ELLE: Episode 1.1, ‘Pilot”

Name: ELLE: Episode 1.1, ‘Pilot”
Item: ELLE: Episode 1.1, ‘Pilot”
Author: Review

"“Pink Isn’t a Personality”"

Family Content: -1 Caution advised for older children, including teenagers, and sensitive adults.

Entertainment Quality:

	None	Light	Moderate	Heavy
Language
Violence
Sex
Nudity

Credits →

What You Need To Know:

The premiere episode of ELLE streams on Prime Video and takes a nostalgic dive into the prequel to the popular movie LEGALLY BLONDE. Set in 1995, Elle Woods prepares to dominate her senior year in high school in Bel-Air. However, her life turns upside down when her father gets involved in a plastic surgery scandal, forcing the family to relocate to gloomy Seattle, Washington. Now, Elle struggles to fit in at her new high school as a small fish lost in a sea of flannel-wearing teenagers.

The pilot episode of ELLE features a light moral worldview, where Elle treats everyone she meets with kindness and friendliness. She realizes her shallow thinking and tries to change for the better. However, it incorporates feminist and environmental elements as many students at her school act as social activists, reflecting the mindset of teenagers in the 1990s. While the first episode contains no LGBTQ content, later episodes introduce a homosexual character. MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for older children due to light foul language, characters drinking alcohol, and discussions about teenage topics.

Content:

(B, Fe, O, Pa, L, S, A, M):

Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements:

A light moral worldview, where the main character treats everyone she meets with kindness and friendliness. Pro-family elements as a traditional family unit support one another through a challenging time. Feminist and environmental elements as many students at her school act as social activists, reflecting the mindset of teenagers in the 1990s, making light of alternative culture. Light Pagan elements as characters talk about their astrological signs and horoscopes. Light Occult elements as characters discuss and watch a possessed character from the soap opera DAYS OF OUR LIVES, a popular past storyline from the soap opera so it’s presented as a joke

Foul Language:

The Lord’s name taken in vain six times, unkind words used like jerk and idiot.

Violence:

No violence although a skate boarder crashes, but isn’t injured, people bump into each other throughout

Sex:

No sex but discussions about kissing a boy, a married couple kisses, a girl talks about having boys in her room with the door closed

Nudity:

No nudity but women wear bikinis at a pool party and characters wear tight and revealing clothes

Alcohol Use:

People drink alcohol at a party and raise a toast but no one drinks to excess; a man sits next to a glass of liquor during a meal

Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse:

A character identifies a social high school clique as stoners ; and,

Miscellaneous Immorality:

A school secretary admits to breaking the school rules by signing peppers and stealing from the cafeteria to help students in need but is fired once exposed. Characters bully and call the main character names. Characters spread rumors. Mention of social suicide.

More Detail:

The first episode of Season 1 of ELLE presents high production values. Lexi Minetree portrays Elle, capturing Reese Witherspoon’s signature accent and mannerisms without slipping into imitation. The 90s setting shines through the costumes and set design, making the episode a fun blast from the past. Although the series adapts the movies amusingly, fans may find that it lacks the charm that made the original movies instant classics.

The episode opens at the end of Elle’s eleventh-grade year. Her parents host a graduation party fit for a princess, and life looks rosy for Elle as she prepares for her senior year at the top of her game. When her father botches a plastic surgery job, the family relocates to Seattle, Washington.

She arrives for her first day at her new high school dressed in her signature pink clothes and filled with optimism. Yet, as the day progresses, she realizes she doesn’t fit in with the grunge crowd at Rainer West High School. Will she win everyone over with her wit and charm?

MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for older children due to light foul language, characters drinking alcohol, and discussions about teenage topics.

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