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Marie Antoinette - BBC2 Thursdays and iPlayer

31 replies

IwantToRetire · 31/12/2022 15:26

I thought from the trailor I wouldn't like this and later found out it is the same writer as the Favourite (which I thought was just silly!)

But based on first episode only think it is an interesting presentation of women as barter in european history.

Quote: An innocent teenage queen drawn into a dark, manipulative court of Versailles. Her duty is to bear an heir. Her fate will set a country on fire. From the writer of The Favourite.

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p0dlx309/marie-antoinette

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Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 31/12/2022 15:28

I believe that the Dauphin was more afraid of the marriage bed than she was.

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IwantToRetire · 31/12/2022 15:39

Not helped by having a group of courtiers gawping at you!

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Supernormative · 31/12/2022 15:48

It's total nonsense and bad history but I'm thoroughly enjoying a binge watch.

hopeishere · 31/12/2022 15:49

We watched it. It was interesting. What were they throwing at them when they got into the bed?!

IcedPurple · 31/12/2022 16:16

I recorded it but going by the reviews it doesn't sound great.

Is it full of really anachronistic ideas about women?

ouch321 · 31/12/2022 16:25

I'm watching the series now. I think they've overegged it in some ways.

There's also a film, starring Kirsten Dunst I think, of the same name, probably 5 or 10 years old, that is on one of the streaming platforms. I quite liked that.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 31/12/2022 16:37

IcedPurple · 31/12/2022 16:16

I recorded it but going by the reviews it doesn't sound great.

Is it full of really anachronistic ideas about women?

According to some reviews it's absolute shite as regards historical accuracy, so probably it's full of 'female empowerment' when in reality MA was kept pretty much away from any real power by her husband once he became king.

Supernormative · 31/12/2022 16:42

It is absolute bollocks as far as historical accuracy goes but that doesn't seem to matter any more with TV dramas.

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IwantToRetire · 31/12/2022 20:08

Based on episode 1 it is anything but female empowerment as she if bartered as a 14 year old to seal a political deal.

Although having a jokey overtone it actually makes it look like her life was quite grim.

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colouringindoors · 11/01/2023 22:45

Well it may well be factually very dubious but as a pretty, historical drama I thoroughly enjoyed it 😀

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IwantToRetire · 12/01/2023 01:11

I'm still watching week by week and it isn't anything like as irritating as the Favourite or the grossly stupid one about Catherine the Great. (cant remember what it was called.)

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Yesthatismychildsigh · 12/01/2023 02:49

ouch321 · 31/12/2022 16:25

I'm watching the series now. I think they've overegged it in some ways.

There's also a film, starring Kirsten Dunst I think, of the same name, probably 5 or 10 years old, that is on one of the streaming platforms. I quite liked that.

I think that film is nearer 20 years old now. I only know because I watched it with my son when he was doing hid GCSE’s. To me ‘a few years ago’ could be anytime between last year and 1995 😂

5foot5 · 13/01/2023 09:49

IwantToRetire · 31/12/2022 20:08

Based on episode 1 it is anything but female empowerment as she if bartered as a 14 year old to seal a political deal.

Although having a jokey overtone it actually makes it look like her life was quite grim.

Oh I am thoroughly enjoying it and am interested enough to be googling to find out how much might be true.

I was curious about why they seem to consider it would be a race as to which of the brothers had the first son. Surely the oldest brother's child would take precedence even if the other was to become a father first? Or did the Bourbon succession not work like that? Could the King choose the other one to be the Dauphin if he thought he was the better bet?

Stepuptowardsinfinity · 13/01/2023 11:32

No the child of the eldest son always takes precedence. The issue was that Marie A and the Dauphin (later the king) didn't seem to be sleeping together and even when they did there was no guarantee of a child. Their first child was a girl and the French I believe had salic law so the girl couldn't be monarch. Any son of his brother would be the new Dauphin until Louis had a son, if it ever happened.

Blabla81 · 13/01/2023 11:46

I just loved the very last scene - gave me goosebumps. I enjoyed it but actually hope there isn’t another series as I’d like to think they just lived happily ever after 🫣.

ArcaneWireless · 15/01/2023 20:54

I’ve only seen 4 and I’m loving it. It has led me down t’internet rabbit holes to find out more about the reality of it.

But as a prettily done historical drama, it is hitting my spot. Mind you, I was besotted with Versailles. I was not a happy bunny when that stopped.

I was always going to be their target audience 😳

MissBattleaxe · 21/01/2023 17:31

I am loving it. There are all sorts of historical anachronisms, but I imagine that if they stuck to accuracy it would be quite dull and hard to follow. To be honest I could just sit back and watch all those dresses and jewels with the sound off and I'd be quite happy. The actress playing MA is excellent- amazing screen presence. I'm already missing Countess du Barry. She was fascinating.

ArcaneWireless · 21/01/2023 19:08

Her peg was too shoogly though but I miss her too.

Although not as much as I miss Versailles. 😩

It is a beautiful watch. I hope they have another series or two.

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 21/01/2023 19:12

I enjoyed it (watched all of them on I-player). I needed to suspend my disbelief in a lot of places but it was entertaining - I hope they do go on to make further series.

Tontostitis · 21/01/2023 19:19

I loved it but I stopped before the end as her story especially re her dc and best friend is so awful I can't bear to see it again.

FeedMeSantiago · 23/01/2023 12:37

I'm watching at tv pace but I saw several 'making of' videos on YouTube which said they're planning 3 series of the programme. Fingers crossed that doesn't change, I'm loving it so far.

BitOutOfPractice · 23/01/2023 12:38

Supernormative · 31/12/2022 15:48

It's total nonsense and bad history but I'm thoroughly enjoying a binge watch.

This. I loved it too even though, historically, it's utter bilge.

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IwantToRetire · 28/01/2023 18:50

Just caught up on this week's episode. She is really irritating me now.

If she went on behaving like this no wonder the sans-culotte hated her so much.

Not that I am a supported of Madame la Guillotine.

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SapatSea · 02/02/2023 17:34

The Serpent Queen about Catherine De Medici (Starz) is good fun if you need another series in this kind of vein.

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IwantToRetire · 03/02/2023 16:27

I watched last night's episode and realised that I no longer care. The supposedly clever approach of showing people from 100s of year ago behaving like we do just doesn't work for me.

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