Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
Often its just part of the dialogue, an unrelenting verbal tic.
Good morning, Halston.
Youre an asshole, Halston!
Halston, youre a genius!
Youre out of control, Halston!
Theres a generous way to read this absurd proliferation.
As its told here, theHalstonstory is entirely about the name.
Once it was on everything, the Halston name meant nothing.
The word becomes empty because it is omnipresent.
By my count, the last two episodes average one Halston per minute.
The less charitable reading is that the writing inHalstonis simply lazy.
Someone will always arrive to say,Halston, the company is not doing well.
Im supposed to be happy but Im not!
The writing is no more impressive structurally, either.
Theres nothing particular about any of this flashback material; it is as smoothly featureless as a dressmakers model.
And yet it is also the only real exploration of Halstons inner life.
He selects orchids, tobacco, and his lovers jockstrap.
It is among the best scenes in the series.
They are external, superficial things, symbols meant to create meaning that ultimately point at nothing.
Orchids, because he loves beautiful things.
Tobacco, because he smokes with the incessant constancy of someone who has nothing else in his life.
A jock strap, because hes gay.
Instead, they are like the three topic sentences from a five paragraph essay.
Orchids, tobacco and jockstraps in this essay, I will …
The series is not unrelentingly grim.
But are we supposed to indict him for this?
Are we meant to see this as a cautionary tale?
Is Halston a villain, or is he a victim of circumstance?
Its another case of the generous reading versus the uncharitable interpretation.
Generously, I might say thatHalstonintends to leave viewers with this complexity.
Truthfully, its a big mess.
There is a redemption arc, one last opportunity for him to design something truly lovely and innovative.
He gives it his full attention, he funnels all his care and creativity into the task.
Its a nice note to end on, but that scene does not saveHalston.
