The Empress

I loved the series. The cast is great, the costumes and setting are amazing. For that alone it's worth watching it. I didn't know much about Sissi except remembering my mother talk about the Romy Schneider movie, which was also before her time. Curiosity made me spend the weekend reading about Sissi and the historical context surrounding her life in court.

This is where I think Netflix (or any other production, for that matter) should change - it wouldn't take much to just add a disclaimer saying it's a fictional account based on historical characters. There's nothing wrong with it and it would give people a fair warning when watching.

Again, worth watching.

Every part of this TV series is top shelf - the acting, scenery, sets, costumes- and the story. Sissi is a famous person in Austrian literature. Just remember that this all occurs in mid-1800s so when they mention Napoleon, it's not the famous one but his nephew Napoleon III who came to power in 1848 in France. But you don't watch this series for history, you watch it for its great characters and story. But knowing some history helps. Just not too much to spoil the suspense. Oh, and the music - it is divine.

You can binge watch this series, but don't watch more thsan two a night - a lot happens and you don't want it to fade from memory.

Being a history buff, I was pretty skeptical. All I can say is, don't come to this for the history, as many, many liberties were taken. Come instead for the gorgeous production and wonderful acting. I was hooked after the first episode in spite of my eye-rolling during parts of it. You can't beat Austria for gorgeous exteriors and interiors, and the costumes are breathtaking. And the performances are stellar all around. I loved hearing it in German. Once in a while there's a slangy clunker in the English subtitles (like "okay"), but for the most part the translation seems to flow very well. Can't wait to see more.

The first thing the actress playing Elisabeth does NOT look 16. She's pretty but not drop dead gorgeous like Roma Schneider was in Sissi and she really was 16. The Emperor Waltz indeed was written for Emperor Franz Joseph...in 1889. NOT for his wedding to Elisabeth of Bavaria which was in 1854. And what's with the blonde pageboy hairdo sported by the spurned older sister Helene. And the weird modern dance routine. Wasn't the REAL story of Franz Joseph and Elisabeth interesting enough without these embellishments. And yet all the night scenes lit by torches and candlelight are period authentic and very hard to watch. I will probably continue watching because it's not bad just not great.

The story of Empress Elizabeth of Austria and husband Emperor Franz Joseph, and their families, told in German.

If you don't mind subtitles then it's much better in its original German with English subtitles.. but dubbed in English is available and also good.

While seemingly true to historical timelines and events for these characters from history books, the series obviously takes liberties with the details and is a work of fiction, and definitely feels romanticized.. yet intensity between certain characters well known in history come through, it does at times fanciful considering it's depicting 19th century royal characters and surrounding families, court and villages.

It is quite lavishly presented in costume and production, with great acting. It's a good series. Romantic. I liked it.