In ‘The Queen of Versailles Reigns Again,’ an Unfinished Mega-Mansion Is Not a Home

“I pretty much feel I would like just to invest the rest of my lifestyle right here,” Jackie Siegel claims at the conclusion of The Queen of Versailles, Lauren Greenfield’s 2012 documentary about her and her husband, David. The movie chronicled the Siegel’s try to construct the biggest one family property in The usa, one that was derailed by the 2008 economic downturn, and that acted as a garish, exaggerated stand-in for the dashed desires of several Americans at the time. In this scene, Jackie is not talking of her uncompleted, hypothetical aspiration house, but her latest home, yet another mansion on the drinking water in Florida. And now, a ten years afterwards, as chronicled in the new Discovery+ show The Queen of Versailles Reigns Once more, Jackie finds herself even now residing in that residence, nonetheless making an attempt to full her just about 20 decades in the is effective, 90,000 square toes, allegedly $100 million mega-mega-Windermere, Florida mansion, which she helpfully notes for comparison’s sake is the very same measurement as a Super Wal-Mart. 

The Queen of Versailles received many awards and glowing testimonials for its delicately and expertly explained to tale of course in The united states as noticed by the Siegel’s fantasy of constructing a household inspired by the first Palace of Versailles, itself the common-bearer of opulence. Made by Sufficient Enjoyment, the 6-episode sequel of sorts is predicated on the thought that Jackie will have to finish the very long-languishing challenge in a calendar year, in time to host a 2021 New Year’s Eve get together. The Queen of Versailles Reigns Once more picks up approximately where by we still left off—at the very least when it arrives to the development of the eponymous construction, on which it seems pretty little has been accomplished. David, who made his cash in timeshares by means of his enterprise Westgate Resorts, has regained command of the small business and the property he was depicted making an attempt not to shed. Now in his mid-80s, he is suffering from overall health issues, and so it is up to Jackie, and their now adult children, to consider the reins on the completion of the household, if these a classification is even more than enough to account for what they are making an attempt. 

In the interim several years given that the documentary’s searing look at what wealth and relatives truly signifies popularized their tale, the couple has stayed in the spotlight, often in just the typical genre’s folds, appearing on exhibits like Underneath Deck, Flipping Out, and Movie star Spouse Swap. The new collection arrives right after at minimum 1 prior endeavor at a fact clearly show, an unsuccessful lawsuit against The Queen of Versailles’ output organization for defamation, however the court docket did grant the Siegel’s the everyday living rights to star in the demonstrate they look to have very long dreamed of. (It would seem that David was the aggressor in these fits as of a couple many years ago, Greenfield appeared to sustain a very good romantic relationship with Jackie, even though a ask for for remark to the filmmaker went unanswered by press time.) 

For viewers who are familiar, the display provokes unflattering comparisons to the original movie. In a seriously-handed accidental metaphor, the facade of the constructing, which we’re informed was installed improperly several years back but was the only portion of the home the loved ones assumed experienced been finished, is slipping off. The team driving Versailles is a motley crew—the latest architect, builder, and interior designer all have a slightly cautious glimpse to them, as if they know you are thinking why they agreed to do this job in the first put and they’re not guaranteed how to remedy. (“We understood when we signed up for this there is heading to be troubles all over the place,” is the most Bob, the builder, will reveal on that front.) Jackie describes that they have had 25 designers and contractors more than the several years, and statements convincingly that her husband even attempted to “reduce corners” and take matters into his very own fingers. It is mentioned, considerably of course, that “This is not a brand new residence,” and we see that, as, among the other troubles, numerous leaks spring up in the plumbing in the cavernous rooms. In contrast to most house renovation displays, in which challenges crop up and then are quickly preset, there is evidently no plan here other than certainty that if the family thinks it, they can reach it, irrespective of the actuality that the total premise of the dwelling looks doomed from the get started. “It blows my thoughts that we’re going through complications like this,” claims the couple’s son, David Jr. “I most likely wouldn’t seek the services of our mom and dad to create my dwelling.” 

The family’s protestations that they recognize the relevance of a greenback, and seeming consciousness of the ridiculousness of this total detail but unwillingness to probe it, is a lot fewer nuanced in this structure.

Jackie, regardless of whether prompted by the producers to strike property speaking factors or just deep in her very own mantras, likes to repeat herself, generally stating how long she’s been dreaming about the household and numerous components of it—her drive for flamingos (she learns they’re guarded, so she settles for toucans), the family’s personal personal Benihana (which will have to be scrapped when they find out the venting will turn into a nightmare), the ballroom floor (will have to be shipped in from about the entire world and with the pandemic, shipping and delivery delays are myriad)—and her disappointment need to they not arrive to fruition. It is hard to explain to no matter if the viewer is being set up to invest in into the plan that, ignoring all these challenges, the regularly altering whims of the proprietors, and the project’s whole historical past, this home will be completed in just the wished-for time body, or if we’re becoming pulled alongside to stare at how in excess of-the-prime the trappings of their failure will be. At just one place, soon after standing on her new heated marble floors, Jackie suggests that the entire 50,000 sq. foot ballroom be done to match, to which David Jr. replies, “I never comprehend why you can not just put on slippers.”

Where by unique Queen of Versailles tempered the practical experience of merely gawking at excess with a broader glimpse at the persons in the family’s orbit and a probing concerns situating them as component of a bigger purchaser society that Greenfield has extended been discovering, Reigns Once again relies on vintage fact tv winks to the viewers, these types of as chyrons on the display revealing how much every single purchase charges. And there is lots to stare at: an oversized recreation of Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” in the historic pub the family’s selection to repaint a century-previous antique London cellular phone booth a manufacturer new pink or the 16’x9’ tv in the living space, which we’re told is the most important in any residential home in The us. 

It takes right until the conclusion of the time to get to the humanity that manufactured the Siegels a lot more than caricatures. In 2015, their daughter Victoria died of a drug overdose, and the pair have due to the fact commenced a charity focused to blocking dependancy. In a scene that emotionally meditates on what space can mean to us, Jackie visits Victoria’s bed room, revealing she’s hardly touched anything in it, and won’t allow the maids clear it—that she is, on some degree, “waiting for her to appear residence.” 

But people times are number of and considerably between, and the family’s protestations that they fully grasp the value of a greenback, and seeming consciousness of the ridiculousness of this complete matter but unwillingness to probe it, is much less nuanced in this structure. “Even with all the funds in the environment, my young ones know this can all go absent,” Jackie suggests, unnecessarily reminding the viewers that, “It was nearly taken from us 10 a long time back.” The comments echo back to her terms from the documentary through the economic downturn: “I advised them they could possibly actually have to go to higher education now. They could really have to make cash. So they are recognizing, there might not be revenue there for them. So I claimed, commence considering about what you could want to be.” If the residence is the family’s adore language, it is a flimsy a single at that, and even in his weakened state, David’s specter is as dim as it at any time was in contrast to likable Jackie. In 1 scene that is eerily reminiscent of the documentary, she is seen planning a celebration meal for his return home from the hospital, only to go to his area and locate that he is not sensation up to it. 

In the finale—which commenced streaming Wednesday—the spouse and children has a evening meal bash on New Year’s Eve in the number of rooms that have been rushed to completion, the however-concrete entrance hall ground mopped, sheetrock open up to reveal the wiring at the rear of, fake planters and a crimson carpet rolled out in front with the facade diligently lit. David, described by Jackie as “the most significant person in the entire world,” has practically nothing but praise for the house (that is, right after asking when the flooring will get there), and Jackie describes the instant as “one particular of the most happiest days of my life.” 

“It is stunning, it is acquired a whole lot of class. I’ve been to properties all around California—they’re variety of gaudy,” David claims. “And we’re not gaudy?” Jackie asks, laughing. 

If Versailles is supposed to be the illustration of the American aspiration, the Siegel’s fixation on it making historical past and making a position that generations to occur will reside in are the completely understood fevered fantasy of it, provided that it is unclear if their personal young children even want to reside there. If the stage of property renovation actuality television is the expose at the stop you’d like to knowledge oneself, and the issue of large-stop authentic estate fact exhibits is to gawk at the finest of the best you will in no way have, The Queen of Versailles Reigns Once more commits to neither. Thinking of why the family members continues to 50 percent-heartedly dedicate themselves to this cartoonish concept of house is ultimately a lot more interesting than seeing them do it. 

“We finished 4,000 sq. toes this year—only 86,000 to go!” Jackie states in the finale, right before a teaser sets up for all the mess that is probable to come in opportunity potential seasons. You see, she has a new goal: to host a New Year’s Eve 2022 at the property, and finally transfer upcoming calendar year, on David’s birthday.  

Best impression courtesy of Discovery+ 

Connected Studying:

The Palace of Versailles Opens a New Hotel In which Guests Can Live Like Royalty