I'm very glad! It's very kind of you to look into the series; thank you!
>"It took me a while to figure out who he is because I have never heard the name pronounced like this. In German spoken versions of the "Three Musketeers" we still use the French pronounciation."
Interesting! I did not know that this was not the French pronunciation. (This is how "d'Artagnan" is said in all the English-language movies and television programs based on the Alexandre Dumas stories that I've ever seen -- US, UK and Canadian alike.) When I have some time this week, I will look around online for a snippet from a French-language production, to hear it the other way.
>"Michael Ironside probably makes a good villain. I recall that you once mentioned that I might take a liking to him given my preferences. However, at this point I don't find him attractive enough to be drawn in as is the case with Lacroix."
This makes me smile. :-) We all pick our favorite characters for such different, personal reasons! :-)
>"I liked the sparkling tension between D'Artagnan and Jacques before he knew who Jacques really is. I'm curious to see if that tension can be upheld now that he knows the truth."
An unspoilery reply: Now that he knows the truth, he develops a taste for double-entendres -- remarks that he, Jacqueline and the audience know have two meanings, but for which the other characters understand only one meaning. D'Artagnan and Jacqueline have many points of conflict; they may come to understand one another, but of their differences and disagreements, there is no end. :-)
For all her practical peasant background, Jacqueline is an idealist. D'Artagnan, son of a Count, fancies himself a realist. But Jacqueline can be ruthless in her idealism, while d'Artagnan is often romantic in his realism.
>"I understand from the comments on LJ that I'm supposed to skip ep 2 and 3."
If you come to like the series, do return and watch #2 and #3 then! But for now, yes, please skip #2 ("Rub-a-dub Sub"); it is catastrophically goofy. While #3 ("Enchanted") is not nearly as problematic as #2, it is perhaps not as good an example of the series as almost any other episode; it does, however, introduce the scope of Mazarin's schemes, and Liana, Mazarin's only female ally. It also focuses on Ramon (the Spanish poet musketeer), and so is extra nice for people who especially enjoy him.
>"Should I continue with No. 4 or do you have other recommendations for me?"
Are you testing the series to see whether it may be worth watching all through? If so, as you're especially enjoying d'Artagnan right now, you might enjoy #6 "Secrets of the Father," in which we meet our d'Artagnan's father, "the famous d'Artaganan" of Jacqueline's childhood hero-worship, and learn about their relationship, or #7 "Four Musketeers and a Baby," in which d'Artagnan takes responsibility for a foundling. #12 "The Chameleon" is highly plot-driven with a mystery and might appeal to your tastes; similarly, #11 "To Heir is Human" is very plotty and a little mysterious. I quite like #4 "The Exile," myself, a Jacqueline-focused episode with lots of action, historical references, and difficult personal choices for the characters.
>"He's certainly easy on the eye."
#4 "The Exile" includes a shirtless scene. ;-) This actor went on from Young Blades to the new Battlestar Galactica, where I understand that he played Zac.
Re: Episode 1 "Wanted"
I'm very glad! It's very kind of you to look into the series; thank you!
>"It took me a while to figure out who he is because I have never heard the name pronounced like this. In German spoken versions of the "Three Musketeers" we still use the French pronounciation."
Interesting! I did not know that this was not the French pronunciation. (This is how "d'Artagnan" is said in all the English-language movies and television programs based on the Alexandre Dumas stories that I've ever seen -- US, UK and Canadian alike.) When I have some time this week, I will look around online for a snippet from a French-language production, to hear it the other way.
>"Michael Ironside probably makes a good villain. I recall that you once mentioned that I might take a liking to him given my preferences. However, at this point I don't find him attractive enough to be drawn in as is the case with Lacroix."
This makes me smile. :-) We all pick our favorite characters for such different, personal reasons! :-)
>"I liked the sparkling tension between D'Artagnan and Jacques before he knew who Jacques really is. I'm curious to see if that tension can be upheld now that he knows the truth."
An unspoilery reply:
Now that he knows the truth, he develops a taste for double-entendres -- remarks that he, Jacqueline and the audience know have two meanings, but for which the other characters understand only one meaning. D'Artagnan and Jacqueline have many points of conflict; they may come to understand one another, but of their differences and disagreements, there is no end. :-)
For all her practical peasant background, Jacqueline is an idealist. D'Artagnan, son of a Count, fancies himself a realist. But Jacqueline can be ruthless in her idealism, while d'Artagnan is often romantic in his realism.
>"I understand from the comments on LJ that I'm supposed to skip ep 2 and 3."
If you come to like the series, do return and watch #2 and #3 then! But for now, yes, please skip #2 ("Rub-a-dub Sub"); it is catastrophically goofy. While #3 ("Enchanted") is not nearly as problematic as #2, it is perhaps not as good an example of the series as almost any other episode; it does, however, introduce the scope of Mazarin's schemes, and Liana, Mazarin's only female ally. It also focuses on Ramon (the Spanish poet musketeer), and so is extra nice for people who especially enjoy him.
>"Should I continue with No. 4 or do you have other recommendations for me?"
Are you testing the series to see whether it may be worth watching all through? If so, as you're especially enjoying d'Artagnan right now, you might enjoy #6 "Secrets of the Father," in which we meet our d'Artagnan's father, "the famous d'Artaganan" of Jacqueline's childhood hero-worship, and learn about their relationship, or #7 "Four Musketeers and a Baby," in which d'Artagnan takes responsibility for a foundling. #12 "The Chameleon" is highly plot-driven with a mystery and might appeal to your tastes; similarly, #11 "To Heir is Human" is very plotty and a little mysterious. I quite like #4 "The Exile," myself, a Jacqueline-focused episode with lots of action, historical references, and difficult personal choices for the characters.
>"He's certainly easy on the eye."
#4 "The Exile" includes a shirtless scene. ;-) This actor went on from Young Blades to the new Battlestar Galactica, where I understand that he played Zac.