Back in January, 2014, viewers were introduced to a new show that brought the characters of Alexandre Dumas鈥� novel, The Three Musketeers, to life. And what life! Adventure! Romance! Humour! Honour and, of course, all for one 鈥� and one for all! The Musketeers proved to be the 大象传媒鈥檚 highest rated drama to debut that year and Den of Geek鈥檚 Rob Kemp was bang on the l鈥檃rgent when he noted the show had 鈥榳on a lot of people over with its fun and adventurous take on this well-loved story鈥�.
That story has now come to an end but we couldn鈥檛 say goodbye to The Musketeers without saying hello to two of the writers behind the second and third series. Simon Allen and Simon J Ashford penned some of series 2鈥檚 most pivotal episodes and also wrote for and exec produced the final season. So, more than anybody, these guys shaped the show鈥檚 direction and finale. (BTW - you can download and read , by Simon J Ashford and , written by Simon Allen). We caught up with both of them and talked about creating D鈥橝rtagnan鈥檚 world and bidding adieu to The Musketeers鈥�
大象传媒 Writersroom: Well鈥� That鈥檚 it! No more Musketeers!
Simon Allen: I know! I鈥檓 devastated!
Simon J. Ashford: It鈥檚 terrible!
大象传媒 Writersroom: Has it been difficult saying adieu to the boys?
Simon J. Ashford: For me, yes. It was鈥�
Simon Allen: Yes! Because we had to do quite a lot of work to get a series 3, that鈥檚 made it hard to say goodbye to The Musketeers. It feels like we鈥檝e given birth to something and now we have to say goodbye to it, which, as I say, is very hard.
Simon and I wrote the end of series 2, which was a big responsibility because at that point there was no series 3 greenlit, nor was the prospect of a series 3 definite in any way. We collaborated closely across the final couple of episodes of that series, which was very much a two-parter, so we鈥檇 almost had a dry run for what it felt like to finish the show! But then we had an opportunity to develop what would be a series 3, with our executive producer, Jess Pope and our script editors. But again, there was no certainty about a third series 鈥� it was a development task as they finished post-production for series 2. We then had to do the whole pitching process again鈥� Because of all that work to get the third series [out there], it feels hard to say goodbye to it.
Simon J Ashford: Simon and I were definitely sorry to say goodbye to these iconic, inspiring and brilliantly fun characters - and to that world with all its richness we put so much into expanding and developing. I鈥檒l always have a huge place in my heart for the character of Grimaud. 鈥楳y favourite part of the battle is always its end鈥�.
But of course it鈥檚 the people behind the characters on screen - the fabulous cast and crew - that we'll miss most. A truly brilliant team. But I do want a special shout out to the Writers Room where all those concepts and characters were created: to Nawfal, Jess Hill, Lucy and Kate. But especially Jessica Pope for giving us the opportunity and without whose contributions this show (in ALL series) would never have been as great as it is.
大象传媒 Writersroom: Can you talk to us about the final episode (, by Simon Allen)?
Simon Allen: It鈥檚 very much an echo of the first episode, which we鈥檙e very proud of, and the themes that are established in that episode, particularly Lucien Grimaud and his attitude towards the universe and morality. Writing a finale like that was such a privilege. I think it has two key meanings.
One 鈥� it鈥檚 about the kind of world you want to live in. When the musketeers arrive in episode ten they have moved on, in a sense. They鈥檝e fallen in love with people and we wanted to explore what that does to you as a military man, as a warrior. Whether it makes you stronger or more vulnerable. They鈥檙e up against someone who doesn鈥檛 love anyone; who doesn鈥檛 have any family; who is a victim of war in many respects. We wanted to look at how those two themes collide with one another. They raise themes about the kind of world we want to live in鈥�
Do we want to live in a world where we don鈥檛 love anyone, therefore we鈥檙e not vulnerable and a bit more secure? Or do we want to live in a world where we do love people but the very fact that we do love something means a bad guy can come along and use it against us. I think that鈥檚 a very contemporary, resonant theme.
And the last thing 鈥� and this was really, really important to us because we knew the show was saying goodbye to its audience 鈥� we wanted to look at what you should take from The Musketeers. Simon and I discussed this very early on and for me, it鈥檚 this: whenever we encounter something difficult in our lives 鈥� maybe you lose someone you love, your mum dies, you lose your job, you fall ill 鈥� try to face it like a musketeer! Try to front it out like a musketeer!
Now look, we鈥檙e all going to fall short of that. I know I damn well will! But the point is, to try to learn from these guys. Their courage! Their honour! Their loyalty to one another and above all else, their love for one another, the group and other people. I hope the season finale鈥� is a really big, heart-warming, wonderful send off!
大象传媒 Writersroom: Could you give me an insight into how this final season was written? I鈥檓 meaning on a very practical level鈥�
Simon J. Ashford: Well, Simon and I were always going to write the first three or four episodes of the series. And on a practical level, in the Writers Room we鈥檇 break the story of an episode and then see who responded to that story best. But you know, Simon occasionally wrote scenes in episodes I did and vice versa. So we collaborated on that level but also, as the stories evolved we were constantly talking 鈥� we were both very much part of each other鈥檚 episodes.
大象传媒 Writersroom: You both executive produced this year鈥� This might be a cheeky question, but which is easier 鈥� writing or executive producing?
Simon J. Ashford: Well, in terms of which is better, the great thing is鈥� and yes, I鈥檓 going to use that old cop out鈥� but after a terrible few days on set, you can鈥檛 wait to get back to your little room on your own and do some writing! And then after a while, after you鈥檝e done three weeks writing you can鈥檛 wait to get back on set! So, it鈥檚 one of those reciprocal things.
Simon Allen: I think they鈥檙e the same thing, to be honest. I think the future of the industry is that anyone who wants to be solely a writer is not going to be a television writer in ten years鈥� time. I don鈥檛 think you can鈥檛 avoid the producing element of it.
大象传媒 Writersroom: In the States that approach is already massive, isn鈥檛 it?
Simon Allen: Absolutely! You have to take responsibility for your own work! You have to carry your work through with a passion and energy and drive to see it right the way through. Musketeers was very much an exercise in that.
大象传媒 Writersroom: So, The Musketeers is over鈥� Is that definite and what鈥檚 next for you both?
Simon J. Ashford: Personally I feel there were always more adventures for characters and history as rich as in The Musketeers. Ever ambitious for the show, Simon and I talked about series 3 being the first of a trilogy taking us through to series 5 and ending with our take on The Man in the Iron Mask (and you won't guess who was going to be behind that mask) but alas the 大象传媒 decided to pull the plug.
So we鈥檙e off to new adventures. Watch this space.
Simon Allen: We鈥檙e developing a very, very big show but we can鈥檛 say what it is! It鈥檚 extremely early stages but it would be right to describe it as a well-established, literary, British brand but still globally popular鈥� But as I say 鈥� early stages!
大象传媒 Writersroom: Sounds great! Looking forward to that?
Simon J. Ashford: Absolutely! We鈥檙e already having more fun than you can shake a stick at so I鈥檓 very happy!
Huge thanks to Simon Allen and Simon J. Ashford 鈥� both for the interview and for so many brilliant hours spent in the company of the musketeers alongside their allies and enemies. Don鈥檛 forget you can plus there鈥檚 a garrison of behind-the-scenes videos, interviews and information on the show over on its !