"King of Outlaws and Prince of Good Fellows!" (Robin Hood (TV))

Name: TheChocolateLady

Hello doyoo user, You have to be logged in to use these functions... Login or register Close window

Send message to member

Product:	Robin Hood (TV)
Date:	31/08/07 (258 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The acting, humour, action, story, dialogue, setting, and fun!

Disadvantages: The first season is finished and you'll have to wait for the second or buy the DVD

The TV series "Robin Hood" is exactly what you would expect. Based on the English folk figure from ballads and stories of the 15th and 16th Centuries, this series uses the story of the Earl of Huntingdon, who was also known as Robin of Locksley. When Robin returns from the crusades, he is forced to become an outlaw, fighting the injustices of the new and evil Sheriff of Nottingham, stealing from the rich, giving to the poor, and hiding in Sherwood Forest.

This is the same basic story that several movies were based upon, and is perhaps the the world's first action hero - a warrior, fighting for justice and country, helping the less fortunate, and saving his world. I'd say that Stephen Segal, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwartzenager and their ilk are all second-rate reincarnations of Robin Hood - so eat your hearts out, Robin came first and he's the best!

Of course, an original hero, or group of heroic characters has always been excellent fodder for TV action series - especially ones where the heros, despite the violence, are actually good guys at heart. Equally, it is always hard to resist the excellent period-pieces the BBC is famous for. Putting these two together is true genius and for me, a complete triumph. This is a perfect counterpoint to such shows as "Torchwood" and "Heros" that have characters with futuristic and fantastic abilities. Instead, these people are flavoured with history which imposes a requirement that the protagonists must rely on their wits, physical restrictions and simplistic weaponry instead of devising supernatural or undeveloped technology to wage their battles.

Don't get me wrong, I love "Torchwood" and "Heros" but this is a series that I'd consider buying on DVD while those are shows that I'll just watch or record to keep up with. What makes "Robin Hood" different is that it is set so far in the past, it will be less inclined to look dated in future. Point in case, take a look at the old "Doctor Who" series which, look cheesy and old fashioned when watched today. This can't happen with historical shows like "Robin Hood" because we accept their technology as static and finite, and don't want things to be unbelievable in relation to their era. On this premise, I predict that reruns of this show in 10-15 years time will be as equally enjoyable as they are today, with the exception of comments about the actors ages and other parts they'll have played by then.

Speaking of the actors, none of the cast are hugely famous. Probably the best known of them are Keith Allen playing the Sheriff of Nottingham and the hunky, brooding Richard Armitage playing the Sheriff's closest ally, Guy of Gisborne. These two show us two sides of the same coin of nasty. Armitage's dark looks, tough-guy bravado and sinisterly deep voice are well balanced by Allen's clever wit, black humour and scheming bright eyes that bubble up with dastardly ideas that slip through his benevolent, honey-sweet facade. In the first episode, the perfect example of the true Sheriff is when, in the privacy of his own room, he opens one of his birdcages, takes a bird out and while caressing it, breaks its neck with his underlying anger. Of course, they give Armitage a chance to revisit his "North & South" character, John Thornton (closely resembling Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy in "Pride & Prejudice"), as an aloof but possibly sexy romancer to Maid Marian.

The part of Robin himself was also given to a relatively unknown actor, Jonas Armstrong, who (looking nothing like Douglas Fairbanks), pulls this part off with the perfect mixture of wiry agility, aristocratic intelligence, hunter's calm, righteous indignation and romantic sex-appeal. The latter helps him with Maid Marian, played by another newcomer, Lucy Griffiths, who thankfully gets in on some of the real action, and isn't portrayed as a damsel in distress. But well known or not, this is an ensemble cast that totally shines, works like clockwork together, and without a weak link among them.

As a period-piece, we also get to enjoy fascinating costumes, and I can't see anything that looks out of place. In particular I was glad to not see obviously nylon stretch leggings, or suits in brightly brash shades of green, as we've seen in some of the Hollywood interpretations of this story. Filmed in Hungary, we also get scenery that's both rustic and majestic, that fits perfectly into the story lines.

I must also mention how wonderfully humourous this show is. One of the nice touches is Sam Troughton's part of Much, Robin's (freed) servant, who keeps things from getting too heavy with his constant complaints, but always comes through when needed, and so doesn't become a total pain. As another indication to the wit of this series, the third episode includes a play on the Eric Clapton song "I Shot The Sheriff", both in content and in dialogue. What I find most appealing is how the action concentrates on the plots and characters more than the fight scenes, but doesn't disappoint in that area either.

All in all, this is a fun and exciting romp of a TV series, with first-rate acting, intelligent dialogue, interesting developments and enough comedy, sex and violence to keep you tuned in from episode to episode. There's nothing wildly out of place historically, and is also visually attractive - both with the actors and their settings - to make this as inviting as possible. Finally, who doesn't want to see good triumph over evil, especially when they are equally matched, and mercifully disconnected from today's harsh world by being set hundreds of years in the past? This is why I cannot give it less than five stars nor less than highly recommend it.

Thanks for reading.

Davida Chazan © August, 2007

~~~~~
Technical Stuff:

The first season of this finished running in the UK in December 2006, and I see from IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0787985/) that they are planning a second season, but no date has been set for that yet. For those of you who missed the first season, the DVDs of this are available in three volumes via Amazon, volume 1 selling for £16.98, volume 2 selling for £12.98, and volume 3 selling for £16.98. I also see that they will be producing a DVD of the full first series which will be available from Amazon at the end of October for £29.99, and that's a price worth waiting for, since the NTSC version from the US is only available from their marketplace starting from £33.

For more information about historical the Robin Hood story look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_hood
~~~~~

Summary: A BBC TV Series based on the folk hero, Robin Hood.