Marie Antoinette - BBC2 Thursdays and iPlayer

[IwantToRetire]

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

I just finished the series last night. I wanted to love it…I too, was watching in the hope it a would be Versailles style drama…especially as Canal were involved in production. I was a bit disappointed. It was beautiful to watch, but too slow and I never warmed to any of the characters. I had sympathy for MA until she starting acting like a spoiled brat about halfway through the series. It just didn’t hold my attention. I disliked most of the other characters throughout.

Also was confused by the last few minutes…it seemed to fast forward a couple of years over a couple of minutes and I wasn’t sure whether they were insinuating the baby was not Louis’, that her mother died (is that what she was crying about in the courtyard or was it that she was “returning to her prison”? I’m assuming they finally had the Dauphin? Or was the baby another girl? Confused!

Oh I did love the Countess Du Barry though! Highlight of the series!

I’m very wary of any new historical series or adaption of classic works. I want true to story Jane Austen (90’s versions are good) not “empowered” new takes where the drama is lost because they make it seem like it doesn’t matter which man the heroine ends up with because she don’t need no man anyway. It did matter! That was the source of the drama, her fate was tied to it.

I haven’t watched this but it wouldn’t surprise me if they made Marie Antwonette a secret revolutionary who was the real brains behind the revolution or something tbh

I had high hopes for this series but was really disappointed. It started promisingly but fizzled out. It didn't seem to know what it wanted to be. I didn't get to the end of the series.

I expected given the script writer that it would be historically inaccurate, and it is. Quite fun if you are prepared to accept it is complete fiction.

I have only just finished watching it. And initially although I don't like this style of drama, as it basically is one joke told over and over again, I thought it okay.

But by the end I thought, why bother, its neither funny, nor actual history.

And certainly makes Marie Antoinette seem not very bright and remaining a whiney teenager with silly crushes.

Oh my goodness, have just seen this!

Marie Antoinette is going to be a three-season, 24-episode series, which on the one hand means there’s time in this very slow-burner for some of these issues to work themselves out. On the other hand, whether audiences have the patience for it is an entirely different matter. For now, tune into Marie Antoinette for a grand production with some decent acting, but leave your expectations at the door.

www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/marie-antoinette-bbc-canal-plus-review-period-drama-b1049108.html

I think I will be one of those who wont have the patience.