'Barkskins' episode 4: 'Filles du roi were not dumb s***s' say fans over depiction of Melissande and Delphine
Spoilers for 'Barkskins' season 1 episode 4 'The Law of Two'
National Geographic's 'Barkskins' is a show that continually amazes us. Based on the 2016 best-selling book of the same name, 'Barkskins' is set in New France in the 1600s, it tells the rare tale of land grabbing, blood, building a legacy and a timeless empire. Premiering last week, the series has had quickly become a favourite among history buffs. "Fellow history buffs, are you watching Barkskins tonight?" asked one on Twitter.
This week, Hamish Goames (Aneurin Barnard) and Yvon (Zahn McClarnon) are to return to Quebec City to report about the disappearance of the missing agent. But once there, they discover that the massacre happened on the indirect instructions of the company itself. Yet, their partnership is special to the audience. "Hamish and Yvon of 'Barkskins' remind me of Gregoire & Mani from #BrotherhoodOfTheWolf #Barkskins," tweeted a fan.
Many viewers vouch for the show's authenticity. "@CBC @kaniehtiio Was so glad to hear that Kaniehtiio is Mohawk, glad to see how authentic they're making #Barkskins. My Great Grandmother was Mohawk, born at St. Regis & my grandmother on father's side, half French, half Mohawk. I live in what was once New France, great to see it's history told," tweeted a viewer. "Watching Barkskins on NatGeo. Favourite period of history in my favourite part of the world. Recommended," added another.
At the same time, although 'Barkskins' gets some things right, it fails to accurately capture others. "Barkskins is wildly inaccurate as far as the history of New France, esp. in the very misogynistic depiction of the filles du roi. FFS, these women were highly valued wards of the king, vouched for by their parish priests & they’re depicted as dumb sluts. Disappointingly sexist," tweeted an upset viewer.
A lot of episode 4 was about Melissande (Tallulah Haddon) and Claude Trepagny's (David Thewlis) new wedding and her arriving at his home, which proved to be not-so-warm a welcome for the new bride. "Melissande hearing that there is another woman living already in Claude's house must have felt like an alarm waking her up from a promising dream," tweeted a fan. When Melissande watches Mari (Kaniehtiio Horn) from the window, she knows that there are going to be hurdles in this married life she had imagined to be smooth. "And now seeing Mari staring back at her from the garden must have felt like the beginning of a nightmare," the fan added.
More importantly, though, the episode has fans wondering what exactly is wrong with Delphine (Lily Sullivan). "Oh my goodness what’s wrong with her? What did he see?" tweeted a fan.
Another Filles Du Roi woman, Delphine had been hoping for a kind and caring husband as opposed to Melissande's criterion of wealth. She had been nervous about making the "right" choice throughout and thought who she had chosen was a good man, but who is to say now. As it turns out, she has been hiding a secret just like Melissande (who is not a virgin). When her husband asks her to undress, he sees something and immediately shuts down.
This has left fans wondering. "I was thinking she was having her menstrual cycle, a penis or had some type of surgery scar," theorised one. "I think he looked down and could see that she was pregnant," added one. "Gotta be a penis," said another.
And while everyone is consumed with this new twist, it also looks like the show's audience is asking a question we have been wondering for a while too. "Is Charles Duquet the designated character who keeps surviving against all odds while others drop like flies? #Barkskins"