The Musketeers Marathon - S2E4: Emilie

 

Today's episode provides a look at the dangers of religious extremism. And once again, I'm going to have to discuss spoilers that will come into play during later episodes.

Young Emilie of Durras is being hailed as a prophet when she claims to have visions from God. In her visions - which occur when she has fainting spells - she claims to have seen that King Phillip of Spain is the Antichrist. Her sermons have attracted a following, which has led to mob violence against Spaniards living in Paris. The Musketeers are tasked with ensuring that she doesn't march on Spain, as doing so would provoke a war. Aramis is sent to infiltrate the camp as a spy, where he begins to suspect that Emilie's mother is manipulating her. Things get complicated when Queen Anne visits the camp with Constance in a bid to parley with Emilie. Meanwhile, Rochefort and Perales are at each other's throats, and Perales believes that Rochefort has become a liability to Spanish interests. He hires a sex worker whom Rochefort frequents to kill him when he next visits. When the attempt fails, Rochefort learns of Milady's past and blackmails her into carrying out an assassination.

It's a pretty good episode. The Musketeers have to tread lightly when dealing with Emilie, who is being compared to Joan of Arc, not wanting to cause a riot. There's not as much action, but there's plenty of tension. When Perales is forced to shelter from Emilie's supporters at the Garrison, and receives a severed ear in the post before later arranging to be recalled to Spain. Treville and the Musketeers are tasked with escorting him through a marketplace to a carriage, only for d'Artagnan to learn it's a trap.

Meanwhile, this episode also serves to set up many later plot threads:

• Porthos learns that General De Foix - who was mortally wounded during their escape - has left him a legacy. He begins to suspect that Treville is hiding something from him, but is stonewalled.
• Aramis and Queen Anne are revealed to still be intimate, which Constance promptly discovers and is sworn to secrecy.
• Rochefort learns that Lady Marguerite is having an affair with Aramis, and uses this to blackmail her into spying on Queen Anne

The episode has a truly poignant ending. I won't go into details regarding the story of the week, but I will give away what happens afterwards: When the Musketeers return to the Garrison, they learn that Treville has been scapegoated for the death of Perales and is being relieved of command. It's a great scene, with Treville standing in the courtyard with the letter in hand. He assures the Musketeers that they're not in trouble, but he's trying not to cry as he explains the situation.