The Meaning of Solange: A French Soap Opera as a Symbol of Connection in The Score

What Is Solange?

Solange is a fictional French-language soap opera that Allie Hayes watches as part of a self-directed immersion program to learn French. The show features the glamorous redheaded model Solange, her scheming mother Marie-Thérèse (who undergoes plastic surgery to pose as a colleague), a stalker named Antoine, and a tangle of inheritance plots involving the family cosmetic company, Beauté éternelle. Allie admits the show is “not good” but addictive—she compares it to crack. Her friends, including Hannah, refuse to watch it; only Dean Di Laurentis eventually joins her.

Where Solange Recurs

How the Meaning of Solange Changes

Initially, Solange is purely Allie’s private project—a quirky, mildly embarrassing hobby that isolates her. Dean’s first reaction is to laugh at it, calling it “fucking stupid.” Yet after two hours, he grows genuinely invested. His decision to prioritize the show over a night out at Malone’s marks a turning point: he willingly surrenders his “man card” to stay and watch.

When Dean arranges to watch season two at his penthouse, the show transforms into a symbol of his growing emotional investment. He doesn’t simply tolerate Solange; he actively engages with its absurd plot. This act of providing access (something only his wealth and connections can do) demonstrates that he is willing to use his resources to enter Allie’s world. By the end of the novel, Solange is no longer Allie’s solo habit; it is a shared ritual that represents the domestic comfort and partnership the couple has built.

Character Connections

Allie Hayes sees Solange as both a practical tool (language learning) and a guilty pleasure. Her persistence in watching it despite mockery shows her determination and her willingness to take unconventional paths toward her goals—a trait that connects to her acting ambitions.

Dean Di Laurentis undergoes the most significant symbolic arc through Solange. His initial dismissal gives way to genuine curiosity, and eventually to active participation (speculating on Marie-Thérèse’s motives, looking up the French word héritier). This mirrors his larger character development: the self-proclaimed “king of one-night stands” learns to commit to one woman, and Solange is the medium through which he practices dedication. The show forces him to slow down, listen, and be present—all skills he initially lacks.

Sean McCall, Allie’s ex, is the negative counterpoint. He continually bombards Allie with texts and attempts to control her, but never once expresses interest in Solange or any of her passions. Dean’s willingness to watch the show underscores why he becomes a better partner.

Theme Connections

• Personal Growth and Redemption: Dean’s battle with his own reputation—worrying that watching soaps and drinking margaritas will turn him boring—directly mirrors his internal struggle to redefine himself beyond the “manwhore” label. Each episode of Solange he watches is a small act of rebellion against his old identity.

• Casual Sex vs. Commitment: The show becomes a litmus test for the relationship’s seriousness. In Chapter 9, Dean chooses Solange over a potential hookup at the bar. Later, the exclusivity conversation unfolds with the show paused on the TV, grounding their emotional talk in the context of shared downtime.

• Communication and Jealousy: Solange scenes are littered with misunderstandings because Allie and Dean don’t understand French. Working together to translate words and predict plotlines becomes a metaphor for learning to communicate across their different emotional languages. When Allie sees Dean engaging with another woman at Malone’s, it is the absence of Solange-style shared attention that triggers her jealousy.

• Class and Privilege: Dean’s ability to obtain obscure European DVDs with a single phone call to a concierge highlights the privilege that shapes his life. The show thus also symbolizes the gap between Allie’s student-budget workarounds (paying a dorm-mate to download episodes) and Dean’s effortless access to luxury.

Study Questions with Answers

1. Why does Dean initially resist watching Solange, and what changes his mind?

Dean resists because the show threatens his masculine, carefree image. He calls it “fucking stupid” and fears it will cost him his “man card.” What changes his mind is the combination of Allie’s enthusiasm and the show’s genuinely addictive soap-opera twists, like Marie-Thérèse holding a letter opener to Antoine’s throat. Within two hours, he cancels plans to see what happens next, proving his curiosity outweighs his ego.

2. What does the word héritier (heir) reveal about the plot, and how does Dean’s effort to translate it reflect his character growth?

Dean and Allie deduce that héritier is central to the conflict between Marie-Thérèse and Antoine. They eventually translate it to “heir,” unlocking the motive: Marie-Thérèse is angry that Solange inherited her father’s shares of Beauté éternelle. Dean’s active effort to look up the word—rather than simply dismissing the show—shows he is no longer a passive viewer but an invested participant. It also demonstrates his willingness to work alongside Allie to solve problems, a skill that translates to their real-life relationship.

3. How does Solange function as a symbol of domesticity and commitment by the end of the novel?

By Chapter 35, Dean and Allie’s relationship has become comfortable enough that they can joke about being “boring.” The evening they spend watching a horror movie instead of a party mirrors earlier Solange nights. The show’s progression from Allie’s solo hobby to a couple’s ritual represents the couple’s transition from casual fling to committed partnership. When Dean says “is this our life now? Doomed to stay in and cuddle every night?” he is implicitly referencing the Solange-watching evenings as the foundation of their domestic life.

4. In what way does Solange create a contrast between Dean and Allie’s previous relationship (Sean)?

Sean never engages with Allie’s interests; he texts her repeatedly to “talk” but never to share in what she loves. In Chapter 9, Allie notes that no one else has offered to watch Solange with her. Dean, by contrast, not only watches but becomes emotionally invested and even makes an effort to acquire new episodes. The show becomes a measure of emotional availability: Sean is absent, Dean is fully present.