By Mallory McDonald
On Saturday, October 1st, Ovation, an independent television and digital media company dedicated to celebrating and supporting all forms of art and culture, premiered its latest show Versailles. The show is centered around the Sun King, also known as King Louis XIV or Louis the Great. He was a monarch of the House of Bourbon and ruled as King of France in the 16th and 17th centuries. While it captures the romance, drama, and betrayal surrounding the Sun King, it also showcases the beauty and opulence of France’s high society during this time.
If you are looking for a new show that is packed with drama, romance, history, and betrayal, Versailles is the one for you!
The show’s two main characters are the Sun King, played by George Blagden, and his younger brother Philippe, played by Alexander Vlahos. To protect Philippe from his older brother overshadowing him, his mother raised him as a girl. He is a lover of art and beauty; however, on the battlefield, he is a fearsome soldier, and Louis is jealous of his talents.
In the video above, Blagden and Vlahos share their thoughts about their characters and the relationship between the Sun King and his younger brother. Initially, Vlahos had some mixed emotions about his role, saying, “I got a call in the middle of rehearsals from the producer describing Phillipe as a modern day David Bowie, and I was like, ‘Yeah I think I can do that.'” However, when Vlahos began portraying Phillipe, he felt like he was in over his head. Soon though, he recognized their similarities.
Within the first week of filming, Blagden felt that he and Vlahos established a natural chemistry that viewers will be able to see on screen. Of working so closely with Blagden, Vlahos shares, “We approach things differently, but we agree completely with each other about why these characters are doing what they’re doing. Also, he is a genius actor, and he is very considerate and complimentary and giving.”
Tune into Versailles on Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Ovation and learn what becomes of the two brothers and their personal conflicts!
