The King, the Squirrel and the Grass Snake - Season 1

First aired: 3/5/2011 2 episodes

Set at the dawn of Louis XIV’s reign, the story follows the quiet but fierce rivalry between two men: Nicolas Fouquet, brilliant, dazzling, a patron of the arts, and Jean‑Baptiste Colbert, methodical, patient, and determined to reshape the kingdom in his own way. At first indispensable to France, Fouquet shines through his intelligence and spectacular lifestyle, enough to spark the young king’s suspicion. As he builds Vaux‑le‑Vicomte and expands his influence, Colbert weaves a relentless strategy to bring him down. After the famous fête at Vaux, Louis XIV decides to assert his authority: Fouquet is arrested, tried, and becomes the symbol of a monarchy tightening its grip. Through this clash, the two films portray the birth of absolute power and the fall of a man who dared to shine brighter than the king.

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Episodes

1. Episode 1

Aired: 3/5/2011

The first part follows the rise of Nicolas Fouquet, Superintendent of Finances under Louis XIV. Brilliant, charismatic, and remarkably effective, Fouquet becomes the most powerful man in the kingdom after Cardinal Mazarin. But his wealth, influence, and growing prestige worry the young king, who is determined to rule on his own. While Fouquet builds Vaux‑le‑Vicomte and strengthens his network of allies, Colbert, discreet yet relentless, works behind the scenes to convince Louis XIV that Fouquet is a threat. This episode explores the escalating tensions, the intrigues of the royal court, and the rivalry that forms around control of the kingdom’s finances.

2. Episode 2

Aired: 3/6/2011

The second part depicts Fouquet’s gradual downfall. After the lavish celebration at Vaux — perceived by Louis XIV as a personal affront — the king decides to assert his authority with a decisive blow. Colbert intensifies his campaign, gathering evidence, forging alliances, and manipulating circumstances to ensure Fouquet’s condemnation. Arrested by d’Artagnan, Fouquet faces a political trial shaped by royal vengeance, state interests, and fierce power struggles. This episode portrays Louis XIV establishing himself as an absolute monarch, Colbert as a cold and calculating strategist, and Fouquet fighting to preserve his honor against a judicial machine already set against him.