Carême Episode 7 recap: Is Talleyrand really Carême’s father?

Episode 7 of Carême delivers one of the most emotional and politically layered episodes yet. The story mixes personal identity crises, intense childbirth scenes, power struggles, and a dramatic papal visit — all played out against the backdrop of Napoleon's rise to power. At the center of it all is Antonin Carême, who learns a truth that shakes him to his core.

The episode kicks off with a personal moment between him and Henriette, highlighting their growing yet complicated bond. This calm quickly fades when Pope Pius VII arrives at Galifet, the residence of Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord.

At first, Carême shrugs off the papal visit, calling the Pope “just a man.” But his world shifts dramatically when he finds a box of Liliane’s belongings. Inside? His birth certificate, stating he was born at Galifet on June 8, 1783. Suddenly, the unthinkable creeps in: Could Talleyrand be his father?

From the start, the Pope isn’t afraid to call out Talleyrand’s messy past.

“A married bishop and a father. That’s original,” he quips.

The Pope’s real goal? To crown Napoleon as emperor. But there’s a catch, he won’t do it unless Napoleon marries Joséphine in a proper Catholic ceremony.

There’s a twist: Talleyrand has been trying to convince Napoleon to leave Joséphine because she can't give him an heir. Meanwhile, Joséphine’s daughter, Hortense de Beauharnais, shows up at Galifet, very pregnant. Her arrival turns the political game on its head.

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Joséphine vs. Talleyrand

Talleyrand plays his usual manipulative games, coldly telling Joséphine,

“Let us pray that it is a boy. It'll be your last chance.”

Joséphine, however, isn’t backing down. She fires back:

“There will be no coronation without me.”

Then the situation spirals, Hortense suddenly goes into labor. Doctors rush in but prove useless, especially with a breech birth. That’s when Catherine Grand steps up, sends the male doctors away, and calls for her Tamil midwife.

“Bring us some women,” she commands.

What follows is one of the most gripping scenes in the series. The male doctors stand helpless, while the women take charge. The baby won’t turn, and the situation is critical. Catherine tells Joséphine,

“A mother would save her child, but an empress would save her heir.”

With lives on the line, the smallest girl in the room, Agathe, is called upon. Her hands are tiny, perfect for the delicate task. Scared but determined, she manages to turn the baby and deliver him safely. Hortense lives, and so does her baby boy.

In that moment, all women, rich or poor, noble or servant, stand united. It’s a rare moment of solidarity in a ruthless political world.

While this unfolds, Carême confronts Liliane about his birth certificate. She confirms his mother died giving birth to him at Galifet, but dances around the identity of his father.

This leads Carême to do something bold, he goes to the Pope for confession. He doesn’t name names but essentially asks: Is it ever okay to kill an evil, powerful man, especially if that man might be your father?

Shockingly, the Pope hints that God sometimes chooses someone to carry out his vengeance. Carême asks,

“Would it be a mortal sin to kill one’s father?”

The Pope answers cryptically, suggesting courage matters more than rules.

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A secret that changes everything in Carême

The birth scene ends in joy, but the political storm is just starting. Carême confronts Talleyrand, not with a sword, but with truth.

He reveals that Charles de Flahaut, Talleyrand’s acknowledged son, is actually the father of Hortense’s child. This means Talleyrand’s own bloodline could sit on the French throne one day.

Carême uses this bombshell to flip the script. Talleyrand had been working to tear down Joséphine’s position, but now? Supporting her benefits him. Carême tells him:

“You’d be wise to make her empress.”

When Talleyrand accuses him of cooking up this plan to push the coronation, Carême calmly replies:

“Anything, even assassinate your worst enemy.”

In no time, former enemies Talleyrand and Joséphine suddenly act like they’re on the same team. The Pope is suspicious but plays along.

There’s also a standout scene between Joséphine and Catherine Grand. Catherine says, “Our husbands think they’re kings.” Joséphine answers with a knowing smile,

“But forget that the queen is the most powerful piece.”

This quiet moment highlights how powerful women navigated the chessboard of Napoleonic politics, not by brute force, but by strategy, sacrifice, and smarts.

Talleyrand later confronts Charles de Flahaut for getting Hortense pregnant. He’s furious:

“You’ve disgraced yourself, your station, and your lineage.”

The exchange echoes Carême’s own pain as he wrestles with the possibility that this man might be his father too.

The theme of disappointing fathers and broken legacies runs deep here. Whether it is Talleyrand lashing out at Charles, or Carême confronting the ugly truth about his roots, the episode draws strong emotional parallels.

The episode ends on a soft note. Carême and Henriette reunite, sharing a tender moment that feels more genuine than anything else in the episode. Their lovemaking is emotional, not political, unlike every other connection in this ruthless world.

Yet beneath the intimacy lies a question: Can Carême walk away from the political games he’s learned to play so well?

He now holds power, not through violence, but through secrets. He used that knowledge to control the very man who once pulled his strings.

Is he just like Talleyrand, or can he forge a different path? The episode leaves us guessing. The truth about Carême’s father remains officially unconfirmed, but the clues are there.

He is no longer a pawn. He is now a player. But the bigger question remains: Will Carême choose love and food, or ambition and vengeance?

Episode 7 is a masterclass in storytelling, balancing political drama, feminist strength, emotional depth, and a rich historical backdrop. It’s not just about who wears the crown, but about the invisible hands that guide it into place. At the heart of it all is Antonin Carême, no longer just a chef, but a key piece in a dangerous political puzzle.

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