I found this all by myself in the morning and read it before I read your comment on my thread, so I shall post my take on this first.
As for your incredibly appealing analysis of Alexander's psyche on my last Episode 120 thread, that needs more time. I have already read it twice, and shall do so once more before I say anything about it. In fact I am a tad apprehensive because it so self-contained and perfect that anything I might say might spoil it. It was a rare treat. As are you, come to think of it!
Originally posted by inlieuFirstly, I don't know if I should rejoice but at least Alexander is getting more screen time if only because of the 4.5 musketeers. I only wish it were uninterrupted screen time.
I HATED it, upper case intentional. They had to have this Harsha Bhogle style commentary on everything Alexander says and does, by this uppity brat, who thinks he is the cat's whiskers, and is confirmed in this opinion of himself by his cheerleaders group. But I have edited Puru's interjections out of my recording for rewatching, so I can listen to Alexander in peace!
Rohit did another magnificent Alexander walk, still with that awful arrow in his leg. He bellowed and cajoled with no hint of pain on his face and then climbed on and off the chariot. Nerves of steel (or Adamantium). As the 3 ladies climbed their chariot, I couldn't help but imagine how Olympias would have felt if she had seen her son achieve all this - would've been bursting with pride, for sure.
See, I was initially puzzled as to why he left the arrow there, for with each step, it would have cut further into his knee, which must have been sheer agony. Then I realised that just as he straightened his walk regardless of the pain so as not to limp in front of his men and the Persians, now he keeps the arrow there to show everyone around that the son of Zeus can take even such pain without flinching. It is a purely macho thing, to impress the crowd, but I was surprised that Hephaestion did not protest and insist on Alexander having that wound attended to. As for c***eus, I think they have changed the actor. The one who ordered the massacre must have been c***eus, but he was not the former actor.
I loved his address to the people and how genuine his concern sounded. Of course, he made an elaborate show of protecting the royal ladies but it all came from a place of honesty and respect in his heart. Hephaestion again is suprised by this new side to Alexander - I would really love to see an argument between them in the near future due to philosophical differences, and how they manage to stay strong despite that.
Yes, it fitted in neatly into Alexander's political strategy and tactics, but that does not mean that in what he said, he was not genuine.He meant every word.
Hephaestion is the only one who dares to raise an objection to the Persians being considered neo-Macedonians. Even at Thebes, whereas c***eus asks why the people are being summoned and is snubbed by Alexander, Hephaestion questions the reason for the massacre and Alexander gives him an answer without getting angry. Hephaestion's position is unique, and I am sure he will question this softness towards the Persians as well, in due course.
Again, the importance of Alexander's name is brought up. His soldiers and aides are not allowed to wreak havoc or harm anyone in his name! He makes that very clear and magnanimously shows his remorse for the tragic deaths of Persians in the bazaar. Any misstep would reflect badly on him as a Shah of the people and he really does want the Persians to prosper. I can't say for sure if the celebrations were pre-planned - I felt it was his damage control strategy so that his new subjects could see him as more of a "one of us" kind of person, than an outsider or brute. Isn't it ironic that to remain a "god", he feels the need to humanize himself and seem accessible to his people?
This is a very intriguing point that had not occurred to me at all.
It is true, that tremendous importance attached by Alexander to what is done in his name. But he uses it in the opposite sense as well, for a kind of khauff-e-Alexander, to make his opponents quake in terror at the very sound of his name and cave it without a fight. Now, he finds that the same khauff-e-Alexander, so effective in war, is counter-productive in peace, as everyone, from the royal ladies to the awaam is terrified of him., and he has to work double hard to dispel their fears and earn their trust,
I really hope the musketeers are unable to rescue and escape with Barsine and Co. because I don't know if I can stomach such a major distortion of historical events. Also, what is the point of being Alexander if he can't anticipate such attacks and make preparations for it? He reads people very well and did not miss the look of relief and anticipation on Barsine's face, a fact which thankfully did not escape Laachi either, smart girl! He wanted to find out what the secret was and I find it hard to believe he won't have something up his sleeve (pun intended).
I hope so too, and am keeping my fingers so tightly crossed that I could win a pretzel contest!😉 Of course Alexander would have smelt a rat, both because of Barsine's sudden cheering up and because he does not trust Hephaestion's facile explanation of an accident leading to the fire.
But the question is not that. It is rather whether the CVs will allow Puru, their boy wonder, to be outsmarted by Alexander. I disliked the way in which Alexander, one of the greatest warriors of all time, was called a wolf, for what Puru says is what the CVs think. There has also been a persistent campaign to paint him as a bloodthirsty monster, kroor, nirmam. paschim par kalank, now bhediya, and so on and on. So they might well make him come a cropper while our hero cocks a snook at him, though I don't think they will show Barsine going back to Paurav Rashtra with Puru. If this happens, it will be a very great pity.
Maybe I'm reading too much into this but I think it struck Alexander that Barsine's smile was not a result of his efforts to win their trust with his gesture of peace and friendship. Rohit is so good at micro-expressions that I always look for these nuances in his acting. While he's been successful at rallying his troops in battle with his vigor and splendid speeches, he hasn't fared as well in terms of "simpler communication in the aftermath of the battle. I think it bothered him when the ladies looked afraid despite his gentlemanly reassurances.
Yes, of course he understood that. And this is the downside of the success of the khauff-e-Alexander!
I wonder if we're going to see some chemistry between Barsine and Alexander, because something tells me there will be sparks flying if that happens. Despite the shock of seeing Alexander in their tent, Barsine looked almost starstruck as she stammered when saying her name in the other episode and even now, she appears to be more in awe of him than afraid. Alexander is definitely intrigued by Barsine and observes her very closely - perhaps not enough to be too upset by her reluctance to trust him at this stage but she has him slightly rattled, for sure.
I do not see much chemistry from Barsine's side, for she is mostly uni-expression, and sans nuance, like a pudding😉. But I expect Rohit, though I have not yet seen him in a romantic role, can produce enough chemistry for both of them😉. At this stage, as he has had very little experience of women, Alexander is not sure how to handle and how to erase their fear of him. Whence the air of uncertainty., and at times of slight irritation, as when he leads them to the chariots.
But things are bound to change between them. I am almost sure that the CVs will get them married very soon, well before Roxana appears, if at all she does appear. She may well be axed, like Sisygambis!😭 If Alexander had had a Chanakya, he would have rammed this marriage thru pronto, just as he made Chandragupta marry Dhananand's daughter Dharini in order to win over the Nandvansh loyalists.It is standard operating procedure in such circumstances!😉
If the makers want to show a typical crude solution to prevent this escape, they might include a fight scene, deception, or other confrontation. If they want to keep it fresh and intriguing though, I really hope they show him use his brain to play some sort of (harmless) mind game that would end with the Persian royal ladies themselves choosing to say with him instead of escaping. What would Stateira, in particular, do exiling herself to India at this stage of her life?
Fresh and intriguing? These folks? You have got some hope!
I appreciate Puru's sentiments and his genuine efforts to answer Barsine's call for help, but things have changed a lot since then and how! Ideally, the royal ladies tell him they feel safe and would like to remain under Alexander's protection, thus giving Puru peace of mind to go back home and protect his position. I am not sure he'll easily change his opinion on Alexander faking concern for his people after conquering them. Something tells me though that we'll have a few long-draw episodes where the musketeers will sneak in and out of the palace and not really spend enough time learning more about Alexander's tactics.
This would have been the best solution, but I doubt if it will be the CVs' choice. We will have, as you have predicted, a cat and mouse game in physical terms, with a lot of repetitive derring do from Puru's side.
As for learning about Alexander's tactics, that seems to be the last thing on Purus' mind at the moment, and then again, it is a closed mind that cannot absorb anything that does not meet his preset ideas.
For those of you complaining about the Dasyu outfits, guess you are in for a treat as Puru and Laachi transform into Aladdin and Jasmine. I am not sure what to make of Alexander (Rohit) in glittery pink Persian clothing, especially with the blonde hair, but have full faith in Rohit's acting prowess. Looking forward to the next episode!
I prefer him in white or black, as he was in Macedonia. Not this chammak challo outfit. But he is goodlooking enough to carry off even such gaudy stuff.
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