The Musketeers

I have to admit I found the first episode OK it wasn't amazing, but the second episode the characters started to grow on my - love the casting on all the musketeers and well.... its Peter Caapaldi!!

I always enjoy a light hearted historical adaptation and have to admit my favourite thing about this series so far is the costumes and the sets - the lighting is fantastic. It really gives the show the right atmosphere. it i'm being fussy the one thing that I wholly dislike is the theme tune - I just don't think it fits.

Give it a chance we are only just getting to know them, its fun, its frolicy, its BBC 1 on a Saturday night!

Comparing books to on screen representations is always tricky; what you see on the page isn't going to be the same as others may. The Musketeers have appeared in so many guises, from Charlie Sheen and Kiefer Sutherland camping it up in 1993 (between this and Batman and Robin, it's amazing Chris O'Donnell has continued to do so well), through to the kiddy cartoon 'Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds'. Do a search for a picture of Porthos, and you'll likely find Captain Archers Beagle from Enterprise. They have become a pastiche of themselves, more known for their catch phrase as their actual back stories.

None have really got as close to the original books as this series.

Aramis may be a former priest, who seems able to charm any lady he comes into contact with, but neither of those qualities are over played. Athos is a dark, brooding, level headed father figure in the group. His back story with Milady de Winter becomes apparent quite quickly, and is sure to continue to be a thorn in the side of the Musketeers adventures. Porthos becomes much more real in this series. Still larger than life, still living life with violence and a smile, but with a much broader history and reason for being the way he is. They've fought in wars in the name of the King, and come out with not only the scars but the camaraderie that goes with it. Captain Treville does a great job in keeping them in line.

And D'Artagnan is the country bumpkin. Ruled by his passions, his skill as a Musketeer are evident, but he still need tempering. He has great great chemistry with Constance, who is friend, mummy and potential love interest to him, but like Athos/Milady, that journey will take a while to reach fruition.

This is definitely the best Cardinal. Yes, he's evil. Yes, he plots and schemes to destroy the Musketeers. And, yes, his motivations are driven by more..fiscal..desires. Yet, he's also a lot more believable and watchable for doing so. Not just some one dimensional monster, with a single plan, he even helps the Musketeers at times (for his own benefits, of course). The Musketeers may not like him, but nor can you see them running him through, like they do to many of their other foes.

The sets and costumes are great; from the Musketeers understated leather armour, to the Cardinals pitch black flowing cloak that make him look like a Dr Who baddie (yes, the irony). From the Royal palaces with their sumptuous ceilings, to the hustle of the newly redesigned Paris. It flows. The quality may be film set clean (and there may be the occasional Hollywood explosion), but it all adds to the overall rip roaring adventure, that fits perfectly into the time slot allowed, while the characters and their interplay pulls the stories along at a brisk pace.

Moving series created by Adrian Hodges , being partially based on Alexandre Dumas novel , though adding important changes . It is filled with derring-do , intrigue , love stories , drama , swashbuckling and moving swordplay . An awesome casting and big-budgeted production by BBC television , shot in Czech Studios and location make for a fairly amusement swashbuckler . This is the recent recounting of the Dumas's novel with a fine cast headed by handsome Luke Pascualino as hot-headed D'Artagnan in a brave role as a young and handsome soldier of fortune , a dashing , audacious lover and nimble athlete . When his father (Oliver Cotton) is killed , D'Artagnan travels from his family farm in Gascony to Paris and seeks vengeance against his murderers . But he meets with three two-fisted Musketeers : Athos (Tom Burke) , Porthos (Howard Charles) , and Aramis (Santiago Cabrera) , they're rollicking adventurers , fighting to live and living to love . The brightest and best musketeers of the King's Regiment are commanded by Mister Treville (Hugo Speer) , chief of Musketeers , and dispatched to risked assignments . D'Artagnan to be aware they are Musketeers and is invited to unite them in their objective to struggle against guards of Cardinal Richelieu well performed by Peter Capaldi and the astute Milady De Winter (Maimie McCoy) who is lovely as a jewel , deadly as a dagger the wickedest woman in all Christendom . They must defeat a beautiful double agent and her villainous employer from seizing the French throne and engulfing Europe in war . At the beginning of the movie , the map of Europe shows several states and kingdoms of that era ; as Spain is leader in the continent whose power is disputed by France and England , all of them entangled in a web of treachery and intrigue , including their cunning spies , crosses and doublé-crosses . Meanwhile , D'Artagnan falls in love with a gorgeous young , the married innkeeper , Constance (Tamia Kari) , she is a golden-haired beauty . Furthermore , there is developed a series of intrigues between Luis XIII (son of Henry IV) : Ryan Cage , Queen Anne of Spain : Alexandra Dowling , dazzling as her gilded palace for her , men dared a thousand perils ; and , of course , the nasty Richelieu (Peter Capaldi) , as evil as ever . The musketeers join forces for royal vengeance with the shout : ¨One for all and all for one¨. Then , the musketeers whose friendship has become a legend to stir the hearts of men and shouting their slogan set out to help the Queen . Straightforward as well as gallant D'Artagnan and the three musketeers scheme their peaceful plans that are turned upside down , clashing against a malicious Richelieu who is determined to make life as unbearable as possible for the intimate friends and carrying out several missions , such as : to get some valuable letters on behalf of King Louis -in first episode- or facing off a nasty villain , Vadim (Jason Fleming) -in 2º episode- , who attempts to kill Louis XIII and organize a full-scale robbing , while Athos , betrayed by Milady of Winter , is accused for killing and condemned to firing squad , among others .

The series formed by 30 episodes , though won't return for season 4 . This delightful adaptation based on Alexandre Dumas classic novel starts with the youngster D'Artagnan who arrives in Paris and subsequently takes place the known swordplay against the three Musketeers . And shortly after , both of whom join forces versus their enemies . Adequate and colorful cinematography , stunningly shown on the splendorous images being filmed in Czech Republic , including Chateaus , monasteries and palaces such as Château Ploskovice , Strahov Monastery , among others . Glamorous production design is well reflected on the luxurious interiors , impressive sets and exteriors stunningly filmed . Besides , a thrilling as well as evocative musical score . It was professionally realized , including a cool and well provided visual style , fencing , drama and clangorous action in equal proportions .

This classy story has been remade on several versions , as the MGM classic version in musical style by George Sidney with Gene Kelly , Paul Lukas , Gig Young , Vincent Price , Frank Morgan and Lana Turner as Milady ; 1973 amusing version by Richard Lester with Michael York, Oliver Reed and Raquel Welch ; 1993 modern adaptation by Stephen Herek with Charlie Sheen , Kiefer Sutherland , Oliver Platt and Chris O'Donnell, and 2001 rendition by Peter Hyams with Justin Chambers, Mena Suvari and Tim Roth , among others. And other recent version : ¨The three Musketeers¨ (2011) that bears remarkable resemblance to this one , being starred by Logan Lerman , Luke Evans , Matthew Macfadyen , Milla Jovovich , Mads Mikkelsen , Orlando Bloom , Til Schweiger , Dexter Fletcher and directed by Paul W. Anderson . ¨The musketeers¨ series (2014) is an outstanding and entertaining adaptation of the classy that will appeal to the costumer genre buffs and it results to be acceptable adaptation with big budget based on the classic .

Loved the clobber almost as much as the plots ..nice one !

Well acted, always good and often surprising plot twists, entertaining historical fiction, detailed production, good musical score, convincing character development...recommend all 3 seasons as each has one or more unique plot elements yet they all tie together. Straightforward and fun yet surprisingly thought-provoking. Generally true to time and place if not event, and with contemporary sensibility, these tradeoffs are acceptable and enjoyable aspects of modern dramatization. Tom Burke is excellent as Athos, and there really are exceptionally good cast members and performances even in supporting or special roles for a season or episode. A few nice surprises along the way with occasional indulgences. Good action scenes but nice overall balance with court intrigue, romance, politics, and character arcs. Appropriate for family audiences.