Versailles - it was shit wasn't it?

[ArgyMargy]

Genuine question actually. I only lasted about 15 minutes until the endless sex, ugly men and confusing "plot" got too much. This programme has been made by a French channel in English for goodness knows what kind of audience, and the BBC was dumb enough to buy it.

I just want to know wtf Athelstan is doing in France.

Tsk, SuzieTwo - are you not following S3 of Vikings. Athelstan has been to France. (Weirdly, I don't George Blagden at all attractive in this or his IMDB photostream, but I love Athelstan far more than is healthy.)

I enjoy it but it is part of my favourite period of history. It is rather accurate and as a pp said the bisexual/gay brother has been toned down.
The black baby storyline is also 'accurate' depending who's account you read. Plus you have to remember France was the place for fashion and styling during this time. English men would have looked the same or as close as possible.

Sorry went a bit history lecturer there!

The baby actually did died though (the one that was actually born back then). Possibly jaundice or oxygen deprivation I think it's surmised.

There's supposed to be a 'didn't she/he?' after that first sentance. I don't actually know anything about this time in history; except Loius was a popular name.

I wasn't sure after the first episode but enjoyed episode 2 and I trust Greg Jenner and Kate Williams is delightfully bonkers and I love that in a historian so I am sticking with it.

As a fervent modernist, between this and The Musketeers I am developing a healthy interest in early modern France.

I did try watching Reign which is (very) roughly about Mary, Queen of Scots - now that have me the rage.

I also quite like Louis. I had assumed that the dwarf was a eunuch until the baby was born.

"That's a lot of shit."

Well quite Louis, quite.

Although at least we had some new characters this week who weren't wearing Kate Middleton wigs in various states and they were likeable and interesting.

I know it's the point but all the underhand politics stuff from the dull curly blokes is so boring. I keep losing track and I don't know if it's due to me zoning out or if it's poorly written.

It perks up when Louis isn't on screen though.

Ok I posted half way through catching up and I've just finished it now. I think I'm finally on board and will be sticking with it. The plot is growing and everyone seems easier to identify.

The hired prostiture for poor Louis was And Carole Middleton the social climbing mother grabbing her daughter was eyebrow raising.

Wasn't sure what the significance of showing the baby to the African prince was.

Keep your eye on the social climbing mother, she turns out to be very interesting!

Yes, the prostitute bit was grim and (again) based on RL.

The baby was the African Prince's wasn't it... not the dwarf??

Oh! Or was that just what he wanted him to think?

Watched all three episodes and really starting to get into this. Bit confused over some stuff but I love George Blagden and I never thought I could fancy a man with a moustache.

So. Some questions. How did Louis know the queen had shagged the African prince? Did he put her up to it in the first place? And good point from enid, hadn't thought of that.

Also everyone looks a bit samey. was the woman Louis was shagging, his brother's wife?

They do look samey. I think it's the dark costumes.

Clothes not costumes.

Yes she's his brother's wife. The one who is gay and gone off to war. He gave Louis his blessing to sleep with her, before he went. The brother is sleeping with the blonde curly haired man who is friends with social climbing mother.

Thanks Enid I also got the social climbing mother and the Queen mixed up at one point, I think because of the hair

Weirdly enjoying it though.

I think that the African Prince is meant to be the father of the baby, because IIRC there were pointed comments to the Queen about them being well acquainted, and Louis forcing them into each others company.

I think that showing the baby to the Prince is a way of keeping him in line and giving favourable trade deals to France? That's just my interpretation though. There are rumours (think a pp mentioned it upthread) that the Queen had a black baby who grew up to be a nun? Given how regimented court life at that time was though, I think those can be taken with a pinch of salt. Unlike the King, who could please himself, every minute of the Queen's day would be accounted for and she wouldn't be able to take herself off for an affair even if she wanted to.

The blonde woman he is sleeping with is indeed his brother's wife - she is Charles II's sister. This probably didn't happen IRL though. She died very young, .

Since watching I've been doing a bit of research and what's very striking is they tend to make people much better looking on these things than they were IRL. The Queen in this version is slender, dark and sultry looking but IRL she was quite the opposite. I've put a couple of pics up to show what I mean:

That's interesting flip It was the same in the Tudors as well. Catherine of Aragon was portrayed as being this gorgeous, tall, if slightly older brunette and the less said about Henry the better!

Going back to the baby, why murder the dwarf if Louis thought the African Prince was the father? It's all a bit confusing at the moment.

Very interesting Flip I didn't know about her being Charles sister.

I wondered that too Hip

I remember watching the Charles drama on the BBC ages ago and they showed his sister dying in France and her dh treating her badly.

Yes, she was and even intervened with her brother on the Kings behalf - negotiating a secret treaty on one occasion. Despite her early death she did somehow manage to have two children with Monsieur. He then remarried after she died and had several more children - while still carrying on with his boyfriends (of course).

I think the dwarf being murdered might have been intended as a punishment for the Queen?

Hip imagine the disappointment of someone watching the Tudors and comparing John Rhys Meyers with his real life counterpart .

JRM trying to look old and haggard at the end of The Tudors was

Just to be completely shallow, I we need a Henry Cavill or two in this series. The labourer looked promising.

I haven't managed episode 3 yet. Looking forward to it.

The labourer might be the only thing that keeps me watching

I noticed the labourer too! Good spot everyone

As for JRM's Henry, they didn't even bother sticking him in a ginger wig ffs