To those who have started to watch Versailles because of what I wrote, I am beyond happy that I was able to point you towards something that hopefully will give you a small bit of comfort and hope that shows can do better. Please, please tell your friends! Let people know that a great show with representation for women, for LGBT+, for people suffering from all types of mental and physical disabilities exists out there {POC they do their best but unfortunately they were limited by the setting and I wish they had been able to do better on that front}. I will never stop giving credit to the writers, and to the actors because they had literal landmines to step around, they could have all too easily made Philippe a charicature like he had been portrayed in history: instead they gave us a wonderfully complex man who is not perfect by any means, is coping with depression, PTSD, yet is confident and comfortable with his sexuality, doesn’t see the need to ‘choose’ between being ‘feminine’ and ‘masculine” and can even be read as truly non-binary. They could have made Chevalier a typical bisexual schemer who is using his rich boyfriend for money but they have him show such remarkable character growth and is one of the best character development I have ever seen: from a coward who goes along with anyone as long as it benefits him to willingness to sacrifice everything he has for principals and for what is right. They had to marry their LGBT leading man to a woman: well they made BOTH his relationships with them not....horrifically awkward and the mistakes they made with Henriette they rectified with Liselotte. They made the ‘girl who comes in between them’ someone who understood and respected their love, who started off as a ‘rival’ {well to one of them but it’s much more complex than that} but became part of their family and their relationship {yes we have a pretty solidly canon polyship!}. And the other female love interest “Delphine? They did a remarkable job in exploring The Chevalier’s bisexuality and MADE HER LIKABLE! Again this show could have gone so horribly wrong and they really rarely if ever messed up. The writing is beautiful, the actors are top notch, the setting is gorgeous and everyone ends up happy!! Two out queer men get to skip into the sunset happily at the end of the show in a historical drama!! So if you want to know what a show could be with some great representation...and an alternative for The Magicians please watch and TELL YOUR FRIENDS! The actors are still very much attached to their characters and who knows, maybe we can get a fourth season if viewership on Netflix grows!
