Upamanyu Biswas
Prime Video’s ‘Étoile‘ uncovers the unseen world of ballet dancing through a contingent of characters who have their own quirks and personalities. While there is a boatload of human drama unfolding on screen, the show also adds variety to its story by introducing a pet dog named Simi, who is owned by Mishi Duplessis. The canine becomes prominent in the narrative after Mishi travels back to her ancestral home in France as part of the talent swap program. Its presence startles her because she was informed by her politician mother, Clea, that the dog passed away some time ago. However, it was all part of a mix-up, showcasing the degree of detachment Mishi has from her parents. As a result, the dog becomes her responsibility as Mishi looks for a way to escape her stifling house and her neglectful parents’ clutches. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Simi the Dog Accompanies Mishi to Her New Home
After returning to France, Mishi starts to feel invisible amongst her parents, who are more concerned about preserving their image than being proper guardians to their daughter. As a result, Mishi begins to long for her life in New York City, New York, and the freedom it brought. Her stay in the palatial house is made slightly bearable because of Simi. Although unable to talk to her, the dog’s presence provides her with a sense of comfort and shield against the house’s loneliness. It likely makes her believe she can adjust to this life over time. This proves to be futile as her parents’ antics and the pressure of conforming to expectations in France start affecting her psychologically, even having a detrimental influence over her dancing. Eventually, Mishi decides to run away from home, taking Simi with her.
With Geneviève’s help, the girl finds refuge in the house of Bruna Touissant, Cheyenne’s mother. Although the older lady is cantankerous and impolite in her demeanor, her house provides a temporary haven for Mishi, especially as it gets her out of the vicinity of Clea and Florent. The only issue is Bruna’s dislike for dogs, which makes it tricky for her to keep the canine companion with her. Still, Bruna allows Simi to stay, making Mishi accountable for the dog’s well-being and ensuring that it does not destroy her house’s decorum. The girl accepts the deal, seeing it as a win-win situation as she takes care of Simi anyway. As a result of the move, the dog finds refuge alongside its owner and adjusts to life in Bruna’s humble abode. Meanwhile, the only danger it faces is its occasional run-ins with Bruna herself.
By the end of the season, Mishi manages to grow closer to Bruna after a rough start. In fact, the latter begins to enjoy having the girl around, realizing she is humble, grounded, and more caring than she initially imagined. During one conversation, Bruna mentions that Simi bit her while Mishi was gone for dance practice. However, Bruna admits that the canine was justified in attacking her because she accidentally stepped on it during the day. Mishi realizes that Bruna is being more honest with her than usual and not responding in her normally cranky manner. We witness a soft and affectionate relationship blossom between them, which also extends to Simi. Thus, the dog ends up in a perfect spot to enjoy the eccentricities of Bruna’s daily work while keeping its owner company during the evenings.
Read More: Étoile Ending, Explained: Do Cheyenne and Jack End Up Together?
