I just realized Étoile almost had a Season 2 on Prime Video (& it makes the cancellation even more disappointing)

Étoile was never meant to be a one-and-done series. In fact, before the ballet drama even aired, it already had a two-season mandate from Prime Video. That makes its cancellation not just confusing, but truly disheartening.

A second season was on the cards, plotted, and promised, and then it vanished without a trace. In hindsight, the loss feels even heavier, especially considering how Season 1 carefully set up elements for the future.

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The cancellation of Étoile was never supposed to happen this way

When Étoile dropped on Prime Video, there was a quiet confidence behind it. Amy Sherman-Palladino, known for crafting long-form stories like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and the iconic Gilmore Girls, had been given the rare approval for two full seasons upfront.

That kind of green light doesn't come easy, especially not from a streaming platform as selective as Prime Video. The show brought together ballet companies in New York and Paris, blending culture, art, and complicated relationships. But despite that setup—and even a planned continuation—it was abruptly cancelled after just eight episodes.

Prime Video reversed its original course barely a month after the show's release, pulling the plug even though the second season had technically been approved long before the premiere. The official word was that Étoile didn't draw a strong enough audience number to justify its steep production costs.

According to a Deadline report,

"For Étoile, the decision not to proceed with the second season under the two-year pickup came down largely to performance vs. cost. It is not believed to be tied to the regime change at Amazon MGM Studios as the series was ordered under former head Jennifer Salke who exited in March."

Filming in iconic spots in both cities, curating original dance sequences, building a fictional ballet company from scratch — none of that came cheap. But with no real promotional push and minimal online traction, the show never had the chance to build momentum.

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Étoile had already laid the groundwork for a second season, and then some

One of the reasons Étoile's cancellation feels like such a letdown is that its first season clearly wasn't a complete story. The final episode didn't tie things up. Instead, it opened the door to new power shifts and relationship arcs.

In Paris, choreographer Tobias found unexpected artistic freedom, while Jack stirred trouble in New York with an impulsive decision involving Cheyenne. The ballet swap, once a temporary experiment, had already reshaped everyone involved.

Then there were the show's budding romances with Jack and Cheyenne's unresolved connection, Tobias and Gabin's newly kindled bond. These weren't just subplots; they were slow-burning stories that Sherman Palladino had always stretched across seasons.

For fans of Palladino's past shows, Étoile on Prime Video felt like the beginning of something layered and long-term. With that momentum and that pacing, it wasn't meant to end here.

It's also worth noting that while Étoile didn't crack perfect streaming charts numbers or light up much on social media, it did build a quiet audience regardless. Critics gave it solid praise, and its theme—a tribute to performing artists post-pandemic—hit a niche that deserved more visibility.

The decision to cancel it so quickly undercuts not just the creative potential, but the idea that renewal guarantees do not mean anything anymore.

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Étoile was designed to go the distance, and being denied that second season feels like a broken promise.

With its story just getting started and characters only beginning to grow, its cancellation leaves a gap where something beautiful was taking shape. What's left is a show that almost soared but was grounded too soon.

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