The premiere episode of "Etoile" unfolds with a poignant scene: a young girl, shrouded in the dim glow of a studio, tirelessly practises ballet by meticulously following a video of another class. Her mother, a diligent worker at the very same studio, scrubs the corridors in the background, providing an unspoken testament to their shared passion amidst humble circumstances.
The narrative then seamlessly transitions to a vibrant club, where Jack McMillan and Geneviève Lavigne, accompanied by their respective colleagues, engage in an exhilarating dance. Jack attempts to seduce Geneviève, but she firmly declines his advances. The following morning, Jack arrives at his beleaguered ballet company, revealing a tumultuous atmosphere ripe with dancer complaints of bullying, missing wine glasses, scathing reviews, and the unexpected pregnancy of a promising performer.
Amidst this chaos, Jack convenes with Geneviève, who helms her own ballet company in Paris. She laments their shared plight and proposes a bold solution: an exchange of their top talents to reignite public fascination with ballet. She reveals that she has secured the entire campaign's funding through Crispin Shamblee, a figure of controversy.
Jack's disdain for Crispin, whom he scorns as a weapons manufacturer and confidant of tyrants, is palpable. He privately confronts Geneviève, wondering if her proposal stems from a past intimate encounter that led to her divorce. Despite her denial, Jack remains steadfast in his refusal. However, as she prepares to depart for the airport, Jack's resolve wavers, and he urges her to return.
Gathered with their respective teams, Jack and Geneviève deliberate on the talent swap. Jack covets dancers Antoine and Harmony, along with composer Henri. In return, Geneviève seeks choreographer Tobias Bell and dancers Anna and Mishi, the latter of whom once trained with her until an unfortunate cut during her final year.
The episode teems with emotional depth and dramatic tension, setting the stage for a captivating journey into the world of ballet and the intricate dynamics that unfold behind the scenes.
This appears to be the final straw for Jack, who, in a fit of rage, storms off to seek solace in the auditorium, where a pair of dancers are meticulously rehearsing a segment from Romeo and Juliet. As he watches, his imagination takes flight, envisioning another female dancer in the lead role. Intrigued, he marches back to the meeting room, where he insistently demands to see Cheyenne. Geneviève, initially reluctant to part with her, eventually concedes under Crispin's persuasive influence.
Cheyenne Toussaint emerges as a powerhouse of a woman, currently aboard a ship engaged in a daring confrontation with an illegal fishing vessel. She bellows orders for harpoons and other maritime weaponry, her commanding presence eventually intimidating her fellow sailors. Upon docking, her bold actions lead to her arrest, much to the consternation of her shipmates.
From behind bars, Cheyenne places a call to her mother, only to learn that the ballet company is anxiously searching for her. Fired by a blend of frustration and determination, she bursts into Geneviève's office, demanding answers for her alleged dismissal. Geneviève, however, insists that no such action was ever taken. Despite Cheyenne's vehement protests, Geneviève skillfully persuades her to embark on a year-long journey to New York.
Back in New York, Jack imparts the exciting news to Tobias and two fellow male dancers that their journey is set for Paris. Meanwhile, Cheyenne lands in NYC but chooses to bypass her awaiting chauffeur, preferring instead the adventure of the subway and a brisk walk to the company. Jack, already frazzled, confronts her upon her arrival. She voices her frustrations about being uprooted, while Jack elucidates the significance of their switch. Cheyenne concedes her uncertainty, to which Jack responds by urging her to focus solely on dancing and entrust the rest to him.
As she wanders through the ballet theater, Cheyenne crosses paths with Crispin, who is directing workers to entirely revamp the theater and its lobby. Echoing Jack's sentiments, Cheyenne labels Crispin a power-hungry liar. Crispin, however, claims a unique understanding of her, reminding her of how she had once publicly defied choreographer Anthony by rejecting his steps and performing her own. He posits that they share a ruthless streak in their pursuits. Before departing, Crispin reveals a shocking truth: the yacht Cheyenne had previously lambasted belonged to him.
Later that evening, Cheyenne stumbles upon the young girl practicing ballet in the dimly lit space, calling her out for learning from a pirated video and borrowing another dancer's shoes. Yet, in a twist at the close of Etoile Episode 1, instead of getting the girl into trouble, Cheyenne merely exits, leaving the situation unresolved.
