User reviews

All in all, I really liked the series, with only one flaw: the fashion theme doesn't get enough attention.

But from the beginning. At first I was hesitant to watch the series at all. When I read that Damiel Brühl, a German, had been cast in the lead role, I thought I was in for the worst. But I was proved wrong! The half-Spanish Brühl has probably taken the lead here and managed to mirror Lagerfeld's character in a very interesting way. Together with his dandyishly agile colleague Théodore Pellerin, it works brilliantly. And so the series is actually more about the relationship between the two and their relationship with Yves Saint Laurent than about Lagerfeld's fashion creations. That's a shame. A great shame, in fact. That said, the series is lavishly produced and does an excellent job of capturing the mood of the times. All in all, a definite recommendation, although I would like to see a second season in which Lagerfeld's fashion creations receive a little more attention.

As many people already said here - it's just a scratch on the surface, that's not about Karl it's about Jacques,...

I agree, it's just a scratch on the surface, but it's not a mistake, it's just a different perspective on Karl's life. Maybe it was different, maybe not, but who knows?

As his Daniel said - He never lost touch with the pulse. A time of revolution, of sexual liberation and then there's that anachronistic lement to it because Karl Lagerfeld very often lived in his ntellectual realm and in his fantasy and with the money that he had earned was capable of creating these cerebral worlds, these fairytale paradises, especially for the love of his life. He bought a castle and everything within the castle had to be perfect down to the candles. To play someone who does that with so much dedication and obsession and precision was fascinating.

I really like the way of acting, Daniel is experienced actor and great choice for Karl. Théodore is same age as me, he exactly knew, what to do and I do not agree with others, his acting may be different, but not childish or boring. Visuals are great, so don't judge a book by it's cover and give it a try.

From the point of view of production values, Becoming Karl Lagerfeld cannot be faulted. Beautifully designed, costumed and filmed, it is worth your time for those alone. But ultimately it is a depressing tale of mismatched lovers - Lagerfeld, an ageing, sexually frigid German workaholic whose only pleasure is food, and a spoiled, promiscuous French party boy twenty years younger. Karl's attachment to Jacques seemed to be partly parental, and an idealisation of his youth and putative beauty. Jacques clearly had daddy issues and couldn't survive without the ongoing financial support. Yet each in his own way loved the other and was addicted to their dysfunctional relationship. And knowing of Jacques eventual death at 38 of AIDS made it all the sadder..

Karl Lagerfeld was an enigma and an immense talent who led a breathtaking life. 2024 is the year of big fashion series: after the fantastic Balenciaga and the unwatchable The new look (Binoche as Chanel was the only highlight and Apple's decision to have Australian and American actors play French characters in English is unforgivable), Becoming Karl Lagerfeld is another huge success for Hulu/ Disney. The series only focuses on Karl's early years as the designer for hire and his relationship with Jaques de Bascher in the 70s. He was already quite successful designing for the Fendi sisters, Chloe, Jourdan etc. But these were formative years before climbing Chanel's throne in the 80s. The series is excellent, witty, sexy, exciting and so so good. Highly recommended and hats off to Daniel Brühl for pulling this off!

It is immersive, & beautiful. It is a 6x52 of cinema.

Becoming Karl Lagerfeld is a captivating mini-series that immerses viewers in the world of Karl Lagerfeld, revealing the genius and enigmatic personality behind his iconic creations. The beautifully crafted series features outstanding performances by Daniel Brühl (Karl Lagerfeld), Théodore Pellerin (Jacques de Bascher), and Arnaud Valois (Yves Saint Laurent), among others. The soundtrack, composed by Evgueni and Sacha Galperine, enhances the experience with original scores and iconic songs like "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones and "Heart of Glass" by Blondie. Celebrating creativity, innovation, and an endless quest for perfection, "Becoming Karl Lagerfeld" captures the essence of what made Lagerfeld unique and inspiring.

The 1970s and 80s were golden days of fashion and Karl was smack dab in the middle of it all. A designer and an icon, his vulnerabilities are on full display in this insightful series.

I dig anything set in this time period. I also love watching fashion stories. This did not disappoint. The clothing alone! Watching Lagerfeld and his paramour Jacques dress in the most fabulous suits, with their perfect hair, jewelry and accessories was a treat indeed. I also adored the sketch scenes!

I do wish there was more - even a written epitaph before the credits would have sufficed. Of course, I did my due diligence and will be ordering the book for more details.

If you like fashion, haute couture, lifestyles of rich and famous, tragic love stories, fabulous interiors and locales, you will like this series.

I thought the acting was very fine- I didn't know any of the actors beforehand.

I wish it was more about Karl and his work instead of the love triangle with the twink gigolo. A LOT of unnecessery scenes. I don't think the late Karl Lagerfeld would've liked the series... He spent his whole life doing everything for his work and the fashion industry and now he is being portraied as a sugar daddy with no feelings...

The acting was good though, Daniel did an amazing job as always. You could tell he studied the character, although Karl was a private person. What I liked most is how real and authentic (most) characters felt. The atmosphere the series created was also great. I wish I saw more fashion and less romantic drama.

I randomly watched this series with no expectations. I had watched a documentary about Lagerfeld, and found he was an interesting character. Anyway this series is a really easy watch and I found myself binge watching it. I have really enjoyed the era, the scenery and costume design, it's a lot of fun. I think the storyline and the weaving of the character relationships is so intriguing and really well done. I feel it has been done tastefully and with respect. I haven't had something to watch like this in a while, that wasn't too stressful or draining. If you want a watchable programme that will keep you entertained, check it out. It's fun, emotional, and interesting.

I was really looking forward to this series .......... But - to me - it was a bait and switch. It was the story of Jacques de Bascher, not Lagerfeld. And, frankly, I didn't care for Jacques.

This is a very sad story of two men who were brilliant designers, Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent and the man who reeked havoc in both their lives (rather who they let into their lives) - Jacques de Bascher.

Had this been advertised in a different way, it would have been excellent - the actors were all brilliant. But I did not learn a whole lot about Lagerfeld becoming a designer and that was why I watched it. As it was, I came away depressed for what both Lagerfeld and Saint Laurent endured (willingly!) at the hands of a young man who knew his power and abused it with glee.

As in all things, to each his own.

"Becoming Karl Lagerfeld," created by Raphaëlle Bacqué, Jennifer Have, and Isaure Pisani-Ferry, premiered on Disney+ in June 2024. The series delves into the life and career of the iconic German fashion designer, Karl Lagerfeld, during his rise in Paris during the 1970s.

One of the series' strengths lies in its impeccable casting. Daniel Brühl delivers a captivating performance as Lagerfeld, capturing the designer's complex personality and artistic genius. Théodore Pellerin, as Jacques de Bascher, steals the show with his portrayal of Lagerfeld's platonic love interest, adding depth and nuance to the story.

The series covers Lagerfeld's ego struggles, his complex relationships, and his rise to fame in the fashion world. The visual storytelling is gripping, with the show ending on a suspenseful cliffhanger, leaving viewers eager for more.

The series also explores the historical events that followed Lagerfeld's rise, providing a comprehensive look at his impact on the fashion industry. Director Jérôme Salle has stated that there is potential for a second season, which could focus on the arrival of AIDS and its impact on Jacques, along with Lagerfeld's early days at Chanel.

However, the series does have its shortcomings. The pacing can be uneven, with some episodes feeling rushed while others drag on. Additionally, the conclusion in 1983 leaves viewers wanting more, as the visual storytelling leaves many questions unanswered.

Overall, "Becoming Karl Lagerfeld" is a compelling mini-series that provides a fascinating glimpse into the life and career of one of the most influential fashion designers of all time. The series' visual storytelling, strong performances, and potential for a second season make it a must-watch for fans of fashion and biographical dramas.

Rating: 8 out of 10.

"The gigolo and the 2 designers" would be a better tittle.

CONS 1) The show talks more about Yes, Pierre and Jacques.

2) Karl is a side character.

3) it shows just a span of a few years in the 70s.

4) Chanel is not even mentioned.

5) Misleading show and script.

PROS 1) Design and film 2) Daniel as Karl.

This show is very disappointing, I really wanted to like it. But it's just "meh". They don't teach anything about Karl, they show more his gigolo than him. I learned more about Jacques than Karl.

It's a sad sad story about the designer and drugs and AIDS in the 70-80s.

If you want to see how gay Paris was in the 70s this is the show.

This is a show about Jacques de Bascher (who is being played by a mediocre actor), and not about Karl Lagerfeld.

Why even suggest this is 'Becoming Karl Lagerfeld'? The whole show portrays only the part of his life in the shadow of his relationship with Jacques, and not everything he did with Chanel and his contributions to fashion. All 6 episodes are based in the timeframe before he joined Chanel.

What an under-utilisation of Daniel Brühl too. He is truly brilliant actor but plays basically a supporting role in this. While Théodore Pellerin I didn't like for his modern mannerisms. He wasn't acting like someone in the 60's.

As someone else wrote, I wanted to love this series. The storyline was interesting enough but the casting of Jacques de Bascher misses the mark for an American audience. Someone like a young Marlon Brando, James Dean even Timothee Chalomet -- if he has the acting ability to be so machiavellian, sexy, and cruel.

My understanding of the storyline is that Jacques was so bedazzling that whatever room he entered, he was magnetic and aware of it. He worked it. That's why both Yves & Karl couldn't give him up, he was addictive just by his aura. Hard to see that in Théodore Pellerin, maybe for a French audience he conveys that.

Anyway, interesting to learn something about KL. A sad person because it doesn't seem like he could enjoy the success of others without losing his own self-esteem-- leading him to betrayal and cruelty and loneliness.

Daniel Brühl makes an honest effort, but is unfortunately completely miscast as Karl Lagerfeld. Not that he doesn't look like him. The problem is more that he doesn't radiate the slightest charisma. He appears lenient, opportunistic, dull and boring, just the contrary of the real Karl Lagerfeld. The characters around him are much more interesting and way more colorful. Maybe that's why the makers decided to edit him out of the show, more or less. They must have realized what a terrible mistake they made and decided to focus the show on the more interesting side characters.

That unmasks him as a mediocre actor. That should put a real dent in his career.

They should have renamed the show.