Les Miserables (BBC) - Episodes Three & Four

    The truth will set you free. A subtext that is certainly relevant in Episodes three and four of BBC's miniseries, Les Miserables. After years of lying and hiding, Val Jean now holds a man's life in his hands. Javert in his own self-righteousness, believes himself to always be on the side of truth, regardless of who may be destroyed in the process. Both Fantine and her daughter, Cosette must painfully experience truth found in the darkest parts of humanity. Young Marius Pontmercy confronts his grandfather on his lifetime of lies toward his own father. The Thenardiers histories of deceit and lawlessness comes to an end, only to start again and becoming infinitely worse. 

    The truth is hard, painful, ugly and maybe at times, unjust. How does one judge what is truth and what is deception? And where is the line when it comes to life and death?

Episode Three

     Upon finding out that a man assumed to be Prisoner 24601 has been arrested, Jean Valjean now has an escape. If this relatively obscure prisoner is proven to be him, then he can no longer live in fear of being discovered. He can no longer hide from Javert. He can finally be freed from all past imprisonment. And yet, he is a changed man. He dismissed Fantine for lying to him about her child and therefore, ruined her life. How can he stand by and let another pay for the mistakes of his own making? While this prisoner is by no means an innocent in the eyes of the law, in the eyes God, he is innocent of being Jean Valjean.  

    In an utter act of faith, Jean Valjean reveals himself to be prisoner 24601. Now he has literally put himself into Javert's grasp. Meanwhile, Fantine is dying in the infirmary, praying to see her daughter. Valjean has promised to reunite mother and daughter, but his decision to uncover his true self has put him back into the galleys of the prison ships. Fantine dies without her daughter, but Valjean promises that he will find Cosette and he will protect her from the world that destroyed her mother.

     Two years later, Valjean has escaped from prison (although we're never told exactly how) and he makes good on his promise to find Fantine's daughter. He does find Cosette, in the worst conditions imaginable. The Thenardiers have abused Cosette to every possible degree. She is beaten for entertainment of the guests, given hard manual labor, dressed in rags, forbidden to talk or play and has increasingly no hope of future happiness. That changes when Valjean finds her in the forest and is incensed by her brutal treatment.

      It doesn't take long for him to put Rosalie Thenardier in her place, demanding that Cosette play as a regular child while Madame Thenardier gets his food instead. He pays an exorbitant amount of money to secure Cosette's release from her abusers and threatens Thenardier when he goes too far. Things only get worse for the detestable family when they reach financial ruin and are left completely destitute. 

     The only person that is never too away from Valjean is Javert. Ever vigilant and consistent, Javert tracks down Valjean and Cosette in Paris where they have been hiding. Both of them have begun to develop a loving father/daughter relationship. Valjean teaches Cosette how to read and she impresses him with her wit and overwhelming sweetness; not to different from her mother. When this little happiness is threatened by Javert, Valjean and Cosette find shelter in a convent and all girl's school. They are finally safe.

     For a while at least.

Episode Four

     Nine or ten years later, Cosette has grown into a lovely young woman who is lively, vibrant and curious about the outside world. Having no family or money, Cosette has little chance of a proper marriage or a life in society. Her only option is to become a 'bride of Christ,' (a nun). Discontent with staying behind the walls of the nunnery for the rest of her life, she begs her father to leave, wanting to see the world for herself. 

     However, Valjean is hesitant to do so. He has seen the world and all its cruelty and unjustness and believes that Cosette is too fragile and innocent to understand it. Yet, even in spite of her past life with the Thenardiers, Cosette wants to believe that there is good and she wants to see that good for herself.

    Valjean eventually agrees and purchases a small home for him and Cosette in the upper middle class section of Paris. To get there, though, they must pass through the worst parts of Paris' poverty stricken streets. Beggars, thieves, the sick and the dying are all there to greet Cosette on her first visit to the outside world. 

     As Cosette is getting introduced to outside Paris, young law student, Marius Pontmercy is introduced to some startling information about his own past. His whole life, he has been told by his grandfather that his own father was a traitor to France and a coward. Yet, he is told the truth by an elderly man in church and then proceeds to know more about the former Col. Pontmercy. Marius is outraged by his grandfather's lies and corruption and immediately leaves his once comfortable life. He ventures out into the lower echelons of Parisian society that are a stark contrast to his once well to do livings. 

    Marius comes into the company of several politically minded students, some more fiery than others. He also has the misfortune of renting a room next to the infamous Thenardier family who are strangling money from every person they meet. They use their two daughters, Eponine and Azelma in every way possible to lie and cheat strangers and other tenants. Meanwhile, their youngest son, Gavroche is left to fend for himself, but the charming little boy knows how to run the streets.

     Eponine Thenardier, a raggedy and homely thief has taken an especial interest in the handsome law student. She is surprised by his genuine kindness even though he believes he is taken advantaged of. Her manipulative nature begins to wear away the more time she spends with Marius, but it's not long before his head is turned by a beautiful, golden haired angel walking in the Luxembourg Gardens with her guardian. Marius becomes besotted with the young girl named only Cosette, but her father is less than pleased.

    Valjean is still trying to shield his daughter from the world, but Cosette just wants more. She is desperate to be a part of society, but her new home has become another prison and her father becoming more and more a jail keeper. 

     Things become even more strained when they cross paths with the Thenardiers again. Still holding a grudge toward Valjean for taking Cosette and blaming him for their financial losses, Thenardier plans on getting his revenge of Valjean once and for all. And unfortunately Marius is put right in the middle, having to choose between all the lies and the truth itself.