‘Dangerous Liaisons’ Recap: ‘Even God Does Not Forgive’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘Dangerous Liaisons’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. 
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One particular lesson that comes up often in television regarding the power of revenge and our desire to indulge within it, is that it will devastate us and leave us in a damaged and dark place when the act is complete. Which is hammered home in the story, by having us bear witness to the downfall of those who partake in revenge, giving rise to an impactful way to hammer that lesson home. But while that is indeed probably the most direct way to make it clear that revenge is bad for us and will indeed damage our lives in some form or fashion… it’s a bit a blunt in nature and doesn’t truly explore the nuances of revenge and how it truly corrupts one’s soul.
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For revenge really isn’t a one and done act, not unless the payback is as petty as the act that engendered it. Like anything else, it is a process, one mired in obsession and a fury that can never be satisfied. All because the person that indulges within it is hurt so deeply, imparting never-ending pain is the only way they can seemingly find peace. And THAT, is where it poisons us and THAT is how it corrupts a soul, since it eventually consumes one completely, where escape and satisfaction from its clutches are seemingly impossible. If anything, those particulars regarding revenge are top of mind today, simply because they and that process were put on full display in the next episode of Dangerous Liaisons on STARZ.

A feat that ‘Even God Does Not Forgive’ accomplished, by informing us of the fact… that Camille was not satisfied with her revenge in the slightest. Which was fascinating to say the least, since she did in fact, pummel Valmont into utter submission, and left him destitute and roaming from tryst to tryst once again, without the feelings that she produced within his heart. But her need to feel complete justice, likely stemming from the other pain and abandonment she’s suffered in life, prompted her to continue her revenge. To properly make him hurt and feel the desperation and longing and need he made her feel and that… was why she summoned him to her new estate. To provide him with a stunning and unwholesome new challenge.

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In that, if he could woo a powerful and influential new lover and receive a declaration of that love in writing… in the name of her desires, he would prove himself worthy of her love and worthy of her time. Ergo… he could finally have her completely. Which was a challenge Valmont was quick to accept and quick to learn was indeed… revenge buried beneath a hollow pursuit. For his target was so very Godly in nature and not easily tempted by pleasures of the flesh or the heart as his other marks. Which led him down a tough path in this tale, one that he tried to walk away from. Only to have Camille egg him on further with more promises of their toxic love. Which in turn, pushed Valmont after all to try a new approach to bedding and loving his new mark, which showed promise. 
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All of which made it clear how revenge is a progressive disease if you will. One that infects both body and mind and clouds judgment through obsession and eventually brings one to their knees with consumption. Not to mention, making it top of mind can also narrow one’s vision and make them oblivious of real issues surrounding them, as evidenced by the surprise that slammed into Camille in this tale. Since Jean made a point to bring his late wife’s cousin to the estate, to try and trip Camille up in the lie. Which forced her to think fast and absorb every bit of information she could to maintain the illusion surrounding her and fend off the challenge. Which she did indeed do. 

But that also goes to show, how fragile we become when revenge is our only focus and had it not been for her support network within the house, the plan might have worked. In the end however, this was just… a brilliant tale when all is said and done. Since it dug deeper than the standard story regarding revenge, and truly informed us of how it works and how it slowly brings us to our knees, and a round of applause to this series for showing us how a toxic relationship can inspire such notions and for quietly teaching us… to not be like Camille and Valmont and move on when things end. Since to do otherwise can cause great trouble. The likes of which we haven’t even seen yet but undoubtedly will, as this battle of attrition continues to intensify as season one angrily rolls along. Until next time.

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