by Helen Langdon
At first glance, this week’s Musketeers might seem to be weaker than previous episodes. Other weeks, there’s been mysteries and actual plots and characters not being idiots, whereas The Challenge was eight fights interspersed with some romance scenes. Maybe the plot was thin in the actual episode, but it was full of much-needed development for series-long plots given how late in the series it’s getting.
At first glance, this week’s Musketeers might seem to be weaker than previous episodes. Other weeks, there’s been mysteries and actual plots and characters not being idiots, whereas The Challenge was eight fights interspersed with some romance scenes. Maybe the plot was thin in the actual episode, but it was full of much-needed development for series-long plots given how late in the series it’s getting.
Most of this revolved around d’Artagnan. Yes, it’s been nice to have the other musketeers getting their own storylines each week, but up until this week no-one had pointed out that he was essentially the musketeer mascot, hanging around their headquarters and helping them out without actually getting paid for it. He had mentioned a farm, back in the mists of time, but he doesn’t seem to have mentioned it since. That kind of shoddy management deserves to lose the farm, to be honest. Having the plot revolve around his need for money meant that his idiotic actions (breaking into the Bastille to attack the Juggernaut, for example) are excused as part of his desperation.
But d’Artagnan’s job situation wasn’t the only ongoing plot strand with development in this episode. It was really all about tying up loose ends and setting things in motion for the finale, since now nearly all of the secret relationships have been discovered. The Cardinal knows about Milady and her musketeer men, Athos knows about Milady’s assassin business, and Mr Bonacieux knows about Constance and d’Artagnan’s affair. Speaking of which, it was kind of depressing to see them break up just one episode after they finally got together. Yes, it’s to make d’Artagnan more amenable to Milady’s charms, but couldn’t they have had one episode full of happiness? It’s getting to the point where whenever a woman declares a romantic interest in a musketeer, you want to have an intervention.
But d’Artagnan’s job situation wasn’t the only ongoing plot strand with development in this episode. It was really all about tying up loose ends and setting things in motion for the finale, since now nearly all of the secret relationships have been discovered. The Cardinal knows about Milady and her musketeer men, Athos knows about Milady’s assassin business, and Mr Bonacieux knows about Constance and d’Artagnan’s affair. Speaking of which, it was kind of depressing to see them break up just one episode after they finally got together. Yes, it’s to make d’Artagnan more amenable to Milady’s charms, but couldn’t they have had one episode full of happiness? It’s getting to the point where whenever a woman declares a romantic interest in a musketeer, you want to have an intervention.
Emotions were all over the shop, essentially, even in the fight scenes. Of course d’Artagnan was always going to eventually fight Vinnie Jones (he’s the hero, he had to), but it was shocking when Treville didn’t initially pick him. D’Artagnan was the worst choice (emotionally involved, Athos is a better swordsman, Porthos could throw him over a wall), but you were still expecting him to be chosen. But no: The Musketeers is still playing things more realistically, to a point, and so Treville could only nominate himself for a certain defeat. And this meant flirting with danger. Like the Cardinal’s brush with death last week, Treville could actually die. He’s not essential to the plot, but his death would certainly have emotional resonance and affect everything. Luckily, he’s not dead yet. The regular characters are all still alive and well (how are they going to get rid of Peter Capaldi?).
Next week on The Musketeers, in the penultimate episode of series one, Queen Anne’s in danger. Again. But the musketeers are taking her on a roadtrip to a convent, presumably so she and Aramis can spend more time gazing lovingly into each others’ eyes.
Next week on The Musketeers, in the penultimate episode of series one, Queen Anne’s in danger. Again. But the musketeers are taking her on a roadtrip to a convent, presumably so she and Aramis can spend more time gazing lovingly into each others’ eyes.
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