We’ve already reviewed the new season of Marie Antoinette (2022-), currently airing in the U.S. on PBS Masterpiece, although we’d only gotten the first three episodes. The season just finished last night, and I thought I’d share some thoughts on the later episodes of the film. For a more comprehensive review of this season, check out our previous post!
To recap, this season focuses on the Diamond Necklace Affair (1785), stars Emilia Schüle as the in/famous French queen, and features costumes designed by Marie Frémont.
Marie Antoinette Season 2 Costumes Continued
Everyone continues to be color coded and it got SO BORING — Marie-Antoinette always in blue, and smaller characters (e.g., the Comte de Provence) literally wearing the same outfit over and over.
Marie Antoinette Season 2 Hair & Wigs Continued
Of course, I’ve got more thoughts on the hair and wigs, which were designed by Sébastien Quinet, Chief Coiffeur and Hair Department Head at Peruke. According to a perpetuating-certain-myths article at PBS,
“I draw a lot from paintings, sculptures and engravings. In reality, I really love paintings because I come from an art school before learning hairstyling. I love to create hairstyles as if they were drawn… We use HD tulle on the front because cameras are very high-quality today. The rest involves implantation secrets and specific hair qualities unique to each workshop” (Marie Antoinette’s Iconic Hair & Wigs: History, Style and Influence).
Marie Antoinette Season 2 Portraits Continued
And of course, there’s some historical art!
What were your thoughts on the later episodes of season 2 of Marie Antoinette?
Find this frock flick at:
Both paintings are quite nicely done, but why add a baby to the bassinet? It’s supposed to be empty, to signify that her youngest recently died. That empty space and the Dauphin’s gesture really catch your attention when you look at the original. Maybe the series changes the timeline somehow?
Because the portait was originally with ALL the children, after Sophie’s death that space was covered but before she was there too
The baby was painted out in the series, as happened in real life.
They have a scene of Sophie being painted out
-I agree, Fersen was cuter in season 1 (that mustache doesn’t suit him at all)
-I wish they had flushed out Chartres’ character, he really was a cartoon villain by the end
– as an artist myself, I’m at least 64% sure those paintings are AI
The rouge on the gentlemen is looking so odd. The beard and hair of the count is so strange especially at court! We know his role at the Swedish court. He was familiar with kings and knew how to impress.
I’ll give the season this, it had a most excellent take on Count Cagliostrio – intriguing even should one dismiss all supernatural elements – and the 18th Century caper elements definitely kept the show afloat when the Personal Political Drama got too eye rolling (If Count Fersen tried pulling that nonsense with the House of Hanover … well, look what happened to Von Konigsmark back in the days of George the First).
I should also confess that Cardinal Rohan being just the WORST at being a Prince of the Church was a much appreciated bit of comedy (Though it struck me as deeply weird that they put a Prince of the Church on trial without so much as a hint of His Holiness the Pope was pulling strings or lodging a diplomatic protest to avoid this whole unpleasant business).
Also, I’m reasonably sure The Polignac consistently gave the absolute worst advice and support to HM the Queen throughout.
To sum up: the show was reasonably interesting, but rather too tragic to be entertaining.