User reviews

As I read some of the reviews, it became crystal clear that many people just vote it down because its not what they expected. That's why I want to write about what people should expect. Its a completely fictional story losely based on a 18th century, French setting a short time before the revolution took place. The series doesn't try to be historically accurate and it never pretends to be. The story is in the supernatural, fantastic genre and there are recent, politically modern elements in it, like references to refugees and female gender roles, which at times can be a little bit plain and over the top. The characters are clearly split into the bad and the good guys, but even for the bad guys, there is some reasonable background story. There are worse and less elaborated character building series of this kind around.

The special effects are, for a series, very good, the cinematography and music is excellent, acting is not always on the highest level, but still very good and convincing, at worst solid, with attractive characters doing a good job for the storyline. In many ways the series reminds me of American movies from the 1990's and 2000's, just with more CGI well-placed where necessary.

Comparing the series to other gems of the genre, movies like Interview with the Vampire (1994), but especially Brotherhood of the Wolf, in French Le pacte des loups (2001) come to mind. Basically, its Le pacte des loups altered and transformed into an 8 episode series. All the basics and references are pretty much the same. So if you liked Interview of the Vampire, you might like this one, and if you liked Brotherhood of the Wolf, you have to love it.

People which don't like the fantasy and horror genre, but want to watch historically more accurate depictions of pre-revolutionary France, should go for other movies and series, or even better read actual historical books and scientific sources.

I give it a 7 solely to spite the fools who believed this was supposed to be an accurate account of the revolution. Did anyone care to read the description? It states clearly as it taking place in, "a reimagined history of the French Revolution". Please read before watching and rating things after 12 minutes with no understanding

... the final episode where, much like the Lost series, I felt as though the writer's abandoned the viewers and either didn't really have a good ending, or they were too lazy to write one.

The wrap-up was vague to say the least. Yes, one can intellectualize the meaning of the finish here, however, I would have preferred they offered me an ending that was clear and succinct.

Perhaps they were planning on a second season to explain it all out - something that is always risky with Netflix gambling on more than one season - but it was poor screenwriting at the end and for that reason I have given the series a 6-star review.

I'm giving this a 10 because you people are absolute monkeys. This does not seek to be a historically accurate show. It's trying to be a fantasy series with a loose setting in the late 18th century. Why are you ranting about historical inaccuracies ? That's like watching a movie with Nazi Zombies and complaining that's not what happened during WW2.

This is a good drama/thriller show, but do not expect a true events since it really is reimagined story about revolution. Still i may add that it is well made with good acting and some really nice music, costumes and special effects.

To me this was one of the best 2020 shows. I can't understand why was this cancelled

This show is absolutely fantastic and exceeded expectations. So many times I thought that there could be no further twists to the story, or that I was incorrect in thinking where it was going. It is brutal and suspenseful, but not too "scary" for those who aren't into hardcore horror. Do not go into it expecting a historical recanting of the revolution itself, but rather an alternate explanation. As a fan of history, I found it to be very interesting on every level as a lover of this genre. I highly recommend a couple episodes, and you'll be hooked.

Some things could be better, such as the graphics of cities and whatnot, however I can't really complain when the story is as compelling as it is.

I will admit that I initially felt duped by La Révolution because I try to watch everything blind. Thankfully, it was only a matter of seconds before I realised that the French Revolution period drama I expected was actually more of a vampiresque re-imagining of events that led to it.

Would I like it though? A tall order considering I find modern supernatural drama such a turn-off, and make no-mistake, the story is as vacuous and predictable as most. Still, I found a lot to like: The set-pieces, the costumes and the CGI recreation of pre-Revolutionary France, for example. It is interesting how mediocre writing can become so palatable when these aspects of a period production excel by so much.

The lead actress, Marilou Aussilloux, delivers a remarkably commanding performance as the show's heroine, Elise de Montargis, and this comes as a huge surprise in light of her minimal acting experience. The last time I encountered her, she had a silly bit-part in a single episode of the comedy Dix Pour Cent, and it's amazing to think she has evolved so much in such a short time. The lady doesn't merely have stage presence - she absolutely owns the screen whenever she is on camera.

Likewise there are sterling performances from Colin Beal as Elise's servant Ophélie, Amir El Kacem who plays a young Joseph Guillotin, not to mention Julien Frison who was born to give us the flamboyant and utterly villainous Donatien de Montargis. Blink and you may well miss the criminally under-utilised Jérémy Gillet - reduced to a background role as a perpetually neurotic messenger after his breakthrough on the 2019 TV series, Mytho.

Anyway, I will be honest, I was glad when the last episode was over but I'm not disappointed I watched it. I'm rating it 6/10 because that's where I find myself on the see-saw of dubiety. An entertaining visual treat, but not particularly edifying.

Visuals are nice and gory, score covers classic themes with driving electro-beats, setting is fresh.

So, it could be all fun fun fun.

However, the writing is very bad. So, I suggest: if you don't speak french, go for it and turn off the subtitles. It get's better if you don't know what they're saying.

All I could think about when I completed watching the show was that this show had great potential. Fictional dramatisation of the French Revolution using blood sucking dead but not unintelligent beings ruling over France-woah, the premise is great but the execution- meh! Over all, it's been a few hours since I've watched the show and it's already stale in my mind. I sincerely hope they do better in seasons 2, if there's going to be one.

I was confused at 1st episode but start of the 2nd episode it got better i think its worth to watch

Just stream it and enjoy the excellent BGM, cinematography, VFX, performances, direction. Do not compare with history or books as this clearly says reimagined history. Need more shows like this which are entertainers. Waiting for more...

This series has some interesting concepts, but there's not enough of any of it to be one thing or the other. There's voodoo and zombies and history (?), and it's too much and not enough. Good acting and costuming though.

I don't even know if the series is based on a book or if it is an original script. Tremendous series, I must say, much more entertaining, constant and accurate than other Netflix productions. The panorama they use to shoot the series is spectacular, which is combined with a spectacular aura of directio and photography. Also, the soundtrack is a 10. In a French Revolution that has been brought to television so many times, it is appreciated that it is brought to television in such a brilliant and tenacious way. Obviously, the series is not for those who are looking for a story that sticks to the real events, since you will not find it. In the same way, it is a series a little crude and with a greed for blood, which makes it not suitable for weak stomachs. For me, one of the most fascinating discoveries that 2020 left me. I hope they don't cancel it.

In a world of alternate facts, alternate reality...... why not a alternate sci-fi look at the French revolution... Excellent production, direction and acting. Very watchable.

The effects, most of the acting, sound and sight recording are excellent. The production values are high. It looks and sounds fabulous. But the story is nonsense and some of the details very poor: numerous characters just don't look remotely 18th century: faces and hair are firmly in the 21st. The gore and violence are also excessive - from the outset. And the cliches come thick and fast: visual ones like the girl submerging in the water; character ones like the wicked uncle and the hackneyed portrayal of the African. As Ian Dury once sang : what a waste!

I just adored this! Great story, beautiful costumes and scenery! Wonderful acting.. just really good well rounded entertainment and I can't wait for season 2!!!

The zombie revolution concept is fun, but elements of the script and acting require improvements. The soundtrack is abysmal an it would help the series if better soundtracks were chosen / created.

On the bright side: the visuals and costumes are amazing. I could literally imagine myself in 1700's France. This was the main reason I kept watching.

"La Revoution" sacrifices solid story telling in favour of cinematic eye candy and revisionist social commentary.

Visually this is an outstanding production. Sets, costumes, environment's and atmospherics, are beyond fault. That said, those pretty images come at the expense of far more than a thousand words. The visuals fail to tell the story, which, when it eventually emerges, from a diffuse, fractured script, is bland and utterly predictable.

Regrettably, the contemporary need to use entertainment to lecture has elbowed its way into this tale too. Social commentary about inequality and racism, is front and centre. All at a time when this really mean't little to most people. Even the French revolution was a middle class affair, not a popular uprising of the down trodden, as this production, tries in vain, to suggest.

Acting is decent with a capable cast. That said, this fact on its own is nowhere near enough to save this series from being slapped with a "mediocre" label.

In short, very disappointing, from a series that clearly comes with a healthy budget. Its just a shame they did not spend more time and effort crafting a decent, politics free, story along the way.

An uninspired 5/10 from me.

I'm often astounded when production companies sink piles of money into "high concept" ideas. I've long thought that the French Revolution would provide excellent source material for a television series. Unfortunately, this show isn't about the French Revolution. Still, the producers have managed to put together a decent team for the scenic and costuming elements of the production, so on that basis alone, I give it a six. The concept, in my humble opinion, is ridiculous, and in a sense, repugnant in that it posits a sort of alternate reasoning behind the peasant uprising in France during the late 18th Century. There is a sort of goofy symbolism behind the illness that turns the blood of aristocrats blue and leads them to kill peasants. Sorry, but why?? On top of the weird concept, the script bungles along with strained love trysts and mildly suspenseful scenes filled with attractive children and adults. Have the casting people never heard of character actors? I hope Netflix didn't spend a bundle on this mess. Don't waste your time.

I kept checking to see if I was somehow missing an episode because that ending made no sense to me at all. What we see in the beginning doesn't even happen, are we supposed to just guess what happens between the ending and what we see in the very beginning? Because that doesn't seem like a logic outcome - I don't see how it could ever end like that.