HBO Max is clearly in a mood. After freaking everyone out with It: Welcome to Derry, the streamer pivoted hard to silk, secrets, and sharp smiles with The Seduction — a French period drama that leans into steamy thriller territory and does not play nice.
What The Seduction is actually doing
It is a fresh, French-language spin on Les Liaisons dangereuses, set in 18th-century France and created by Jean-Baptiste Delafon. Think desire as a weapon, attraction as leverage, and social games where everyone smiles while they sharpen the knives.
The cast is stacked. Diane Kruger — yes, from Inglourious Basterds and the National Treasure movies — steps in as Madame de Rosemonde, an aristocrat with poise and presence to spare. Lucas Bravo plays Gercourt, an out-and-out antagonist who leans into the character's worst patriarchal instincts. Anamaria Vartolomei (Mickey 17) plays the Marquise, while Vincent Lacoste turns up as Sebastien Valmont. It is a very classy lineup deployed for very messy fun.
5 reasons to press play
- Performances with teeth: Bravo makes Gercourt deliciously loathsome, Kruger embodies the exact kind of 18th-century power and polish you want from Rosemonde, Vartolomei's Marquise is a live wire, and Vincent Lacoste's Valmont brings the heat. Sharp acting meets a story that gives them plenty to chew on.
- Scandal, but smarter: This is not just sex and scandal for shock value. Delafon frames desire as strategy, and the characters operate in a gray zone where every seduction has a hidden agenda. It feels like an update to the erotic thriller playbook rather than a retread.
- Full immersion in old France: The show is in French, set squarely in the 1700s, and it commits — language, locations, costumes, props, the works. It is not a light dusting of period flair; it actually lives there.
- An adaptation with its own bite: Sure, it is based on Les Liaisons dangereuses, but this is a reimagining. Some characters come at their goals with different motivations, and the plot spins off into new branches that make sense on their own. You can watch this cold and still get the full experience.
- If you like Bridgerton's vibe, you will eat this up: Glamorous costumes, elegant sets, and sparks flying between young, hungry players — all present. It just swaps pastel swoon for darker intrigue.
Release, ratings, and where to watch
The Seduction premiered November 14, 2025 and is streaming on HBO Max. It is created by Jean-Baptiste Delafon and produced by Nabi Productions and Felicita Films. Current scores: IMDb 5.9/10 and Rotten Tomatoes 73%.
If you want a lush French-language scandal machine built on desire and manipulation, this should do the trick. If you check it out, tell me what you think.