Marie Antoinette (2022– ) User Reviews

Despite its flaws a series full of potential

[Brisbanebogan · 8/10 · 24 December 2022]

If you are looking for historical accuracy you may want to look elsewhere but what Davis has delivered is a wry, intimate depiction of a royal family who, bored of their privilege, find purpose in tearing each other down. It doesn't quite match the production value of the Netflix & co behemoths but the costume and sets more than pull their weight.

Any shortcomings are elevated by a cast full of promise. Led by a fiery performance from Schüle full of charm and sincerity, well supported by her husband who gives a sensitive evolution to the Dauphin turned king. The machiavellian 'spare' and his wife Josephine are highly entertaining in their schemes yet still deliver a sense of pathos, and the Princess Lamballe provides a rare source of compassion in this cold and spiteful court. There are other gems in the ensemble although some characters can feel one-note at points; acceptable in a 2 hour satirical film but less forgivable in an 8-part series.

Cattiness and Gossip are the cornerstones of this Versailles, which whilst fun can become repetitive and feel trivial at points. Ultimately, the main throughline of this series is the romance (or lack of) between the young queen & king and so the potential of civil unrest disturbing these royals and their petty squabbles is an exciting prospect. Fortunately, knowing the fate of this family, the stakes can only be raised considerably in future seasons.

Total fiction but enjoyable.

[toni-corelius · 8/10 · 15 January 2023]

This should not be categorized as Biography but Romance Drama History. It is almost complete fiction. As someone who actually reads history books, I had to suspend all disbelief to enjoy it. And so I did once I accepted its true nature. One must understand that when dealing with history, there are facts. Take this as fiction and enjoy the production design, the cinematography, the costumes, the hair and makeup and most of all Emilia Schüle's joyful and effervescent perfomance!

I also enjoyed the other actors, James Purefoy is brilliant as the "lecherous" Louis XV and Jonas Bloquet as Joseph II is fun to watch. The fact that France had heavy participation in producing this and the state allowed filming at Versailles, says a lot. Not many get that privilege.

Really enjoyed this fresh take!

[ambergris-04449 · 8/10 · 8 January 2023]

I really loved this imagining of Marie Antoinette. It was full of drama and kept me hooked. The series is 8 episodes, and it feels well paced. I thought the costumes were amazing and all the actors fit their roles perfectly- especially Marie and Louis, who's relationship is explored in an interesting way! Though it's not always true to history(particularly with their use of modern phrases/sayings; something that slightly bothered me) , I would definitely recommend if you are a fan of period drama and costume, as it is interesting and fun to get the perspectives and motives of all the characters!

7.8/10.

Needs a little something extra

[curiositirocks · 6/10 · 5 January 2023]

Marie Antoinette's story is one that I'm very familiar with. I'd like to start off by saying that when it comes to historical inaccuracy, I don't mind allowing creative liberty/suspending my disbelief but I have to understand, to a certain extent, why these choices have been made. I feel as though the direction and some of the writing just didn't match up at all, especially at the beginning. It was almost like it couldn't decide whether it was an absurdist melodrama (a-la The Favourite, though minus the comedy), or a grounded re-telling of Marie Antoinette's life. If they had leaned more in the absurd direction visually, some of the more unbelievable plot-lines and happenings would have felt more watchable.

For me the biggest sin was Du Barry. I couldn't stand her character, and not just because she's a villain as I adore Josephine's portrayal. She was portrayed as this all controlling figure that had ultimate power and influence, who could casually waltz into Marie's chambers and start chatting to her, that eventually gets PROPOSED to (I shouted at the screen honestly). If you're going to do that make me believe it, make her the most opulent character on screen. She had a handful of boring dresses and none of the jewels Du Barry was known for. I also really didn't enjoy how they chose to portray Louis XV, it was totally erratic and unwatchable. So those two characters being at the forefront of the first 3 episodes made things difficult for me. The fact that Marie's acknowledgement of Du Barry was transformed into her curtsying to the woman was just wild, when you compare it to what happened in real life.

My complaints with the tone also continue when it comes to the depiction of Versailles. The marketing for this gave off an Alice in Wonderland vibe which, though perhaps a little cliche, is fitting for Marie's story. However if you want to portray Versailles as totally otherworldly to Marie you have to make it feel otherworldly to the audience. Whenever a character uttered something along the lines of "oh poor Marie is not used to it here!" I scoffed because the way the show had portrayed Versailles (probably due to budget constraints) was not unlike any other 18th Century European court which, as the daughter of an Empress, Marie Antoinette would have been more than used to. Instead they stick Du Barry on a horse and call it a day. At no point did the setting feel over the top, as it should, which is just mad as it was filmed on location so it should not have been hard. More well-dressed extras in certain scenes probably would have helped.

Speaking of, I come to the costumes. I wonder if the budget was blown on those two (rather underwhelming and out of place) Dior dresses. I've seen adaptations of Little Women where each of the March sisters have more costume changes than the characters in Marie Antoinette. Marie herself only has a handful. At no point is Marie believably portrayed as a fashion icon of the time, so her avant-garde moments in Dior feel totally out of place. Poor Provence only gets one outfit for the entire series, like he's a Scooby Doo character or something.

So, considering all this, why on earth did I give it a 6/10? Well, once Louis XV dies and Madame Du Barry is booted off the show (thank god) it immediately begins to get better. The individual story lines are all watchable, characters motives all seem to make sense and the show starts to feel fun. This in part is thanks to the wonderful performance of Emilia Schule and Louis Cunningham who, I think, portray the relationship between Marie and Louis in a really grounded, believable and honestly quite moving way. You feel for them both and by the end you want it to work out for them. Cunningham brings a real humanity to Louis' character that I can't help but get behind. I question some of the direction for Marie's character but it really seems like Schule does her absolute best with what she's given. I could rave for a long time about Roxane Duran and Jack Archer's performances as Provence and Josephine respectively, they really sell it and are fantastic, watchable villains in a fierce junta-position to Louis XV and Du Barry. Whether this is down to writing, acting, direction or a mix of all three I could not say. I also really enjoyed Jonas Bloquet as Joseph and Jasmine Blackborow as Lambelle, though I wish they'd made her character a little less sniveling. The aunts were also, for the most part, a delight to watch.

Parts of the writing, for example every bit with Joseph and the aunts made me wish it had been written more as a black comedy, more along the lines of The Favourite. I wonder if this is where Deborah Davis' strength primarily lies. I suppose they may get accused of trying to be BBC's answer to The Great (which despite being totally a-historical I love because all the choices they make actually make sense) but a fraction of the absurd tone that The Great and The Favourite had would have given the melo-drama, especially that of the first three episodes, that bit of footing Marie Antoinette needed.

I know I spent most of this review complaining, but the parts I have complimented really do lift the show up to a place where I was rather enjoying it for the most part. If it had continued as it had for the first 3 episodes I would have given it a 2/10 so I hope that helps explain my stance on things. It will never become my favorite period drama, or even my favorite portrayal of Marie Antoinette's life, but I don't think they should halt production on season two and toss out their wigs (well, some of them they should probably toss). Please don't blow the costume budget on Dior dresses next time!

Better than expected and well worth the watch

[mrsjond-46656 · 9/10 · 31 December 2022]

Was surprised by how much I learned. Beautiful costumes and interesting characters.

Found it different to my usual royal historical dramas I usually watch and did watch it initially out of curiosity as had read a poor review and wanted to make my own decision.

Had no idea how much power-playing is in the background of royalty and did feel quite sorry for Louis until he found his roar and started to try and rule.

Did binge watch all eight and was very glad that I did. Found it really historically interesting and mostly correct.

Was left a little bit underwhelmed with the end but hoping this will lead to a second series.

Lousy camerawork spoils an attractive production

[getoh-82985 · 6/10 · 30 December 2022]

We have become accustomed to these sexed-up histories, full of colourful costumes, outrageous characters, and woke plotlines. But watching Marie Antoinette, one thing was immediately and painfully apparent - the lousy camerawork. Somebody decided to leave all the tripods, dollies, and gimbals in the truck, and do everything handheld (or so it would seem). Every single shot is a reminder of your elderly relative's wobbly 1990's camcorder footage. I could understand this approach for the action sequences like ballroom dances, horse riding, or fights, to put you right there in the action. But sadly every shot, however beautiful it should have been, from wide outdoor vistas, internal architecture and especially the many character close-ups, are all spoiled by an unnecessary and amateurish hand-held shake. This also wastes to some extent the fantastic level of detail provide by modern UHD shooting. So sad that the creators couldn't appreciate the difference between making a big-budget production and capturing wobbly mobile-phone junk for Tik-Tok.

Addictive

[larionnordic · 9/10 · 11 January 2023]

Period dramas aren't usually our thing but we loved this series. It's interesting at the beginning but gets so good as it goes a long and the characters age up.

The sets were impressive - they just kept going and going during some of the longer tracking shots. The way the show is filmed is really effective.

The characters were brilliant, whether we were loving them or loved to hate them. Some interesting coincidences with the brother drama in the royal family atm. The whole series actually felt like a commentary on the current british monarchy.

I would like to have seen more of what was going on in France at the time, to contrast all the excess and frivolity of the court. But we really enjoyed this look into Marie Antoinette's life and her gilded cage, and will be hooked for more.

So many errors.

[millmill-04758 · 6/10 · 30 December 2022]

Only fifteen minutes in and the list of historical errors is starting to make this first episode farsical.

Marie would have been very familiar with protocol and behaviour at the French court from an early age.

Marie would not have travelled to France without at the very least several personal ladies maids and at her age a duenna.

There would have been a train of carriages to transport her staff as well as clothing, hats, jewels etc.

She wouldn't have slept in her room on her own. There would have been at least one maid with her.

These are the sort of unconsidered errors that are unnecessary and are likely to make the series unwatchable.

Let them eat Marmite!

[peterfinesser · 9/10 · 5 January 2023]

This seems to be a divisive one.

Personally, I loved it... It had a slow start but I appreciated how much atmosphere was built before the series properly gets going. The first episode almost felt like a horror ... tense & claustrophobic ... whereas the rest of the series gradually becomes lighter, funnier & more energetic.

It is beautifully shot, beautifully dressed & beautifully performed. The young cast are fantastic. I hope to see them in many future things. The score is also stunning!

This series has an unusual tone that's difficult to place... It can often seem like a traditional (but very well done) period drama but then surprises you with a modern flourish or wink to the viewer... It's like The Crown with moments of The Great.

I'm not bothered by any creative licenses with the real history... the show doesn't seem to market itself as a literal account, & I'd rather be entertained than educated in this instance!

More Royalty done different

[vaheadley · 7/10 · 26 November 2022]

Wasn't sure I could cope with another batch of royals this year but this one Marie Antoinette is so different that it doesn't feel Royal at all. They seem more like a bunch of poor little rich kids floating around in gaudy palaces. I can't help but compare to its most obvious rival(I think) being THE GREAT there are a few similarities, in their timelines & palaces etc but other than that...not really comparable. The witty script in THE GREAT is .unrivalled and as well as the way it is delivered. The cast in THE GREAT particularly the two leads IS remarkable. They throw themselves with gusto...especially when smashing glasses & crying out loudly "HAZZAH" I could not help but get carried away with their enthusiasm. I hope they make several more seasons.

Perfection on you screen.

[Iaintnosnowdrop · 10/10 · 31 December 2022]

I cannot tell you how much I loved this. The acting is exquisite from all of the characters. . I didn't want it to end. Because we all know how it ends. Louis and Toinette are perfect casting. The whole story is fabulous. James Purefoy as the King is a great choice.. it really gets to you how hard it must have been for a fourteen year old to entertain the court . The Beeb normally woke things these days but not this one It's the best thing I've watched on the BBC in so long and they hid it on BBC2. Please watch it. You won't be disappointed. Apparently I have to make this review longer just to post it.

So few costumes it was distracting

[fiona_r_lamb · 6/10 · 10 June 2023]

Did no one notice they wore the same costumes over and over again? Josephine and the King's brother both wore green outfits all the time, just different shades. I wonder if that was intentional but if so why? It was very distracting indeed.

Also there were very few food scenes - in fact I only recall the oysters when MA was pregnant. It just was not believable at all.

And when MA gave birth would there really have been so many people standing in her bedchamber gawping at her???

Maybe it's because I'm English and used to British Royal shows and maybe it's because the French are just peculiar but maybe not. I found it all rather confusing and silly.

Entertaining yes, but rather silly.

Fun but historically inaccurate

[colinbroadley · 5/10 · 30 December 2022]

I've just binge watched this series in huge anticipation. Although the characters and story lines are fun and eccentric, they are horrifically historically inaccurate. Madame du Barry never plotted to marry Louis XV, she also never spoke to the Dauphine as she has no right to until Marie Antoinette spoke to her first. Their first public exchange did not involve MA bowing which would NEVER happen, the exchange took place at Versailles not at Fontainebleau.

The actor playing Louis isn't accurate, he was portly not thin. The Comte and Comtess du Provence had no children, it was the Comte and D'Artois who had only one son. There are significant characters missing such as the Comte d'artois, Madame Elizabeth and also MAs close friend Madame de Guéméné.

The filming locations are a bit lazy, Vaux-le-vicomte is obviously used, the scenes at Versailles are good, Fontainebleau's replacement was awful, the building was tiny whereas Fontainebleau is huge, as is the petit trianon's replacement. They look nothing alike.

The series overall is witty and exciting, much like the versailles series, but if you're looking for history, this isn't the series for you!

Best period drama in a while

[diamondlace-02721 · 10/10 · 15 January 2023]

This is the best period drama I've come across in a long time. A lot of effort has gone into the hair, makeup and costumes and it shows. Even the quality of cinematography is super high.

Marie Antoinette is likeable in this series and comes across as vulnerable at many times which makes her a lot more relatable. I couldn't care about the historical inaccuracies. The storytelling is what's brought me and kept me here.

I've watched many shows with a horridly slower pace. This isn't one of them. It's at a perfect pace that isn't too chaotic or too slow to make you lose interest.

If I wanted it to be 100% factual, I'd watch a documentary.

It's not meant to be a documentary

[destiny_west · 9/10 · 2 January 2023]

I find the reviews saying that this series is historically inaccurate and full of falsehoods very tedious.

It is a series not a documentary.

No one was expecting it to be historically precise - none of us were there to make it so.

You can add that this would not have happened, that would not have happened, blah blah blah.

Look I love History, especially European history and Royal family's. But viewers need to get over themselves.

Regardless of how loosely this is based on Marie Antoinette's journey into life in France, it is magically captivating and kept me enchanted. The acting is good, the costumes stunning and overall an enjoyable series.

There are many documentaries on Marie Antoinette, if you want to be that concerned about historical facts, go watch one of them.

The idea that you could start watching this series and imagine that everything was accurate in it is beyond a joke.

Go into this series with no preconceptions and enjoy it for what it is.

You never know, it may spark an interest in viewers to learn more about Marie Antoinette and do fact checking themselves.

It is a perfectly lovely series that kept me entertained. Very recommended, if you can override your need for historical accuracy and just get a life.

Top Notch douze points

[rick-09019-01805 · 10/10 · 1 January 2023]

Been Binging on this today and i am really likeing the casting and acting beutiful costumes I never really knew anything about frech or Marie Antoinette ..except the famous line Let them eat cake that cost her her life . I kind of fealt for her because of the way she was raised and the inlaws being so cruel . I found my self engrossed and could not move away from the screen .. The whole casting works beutifully .. I could not decide if this was comedy i found Adelaïde and Victoire quiet entertaining i am on epidoe 4 and its 3.50 am. Usually i find period drams a little dry . But anyone who says this is bad or dry and has wacthed every episode they would be hippocrits msut of been good for them to watch it.

A well made drama.

[pallelli · 8/10 · 7 March 2023]

I was somewhat surprised by this series. Initially I was expecting something a lot more fanciful, but it worked for me. I will admit that I haven't taken time to find out how historically accurate the drama is, but other reviewers seem to suggest that isn't that fantastical. The early episodes did need a pinch of make believe magic, as the actors were clearly a not the prepubescents they were playing, but by episode 4 it became more plausible. Their young love blossomed. The filming is excellent, as is the editing, the writing, and the acting. As an entertainment, I can't fault it! I sure I'm now going to take some time to explore all of this history in greater detail.

Madame Deficit is on a tight budget this time around

[maryrock90 · 5/10 · 2 January 2023]

Having seen the Versailles drama series that came from the same production company, i was very well aware this wouldn't be a historically accurate depiction of MA's life as Queen of France. Versailles was character driven and relied heavily on drama but it balanced it out with actual historical events peppered throughout the 3 season span of the series.

Apparently, historical accuracy has to be sacrificed for the sake of hyperbolic drama and fictional situations to keep the viewers interested and stretch out the story to accomodate more seasons. I've practically become accustomed to seeing historical figures parade around like modern day bratty young adults so i did not go into this show expecting a time travel experience, even though most period drama fans watch these shows exactly for that reason. It is not however outrageous to expect some historical accuracy when the subject is about a real, very polarizing historical figure that lived in the past and has been tightly linked to tumultuous events that changed the course of European history forever. Surely, it has to be dramatized in some level but i believe her life was dramatic enough without the added fluff of the screenwriters. We can have a good, entertaining show without unnecessary profanity and stilted, awkward dialogue. It is not much to ask for.

We could do without the distracting shimmery eyeshadow and intense eyeliner on each scene or the hair looking as if it was gone through with a paintbrush at the roots or the towering hairstyles resemble crusty seeweed with tons of hairspray. We could have the royal mistress with the beach wave do behave accordingly in her position instead of making us cringe at the preposterous sight of a Dauphine bowing to a former courtesan or said courtesan giving love lessons to the future Queen of France and marching in her bedroom whenever she pleases. It would have been hilarious if the actual account of MA getting a chamberpot emptied on her by accident as she was strolling by Du Barry's apartments was included in the show. Apart from it being a funny moment, It would have added more fuel to the fire in her stance against Du Barry.

We could show the strict etiquette we keep mentioning in every episode but no one seems to be following in practice. We could certainly NOT have the King who was very dear to her in real life, act like a disgusting creep around his teenage daughter in law.

My biggest disappointment in this new take on the fateful Queen of France is the end result seems rushed, clunky and definitely not sporting enough budget to faithfully portray the excess and decadence that characterized the palace of Versailles and its residents.

The famous spendthrift fashion icon owns approximately 3 dresses and the rest of the royal family make do with a couple of outfits on rotation. There are some pretty pieces in there but they don't make up for the frugal costume department and the complete absence of courtiers living in the enormous palace grounds. In some shots you can clearly tell that there are less than 20 people roaming the Versailles gardens. If you can't afford the obscene extravagance of 18th century France, how are you going to justify the uproar of the peasants in the next season, if there is another?

Paris life is non existent as a contrast and we are exclusively following Marie Antoinette and her relationship with the royal family in the palace, which is obviously not set in Versailles besides a few external shots of the gardens and the famous Hall of Mirrors.

MA, in this so called 'feminist' take, is portrayed as a naive little girl unaware of her duty and obligations who wants to make her own rules and live la dolce vita as she pleases without following guidelines imposed on her and all that jazz. Now what the movement of feminism, which didn't exist even as an idea in her time, has to do with Marie Antoinette is lost on me; i would guess this was just a marketing ploy to lure in gullible viewers who want to see a notorious Queen as a strong willed woman in a male dominated world instead of exploring her psyche and her struggles in a non cliched way.

The most obvious weakness in the script is her feeling claustrophobic in her new surroundings yet we see no evidence of the cause. Her life at Versailles doesn't seem so different to the life she had in the court of Vienna so what is making her feel like a prisoner in Versailles? Besides a few mentions to the etiquette MA doesn't seem too restricted in her new role. In real life she felt suffocated by the court etiquette she was forced to perform everyday but we don't get to see the repetitive performance she loathed to give to her courtiers several times each day and having no other alternative, Petit Trianon ended up being her beloved retreat away from the stifling atmosphere of the palace. She even had mirrors installed in her windows to keep prying eyes away and no one could set foot over there without a personal invitation by the Queen herself. This, of course, was not taken lightly by the court or the general public because the Queen of France hiding away gave the impression she had secrets and created suspicion which in return fueled the malicious rumor mill about her private life. We see none of that in this series which should have been the core of the first season.

Instead, the palace is her playground and everybody in that family is presented as a heinous human being while the poor little dauphine strives to survive in a court full of mean and conceited people who have no other character trait other than plotting behind her back.

It's very similar to the Sofia Coppola film which portrayed MA as another teen girl longing for freedom and happiness although it doesn't do any favors to seeing her as nothing more as a vaccuous privileged royal who existed at the expense of others. Even though I am sympathetic towards MA and how she was used as a scapegoat, i do not feel much for her in these Disney like adaptations. She had more personality traits than loving gambling and parties. Notice how none of these adaptations ever include her adopted children, particularly little Jean Almilcar who was gifted to her as a slave and she sent him to a boarding school with all the expenses covered up until the Revolution.

Important character traits are shoved aside in favor of speculated affairs or fictional sideplots where her closest friends are either undercover spies or secretly in love with her.

If you expect a more human version of her you won't find it here; she's as superficial as she can get, but without the glamour that made her famous in her time period. There's a forced romance shoehorned in the last couple of episodes and it's as anticlimactic as the rest of the season which spends an awful lot of time meandering about MA and Louis's failed attempts at conceiving an heir.

In conclusion, this show could have potential if the script was given more time to flourish into something more than cheap tv drama. The royals are uppity, shrieking caricatures and generally hard to watch with that childish manner they go about in scheming against the young dauphine. Everything is too on the nose and dramatic; if this gets green lit for another season they shouldn't skip or alter the events leading up to the Revolution and Marie's active involvement after the family was imprisoned at the Tuilleries palace in Paris. It should be interesting to see how they'll approach the subject but i have my doubts about the execution, no pun intended.

And yes, the show should have been in French. 100%.

Loved it!

[Kmac35 · 9/10 · 17 January 2023]

From what I've read about Marie Antoinette the actual story is fairly accurate. Okay there may be some inaccuracies but not anything important. The actors are brilliant and are completely believable, especially the awkward Louis. I felt genuine sadness for these people trapped inside their gilded cages, especially when we can see what is to come at their end. You get a real insight into how these people were just pawns in a power game. I was surprised and extremely pleased at how unPC it is, considering its made by the BBC but for once they put historical accuracy before virtue signalling. I cant see the point in making a historical drama thats not historical. Hope this is a sign of things to come, it's really good!

A captivating series.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 21 February 2023]

For the sake of Austria, Marie Antoinette is sent to marry The Dauphin, and faces the prospect of becoming The Queen of France, she faces many obstacles in her way.

A truly captivating series from start to finish, I've not enjoyed The BBC's historicals quite as much in recent years, the focus hasn't always been where it should, this however is magnificent.

Visually jaw dropping, it's a lavish production, with incredible visuals, sets, costumes and locations are all flawless.

Every episode has something to offer, you really do see Marie's journey, sadly we all know how this one ends.

Emilia Schüle and Louis Cunningham are equally captivating in their respective roles, she is dazzling, alluring and provocative, he is reserved and subtle, yet strong, the pair combine superbly. James Purefoy is terrific as King Louis.

If you were going to be a little picky, you could say that maybe some of the dialogue was a little ... unexpected let's say, Joseph for example, wonderful, but I'm not sure the script was fitting, it's a minor quo blue though, and perhaps the only criticism I can make.

Roll on Series 2.

9/10.

Entertaining enough

[traceytak · 8/10 · 30 December 2022]

I binge watched this series and it was entertaining enough, the acting was good, the plots against Marie Antoinette were fun. I did feel as though the last episode didn't really need to be made, the series could have ended on episode seven and I would have looked forward to a season two far more. I started watching it thinking it would end with her demise (as in real life) but this series does not go anywhere near as far. If it is real history you're after, then this isn't it and you're better off getting the history books out. So I'm not sure I will be bothering with series two now, it appears that is going to focus more on relationships between MA and different men or women that are close to her which I think will be quite boring. Should have stopped at 7 episodes.

Evocative, Provocative, Brilliant - Season 1 Review

[JoshuaMercott · 9/10 · 3 February 2023]

First Impressions:

This surprisingly refreshing and fun series was amusing, entertaining, and regaling. Though most of it wasn't rooted in actual history, the story still managed to convey the 'mood of the moment' during various stages of the controversial Marie Antoinette's life. It was a lavish deep-dive into the life of one of the most troubled queens in history.

Story Analysis: Right from the opening credits, the show communicated an agenda to cover the maze that was Marie Antoinette's life. The maze also looked a lot like a brain - perhaps one of the show's hidden metaphors.

The series contained a good bit of emotion, drama, thrill, sentiment, and humour. The performances were so natural! This drew me in more than any other element in the series. I loved what every character brought to their respective roles, especially the titular Marie Antoinette whom Emilia Schüle portrayed with humanity, innocence, grace, and free-spirited charm.

French court politics gave yester-era Versailles an intriguing twist. It all felt familiar yet engaging. This, again, was thanks to good acting on everyone's part. Even the cringey moments felt as though they belonged.

The events were set before the French Revolution and covered Antoinette's early days as the Dauphine of France. Her contractual marriage to Louis XVI was exceptionally well-written and superbly enacted. It was mostly dramatized, with a good sprinkling of educated guesswork here and there, but both the leads gave outstanding performances.

Insufferable hypocrisy and an heirless marriage set quite the tones in the series from the get-go. As amusing they were to watch, I also noticed a serious thread of satire weave its way through the subtext in each episode.

Production design, set decoration, and art direction were excellent. Musical scoring was brilliant. Hair-makeup and costume design were stunning. Stunts and editing were remarkable. VFX and sound effects were great. Cinematography was superb. Screenplay was admirable. Direction was amazing.

Final Notes:

Meticulous pacing and extraordinary attention to detail made the show feel rooted in realism, though it was but a heavily dramatized version of what might have happened back in the day.

I did not quite know what I was going to see when I started season 1 of "Marie Antoinette", but it was well worth the time. This is one of the better adaptations of the Antoinette story ever made for the screen.

A nuanced and sympathetic portrayal

[poshea-18409 · 10/10 · 23 March 2023]

This is a visually stunning and emotionally powerful series that expertly captures the tragic story of the ill-fated queen. It offers a fresh and modern perspective, emphasizing her humanity and vulnerability in a way that the 2006 movie version did not.

One of the most significant differences between the 2006 movie and this series is the portrayal of Marie Antoinette herself. In the 2006 film, the queen was portrayed as frivolous and superficial, more concerned with fashion and parties than with the political turmoil of her time. This version, on the other hand, presents a more nuanced and sympathetic portrayal, showing Marie Antoinette as a young woman thrust into a complex and dangerous political environment that she struggled to navigate.

The series visual style is also a highlight, with stunning costumes and production design that transport the viewer to the opulent and decadent world of the French court.

Overall, "Marie Antoinette" is a wonderful portrait that expertly balances historical accuracy with modern sensibilities. It offers a fresh and compelling take on a familiar story and is sure to captivate audiences with its stunning visuals and powerful performances. Fans of the 2006 version will appreciate the new perspective, while newcomers to the story will be drawn in by the film's emotional depth and engaging storytelling.

Immerse yourself in this

[wadebednarick · 10/10 · 20 March 2023]

This brought me right in completely.

We get the viewpoint from her experience entering the new life she must fulfill. The acting did not ever leave me wanting. I am trying to commit to not watching the last episode because I am liking the two as presented more than anyone in the production. Not because of their acting but surely because the characters were loathsome. Pretty much everyone besides the two had dodgy traits. This is a story that makes us appreciate not having to live the life of aristocracy. I'll make an exception to the food though; Who wouldn't. Everything it takes to make a production like this was so well done. Even the most simple moments were essential like her toying with the bug on the window express volumes about the sort of life this was. I have only watched the first episode and already I'm immersed.

Immersive experience

[jgbowden · 9/10 · 13 April 2023]

This production really helps a modern person to understand the world of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. It's probably truer to life than anything seen yet. It gives me an appreciation and sadness for the adversities and extreme pressures they endured. It shows that even at the very top of society people were struggling with life wrenching issues. I personally believe Louis and Marie were good hearted people forced into a very difficult role neither wanted. They died young and overall had a tragic life. If we were to meet them today I believe we would all love and admire them. Wonderful show that puts us all back in time.