A French Village Podcast with Sarah Longwell and Ben Wittes

Love and resistance is in the air on this week's episode of A French Village Podcast. Sarah and Ben discuss S3 Eps 7 & 8.

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Hortense has a moment of redemption… but did she earn it? Some of the scheming from these episodes seems a little too contrived. Some of the escapes seem improbably, too—but then again, so did the ones in real life. Is the show playing games with the numbers? Will it ever not be soul-crushing again? Please?

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Sarah and Ben discuss how Nazis used child separation as a tool as they break down a difficult pair of episodes.

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But seriously, how and why is Hortense alive? Sarah is confused; Ben is indignant. Warning: Season 3 has some nasty Holocaust stuff. The nature of Vichy changes as the deportations start. Class, status, and nationality distinctions deteriorate within the Jewish community (communities?). Servier is a stand-in for bureaucracy, and he gets much worse in these episodes. The printing press caper put the bourgeoning resistance in a difficult situation.

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Sarah and Ben discuss the relationship drama of the last two episodes of Season 2. Plus, the future of the show.

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Sarah is anti-fingers in the foie gras, but anti-anti-smoothing. Bad decisions are driving the plot. Getting cold doesn’t make you sick! Don’t torture where you eat. Big promotion for Marchetti. Kurt is back! Should Lucienne have gone to Switzerland with him? Beriot has his best episode so far. Mueller has a weird concept of respect.

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An astute listener is stridently anti-Lucienne. Sarah and Ben are more circumspect. Beriot and Lecienne’s father have very different drinking styles. Marcel Larcher has a lucky day! The competition for grossest character heats up (or at least for second place). Sarah should have been more specific about her aspirations for Elise Stefanik. Daniel has to make some life-and-death decisions. Also, the Communists are in these episodes.

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Sarah stans Lucienne, while she and Ben debate Sarah's (i.e. the character, not the host) affair. Beriot encourages. . . dancing! Hortense just gets worse. The prostitutes in the brothel are the most effective resistance. Ben tells true stories that resemble the show—plus the greatest obituary he's ever read: https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/10/world/europe/robert-de-la-rochefoucauld-noted-for-war-exploits-dies-at-88.html

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The Communists become cannon fodder for the Soviets. Ben and Sarah dive deep on collaborators, terrorists, and the resistance. Lucienne and Marie meet again. Sarah and Ben discuss the plausibility of Lucienne's abortion. Hortense is the worst. It's amazing how many people are from Algeria these days. There's a cake competition. Tucker Carlson has entered the chat.

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Germany has invaded the Soviet Union, so the Communists have a new perspective. Suzanne's admission to Marcel is morally confusing. Schwartz, Heinrich, Larcher, and the deputy prefect have a nice dinner together. Then Schwartz does something kinda badass! We learn more about the Larchers. Sarah's citizenship is in question. All the 8-year-olds find out about Lucienne's bad decisions.

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