Ballet meets binge-worthy television in Amazon Prime’s latest gamble, “Étoile” — and honestly, it’s about time someone brought these worlds together. The streaming giant’s newest series feels like what might happen if “Black Swan” had a love child with “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” and that’s meant as the highest compliment.
Look who’s trading comedy clubs for dance studios: Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, the creative dynamos who gave us rapid-fire dialogue and tracking shots that would make Scorsese dizzy. Their latest venture pirouettes away from stand-up comedy and into the cutthroat world of classical ballet. And in true Palladino fashion, they’ve managed to secure a two-season order right out of the gate — no small feat in 2025’s increasingly ruthless streaming landscape.
The premise? Two desperate ballet companies — one in New York, one in Paris — attempt a talent swap that sounds like the setup for either a brilliant success or a spectacular disaster. There’s something deliciously meta about watching Luke Kirby (fresh from his scene-stealing turn as Lenny Bruce) navigate the world of haute culture. Opposite him stands Charlotte Gainsbourg, bringing that ineffable French gravitas that you simply can’t manufacture.
“I know you are the great Cheyenne, queen of the dance,” Kirby’s character declares in what might be the year’s most perfectly delivered piece of dialogue. It’s the kind of line that could’ve been cringe-worthy in lesser hands, but somehow works — much like that AI-generated Met Gala dress that broke the internet last month.
The ensemble cast reads like a who’s-who of “people you really should know about.” Lou de Laâge steps into the spotlight as Cheyenne, while Gideon Glick (still riding high from “Maestro”) represents New York’s finest. Then there’s the utterly delightful return of Yanic Truesdale — yes, Michel from “Gilmore Girls” is back in the Palladino fold, this time as a sharp-tongued assistant named Raphael. Some reunions just make sense.
Speaking of sharp tongues, de Laâge delivers what might be the most quotable line about parenthood since “The Bear” gave us that viral kitchen meltdown: “They are a drain on the world, and are boring to talk to, but that doesn’t mean I did not give them up!” It’s exactly the kind of dialogue that makes you wonder why nobody thought to set a Palladino show in the ballet world before. Perhaps they were all too busy trying to remake “Wednesday” for the third time.
The show drops all eight episodes on April 24th — right when we’ll all be recovering from that wild “House of the Dragon” finale. Perfect timing? Maybe. Strategic programming? Definitely. With a supporting cast including David Alvarez, Simon Callow, and the impossibly talented newcomer LaMay Zhang (whose TikTok ballet series has already racked up millions of views), “Étoile” seems poised to prove that prestige television doesn’t have to choose between substance and style.
In an era where streaming platforms are throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks (looking at you, cryptocurrency dating shows), “Étoile” feels like a calculated risk worth taking. It’s a reminder that sometimes the best stories aren’t found in the latest tech trend or reality show gimmick, but in the timeless clash between tradition and innovation. Or, you know, somewhere between a plié in Paris and a pirouette in New York.
Leave a Reply