‘Dangerous Liaisons’ Recap: ‘The World Should Be Afraid of Us’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Dangerous Liaisons’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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There are few things in this life, that motivate us better than having our backs against the wall. Because when we are cornered and unsure of what will become of us, we find clarity and direction and we are able to think fast and pull off miracles to get what we need to feel better about our day or our future. Which is a trait that we quite frankly, celebrate in modern society, since it speaks to the wonder of the human mind and spirit and of course… inspires others since they see such acts as nothing short of miraculous, and hope to replicate them if by chance they ever find themselves in a similar situation. But while there is much to gleam from such acts… they are not always ones to celebrate.
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Because sometimes, those that are cornered aren’t noble in nature and to regain agency and direction in life, they’ll commit to dark acts and hurt others in the process. Which means that in the end, finding oneself in an impossible place, should be more of a grand opportunity to take a beat and look at the situation objectively, so that our wild push toward agency is handled with class and that is precisely why this moment is featured in the next episode of Dangerous Liaisons on STARZ. So that we don’t follow in Camille’s dark footsteps in such matters. For when we caught up with her in ‘The World Should Be Afraid of Us’, that cornering moment came to fruition, shortly after she thought she was about to obtain everything she ever wanted.

After all, Valmont was playing by her rules and going after her former head of household, and she was on her way to meet with Jean and obtain her goals at his engagement party and that… went shockingly smooth. Since he quickly agreed to her terms upon her mention of the Labyrinth and its power. Not to mention he asked Sevigny to find her a room and well… it doesn’t get much better than that. But alas, while she was patiently awaiting Jean’s lawyer to draw up the details, Valmont stumbled upon an ugly truth. In that, he was a pawn for Camille’s vengeful plans, and all of this was deigned to ruin Jacqueline and leave him high and dry no doubt and that prompted Valmont to do something quite daring… and call Camille out at Sevigny’s home.

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Away from prying eyes of course, for this was a personal matter. But it all but collapsed her plans for revenge on the woman that hurt her, and things only got worse from there. Because Sevigny made it clear that everyone was stalling in getting the lawyer up to the estate. Simply because this was an opportunity to isolate Camille so that she could finally be properly embarrassed and informed that there would be no more handouts or attempts at blackmail and with her opportunities at power and agency removed, she was indeed backed into a corner and unsure of where to go next, and that brought forth the darkness. Because once she was left to her fear and own devices, a wild idea came into her mind, one brought forth via a slip up from Sevigny. 
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For she spoke words that were familiar in nature, as though Camille read them in a letter, and as it turned out… she had. Words that incriminated Sevigny since she spoke in that letter of a grand affair with the queen and armed with that in hand, she went to Sevigny and made her demands and when those went unanswered it was off to Jean. Wherein she informed him of what Sevigny had done and how that would bring him embarrassment without action and how he could also… find an ally in Camille… if he did everything to put her under the protection of his name. And just like that, Camille had agency again and found direction and purpose… but at great cost.

After all, Sevigny was left in ruin after this whole debacle since her transgressions were made public. And of course, Ondine was still twisting in the wind and looking the fool for attempting to make a romantic move on Jean at Camille’s bequest, and of course, Valmont was oddly… in worse shape than he’s ever been before. For he committed so much time to nothing really since Jacqueline has no interest in crossing the line for desire, and old wounds were opened for him as well. Making it clear that just going for it when we are in trouble to ensure our safety and future, is dangerous and devastating. Especially if we are in a dark and ugly place, since lives will be impacted, and we might lose something of ourselves. Which is what this series is likely going to explore next, once the dust from Camille’s scorched earth decision, settles. Until next time.  

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