The Musketeers 1.04
Feb. 10th, 2014 01:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakIn which one of the most interesting women of that era of French history guest stars and survives the episode, possibly due to being a historical character. Also, the scriptwriters pay homage to John Le Carré, which is an interesting choice to make for an Aramis episode if you know the book sequels.
Seriously, though, I was thrilled that the series used Christine of France, Duchess of Savoy as a character, and did it well. (And did I mention no female character dies in this episode? THIS IS A WELCOME CHANGE.) Brief historical footnote: she did eventually become regent of Savoy, though her brothers-in-law tried to get rid of her, which backfired badly on them since she could use her brother Louis and Richelieu against them. Even more importantly, not only did she keep the Duchy for her son, she also prevented France getting too much power in the Duchy, balancing both of her loyalties and keeping Savoy independent. With this in mind, I was delighted the episode made her a player in the spying game, but with sincere loyalties to both sides, and successful in her endeavours.
If you know your Le Carré, then "sacrifice men to protect the more important mole" is a familiar motive, as are the footsoldiers finding it out years after the fact, with one wanting vengeance, but the episode put a good Dumasian spin on it, and while this series is a fictional universe of its own, I still find it interesting that Aramis in the end can understand why Treville did what he did, given, well, what Aramis ends up doing in his later years in the books. Other than that, though, we didn't find out as much about Aramis as we did in the last episode about Porthos and Athos. Otoh Constance got more personality; I liked her asking D'Artagnan to teach her how to shoot and fence as a way to make up for lying to her, not least because that gives me hope Constance might avoid her book fate.
Anne's reaction after Christine's remark about motherhood is the first nod the show gives to the fact that Anne being childless was starting to be a serious problem for her. (Historical footnote: Anne got pregnant and miscarried several times early in her her marriage to Louis, for which he blamed he while the marriage got steadily worse. When she finally did get pregnant with the future Louis XIV. after 23 years of marriage, this was regarded as nothing short of a miracle, hence the child being called Louis Dieudonné, "God-given".)
I continue to approve of the fact that the Cardinal's schemes on this show actually are political in nature and not evil vizier type intrigues; in this case re: France needing Savoy against Spain. Also Capaldi had obviously fun with all the sarcastic lines the script gave him.
Next week, according to the trailer: another Porthos episode! I approve.
Seriously, though, I was thrilled that the series used Christine of France, Duchess of Savoy as a character, and did it well. (And did I mention no female character dies in this episode? THIS IS A WELCOME CHANGE.) Brief historical footnote: she did eventually become regent of Savoy, though her brothers-in-law tried to get rid of her, which backfired badly on them since she could use her brother Louis and Richelieu against them. Even more importantly, not only did she keep the Duchy for her son, she also prevented France getting too much power in the Duchy, balancing both of her loyalties and keeping Savoy independent. With this in mind, I was delighted the episode made her a player in the spying game, but with sincere loyalties to both sides, and successful in her endeavours.
If you know your Le Carré, then "sacrifice men to protect the more important mole" is a familiar motive, as are the footsoldiers finding it out years after the fact, with one wanting vengeance, but the episode put a good Dumasian spin on it, and while this series is a fictional universe of its own, I still find it interesting that Aramis in the end can understand why Treville did what he did, given, well, what Aramis ends up doing in his later years in the books. Other than that, though, we didn't find out as much about Aramis as we did in the last episode about Porthos and Athos. Otoh Constance got more personality; I liked her asking D'Artagnan to teach her how to shoot and fence as a way to make up for lying to her, not least because that gives me hope Constance might avoid her book fate.
Anne's reaction after Christine's remark about motherhood is the first nod the show gives to the fact that Anne being childless was starting to be a serious problem for her. (Historical footnote: Anne got pregnant and miscarried several times early in her her marriage to Louis, for which he blamed he while the marriage got steadily worse. When she finally did get pregnant with the future Louis XIV. after 23 years of marriage, this was regarded as nothing short of a miracle, hence the child being called Louis Dieudonné, "God-given".)
I continue to approve of the fact that the Cardinal's schemes on this show actually are political in nature and not evil vizier type intrigues; in this case re: France needing Savoy against Spain. Also Capaldi had obviously fun with all the sarcastic lines the script gave him.
Next week, according to the trailer: another Porthos episode! I approve.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-10 03:37 pm (UTC)They still seem to be avoiding the religious thing with Aramis, but are starting to imply that he understands playing politics. Which the Cardinal is also doing, this time siding with the Musketeers, which I thought was a nice nod to the books (and history, for that matter). Capaldi is clearly having fun. I'd almost rather he stayed here forever, rather then going over to Who, which will probably irritate me. Maybe he can do both.
Someone on tumblr commented that Constance has twice been threatened in her own home, and now wants to learn to use a gun and fence. Which I suppose is reasonable if one has D'Artagnan as a lodger. I'm not sure about the message that adding gun skills increases personal safety, but it's a BBC show, so that's probably not what they're actually going for.
I can't believe it's two weeks to the next episode. Stupid BAFTAs.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-10 05:48 pm (UTC)re: Aramis, there was the tine nod last week when he was the who said a prayer, but otherwise, zilch - maybe that is something he'll get into as the show proceeds, though?
My guess is they'll either make Mazarin take over Richelieu's job years ahead of schedule in season 2 or recast; in the announcement that the show will be renewed they also mentioned Capaldi can't continue due to his DW commitment.
The duchess was fabulous, and if this show should inspire fanfic, I hope she'll be in some of it!
Nice icon
Date: 2014-02-10 05:58 pm (UTC)Yeah, I noticed the prayer as well, they may eventually do more, I guess.
Maybe they'll jump ahead a bit for season two, so the historical stuff won't be too badly clobbered. They seem to care at least somewhat about that. Sort of. Though twelve years is a hell of a between-seasons jump.
I'm only sorry rarewoman nominations closed before this aired. I had put in for the regulars plus Adele and Marie Bonnaire, but I'd have traded one of the later out for Christine if I'd seen this.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-10 04:04 pm (UTC)I think I'm going to miss Capaldi next season, not that I don't look forward to seeing him as Twelve. My favourite moment this episode was the look on his face when he notices D'Artagnan lurking by the prison door. (And he even gives him a nod of thanks when leaving.)
no subject
Date: 2014-02-10 05:52 pm (UTC)Yes, let's hope that is indeed the turning point for female guest stars. I can't help but hope for more Christine, if not in the show, then in fanfiction.
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Date: 2014-02-14 01:25 am (UTC)Capaldi is a delight to watch. I'm going to be very interested to see if he carries off the role of the Doctor as well as he's doing Richelieu. Very different characters, so hmmmm. But I agree that I like him having machinations that aren't just evil because evil. And LOL the Musketeers getting to the jail before him! The moment that the penny drops was golden.