Episode 4 of Etoile kicks off with Geneviève gliding across the polished dance floor with effortless grace, her bare feet barely touching the surface. Her serene demeanor is interrupted by a call from Raphael, who informs her that Ladd and Thomas are found unconscious after an exuberant night out. Frustrated, she vents about the subpar dancers Jack has assigned her, snapping a picture to underscore her dissatisfaction.
Across the Atlantic, in bustling NYC, Cheyenne peers into the children's dance class, doling out harsh yet pointed advice to Susu. Elsewhere, Crispin unveils the grandly renamed Shamblee Theatre with an air of official ceremony.
Back in Paris, Geneviève learns about an upcoming photo shoot featuring Gabin and Tobias. Her assistant reveals that Tobias has been ignoring emails pertaining to the shoot, adding a layer of tension to the mix. To her surprise, Crispin Shamblee is discovered practicing barre in her studio, an unexpected visitor indeed. He later pays her office a visit, casually mentioning a minor hiccup with one of his subsidiaries that might surface during her interviews. She confidently asserts her ability to manage it.
Tobias' rehearsal is abruptly halted by a call from New York, where Nicholas urges him to motivate his dancers. Tobias, ever the awkward soul, delivers his message with typical clumsiness.
Susu confronts Cheyenne, pleading with her not to attend her classes anymore, arguing that it hinders her efforts to make friends. Cheyenne, unyielding, responds by urging her to concentrate solely on becoming the best.
During an interview, Geneviève is taken completely off guard when she realizes that the "minor problem" Crispin alluded to is actually a colossal oil spill in the English Channel. She grapples clumsily through the questions, later calling Crispin to lambast him. He responds coolly, instructing one of his staff to furnish Geneviève with talking points for her press conference the following day.
We then witness snippets of the opening acts' rehearsals, where Tobias collaborates intently with Gabin and Cheyenne, while Gael engages in a harmonious partnership of his own. Meanwhile, Geneviève escorts Mishi to Cheyenne's mother's abode, adding another layer to the intricate tapestry of their lives.
In Jack's office, amidst discussions of work, Cheyenne barges in, dramatically pulling a stocking from beneath his couch. She reveals, to Jack's evident discomfort, that she and Gael have indulged in intimate relations right there on his couch. However, before he can fully grapple with this revelation, another crisis arises: their star dancer, Julie, sustains a broken ankle while performing a daring heel dance for a TikTok video. Consequently, Tobias's piece, slated to premiere in mere weeks, suddenly finds itself without a leading lady. Fortunately, Cheyenne steps up, volunteering to fill Julie's shoes with unwavering conviction.
At her press conference, Geneviève finds herself bombarded with inquiries about Crispin's oil spill. Despite attempting to steer the conversation using prepared talking points provided by him, the endeavor falters miserably, leaving her to navigate the stormy waters of public scrutiny alone.
Upon returning to his office, Jack discovers Gael frantically searching for his storage key amidst the cushions of the couch. With a stern demeanor, Jack insists that Gael sign an airtight contract, determined to prevent another abrupt departure. Reluctantly, Gael agrees to put pen to paper.
Meanwhile, Geneviève grapples with fresh dilemmas as Tobias fails to show up for the photoshoot with Gabin, forcing the photographer to capture Gabin in solitary splendor. Matters escalate when news breaks of a massive climate change protest contingent vowing to descend upon Paris and confront Geneviève personally over her controversial remarks.
The highly anticipated gala opening night arrives, and Mishi's mother quizzes Geneviève about the disappearance of her daughter's belongings. Geneviève, evasive yet reassuring, simply states she assisted Mishi without elaborating further. As the curtains rise, Mishi radiates on stage, yet her mother's tears tell a different story. Gabin, visibly disturbed throughout the performance, later erupts into a altercation when teased by a colleague.
Across the Atlantic, in New York, Jack kicks off their season's opening night with a bang. Eva enchants the audience with her mesmerizing Black Swan performance, followed by an impeccable routine by Cheyenne and Gael in Bound To. The highlight, however, is Piece 1, choreographed by Tobias, which unfolds flawlessly—until Tobias, seated in the audience, reveals his displeasure. Post-show, he storms backstage, throwing a fit, insisting that the piece was never intended for Cheyenne.
During Cheyenne's solo bow, she seizes the moment to publicly blame Crispin for the oil spill. Following this dramatic revelation, Tobias and Cheyenne decide to revise the piece to enhance its impact for the following night.
Upon Tobias's arrival in Paris, he finds Gabin deeply distressed and suspended from his duties. Gabin confides that he witnessed footage of Tobias and Cheyenne collaborating, which deeply hurt him. Placing a comforting hand on Gabin's shoulder, Tobias acknowledges that his message wasn't communicated clearly. They ultimately reconcile and resume their practice, closing out Etoile Episode 4 on a note of renewal and resolve.
