‘ÉTOILE’ IS SURPRISING AND LOVELY THING TO WATCH FROM AMAZON MGM
Returning to TV show creation and format is Amy Sherman-Palladino & Daniel Palladino, the award-winning writers who created Gilmore Girls. Now Amazon MGM Studios brings Étoile to life.
Étoile (2025) Amazon MGM Studios TV Review
In New York, a group of dancers set out to perfect their routines and have ambitions to be the best. But the dance world has changed. Now dancers start families and obsess over TikTok, and in this changed world, they aren’t perhaps as eager to devote solely to all it takes to make ballet the center of their world. This inspires two ballet companies to take drastic measures. New York director Jack McMillan (Luke Kirby) doesn’t follow rules. He’s way behind on certain HR requirements and is losing a lot with this company. Then there is Geneviève Lavigne (Charlotte Gainsbourg), the interim director of a ballet in Paris.
The suggestion is they swap talent despite Jack not being easily on board. Still the fight is on to save their respective companies even as top tier talent is singled out. Then, Jack concedes realizing that his dancers deserve more, and so, negotiations begin.
‘ÉTOILE’ IS SURPRISING AND LOVELY THING TO WATCH FROM AMAZON MGM. Review (first impression thoughts!) of the eight episode #Etoile from #AmazonMGM. Now on #PrimeVideo. Share on XThis show is, well, ridiculous when you base this opinion solely on the topic (which is dance), but when you realize who is producing this, it all makes sense. The show is crazy and full of unusual characters that don’t fit the stereotype of the world of dance, which has typically been depicted as dark and dangerous. This one adds some light or at the very least, quirkiness that offers lighthearted things, including the quirk of each character. The show also has many familiar faces to anyone if you like other Palladino shows.
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There are also some newer to the scene faces too. There is LaMay Zhang and Lou de Laâge, one of whom is a literal newbie while the other is unknown to most American viewers. These characters all seem to have big personalities. From the dueling company heads to the principal dancers including the fiery Cheyenne Toussaint, there is a lot of clashing drama. However, what I think I like best is, this gives the characters life outside of dance. Dance is prevalent, but it’s actually more about their hopes outside this. Then there is also the little girl who wishes beyond anything to dance and her fight to self learn.
The show is very, which is normal for these creators, pop culture heavy. There are many references to well-known cultural happenings from “proclivities” to political “figures,” this show doesn’t shy away from dipping toes into all hot topic issues. Mostly, it’s done in a fun way, but if you don’t like this brand of comedy, this may not be a show you’ll enjoy. If you’ve liked other shows, including Gilmore Girls, from this duo, Étoile is worth looking into. Whether you’ll enjoy it or not is up in the air, but it has its moments, though just know, it’s very theatrical, as its premise would suggest.
Stream, at publication, Étoile on Prime Video; all eight episodes are now streaming.
Content: lots of f-words and other minor profanity as well. There is some innuendo and an entire conversation (in the first 10 minutes) about who had syphilis in years past plays out. A woman talks to a man’s “dick” (it’s not about sex) suggesting this is where his pride is. The show is TVMA (or 16+ on its Prime Video page). Note; this is only based on episodes one – three.
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