"Better a fallen rocket than never a burst of light."
~ Tom Stoppard, The Invention of Love

Friday, March 28, 2014

The Musketeers: Series 1, Episode 8 – “The Challenge” (2014)

 
The A-plot today is a D’Artagnan story, and as such, it’s a “D’Artagnan is out to prove himself!” story.  The king and the cardinal have a wager going, that age-old question – who would win in a fight between…?  In this case, it’s one of the king’s musketeers and one of Richelieu’s Red Guard (in my opinion, not nearly as exciting as the Thor vs. Hulk showdown we got in The Avengers.)  A champion from each group will be chosen, and everyone will enjoy a little 17th-century grudge match.
 
D’Artagnan is bound and determined that the musketeer champion should be him, for a number of reasons.  He could do with the generous prize money if he wins, he wants to display his skills before the king and the musketeers’ captain, and most of all, he wants to show that he’s ready to fight with the big boys.  As his friends point out, he’s currently a musketeer “in all but name,” and winning the competition could finally earn him a commission.
 
In the process, we learn a little more about D’Artagnan, both his strengths and weaknesses.  He’s far from my favorite character in the show, so luckily for me, we have some nice material from all the musketeers today.  Athos helps D’Artagnan train, and he reveals just how well he’s come to know his new friend, along with the traits the two men share.  Meanwhile, Aramis and Porthos are on the lookout for “patronesses” to supply them with their own admission fees for the competition, and Porthos has a rather lovely side plot with the kind widow he pursues.
 
And Richelieu?  After some important developments for his character in episode 7, he doesn’t seem to have taken much of anything to heart.  He’s chiefly focused on the bet, and he makes a few unsporting (and awfully foolhardy) decisions in the hopes of ensuring his victory.  Not his best hour.

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