Tarot Thrones | The Court Card Blog

Tag: BBC

  • Poldark | King of Hearts?

    Ross and Demelza

    Well, he’s exceptionally easy on the eye, isn’t he?  In case you have been living under a rock (or in America *waves to the cousins over the pond*) let me bring you up to speed:

    The 1970s BBC TV drama series, Poldark, has been remade with the smouldering Aiden Turner as the eponymous hero.  Captain Poldark returns from the American Civil War after an absence of 3 years with an amazing scar and Elizabeth, his beloved, on his mind.

    Here he is in uniform.  You are welcome.

    He is no sooner plonked in a chair at his uncle’s house (the man hasn’t even stopped to have a wash or shave – which makes him even more touselled and utterly divine) when he discovers that Elizabeth is now set to marry drippy cousin Francis. Well, he had been gone for a LONG time and the poor girl thought he was dead.

    In Poldark, there is much in the way of galloping over the Cornish clifftops – dark hair streaming behind him, his (frankly) GODLIKE visage darker and stormier than a night at sea.  Chuck Heathcliff and Mr Rochester into a blender and flick the switch: you would pour out Captain Ross Poldark…

    Here he is again.  Because: I don’t need a reason.

    If the characters are not galloping across storm-tossed clifftops, then they are standing looking out to sea (waiting for the herring).

    He rescues a boy from a beating in Truro and discovers that when out of the baggy trews and unbecoming hat she is actually a 18th century version of Lily Cole – fiery of hair, blue of eyes and winsome of smile. Only with a flatter chest.

    Poldark sees the suffering of the ordinary man in the field.  Or mine.  And resolves to make things better.  He re-opens Wheel Leisure (The Wheel of Fortune if there ever was one!) and gets his people back to work, but looking for copper, not tin.

    And on Sunday, Demelza pulled on a lovely frock that just happened to make her hair even more fiery and her eyes even more like sea-glass and poor old Ross could not resist.

    A quick roll on the bolsters and lo! They are married.

    So, which court card is Ross Poldark?

    Well, he’s several of them, actually – just as you would expect of a multi-layered and realistic (albeit stunningly, wolfishly handsome) character.

    ‘Parently he wasn’t happy when the BBC released this image of him topless.
    I’m not complaining ….

    In his treatment of his tenants and the poor, he is generous and sympathetic – handing out jobs and houses.  In caring about people and SHOWING he cares about people, he is the King of Cups.

    Grateful tenants getting married.
    Ends up in pokey for 2 years for not listening to Cap’n Poldark’s anti-poaching advice.

    His heart still beats faster for the Elizabeth and her billowing pillow lips, but he also beds the innocent Demelza (oh don’t worry, she’s as keen as mustard to do it).  And then marries her.

    He has loved Elizabeth for years – and I’d associate that steadiness with the suit of Pentacles.  But he is fairly quickly smitten with Demelza and marries her in the space of about 3 minutes.  That’s rash and impulsive action and that’s Knightly.  So I’m going to go with the Knight of Wands for this one (edit:  I had originally written Pentacles in error! Put it down to my Poldarkian excitement! Thanks to Viv for the heads up!)

    He reopens the Wheal Leisure mine – he uses his Swords logic and communication skills to persuade men to invest in his new venture – mining copper instead of tin.  King of Swords, I think for that one.  Or, because it is a new and untested venture, is the Page of Wands more appropriate?

    And when the mine is open, he can be found every day, deep in the mine, working alongside his men, leading by example …..working in his white shirt, delightfully sweaty and hands-on with honest toil.   For me that’s Pentacle energy!

    He’s a marvellous mixture of traits – as REAL people are.

    Demelza to follow…. 😀

    So, even if you haven’t seen this series, but know the Robin Ellis series, chip in with your observations of the lovely Captain!

    All men should immediately return to wearing long hair and tricorns….
    Frock coats also welcome 🙂

  • Tarot Knights | Musketeers

    For the past 6 weeks, Friday nights have been dominated by my obsessive need to watch the swash-buckling gorgeousness that is The Musketeers on BBC1.  Who better to illustrate the fast-moving antics of the Tarot’s Knights?

    Athos, Porthos, D'Artagnan, Aramis - the Tarot's court card knights

    The incredibly handsome cast of Muskys have been a delight to watch as they struggled with the evil Rochefort as he plays the spineless French King against his Queen like the consummate player (and Spanish spy!) that he is.

    The second series drew to a close on Friday (what do you mean, you haven’t watched Series 1?!) and I await news of a third series with bated breath.

    So, let’s take a look at just which Musky equates to which Tarot Knight!

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    Porthos – The Knight of Pentacles

    Howard Charles | Porthos | BBC Musketeers | Tarot Court Card | Knight of Pentacles
    Porthos – The Knight of Pentacles

    The most physically strong of the Musketeers, Porthos is also the most exotic-looking.  Offspring of a North African servant mother and a French Aristo father, actor Howard Charles, is the embodiment of the dependable, powerful and resiliant Porthos.

    Poor Porthos doesn’t get much in the way of romantic story-lines, but he’s the strength and backbone of the Musketeers – carousing and punching his way through the series!

    What does the Knight of Pentacles mean? 

    The Knight of Pentacles is slow to rouse to passion, but when his blood is up, he is determined and focussed.  He will not be easily put off or distracted, but could, unfortunately, be mistaken for the most boring of the Musketeers.  Ladies, wise-up.

    Aramis – The Knight of Cups

    Aramis | Knight of Cups | Musketeers | BBC | Santiago Cabrera
    Aramis – The Knight of Cups

    Aramis is the romantic one.  After falling in love with the Queen and their eventual encounter in the Convent, Aramis becomes her Knight in Shining Armour.

    Aramis’s love for the Queen is very much an idealised romantic union – she is utterly unobtainable and he loves her from afar.  She is on a pedestal – would he be able to love her with such a pure heart if he had to visit the loo after her every morning?

    At the end of this series he devotes himself to God and goes off to become a Monk.  He IS our Knight of Cups.

    The BBC cast Santiago Cabrera as Lancelot in their Merlin series a few years back.  What can I say, the boy’s got IT?!

    What does the Knight of Cups mean?

    The Knight of Cups is a dreamer and a romantic.  He has a loving heart and the soul of a poet.  Prone to idealising the object of his affections, he is in love with the idea of love and might not have the cojones to knuckle down when things get tough.

    Athos – Knight of Swords

    Athos | Tarot Court Card | Knight of Swords | BBC | Musketeers | Tom Burke
    Athos – The Knight of Swords

    Let’s just pause here for a moment, shall we?

    *sighs wistfully at Tom Burke and wipes drool from mouth*

    Athos is our tortured Knight of Swords.  Wounded by the ‘betrayal’ of his wife, Athos keeps his heart to himself (because, his gloriously wicked wife, Milday De Winter actually still has it).  Thoughtful, brooding, stealing EVERY scene that he’s in, Athos is the righteously intense Knight of Swords.

    What does the Knight of Swords mean?

    This Knight in particular lives inside his head and can fall prey to whatever demons lurk inside his head.  Fast-moving and whip-sharp, the Knight of Swords relies on his brain-power to tell him what to do and doesn’t trust the truth of his emotions.

    D’Artagnan – The Knight of Wands

    D'Artagnan | Tarot Court Card | Knight of Wands
    D’Artagnan – The Knight of Wands

    Ah, and here he is – always the favourite Musketeer – D’Artagnan. Younger than his companions, he is impulsive and fiery.  In Series One, he constantly tries to become a Musketeer. Athos et al regard him as a younger brother who causes much tutting and head-shaking by the others, before he is bailed out and dusted down for his next exploit.  Keen as mustard, passionate and generous of spirit, D’Artagnan is played by Luke Pasquelino with glorious elan.

    What does the Knight of Wands mean?

    The fastest-moving of the Knights, The Knight of Wands burns brightly, but not for long!  His passions are quick to rise, but he lacks the resolve of the Pentacles, the emotions of the Cups, and the clarity of the Swords.  This is the guy who will promise you the moon to get what he wants and as soon as you have surrendered and been thoroughly ”explored’, he will move on to the next challenge.

    When called upon to describe what the Tarot knights are like as people, you could do a lot worse than remember the Four Musketeers!

    …I DID mention that the were a GREAT-looking cast, didn’t I? Well the women in the cast are equally unforgettable.  Constance, Milady De Winter and The Queen – they will be in a later post!

    Now, saddle me up your finest stallion, we have a war to wage against Spain!

    “All for one ……”