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HBO Max Debuts 'Merteuil,' a Bold, Very Free Prequel to Les Liaisons Dangereuses

The French miniseries reframes Merteuil’s origins through a contemporary feminist lens, earning plaudits for craft and performances even as critics dispute its divergence from Laclos.

Overview

  • Now streaming on HBO Max, the series stars Anamaria Vartolomei as Isabelle/Merteuil with Vincent Lacoste as Valmont and Diane Kruger as Rosemonde, created by Jean‑Baptiste Delafon and directed by Jessica Palud.
  • Early reviews are split, with outlets like TF1 Info and Le Point praising the visual style, sensual charge and lead turns, while Le Parisien condemns major narrative changes as a betrayal of the novel.
  • Coverage consistently notes the show’s deliberate repositioning of the story from Merteuil’s perspective, emphasizing themes of vengeance, survival and power in a patriarchal society.
  • Reporting is inconsistent on season structure, with several publications citing six episodes of roughly 40–52 minutes while at least one lists eight, highlighting uncertainty over the exact count.
  • Production details highlighted in interviews point to Palud’s co‑writing role, a baroque‑pop aesthetic, and the use of intimacy coordination for explicit scenes.