We’re now past the halfway point of the season, and the series Merteiul – Seduction continues down its path of tweaking certain elements while essentially just rejuvenating the characters and inflating a drama that was never truly necessary. Let’s go.

Merteiul gets ready for the hearing on the bigamy accusation and puts on a crucifix — a piece she’ll wear for only a few hours. Moments later, she is confronted by Judge de Tourvel about the falsified marriage document: Valmont used a false name and is now under investigation for libertinage. The authorities know the marquise has ties to him. “Your aunt is my friend,” she replies, trying to maintain her dignity.

Merteiul tries claiming her signature was forged, but the judge warns her: if the marriage is annulled, she loses everything. And even though she was a victim of Valmont, the question that follows — whether she is in love with him — leaves her in telling silence. And silence, here, is taken as an answer.

Back home, Rosamunde wants to know how it went. Isabelle, irritated, calls the judge fanatical and pathetic. And then comes the modern-adaptation trope: the idea of seducing the judge’s wife — a foundational plot point of every version of Liaisons — no longer originates from Valmont or Merteuil but from Rosamunde. This habit of “updating” a classic by altering its very core is exhausting, but fine: another seduction plan is launched. That’s how Madame de Tourvel enters the story, and this time it’s Isabelle who forces Valmont to seduce her to “correct” what he did to the marquise.

The goal is simple and cruel: expose the judge through his own wife. Madame de Tourvel is shy, devout, seemingly plain. Valmont follows every instruction Merteuil gives him (even this autonomy is stripped from the character), until something unexpected happens: a genuine, improbable connection emerges between him and Madame de Tourvel.

Isabelle’s jealousy is immediately noticed by Rosamunde, who confronts her: if she wants to “take revenge on men in general,” she can’t lie to herself. The alternative? Seek pleasure elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Cecile and Danceny finally consummate their romance — though the young music teacher once again “fails,” leaving Cecile confused. And under Rosamunde’s guidance, Isabelle experiences her initiation into the world of libertinage.

Walking with Madame de Tourvel, Valmont learns she was warned about him by her husband. In one of the rare moments in which he acts alone, Valmont admits who he is and acknowledges his own reputation. He also reveals that De Tourvel is being manipulated by Gercourt — the issue isn’t libertinage but the conde’s plan to attack Merteiul. He steals a kiss from Madame de Tourvel, leaving her shaken.

In the tacit silences that drive the series, everyone keeps playing their roles. Isabelle pressures Danceny to improve his skills and truly satisfy Cecile — and Valmont finds the whole spectacle entertaining.

During a strategic meeting between Isabelle, Rosamunde, and Valmont, the trio learns that Louis — Valmont’s former friend — will be the key witness at the hearing. The viscount explains the real problem: Louis is in love with him and jealous of Isabelle. Their solution? Invite him into a threesome. The series aims for decadence, but no one involved has enough sex appeal to sustain that promise.

Once again, Rosamunde warns Isabelle: loving Valmont is far more dangerous than despising him.

The plan works: all Louis wanted was to sleep with both of them. But when Merteuil chooses Louis over him, Valmont sulks, leaves the encounter, and drinks alone. To his surprise, Madame de Tourvel is waiting in his room. With her, he is always honest — a rare thing. He attempts something more, though half-heartedly. When he leaves, the kiss he gives her lingers in her mind, unsettling her.

The next day, Louis fails to appear at the hearing, destroying Gercourt’s attempt to ruin Merteuil and Valmont once and for all. Meanwhile, Judge de Tourvel grows visibly nervous when Gercourt approaches — another hint that there may be something unspoken between them.

The judge admits he involved his wife in this plan to “save” Valmont’s soul, and Gercourt laughs. The judge bets everything on this moral fantasy, and Gercourt realizes he has lost the round.

Isabelle, relieved at escaping the risk of losing her title, is caught off guard when Valmont tells her the game isn’t over. He is now determined to conquer Madame de Tourvel — not out of desire, but out of wounded pride. He’s still upset about being excluded from the threesome, and confesses to Merteuil the essence of who he is: he isn’t handsome like Louis, nor rich like Gercourt; his fame as a libertine exists only because he measures himself against no one but himself. And because he is a great libertine, he refuses to abandon his pursuit of Madame de Tourvel.

Jealous, Isabelle declares he will fail — and the classic wager that will change both their lives finally emerges. If he wins, he gets one night with her. Will the series stay true to the novel’s outcome? We’ll see.