Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Tom Burke, Santiago Cabrera, Peter Capaldi, Howard Charles, Luke Pasqualino, Amy Nuttall, Tara Fitzgerald, Ryan Gage, Alexandra Dowling, Hugo Speer, Tamla Kari, Ben Adams, David Burke, Michael Kucera, Simon Merrells, Phil Snowden, Curtis Matthew, Madelyn Marcella.

When your biggest enemy is your mother you really have problems. When she is plotting to bring about your downfall and replace you with someone younger, more pliable and easily moulded to her will, then your problems become seemingly insurmountable and terrifying.

In the latest episode of The Musketeers, The Exiles, the action is slightly deflected away from Athos, Porthos and d’Artagnan and instead focuses on the relationships between two very different women and the bond they have with their children and the way in which two dissimilar men deal with the problem. The King of France, played by Ryan Gage, hasn’t really featured too heavily in the series so far but in an episode that could have been borne out of The Three Musketeers sequel, The Man in the Iron Mask, the framing of the crown on Louis’ head could be seen to be slipping as a true heir to the throne was found.

Two rival factions born out and both charged with capturing a child and mother who not of their place in possible history and only one man good enough to save them. This was how perhaps many readers have come to see the much loved character of Aramis in the books, the lone romantic with the easy charm and subtle humour to sweep off any woman in need of a sweet-talking hero and in Santiago Cabrera, the producers of The Musketeers more than found the man in which a silver tongue is more than a virtue and in which can only aid his already good looks and magnetism.

The story itself might not have had everything going for it in terms of swash buckling adventure as in the previous episodes but this was a more tender, more affectionate look at life in the court of France and those charged with the protection of the King. In this respect Aramis did his duty, even if it was to a different King.

The Exiles was a timely episode in which to remind viewers that the not everything in France at the time depended upon the use of a blade but in which love could really conquer absolute fear and distress and in which saw great displays of acting by Ryan Gage who has been underused so far in the series and by Santiago Cabrera as the gentle Aramis.

The Musketeers continues Sunday.

Ian D. Hall