La Maison

Of the current shows streaming, this is the only one I am excited to watch every week. The premise probably isnt for everyone, much like couture fashion is not for everyone. Judging a show because it's too high brow without really giving it a chance is just hypocritical in itself.

The story is relevant, the acting is superb, the fashion is realistic, the power of the great French fashion houses is spot on. Halfway through the season right now, I'm hopeful it continues to get better and better. This is the type of show that shines a spotlight on an elusive industry that to this day is still very private and guarded. I'm not sure if this is meant to be a limited series or if more seasons are planned, but i for one, am all in!!

In the brilliant, and still greatest series ever, 'The Sopranos', Christopher says to Adriana, in response to her saying to him that they could leave the life and start over and he could be a male model: "As far as male modeling goes, I'd probably be a success, but I don't want to be around those fkn' people."

Now, Christopher was a junkie, woman beater, and a made Mafia guy, but no truer words were ever spoken regarding the fashion industry!

I made it up to the 'eco-warriors.' I am sick-to-death with these self-indulgent ankle-biters thinking they own the patent on self-righteousness!

I'll take the mob over these fashion effete poseurs!

Huge disappointment after the outstanding Le Bureau des Légendes, which came from the same production team.

It feels like an over-the-top rehash of Dynasty meets The Young & The Restless, sprinkled with The Devil Wears Prada!

What we end up with is a string of plagiarized moments lifted from other shows in the genre. Granted, no one's reinventing the wheel, and plagiarism can be seen as homage when done excellently - but in La Maison, the writers seem so uninspired it reeks of ChatGPT.

The pseudo-transgressive insertions are so predictable, they feel both contractually obligated and borderline pathetic.

If we're diving into the world of fashion, the series on Dior and Balenciaga are far better crafted.

Lambert Wilson and Carole Bouquet are completely over the top - the acting is neither modern, nor nuanced, nor subtle. Think a watered-down Alexis Colby (Joan Collins) mixed with a half-baked Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep).

They deserved better than this glorified garden shed.

Next!

Great locations, wonderful architecture, feminine and LGBT support, but where is the fashion?

Beside the evilnees in Vincent, and the wicked Diane, the rest of the cast are out of the shape, no soul at all.

The character of Paloma is what France trying to tell the world like (the Olympics): we are mixing everything with everything, just swim the wave no strings attached, no rules, no history, no nothing.

Come on guys, if you want to stick feminine and LGBTQ in every hole, do it nicely, softly, and professionally. Can anyone make something like (The devil's wear prada) again?!

Or those days are gone.

This is worth watching because of the stunning architecture, interiors and some interesting artwork that flashes by. The fashion is okay if you like black, black and more black. The characters are nasty and there is a lot of homosexual passion with both sexes, which is overplayed. There is also a lot of generational tension. All this reminds me of the old soap operas like Dallas. Fortunately, fast forward gets past the annoying stuff. The conflict of values between the generations is the most interesting storyline. It's an important struggle, conversation and ultimately has to do with our collective human survival. It is life or death especially for younger people who are inheriting a sick planet. And yes the issues of racism, gender politics, classism, sexism etc are all present too.