TV series

The Red and the Black

1997 · 1 season

A polished, talky costume drama that dissects ambition and hypocrisy with a cool, ironic eye and a tragic undertow.

Overview: Handsome and ambitious, Julien Sorel is determined to rise above his humble peasant origins and make something of his life-by adopting the code of hypocrisy by which his society operates. Julien ultimately commits a crime-out of passion, principle, or insanity-that will bring about his downfall. The Red and the Black is a lively, satirical picture of French Restoration society after Waterloo, riddled with corruption, greed, and ennui.
How it feels: Satirical, melancholic, romantic and tense. Measured and needs your attention.
About: Ambition, class, love, betrayal
Content: Mild violence, sexual content and language. No gore.
Note: Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Full breakdown

Tone: satiricalstrength 2 of 3
melancholicstrength 2 of 3
romanticstrength 2 of 3
tensestrength 1 of 3
Pacing: measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention: engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes: ambition
class
love
betrayal
morality
Places: countryside
big city
single country house
Era: period
Audience: adult
Form: serialised
Content intensity: Gore none
Language mild
Violence mild
Sex mild