Woman of the Month: Constance Bonacieux

Constance Bonacieux from The Musketeers

So I realized who Constance reminds me of: a young Molly Weasley! She's a mother hen, a nurturer, a worrywart – but with a soft heart and a steel backbone. Just try and convince me she isn't exactly like Molly was when she was younger.

Maybe it’s just me, but there’s a tendency for writers to try way too hard to portray female characters as “feisty” and “spirited” without really making them either of those things. Instead what ends up on the screen are joyless shrews whose “spunk” is demonstrated by constantly demeaning and browbeating the male heroes (see Lana Lang from Smallville, Kate from Robin Hood, and pretty much every single character that's ever been played by Katherine Heigl).

I think it’s all part of the general confusion that seems to exist when it comes to writing female characters, and how self-conscious some writers can get about making them “strong” without really knowing how. It’s frustrating to watch, and even more agonizing when the inevitable fandom backlash starts – not so much at the writers, but more often than not at the characters (and the actresses that play them).

Yet somewhere between the better-than-it-should-be writing and Tamla Kari’s down-to-earth performance, Constance Bonacieux manages to be grumpy and opinionated, quarrelsome and exasperated, ready to argue, disparage and even slap our male leads – and remain utterly charming while she's doing it.

I really have no idea how she pulls it off. Is it because the Musketeers admire and appreciate her regardless of how fed up she gets with them? Because she’s pulled into circumstances beyond her control (and usually without her permission)? Because she's usually the voice of reason amidst all the Musketeer-related chaos?

Who knows, but there’s something about this character that just clicks. Being a married and rather domesticated homebody, she's not what you would expect from a female lead, particularly once she requests shooting and sword-fighting lessons from D’artagnan – not to prove her mettle, but because she feels the very real need to be able to defend herself.

Now in season two she's been made a lady-in-waiting to Queen Anne, providing her with female companionship and a chance for the two women to sail over the requirements of the Bechdel Test together (not to mention a fancy new wardrobe). A simple draper's wife who is armed only with her common sense and loyal heart makes for an interesting addition to court life – and so far she's doing pretty well for herself.