Review: Versailles (Series 1&2)
DVD: Versailles (Series 1&2) (2015 – )
It is 1667 and the 28-year-old (George Blagden) ‘Sun King’ Louis XIV (14th) has finally taken over sole command of the whole of France. He commands his father’s hunting lodge in the swampy bug infested village of Versailles, to be extended into Europe’s most beautiful palace. His court Nobles hope to all live there, but what they don’t realise is the huge palace is meant to imprison and control them. Oh and there’s sex and violence too.
Regulars know one of my obsessions is History, so watching the opening of Episode 1 where Louis and his mistress Louise run through the Hall of Mirrors was quite something. Although most of the 2 series were not filmed IN Versaille (its open 6 days a week) it’s filmed around the palace and really does look sumptuous.
One may think this would be similar to The Tudors; a sexed-up basically untrue account of a monarch’s reign that is pretty to look at with lots of slow-motion sex and the odd bit of violence to keep the husbands happy. However, I’m pleased to say this isn’t the case. Yes it looks great and George Blagden is almost angelic looking as Louis while Alexander Vlahos is perfectly cast as Louis brother Duke Phillipe. Their performances are quite something, totally looking the part of somewhat feminine aristocrats while murdering and shagging their way through the court. The thing that elevates this above similar historical features is that it’s based on truth.
The King’s Grand Huntsman, the Chevalier de Rohan, really did join a plot to capture the Dauphin (Louis XIV’s son) but didn’t get quite so far as he does in the show. Rohan was stripped of his titles and position at court but that may have been because he had an affair with the King’s brother. Rohan, disgraced, joined forces with Gilles du Hamel de Lautréamont and a handful of other nobles in a plan to kidnap the Dauphin and take control of Normandy. The plot was known as the Lautréamont conspiracy.
It was also no secret that the king’s flamboyant brother Phillipe preferred the company of men, and his great love was the chevalier de Lorraine, who was said to be incredibly beautiful and manipulative. He was exiled to Rome, after rumours that he was involved in the death of Henriette, Philippe’s wife. However, he quickly returned to court after some pleading from Philippe. Rather than be embarrassed by Philippe’s gay relationships (the Catholic Church did not approve of homosexuality), Louis XIV actually encouraged his brother’s preferences and feminine behaviours. This may have come from their mother Anne of Austria who encouraged Philippe to dress as a girl and follow feminine pursuits.
Let’s not forget the many mistresses of Louis XIV, he had many but only a handful received an official title – Maîtresse en titre, the manipulative Madame de Montespan being the most famous.
I watch anything historical, and normally sit huffing and puffing wishing they’d just tell the ‘REAL’ story, because the real story is so much more interesting than a script writer’s imagination. That’s the magic of Versailles, it gives you the full package; truth, sex, death, costumes, jewellery, sex, stabbings, lasers, gardens and palaces. A really wonderful series and a joy to sink into.
(Series 3 is being filmed now)
The Versailles Series 1&2 boxset (and standalone series 2 set) will be available to buy from 26th June, 2017.
Review by Tina (co-host of 60 Minutes With) from discs kindly supplied by Aim Publicity from Acorn Media.
