There's a rule in storytelling where, you need main characters with "stature." They need some quality that makes them worth devoting a story to, as opposed to the literally infinite number of other characters you could invent instead.
In this show, the "stature" of Chanel and Dior is their fame as fashion designers. But that has absolutely no role in the WWII era scenes that provides them with stature.
Chanel is a horrible person who collaborates with Nazis, and even worse, she is a coward about it, not even admitting to herself what she is doing. The tone of this series conveys no point of view about this, as though it's perfectly all right because after all, she's a famous fashion designer.
Dior at least is a decent guy of the common type, who moves mountains to save those he loves but doesn't endanger himself for strangers or causes like "saving democracy from Nazis."
Which raises the problem: since he isn't at all unique in this way, why is the story about him, particularly? Once again, it's because he becomes famous later on. So the hell what?
The whole premise of this series is flawed. Now if they'd done a biopic about Josephine Baker (and I think that's been done), it would make sense. She battled racism all her life, including during her glory days as a dancer. Later, during WWII, she joined the French Resistance and battled the racist Nazis.
Her story has coherence and she has the stature to be a lead character. Chanel and Dior don't. Apple should have saved their money.
In this show, the "stature" of Chanel and Dior is their fame as fashion designers. But that has absolutely no role in the WWII era scenes that provides them with stature.
Chanel is a horrible person who collaborates with Nazis, and even worse, she is a coward about it, not even admitting to herself what she is doing. The tone of this series conveys no point of view about this, as though it's perfectly all right because after all, she's a famous fashion designer.
Dior at least is a decent guy of the common type, who moves mountains to save those he loves but doesn't endanger himself for strangers or causes like "saving democracy from Nazis."
Which raises the problem: since he isn't at all unique in this way, why is the story about him, particularly? Once again, it's because he becomes famous later on. So the hell what?
The whole premise of this series is flawed. Now if they'd done a biopic about Josephine Baker (and I think that's been done), it would make sense. She battled racism all her life, including during her glory days as a dancer. Later, during WWII, she joined the French Resistance and battled the racist Nazis.
Her story has coherence and she has the stature to be a lead character. Chanel and Dior don't. Apple should have saved their money.
