for Season 2. Art. Philippe is most definitely not the victim in his marriage. Id be happy with either, tbh! Philippe raping his wife. Marchal: The King once told me, he warned me quite clearly that his enemies would seek to destroy those closest to him. Philippe: my brother always trusted you. Claudine: I am honoured. Philippe whispers: I dont believe I know what it feels like. .. Emo Philippe, so dark and tortured! Thank you! The final review of the finaleof Versailles. Louis is greeted by Bontemps in his chambers, who enquires about Henriettes health. Rohan slits the other guards throat, watches from a distance as the young prince has a sack put over his head then bundled off. Mike did. BRILLIANT acting. Dear Anne, Im guessing I know a fair bit more about rape, the history of rape, the history of rape within marriage and womens rights (and lack thereof) than you realise. His contemplation is silent. Such emotion. After reading your review on epsiode 10, and reading that it ends with Philippe leaving Versailles, I thought back to epsiode one and the moment he finds Louis at his favorite spot in the woods. It was total and raw and real and I wept long and bitter tears for him. But that was the thinking of the time. (We wont even go into whether or not that maid wanted to be drug into the bedroom by Philippe after his jealous strop with the Chevalier or his sneaking into Louises bed. Also it will set Louis in a collision with Phillipe who did not want his wife to go to England for the negotiations. He remembers too. Hi Jules and Aly, Louis asks Henriette to spy on her husband and she does not refuse. He was shut out of his mothers (Anne of Austria) last moments, while Philippe was in attendance, where, despite her appalling treatment of her second son, he openly wept and grieved. Two steps behind him, as protocol dictates, is the Chevalier. I just discovered Versailles this week and watched it in quick succession!!! I have known your website for some time now but hadnt had much time to write a post until now. Having spent the first episode ripping their kit off at any opportunity, the court of Versailles has taken an oath of chastity. Aaaaaand there we have the end of the episode and the end of Season One. A letter from the King of Sweden has arrived, telling Louis he has agreed to break his alliance with the Dutch and support the French. At least there is a modicum of decorum. It is fascinating to compare Philippes two moments of deep anguish side by side: when the Chevalier was arrested, we saw his total and complete breakdown, the slow crumple of his expression from shock, to horror, to abject grief, then as he collapsed to his knees and rocked while he wept. He is genuinely distraught, going to a collapsed Henriette on the floor while Louis is just standing there, seemingly frozen. The midwife and doctor were horrified but there was nothing she could do!!! Both felt neglected by the other. She is in such a tizzy that she barely gives her daughter, Sophie, the. How accurate is Netflix Versailles? And then down by the promontory. They fear she might have been poisoned, so King Louis XIV shuts all access To Versailles. (Historical note: it was forbidden for the King to be in the presence of death. And Louis is still on a roll, caught up in his speech about grandeur and nobility and the endurance of a legacy: .the song we sing here, brother, I mean it to be played forever. And suddenly, as he stares at Philippe, his face alight with the emotion of a true believer, the cries of Henriette are heard. I have heard many say they see angels before they die. (Ahhh! These reactions perfectly suit and says a lot to their characters, plus George Blagden and Alex Vlahos as hugely talented actors. You, me, Henriette. Eg; Louis shuts him (from preventing Henrietta to go to England) up by releasing Chevalier. Lets just say, Henriettes jealous behaviour is a far cry less despicable than Philippes.). Still with the playing of games, the half-truth words. Le Roi Danse, which is all about the rise and fall of Lully, Louis XIVs court composer (French, but hard to find with English subtitles). She also miscarries a baby that was either her husband Philippe's or the King's, no one is sure. *The only voice, your own. I know times and attitudes were different then, but a person violated still feels violated, whether they are allowed to acknowledge it or not. Montcourt pauses its clear he recognises Rohans voice. As her husband, Philippe, rushed to her bedside, Henriette chided him, Alas, Monsieur, it is a long time since you loved me, but this is unjust. Alerted, Henriettes lady-in-waiting watched the duke closely, but he showed no indication of guilt and every sign that he was distressed by his wifes condition. Exactly. Philippe is clearly shocked and my heart is just going HHHHHHHGGGGNNNNN. Cue some fabulous visuals of doors closing, pikes crossing, the golden gates slamming shut and locking. UGH D:. Your closest confidants told you to look elsewhere! Philippe was there in the woods and saved Louis from the wolves, but at the end of season one hes left Versailles. Not Marchal! apparently it is still not safe. The king himself suspected that Henrietta might have been poisoned and ordered an autopsy to be carried out. And laudanum as a sedative was much used at the time. UHGGH. Learn how your comment data is processed. My biggest problem with Henriette/Louis is that I find it highly doubtful that Louis would have sex with her. Did not see this one coming! But it is kept behind closed doors. However, I do have a comment to make about your previous post that you believed that Louis loved Henriette, however I dont completely agree with you on this one. Cultural factors, too, played a part. Pot, meet kettle. The two are not mutally exclusive. Im glad you like my reviews And I will most definitely continue on with reviewing S2. As she made her last confession, the English ambassador, Lord Montagu, asked Henriette if she believed she had been poisoned. I am a true friend of the king. but Louis knows. for all of these. Point 5: Ah, Henriettes remark about Philippes glorious death in battle. And the only reason she is such a powerful weapon against Philippe is because Philippe views her as nothing more than his property to do with as he wishes. Philippe adds: .or two, perhaps. And he strides off. That Henriette was such an effective way of hurting Philippe is down to Philippes viewing her as his property, not because he felt any true affection for her (at least, not until closer towards the end, when I do believe he really does care). Yet even on her deathbed, she reaches for Louiss hand first. Totally inappropriate time to mention it. And then Marchal throws Montcourts words back at him: and when we are the Kings enemy, we must make him believe we are his friend, right? Yessss. This was served to Henriette by her unsuspecting maid. Cassel passes him and bows. Philippe turns to the guards, stands patiently at the crossed pikes as Louis stares at his back. The French musical Le Roi Soleil is always great to watch. My loyalty still lays with Philippe as her husband, he has a right to lay claim to his wife. Are you suggesting that she would have the power to deny the king even if she wanted to? Louis reels off a list of people who were with Henriette on her journey, people that must be interrogated. Poor Philippe is helpless do something, woman! She has to find the source, which means poking about on Henriettes body, causing agony with every poke. I kind of doubt it). Montespan banters but Louis doesnt bite. Pretty sure he was not the one who did the poisoning thing. Next time we see the painting in Ep 6 it has been moved to Henriettes room on her dressing table. What a great mix of observation and humor. Earlier that day, a servant spotted one of Philippes mignons and Grand Equerry (Master of the Horse), the Marquis dEffiat, drink water stored in a cabinet near Henriettes chambers, wipe the glass, then go on his way. Philippe and Henriette were forced into a marriage with someone they didnt love or care for. Since the first stone was laid in this expansion. Later on, we see the portrait back in Louiss chamber Im actually in the States where episode seven will be airing tomorrow night, but I read ahead because I know history so nothing coming was really a spoiler (just a condensed timeline). You said everything that should have been pointed out a long time ago, with counterpoints and parallels that shone a light on some arguments and favoritism that , within the context of the show not history, were just mind boggling. First off, let me preface my response with the qualifier that I know very little about the historical figures on which these characters are based. When an autopsy was done (observed by 17 French doctors, two English physicians, the British ambassador and around 100 other onlookers) death was deemed to be from cholera morbus (gastroenteritis) caused by heated bile. The poor Chevalier, accused when he wasnt even there! Back to Henriette, who is now laid out on a bed, hair done, powdered and dressed in her finest gown. Are there more shows you will review? But not at the hands of Henriette, who really had little power in the situation. UGH. . Desire for glory. The Kings son. But his family and France are divided. ? But here, now? And we came here for a visit. Heres a thought: what is your view to Claudine? In the case of Versailles, I am sobbing. She is subject to the whims and wishes of her king and lover, of her husband and even of her husbands lover. Such an angry king, and rightly so. Your question misses the question, Montcourt replies cryptically. Neither of them showed much interest or affection for the other, both clearly preferring their lovers. Bring the garden here, Louis commands * (YES I called this line too I am KING OF THE LAB! You have never been a man whos true. No wonder Philippe feels the need to claim what is his. Wow that was odd. Louis stands outside: her life is in your hands, he says ominously. Just airing in the U.S. and Im having surgery Friday so I dont know if Ill catch it. Much kudos to Nomie Schmidt for a brilliantly sad scene, aided by the backing music and the strength and emotion of George Blagden and Alex Vlahos. This scene is barely seconds long, but oh, so telling as to her character. At some stage, Musket Mike (the masked man) is outed as a Kings guard. They could be far away from the victim at the time of death, so it would be difficult to definitively pin on anyone. And I see all the little things that Henriette says, her little gestures and actions that bring conflict and sadness to Philippe. Ive addressed each of your points, but it has run very long and I dont know if it will post in the comments section or not. The camera pans up to show the Queen on her knees in prayer, then a select few further back (I see Colbert, Louvois, Montespan, Sophie, Cassel). I believe Louis did love her. She is gravely ill. Montespan pauses for a second, then declares she must go to her (because you know, Montespan is supposed to be one of her ladies-in-waiting). In Versailles, Madame de Clermont is running round like a blue-arsed fly having discovered that her poison has gone missing. Rohan. Bontemps is still confused: you told us Montcourt was to blame. How can he be so sure? Still, Louis suspicions had been aroused and he ordered an autopsy, which was performed by French doctors and witnessed by others sent from England. Either way, she's dead now. He was named Louis Dieudonn (Louis the God-given) and bore the traditional title of French heirs apparent: Dauphin . Louvois has been a kind of double agent all along, directed by Louis himself to assume the role of critic and conspirator. Henriettes physicians diagnosed colic and assured her that she would soon recover, but it was clear that she was dying. Then the camera pans to the door and Philippe enters, says to him quietly, were leaving. He gives as good as he gets and so much worse. Feel free to comment if any details are wrong. He is the villain if you are looking for one. King Louis XIV (George Blagden, left) and Henriette (Nomie Schmidt) arrive at "Versailles" in the Ovation series. Montcourt to Marchal: You are a fool. Louis replies: And you are a MURDERER! Montcourt continues with the wrong man thing, but Louis will have none of it. HOW DID THEY DO THAT SO PERFECTLY??? I especially like the pairing of her and Marchal. He has poisoned all of them. While making this video i was inspired by the scene when Henriette talks about her first mask ball. *Another side-note: When the Chavelier mentions that Louis does not look for beauty so much as character, umwas he talking about Henriette? Menu. What shall I do! She allows grief but only briefly. So, he loves Henrietta as a friend, or simply to rival his brother? Nothing. Its just that his anger and upset (and yes, jealousy I think) affects him so much, because its just another way for his brother to control and belittle him, make him less. Trusting Philippe and involving him in the running of France would make him a better, stronger king. He should be he has not given up either of their names for the part they played in his arrest. He rolls in bed, his cheek on a bloodied pillow, and suddenly wakes, realises what it is and follows the trail to Louis bedchamber. The camera then cuts to Rohan, drinking and brooding in his room, absently stabbing the table with a knife as he glares at a portrait of Louis-as-a-boy (which is a gorgeous portrait and includes Philippe, apparently in a private collection and attributed to artist Charles Beaubrun. Close the doors! The Queen adds: we must put her in the bed. Louis nods; in she goes. We cut to the forest, to the two Kings Guards in their blue livery, leaning by a tree as Rohan and little Louis still mock fight. NOT AT ALL acceptable in the eyes of pretty much everyone. Mainly wanted to know about Chevalier after last weeks tearful declaration of love. Even though Henriette had a history of pains (since 1667) and drank only milk and basically ate nothing (she was considered quite a stick in the fashion of the day, and some historians suggest she suffered from anorexia), the poison theory stuck. Toodles. Pale and in obvious distress, she was put to bed, but her pains were so severe that she believed she must have been poisoned and asked for an antidote. New episodes of " Versailles " air at 10/9c Saturdays on Ovation, but are rebroadcast throughout the week. And she is the only one who knew who prepared Henriettes chicory water. A page for describing Characters: Versailles. Season 1 | Season 2 Getting Started | Contributor Zone Contribute to This Page Add episode As for Philippe, I cant make out what he is. Guilt often manifests itself in an outward show of rage. Now, if she had been his second cousin, and never saw each other until she married his brother, then I can maybe see them having an affair. Thank you (and I agree with you on all pints!!! This doesnt do good for her position, unloved by her husband and no one would stand at her side, should French and English go to war. And also shout out to Hannah for being a a much needed third voice. Is there anything more beautiful than the scent of blossom in the air? Henriette gets out softly. UGH, technology! Bontemps: For you, Sire. Shine on Bontemps, you unsubtle diamond, you. b) To show a glimpse of vulnerability for Henriette because for all her power, she is still the property of her husband and can be treated as such. Maybe that is where she got the poison she used on Fabien?, de Clermont went to a brothel to obtain poison and the love potion Lauren (Marchals henchwoman) tells him thats what she observed. And the next shot is Louis in slow-mo, walking out. But lets compare: Henriette is jealous. The flowers theyre singing. and she is gone. Claudine and Philippe converse, with Claudine saying she feels they are not through the worst. Sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction - and other times, period dramas take a little artistic license . Another possibility is that Henriette suffered from anorexia nervosa, which is often characterised by increasing frailty and hyperactivity; the summer of 1670 had been particularly hot and Henriette would swim in the river; unable to sleep, she walked in the gardens at night. Back with the sick princess and Claudine is fiddling with potions while Henriette writhes and vomits blood. He is beyond selfish and his cruel behaviour is at the root of all of their misery. Henriette fulfills her duties with. We found an old building a sorry shack made of stone and moss. LOUIS. She could not affect change herself. Henriette, however, was never robust and often experienced such terrible pains in her side that she would lie on the floor to find respite. But his treatment of her does make me think, rather than an actual person, the writers have quite subtly used her as a tool: she is the only person Philippe can take his frustrations out on he knows she loves Louis, and at that point Louis is still very much in love with her Philippe knows this, and punishes Louis the only way he can, but punishing his mistress. It is Louis, and not Henriette, whom I see as the one who does the greatest harm to Philippe. Remember, Henriette, as a woman, is completely powerless. She finally asks. Louis is calm but angry: then you set yourself against me. Philippe pauses, looks incredibly sad for a moment, then briefly nods. Philippe had a relationship with the man he loved while Henriette continued to sleep with the man she loved. Henriette of England is poisoned during her trip back from England. And our enemies have stopped at nothing to destroy it. Nup. These scenes are odd for me to watch, but by now, I have totally put aside any frustration when the show deviates from what I know of the actual history. Louis orders the Versailles garden to be brought into Henriette's deathbed scene. No, of course she doesnt. No context is provided about who he is, no indication he is married. I cannot even imagine his reasoning for this, however I do know historically, Henriette desperately did want to be Queen of France, as did her mother want it, but at the time, she didnt have the pedigree, being the sister to Englands heir who wasnt even on the throne at the time. I was never a fan of the character of Henriette, I just cant see how she wronged Philippe more than he did her. needless to say, all my writing is copyright to me, so don't be a dick and steal it. Love your delicious commentary, brava! I will speak to whomever I like. Louvois: I know this is true. She is simply besotted with Louis, so in love, that shed do anything he told her to. fantastic bog! We now see Philippe, so resigned, with tears down his cheeks, then Louis with a no, this is NOT happening. look on his face, eyes still dry. The steps, the swinging of the arms, the movement of the coat and their cravats. Admittedly, its in the middle of a shag, when she is distracted, but still. It is not clear in the show. It was quite the method du jour to get rid of a person, as the series has shown. Copyright 2023 History Today Ltd. Company no. Oh, Louis most definitely would choose France over his brother. Even the bouncing hair. No one leaves. And who can blame her? Snake! He sees Louis. I have some questions. Husbands have being raping their wives since time began from royalty down to peasants and it was classed as taking their marital rights . You admit her situation is unfair and certainly, she is powerless where her husband (and Louis) are concerned and yet, simply because of the screwed up thinking of the day, the thinking that removed a womans personhood and reduced her to mere property, she is the villain for not being able to love a man who ignores her and rapes her? Historically, poison was definitely suspected in Henriette's death and briefly, here's how it went down: It was 1670 and Henriette was pissed off she couldn't be with Louis at Versailles, and of course Monsieur knew this, so he ordered her to accompany him to Saint Cloud. More of an extreme sadness at his wifes pain. We could never invade the entire world but the world can imagine us as their centre. Also thanks for your detailed and in depth reviews. The episode starts in Madame de Montespans bed, with Louis awake and staring at the ceiling. So how could you be scared? You can read more about Henriettas death here. The historical notes you added were my favourite of all, I love knowing whats accurately portrayed and for the parts that were tweaked, what the actual history was. Beating your wife was also quite legal, acceptable and, indeed, expected. Claudine confirms poison and Louis huddles with his advisors: he wants to know if any English are at court. Louis paranoia about his little brother is completely unfounded. My greatest issue with Henriette is that she seems to lack any personality. (since you mention here she is his love). This is who they truly are in this one moment of grief. And dragging Effiat into it too, for a) being a mignon loyal to the Chevalier, and b) his familys involvement in the Fronde, during Louis XIIIs reign. I enjoyed them very much, I must saymuch more than this series, which is good entertainement, but, God, so FAR from being historically correct, in so many ways. It is one or the other. Philippe replies calmly: You acted out of pride. I think Teresa is being a bit naive re. I think we see fairly good evidence in episode 7 that not only does Philippe support his brother, but that he is honestly frightened of the idea of running the country and has no desire to take his brothers place (his anger at being overlooked for the regency is more due to his hurt that no one supports him or takes him seriouslyhis experience all his life). Louis meanwhile, is disorientated (and by this time I am wondering where the guards are with all this noise, despite Marchal telling them not to disturb them). Finally, the king weeps for his love, when he is alone. Much kudos to Nomie Schmidt for a brilliantly sad scene, aided by the backing music and the strength and emotion of George Blagden and Alex Vlahos. After all, everything she did was unacceptable at that time for women and it was certainly acceptable to beat a woman, especially if she was a wife, sister or daughter. Like only a brother can. Philippelooks into the fire, whispers, I was so proud of you. A brief scene follows, showing Rohan and the Dauphin sword playing and pretending a jolly game of war in the forest, thenwe are back to the Kings bedchamber where Henriette sleeps and Philippe is outside in the antechamber, brooding by the fireplace as Louis walks in. It is so interesting to watch, given a discussion I had on Twitter earlier with some fellow fans. I was searching online for reviews/explanations of this show I was never educated about Frances history because I come from the other side of the globe and coincidentally stumbled upon your website, much to my delight. but it is later, after they already speak with the guards in the background. Hell, HIS WIFE is shagging his brother. If she dies it might lead to accusations and risk any potential alliance with England. ), I think your recaps are wonderful and I enjoy reading them every bit as much as I do watching the programme! Points 1 and 2: We establish that both people are in love with someone else. How do we find the poisoner? Although Lord Montagu accepted this, he had misgivings. She is later arrested as the poisoner as her son is released, but ridiculed from court. She seems like she has genuinely been brought in as a main character simply to drive the wedge deeper between Louis and Philippe, but not contribute anything herself to most of her scenes! Bontemps moves her along. Of course, nothing happened and the doctors said colic but nine hours later, she was dead.