The first season of Elle introduced some shocking moments — including Elle betraying her friend amid a complicated love triangle.
During the Prime series, which is streaming now, Elle (Lexi Minetree) formed a friendship with Shannon (Danielle Chand) before she found out that the senior was dating Miles (Jacob Moskovitz).
“[When we start the show], I would say that Shannon is just going through senior year and she came back from an internship so she’s thinking about her future. I think she’s struggling with how Miles is gonna fit into that world,” Chand exclusively told Us Weekly. “They’ve been together for two years so she loves him so much.”
Chand noted that the show featured a moment where Shannon and Miles are reconnecting, adding, “They are almost forgetting reality — like the heaviness of the future — and what that means for them. For Shannon and for the relationship.”
Later in the season, Shannon chose to end her relationship with Miles.
“Shannon does break up with Miles and I think there’s just something to be said about relationships and loving someone but maybe it not being the right thing,” she shared.
Things took a turn, however, when Elle and Miles kissed hours after his split.
“48 hours is a little soon for my taste,” Chand told Us. “But she’s 16 and she’s just like feeling all of these things. Everything feels really intense so there’s realness to that and a part of high school is making decisions where we look back on. That was a choice.”
Based on Amanda Brown‘s novel, the 2001 movie Legally Blonde introduced Us to Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon), a sorority girl who attempted to win back her ex-boyfriend Warner (Matthew Davis) by getting a degree at Harvard Law School. Luke Wilson, Selma Blair, Victor Garber and Jennifer Coolidge rounded out the cast, with a second movie following two years later.
With Minetree taking on the role as teen Elle, the series stars June Diane Raphael and Tom Everett Scott as Elle’s parents. Chandler Kinney, Gabrielle Policano and Moskovitz were also announced as series regulars alongside Jessica Belkin, Zac Looker, Amy Pietz and more. (James Van Der Beek also joined the cast for what would become his final TV role before his death. He died in February 2026 at the age of 48.)
“I was totally a fan of the movies,” Chand recalled of her experience with the franchise before Elle. “I was given a little bit of backstory. But then I really try to just develop what I could on my own. It was so fun and I had a lot of creative freedom.”
Season 1 concluded with Shannon leaving Seattle, briefly coming back and then heading out again after fixing her relationships. Looking ahead, Chand didn’t rule out a potential return in future seasons of the show.
“I’ve made story lines in my head [of how she can return],” Chand concluded. “My hope for Shannon is that she is just hanging out with all of our friends. If there’s a graduation or like something that involves Kimberly, I would love Shannon just to keep popping in.”
Elle is streaming on Prime Video.
