and Charlotte Gainsbourg.

Susu is lovely and the growing connection she has with Cheyenne is great to see. I Hope to see more of her and them in season 2.

Like Susu there are some solid sub characters whom you come to like throughout the episodes.

And I think Simon Callow must have had a blast portraying Crispin. 😄

With every episode I enjoyed it more, up to the awesome last final worthy one.

Just give it a chance, get familiar with a series that is not average, not thirteen in a dozen.

I don't understand all the negative reviews, I am no fan of ballet but this show does not push the ballet into your face and forces you to watch it. It does so in a subtle way, in small dosages. If ballet alone is the reason for low reviews, it is not fair at all!

This is a fun, funny, entertaining, binge-worthy series and I am here for season 2, if they decide to renew (which I hear they will).

I find all the characters interesting, but I have to say (like most of us), I have a soft spot for Luke Kirby who is just a joy to watch!

Hats off to the actress playing Chayenne, she does a great job.

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 .

Yes the shows has its fault but Luke Kirby pretty much makes up for all of them! Some of the characters are very caricatured but the dance and the acting performances make the sometimes awkwardly written storylines bearable enough to enjoy the show in a single binge! The Palladinos as usual repeated some of the old favourites and it's an absolute pleasure to see all of them. The dialogue is sharp and quick- very signature Palladino stuff. Overall, not unlike my review, the story lines are a bit all over the place but their casting team as usual has hit it out of the park with exceptional talent in every single scene.