The First Musketeer (2014– ) User Reviews

Prequel to The Three Musketeers before they meet D'Artagnan

[Fromclassicbookstofilm · 7/10 · 9 June 2015]

Very Entertaining prequel.This prequel deals with the early histories of Athos nee Oliver,the Count de le Fere,Porthos nee M.du Vallon Aramis nee Rene d'Herblay,Milady de Winter nee Anne de Breuil the Countess de le Fere and Bishop Richelieu later Cardinal Richelieu. Story starts out with a Athos becoming an alcoholic and joining up with two older Musketeers who served under the late King Henry IV the Father of the King Louis XIII.Athos and the two older seasoned musketeers (non-Dumas characters)meet Porthos who the older musketeers try to keep out of trouble and who know Porthos family.Later the two older musketeers and Athos meet up with the Duke de Luynes who wants to bring the Bishop de Richelieu back to Louis XIII's favor and the future courtesan Marion de Lorme (who physically and fashion wise reminds Athos a lot of his ex-wife Milady de Winter) and she is the accomplice of a psychotic type assassin known as the Pilgrim who is out to assassinate the Duke and the Bishop.At the last episode of the first season the two older musketeers and Athos and Aramis come to the rescue of a young man with a woman problem and that young man turns out to be Aramis.In the pre-D'Artagnan years in the Dumas novel Athos taught Porthos the finer art of fencing and Porthos passed that skill onto Aramis.Future alcoholic Athos throughout this prequel miniseries has flashbacks and nightmares of a blond Milady de Winter.The reason I emphasize blond is because the latest musketeer films have had everything but blonds playing Milady de Winter and I recommend the casting of Jessica Preddy as Milady de Winter her fair complexion and beautiful hypnotic like blue eyes are like the Milady de Winter of the novel.All the actors are turning in fine performances.The actor playing Porthos is doing a good job but physically speaking does not resemble the large burly character of the book.On the costumes lavish but could be a little more seventeenth century along with the hairstyles.Overall,job well done!!! I hope they continue to emphasize the individuality of the characters and I hope there will be more seasons of these prequels leading up to their meeting with the fourth musketeer D'Artagnan.I enjoy the BBC Musketeers but this is faithful to the characters and closer to the original Dumas book.A true to Dumas prequel should have been filmed years ago.I recommend anyone who is a fan of the Musketeer genre to watch this on you tube or a competitor site.I would have given this an eight or nine if it weren't for some of the hairstyles and costumes.Oh,before I forget Thank God they used some real French locales for the sets and scenery because that makes it more authentic.To All Musketeer fans - WATCH IT YOU WILL LOVE IT !!!!