Elle Season 1 Review: Lexi Minetree Perfectly Captures the Magic of Elle Woods
- Jacqueline
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
What? Like it’s hard? How Elle is redefining prequels.
This article contains light spoilers
The lovable Elle Woods is back on our screens, but this time, she’s conquering a whole new challenge: high school. Elle, Amazon’s newest series, follows Elle Woods before we met her as the fashionable sorority girl turned Harvard Law student. This prequel explores Elle’s life after her parents abruptly move the family to Seattle following her father’s work scandal. With Bruiser by her side, Elle must navigate a brand-new high school filled with mean girls, activists, and, of course, a whole lot of plaid.
Prequels and spin-offs always make me a little apprehensive, especially when they involve one of my favorite characters. I'll admit I was skeptical when I first saw the trailer. What is our quintessential L.A. girl doing in Seattle? This was never part of the story we knew, and I wasn't sure how it was all going to fit together. I was also nervous about whether the show could truly capture Elle's essence, but I can confidently say they absolutely nailed it.
While the plot wasn't exactly what I expected from an Elle Woods prequel, I was delighted to see her ambition and determination shine through from such a young age. We already knew Elle was never someone who gave up easily, but it was refreshing to see those defining qualities take center stage so early in her story.
After the unjust firing of a beloved teacher, Donna, Elle takes it upon herself to rally a group of new friends in an effort to bring her back, only to uncover that everyone is hiding much more than anyone realizes behind closed classroom doors. While working to uncover the secrets of Seattle, Elle realizes she may have more of a place in her new world than she realizes.
Joined by a stellar supporting cast—including Chandler Kinney (Kimberly), Danielle Chand (Shannon), Gabrielle Policano (Liz), Zac Looker (Dustin), and Jacob Moskovitz (Miles)—I found myself loving every addition to Elle's world. Together, they make for a modern-day Breakfast Club. Between navigating new friendships, first crushes, and trying to win over Seattle, it's impossible not to fall in love with Elle all over again.
In her breakout role, Lexi Minetree delivers far beyond expectations. In fact, she could pass as Reese Witherspoon's daughter. From the moment she appears on screen, it's obvious she was born to play Elle Woods. Elle is known for her iconic facial expressions, bubbly energy, and unmistakable way of speaking. The second you hear her, you know it's Reese. So I was beyond impressed by how naturally Lexi captured all of those little details without making it feel like an impersonation.
Beyond Elle's personality, one of my biggest concerns was fashion. Since the series is set in the '90s, I worried we'd end up with costumes that felt cheap or overly exaggerated in an attempt to scream "period piece." Thankfully, that couldn't have been further from the truth. Fashion is such an essential part of Elle's identity, and I was thrilled to see it treated as a priority. From tweed dresses and coordinated outfits with Bruiser to a cameo from Elle's iconic heart heels, every look felt thoughtfully designed. I'll definitely be needing a full costume lookbook after this.
My favorite part of the series, however, was spotting all of the Legally Blonde Easter eggs. I was worried they would feel forced, included simply to check a box, but instead they came across as fun little surprises for longtime fans. Elle's first day of high school mirrors her first day at Harvard Law in several ways. (Spoiler alert: she forgot to do the summer reading...again.) Along the way, we also get glimpses of her signature fluffy pen and, of course, her love of pink, lavender-scented stationery. There are plenty of clever nods to Elle's future that longtime Legally Blonde fans will immediately appreciate.
Overall, I couldn't be happier with how the series turned out. While nothing will ever top the original Legally Blonde for me, Elle absolutely holds its own. If you're worried the show strays too far from the version of Elle Woods we've come to know and love, don't be. If anything, it reinforces that Elle has always been the same loyal, determined, compassionate, and endlessly lovable person. She has a way of turning even her toughest critics into friends, all while making us laugh along the way. I already can't wait to see what Season 2 has in store.