T5W#572-Top 5 Biggest Story Changes in The Rose of Versailles 2025 (SPOILERS, DUH)

It may not be as perfect as the late 70’s masterpiece but the 2025 musical version of The Rose of Versailles is still a pretty darn good adaptation.  While I was expecting a lot of truncated storytelling and important plot points to be omitted, there was one thing I never expected the movie to do at all: add or change key events from the TV Series that actually strengthen and I dare say better the central journeys of both Marie Antoinette and Oscar (more so Oscar actually).  And these changes rank as some of the best moments of the film as a whole, more than the fun musical numbers and gorgeous animation.  Well now that the movie has been reviewed, todays Top 5 Wednesday is a bit of a bonus look at what was added to make The Rose of Versailles better than before (still not a perfect 10 but if these had all been inserted into the TV Series, that 10 would be assured).  Anyway, these are the Top 5 Biggest Story Changes in The Rose of Versailles 2025. 

 
Kind of goes without saying but SPOILERS…duh

 
#5-Oscar and Marie: Between Love and Duty

Oscar and Marie Antoinette’s chemistry cannot be denied across any version of The Rose of Versailles.  Hell I’m sure plenty ship the two of them together.  One major change in the movie is a pivotal scene where Oscar cautions Marie about her affair with Hans von Fersen.  Marie then bears her soul with Oscar, confessing to her longing to feel love and joy that will never come with the title of being Queen of a nation.  This internal war between duty and desire that Marie admits to having changes Oscars perceptions for the rest of the movie, especially when it comes to her own feelings for Hans and her wanting to help the citizens of France in their most dire time of need.  Honestly, it’s a much better way to get Oscar thinking about this than how it occurs in the series.

 
#4-Girodelle withdraws his proposal

It came way out of left field when Girodelle, Oscars trusted second in command of the Royal Guard suddenly asked for Oscars hand in marriage in the TV Series.  To be fair, Girodelle is barely in the movie himself so it can have the same effect.  What the movie does better is having Oscar settle things with him in an honest way that also works to Girodelle’s character as well.  Girodelle quickly guesses that Oscar doesn’t want to marry him for fear of hurting Andre’s heart and even guesses that Oscar herself is in love with him too.  Girodelle has always been a favorite of mine in the series cause of his “ride or die” bond with Oscar.  Here he shines as he simply kisses her hand and withdraws his marriage proposal.  He may not have had much screentime but he did have one of the best scenes.

 
#3-THAT Andre Scene is gone

The Rose of Versailles is an Anime that is truly worthy of a perfect 10/10…except for one big moment that remains a point of contention amongst the fan base.  It’s hard to even write about it (and I don’t want to) but let’s just say Andre acts less than honorable in a heated moment with Oscar (so much so I don’t mind him getting the crap pummeled out of him by the corrupt members of Company B later on).  The movie avoids this same cardinal sin altogether. Instead, Andre freaks out when he believes that Oscar is toasting to him as a parting of the ways.  In a panic, he slaps her glass out of her hand and trips and falls on her, nothing else happens though Oscar is herself a bit shocked.  It’s kind of a confusing scene but it’s way better and less controversial than what happened in the show which is almost unforgivable.
 

#2-When the Revolution REALLY got started

One of the most heartwrenching scenes from the TV Series is when Duke Guemenee shoots a young boy in the back for stealing his purse.  It’s a moment I slightly criticized for not kicking off the violent riots of the French Revolution cause it’s a freaking kid who got killed and yet no one raises a hand to do anything.  The movie rectifies this in more ways than one.  Thankfully no kids are shot but the mere act of trying to do so sends the people into a rage, the most major push to turn them completely against the nobility.  As an added bonuses, and for story condensing purposes, the event serves as a major turning point for both Oscar and Andre.  Andre’s eye injury happens during the riot while Oscar, seeing how bad things have gotten for the people, requests her transfer to the French Guard to better serve the populace from there. 
 

#1-Oscar sees the Siege through

In the TV Series, Oscar’s final stand at the Storming of the Bastille is the stuff of legends, complete with gorgeous handrawn animation to boot.  Sadly, she is shot multiple times before dying of her wounds, her last wish for her men to keep fighting.  While Oscar still meets her tragic end during the siege, the movie is nice enough to have her hold on just in time to see the white flags raised over the top of the Bastille.  It’s a good cap off for Oscar’s journey, seeing she did have a very important hand in one of the Revolutions most important events.  As is with both versions, she always dies a hero of the people and not for the nobility, like the boss she is.