and Nine. I also cannot figure out why Louis and others speak freely in front of the guards when even they are unsure of their loyalty. It was generally believed that she had been poisoned by one of her husband's friends, but historians have concluded that she died of natural causes, perhaps of a ruptured appendix. And c) to show the resentment Philippe has for his wife, a woman whom he has to share with his brother, and he cannot do a damn thing about it. Henriette wanted to go!). Henriette mentions the issues she has with the Chevalier. his majesty knew this day would come. It was very clear from episode 1 that you were not a fan of Henriette and I found that quick jarring to read in your reviews. 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. Does Henriette mind being used by Louis? But of course, she has no power to rid herself of him, so his death would be her only chance. Henriette is restrained by Philippe, the Queen and Bontemps, and Philippe is clearly suffering as he listens to his wife muffling her screams. King Louis is in a bit of a pickle. Philippe is no more vulnerable to the hurt and damage done to him than she is to the hurt and damage done to her, simply because he is a man with rights and she is a woman with no rights. In the days when it was only you who /truly/ had my back. And so was she. Its just that his anger and upset (and yes, jealousy I think) affects him so much, because its just another way for his brother to control and belittle him, make him less. Hi Theresa, and thanks for your comment. And Louis coming out the good guy. Much kudos to Nomie Schmidt for a brilliantly sad scene, aided by the backing music and the strength and emotion of George Blagden and Alex Vlahos. What to expect from the future? But his family and France are divided. Philippe has no interest in Henriette, is not attracted to her or in love with her. poison, death and departures Versailles episode 10. Louis continues to yell: because without me this country will consume itself in nobles squabbles. He paces. We found an old building a sorry shack made of stone and moss. Poisoned? But lets compare: Henriette is jealous. Henriette says a glorious death in battle would not displease him. Nup. And if you reread my words very carefully, you might realise that I never once touched on the legality of it. In Ep 3, I believe this is the first time we see the painting, it is in Louiss chambers, to the left of the fireplace on an easel on the floor. Montcourts eyes drop to Louis hand and suddenly he pulls a knife. Josephine Wilkinson is an academic and author. Back to Henriette, who is now laid out on a bed, hair done, powdered and dressed in her finest gown. As for Philippe, I cant make out what he is. 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. Now, seeing as sister-in-law wasnt even a thing then, this would be like actually shagging your sister. Anne, Hi Jules Lets just say, Henriettes jealous behaviour is a far cry less despicable than Philippes.). And what better way to keep Louis safe than have his Head of Security plant one of his spies in his bed? Desire for glory. Philippe of course blames Louis for Henriette's poisoning as he was the one who sent Henriette as an ambassador abroad even though everyone begged him not to. Rohan is the Masked Man! And she was having an affair with the Comte de Guiche. Then, as they both walk through the salon (Vaux de Vicomte again) and to the doors, the guards bar their way and Louis enters. This is who they truly are in this one moment of grief. I have some questions. Her confessor, however, urged her to accuse no one but to make her death an offering to God. At least there is a modicum of decorum. Louis is calm but angry: then you set yourself against me. Philippe pauses, looks incredibly sad for a moment, then briefly nods. Is Philippe a victim? I cannot even imagine his reasoning for this, however I do know historically, Henriette desperately did want to be Queen of France, as did her mother want it, but at the time, she didnt have the pedigree, being the sister to Englands heir who wasnt even on the throne at the time. Pale and in obvious distress, she was put to bed, but her pains were so severe that she believed she must have been poisoned and asked for an antidote. He sees Louis. So anyways, off we go. Louis summons the Dauphin to show him how to be a good king. We see a lovely shot of Versailles outside, then cut to the Kings bedchamber, where the flowers and hedges are neatly arranged around to the bed. Only a year or so to go until a new season arrived on fledgling network Ovation, its U.S. cable home. Whats wrong? Quite a few. Philippe had a relationship with the man he loved while Henriette continued to sleep with the man she loved. I could never love you more. Bontemps wants to move her she cannot stay in the Kings bed. but Claudine says she cannot be moved. Im going to be stalking these recaps in the arduous wait for season two. Colbert: You believe her highness is poisoned? Marchal replies cryptically: I believe. Thank you. The historical notes you added were my favourite of all, I love knowing whats accurately portrayed and for the parts that were tweaked, what the actual history was. Only 4 of his children grew up, and even then, another died at 27. She was 26. A brief scene follows, showing Rohan and the Dauphin sword playing and pretending a jolly game of war in the forest, thenwe are back to the Kings bedchamber where Henriette sleeps and Philippe is outside in the antechamber, brooding by the fireplace as Louis walks in. . Much later, the courtier Saint-Simon offered his own thoughts. UGH. And Philippe says calmly and quietly: There. Im no Henriette fan, but Im so sorry, no, Philippe did not win the victim sweepstakes in that marriage. If she dies it might lead to accusations and risk any potential alliance with England. Marchal commands to clear the room, Louis adds: Not you, Montcourt. and the doors are sealed: no one enters. Nothing. I COMMAND YOU! and the guards step back. Absolutely enjoyed your recap of the finale. Louvois has been a kind of double agent all along, directed by Louis himself to assume the role of critic and conspirator. It is one or the other. Philippe replies calmly: You acted out of pride. Philippe had stillborn twins and a daughter, a son who died at 2 and one at 4, plus two miscarriages. Is it a bigger crime than boy love? As she made her last confession, the English ambassador, Lord Montagu, asked Henriette if she believed she had been poisoned. She was merely being used by the man she was in love with. Not Marchal! Oh, and was it common in this era to talk about new marriages literally 2 minutes after your wife/husband died? 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. Princess Henriette was born on 16 June 1644, on the eve of the Second Battle of Newbury during the Civil War, at Bedford House in Exeter, a seat of William Russell, 5th Earl of Bedford (1613-1700), who had recently returned to the Royalist side. 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. We could never invade the entire world but the world can imagine us as their centre. Is he for or against le roi? IDK??? You went north, I went south and she went west and by the time they righted themselves we found our way down by the mill stream. Yet another possibility is that she had a duodenal ulcer which burst, leading to peritonitis. Point 6: Not her greatest moment, no. She could not affect change herself. We see Henriette asleep in the bed. We must get the king and the queen and yourself to safety at once. And the penny drops for Bontemps, his look of dismay so clear. Dear Anne, Im guessing I know a fair bit more about rape, the history of rape, the history of rape within marriage and womens rights (and lack thereof) than you realise. Louis replies how else was I to keep you close. Philippe has been by her side throughout this. I know historically Philippe did leave Versailles for a time, but season two Louis without Philippe will be interesting because while Louis takes shots at him every chance he gets, at the end of the day Philippe is the only true person around him besides Bontemps. These reactions perfectly suit and says a lot to their characters, plus George Blagden and Alex Vlahos as hugely talented actors. Ugh) and oh dear, the Chevalier looks so panicked, so worried by the Ducs appearance is it because he thinks people will start accusing him again of treason? Louis looks strained, says: I do not regret sending her. Did not see this one coming! Music. Henriette was more than happy to become second only to Marie-Therese. Anything Henriette had done to Philippe, he had done to herand worse. Cue some fabulous visuals of doors closing, pikes crossing, the golden gates slamming shut and locking. Thanks for your great reviews! The cost is justified a hundred fold! ..And Philippes face that little sigh, the look he is incredulous. Inside Versailles Henriette Sister of King Charles II of England, Henriette - known as Madame - is the wife of Philippe and the mistress of King Louis. I think that if he really loved Henriette that much, he wouldnt have gotten over her so quickly and easily, once they dangled a pretty, young blonde newcomer court lady to distract him. In Versailles, Madame de Clermont is running round like a blue-arsed fly having discovered that her poison has gone missing. many things. Louis looks at him as he goes on: I believe this palace is a symbol of our king. Marchal replies in that cool way of his: we eliminate the suspects. Colbert: eliminating the suspects doesnt mean the same to me as it does to you! Lol. Finally, did the male medicin drink the vial of poison accidentally or on purpose? So he tells Louis he will now deliver the man responsible for their deaths. She is powerless. but it would cause her too much pain. apparently it is still not safe. Mike did. I think Teresa is being a bit naive re. To affect the hearts and minds of people. First to Henriette, and after she was poisoned, to Elizabeth Charlotte, Princess of the Palatinate. Bring the garden here, Louis commands * (YES I called this line too I am KING OF THE LAB! There could have been some anger involved without resorting to rape. All of these things have the power to change a nation from within. Philippe and Henriette were forced into a marriage with someone they didnt love or care for. Hold onto this moment, I told you. Louis, who never forgave a slight, always ensured that the guilty paid dearly. Back with Marchal, interrogating Louvois this time. And Bontemps replies: we are all proud of her, Sire. Louis: And now someone is trying to destroy me, by destroying her. Rohan appears: And they will not succeed I came as soon as I could I wish to offer myself to you as your subject and as your friend. UGGGGGH. She later dies in her bed. I will come, says Philippe. She is used by the king to hurt his brother. She could have answered with an honest yes but she evades the question. UGH D: Hi Jules, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your reviews as much as I have enjoyed watching Versailles. I could never love you morewell. And Philippe replies gently: You did the best you could. Tears now from Henriette: how handsome you both are. And now we are in the last throes of her last moments it hurts and she cannot breathe, they move the pillow. It can be quite shocking to us, but pretty much most children died before adulthood people mourned, mirrors were covered and a service held, but some didnt wait more than a few days before picking themselves up and going off to the next party or ball or soiree. *That should have read historical figures not historical characters! Which one? Louis asks. (We wont even go into whether or not that maid wanted to be drug into the bedroom by Philippe after his jealous strop with the Chevalier or his sneaking into Louises bed. Is it fair? Louis. Im guessing they were pretty equal. Because the whole world gave you counsel. Montcourt denies it: No, Sire. (Historical note: mistresses were in competition with each other all the time, poison was effective and the murderer didnt have to deal with the messiness. First off, let me preface my response with the qualifier that I know very little about the historical figures on which these characters are based. Season 1 | Season 2 Getting Started | Contributor Zone Contribute to This Page Add episode Okay, is Louvois just being a dick? And Montespan was married too, so in the eyes of the church that was double adultery. ? These scenes are odd for me to watch, but by now, I have totally put aside any frustration when the show deviates from what I know of the actual history. The sudden onset of Henriettes illness, the severe pain and the short time between the onset of her symptoms and her death suggested to her contemporaries that she had been poisoned. In walks Philippe, now fully dressed (and what a fine figure he is!) Apparently de Clermont gave Marchal the names of the conspirators against the king, and all the names of those who shared her allegiance. So that would perhaps put affair-with-sister-in-law a half tick closer to pardonable than homosexuality, which is wholly and completely condemned in the bible. Next morning and Louis opens the shutters on a sleeping Montespan (aside here: Louis has a habit of walking in on people sleeping or in a state of undress. Henriette says to Philippe: Im sorry. Well, my thought is Philippe angrily claiming his conjugal rights may well have happened before. 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. Thanks for reading! Trusting Philippe and involving him in the running of France would make him a better, stronger king. Are there more shows you will review? *insert sound of breaking heart here*. You can read more about Henriettas death here. Henriettes liver and intestines were found to be badly corrupted, while her duodenum, gall bladder and the lower portion of her abdomen were filled with evil-smelling bile. Bontemps suddenly appears; Henriette has been calling. Versailles 2015 - S01E10 - Bring the Garden Here (High MP4) (WEBM) (Aired: 14 Dec. 2015) Duchess Henriette becomes suddenly ill when she returns from a visit to her brother in England. As Mme de Svign wrote: She was taken ill and died within eight hours, and we have lost with her all the joy, all the charm and all the pleasures of the Court. Speculation that Henriette had been poisoned began straight away. I also cannot figure out why Louis and others speak freely in front of the guards when even they are unsure of their loyalty.. Enriched my enjoyment of the show, and got a bit more educated on the courts history as well . My sources tell me that sadly, we will have to wait until March 2017 (Yes, NEXT YEAR!!!) I was highly frustrated with the artistic liberties the authors took, and some just pretty much made up shit, totally contrary to history . Yes. So, he loves Henrietta as a friend, or simply to rival his brother? Now she is in a marriage that will never give her any joy with a man she does not love and she should risk displeasing her lover, the king, by rejecting him? She is only ever Louis sweet, nubile mistress or Philippes overlooked wife, never her own person, she isnt seductive and outgoing like Montespan or scheming like de Clermont or genuinely sweet with a backbone like Sophie, shes just a soft-spoken waif who huffs when she doesnt get her way, cries when shes put in a difficult position, doesnt seem that clever but knows exactly where to strike thatll heart the worst mentioning Francoise Parthenay when Louis has refused to talk about the Chevalier, for one. There was no indication of poisoning, so death was attributed to cholera morbus caused by corrupt and boiling bile, which had led to gangrene in the entrails and other parts of the lower abdomen. 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. Duchess Henriette becomes suddenly ill when she returns from a visit to her brother in England. Seems likely in the show (historically, this is not so the case at all). Now, if she had been his second cousin, and never saw each other until she married his brother, then I can maybe see them having an affair. . Today, speculation has attributed Henriettes death to intestinal blockage, ectopic pregnancy or tuberculosis affecting the peritoneum. Hi, So how could you be scared? My thoughts on that notorious Henrietta/Philippe scene in episode one is that it is entirely out-of-character for Philippe as we get to know him through the rest of the series. He has poisoned all of them. Incest or homosexuality? I was searching online for reviews/explanations of this show I was never educated about Frances history because I come from the other side of the globe and coincidentally stumbled upon your website, much to my delight. She is subject to the whims and wishes of her king and lover, of her husband and even of her husbands lover. Your closest confidants told you to look elsewhere! Coming from the quills of noted showrunners David Wolstencroft and Simon Mirren, both known for gripping series with a conspiratorial bent (i.e. After their conversation about stealing Philippes glory and the fact that Louis never liked sharing. Philippe weeps. did the male medicin drink the vial of poison accidentally or on purpose? We were taking the air with our governess when we made a break for freedom. Dieu. Jacques 10 episodes, 2015 . In one of the episodes did we see Clermont messing with the doctors box of bottles.. Though only a few actually act on it. Marchal is having a hard time believing Montcourts usual crapabout returning to court because he is a true friend to the king and was his duty to inform him of a threat to Henriettes life. I believe Louis did love her. He cripples himself with his own paranoia. And it is on. I just found out your site and I must congratulate you for your beautifully written reviews. But unlike Philippe, Henriette never snogged her lover obnoxiously right there in the same room with him. I just wanted to tell you that I enjoy your reviews and will keep reading them through saison 2. Yet you heard nothing. 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. Hes just having some fun. He had mistresses, for example. Then the camera pans to the door and Philippe enters, says to him quietly, were leaving. As her husband, Philippe, rushed to her bedside, Henriette chided him, Alas, Monsieur, it is a long time since you loved me, but this is unjust. Alerted, Henriettes lady-in-waiting watched the duke closely, but he showed no indication of guilt and every sign that he was distressed by his wifes condition. And Rohan chuckles and I well. But to his brother? I do. According to the Savoyard ambassador, the king vowed that, if Henriette had indeed been poisoned, those involved would be tortured to death, including the chevalier de Lorraine, Philippes favourite, if he were implicated. 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. 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. Also thanks for your detailed and in depth reviews. And even if not, we see what Philippe is capable of when hes in a jealous snit. I know this coming years later, but to Theresa THANK YOU SO MUCH. Pity that they made his character too emo, too frustrated and angry with the world, when he actually was full of joie de vivre, always smiling, always chattering, always ready to find the good in every person and every sistuation. Therefore, my thoughts are strictly about the characters. No doubt those in Philippes camp played on that too, to taint Henriette even more (Guiche UGH. We see this SO MANY TIMES it becomes frustrating and sad. Louis paranoia about his little brother is completely unfounded. My bed your last stop before retiring. Louis stands outside: her life is in your hands, he says ominously. Henriette, however, happens to be in love with the king and, more importantly, it seems he with her. Louis meanwhile, is disorientated (and by this time I am wondering where the guards are with all this noise, despite Marchal telling them not to disturb them). We cut to the forest, to the two Kings Guards in their blue livery, leaning by a tree as Rohan and little Louis still mock fight. Montcourt 10 episodes, 2015 Gilly Gilchrist . 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. You see it in Ep3 where he yells where is MY wife? You see it in Ep2 with his angry speech to Louis: do you tell yourself that when you are fucking MY WIFE? In so many subtle ways Philippe is being demeaned by Louis. Philippe is most definitely not the victim in his marriage. Finally, the king weeps for his love, when he is alone. I have known your website for some time now but hadnt had much time to write a post until now. And Louis is left in the salon, framed by the door, the guards, and looking incredibly vulnerable and alone. I think he also wants reassurance that Louis cares for him as much as he cares for Louis. He certainly is darker, more angry and violent than he was in real life. Arguably, as a man, it was within Philippes power to end his relationship easily enough whereas Henriette, a woman, would very possibly not have had that same power. And then Marchal throws Montcourts words back at him: and when we are the Kings enemy, we must make him believe we are his friend, right? Yessss. I can see where the series cliffhanger is heading, besides the obvious unmasking of Rohan as a traitor. Philippe and Louis have all the best monologues and the writing is brilliant, so in character. Louis finally nods to the guards, the pikes are uncrossed and Philippe takes a breath and walks out without a backwards glance.The Chevalier gives him a few feet head start, then strolls after him, hands behind his back, not looking at Louis, not bowing. Glad to see he lives on, at least for awhile. The next shot is of Montespan, entering her rooms, where she briefly cries then quickly gains control with a deep breath. Duchess Henriette becomes suddenly ill when she returns from a visit to her brother in England. Spooks), it was no surprise when this drama arrived with a hearty dollop of sex, violence, tension, and intrigue. There is, replies Louis. But, this is my interpretation or thoughts based on the real life events.
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