The Seduction: How Many Episodes There Are and When Each One Drops
How many episodes are in The Seduction and when do new ones drop? Also known as Merteuil, this French prequel loosely reworks Les Liaisons dangereuses—the 18th-century classic behind an Oscar-winning adaptation—and we’ve got the full episode count and release schedule.
So, here comes a new twist on an old favorite: a French period drama that is both a prequel and a loose remix of 'Les Liaisons dangereuses.' Yes, the same 18th-century novel that gave us the Oscar-winning 1988 movie 'Dangerous Liaisons.' The show is called 'The Seduction' in English, and 'Merteuil' in France. If that combo sounds like a neat trick, it is — the series is basically building an origin story for one of literature’s most ruthless strategists while playing with the source material at the same time.
What is it, exactly?
Created by Jean Baptiste-Delafon, the six-episode drama follows Isabelle de Merteuil, a young woman who learns the hard way that her marriage is a setup engineered by the Vicomte de Valmont. After the betrayal, she sets out to reclaim her standing in Parisian high society — and aims to do it by marrying the Comte de Merteuil. Think of it as the path to becoming the Marquise, with daggers hidden in the fan. Episodes run about 40–50 minutes.
The cast includes Diane Kruger, Noée Abita, Philippe Richardin, Juliette Thierry-Mieg, Anamaria Vartolomei, and Lucas Bravo, among others.
How many episodes are there?
Six. Limited, focused, and weekly.
When do new episodes drop?
Fridays at 12 AM PT / 3 AM ET on HBO Max, one at a time. The premiere episode, 'Isabelle,' landed on November 14, 2025, with the rest rolling out weekly through December 19.
- Episode 1 - November 14, 2025
- Episode 2 - November 21, 2025
- Episode 3 - November 28, 2025
- Episode 4 - December 5, 2025
- Episode 5 - December 12, 2025
- Episode 6 - December 19, 2025
Where to watch
'The Seduction' streams on HBO Max. That is Warner Bros. Discovery’s service that houses a mountain of buzzy stuff — 'Game of Thrones,' 'The Wire,' 'True Detective,' 'House of the Dragon,' 'The White Lotus,' 'Euphoria,' and plenty more — plus weekly rollouts like this one.
Official synopsis
'Marquise de Merteuil, betrayed by Valmont, embarks on a daring journey to become Paris' leading courtesan.'