Versailles

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

This drama is about the rise of Louis xiv, the Sun King, Louis the Great, who moved the executive from Paris, the centre of the known world to Versailles, a great bog.

With his father long dead, his mother recently dead, he was alone except for his brother and those he trusted. His political marriage to a Spanish princess was not happy.

He is primarily concerned with how to rule a growing French Empire. This French court evolved into something strange - where dancing and etiquette were critical politically.

This is made in English (to ease it commercially) but by the French so it is made with taste. There are attractive actors, lavish costumes, special effects (to pretend it was shot in the Palace itself) and of course scenes of violence and sex. After all, its good to be the King.

Looking forward to Season 2 !

This king was a showman, not an insecure philosopher, spectacularly controlling, not a bit shy. To him the only crime was to be a bore. You might start with a makeover of the look and let the acting follow. Please do a better job with the men's hair and costumes. This is France, not dowdy old England. Although I do like the Mark Farner '70s rock star chevelure imagined for the king (who is very well cast with a short actor), all portraits of him show a cloud of curls from cradle to grave (wigs, of course). The fabrics are couture, but too neutral. That little red bow tie over the white lace cravat would have been three times as wide and multiplied by seven, like a holiday bottle of cognac. (Again, look at the portraiture.) Conspicuously absent: the fabulous music of Marc Antoine Charpentier and Lully, the Paintings of Le Brun, Mignard and Le Moyne, the solid silver furniture that nearly bankrupt the nation. Look to the movie, Vatel, for better food and fete inspiration. Monsieur said it best when Louis chided him about the 50,000 ecus shoe note with: "But you haven't seen the shoes!" No, we haven't.

Forget about the sun King Louis XIV, this show introduces us to his eccentric, fabulous, incredibly smart brother often under the shadow of the sun. The actor perfectly delivered the emotional dimension, complexity of the character, and I couldn't help but be a fan. I also ended up searching historical facts about Philippe, what a truly interesting character he was! Alexander Vlahos deserved a grammy for this.

One of those shows it took me some time to get round to watching, but after binge watching Series 1 I have to say it is excellent viewing, I'll agree with other reviewers who highlight there are very definitely historical inaccuracies, the birth of the Queen's baby etc, but they can be overlooked, as the drama is somehow addictive. It is very raunchy, lots of sex scenes, and lots of gay sex scenes, shock horror.

The sets and costumes are incredibly lavish, you cannot helped but be wowed by the sheer majesty of the buildings and surroundings, The Palace of Versailles itself almost takes on the role of an extra character, it's so impressive. It is visually always on the money, the filming, music etc, are first rate, utterly faultless.

I'm so glad they chose not to put on dodgy French accents, so often spoil historical dramas.

George Blagden is an outstanding lead actor, he looks so incredibly different in costume, I think he's wonderful in the role, masses of charisma. So well matched is Alexander Vlahos, who plays his brother, totally suited to the part, fair to say he adds masses of variety to the show.

Great to see that Series 3 has been commissioned, meaning plenty of Versailles to come. Great show. 8/10