: The series is noted for its sumptuously dark atmosphere, and Karsenti’s performance is deeply embedded in the 19th-century setting, portraying a woman who has survived through sheer cunning. Impact of the Series
: Unlike many of the other lead actresses whose characters are courtesans, Karsenti's Hortense is the business owner who runs the establishment with an "iron fist" Narrative Focus
: While the series is categorized as an erotic drama and features significant nudity among the ensemble cast (such as Anne Charrier Jemima West