Versailles (Series 1)

Versailles is a 2015 Canal+ television series on the court of King Louis XIV of France during the construction of the Palace of Versailles.

George Blagden as King Louis XIV of France

Alexander Vlahos as Philippe, Duke of Orléans

Elisa Lasowski as Queen Marie Thérèse of France

Noémie Schmidt as Princess Henrietta Anne of England

I give this TV series a 1/5. I was genuinely excited for this show when I first heard about it because Louis XIV! The Sun King! Which is why I am sad to say it wasn't that good. Now don't get me wrong, the sets and the costumes were absolutely beautiful and it was a visual feast for my eyes. But it wasn't that good. You can tell they were trying to make "The Tudors" version of Versailles and it just doesn't work. This story is so bastardize by Hollywood that I could get drunk with all the tropes I find in it. Tell me if this doesn't sound ridiculous to you. Claudine is a progressive girl in 17th century France who doesn't believe in the magic mumbo jumbo of that century's medicine, instead she believes in "science". Because of her sex, she must disguise herself as a man to work as personal physician to the King who sees her inner potential. Poppycock! To say that Versailles is historically inaccurate is a bit of an understatement. The show butchers every female character it has. Normally, I would forgive changes to history for the sake of drama but when you have such a rich history as the love life of King Louis XIV of France it is downright insulting. Louise de la Valliere was just a religious nutjob and the romantic way that she and Louis fell in love is reduced to a boob grab in the back of church. Athenais, Madame de Montespan, was no maitresse en titre - boring and bland. Queen Marie Therese had a black baby?! I remember reading that this show caused controversy in France because it is in English instead of French. English is my native tongue and I would prefer it to be in English so that didn't bother me but what did bother me was that the only person on the show with a French accent was Princess Henrietta Anne of ENGLAND. Another English figure they ruined was Charles II of England. I was so excited for the Treaty of Dover but the moment Charles II of England came on screen, I recoiled in horror. The man who sired nearly twenty bastards was gayer than the Duke of Orléans. As I was watching the scene unfold, I could not help but think of a much much better show, Charles II the Power and the Passion, and how it knew its source material. This was trash. The thing I will give Versailles credit for are its two main characters. George Blagden looked the part and he acted the part but the person who really stole the show was Alexander Vhalos as Philippe, Duke of Orléans! The moment I saw him I thought he captured the character perfectly! Perfect, simply perfect. I loved seeing the relationship between the two brothers and this can be extended a little to Minette. However, this show was bland and boring for all of its sex and violence and if I didn't have to write this review I wouldn't have even finished it.  

Poldark (Series 1)

Poldark is a 2015 BBC drama series on the first two books of Winston Graham's Poldark novels, debuting on March 8, 2015. Having long believed to be dead in the American Revolutionary War, Ross Poldark returns home to discover everything has changed.  

Aidan Turner as Captain Ross Poldark

Eleanor Tomlinson as Demelza Carne

Heida Reed as Elizabeth Chynoweth

Kyle Soller as Francis Poldark

Jack Farthing as George Warleggan

Ross Poldark returns home to Cornwall after fighting in the American Revolutionary War to discover that his father has died and left his estates in ruins and his sweetheart, Elizabeth, engaged to his cousin. As he tries to rebuild his life, he comes across Demelza Carne, a poor girl whose father has been beating her. He offers Demelza a job as a kitchen maid and she accepts.

Elizabeth and Francis marry. Francis's sister, Verity, falls in love with Captain Blamey, a man who went to jail for murdering his wife. Francis and Blamey duel leading to Francis being shot and Blamey departing, leaving Verity heartbroken. Ross saves Francis's life and Elizabeth reveals that she is pregnant.  

Ross Poldark opens his own mine but struggles to find copper. Ross discovers that his friend, Jimmy, has been poaching. Despite his best efforts to get Jimmy to stop poaching, Jimmy is caught red handed. Even though Ross tries to intervene, Jimmy is sentenced to two years in prison, leaving behind his wife and his newborn child. Ross and Dezelma become lovers and they marry.

Society is scandalized by Ross's mesalliance. Elizabeth gives birth to a son but her relationship with her husband soon deteriorates. Ross's uncle has a heart attack at his grandson's christening and he later dies. Verity makes friends with Demelza. Copper is at last discovered and Demelza reveals that she is pregnant. She gives birth to a girl who they named Julia. 

Ross's friend, Doctor Enys, arrives in Cornwall. Mark, one of Ross's miners, falls in love with an actress, Karen. She quickly becomes disillusioned by Mark's lack of means. Demelza brings Captain Blamey and Verity back together. Ross and cohort decide to start a smelting company in order to driver up the price of copper. 

Ross and Dr. Enys takes Jimmy out of prison and unsuccessfully tries to treat Jimmy but he dies. Depressed, Ross drinks himself silly at the Warleggan ball. There is discovers that George Waleggan's cousin, Matthew, has been cheating at cards. The same Matthew who "won" Francis's mines as the latter becomes an obsessive gambler and a whoremongerer. George Warleggan discovers that the miners are smelting their own copper.

Verity elopes with Captain Blamey and Francis blames Ross. Francis betrays his cousin by revealing the identity of the investors in Ross's smelting company, many of whom having debts to Warleggans. The Warleggans close down Ross's smelting company. Dr. Enys is seduced by Karen and in a fit of rage, Mark accidentally kills her. With the help of Ross, Mark flees to France. Demelza reveals her part in Verity's elopement.

Francis's family is struck with diphtheria. Without Verity to tend to them, Demelza comes to care for them. They all survive but Demelza and Julia soon come down with it themselves. Julia dies. The Warleggan's ship is wrecked off the coast and the townspeople come to take their loot. Matthew drowns. Ross is arrested for Matthew's death and wrecking. 

I give this TV series a 4.5/5. This series is fantastic! I watched the first two episode on Saturday night and finished it off Sunday afternoon. It has everything you want in a period drama love, deception and evil rich people! It is like the Game of Thrones of period dramas! The only problem I have with the show is that I don't fully believe in the Ross/Demelza romance. In the last episode when Ross said that Demelza was the love of his life, I was taken aback. Still, they are very good together and I'm rooting for them come Series 2. Poldark gets a total recommendation to me, go out and watch it now!  

The Scandalous Lady W.

The Scandalous Lady W. is a 2015 BBC production on the scandalous life of Lady Seymour Worsley, nee Fleming.

Natalie Dormer as Seymour Fleming

Aneurin Barnard as Captain George Bisset

Shaun Evans as Sir Richard Worsley

The story of the Lady Seymour Worsley is told through a series of flashbacks as she had her lover, Captain Bisset, runaway to London. All Seymour Fleming wanted in her marriage was to please her husband. On September 17, 1775, she married Sir Richard Worsley, a man whose needs are of a particular sort. Their marriage is consummated only after Seymour gives her husband a strip show through a keyhole. After a few years of marriage, Richard proposes that his wife bed his friend, Viscount Deerhurst, for his viewing pleasure. At first Seymour refuses out of love for her husband but eventually gives into to please Richard.

Worsley begins a criminal conversation against Bisset for the grand sum of 20 000 pounds. In 1778, Sir Richard befriended George Bisset and granted him access to Lady Worsley's bed. The two fall in love and produce a daughter, Jane, although the child is claimed by Sir Richard to avoid scandal. The case seems to be an easy victory for Sir Richard until Lady Seymour decides she is not worth 20 000 pounds. She calls upon all the lovers that Richard forced upon her, her doctor implies that she is infected with a venereal disease and the truth of Jane's bastardom is revealed. The famous incident of the bathhouse concludes the court case. Captain Bisset is to pay Sir Worsley the grand sum of a shilling for damages against his property.

Despite their victory over Richard, George and Seymour's relationship disintegrates. Seymour is sent to exile in France where she lives as an independent woman.

I give this television movie a 1/5. I really wanted to like The Scandalous Lady W., I really did but the highest compliment I can pay this movie is that the costumes and sets are breathtaking and Natalie Dormer is absolutely gorgeous. The script is absolutely horrendous, I felt like I was watching a lifetime TV movie. The script was riddled with many modern sayings that stuck our like a sore thumb. There were too many camera-pan-to-dramatic-stare moments in the show that as I write this I suffer from a horrid headache. They were largely ineffective. I do not know if it's because Natalie Dormer cannot pull off catching an emotion  in her face or lousy directing but it was so terribly awkward! THAT ENDING SCENE! I'm more inclined to believe the latter because there were a few moments when Dormer SPOKE that she shined as an actress. The use of flashbacks in this movie should be called abuse! We would get flashbacks of scenes we saw less than 10 minutes ago. The characters were really under developed for the 90 minute run time that the movie had. You could have replaced Aneurin Barnard with a twig and no one would notice the difference. Shaun Evan had an interesting character to play but the script and the direction caused him to flounder under long and awkward stares. The movie ends with a supposed feminist triumph of Lady Seymour against society but given what happens to her after the final scene concludes leaves much to be desired. I would only recommend this movie if you are a lover of period pieces and pretty dresses. 

The Accidental Empress

The Accidental Empress is a 2015 historical fiction novel written by Allison Pataki on Empress Elisabeth of Austria.

Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria, "Sisi", lives a happy life in her family's ducal home of Possenhofen with her elder sister, Helene "Nene". Her idyllic life comes to an end when her mother, Ludovika, announces that Nene is to marry Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria. Helene is reluctant to marry the Emperor, preferring to live the life of a nun, so Sisi accompanies her to Bad Ischl to support her.

Almost upon their arrival, Nene makes a terrible impress on Archduchess Sophie, her aunt, and Emperor Franz Joseph. Helene is barely able to speak so it is up to Sisi to make small talk. Franz Joseph becomes enamored with Elisabeth, completely forgetting about Helene. Elisabeth is conflicted about falling in love with her sister's intended but Franz Joseph will have no other. Elisabeth and Franz are married on April 24, 1854.

From her very first moments as Empress, Archduchess Sophie makes Sisi's life a living hell.  Franz's occupation with his role as Emperor leaves Sisi wanting. Elisabeth gives birth to her first daughter, named Sophie after the Archduchess despite Sisi's wish to name the child "Helene" after her sister, 11 months after their wedding. A second daughter, Gisela, comes the very next year. Both children are taken from Sisi immediately after they are born and they are instead raised by Archduchess Sophie.

Elisabeth proposes that Franz take her and the children tour Hungary. Franz agrees despite his mother's protest that the girls aren't strong enough for the journey. In Budapest, the Empress meets Count Julius Andrassy. This idyllic period in Sisi's life comes to an end when both of her daughters fall in. Gisela manages to recover but little Sophie dies in her mother's arms on May 29, 1857.

Sisi falls into a deep depression after the birth of her eldest child. While pregnant with her third child, Elisabeth falls dangerously ill. She is saved only due to the intervention of her mother. On August 11, 1858, the Empress gives birth to a long awaited son, Rudolf. Again her happiness is short lived. Sisi learns of her husband's infidelity when she is infected with a venereal disease. The Empress decides to flee.

After years abroad, Empress Elisabeth of Austria returns to Vienna. While her relationship with her husband is frosty while her relationship with Count Andrassy is in full bloom. The Austo-Prussia war begins on June 14, 1866 but ends a scant seven weeks later. Because of Austria's defeat, the Hungarians press for a constitution. Sisi gives into Franz and he agrees to a dual monarchy. Their coronation occurs in 1867 and ten months later their four child, Marie Valerie, is born. Franz agrees to let Sisi raise the child in Hungary and she and Andrassy consummate their love.

I give this book 1.5/5. It is evident from page one that Allison Pataki  does not come from a history background. Every interesting aspect of Sisi's life has been so watered down that it's incredibly bland and boring. Sisi's wikipedia page is more informative than this book is. Pataki seems to forget the existence of Sisi's older brother, Ludwig! One thing that bothered me, is that Pataki gets all the titles incorrectly. It would not have bothered me as much as it is did if she was at least consistent with them! Is Ludovika Duchess OF Bavaria or IN Bavaria? The characterizations of all the characters are incredibly off. Sisi lacks any of the complexity that makes her a fascinating individual. Franz Joseph has no personality whatsoever. Archduchess Sophie wishes that Sisi was the elder but then she gets upset when Franz favours her above Helene? What? The person who got the short end of the stick in this category is Helene. She is so whiny that it's no wonder she was passed over for her younger sister. On the subject of whether or not Sisi and Andrassy were intimate with one another, Sisi once said that their relationship was never poisoned by love. Sisi was also not a physical woman. It is highly unlikely, at least on her part, that their relationship was anything other than platonic.

Reign (S2E05)

Reign is a 2013-2014 TV series, airing on the CW network, on Mary, Queen of Scots and her marriage to her first husband, King Francis II of France. The third episode of the second season garnered an audience of 1.23 million people.

Adelaide Kane as Mary, Queen of Scots

Toby Regbo as King Francis II of France

Megan Follows as Catherine de Medici

Torrance Coombs as Sebastian "Basch"
Celina Sinden as Greer of Kinross

A band of Catholic thugs interrupt a Protestant church service, kidnaps one of the members and burns down the barn the Protestants were using as a makeshift church. It turns out that the member that was taken and later murdered was the nephew of Louis Conde. They find the culprits but the predominantly Catholic members of the court believe that they have done nothing wrong. 

Francis is haunted by the memory of his dead Father and Caroline, the nurse who seemingly gets possessed by Henry, keeps showing up.  He confesses his murder to Caroline but she wasn't really possessed by the spirit of the previous King of France but just an actress paid by Narcisse in order to blackmail Francis. Francis acquiesces to Narcisse's demands causing strife between him and Mary and he blames this on her losing their child. 

Kenna discovers a journal written by a lady at court who has sampled a few men (and women!) at court and she is determined to find out who the mystery man is in the journal and along with her for the ride is Lola. As it turns out this man is Narcisse. 

Greer and Castleroy marry despite him being a Protestant. 

I give this episode a 1.5/5. Girl, I called it. Caroline's actress gave out worse and worse performances as the episodes went on that I couldn't help but suspect that she playing Francis the whole time. While I like the Catholic vs Protestant subplot, but you can't say equal religion for all when one religion is clearly being persecuted. I like how Mary is suddenly uncaring towards people's religions when in reality, THAT'S ALL SHE EVER CARED ABOUT. I am so done with this Castleroy-Greer plot, I don't even know what is going on anymore. Leith give up man. Just give up. She made her decision a million years ago and he still isn't over it. Whatever, I don't care. I don't. Weird lesbian couple scene that didn't have to happen but fanservice so why not - also good openmindedness on the part of Kenna...IN THE SIXTEETH CENTURY. As a side note, the dresses looked incredibly bad this episode...worse than usual. The polka dots that covered the actress's breasts took me out of the environment of the French court and it was done twice, once with Kenna and then with Lola. Greer's wedding dress is more reminiscent to Queen Victoria's wedding dress than say the true Mary Queen of Scots's - another really big distraction. 

Reign (S2E04)

Reign is a 2013-2014 TV series, airing on the CW network, on Mary, Queen of Scots and her marriage to her first husband, King Francis II of France. The third episode of the second season garnered an audience of 1.26 million people.

Adelaide Kane as Mary, Queen of Scots

Toby Regbo as King Francis II of France

Megan Follows as Catherine de Medici

Torrance Coombs as Sebastian "Basch"
Anna Popplewell as Lola

The time has come for the christening of Lola and Francis's child. Lola is concerned by Mary's lack of anger of the actions resulting in the birth of her son. Lord Narcisse comes to court with his new bride who Lola recognizes as Estelle, the girl who took her in when she was in labour. The last time that she had seen Narcisse and Estelle the latter had been placed in a cage. Estelle hands Lola a secret note begging the Lady to help her. Mary reveals the she is pregnant with Francis's baby and news quickly spreads around court. 

Their marriage has not been consummated yet but Estelle has heard rumors of his treatment of his previous wives and she is utterly terrified. Lola promises to do whatever she can for Estelle but Mary believes that they should act on the side of caution, leading to a dispute between the two women. Lola decides to act against Mary's wishes and botches Estelle's escape. When all hope is lost, Mary steps in and they send Estelle off to a safe place. Mary and Lola put their differences aside and Lola asks Mary to be godmother to her son. 

The stress of the day takes its toll on Mary and she miscarries. Conde helps her during her time of needs but she hides the fact that she has lost the child until after the christening. A maid informs Lola that Estelle committed suicide shortly after arriving at the safe location, believing that her parents had been calling out to her. Narcisse and Lola settle the rumors spread about him over Estelle's dead body. Narcisse had kept her in the cage because Estelle believed that her parents wanted her to join them and had attempted suicide before. Narcisse did not play a role in the death of his other wives as previously thought. 

Greer is left in a state of limbo over Lord Castleroy's departure. Castleroy informs her that he no longer wishes to jeopardize his happiness with her and is going to call the whole thing off. Greer wavers between Castleroy and Leith but eventually comes to the decision that Castleroy, beyond just his financial assets, is the best choice. Castleroy is hesitant but the couple consummate their relationship. 

I give this episode 1/5. Did this episode further the plot in any way? Mary and Lola weren't mad at each other before and by the end of it they're not bad at each other anymore. Lola has a baby and Mary didn't and by the end of the episode, Lola still has a child and Mary doesn't anymore. Greer's plotline is the only one that progressed and it went in a really weird way, mainly due to the terribly acted love scene by Celina Sinden. It was just so awkward. And this only progressed somewhat seeing as she was already with Castleroy in the first place. Shining light on Narcisse's character was done poorly. "HER DEFIANCE WILL BE THE END OF HER!" He said....lovingly. When Narcisse was talking about his second wife who was a hemophiliac I thought to myself 1) How do you know what that is in the 1500s 2) DAMN GIRL, YOU ARE SO UNLUCKY! Keep in mind I did my extended essay on Hemophilia and the British Royal Family so I know a thing or two about the disease and you'd have to have a FATHER who is a hemophiliac and a MOTHER who is at the very least a carrier to be female with hemophilia. HOW UNLUCKY CAN YOU BE?!

Reign (S2E03)

Reign is a 2013-2014 TV series, airing on the CW network, on Mary, Queen of Scots and her marriage to her first husband, King Francis II of France. The third episode of the second season garnered an audience of 1.36 million people.

Adelaide Kane as Mary, Queen of Scots

Toby Regbo as King Francis II of France

Megan Follows as Catherine de Medici

Torrance Coombs as Sebastian "Basch"

Catherine arranges lavish ceremonies in preparation for Francis's coronation much to the dismay of Mary and Francis, who feel that such displays are distasteful after France was decimated by the plague. As Narcisse has delayed on delivering his grain, Francis and Mary try other French options, ie Lord Ducasse, but Narcisse is quick to put an end to this. They seek help from a German duke, Herr Schuler, who offers them grain in return for the freedom of Protestant prisoners imprisoned by Henry II. Herr Schuler becomes impatient with waiting for their pardon so Mary agrees to free the prisoners without Francis. Francis is angered by Mary's actions as it undermines his position at court. When Herr Schuler comes to free the prisoners, all of them have mysteriously disappeared. As it turns out, Conde was the one who had them smuggled out. With some convincing by Mary, he returns them and all is well.

Kenna becomes embarrassed by Basch's lack of formal home after the Plague especially when Lola has just been rewarded with a summer home in light of her being the mother of Francis's only son. Lady Barnard offers to help Kenna gain some land for cheap, however, it is revealed that this is in fact a bribe to get Basch to stop investigating a murder Lord Barnard has committed. Basch informs his wife that he means to pursue justice but Kenna burns the evidence as she fears retribution if Basch continues to ruffle the nobles' feathers.

Francis calls upon the aid of a summoner to confirm that the wet nurse was indeed possessed by the soul of his dead father. Henry knows that it was Francis who killed him. Francis and Mary have their coronation and are now King and Queen of France, ceremony and all.

I give this episode 2.75/5. The writers are getting SOME political nuance in there and I give them credit for that. I really liked the scene where Francis confronts Mary on weakening his position in the public eye - this show actually has brains for once? But there are still a bunch of stupid points throughout the episode. The wet nurse possessed by the soul of Henry is still ridiculous but it wasn't quite as funny as it was before. The conversation between Catherine and Narcisse was a little iffy. I'm aware of that Catherine de Medici wasn't especially fond of Mary, Queen of Scots. However, considering the main objective of the royal family is to propagate the royal dynasty, so trying to stop Mary from conceiving would be a little counter intuitive. True, if Mary were to give Francis an heir, Catherine's position would wane a little but we must always keep in mind that Catherine is Francis's mother - she is the mother of a King. The sex scene at the end was a little jarring. It came out of no where and I was just thought to myself 'Okay then...'. It was poorly done from a directing stand point as there was a point where I thought, 'She's on top of him waiting for the camera guy to say action so they can kiss...did you just reuse the same shot? . Progress is key. Still hoping for the best.