Incredible acting, haute couture, the effects of WWII on well-known European designers, and what the creation of art means for survival and hope.

Told primarily through flashbacks and set against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied Paris, The New Look centers on the life of fashion icon Christian Dior and his rise to fame. Alongside his peers in the fashion world, including Coco Chanel, Pierre Balmain, and Cristóbal Balenciaga, Christian Dior tries his best to cope with and survive the horrors of World War II. With multiple, intersecting storylines—including the challenges of rising through the ranks of haute couture, the importance and prevalence of anti-Nazi intelligence networks, and the ever-present persistence of humanity and empathy in wartime—The New Look is not just a show about fashion. It is a show about survival, family, and finding hope (or a sense of purpose) again in the wake of one of the darkest periods in human history.

I am so delighted The New Look has been given the green light for a second season. Although I wouldn’t necessarily describe myself as someone who’s invested in high fashion, I loved the human stories and struggles that were at the core of this show. Ben Mendelsohn is an incredible Christian Dior, and Maisie Williams absolutely shines as his sister Catherine. Juliette Binoche’s Coco Chanel is strong, complicated, and at times frustrating, but you will absolutely root for her as she comes up against the never-ending obstacles of being a woman in a male-dominated world in every facet of her life. Plus, her relationship with Elsa Lombardi (played by Emily Mortimer) is a real highlight of the 10-episode freshman season.

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This show managed to make me feel the full spectrum of human emotions, though not all at once; it did so in a way that was slow, intentional, and earned. There were many moments when I expected characters to make a certain choice, only to have them surprise me by doing something completely different. In a world where many television shows thrive on fast, intense action, computer-generated imagery (CGI), and in-your-face shock value, The New Look took its time and felt refreshingly earnest. It is a show grounded in the reality of the horrific circumstances of World War II and in its top-notch acting performances. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next after each episode’s end, and by the season’s conclusion, I also felt a new appreciation for the love and care that goes into fashion design.

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Watch The New Look on AppleTV+!