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Prior to diving deep into the world of anime, I was aware of The Rose of Versailles—a cornerstone of the shoujo genre. I had encountered images of the gender-nonconforming aristocrat Oscar François de Jarjayes, clad in her French military garb and distinguished by her flowing blond locks. Even without a comprehensive understanding of her character, I found myself captivated by her dramatic appearance and gender fluidity. While I hadn’t yet consumed the 1972 manga by Riyoko Ikeda or the 1979 anime adaptation, it remained a notable entry on my ever-expanding watchlist.

Following the release of the first teaser for Netflix and MAPPA’s adaptation of Rose of Versailles, I conducted some background research and discovered that Ikeda had explored themes of revolution, sexuality, and gender, all beautifully illustrated with moving love stories. I found myself eagerly anticipating this fresh rendition, hoping to experience the highs I had heard so much about, but with a modern anime aesthetic.

However, about 20 minutes into Netflix’s Rose of Versailles film, I sensed that I was losing touch with the narrative. It felt like everything occurred at lightning speed, with the plot and character development racing ahead. To add to the confusion, it somehow transformed into a musical.

I yearned to forge an emotional bond with these gorgeously animated characters, but this adaptation provided me little opportunity to do so. Perhaps if I had been more familiar with the original material, I might have viewed this as a highlight reel that showcased spectacular animation. Yet, for a newcomer, it was baffling—like I had unwittingly skipped past crucial developments.

Note: This review includes some setup spoilers for Netflix’s movie The Rose of Versailles.