Its my weekly sin, I confess, Im too addicted to this period to miss it. And the person either asserts himself or is subjugated to the will of others. Claudine confirms poison and Louis huddles with his advisors: he wants to know if any English are at court. Yet even on her deathbed, she reaches for Louiss hand first. Oh, Lord receive me she softly says, opens her eyes can you hear that? And remember you can also start at the beginning and read my reviews of EpisodesOne, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six,Seven,Eight. Although Lord Montagu accepted this, he had misgivings. Montespan banters but Louis doesnt bite. Only 4 of his children grew up, and even then, another died at 27. Finally, a scene with the Chevalier!!! Oh, and she was the one who prepared Henriettes tea. 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. Saint-Simon asserted that Louis was so thankful that his brother was innocent of the crime that he decided not to prosecute the perpetrators. Then he says I pay you to spy on others, not on me. . Louis and her smile about it. There are times when I will shout (in my head), Just leave this place and run back to England.. Seriously, he could have married her to any noble and they would have looked the other way at the cheating. In the case of Versailles, She is in love with him and, as you say, it seems its been going on for a long time. The true cause of Henriettes death can never be known, but one thing is certain: this beloved princess was sadly missed. They could be far away from the victim at the time of death, so it would be difficult to definitively pin on anyone. Hi Jules and Aly, And she is the only one who knew who prepared Henriettes chicory water. Im actually in the States where episode seven will be airing tomorrow night, but I read ahead because I know history so nothing coming was really a spoiler (just a condensed timeline). We see his offer to help refused time and time again. We awarded it to you for bravery. I really like him as a character, even though he tortures people. She cant honestly say that the death of the man to whom she is shackled in a loveless marriage, who feels no attraction for her and never can but can easily enough rape her, who stands between her and the man she truly loveswouldnt be entirely unwelcome. Henriette gasps, crying and in pain. 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. She is subject to the whims and wishes of her king and lover, of her husband and even of her husbands lover. Oh, Louis most definitely would choose France over his brother. Louis XIV was born on 5 September 1638 in the Chteau de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, to Louis XIII and Anne of Austria. Henriette was more than happy to become second only to Marie-Therese. Im merely suggesting you might save some time. Marchal persists, pointing out that Louvois always disagrees frequently and loudly with the Kings decisions. 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. So many questions.. let me see: did Fabien Marshal shoot Charlotte Parthanay, and if so, why? Maybe that is where she got the poison she used on Fabien? Pot, meet kettle. In this respect, they are both on fairly equal footing. And stunned when Louis says shes in his bedchamber. 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. Then, as they both walk through the salon (Vaux de Vicomte again) and to the doors, the guards bar their way and Louis enters. And who can blame her? A begrudging father/daughter mentor role, and she eventually warms him up a bit? Even if Louis were to let her go, she would then be relinquishing the love of her life to sit lonely and chaste in her apartments waiting for her husband, a man who feels no attraction or interest for her at all. What? Her breath falters: Im scared. And the look on Louis and Philippes faces as they both lean in to comfort her *sobs* Philippe says gently: There is nothing to fear. Henriette: How do you know? Philippe: do you remember before you were born? And that is the problem you face, Montcourt. Of his power, of his country. Called it!) Of course, nothing happened and the doctors said colic but nine hours later, she was dead. Also it will set Louis in a collision with Phillipe who did not want his wife to go to England for the negotiations. King Louis is in a bit of a pickle. And Louis coming out the good guy. 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? If Id been in her shoes, I think Id have given a flat affirmative. You died of a cold, or a simple infection or someone sneezing on you. In summary, of the four people involved in this sad businessLouis, Philippe, the Chevalier and HenrietteHenriette is the most powerless, the one with the least choice in anything. Therefore, my thoughts are strictly about the characters. Colbert tries to push his point when Louis enters. More of an extreme sadness at his wifes pain. As she made her last confession, the English ambassador, Lord Montagu, asked Henriette if she believed she had been poisoned. Nothing. It is so reflective of the dilemma she has created for herself. But unlike Philippe, Henriette never snogged her lover obnoxiously right there in the same room with him. Yes, she says and does little things that hurt Philippe, but he does the same and muchoh so much!worse to her. When Marchal goes down and Montcourt takes the knife, Louis lunges, some more fighting with Marchal again entering the fray.. and then OMG Marchal is stabbed!!! Close the doors! The Queen adds: we must put her in the bed. Louis nods; in she goes. Thank you all! Since the first stone was laid in this expansion. As for Philippe, I cant make out what he is. So Louis settles into sleep. <3 <3 I love the outfit on the fashion doll that we see when Philippe and Lorraine flounce into the salon full of cloth and trinkets, and later we see that same coat on Philippe as they stroll the gardens :), Your email address will not be published. Two steps behind him, as protocol dictates, is the Chevalier. Louis replies how else was I to keep you close. Anyhow, just wanted to say 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. I am tired of waiting for you to keep it, says the Queen casually as she gets into bed with Louis then settles down. The flashback of Charlotte being shot is in his head, reminding us (the audience) what happened previously and confirming that Marchal now knows how it was done. The opening episode of Versailles season two featured fortune tellers and laser beams. Henriette is restrained by Philippe, the Queen and Bontemps, and Philippe is clearly suffering as he listens to his wife muffling her screams. We see about ten hooded figures, along with the Unmasked Man whom Rohan freed from jail. 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. 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. Henriette wanted to go!). ), Back to Louis outside his bed chamber, where Henriettes screams of pain can be heard. And Philippe is the one who looks tortured, he is the emotional one, while Louis remains stoic. Photograph: BBC. UGH D:. Anne, Hi Jules haha that last message should have ended (I agree with you on all POINTS) not pints . Okay, Im gonna walk you through what I see, so bear with me. Claudine doesnt know how long Henriette has left, but it is her wish to see you both. Also, Henriette has asked to be carried to the garden so that she might be surrounded by her favourite flowers. (Philippes gentle smile is so bittersweet here!) FOCUS. Mike did. Still with the playing of games, the half-truth words. ? Brilliant. Back to Henriette, who is now laid out on a bed, hair done, powdered and dressed in her finest gown. Not so much. Did not see this one coming! Merci! He deserves a truly powerful, unpredictable, fun, intoxicating woman who pulls the rug from under him, and he enjoys it. LOUIS. It was quite the method du jour to get rid of a person, as the series has shown. Heres a thought: what is your view to Claudine? And Philippe says calmly and quietly: There. Guilt often manifests itself in an outward show of rage. The writers want us to think that evrry time they had kids, he had to rape her? So Louis sequesters the palace. To bring them over to us. Back with Marchal, interrogating Louvois this time. Because Sophie steals any scene shes in with Henriette, hands down, and she even maintains a presence with Montespan, too, though Montespan is clearly the dominant one in most dynamics (the Chevalier excluded, of course swans fat flippers come to mind!) The camera then cuts to Rohan, drinking and brooding in his room, absently stabbing the table with a knife as he glares at a portrait of Louis-as-a-boy (which is a gorgeous portrait and includes Philippe, apparently in a private collection and attributed to artist Charles Beaubrun. 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. They could not be more different in this moment. He weeps for the loss and I am sure he also weeps for the helplessness he must now feel, a man so powerful and commanding, who rules a country and its people a true King and yet, still unable to save her. 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. But lets compare: Henriette is jealous. In the early hours of 30 June, she died. And even if not, we see what Philippe is capable of when hes in a jealous snit. The door suddenly opens, Claudine walks sombrely in. But I still dont get why he doesnt just dob them both in.? 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. Louis summons the Dauphin to show him how to be a good king. Philippe has no interest in Henriette, is not attracted to her or in love with her. ! Louis is stunned: Why are you casting all this rage at me? Philippe: Because you deserve it. You mentioned the Charles Beaubrun painting of Louis & Philippewell I was noticing how this stunning piece travels around the palace in season one. the court was rife with extra-marital affairs involving married women as well as men, but still) but that does not mean Henriette could turn her feelings for Louis off at the touch of a wedding ring from a man she didnt choose or want. And Rohan chuckles and I well. You couldnt guarantee any would survive. I am waiting eagerly for the second season and I really hope to see you write about it then. What does she say? Stars: George Blagden, Alexander Vlahos, Tygh Runyan Director(s . Dieu. She brought honour on herself and glory to our court. Still wouldve loved to read your long comment was it complimentary? I must be poisoned! so Philippe ordered her dog to be fed the water. When we are far away, we must make him believe we are near. Louis decides to go to Paris to bless the sick. At the time of his birth, his parents had been married for 23 years. OMG he hits Marchal across the face with the candlestick, Louis lunges, Montcourt throws him off and the King smacks his head on a table. We were taking the air with our governess when we made a break for freedom. Poisoned? Point 4: This point actually supports my own. The marriage was doomed from the start, because Henriette was already in love with Louis, it seems. Hi, Glad to see he lives on, at least for awhile. Wow. For one thing, Anne of Austria, Henriette and the Comtesse de Scissons and even Louis XIV partly himself were in real life all part of a plan to distract the court and other gossip mongers from spreading further lies, gossip, rumors and to provide a cover up for Louis and Henriettes affair which was more of a fling than an actual full fledged affair. *insert sound of breaking heart here*. No one enters. But gossip is gossip and it was particularly rife and vicious in those days. . Music. The steps, the swinging of the arms, the movement of the coat and their cravats. Even though Henriette had a history of pains (since 1667) and drank only milk and basically ate nothing (she was considered quite a stick in the fashion of the day, and some historians suggest she suffered from anorexia), the poison theory stuck. I cant always catch what is being said, particularly if it an aside or a whisper but I know you will tell me . Obviously he loves Chevalier. But your first strike would have to be true. My loyalty still lays with Philippe as her husband, he has a right to lay claim to his wife. Bontemps: For you, Sire. Shine on Bontemps, you unsubtle diamond, you. Much later, the courtier Saint-Simon offered his own thoughts. She is simply besotted with Louis, so in love, that shed do anything he told her to. You admit her situation is unfair and certainly, she is powerless where her husband (and Louis) are concerned and yet, simply because of the screwed up thinking of the day, the thinking that removed a womans personhood and reduced her to mere property, she is the villain for not being able to love a man who ignores her and rapes her? Its really sad, she could have been a great queen with Louis (he might not be faithful to her, but they will have live better than now), but the turns of fate, made her his brothers wife instead.