We do not expect historical accuracy from a series featuring French royalty. Rather, we expect opulence, much action and intrigue, with a fair amount of sex and decadence. Well, Versailles has that in spades, and not knowing much about the France of that period, I am taking much of it with a pinch of salt, but I think this is really good television.
The plot meanders a bit at times, and of course Louis was building his nation, and at times Versailles seems more important than his country, but of course it represents France and all that we associate with it most splendidly, even today.
Beyond the nation building, Louis had to deal with a troublesome group of noblemen who seemed to spend all their time plotting against him and killing off people to whom he was attached. No wonder the poor French got rid of their royalty eventually, it must have seemed very troublesome to those whose lives were harder and less important.
It is superb television and I think the scriptwriters can take real credit for building a series where Louis plays members of his court (and even his own family) off against each other with skill and aplomb. He was clearly born to be a king.
This is great TV and I can't wait for Series 2 which I am told is in the pipeline.
Mary Gumsley
