Abigail and John Adams are united at the beginning of this chapter. Alas, happiness is short lived, when he informs his wife about his impending trip to Paris, where he, at the request of Benjamin Franklin, has been tapped to ask for money to help the new nation Adams helped create. Abigail's objections to the voyage was something that her husband was not counting on. As a sort of compromise, John decides to bring along his oldest son, to be with him.
The sea passage is a rough one. John was not a good traveler, as we see him get sick repeatedly. To make matters worse, the vessel where he is traveling, meets an English ship in the vicinity. Fire is exchanged, after John starts shooting at the enemy. The result is damage to the American ship with some casualties, among them, a man that loses a leg in a grueling operation.
When John Adams arrives in France, he is not quite ready for what he encounters. First of all, there is Benjamin Franklin, who is involved with an older noble woman, who he believes is the entry into king Louis' court. John, is appalled at the extravagant display of riches that was the norm among the higher classes. Being a practical man, he must adapt, but his heart is not in it. Meeting the king, leaves John disappointed. Since he cannot speak French he is at sea most of the time.
When the time comes to move on to Holland, John Adams, encounters a less refined audience. The Dutch were somber in comparison to the vanity he found in France. His pleads for credit from the government of that country is met with reluctance because John Adams cannot promise what the lenders want. Besides, his request for ten million is much more than what the money men can offer; after all, the United States had no credit at the moment. John Adams becomes seriously sick and he decides to send his son back to America.
Although not as effective as the previous two episodes, this one presents a slice of what life in France was like during the period John was there. Director Tom Hooper does not spare anything in showing the excesses of a society that was doomed to face a new reality. That would be come later during the French Revolution. Kirk Ellis, is the thing that glues everything. Tak Fujimoto shares the credit for the splendid photography with Danny Cohen. Joseph Vitarelli's music adds texture to this installment. The team behind the art direction did a splendid job in recreating the spectacle that was Versailles during those years.
All the principals do an excellent job to recreate their continuing roles. Tom Wilkinson surprises as Benjamin Franklin. Jean-Hugh Anglades and Judith Magre make excellent contributions as the French aristocrats that come to help John and Benjamin in their cause.
The sea passage is a rough one. John was not a good traveler, as we see him get sick repeatedly. To make matters worse, the vessel where he is traveling, meets an English ship in the vicinity. Fire is exchanged, after John starts shooting at the enemy. The result is damage to the American ship with some casualties, among them, a man that loses a leg in a grueling operation.
When John Adams arrives in France, he is not quite ready for what he encounters. First of all, there is Benjamin Franklin, who is involved with an older noble woman, who he believes is the entry into king Louis' court. John, is appalled at the extravagant display of riches that was the norm among the higher classes. Being a practical man, he must adapt, but his heart is not in it. Meeting the king, leaves John disappointed. Since he cannot speak French he is at sea most of the time.
When the time comes to move on to Holland, John Adams, encounters a less refined audience. The Dutch were somber in comparison to the vanity he found in France. His pleads for credit from the government of that country is met with reluctance because John Adams cannot promise what the lenders want. Besides, his request for ten million is much more than what the money men can offer; after all, the United States had no credit at the moment. John Adams becomes seriously sick and he decides to send his son back to America.
Although not as effective as the previous two episodes, this one presents a slice of what life in France was like during the period John was there. Director Tom Hooper does not spare anything in showing the excesses of a society that was doomed to face a new reality. That would be come later during the French Revolution. Kirk Ellis, is the thing that glues everything. Tak Fujimoto shares the credit for the splendid photography with Danny Cohen. Joseph Vitarelli's music adds texture to this installment. The team behind the art direction did a splendid job in recreating the spectacle that was Versailles during those years.
All the principals do an excellent job to recreate their continuing roles. Tom Wilkinson surprises as Benjamin Franklin. Jean-Hugh Anglades and Judith Magre make excellent contributions as the French aristocrats that come to help John and Benjamin in their cause.
