I set out from Brooklyn last night in the blustery wind and rain in a full 18th century pink confection of a dress to the Premiere party for Versailles put on by Ovation TV. The hype was real. I was ready to brave the subway in this outfit for the chance to live it up at a masquerade because I have no chill when it comes to a theme. I was not disappointed. Ovation Network knocked it out of the park with an incredible setting at a location that was like a mini Moulin Rouge set. Complete with Marie Antoinette look-alike burlesque, fire eaters, aerial acrobats, dancers, singers, and a boatload of free cocktails. Oh, and some of the cast was there too. I can tell you they’re poor dancers, but thankfully they have their acting skills to fall back on. They didn’t mingle too much as they were having a lot of fun bumping and grinding to the music.
(I ate those Macaroons from my swag bag for breakfast the next day. Not even feeling a little bit guilty about it.)
(The cast, still sober at this point…)
About the show…no spoilers!
Versailles has a big budget ($30M), and it shows in the costumes, locations, and sets. However, the way it was filmed and edited doesn’t quite have the cinematic quality Outlander or The Tudors had. So basically, if you ever thought to yourself, “I wish some of those PBS Masterpiece Theater series had a lot of sex and some violence thrown in”….then you’re in luck. Because this is the answer. If you get easily sucked into period dramas, like I do, you’ll love it.
(SO MUCH LONG HAIR! You either love it or despise it.)
King Louis XIV is historically known as The Sun King. You might recognize the actor playing Louis as George Blagden, who played the captured priest, Athelstan, on Vikings. Here he’s 28 years old and wants to turn his father’s hunting lodge in the incredible Palace of Versailles. He’ll take his court and his family to the countryside to live there in an attempt to protect himself from enemies and to maintain total control over the nobles without the influence of Paris. This season we’ll see all of the opulence, secrets, betrayals, love, and war that came of the building of the famed Versailles.
(Just King business as usual.)
Louis’s brother, Phillipe, is the real drama llama of the show. I already love to hate him. He envies the King and but maintains loyalty since they are family. He’s gay, and has his own lover, while his wife is the King’s mistress, even though the King is also married. Complicated much? The whole situation is crazy and I can’t wait to watch that train wreck.
(Philippe, your lipstick game is weak, but I respect your dedication to the look in general.)
The main characters are all ambitious in their own ways and it should be interesting to see how they reveal their personalities and what their motives are. I especially look forward to how the women of the court find ways to assert their own power. I am hoping they become more than just pawns in a male dominated world. Right now I have my eye on Marie Therese: the Queen. How will she handle her husband’s affairs and maintain status?
(Squad goals. Also, picnic goals.)
Episode 1 ends with a huge cliff hanger so prepare yourself. Ready to head back to 1667?
Versailles premiered on Ovation, October 1 at and airs every Saturday at 10PM through it’s 10 episode season.
Follow my travel and costume adventures on Instagram: @Bieberfish
WRITTEN BY NATASHA
Natasha’s Current Obsessions:Historical dramas, travel, bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica, sometimes Outlander, always Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, cats, and becoming the geeky version of Martha Stewart. Follow her on Instagram @Bieberfish
