Dangerous Liaisons
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So much happened this week that I dont know how we will discuss it all, but lets try.
Then the marquis happened upon Victoire, and thats all we knew.
Camille wakes up unharmed, but the house is completely changed.
Everything is draped in sheets, the chandeliers are on the ground for dusting (I think?
Im not a chandelier scientist), and the marquis is nowhere to be found.
Camille finds Majordome, who says Camille and the marquis are leaving for St. Domingue immediately.
You cant shut up an entire massive house and pack for overseas in one evening!
I know he has a lot of servants, but good lord.
Camille cant go to St. Domingue because she has to go to the opera.
I love recapping shows where I get to write sentences like this.
This is Chevaliers new opera based on the story Camille told him about her time with the Montrachets.
Victoire is nowhere … until (!!!)
The tunnel leads into a massive underground chamber with tons of arches and a lantern (of course).
Camille carries the lantern like a lady in a gothic novel through the gloomy, arch-ridden crypt.
She finds a red thread (ah!)
and follows it to some creepy cellar doors.
The marquis appears and tries to stop her, but Camille enters the cellar and finds Victoire!
Okay, so this scene is alreadythe most.
Camille says, She is everything, and pulls a ROPE around his neck!
Drama!!!!!
I loved this whole scene ten out of ten for gothic drama.
And we FINALLY learn why Majordomes name is a job title!
When he was brought to the Merteuil house twenty years earlier, the marquis took [his] name.
This low-key bothered me so much, and Im happy he has a real name now!
So the marquis is dead, and Camille and Victoire have an amazing best-friends chat by the fire.
Ugh, I havent said it enough; I love Victoire.
Fantastic work, sir.
Except for the ligature mark, but we can talk about that later.
A fine plan indeed.
Jacqueline writes the letter and hands it to Valmonts servant boy Azolan, so now they have it.
The letter Camille wanted.
So will the letter be overall helpful or hurtful to Camille?
Valmont is unclear, as am I.
But its time, were at the opera.
It could ONLY go downhill from here, and it does.
This scene, plus the gothic passage, makes it a 10/10.
Everything after this knocks it down to 5/10.
If that sounds harsh, imagine the depths of my disappointment.
I would DIE; Id be so excited.
Also, thequeenis there, so what a moment.
Jacqueline is in the audience with a box opposite Camille (!!!!
), who is staring at her because of course she is.
Jacqueline does not recognize Camille for a long time, but she quickly realizes whats up onstage.
Everyone in the theater is silent!!!
Madam, how like you this play, amirite?
(I had to look up an appropriateHamletquote.)
The audience yells shame!
Its kind of amazing.
Contemporary critics were mad about the novel because they thought it might encourage their sons to marry their servants.
This tracks for me.
Camille tells Jacqueline to her face that she abandoned Camille despite knowing what her husband had done.
Jacqueline tells Camille she couldnt go against him, which Camille corrects, saying Jacqueline chose not to.
I hope you find someone for yourself.Wowwwwwwwww, Jacqueline, wow.
This is grade-A asshole behavior.
So Camille says,Oh, someone like Lucien?BOOM.
And it all comes out.
This is some walking away from a massive explosion energy, Camille.
This was all a lot, right?
We have so much time left!
Its a nice moment, but her awkward curtsy makes it weird.
Jacquelines husband is angry and has Jacqueline committed.
Then the bonus ending happens, and I hate it.
Gabriel (remember Gabriel?)
sees the marquiss body and notices a giant and obvious ligature mark around his neck.
Because Gabriel is a clever and wily detective, he realizes carriage accidents dont leave ligature marks.
So now Valmont is mad at her, and theyre at war.
It was going so well!
Have him murdered, Camille!
Literally, no one will miss Gabriel.
