Our Girl Thread 60 "Our Girl, Soldier Soldier and The Musketeers Revisited"

[Ilovelblue]

We started to follow "Our Girl" back in 2014 and although there will be no further series, we do revisit from time to time. We are about to finish the final series of "Soldier Soldier" and will be starting on the first series of "The Musketeers". Of course, there is a definite connection between "Our Girl" and "The Musketeers" in the delightful form of Luke Pasqualino.

Thanks for the warm welcome Magi and the heads-ups eejit... it's beginning to sound like I've already seen the best of it, darn it!

I shall persevere for a while though (though I've currently left Georgie in the grip of Somalian terrorists and to be honest, I'm not too worried for her!).
You're right Magi, Captain James is worth watching it for and I did catch the bit after the credits in Ep 5, but I'd already wikied it so knew Molly wouldn't be returning. BBC always seem SO late to recommission sometimes and shoot themselves in the foot (Anyone remember This Life in the 90s!?! Culled at its height!)

I really liked the huge journey Molly went on while still keeping true to herself. I also thought her first arrival in Afghanistan was very realistic - the sheer terror and difference. I'm sure nothing can prepare them for it no matter how much training.
I enjoyed her growing confidence and competence and growing into herself. And the fact that although attractive she was very normal in appearance - not plastic!

I'll tell you something else - seems in 2014 they still gave us ENDINGS, which was great to have some kind of closure at the end of a series for a change.

I look forward to meeting Dr Dull (there's always one to ruin it!

Hi Pebble. It's always nice to hear the thoughts of a new recruit!

I'm also in the camp of liking series 1 the best. I think Molly had a great story which benefitted from us knowing her backstory from the pilot. She really did grow as a person, escape the dead-end life that she seemed destined for and make something of herself - with or without CJ thrown in. We enjoyed the chemistry between CJ and Molly, although we questioned the likelihood of their relationship because it was very Cinderella like (I particularly enjoy the moment he shoves her in the wardrobe - very pantomime!), but wanted to believe it. I always liked the fact that Lacey Turner really did seem like a girl next door, someone you might actually know, and that appealed to many of us.

Georgie Lane is different kettle of fish. I felt sorry for MK getting a bit of backlash when she took on the role. I recall lots of complaints about her teeth being too white etc. One poster referred to her frequently as "Sugar Tits" during the months before the series aired and interestingly one of the characters in episode one of series two actually calls her that It was a shame about the complaints, because I think she's a good actor. I'd love to see her play something other than a girl from Manchester - stretch herself and maybe take on a period piece with a completely different accent. Anyway, she grew on me over time. There are some other female characters in series 3 and 4 (Maisie and Mimi) who are interesting and also have their own "journeys" to make.

Overall, I quite liked the story/plot for series 2. Things start to drift a bit in the 12 episodes that made up series 3, but series 4 is tighter and an improvement.

Anyway, looking forward to hearing your views. Do let us know.

I should also add that Elvis totally split the camp too. Some will always champion Elvis over CJ , some of us are happy with both of them, and some back in 2016 absolutely detested Elvis. Personally, I reserve my dislike mainly for a character called 'Bones' who appears in the Series 3 episodes. I never understood his purpose other than to be disliked about as much as Colonel Drysdale in series 9 of Soldier, Soldier, but as I said earlier, it lost its way a bit in those 12 episodes. Wait till you get to the Brocoli Jungle scenes

BTW - do join us for the Musketeers. I’m sure you’ll like Constance and Milady.

BTW2 - always reckoned it was a difficult call between Bones and That Obnoxious Brat with the everlasting phone battery as to which was the least attractive character.

I am SO looking forward to tonight and ilove’s initial reactions ...

Yes me too eejit but am concerned now to find iPlayer is listing the Musketeers as only being on there for another month. Which is galling as it has been on for the last 3 or 4 months.I am hoping they just mean first series and the others have longer. I don't have it on DvD.

I didn’t know it was on iPlayer. I have series 1 on DVD and series 2 and 3 downloaded from iTunes (and nearly worn through!)

That is annoying magi. It looks like it's on all the series. Hmmm! I've got Britbox, I hope it moves on there, otherwise it looks like I'll need to purchase a hard copy.

Well I watched it all again (for the fourth or fifth time) during January and February lockdown so I'm afraid I won't be treating myself to the DVDs. I shall of course watch it for the month it is on and then I'll follow you all on here and make a comment now and then from memory. I should have realised that from Christmas till June was a long time for the BBC to leave it on.

Evening everyone! It looks as if I've missed a few conversations since last week.

I've checked to ensure that the DVD works but that's about as far as it goes. I'm a little nervous to be honest - I never watched the programme when it was on television and all I know about it is an interview LP did on Good Morning with Eamonn and Ruth where he said they did all their own stunts and it was shot in the Czech Republic. You'll have to forgive me if I don't post much until I've worked out who's who.

magi I bought my DVD from eBay. I think it cost the princely sum of £1.99 plus postage.

I might look into that eBay idea ilove as that sounds much more reasonable. I looked on Amazon and it was only a complete set of all four series at £38. So I thought as I've watched it so many times already I couldn't justify paying that much for it. £1.99 a series would be more like it. Anyway I will start tonight with iPlayer then carry on as far as I can with that.

Here goes!

So, here we are ready to start on something new - Friends and Enemies series 1, episode 1

Pressing play...now

Yay! Very convincing rain.

Now that's what you call rain...seen a bit of that recently.

Here is Luke...er....D'Artagnan

Not exactly The Red Lion is it!

Elvis is in the building!

Grrrr.....I hate that wet kind of rain. Wonder who these new arrivals are. He says he's Athos of the Musketeers...do we believe him?

Meanwhile back in the stable, Luke...er...D'Art is about to get roughed up. Might get a bit confused about this.

Nifty bit of sword work there from D'Art.

D'Art's dad is injured, looks like he's no longer for this world. Now D'Art looks cross.

Like the jaunty theme...

Titles have that lovely smiling Grumpy Cat shot!

Someone has a hangover...

Well, I wasn't expecting LP to look quite so - er - tasty! I'm not a fan of long hair really and I had seen photos of him as D'Artagnan. Pleasantly surprised.