Duel with a Stranger

Queen of Swords Episode Review

In which Tessa's ex-boyfriend turns out to not be that smart.

What Happened

Tessa's ex-fiancee comes to California, hired by Montoya to defeat the Queen. He's determined to take her head in order to regain his family's fortune and then marry Tessa.

You can see that there's a basic flaw in his logic there.

The Good

• Marta: "He's the same peacock he was." She just does not like Antonio at all.
• Montoya trying to convince Marta to talk Tessa and Antonio into returning to Spain. He wants them gone.
• Tessa refuses to run away with Antonio. She looks torn, but determined.
• Good death scene, then a wonderful long shot of Montoya riding away as Grisham collects the money, and the camera pulls back to take in the whole courtyard, with the cross on the hilltop in one corner of the frame.
• Montoya "comforting" Tessa as she prays in the church, trying to pin the blame for everything on the Queen of Swords.

The Bad

• So, essentially, Antonio is the sort of man who can never manage to tuck in his shirt?
• Gasp. Antonio didn't write, while he was off at war, fighting for his life? Tessa sure seems upset about it.
• That move - the Queen rides full tilt at a soldier on horseback coming straight at her, sticks out her arm, and knocks him off his horse - totally should have broken her arm.
• "When I'm finished, we will marry." Maybe I'm ahead of the times, Antonio, but I think that particular statement needs to be in the form of a question?

The Cliche

• Ex-boyfriends. Very dangerous. You go first.

Best Lines

Tess: "I hate playing the part of the spoiled aristocrat."
Marta: "You do such a good job."

What Did I Think?

This could have fallen under the "dreaded ex" cliche, except that there isn't any conflict between the ex and the Potential Love Interest. Poor Doctor Helm doesn't even rate a mention.

That aside, this isn't such a bad episode. It boings along and hits every point you'd expect, but still manages to hold interest. There's especially good conflict between Tessa and Marta, as Marta urges the young woman to realize that she can't just give up everything she has in California for a man she barely knew years ago. Then she ups the stakes when it looks as if Antonio has sold them out to Montoya, even urging Tessa to shoot him to keep her secret.

In the end, Tessa doesn't have to kill him, since Grisham does it for her. They don't shy away from the tragic ending. (Okay, maybe "tragic" is too melodramatic a word.) The almost total focus on Tessa's love story makes it fairly effective when he dies, even if it would have been nice for the series arc for Dr. Helm to be involved.