King Louis XIV (George Blagden, left) and Henriette (Nomie Schmidt) arrive at "Versailles" in the Ovation series. And she is the only one who knew who prepared Henriettes chicory water. I realise that you are not a fan of the historical figure but I am speaking strictly of the character. The king himself suspected that Henrietta might have been poisoned and ordered an autopsy to be carried out. As for Philippe, I cant make out what he is. Did not see this one coming! Get him out! Henriette cries. I am tired of waiting for you to keep it, says the Queen casually as she gets into bed with Louis then settles down. Marchal picks up the dropped knife and lunges and he and Montcourt trade a few blows, with Marchal blocking then delivering a punch. Vatel (with Uma Thurman and Gerard Depardieu). It could possibly be the same spot from Ep1, when he confronted the wolf and Philippe rode in to rescue him. We see Louis take what is rightfully and lawfully his his wife. Montcourt 10 episodes, 2015 Gilly Gilchrist . I let a wolf back into my barn! Montcourts hand slides to his hip, Marchal sees this (good Chief of Police *pets his pretty head*) and Montcourt still denies, Louis accuses him of poisoning Henriette. Basically he can do what he wants, but she is not allowed to. What if the poison spreads? Suffering from digestive problems, she lived on a diet consisting primarily of milk. [4] And we came here for a visit. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Monsieur de Reynaud is poisoned by an unknown entity. Henriette of England died in Saint-Cloud, not in Versailles. 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. Henriette is Philippes wife, his property, his to do with as he wishes. The Angelique series of movies from the 60s are highly camp, and put Philippe in a terrible light, but they are funny. And she did it willingly. Philippe: Because you told her to. Louis: Because she was born to it. Philippe: Because she loves you. Louis: if we do not have the English, we cannot attack the Dutch. The look on Philippes face is incredulous yes, Louis is talking war when his wife lies dying. Nor can I hold her responsible for the fact that Louis uses her as a weapon against his brother. Kill him, then me, and blame it on him. Louis orders the Versailles garden to be brought into Henriette's deathbed scene. While it seems like shes being unfair to Philippe, he doesnt really put up an effort to make himself lovable most of the time. Sad to hear well have to wait a year for the next season Are there similar shows to this you could recommend? : . As she made her last confession, the English ambassador, Lord Montagu, asked Henriette if she believed she had been poisoned. He should be he has not given up either of their names for the part they played in his arrest. Horrible man. I will come, says Philippe. I was highly frustrated with the artistic liberties the authors took, and some just pretty much made up shit, totally contrary to history . Is it fair? He rapes his wife. Then she says: can you feel my skin? And reaches out first to Louis, then Philippe. Thank you all! Nup. Henriette. I think he has done his younger brother irreperable harm and, at times, I wonder if he wouldnt throw Philippe to the wolves if it suited him or France. I am a friend. *The only voice, your own. Hi Laura! Pot, meet kettle. And Louis, who is being so totally duped, is convinced by Rohan to take his son, the Dauphin, out to ride, so he is far away from the cries of pain. When Marchal goes down and Montcourt takes the knife, Louis lunges, some more fighting with Marchal again entering the fray.. and then OMG Marchal is stabbed!!! Such emotion. She later dies in her bed. OMG!). 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. Rohan took him riding. Then he screams out: CALL THE GUARD!. Both of them were in love with other people when they were forced to marry and they both were aware of that. NOT AT ALL acceptable in the eyes of pretty much everyone. Im glad you like my reviews And I will most definitely continue on with reviewing S2. 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). The three remaining lived to be 59, 49 and 68. 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. Once again, Louis behaviour, as reported here, is uncharacteristic. Youre brought up, its your duty. 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. Feel free to comment if any details are wrong. She is simply besotted with Louis, so in love, that shed do anything he told her to. *IMAGERY KLAXON*, Next scene Marchal is riding furiously through the forest , no mood music, no sound, and he then bursts into Rohans rooms with guards, only to find the servant Marie on the floor, her wrist slashed with a knife. Of course not. Romantic wouldnt work, but she could become a protge of his. When King Charles hears that his beloved sister has been poisoned in France, it is only a matter of hours before a declaration of war. Louvois: a war they cannot afford to win. Colbert now counsels Louis on the shift of power should Henriette die: Henriettes very existence strengthens your position. Shes genuinely quite sweet, but tenacious something Im sure our Head of Security will appreciate). you wanted to make it your castle. Something must be done! Louis demands and now NOW he is looking scared, helpless and not at all like the King. Im leaving. Louis: You would defy me, even in this moment? Philippe: I know what this moment is. Louis steps to his brother and the camera frames them between the crossed pikes, a familiar movie making technique that focuses your eye solely on them, and also creates powerful imagery of two strong men, between weapons, taking opposite views. Okay, is Louvois just being a dick? Philippe and Henriette were forced into a marriage with someone they didnt love or care for. 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. The writers of the show took quite creative liberty with the relationships some turned out to be clever and well-written, some I just eye rolled SO HARD. Versailles (TV Series 2015-2018) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. . Louis: you are grieving. Philippe shakes his head: I grieve alone. Louis swallows then says: You will marry again. Philippe interjects: I simply want to live. Louis: It is your duty. Philippe hisses: I have had my fill of duty. I am looking at her now. Henriette says to Philippe: Im sorry. Totally inappropriate time to mention it. New episodes of " Versailles " air at 10/9c Saturdays on Ovation, but are rebroadcast throughout the week. The marriage was doomed from the start, because Henriette was already in love with Louis, it seems. Trusting Philippe and involving him in the running of France would make him a better, stronger king. Jules! Philippe has been by her side throughout this. You! He points and accusing finger. Henriette screams and they both surge to the door then suddenly stop. Then Philippe walks out, still dressed in his nightshirt and robe, barefoot. In the days when it was only you who /truly/ had my back. The fact that she could feel anything at all for him (beyond disgust) by the end surprises me. Hi Jules, I must thank you for your detailed writeup of all ten episodes of Versailles. Ive found some interesting, unedited sources about him and I hope to write very soon a book to make some justice to this very, very mistreated character. I just wanted to tell you that I enjoy your reviews and will keep reading them through saison 2. It is not clear in the show. Im thinking no. He had mistresses, for example. *Another side-note: When the Chavelier mentions that Louis does not look for beauty so much as character, umwas he talking about Henriette? Henriette, however, happens to be in love with the king and, more importantly, it seems he with her. The sad irony here is, I do think Louis cares very much for Philippe but he cannot let his armour of paranoia down enough to recognise Philippes loyalty and the fact that he can trust his brother. Anyhow, just wanted to say And what better way to keep Louis safe than have his Head of Security plant one of his spies in his bed? First off let me say that I absolutely love your reviews of Versailles, Ms. Jules. Yes, it was the thinking of that time but wouldnt that make her a victim of circumstances, rather to be pitied than villified? Obviously he loves Chevalier. Louis adds, almost contemptuously: you never understood politics. Claudine and Philippe converse, with Claudine saying she feels they are not through the worst. Her breath falters: Im scared. And the look on Louis and Philippes faces as they both lean in to comfort her *sobs* Philippe says gently: There is nothing to fear. Henriette: How do you know? Philippe: do you remember before you were born? And Montespan was married too, so in the eyes of the church that was double adultery. But here, now? UHGGH. plus its almost as if he has something to say, to hide. Is he justified in his behaviour towards her? Let me know when the doctor arrives, Louis says, and leaves. Since the first stone was laid in this expansion. So Louis sequesters the palace. The flashback of Charlotte being shot is in his head, reminding us (the audience) what happened previously and confirming that Marchal now knows how it was done. I neglected to include the phrase in my opinion. In one of the episodes did we see Clermont messing with the doctors box of bottles.. I know times and attitudes were different then, but a person violated still feels violated, whether they are allowed to acknowledge it or not. He deserves a truly powerful, unpredictable, fun, intoxicating woman who pulls the rug from under him, and he enjoys it. Louis reels off a list of people who were with Henriette on her journey, people that must be interrogated. She is a woman, she is his subject. I am really liking Sophies growth as a character, who is, of course, beautiful, but with attitude and a strong backbone, as we are now seeing. Henriette says a glorious death in battle would not displease him. He was distraught when she died, and was fully intent on punishing those responsible (as poison was indeed thought to have killed her). Similarly, perforation of the gall bladder may have led to an excess of bile leaking into the peritoneum causing the corruption and gangrene reported by her doctors. The camera hovers over the prone Henriette then pans up from the bed, like we are her soul being released from her body. Colbert and Louvois look considerably worried. At the time of his birth, his parents had been married for 23 years. Exactly. Protocol demands that he stays, Philippe says tightly. Henriette feels nothing for Philippe, he not having put any more effort into endearing himself to her than she to him and he also complicating things for her where Louis is concerned. Is he justified in knocking her across the room? Moreover, we cant fault her anymore for continuing her relationship with Louis (as if she would have had the power to end it anyway) than we can Philippe for continuing his with the Chevalier. Your email address will not be published. This was served to Henriette by her unsuspecting maid. No one leaves. did the male medicin drink the vial of poison accidentally or on purpose? It is so interesting to watch, given a discussion I had on Twitter earlier with some fellow fans. We awarded it to you for bravery. I did have a thought, though, why the writers didnt build up to her being the young version of one of Louis mistresses, he had so many. At some stage, Musket Mike (the masked man) is outed as a Kings guard. Claudine doesnt know how long Henriette has left, but it is her wish to see you both. Also, Henriette has asked to be carried to the garden so that she might be surrounded by her favourite flowers. (Philippes gentle smile is so bittersweet here!) His grip tightens on the poker, even as Montcourt looks actually shocked at that accusation. Philippe looks up to Louis with wet puppy eyes, Louis looks at Philippe, his all flinty and hard. 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). *Deeeeeep breath* Okay. Montcourt turns and quickly leaves. Louis: And that makes you a liar.. The wedge is firmly being driven between Philippe and Louis, all their arguments and conflict and opposition for each other has been carefully constructed and built up over the last nine episodes, into this final 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. I realise a woman was expected to stay faithful to her husband even while it was acceptable for him to have mistresess (ha! She had always been painfully thin and Louis once tactlessly referred to her as the bones of the Holy Innocents. If she dies it might lead to accusations and risk any potential alliance with England. So Louis settles into sleep. Well, my thought is Philippe angrily claiming his conjugal rights may well have happened before. Back to Henriette, who is now laid out on a bed, hair done, powdered and dressed in her finest gown. Aaaaaand now. And then down by the promontory. Societal expectations do not alter basic human reality. The best visual of the whole episode. Louis smacks it away with the poker, Marchal steps in, Montcourt grabs a candlestick. In every possible way. .. now, I am not saying that Colbert is implying Philippe poisoned his wife, but it sure sounds like it. Or because she cant look him in the eye and admit it? Would you villify a slave because he hated his master or ran away simply because slavery was accepted at that time and slaves (much like women, little difference there) were considered nothing more than the property of their masters to do with as they please (again, just as a woman was to her husband)? Charming. Copyright 2023 History Today Ltd. Company no. We see him silent and sombre, a blank expression on his face. Philippe, despite their mutual loathing, was upset and distraught, so suspicion then fell to the absent Chevalier de Lorraine, who at the time was still in exile in Rome. Louis XIV was born on 5 September 1638 in the Chteau de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, to Louis XIII and Anne of Austria. To bring them over to us. Eww. He says quietly: She knew what she had to do. Ive said this before in comments. And Marchal sees this too, his eyes flicking down to focus on them, then showing us aflashback of the dying girl, Charlotte de Parthanay, whom he held in his arms in Episode Three, where she says she saw angels. She stays. Philippe: And so do I.. After Philippe shoots a couple rounds into the air he tells Louie, Brother we must go, the wolves will come back and there will be more. Did you have the same thought as I; that while in the moment the characters are talking about the actual wolves, the underlying message is about Louis and the traitors in his midst, starting with Moncourt. It could also be argued that Philippe is relatively powerless, but only where Louis, his older brother and his king, is concerned. Yes, absolutely. 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. 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. All of these things have the power to change a nation from within. Henriette portrayed by Pierre Mignard, 17th century, Henriette, Duchesse d'Orlans, the sister-in-law of Louis XIV, took a drink of her usual chicory water and immediately clutched her side, crying out in pain. As Montcourt is delivering this little speech, the camera angle singles out the massive symbolism in the shot: the angels on his leather sash belt. Bontemps is a little freaked: Th-this is highly irregular, your Majesty. But the IDGAF expression on the Queens face is priceless. Unfortunately, Louis paranoia and selfishness blind him to this. Not long to go now, and we are with Marchal, who lies in bed, wakes suddenly and touches his stomach wound, which bleeds through the bandage. She coudnt have said no if shed wanted to. Rohan. Bontemps is still confused: you told us Montcourt was to blame. How can he be so sure? He was named Louis Dieudonn (Louis the God-given) and bore the traditional title of French heirs apparent: Dauphin . This is clearly frustrating for Bontemps, this is against all protocol, and Bontemps is nothing if a creature who takes comfort (and even enjoys) the routine of protocol. We see Louis expression crumple, and he blinks, almost disbelievingly, and then Philippe is out the door. At least there is a modicum of decorum. Bring the garden here, Louis commands * (YES I called this line too I am KING OF THE LAB! Hell, HIS WIFE is shagging his brother. Noemie Schmidt: Yes, totally stuck. To affect the hearts and minds of people. Aaaaaand there we have the end of the episode and the end of Season One. My apartment has no pisspot and I do hate to urinate in the stairwells. The Chevalier: Never stopped you before. (teeheehee) They are interrupted by the Duc de Cassel (who is looking even rougher and more filthy than usual.