Elle Season 1 Review: Legally Blonde Prequel Works Best Set in an Alternate Universe
The highly anticipated Legally Blonde prequel, Elle, is nothing short of enjoyable.
The show follows Elle Woods’ teenage years as her life turns upside down when her family moves to Seattle, thrusting her into an environment she has never experienced before.
If the premise sounds familiar, it is because this show is not just a Legally Blonde prequel — it follows the movie’s premise.
Of course, 16-year-old Elle Woods is not identical to a 20-something-year-old Elle, but the similarities are staggering — down to her unexpected discovery of corruption and signature scented pink paper.
It begs the question: what is the purpose of the show if Legally Blonde already tells a story about Elle Woods growing up, defying the odds, and maximizing her potential?
Thankfully, seeing Elle as its own piece of media set in an alternate universe makes all the difference.
Kimberly: Seattle isn’t a costume, and pink isn’t a personality.
Treating Elle like a brand-new adventure or a universe where Elle grows into herself differently immediately improves the show. This perspective transforms Elle from a copycat narrative to a distinct story with separate stakes.
As an alternate universe, Elle is filled with tasteful nostalgic references to Legally Blonde rather than being a blatant rip-off.
Furthermore, if the show is truly a prequel, the narrative creates several plot holes that are simply incompatible with Legally Blonde.
For one, Elle’s parents, Eva and Wyatt, are highly affluent and superficial. Therefore, the show’s attempt to portray them as intricate characters is puzzling.
Eva and Wyatt Woods are materialistic Californians who do not care about anything beyond their lavish lifestyle. Depicting Wyatt thriving in Seattle as if he discovered his place in life makes no sense if he ends up back in California.
Driving a wedge between Eva and Wyatt is additionally confusing, given that their marriage seems fine and even trivial in Legally Blonde.
It is also ridiculous to subject Elle to character development that reflects who she becomes in Legally Blonde. Now, she must regress at some point between this show and the movie.
However, treating Elle like an alternate universe immediately remedies the characterization issues while establishing a more complex Woods family dynamic. It allows Elle, Eva, and Wyatt the freedom to learn and grow without the constraints of character regression.
Elle Woods: To me, fearless is finding something new.
Standing on its own, Elle is pretty entertaining, despite some issues.
There are countless moments throughout Season 1 that are incredibly far-fetched. These occasions are so wildly out of place that they completely disconnect the narrative.
Costumes are a big part of this issue because everyone is dressed as if they are in high school in the mid-2010s, not in 1995. Even Elle’s outfits do not portray a teenager in the 1990s, despite the pink scheme reflecting her character.
It is also strange that most Rainier West High School students are more or less the same. They do not act like typical teenagers in the 1990s; they are more akin to Tumblr bloggers in 2015.
There should be a wide variety of personalities amongst students, but they all seem to have the same progressive outlook on life, with no other interests whatsoever.
Of course, many teenagers in the 1990s held liberal ideals, but it is unrealistic for an entire student body to think the same way. It is even more astonishing given that many of these ideals are a little advanced for this time period.
It seems unlikely that Rainier West High School would be so nontraditional as to have no sports beyond cross-country running, no social gatherings other than quirky indie concerts, and no extracurriculars that do not involve social justice.
Seattle is vastly different from Los Angeles, but there are other ways to make this point without portraying all of Seattle’s high school students as post-millennial political activists.
Anna St. George: Sometimes friction means you’re in the right place.
Despite these grievances, Elle remains a fun watch with Lexi Minetree’s stellar performance as a highlight.
Reese Witherspoon was born to play Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, but Lexi Minetree was born to play Elle Woods in this show, and it is evident in how much Minetree embodies the character.
It is no surprise that Minetree was cast as Elle — even her audition tape illustrates how perfect she is for the role. If nothing else, Elle is a wonderful tribute to Reese Witherspoon’s Elle Woods because Lexi Minetree portrays her so beautifully.
Each new character brings something different to the show and to Elle’s life. The most exciting ones are those that have the most compelling relationships with Elle.
Liz seems so unlike any friend Elle has ever had, both at Harvard Law and at CULA, but that is what makes their friendship so intriguing. They are both positive influences on each other’s lives and push each other to be the best they can be.
Meanwhile, Elle and Kimberly’s tumultuous relationship seems to have settled into a fun frenemy-type banter, which will be interesting to see during the show’s second season.
Elle Woods: Fashion will always be here for me, but I still have a lot of life to learn.
Even the romances are appealing. Liz and Kimberly have a sizzling chemistry that stretches over the course of the season, playing an amusing game of will-they, won’t-they until they share an epic kiss on Elle Season 1 Episode 8, “What, Like It’s Hard.”
Liz and Kimberly’s romance will certainly be one of the most highly anticipated aspects of Elle Season 2, in addition to the fact that next season will likely focus on Elle’s love life.
Elle’s relationships with Dustin and Miles are considerably different because they are very different characters. As a result, this love triangle has a lot of potential to deliver an excellent balance of thrilling drama and tender romance.
While Elle and Miles are sweet, they are predictable and even a little mundane. Miles is perfect for Elle’s first kiss, but he is not the person Elle should be with.
Not only do Elle and Dustin have more chemistry, but their relationship is significantly more compelling. At first glance, they do not seem right for each other, but as they deepen their friendship, their potential romance becomes more apparent.
Elle and Dustin continue to surprise each other in the best possible way. They constantly show up for one another and have a strong foundation of friendship. Despite their polar-opposite personalities, they mesh well and complement each other.
Photo Credit: Jessica Brooks/Prime Video
Even though Elle Season 1 ends on somewhat of a rocky note, there is a lot more room for Elle and Dustin’s relationship to grow, whereas it already seems like Elle and Miles have reached their maximum potential.
Hopefully, Elle and Dustin will get their chance to shine as a romance in Season 2, but only time will tell.
What did you think of Elle Season 1? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!
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Elle Season 1 is currently streaming on Prime Video.
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Sarah Novack
Sarah has been a passionate writer and blogger about various forms of media for as long as she can remember, and her favorite method of expressing this passion is through writing and discussion. She loves way too many TV shows, books, and movies, specializing in book-to-screen adaptations, fantasy, sitcoms, and procedurals.