Becoming Karl Lagerfeld

Daniel Brühl makes an honest effort, but is unfortunately completely miscast as Karl Lagerfeld. Not that he doesn't look like him. The problem is more that he doesn't radiate the slightest charisma. He appears lenient, opportunistic, dull and boring, just the contrary of the real Karl Lagerfeld. The characters around him are much more interesting and way more colorful. Maybe that's why the makers decided to edit him out of the show, more or less. They must have realized what a terrible mistake they made and decided to focus the show on the more interesting side characters.

That could put a real dent in his career.

They should have renamed the show.

From the point of view of production values, Becoming Karl Lagerfeld cannot be faulted. Beautifully designed, costumed and filmed, it is worth your time for those alone. But ultimately it is a depressing tale of mismatched lovers - Lagerfeld, an ageing, sexually frigid German workaholic whose only pleasure is food, and a spoiled, promiscuous French party boy twenty years younger. Karl's attachment to Jacques seemed to be partly parental, and an idealisation of his youth and putative beauty. Jacques clearly had daddy issues and couldn't survive without the ongoing financial support. Yet each in his own way loved the other and was addicted to their dysfunctional relationship. And knowing of Jacques eventual death at 38 of AIDS made it all the sadder..

I was really looking forward to this series .......... But - to me - it was a bait and switch. It was the story of Jacques de Bascher, not Lagerfeld. And, frankly, I didn't care for Jacques.

This is a very sad story of two men who were brilliant designers, Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent and the man who reeked havoc in both their lives (rather who they let into their lives) - Jacques de Bascher.

Had this been advertised in a different way, it would have been excellent - the actors were all brilliant. But I did not learn a whole lot about Lagerfeld becoming a designer and that was why I watched it. As it was, I came away depressed for what both Lagerfeld and Saint Laurent endured (willingly!) at the hands of a young man who knew his power and abused it with glee.

As in all things, to each his own.

I randomly watched this series with no expectations. I had watched a documentary about Lagerfeld, and found he was an interesting character. Anyway this series is a really easy watch and I found myself binge watching it. I have really enjoyed the era, the scenery and costume design, it's a lot of fun. I think the storyline and the weaving of the character relationships is so intriguing and really well done. I feel it has been done tastefully and with respect. I haven't had something to watch like this in a while, that wasn't too stressful or draining. If you want a watchable programme that will keep you entertained, check it out. It's fun, emotional, and interesting.

I wish it was more about Karl and his work instead of the love triangle with the twink gigolo. A LOT of unnecessery scenes. I don't think the late Karl Lagerfeld would've liked the series... He spent his whole life doing everything for his work and the fashion industry and now he is being portraied as a sugar daddy with no feelings...

The acting was good though, Daniel did an amazing job as always. You could tell he studied the character, although Karl was a private person. What I liked most is how real and authentic (most) characters felt. The atmosphere the series created was also great. I wish I saw more fashion and less romantic drama.