Étoile‘s eventful Season 1 finale featured a heartwarming homecoming, a career-altering offer, a number of breakups and blowout arguments, more impressive on-stage performances, and several unexpected miracles.
But it also reminded us that Amy Sherman-Palladino knows how to build up to a momentous kiss.
Spoilers for Étoile Season 1, Episode 8 ahead.
Written and directed by Sherman-Palladino, “The Offer” kicked off with Genevieve (Charlotte Gainsbourg) comforting Jack (Luke Kirby) as he casket shopped for Nicholas (David Haig), who was on the brink of death. Throughout Season 1, Étoile showed Genevieve and Jack’s romantic connection building, with Genevieve finally making a move and inviting Jack to stay with her in Paris for a while as he grieved. Before he could leave New York, however, he had to face his fears and choose a successor for Nicholas. As Étoile fans likely hoped, his heart told him that Cheyenne (Lou de Laâge) was the right person for the job. Just one problem…she was MIA ahead of her big performance.
Turns out, Cheyenne returned to Paris for some much-needed quality time with her mother (Marie Berto) and Mishi (Taïs Vinolo). Meanwhile, Gael (David Alvarez) reconnected with his ex Quinn (Nina Arianda). And though Genevieve got Gabin (Ivan du Pontavice) back in time to dance, Tobias’ (Gideon Glick) decided he hated his new choreography and hopped on stage to fix it in front of the crowd. In a PR disaster turned PR dream, Tobais’ impromptu choreography was live-streamed and served as free, electric press for the Ballet National. It also ended in a highly-anticipated kiss with Gibon! (But that’s not even the biggest kiss of the episode!)
Jack finally got a hold of Cheyenne and asked her to take over for Nicholas as artistic director. She told Genevieve she accepted, which led to a massive fight. Then Genevieve called Jack fuming because he poached Cheyenne. Genevieve called their romantic relationship quits. And Gael broke things off with Cheyenne when she returned from Paris. In a twist, Nicholas woke up from his coma, which meant Cheyenne was out of a job. After an incredibly emotional performance to a live Sparks performance, Cheyenne raced off stage and broke down sobbing. Jack followed, the two passionately shouted at each other, and finally, they surrendered to the palpable chemistry between them with an intense, passionate, swoon-worthy kiss that ended Season 1 on a cliffhanger and set up a compelling love triangle in Season 2.
“We knew that we were eventually gonna land on them at some point. We just didn’t exactly know where until we got a little deeper into the process,” Dan Palladino told Decider over Zoom. “Lou and Luke are so good together. The thing is, Luke and Charlotte are so good together, that it does make it hard. They’re both smart, sharp women. They’re both difficult in their relationships, in their own way. And he’s both the right and the wrong man for both of them. So it’s kind of like the perfect love triangle, where none of them should be together.”
When Episode 6 revealed that Jack and Cheyenne had a romantic history five years earlier, I couldn’t help but root for them to revisit that past and see if the sparks were still there. But Jack and Genevieve did have something good going, too. (How could you do us like this, Palladinos?!)
“[Jack and Cheyenne] touch upon it in the first episode. There’s sort of this sad, reflective moment where Cheyenne is learning about how New York has changed since her last time being here. And to me, just those few lines spoke volumes to their shared history,” Kirby told Decider.
When if he was rooting for Jack and Cheyenne when he read the finale script, the Étoile star added, “I think they’re both worthy relationships. They’re friendships. Everyone in this story is drawn to one art form and is driven by trying to keep its vitality present. I don’t know where it’s going. I have ideas for sure, but nobody’s gonna listen to me.”
Will There Be An Étoile Season 2?
Curious if Étoile fans will see the aftermath of Jack and Cheyenne’s big finale kiss and what comes next for the rest of the characters in New York and Paris? We’ve got good news!
Prime Video picked up Étoile with a two-season order back in April 2023, which means the Palladinos, Kirby, and more core cast members will be returning to continue this compelling story. As of Season 1’s premiere on April 24, 2025, an official Season 2 date has yet to be announced, but stay tuned for updates.
Étoile Season 1 is now streaming on Prime Video.
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