La Revolution

La Revolution from Netflix, released in 2020, is a historical drama that serves as a reimagining of the French Revolution. The show, however, has an intriguing twist — it introduces elements of horror, blending the past with a fictitious narrative that rewrites historical events.

La Revolution is a French series that was globally launched by Netflix. The central plot revolves around the future inventor of the guillotine, Dr. Joseph Guillotin. While Guillotin is historically known for inventing the execution device that was widely used during the Revolution, in the series, his character uncovers a disease, called the Blue Blood Virus, which ultimately changes the course of the Revolution's history.

In this alternate reality, the Blue Blood Virus spreads among the French aristocracy. This disease, instead of leading to immediate death, gives the infected immortality and an insatiable craving for human blood, taking the thrust of the French Revolution from a socio-economic struggle to a battle between humans and a sinister, supernatural enemy. The narrative focuses on how Guillotin and his allies try to navigate this strange, frightening new world that's shrouded by this mystifying disease.

Each episode delves deeper into the mystery of the virus and attempts to stir the embers of revolution in the face of this new horror. As Guillotin investigates the sickness, the audience is drawn into a tension-filled drama, and a tale of mystery that combines elements of the supernatural with historical fact. Along the way, slivers of documented French history are cleverly woven into the narrative, offering historical echoes that pay homage to the reality of France's turbulent past.

The show offers an array of interesting and complex characters. The protagonist, Joseph Guillotin, balances his practice as a physician with his outrage against the aristocracy’s exploitation of the lower classes. He is surrounded by a variety of other players that includes his dashing, brave sister, his revolutionary friends, and even a few of the bloodthirsty nobles themselves.

Visually, La Revolution is impressive. Through scenic shots, the show portrays the grandeur and the grime of the late 18th-century French society in all its vivid detail. The show exquisitely captures the opulence of the French elite, in stark contrast to the poverty and squalor suffered by the masses during the time. Moreover, it doesn't shy away from graphic scenes that depict the horror of the unfolding supernatural events.

Meanwhile, the soundtrack is a personification of epic, eerie and discordant hybrid music that effortlessly sets the show's haunting and suspenseful atmosphere. The music in La Revolution complements the dark, sombre reality of the world changed drastically by a supernatural contagion.

La Revolution examines themes of societal inequality, abuses of power, science, mortality, and courage in the face of oppressive authoritarianism. Metaphorically, the series uses this invented supernatural element to amplify the reality of the time – that the aristocracy was seen as monstrous, bloodsucking parasites by the peasantry. It shows how unchecked power in the hands of an unaccountable few can have horrifying results, distorting the bonds of humanity and creating a reign of terror.

Despite being a historical drama, La Revolution is far from a typical instance of the genre. By boldly blending striking supernatural elements with documented events, it allows historical truths and horror-fiction to intertwine, creating the unique proposition of stepping back into history while stepping forward into an entirely new narrative.

Boasting a thrilling storyline, gripping performances, and ambitious production design, La Revolution proves a fascinating watch for fans of history, horror, or those who simply enjoy speculative fiction. The series gains an even deeper relevance given our current times where discussions about societal inequality are particularly current and pressing.

In summary, La Revolution is not just another period drama. It takes the well-worn backdrop of the French Revolution, and skillfully merges it with a new, unearthed threat. This tremendously original premise allows audiences to experience an echo of a well-known historical moment while being immersed in a captivating, fictitious narrative teeming with horror and mystery.