Carême Finale Recap ‘The Coronation’: The Talleyrands

Carême Season 1 Episode 8 Recap and Review

Well, Carême did it – it gave us a fun, well-paced, tonally just right finale that set up what should be an exciting second season (please Apple TV+?). The emotional stakes were upped in select scenes without lapsing into saccharine sentiment. The narrative took a time jump in the final minutes without feeling rushed. This is disciplined writing matched with poised performances. And of course there was food, aplenty and beautifully crafted, fitting for a story centred on history’s first celebrity chef. Yes, I was moderately concerned after last week’s episode, but it turned out there was no need, the Carême team landed this confidently. I’m a happy viewer. 

The first of The Coronation’s many good decisions was not showing us Napoleon’s coronation. Instead, after kitchen preparations, we went straight to the banquet, a lavish outdoor production that set up the changes to the characters’ lives. Talleyrand was out of favour with the Emperor, relegated to a far away table whilst Napoleon soaked in his triumph and dreamed of an expanded empire. Fouché was now a Count and a court favourite. The now Empress Josephine got to tell his daughter’s lover and enemy’s son that he was headed to war. And Antonin, previously set on taking his vengeance then fleeing with Henriette as the architect Germain Ledoux, decided to stay and be a father to his and Agathe’s unborn child. 

Talleyrand began the episode in a somewhat hopeful note. It didn’t look like he was all too happy with the thought of Antonin murdering Fouché, but he did nothing to discourage him. His focus was peace, one that he had worked on for years. He assured English diplomat Lord Banks Jenkinson (Eric Greynes) that Napoleon the Emperor was no longer Bonaparte the general of the Revolution. The Emperor was after his place in history, and Talleyrand would make sure he chose the right one. 

The problem was, as Josephine later told Charles, ‘Your father thought he could control my husband. No one can.’ Jenkinson showed Talleyrand a coin struck in London with Napoleon’s effigy and the year 1805, the next year. Along with the information Jenkinson received that Napoleon had ordered the making of flat-bottomed ships capable of carrying cannon and a hundred people across the Channel, he was convinced that the Emperor planned to invade England and that he was convinced he would win. Talleyrand had absolutely no idea of the Emperor’s war plans, or that the Emperor, far from appreciating the fact that he became Emperor largely due to Talleyrand’s manoeuvrings, had merely used him.

‘Men can’t just succeed. They have to crush their fellow men too.’ Catherine sagely noted to Antonin, who came looking for Talleyrand. It wasn’t just Talleyrand who was betrayed; she was, too. Was she perhaps thinking of the events in Poland? Catherine was just sitting drinking wine, but Sigrid Bouaziz infused the scene with world weariness and eventual resignation, as she pointed Antonin where Talleyrand went. There was beautiful restraint in the performance that reminded me of Episode Four Catherine. I hope Catherine as a character is explored more in season two. 

Antonin found Talleyrand in a ranting and considering just going gardening mood, and gave him a specially prepared pastry. When Talleyrand asked him if he has finally reached his goals, he said yes, Bailly has been avenged, he has poisoned his enemy. Talleyrand tried to vomit what he just swallowed, to no avail. He raged at Antonin, vowing to have him killed. Antonin coolly took it, and said he knew that he was responsible for Bailly’s death, that Courtiade started the rumour so Bailly could be arrested and Antonin sent to spy at the Tuileries. In three days, Talleyrand would be dead. 

Antonin asked if Talleyrand were his father. Talleyrand admitted to sleeping with Antonin’s mother, but he was not her only lover. They would never know if he were indeed Antonin’s father. When his mother died, he gave Bailly money to feed and raise him. Bailly at that time had worked for Talleyrand and he loved his chocolate eclairs. He told Antonin that whether or not he was his son, he was proud of him, as a father would.

It was a ruse, perhaps for once to get some honestly out of Talleyrand. The pastry was not poisoned, what Talleyrand tasted was ginger and a bit of chilli powder. Antonin declared that he was not like Talleyrand, he would not kill him as death would be too easy. Talleyrand called Antonin’s ruse worthy of a Talleyrand. 

Did Antonin change his mind about poisoning Talleyrand after he had decided to remain and be a father to his and Agathe’s child? Agathe did not even want to tell him about the pregnancy at first. When she did, what she asked of him was one of his herbs. ‘I don’t want to, I can’t keep this child! Have you ever seen a single mother in the kitchen? I worked hard all these years to make people forget that I was a Black woman. A slave’s daughter without anyone to help me… And now that I’m within reach of my goal, I’m losing everything.’ This was a really good scene, and Carême’s first acknowledgment that Agathe was a Black woman, and of the challenges that came with that. 

Again, there was that beautiful restraint, and I’m assuming this was a (great) directorial choice. Antonin and Agathe were alone, but they were outside, in view of whoever happened to look their way. Antonin held Agathe, but he didn’t pull her into a tight hug or overly comfort her. He knew her, he knew she did not need that and would not want it. He went just close enough so she could feel his warmth, his shoulder close as a single tear fell. When Nöel interrupted them, they went straight back to work.

It was when they were putting the finishing touches on a massive dessert topped with a golden eagle that Antonin whispered to Agathe, ‘I won’t let you go’. Was he referring to Agathe the woman he has fallen in love with, or Agathe the mother of his unborn child? Once Antonin has figured this out himself, I suppose that would be when we’ll know.

The dessert parade to the imperial table was a triumph. Once presented, liquid gold flowed from the top to coat the whole thing. Josephine stood up and clapped, and everyone joined, including Fouché. Antonin bowed, then looked to Agathe, who stepped forward and took her much deserved bow as well. 

The only thing left for Antonin that day was to say goodbye to Henriette. They were surrounded by people, regular people who were amongst the 5000 invited to the celebrations. They kissed, danced a bit, and Henriette looked so happy and hopeful, until she finally noticed his face. He told her he could not come with her. Agathe was pregnant, and he could not leave his child without a father. Henriette coldly told him, ‘You may become a great man. But you’ll never be a good one.’ This was probably a fair and accurate assessment of Antonin, but the man just said he did not want to leave his child fatherless, which was a genuine effort to be good. Was Henriette saying that no matter how hard he tried, he would never be a good man? 

Henriette took her broken heart to Fouché and offered her services. ‘You can arrest me. Or you can use me.’ Henriette was a more fascinating character when she was Fouché’s spy, so I view this development to be a good thing, story-wise. 

Months later, and Agathe was already heavily pregnant. Liliane and Nöel were on hand as Antonin opened his own patisserie. A messenger arrived with mail for him; he had been drafted to the military. Inside the envelope was the ring he had given Henriette when they were still planning on running away together. So she was taking credit for taking him away from Agathe just as she looked close to giving birth.

Talleyrand, who of course had heard about it, arrived. He asked Antonin what saddened him the most, that he was becoming Bailly or the letter he just received? That insult about becoming Bailly was well aimed. Talleyrand said he was also going to the front; he had been put in charge of supplies as punishment for daring to protest against Bonaparte’s war. Of course he wanted Antonin to come cook for him, he would have to feed the high command. He also had a new mission, to get rid of Bonaparte. Antonin told him to go to hell.

Carême closed its season with the sound of war, a promise of more fascinating stories to come. I really really hope we get a season two, the show has earned it. Thank you so much for joining me on these weekly recaps! 

Rating: A-

Strays

🧑‍🍳Francois Vatel is a real historical figure who committed suicide when the seafood delivery for a banquet in honour of Louis XIV was late. 

🧑‍🍳Antonin introduced his all-white chef’s outfit and hat (which he called toque) here. Agathe as the sous chef had a slightly lower hat, and everyone else got caps.

🧑‍🍳’Yes Chef.’

🧑‍🍳One of the chefs hired at the last minute was Perquin, who added fennel to Antonin’s recipe, much to his displeasure. Perquin thought he was simply doing what Antonin did to the chicken marengo recipe.

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