Line #31 Anime/LeChevalierDEon


1	%%
2	%%Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1644195112083624400
3	%%Please don't change or remove without starting a new thread.
4	%%
5	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_screenshot_20220210_090512_chrome.png]]
6	%%
7
8	Late 18th Century UsefulNotes/{{France}}: a time of great trial and turmoil--and for none moreso than French Secret Police member d'Eon de Beaumont, whose older sister Lia has just been found floating in a coffin in the Seine River. Lia was an accomplished spy for the French Court, which recently sent her to faraway lands on a mysterious assignment. But now she's turned up murdered, and it's up to D'Eon to find her killers. No sooner has he stumbled upon the AncientConspiracy that might be responsible for it, than he, [[DoomedHometown his comrades, and his entire household all fall victim to a vicious attack]], which [[EverybodysDeadDave only D'Eon himself manages to survive]]. The [[UsefulNotes/LetatCestMoi King of France]], UsefulNotes/LouisXV, graciously allows D'Eon to retrace his sister's steps and investigate her murder, and to that end he gives him a new set of comrades; all of them are Chevaliers who, like D'Eon, have vowed their unswerving loyalty to the King, even unto death.
9
10	Of course...this isn't the ''only'' help D'Eon will receive during his investigations.
11
12	It seems the angry soul of his murdered sister, Lia, has decided ''not'' to pass onto the next life just yet. She has some unfinished business to attend to. And [[GrandTheftMe she has found the perfect vessel through which she can carry out her revenge]]--D'Eon's ''own'' still-living body...
13
14	Loosely inspired (''very'' loosely) on the historical spy [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eon_de_Beaumont D'Eon de Beaumont,]] whose crossdressing (in retrospect, she was probably a UsefulNotes/{{transgender}} woman, and she insisted for the latter half of her life that she had been a woman all along and had been disguised as a man previously) and extraordinarily half-hearted attempts at espionage caused a major international incident.
15
16	The show itself is based on a series of novels by Tow Ubukata; a manga was released at around the same time as the show, but is completely different, being described by Ubukata as "a humorous attempt at combining d'Eon de Beaumont, eighteenth century France, and a superhero story." While the anime is a serious historical drama with mystical elements, the manga is a {{Seinen}} action series similar to ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'', hell, the manga so similar to Kotah Hirano art style that one wonders if it was an homage or a rip-off. Despite being a completely different animal, it's definitely worth a look.
17
18	The show [[SpiritualSuccessor noticeably draws from]] the 1970s {{shojo}} {{anime}} ''Manga/TheRoseOfVersailles''.
19
20	----
21	!!''Le Chevalier d'Eon'' provides examples of:
22
23	* AffablyEvil: The Count of Cagliostro and Lorenza, arguably the Comte De Guercy (who's more of a LovableTraitor) and [[spoiler: King Louis XV]]
24	* {{Alternate History}}: An interesting example: instead of beginning from a point of divergence, it begins at a point that is in accordance with actual history, and slowly begins to diverge as the plot unfolds, and various historical figures meet very different fates than they did in real life.
25	** It acknowledges this in the closing credits, where [[spoiler: the dates of death are given for the real Madam De Pompadour and Queen Marie, who died two years apart. But in the series, they die ''on the same day.'']]
26	*** The show cleverly uses this trope to [[spoiler: fool the viewer into thinking that its version of Robespierre is part of the alternate history. In fact, the man who goes by that name for most of the series isn't the one we know from history; the "real" Robespierre doesn't reveal himself until the final episode, and things line up much closer to reality with him.]]
27	* AncientConspiracy: Given the number of powerful bigwigs and bureaucrats involved with it, it can easily qualify as a GovernmentConspiracy as well.
28	%% * AnyoneCanDie: [[spoiler: More like, almost everyone DOES die.]]
29	%% * AudibleSharpness
30	%% * BackFromTheDead
31	%% * BattleAura
32	* BecauseDestinySaysSo: The prophecies within "The Verse of the King" have the power to shape history as well as predict it.
33	* BigBrotherInstinct: Actually, a Big Sister Instinct -- with Lia protecting D'Eon, the younger and weaker of the two.
34	* BilingualBonus: If you can read French, you can learn what the king's letter to Durand said early.
35	%% * BodyHorror
36	* BreakTheCutie: Robin is probably the happiest and most optimistic member of the main cast early in the series. By the end, however, he's become so angry and disillusioned he [[spoiler: changes his name and becomes the historical Maximilien Robespierre, responsible for the Reign of Terror.]]
37	* BrotherSisterIncest: D'Eon and Lia are [[IncestSubtext close]] (''uncomfortably'' close, now that they have to share the same body), but they've never felt anything improper towards each other. [[spoiler: However, the relationship between half-siblings Lia and Maximilien Robespierre ''was'' almost consummated, although [[SurpriseIncest neither of them knew]] they were related to the other at the time of their romance.]]
38	* CoolDownHug: Teillagory gives one to Lia [[spoiler: after she thinks Maximilien is dead.]]
39	%% * CoolOldGuy: Teillagory
40	%% * DeadlyDistantFinale
41	%% * DoomedHometown
42	* DownerEnding: Considering it takes place right before [[UsefulNotes/TheFrenchRevolution Maximilien Robespierre's Reign of Terror]], it was a ForegoneConclusion that it would end this way.
43	** The show still makes a very fine point of ending things on a tragic note, though. [[spoiler: The last scene of the series is of D'Eon as a sad old man who has lost everyone he ever loved.]]
44	* DraggedIntoDrag: While planning to attend Empress Elizabeta's masquerade ball, the four main characters find out that it is a crossdressing themed ball. This leads to D'eon dressing up as Lia, who is mostly okay with it, and Robin dressing up as a young girl as well. Robin is embarrassed deeply and made fun of by Durand and Teillagory, who decide to not go to the ball and therefore don't dress up as women.
45	* DreamingOfThingsToCome: One of Robin's visions late in the series is of a tricolored rainbow [[spoiler:with the colors of the French Republic, foreshadowing his role in UsefulNotes/TheFrenchRevolution and the Terror to come after renaming himself Maximilian Robespierre.]]
46	%% * DressingAsTheEnemy
47	* ErmineCapeEffect: Although it's justified by the LimitedWardrobe.
48	** Though things ''do'' get bleaker and grimier towards the end. Especially considering that the story ultimately leads to the UsefulNotes/TheFrenchRevolution.
49	%% * EverybodysDeadDave
50	%% * EverythingsDeaderWithZombies: The gargoyles.
51	* EvenTheGirlsWantHer: Lia was and still is loved and adored by ''everyone'' who knew/knows her, male or female.
52	* EvilAllAlong: [[spoiler: Teillagory is a spy for the Duc D'Orleans, and King Louis is an imposter who is prepared to kill those who discover his secret]]
53	* FaceDeathWithDignity: Even when about to be mulled by gargoyles, [[spoiler:Empress Elisaveta]] is the picture of composure and affirms her faith that the reformation of [[spoiler:Russia]] will come.
54	* FaceHeelTurn: In the last few episodes, [[spoiler:Robin]] witnesses some things and goes on the run. He's found by a villain, given a place to hide, and suddenly has switched to the villain's side. It's handled very badly, ignores his relationships with others, and just isn't explained very well.
55	* FirstEpisodeResurrection: An interesting variation; It's not ''his'' death and resurrection which gives D'Eon his powers, but his sister's. And it takes a traumatic event to "activate" them, as often befits this trope.
56	* {{Flynning}}: Averted outside of staged fights, when two enemies are engaged in a fight, they go straight for the kill.
57	* GambitPileup: It would be easier to list the characters who ''didn't'' have some grand scheme.
58	* GrandTheftMe: A slightly gentler form, where the soul "appropriating" a body shares it with its owner -- although not always equally at all times.
59	* GuileHero: Durand, who fools both allies and enemies to accomplish his goals.
60	* HatDamage: Teillagory is very sad about his hat taking damage in battle. Except it's the only thing that's taken damage as his opponents all on the ground.
61	* HermeticMagic: The FunctionalMagic system used by the AncientConspiracy is a complex combination of Alchemy and Rune magic. It's practitioners are called "Poets" and the "spells" they chant are actually Psalms from the Bible. (A poet has to have their hearts "opened to the Psalms" in order to use them, though.)
62	%% * HistoricalDomainCharacter: More of the cast than not.
63	* HistoricalInJoke: The entire series is one (albeit a very serious one) which details the behind-the-scenes events that lead up to the French Revolution and Catherine the Great's rise to power in Russia, amongst others. Many of the characters (including the hero) are actually based on real-life people from that era.
64	%%* ImplausibleFencingPowers
65	* ICannotSelfTerminate:
66	** Everyone who's been turned into a gargoyle but still has some control over their mind, such as Bernis and [[spoiler: Durand. D'Eon kills both of them]]
67	** Also [[spoiler: King Louis XV, once he burns the psalm and starts decaying]]
68	* InstantRunes: Appear as the words of the Psalms in Latin, which are able to appear out of nowhere, crawl around and affect any surface they touch.
69	* KillTheCutie: [[spoiler: Anna gets shish-kabobbed by King Louis when she walks in on him poisoning Queen Marie]]
70	%% * KnightTemplar
71	%% * LargeHam: The Compte De Guercy
72	* LifeOrLimbDecision: [[spoiler:Durand cuts off his own arm to keep himself from being controlled via the Psalms.]]
73	* LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler: Lia and Maximilien Robespierre aren't only half siblings, they're also the children of the last king, Louis XIV. And it turns out that Madame de Pompadour is the "mommy" of the skull that Queen Marie is always carrying around.]]
74	%% * MexicanStandoff
75	* MyMasterRightOrWrong: Durand is exceptionally loyal to his king, which becomes a point of conflict both for him and the series in general.
76	%% * TheMistress: Pompadour
77	%% * TheMole: [[spoiler:Teillagory serves Philippe II]]
78	* NinjaPirateZombieRobot: Axe-wielding Parisian zombie whores!
79	* OffingTheOffspring: [[spoiler: Madame de Pompadour strangled her own child.]]
80	* OnlySixFaces: Some character designs are nearly identical, like the Queen of France, and the Empress of Russia. Lia and D'Eon don't count, since they are supposed to look similar.
81	* OurZombiesAreDifferent: They're called "gargoyles," their blood is mercury, and they are controlled by a Poet and can be killed by destroying a rune somewhere on their body
82	* OutOfClothesExperience: [[spoiler: Durand, at the moment of his death.]]
83	* PimpedOutDress: Loads of them, given the opulence of the period.
84	%% * PsychicPowers
85	%% * ReligionIsMagic: And psalms are spells.
86	%% * RequisiteRoyalRegalia
87	%% * SecondEpisodeIntroduction: Durand and Teillagory
88	* SeparatedAtBirth: Robespierre and his half sister [[spoiler:Lia.]]
89	%% * SharingABody: D'Eon and Lia.
90	%% * ShootTheDog
91	* SlipknotPonytail: Every time Lia possesses D'Eon's body.
92	* SmugSnake: The Duc D'Orleans is significantly less accomplished compared to most of the other villains, with the possible exception of Piotr and the Marquise De Pompadour
93	* SpiritAdvisor: The child's skull that Queen Marie carries around, dresses up, and speaks to all the time. Only near the end of the series do we learn of the child's true identity. The skull also pulls duty as a WaifProphet, and were it still alive, it would probably be a CreepyChild as well.
94	%% * SpiritualSuccessor: To ''Manga/TheRoseOfVersailles''
95	* SpoilerOpening: [[spoiler:If you pay attention during the opening, you can clearly see that Teillagory is kneeling in front of the Philippe II, Duke of Orléans. Considering Philippe is portrayed as a villain, Teillagory turning out to be a mole is not very surprising at all.]]
96	** However, [[spoiler: you don't see the Duke's face, or anything but the very top of his head, making it near-impossible to determine who Teillagory is kneeling before, so it's easy to just write off the scene as being emblematic of his status as a loyal knight. Of course, once the revelation is made, it seems obvious.]]
97	%% * SwordSparks
98	%% * {{Synchronization}}
99	* TapOnTheHead: Subverted in the scene where Robin tries to knock a guard unconscious with the butt of his pistol. He only succeeds in hurting the guard, and has to resort to a more vigorous attack to bring him down.
100	%% * TearsOfBlood
101	* TomeOfEldritchLore: The "Royal Psalms", which doubles as an EmpathicWeapon, "choosing" those who can carry or read it.
102	* TransformationSequence: When D'Eon changes into Lia, [[SlipknotPonytail his hair usually comes loose]] and his lips become more feminine. It's more subtle than most transformations, but still dramatic.
103	** This is [[PlayingWithATrope played with]] later on; [[spoiler: it is revealed about halfway through the series that when two souls occupy the same body, they slowly lose their individuality. Sure enough, the differences between D'Eon and Lia become more and more subtle to the point that by the end of the series, the show no physical changes when they switch.]]
104	* UncannyFamilyResemblance: D'Eon and Lia look very similar to each other, which is a major plot point. (They're not HalfIdenticalTwins, though, even though they can easily pass for each other.)
105	%% * UndignifiedDeath: Peter
106	* VoicesAreMental: When Lia possesses D'Eon's body, the voice coming from his mouth is hers.
107	* WellIntentionedExtremist: You can't swing a dead cat in this series without hitting a WellIntentionedExtremist. Even the ''heroes'' sometimes engage in extreme behavior in the pursuit of their duties.
108	%% * WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue
109	* WholesomeCrossdresser: D'Eon, however, crossdresses mainly for utilitarian reasons, not because he gets any enjoyment out of it.
110	%% * TwoSiblingsInOne: Lia and D'Eon.
111	* YouAreAlreadyDead: [[spoiler: After being ''stabbed in the bloody chest,'' Robespierre somehow manages to walk around and say goodbye to Robin and D'Eon/Lia before dying.]]

Context Anime / LeChevalierDEon