The Seduction Puts a Steamy, Feminist Spin on Dangerous Liaisons

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Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’s novel, Les Liaisons dangereuses, doesn’t feature any heroes. Set in the French court just before the revolution of 1789, it portrays a world of ruthless ambition and moral decay. The story centers on Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil, a brilliant and manipulative woman who exploits her ex-lover, the Vicomte de Valmont, by challenging him to a dangerous game that leads to their mutual downfall. As Fiona Apple once observed, it’s a bleak story about someone using another simply because they have the power to do so.

HBO Max’s first French-language series, The Seduction, offers a new take on the classic story of Dangerous Liaisons – a tale that’s been told many times before. The series begins streaming now, with new episodes released every Friday through December 19th. If you’re familiar with the original novel, the famous film starring Glenn Close and John Malkovich, or even the teen drama Cruel Intentions, you likely won’t be shocked by how the story unfolds. Created by Jean-Baptiste Delafon and directed by Jessica Palud, this six-part drama focuses on the character of Merteuil, giving her a backstory that portrays her not as a villain, but as a woman fighting for the same independence as men.

The film opens with a seemingly idyllic scene: young Isabelle (played brilliantly by Anamaria Vartolomei) escapes her life in a convent to marry the man she loves, sharing a tender night with him. But this romantic beginning quickly dissolves. Isabelle wakes up to discover she’s been tricked – her husband is actually Valmont (Vincent Lacoste, with a brooding intensity), a notorious womanizer who invented a fake identity to seduce her. Facing a bleak future – either a harsh return to the convent or worse – Isabelle cleverly integrates herself into the scandalous world of Valmont’s aunt, Madame de Rosemonde (Diane Kruger, radiating cool calculation). She then begins a calculated ascent through high society, determined to get revenge on the man who humiliated her. Rosemonde, however, has her own agenda. Spurned by her cruel and self-indulgent lover, the Comte de Gercourt (Lucas Bravo of Emily in Paris), she intends to use the naive Isabelle as leverage.

Get ready for a scandalous game of shifting alliances and familiar faces. The Seduction is overflowing with open sexuality and a female perspective, making even Bridgerton seem tame. This is how historical romance should be done, though occasionally a modern touch feels out of place (like using a well-known song). The series, deeply rooted in French philosophy, explores the idea that sex, especially for women in a patriarchal society, can be both an expression of love and a source of power. However, the lines become blurred, and both paths toward freedom can feel surprisingly restrictive, as vulnerability is essential for love but forbidden when seeking control.

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2025-11-14 16:06