This is the new BBC drama, a fairly youthful and fun series of the famous characters. Are you watching it? And if you are, what do you think of it so far?
On the balance of things, I'm really enjoying it. The first episode was the weakest so far, there was nothing particularly wrong with it but big chunks of the story had to be dedicated to introducing all the characters and it left the episode feeling flat overall.
But the rest has only grown on me. It looks absolutely gorgeous with the woods and countryside of the Czech Republic really creating that historical vibe and some of the sets are stunning.
I love the actors playing the musketeers, in particular Athos really gives off that sombre but respected vibe. It's impressive how faithful the representations of the actual Musketeers are actually (and it's been hilarious at some of the reviewers authoratively looking down on it, who've clearly actually never read the source material themselves. In particular The Telegraph [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/tv-and-radio-reviews/10580278/The-Musketeers-episode-1-BBC-One-review.html] chose to inform us that Alexander Dumas would be rolling in his grave at the idea of Musketeers drinking or having affairs. The Guardian [http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jan/17/alexandre-dumas-swashbuckling-musketeers-half-story] had definitely read the source material and chose to criticise the show for not respecting the influence Dumas had over later historical writers?)
I actually like the slightly boy-bandish set-up too, because surely the four Musketeers were the original boy band? The moody one, the romantic one, the stern one and the young one.
I feel like the plots themselves have felt a little irrelevant though. They weren't bad but they feel unnecessary. I'd prefer the character development to be a bigger focus and an ongoing plot. Still we're young in the series and the episodes so far have all been focused on introducing the characters in depth. Now we're out of that I've got hopes for the rest of them.
If any of you hadn't read the books, how understandable has it been so far? And did any of the connections between the characters surprise you?
EDIT: The first spoiler was a photo, this one gives some information on an actor which might spoil a potential twist at the end of this season.
On the balance of things, I'm really enjoying it. The first episode was the weakest so far, there was nothing particularly wrong with it but big chunks of the story had to be dedicated to introducing all the characters and it left the episode feeling flat overall.
But the rest has only grown on me. It looks absolutely gorgeous with the woods and countryside of the Czech Republic really creating that historical vibe and some of the sets are stunning.
I love the actors playing the musketeers, in particular Athos really gives off that sombre but respected vibe. It's impressive how faithful the representations of the actual Musketeers are actually (and it's been hilarious at some of the reviewers authoratively looking down on it, who've clearly actually never read the source material themselves. In particular The Telegraph [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/tv-and-radio-reviews/10580278/The-Musketeers-episode-1-BBC-One-review.html] chose to inform us that Alexander Dumas would be rolling in his grave at the idea of Musketeers drinking or having affairs. The Guardian [http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jan/17/alexandre-dumas-swashbuckling-musketeers-half-story] had definitely read the source material and chose to criticise the show for not respecting the influence Dumas had over later historical writers?)
I actually like the slightly boy-bandish set-up too, because surely the four Musketeers were the original boy band? The moody one, the romantic one, the stern one and the young one.
I feel like the plots themselves have felt a little irrelevant though. They weren't bad but they feel unnecessary. I'd prefer the character development to be a bigger focus and an ongoing plot. Still we're young in the series and the episodes so far have all been focused on introducing the characters in depth. Now we're out of that I've got hopes for the rest of them.
If any of you hadn't read the books, how understandable has it been so far? And did any of the connections between the characters surprise you?
EDIT: The first spoiler was a photo, this one gives some information on an actor which might spoil a potential twist at the end of this season.
Peter Capaldi is probably going to be otherwise occupied when the series hits a second season. Any speculation on what they might do without the Cardinal? Are they going to kill him off, and if they do how can they replace someone like that?
