Robin Hood Series 3

For Robin Hood Series 3, please leave all new comments on the new Robin Hood blog:

ROBIN HOOD SERIES 3.

Robin Hood's new lover?

According to Wikipedia David Harwood will indeed be the new Friar Tuck in early 2009. We also know Joanne Froggatt is to join Robin Hood and his outlaws in Sherwood Forest. We don't know yet that Joanne Froggatt will be Robin Hood's love interest. But if she was, how would you feel? (The comments box awaits you).

Poll Results! "Should Robin find a new love?"

Well, I think we all knew what the result would be, but here goes:

76.1% of Hoodies said that "Marian cannot be replaced."

13.9% feel Robin should find a new love "one day", but NOT Joanne Froggat.

2.7% feel Jonas and Joanne would make a good couple.

7.3% said Robin hood should just "party on down", and have a "damn good time", trying to put the past behind him.

Thanks everyone for taking part. Many, many more "fun" polls to come when we get into Robin Hood series 3.

Robin Hood series 3: A Friar Tuck at last?

Much as I admire Lucy Griffiths, who played out some excellent scenes in Robin Hood even as the writers themselves were losing the plot, I did get tired of the "Marian is no Damsel in distress" tag line which persists even now in the cut and paste "interviews" which continue to appear in the media. Maid Marian was never portrayed as a simple damsel in distress.

Similarly, it annoyed me when, prior to series 1 of Robin Hood, we were told there would be no Friar Tuck on the grounds that he was politically incorrect. Friar Tuck was not an object of fun. He was a respected, skilled, and valued member of the team. (See my own personal "5 Favourite Friars" on this link).

In November, 2006, a poll on my Robin Hood blog (series 1), showed that a massive 98% of Hoodies wanted to see Friar Tuck brought into the show.

As preparations for series 2 got underway we were informed of a possible u-turn in the BBC's thoughts on the matter, when the Controller made statements which seemed to suggest he was under the impression a Tuck would be included. For whatever reason, it wasn't to be.

Recently, the speculation about a new Friar played by David Harewood, has been seeping out into the press. If it proves true, I think it's fantastic news. Not only because it reinstates the Friar, but because Harewood is a fine actor with a strong screen presence. I'm anticipating a strong, angry Tuck from him.

Friar Tuck Poll Results. Here's how you voted:

64% are in favour of both including Friar Tuck, and it being David Harwood in the role.

25% are generally in favour of bringing Tuck into the series, but are waiting to see if Harwood is better than a more "traditional" portrayal might have been.

11% Don't want A Friar Tuck at all.

Well, count me amongst the 64%. But I think it's a very fair result. Possibly that 25% wanting to see how the Harwood interpretation works out are cautious because they've seen other aspects of the legend tampered with, and not always for the better.

Robin Hood series 3, filming in progress. WATCH FOR UPDATES.

Filming of Robin Hood Series 3 began week ending 3rd May. This quote from the Sunday Mail makes some good observations about the director, Douglas Mackinnon:

"Doctor Who is another impressive title to add to Douglas's CV. Next up is the new series of Robin Hood, which he began shooting in Budapest last week. That follows working with James Nesbitt on Hyde and he has worked on Bodies and Silent Witness."

Here's the link. Now, "Hyde" was stunning, so this bodes well for our Robin Hood who is in need of a good "hands on" director. Any further information about the current filming (with reliabl links please), would be most appreciated.

Merlin: A 13 part series for Autumn 2008.

Many fans of Robin hood are likely to be attracted to Merlin as a subject, so it's not hard to see why the BBC have embarked on filming a 13 part series for saturday night's 7.00pm spot THIS Autumn. So where does this leave Robin Hood and Doctor Who? Apparently safe and sound:

http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/15165/merlin-drama-will-not-replace-hood-or-who
and
http://www.tvscoop.tv/2008/03/filming_begins_1.html

Richard Armitage (Guy) says Lucy Griffiths (Marian) was his favourite person to work with on Robin Hood:

http://www.daemonstv.com/2008/05/02/interview-richard-armitage-from-robin-hood/

Lucy Griffiths says "I don’t want to give any stories away... But, anything that may or may not happen would have been a decision made by the producers and myself:

http://www.mediablvd.com/magazine/the_news/celebrity/robin_hood

NEW Lucy Griffiths interview: "When an actress is known more for being famous than the roles she plays, she can find herself without much of a career". LINK:

http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/33211

SERIES 3 is due to begin airing the first saturday of october 2008. This message from "Caz", who I believe in turn received it in a mail from the BBC. Can anyone confirm? (Thanks Caz).

"New" Lucy interview: (Rather pointless cut and paste job from old sources):
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/may/23/lucy-griffiths-at-20-is-plotting-how-to-present/

Robin Hood, a girl's role?

I watch developments in programmes like Doctor Who with great interest. In many ways the basic concept behind Doctor Who must be a program maker's dream. For example, we all accept that the actor playing the Doctor changes from "time to time" (no pun intended), and even look forward to seeing "Who's next". Well, last week a girlie turned up; apparently Doctor Who's daughter!

Also, there has been speculation in the past about the possibility of the role of James Bond being played by a woman. It's an idea; making the "double 0" prefix the character, to be handed on like a title, and not simply the name.

We've chatted here many times about the fact that, if and when Jonas leaves, the "We are Robin Hood" concept could see the series continue almost indefinitely, perhaps with Gordon Kennedy's Little John leading a band of outlaws and continuing to fight for justice in the name of Robin Hood. It is equally possible, as happened in Robin of Sherwood, that the "title" of the Man in the Hood could pass to another person. But what if that person were a girl?

It has been done before: In "Son of Robin Hood" (1958), June Laverick played Robin's daughter, Deering. In "Princess of Thieves" (2002), Keira Knightley played Gwyn, once again the daughter. (I have no idea what happens in "Virgins of Sherwood Forest", 2000, but I can guess it involves the women folk!)

So, just as a fun post whilst we wait for more news about filming, do you think the time is right for a female Robin Hood on TV? Bear in mind the HUGE success of Lucy Griffiths' "feisty" Marian, not to mention her Night Watchman role. Cast a vote, make a comment.

UPDATE: POLL RESULTS!

55% of Hoodies said "No" to any kind of female incarnation of Robin Hood. Scriptwriters beware! (On a personal note, I think the current concept of Doctor Who having a daughter is a bad mistake).

33% of Hoodies would accept a female Robin Hood if she was related to Robin in some way.

12% of Hoodies said they would accept a female Robin Hood if she was either an outlawed villager, or a Saxon noble. In other words, the family blood line would change much as it did in Robin of Sherwood when Michael Praed gave way to Jason Connery.

Robin Hood, the Rumours:

1. Robin Hood is being filmed in Glasgow.

Whilst filming series 1 & 2 in Budapest, the cast enjoyed hanging out in a Scottish style pub called the Caledonia. This fact was reported in the Glasgow Sunday Mail, via an interview with Gordon Kennedy.

Link:
http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/newsfeed/2008/04/06/tv-s-robin-hood-crew-hang-out-in-scots-pub-78057-20373360/

Now, where does it say that Robin hood is now being filmed in Glasgow? It doesn't! This is the way rumours get started. (If you want to see what the Caledonia pub looks like click this link).

2. Anjali Jay, pregnant.

One fan wrote "I heard she was pregnant in some scenes of RH" on a fan forum.

Link:
http://anjalijayfan.proboards61.com/v45index.cgi?board=news&action=display&thread=26&page=1

Heard from whom???? (Remember the one about her being sacked for being drunk at the end of series 2? Poor girl. She certainly gets her share of rumours).

3. Jonas and Lucy have been seen in Budapest sharing a bag of chips.

Nope. This comes from Gordon Kennedy's interview (above link), about them all enjoying chips during the filming of series 2.

4. Harry Lloyd and Anjali Jay return in series 3:

Tiger Aspect have not confirmed this. They say the scripts change daily. (Wow, we'd never have guessed!!)

5. Harry Lloyd is the next Doctor Who:

File this alongside "Matt Lucas" will be Friar Tuck. Yes, these opinions were expressed about both these actors by very prominent persons. Especially so in Harry's case, because it was the writer Russell T Davies himself, sending a note to the casting director. But, no actual contracts or negotiations took place. (Matt Lucas didn't even know about it being said!)

Link:
http://www.merrymedia.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4658&Itemid=196

6. Jonas Armstrong was meant to be one of the presenters at the BAFTAs:

Link:
http://bafta.org/press/television-awards-attendees,26,SNS.html

Jonas was apparently stuck on a delayed train and couldn't get there on time.

Robin Hood and his Outlaws

Robin Hood and his diminished band of Outlaws as they stand at the end of Robin Hood series two: Robin Hood (Jonas Armstrong), John (Gordon "he'll always be Little to me", Kennedy), Much (Sam "don't call him servant", Troughton), and Alan A Dale (Joe "wanna buy a dodgy motor?" Armstrong). Okay, so Will Scarlett is currently off the roster, but everyone here loves Harry, so I included the picture. (Sorry Djaq!)

You can find earlier versions of Robin Hood and his Outlaws on this link.

Robin Hood. Series 3. Episode 0: "Fantasy in the Forest".

Upon their return to Nottingham the Sheriff is less than enamoured with Guy of Gisborne's mental state. Totally pre-occupied with his murdering of Marian, Guy is given to calling out in his sleep, restless nightmares, and imagining he sees visions of Marian in her now ghostly bridal veil, come to haunt him. In essence, the Sheriff now perceives Guy as a liability, and starts to consider ways of getting rid of him.

When Robin returns to Sherwood with John, Much and Allan, the atmosphere is tense. Robin is suffering from bereavement, and even more reckless in his attitude than at then end of Series 2. Allan is still not fully trusted nor accepted, especially by John, and Much does his best to alleviate the situation, but to little avail. Before long, both John and Allan decide to go their separate ways, alone. John to resume his mission to "give to the poor"; Allan to wheel and deal his way through life as best he can. Only Much, the ever loyal "servant", remains. However, it is not long before Allan (never able to look after his own welfare too well), is arrested in the local tavern and thrown into the dungeons to await his fate on the gallows.

That night a dark, masked figure is observed distributing food to the townsfolk and villagers beyond. Of course the people of Nottingham know it to be the Night Watchman, unaware as they are of Marian's links with the character. News of the Night Watchman's activities naturally reaches the Sheriff, who appears a little less surprised than one might have expected under the circumstances. He dispatches Guy to investigate…

At first Guy is convinced Allan has escaped and is responsible for the masquerade. But upon searching the cells (a search which results in a painful beating for Allan), Guy becomes increasingly convinced that Marian has somehow returned from the dead to plague him, and Allan witnesses the full extent of his former boss's mental breakdown before Guy flees into the night to put an end to the matter, one way or another.

Later on, the Sheriff of Nottingham visits Allan A Dale's cell. Stroking Allan's cheek, he cunningly confides that he might need a new second in command now that Gisborne's mental state is questionable, and releases Allan to "think it over". It is a win-win situation for the Sheriff. Whether Allan kills Gisborne himself, or brings Robin Hood into Nottingham to investigate the Night Watchman stories and face Gisborne, he stands to gain!

Carrying the bruises left on him by the earlier beating, Allan does the noble thing; he rejects the idea of killing Gisborne and working for the Sheriff, and goes straight to Robin Hood with news of the Night Watchman. The information of course distresses and angers Robin. Much is convinced Allan is once again lying and luring Robin into some kind of trap where the Sheriff will be waiting. But what choice does Robin have but to go?

The following night, all sides in this terrible drama are destined to clash. Whilst Robin and Much make their way to the Town, leaving Allan tied up back at camp, Gisborne's men are concealed on every street corner. They don't have to wait too long before a familiar, rather elegant looking, masked rider enters from one end of the street. Gisborne, now dictated to by his broken mental state rather than his usual military instinct, screams out "Marian!" The Night Watchman's horse rears, but when the soldiers close off all exits, escape is futile, and the masked rider slides down from "her" mount.

Guy staggers towards the Night Watchman, weeping and shouting in equal measure. He is insisting on seeing "her" scar, just as he did that time in the barn when Marian's secret identity was revealed. The Night Watchman complies, and slowly lifts the hem of her waistcoat. However, this time the scar which is revealed is not the mark left by Guy's small Saracen dagger, but the horrific and gruesome cut from his broadsword. Gisborne collapses to his knees in disbelief. Then, from behind, another voice screams out into the night: "Gisborne!" It is Robin Hood, enraged and confused by the vision before him, but hell bent on revenge! Gisborne orders his troops to stand back, and the two enemies lock swords for what they both know will be the final time.

At the peak of the fight, both men completely exhausted, Gisborne knocks the sword from Robin's hand! Defenceless, Robin looks up at Gisborne's raised blade, but still taunts him to the very end, proclaiming that even as he dies there are other outlaws poised to replace him and fight for justice in England. Dead he may well soon be, but his spirit will never be defeated. Then, just as Gisborne's blade is about to fall on Robin's neck, the unmistakeable tone of a girl's voice calls out from behind the mask of the Night Watchman as she throws him her sword! In one movement Robin catches it and, with ironic justice, plunges the Night Watchman's blade deep into Gisborne's stomach.

As Gisborne dies Much and the Night Watchman run to Robin Hood's side, prepared for a fight against the overwhelming number of soldiers. But without their leader, Gisborne's troops melt away into the night, unwilling to take on the enraged, now legendary outlaw. So Robin and Much, together with the Night Watchman, make a hasty exit and return to camp.

Once back in the safety of Sherwood Forest, a weakened Robin approaches the Night Watchman in silence, and pulls down her mask…. It is the Arab servant girl (played by Konnie Huq), who acted as a spy for the Sheriff when they were all in the Holy Lands! She confesses to Robin that she is a trained assassin, now working for the Sheriff of Nottingham with the express purpose of killing him. However, having seen the corruption in Nottingham, and heard positive tales about Robin Hood from the Townsfolk, she decided she could not go through with her mission. She does however make her loyalties to her own country, and distaste for King Richard, quite plain. It is only to assist the common people of England, who she believes do not themselves support the unpopular War, that she offers her services now to Robin Hood. Just how much Robin needs those services becomes apparent as he faints to the ground, blood coming from a wound in his side; a far more serious wound than he had hitherto disclosed.

It is the Night Watchman now who takes control. Robin Hood needs more than just rest, he needs medical attention. Much wishes Djaq was still with them, but in her absence suggests nearby Kirklees Abbey where the nuns might be able to help, and where Robin might claim a degree of sanctuary. Allan insists that just the two of them won't stand a chance if the Sheriff discovers where they are, and pleads to be allowed to go and find John. Much isn't keen to do this, believing Allan will go straight to the Sheriff. But they have little choice and, after a severe warning from the Night Watchman as to what she'll do to him if he betrays them (causing Allan to make a quip about previous warnings he's had from someone who once wore that outfit!) they set him free and depart for the Abbey carrying the weakened Robin between them.

Robin Hood is of course admitted to Kirklees Abbey, but the Sheriff's spies are everywhere in this corrupt district, and it is not long before a veritable army of his soldiers have the building surrounded. Much and Robin assume it is Allan who has betrayed them once more and led them here. For their part, the nuns of course will not give Robin up, but neither can they provide much protection beyond their prayers. So it is that the Night Watchman applies a tight field dressing to Robin's wound as the outlaw leader slips back and forth from a state of full consciousness, imagining for moments at a time it is his beloved Marian once more at his side, and both the Night Watchman and Much do little to dissuade him from his fantasy. All three now stand together to take the battle outside, in respect of the Holy nature of the Abbey's interior.

The battle is bloody, as the ninja like skills of the Night Watchman dispense with considerable numbers of the soldiers surrounding her before she and Much are themselves wounded. But it is Robin Hood who is the main target for the Sheriff's archers, and although Robin's arrows plunge deep into the hearts of all within his range, he in turn is struck by the bolts from their crossbows. Before long it would seem that all is lost, as the Sheriff gloats and barks his orders from a well placed and protected position at the rear.

Just then a cry rings out from the forest. It is John with Allan at his side, and a new band of outlaws which John has been gathering together whilst apart from the group! He calls out: "Men of Sherwood, will you tolerate this? Because I for one will not!"

As the giant of the forest now plunges forward swinging his half staff the Sheriff's men are scattered senseless in all directions. The sight of this brings renewed energies to Much and the Night Watchman as they plunge once more into the heat of the battle, whilst Allan alone notices the wounded Robin Hood slump to the ground and runs forward to stand over his former leader, defending him at all costs.

The wily Sheriff of Nottingham can see from where he remains hidden that the battle is lost and, discretion being the better part of valour, makes his escape alone, riding unobserved back to Nottingham. Having witnessed this uprising he is becoming convinced that Nottingham may not be a safe place to stay, and makes plans for a replacement to take over his badge of office whilst he moves on to operate his schemes elsewhere. Donning a suitable disguise, the Sheriff begins to pack and load his canary cages onto the back of a simple peasant cart.

Back at Kirklees the fighting has come to an end. The outlaws stand scattered amidst the malaise, bloodied but not bowed. Against Kirklees Abbey wall Robin Hood lay supported by the arms of Allan A Dale. They have this one final moment together, as Allan weeps and extends his heartfelt apologies for all he's done. Robin forgives him, they hug, but both men know this is their last conversation. As the outlaws gather round their dying leader he addresses each in turn. From John he extracts a promise to carry on his work; to "rob from the rich, and give to the poor". To the Saracen Night Watchman he makes a plea that she stay in Nottingham, to continue the good work of her predecessor, and to further her understanding of its people; an understanding which might one day facilitate peace in the Holy Lands. The last person Robin Hood calls to his side is the faithful Much who, as always, has been seated apart thinking himself forgotten.

Whilst Much holds the man he knew as "Master" in his arms, Robin Hood addresses him: "As much as any man can love another man, I have loved you." Then, through the pain and tears he asks John to pass him his bow. Supported by John and Allan alike, Robin draws back his Saracen bow and fires a last arrow towards his beloved Sherwood. His final words, almost a whisper, are once again directed towards Much: "Where that arrow falls, is where I wish my body to rest. In that way, I shall be with you all, always".

And so it is that Robin Hood, a legend in his own time, passes into folklore.

At the grave side each outlaw will have their own eulogy to express. But John's simple epitaph will be the final one: "Him we liked. But Robin Hood is not dead. For we are Robin Hood".

----------------

This has been a fantasy post.

Robin Hood Marian Picture gallery. "That Lucy Look".

It is interesting comparing these Marian pictures with those of the first Lucy Griffiths Gallery on the Robin Hood series 1 site.
Above: Marian makes an all too rare appearance in Sherwood Forest.
Above: Lady in Red, Marian the seductive temptress.
Above & below: Masked, and unmasked.
Above: Marian faces the gallows. Below: Lucy in chains... (don't even go there!)
Above: Raunchy in the forest. Below: Teenager in Love.

There are more links to Maid Marian here.

Robin Hood, a Hero or Loser for our times?

Robin Hood series 2 continued to be a good (often outstanding) programme, and Jonas Armstrong continued to prove himself as the right man for the role. He is a great Robin Hood.

I think it important to re-state that fact in the wake of such huge upset over the death of Marian, and the criticism of the producer's judgement therein; plus the added disappointment over the total redundancy of Djaq (Anjali Jay) in series 2, not to mention the less than convincing conclusion to her relationship with Will Scarlet; together with various other concerns about consistency where writing and character development were concerned.

Programmes like Robin Hood, Dr Who, Star Trek, Torchwood, etc., etc., are always going to attract an intelligent audience, keen to analyse plot lines and characters as they unfold. We want complexities, but we also expect consistency. Yes, we might be critical, but be in no doubt we enjoyed it. So, why then is this post so difficult to write? Why is Robin Hood's mercurial role in series 2 proving so difficult to define?
At the start of series 1, when Robin stood on the steps of Nottingham Castle and posed the challenge "Will you tolerate this!?" he posed that question not just to the town of Nottingham but to the country beyond; the country (and the girl) he had left behind to do his duty, believing that when he returned it would be to a better place, and one which would respect him for the service he'd done.

That moment on those steps was a thrilling one to witness. In one fell swoop Jonas Armstrong committed Kevin Costner's somnambulistic version to history. (Take away Alan Rickman and Bryan Adams from "Prince of Thieves" and you're left with very little). Jonas Armstrong, with his youthful mixture of boy next door looks and charismatic smile, delivered not only the energy of an Errol Flynn type, but also such emotionally charged scenes as Marian's initial "death scene", the tearful intensity of which we haven't seen in any Robin Hood before. Standing defiant on those Castle steps, as his arrows cut the Scarlet brothers down from the nooses around their necks, Robin Hood was a hero both of the people and for the people, even going so far as to speak openly about the unjust taxes which were being raised to furnish his beloved King's war; a war which scarred him far more than he realised.

So what happened? Did Robin Hood turn away from those people, or did they turn away from him? I offer you my assessment of the character as portrayed in Robin Hood series 2. It is only my opinion, and not necessarily the writer's intent.
Right at the start of series 2, in "Sisterhood", we can see something has changed in Robin. He should be happy. Marian had publicly demonstrated her love by riding away with him on horseback, leaving a punched out Gisborne at the altar. He had assembled and knocked into shape an excellent band of outlaws, embracing all sciences and cultures, and to which both Will Scarlet and Allan A' Dale had returned to the fold. He should be happy, but he's not. And worse than that, he's out to kill.

Of course it wouldn't work out if Robin Hood went about killing his enemies every week, otherwise we'd run out of cast members. But for the first time in that episode we had to be told an "official" reason why he can't kill the Sheriff of Nottingham, and so the thought that "he would if he could" (rather than the fact he might be restraining himself through some sense of morality) does put an entirely different slant on his character: This Robin Hood, rather than have learnt his lesson from the horrors of war, actually wants to kill. And more than that, it might be suggested by his actions in the subsequent programme "Beauty and the Booby", that he actually wants to "kill or be killed". Time and again Robin Hood instructs his outlaw gang to either stay behind when he goes on his missions, or stay back when the action starts. The loyal Much sees this straight away, and is most concerned over his master's apparently reckless, self destructive actions in the strong room. Does Robin have a death wish? And note how it is Little John, not Robin, who gives the final morale boosting call to action (something which will occur time and again from this point onwards). Does Robin also have growing concerns about his own leadership qualities and ability to inspire his gang?

In several ways, episode 3 ("Childhood"), is pivotal to the decline in Robin Hood as both a confident leader of men, and as a heroic saviour of the oppressed. Like a schoolboy he spies on Marian's encounter with a bare chested Guy, still uncertain of her loyalties, and then has to suffer the indignity of being thrown from pillar to post by "Guy the Man of Damascus Steel". His own plan to retrieve the black diamonds is thwarted by the Sheriff, and it is Marian who's macho dagger against the steel maker's spine saves the day. And to top it all, although he doesn't know it yet, there is now a traitor in his ranks. After a clear indication of unrest amongst the troops when Will Scarlet and Allan A' Dale almost left in series 1, Robin has still failed to learn from his mistakes as a leader, and Allan has deserted him.

Robin Hood the hero, the Pagan "Green Man" from the Forest, hailed since pre-Christian times as the spirit who will ensure a good harvest and bring harmony to the land, is clearly both failing and falling apart at the seams. And if ever proof were needed, look no further than episode 4 as the "Angel of Death" spreads his plague like genocidal death amongst the very people before whom Robin Hood once stood on those steps and pledged "I will not tolerate this". But his eye has long since left the ball, and now the victims of the Sheriff of Nottingham's corruption are falling in ever greater numbers. (And Will Scarlet's father, the very man who's sons Robin had saved on that inspiring day, is amongst them).
A lot has been said of the scenes between Lucy Griffiths and Richard Armitage throughout Robin Hood, and such scenes as the balcony sequence, the "wedding", and many others were impressive for their tension. But I would argue that the scenes between Jonas and Joe Armstrong in episode 5, "Ducking and Diving", are amongst the finest of the entire two series. When Robin Hood is confronted with the traitor Allan A ' Dale he is not only face to face with the man who betrayed him, but face to face with his own failure as a leader. Robin saved Allan from the gallows; Allan's brother was hung by the Sheriff of Nottingham, and yet STILL Allan has determined that working for the enemy is a better option than a future with Robin of Loxley. In these scenes between Jonas and Joe the sparks fly off the screen; both actors seizing the moment to shine for a while outside that Lucy / Guy spotlight the producers seemed intent on driving into the ground. And as extra proof that Robin has now come completely unglued, he simply and remorselessly kills the man (Henry) holding Much at knife point. No consideration for Henry's mental state, no attempt at persuasion and bargaining. Nothing. Apart that is from one arrow, clean and straight to the heart. (I loved it. But heroes aren't meant to be doing that sort of thing, and we all know he could have made a trick shot).

What we are witnessing at this stage is Robin Hood the disturbed war veteran; Robin Hood who did his duty by King and country and, having done so, cannot now understand why the consequence would appear to be this world of corruption, death and desertion he finds himself returned to. Even the girl he loves stubbornly refuses to join his cause in fighting from the Forest, preferring instead a more "hands on" approach, dispensing food in the darkened streets of Nottingham. It is not so much Robin Hood who is taking from the rich to give to the poor as it is the Night Watchman.
The next truly pivotal point in Robin Hood's decline as a heroic character occurs in episode 6, "For England". Now totally bereft of all ideas on how to stop the schemes of the Black Knights, he dresses from head to toe in sinister black, jumps on a table top, and without warning slaughters all before him, fully expectant that his actions will also result in his own death. If this was the 20th century, what we would be witnessing is an ex-war vet turned psycho with a sniper gun atop a tower block. Even Gisborne himself hasn't committed murder on this scale! But what is even worse from Robin's perspective is that Gisborne probably wouldn't have failed. He would have taken their heads off, whereas Robin's arrows simply thud into the Black Knight's hidden breastplates as the Sheriff of Nottingham has once again outwitted him. By adopting his enemies ruthless tactics and morals, Robin has lowered himself to their status, lost the fight, and become once and for all "the loser".

Robin Hood's only hope, his only "way back" to his former, confident, focussed, high spirited self, is "the girl he left behind". Robin Hood without Maid Marian is a man without purpose, because Marian is a symbol of all that was good and right about the Country he thought he was defending and fighting for. Marian empowers Robin Hood. She is quite literally the Wind Beneath His Wings. Only Marian's approval can stop his inner turmoil, if only she could be made to understand his continued unquestioning loyalty to the King, and his "big plan" to get Richard home, rather than deal with the situation himself on a local level, as he once pledged to, and as both Marian and John clearly still want to.
And so it is that, in the same episode which sees the Sheriff's men silently slaughtered without warning when ambushed from behind by Robin Hood's outlaws, he finally tells her he loves her. In fact he loves her so much his anger subsides long enough to let the traitor Allan A Dale live. When Marian's father is murdered soon after this scene, and Marian agrees to flee into Sherwood Forest with Robin, it still seems possible for a while that he can win the day; regroup his forces, draw strength from Marian, and return to destroy the corruption in Nottingham. But it will never be. It is John, not Robin, who comforts Marian in her grieving, whilst Robin stubbornly refuses to be swayed from his only plan to get King Richard home. Not for a moment has he learned anything from the desertion of Allan and the later disobedience of Djaq and John. In the end, Marian, the one person who could have saved him, seems to desert him herself, returning to Nottingham Town to continue her vigilante actions alone as the Night Watchman. Even his proposal of marriage will not persuade her to stay, and in one final ironic twist of fate, it will be Guy of Gisborne who stands bravely at Marian's side to defend Nottingham against overwhelming odds, whilst Robin Hood the loser stumbles about Sherwood Forest trying to secure the safety of his arch enemy the Sheriff.

England desperately needed a hero. Robin Hood and Much might have expected to be greeted and lauded as home coming heroes. But heroes need heroic causes, and Robin's cause was seriously flawed. And whereas Much accepted and learned from that fact, Robin never did.

For me personally, what happens in episodes 11, 12, and 13 is a shambles. There are some great moments, as when Guy discovers who is behind the Night Watchman's mask, but the whole thing lacks continuity. What is interesting about those three episodes is sometimes more the actor's performances than the script. Lucy Griffiths gives it her all. She knows it's over, and she goes out on a bang, grabbing every headline (and so she should). Anjali Rose has long since gone onto "remote pilot" and, having been ignored all series, who can blame her? In "that scene" with Harry Lloyd they both look like they're saying "Let's just get this over with. The pubs will be open in a bit". In fact, Harry Lloyd is soooo over the top I seriously think he's taking the p*ss out of the script. Go and look at it again. He cannot be serious. And we all know of Richard Armitage's concerns because he's made them public, and subsequently signed up for "Spooks".

And Jonas Armstrong? One of the best Robin Hood's ever? Series 2 asked him to go to the well one time too many, and he doesn't look too happy about it. After all, he'd already ended one series with a Lucy death scene, giving everything he had in a superb performance. Then there was Edward's death a couple of episodes previous, and now he has to do it all over again? Several readers commented on the fact Jonas didn't seem to care as much as he should have when Marian was finally killed. Who can blame him? Perhaps it should be a measure of how splendid Jonas Armstrong was that, not only has he given perhaps the most diverse set of performances ever in the Robin Hood role, but that he had to do it within a context that became increasingly frustrating and confusing as it neared its end.

Which series of Robin Hood was the best?

Robin Hood series 1 looks remarkably different to series 2. I hadn't noticed how much until I viewed the repeats on cable TV. Gordon Kennedy used to have short black hair; Harry seemed less tall and lean; each cast member seemed to have more of an individual style; and there was a distinct lack of beards! Not only the appearances, but the camera work had a "sharper" feel to it in the editing, even though the "strike a pose" directing was rather noticeable in series 1.

And how that young cast matured in their art! In the early episodes Keith Allen (the great Keith Allen), is quite overpowering of the younger cast, especially where Jonas and Lucy are concerned. Not so in series 2.

This poll is largely based on the votes of UK viewers because I don't think the USA has officially seen series 2 yet. (Not sure about Australia, who we get a lot of readers from). Yes I know YouTube and Veoh posted some dodgy versions of the shows, but it's not the same.

Robin Hood series 1 received 35% of your votes.

Robin Hood series 2 received 46%.

A further 19% of Hoodies felt both series were equal in merit.

The interesting thing about this is that the series which took Marian away proved the most popular. Go figure…

I myself did prefer series 1. As I've mentioned elsewhere I thought series 2 was excellent until about half way through. From "Lardner's Ring" (episode 9) onwards I was somewhat less impressed, although I continued to enjoy it immensely.

Thanks to everyone who took part in the polls and who logs on here and expresses their individual opinion. Much appreciated. Tiger Productions have the site addresses of these Robin Hood blogs. Maybe they will tell us their opinion also?

Should Lucy Return?

Poll Results:

The death of Marian has been the most discussed and contentious aspect of any Robin Hood film or TV programme ever. But that's certainly not necessarily been a good thing. Whereas it took a while for some people to adjust to a youthful Robin Hood with a Saracen bow, and the absence of a Friar Tuck, most came 'round to agreeing that it all worked well in the end. Not so the loss of Marian.

The overwhelming majority of Hoodies who visit this site (well over a thousand on this page alone the night Lucy died, not to mention the series 1 blog), feel Marian's death was a mistake, and that the loss of Lucy Griffiths (for whatever reason), will hit the third series very hard indeed. But that's all behind us now.

In our poll, 69% wished Lucy would return for series 3 of Robin Hood, and that the death was in some way staged.

A further 24% felt it would be a mistake if she returned now, but many of those did point out she should never have been killed off in the first place. It's just that a return would make the situation even more implausible!

The remaining 7% thought Marian could return as a ghost; a guiding spirit able to talk to Robin Hood in a manner that I seem to remember was explored in programmes like Xena and Hercules from time to time.

I myself agreed with those that felt, now she's gone, a return just isn't plausible. Lucy gave an exceptional performance throughout series 1 and 2, (most actors would "die" to have two death scenes!), but it's surely over.

Robin Hood and Marian, Jonas Armstrong and Lucy Griffiths, pictures

Robin Hood and Marian, a legend never dies.

Was Guy of Gisborne the Sheriff's b*tch?

Robin Hood's arch enemy was always the Sheriff of Nottingham, until Douglas Fairbanks' 1922 movie version, which relegated the Sheriff to a small cameo role as a clerk, and sat Guy of Gisborne (Paul Dickey), alongside Prince John. In that movie Gisborne was a simple two dimensional character, of a loathsome, creepy appearance, sneaking up on King Richard's tent in an attempt to assassinate him. His reward was to be Maid Marian, with whom he intended to satiate his lust against her will. All good melodramatic stuff in the silent cinema of 1922. But doesn't one expect a little more character development today?
Errol Flynn's Robin Hood took it's lead from Fairbanks. Once again the Sheriff was sidelined (a buffoon), in favour of the dastardly Basil Rathbone as Gisborne; camp as a row of tents, expectant of Marian's hand in marriage, but too shy to talk to her. It was a classic performance, and no doubt a huge influence on the chief villains which followed as first Alan Wheatley, then John Arnatt, Nickolas Grace, and Alan Rickman, all gave outstanding performances and re-instated the Sheriff of Nottingham as arch enemy number one to the outlaws of Sherwood. When Keith Allen started swishing about in his black silk pyjamas, he was inheriting the almost pantomime style that had been established long ago, and doing it superbly well. But what of Gisborne?
Well, in the 1980s, when Nikolas Grace adopted Rathbone's camp style for the Sheriff, Robert Addie gave us a new Guy: Ruthless to the point of being psychopathic; a “master race” blonde haired blue eyed slayer of “wolf’s head” Saxons; driven not simply by power but by thoughts akin to genocide; and certainly no interest whatsoever in a Saxon maiden called Marian. Robert Addie died tragically young, but his interpretation of Guy remains definitive and (perhaps wisely) Tiger Productions made no attempt to recreate it in the current Robin Hood. All of which brings us to Richard Armitage…

I should put my cards on the table at the outset; I just don't "get" Gisborne as he has been written over the last two years. I know Armitage is a fine actor (it always seems necessary to say that for those that cannot distinguish between the script and the person), but I don't think he's been put to good use in Robin Hood. It's obvious what Tiger Productions’ intentions were: To place a love triangle at the centre of the series and use that as an ongoing thread to link the main characters together, much like the 1922 film. But was this done effectively? In my opinion, which I acknowledge to be amongst the minority here, no not at all.
The undeniably handsome Richard Armitage was dressed from head to toe in a sexy black leather suit (rather reminiscent of Elvis Presley's 1968 TV Special), and asked to stomp about in fine military style, barking orders, and thus successfully invoking thoughts of fascist black shirts in the same way that Darth Vader's helmet has World War 2 overtones. All good stuff from the time honoured traditions of the “baddie’s wardrobe“. But where was the script? Where were the passages that convinced us he loved Marian? Or indeed that she could ever desire him? I suggest that script was only ever in the minds of the fans.
That Gisborne, the one that I believe was being summoned up more in the imagination of the fans than the actual scriptwriters, would never have stabbed Marian. He would have given her a good slap, thrown her across his horse, and rode off with her for a date with a riding crop in the barn! But he doesn't do that. He runs a huge sword through her stomach and then, in exactly in the same manner by which Marian was swept away from the altar by Robin, Guy himself now holds on tight whilst the Sheriff of Nottingham carries him away from her death scene.

No wonder Richard Armitage himself questioned the writers about this mess. But what of the rest of Series 2; were there any other clues as to how Guy and Marian might feel?

Episode 3, "Child hood", is interesting, because we see Marian observing a bare chested Guy, and clearly enjoying the view. (Shaven chested guys being a rarity in the 12th century!) It's a good scene; believable in as much as this young, inexperienced woman is certainly going to find that figure of a man attractive. And the idea is continued nicely into Episode 4, "Angel of Death", when Guy comes knocking at Marian's door like a big bad wolf, testing the lock. At that point in time it seemed like the love triangle concept was progressing. As indeed it does when, in the subsequent episode, Guy offers her an escape route from the Castle in order to prevent her being “given” to Winchester. But then what happens? Guy leaves her room, and encounters the Sheriff in the corridor. The Sheriff makes him shed a tear, and even wipes that tear away for him. It's undeniably a very powerful moment, but it's just not consistent with what we've witnessed only moments ago on the other side of that door.
The natural ending to this Jonas Armstrong version of Robin Hood is Episode 7 ("Show Me the Money"), the one in which Edward dies and Marian rides off into Sherwood Forest. In that episode Guy still continues to display some convincing regard for Marian by giving her back the dagger her father used to kill a guard and, for a trained assassin at least, does show a modicum of emotion when he attempts to console her on her father's death. In my opinion this also marks the end of any character development as far as the love triangle is concerned. I concede Armitage’s script has been much better in this respect than it was in series 1, but I also fear that the paucity of ideas beyond that love triangle sidelined other main players like Harry Lloyd’s Will Scarlet and Anjali Jay’s Djaq, and precipitated the crisis in plot developments yet to come.
Gullible Guy, who could stand one side of Robin Hood’s “dead” body on a cart, believing that Marian, Hood’s fiancé standing the other side, doesn’t hardly notice it, would still have his moments. Stone deaf Guy, who speaks to Robin Hood up a tree for about half an episode before he realises Marian is up there to, would still get his chance to redeem himself, as when he chooses to defend Nottingham alongside Marian, against the army intent on avenging the apparent death of a “missing” Sheriff. It’s another fine moment, but to get there we had to have Marian leaving the fiancé she’d become engaged to only hours previous, and hear a Will Scarlet (still unforgiving of Allan’s treachery), suggest she marry Gisborne for her own safety!

In my review of Episode 11 ("Treasure of the Nation"), I wrote that that show “wipes clean the previous slate on Marian and Guy's relationship to draw it afresh". Guy had discovered her identity as the Night Watchman, and his shock was well delivered. He didn’t kill her in a rage. He ran from the barn, unable to cope with the surge of conflicting emotions in his mind. Armitage is brilliant in these sequences, producing the small blade, demanding to see the scar from last year. Here he is a really great anti-hero, and not just a two dimensional monster. But the Gisborne character as a whole, always in my opinion built on shaky and inconsistent foundations, is about to tumble down.
It is not Allan A Dale’s slip of the tongue which actually reveals Marian’s secret identity to the Sheriff of Nottingham, it is Gisborne. And so it is that all the players come to be in the Holy Lands at once; where Guy’s troubled dreams take on a most unholy (or at least puzzling), nature.

I’m sure there’s a good reason Why Guy was having dreams about Allan’s massage techniques in episode 12, but they completely eluded me. When it turns out to be the Sheriff’s hands on his bare shoulders, commenting “I hope you’re not too disappointed”, the tone is certainly more sinister than previous funny quips such as “Why don’t you ever kiss my ring?” Even more sinister is the way the Sheriff refers to the deserting Allan as Guy’s “boy”. Within the context of the whole series I’ve been watching to date, this dark scene makes no sense to me at all. Furthermore, I would be slightly concerned if suggestions about a character’s sexual preferences were linked by implication to their “evil, villainous deeds” in a show which screens during a prime time slot for children. I am not saying that is what’s happening; and I certainly love Keith Allen’s interpretation of the Sheriff (as already stated in my introduction about the “camp“ tradition of the role). But it is an example of how Series 2 left the rails as it drew to it’s conclusion.

We all now know what that conclusion was. Guy of Gisborne could have accepted Marian’s proposal, killed the Sheriff, and returned to Nottingham with her as his bride. It would have drawn reprisals from Prince John, but he was willing to stand against that army before. Instead he remains loyal to the Sheriff, informs on her yet again, and only asks that he be allowed to take Marian "by force" upon their return to Nottingham. When the Sheriff decides otherwise, and has Marian bound to the same stakes as Robin Hood, Guy has no objection. Why were we even surprised he ends up slaying her with the blade when he has already left her for dead in the desert?
Why? Because “we” still imagine the talented, handsome Richard Armitage, in all his leather suited splendour, to be Lord Byron, or Heathcliffe, or any number of such tall dark handsome figures from the annals of Gothic literature. But Armitage was never given that chance. That was never the Guy of Gisborne in his script. A pity.

Joe Armstrong as Alan A Dale.

Robin Hood is a Legend; "a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history, and to possess certain qualities that give the tale the appearance of being true or real". (Wikipedia). That status is not the consequence of one TV show that runs for a couple of years (or a staggering 5 years and 143 episodes in Richard Greene's case!) So I make no apologies for continuing to review the current Jonas Armstrong adaptation within the greater context of that Legend, and how it has developed and changed over the years. Much as I admire the work of Jonas, Lucy, and Harry, the story of Robin Hood has been around for centuries before them, and will doubtless be around for centuries to come.

Great stories thrive and survive because the basic elements of that story are solid and well constructed; each character contributing something unique, heroes and villains alike, which goes to make the group's whole greater than just a sum of their parts. And such was certainly the case with Robin Hood and his Merry Men. Occasionally, that legend will be added to, as when writer Richard Carpenter introduced Nasir, a veritable stroke of genius that every subsequent version of the legend has duplicated in its own way. And, although virtually every Maid Marian of film and television has been more than able to take care of herself with either bow or sword, Lucy Griffith's Night Watchman may well prove to be another addition to the ages old story which we will now see extended into the future. A less attractive proposition, I suggest, would be the continuation of Alan A Dale as a traitor.

Recently I wrote about mine and my readership's admiration for Sam Troughton's performance as Much. I also think the other almost unsung star of Robin Hood Series 2 has been Joe Armstrong as Alan A Dale. What a great performance.

Before Series 1, Joe Armstrong had certainly acquired more television experience than the other young cast members. The "strike a pose" directorial style of that first series (very noticeable to all of you taking screen shots!), suited Joe down to the ground. He exhibited the characteristics of a young Michael Caine, keenly aware that it's not always what you do in front of the lens, it's what you don't do, and he had the ability to catch and hold the camera's attention really well. In terms of script, his big moment came when the Sheriff of Nottingham hung his brother ahead of schedule (and ahead of Robin's attempt to save him), and it would have been nice to see that scene played out a little more. However, greater challenges were ahead.

In Series 2, Alan A Dale changed sides. We all knew he was growing increasingly concerned about his future with Robin Hood; the Lord of Loxley who would return to silk sheets and fine wines upon the King's return, leaving the outlaws in something of an unknown predicament. But we truly never expected the man who had seen his brother hanging at the end of the Sheriff's rope, to now join up with the Villains of the piece like some latter day Judas. It's still a ridiculous idea. It doesn't work. But from an actor's point of view the idea is of course manna from heaven. Everyone wants to be the baddie because of the possibilities it involves. And Joe Armstrong certainly more than rose to the challenge.

Alongside Lucy Griffiths, I would rate Joe Armstrong as the other star of the show who's performances really stood out in Series 2. Yes I hate the idea of Allan A Dale being a traitor, but the way Joe enacted the role, with his "cheeky chappie" one liners ("I'm good with nuns"), his audacious backchat with Gisborne (especially when Gisborne tells him to saddle his horse), and his opportunistic money spinning attitude, somehow seemed to stay in character with what had transpired before, and his yarn spinning linked well with the story telling Alan A Dale of legend.

Perhaps more than anything, Alan A Dale is effectively used in the show to illustrate how Robin Hood has lost the command of his men just as Much shows how Robin has lost contact with his people. As Alan says: “You’re always in the sun, Robin. I’m always in the shade”. The tension behind the two duals between Robin Hood and Allan, one above the oil vat and one in the cellar, comes from the fact that this is a fight between two men that were once on the same side. There hasn't been a fight between Gisborne and Robin to match either of those sequences (mainly because Robin runs away!), and Episode 7's sequence in the cellar is simply breathtaking.

Joe Armstrong has a solid fan base of his own. (Visit this link). Within the comments boxes of this blog he might not yet have gathered the same level of teenage attention as that bestowed on Harry and Jonas, but I'd put my money on him as a star of the future.

Robin Hood. Marian returns?

Robin Hood fans like me who haven't yet shelled out for the DVDs might like to know that series 1 is being broadcast again, starting February 4th, 7.00pm weekdays, on UKTV Gold.

U.K. Hoodies might also like to compare the American BBC site with the British one on the following link:

BBC America (Robin Hood section).

Have I heard Marian is coming back? No. We all know "talks have been taking place" (note this is also termed a rumour by wikipedia):

wikipedia Lucy Griffiths.

Has Lucy been filming her parts in Hungary? This rumour all stems from Keith Allen apparently saying he had lent her his apartment there; the logic being that if she's using it, then he's not over there yet. But once again, no substantial evidence.

The definitive statement, that Lucy does NOT return, remains the one circulated by the BBC and Tiger productions:

BBC Nottingham page.

Hoodies, please credit your sources, and give a link, when making future contributions to this debate.

I'll reserve all judgement until I hear an official announcement. Meanwhile, these action figures might be worth checking out. (Remember to keep the box!)

Robin Hood action figures.

Robin Hood, Series 2, Picture Gallery 16.

Robin Hood (Jonas Armstrong) keeps an eye on Sherwood Forest, whilst Guy of Gisborne (Richard Armitage), does the same in Nottingham.

Marian (Lucy Griffiths) stands revealed as the Night Watchman, and Gisborne demands to see the scar he inflicted on her a year ago. (See sidebar for a picture of that scar).

Robin Hood gets down on one knee to propose to Marian in the middle of Sherwood Forest. Little did they know how sad the circumstance of their final wedding vows would be, taking place as they did on the blood stained desert of the Holy lands.

The Sheriff of Nottingham seemed ever too eager to drive a wedge between Guy and Marian. On route to Plymouth the Sheriff discloses that Guy was indeed the assasin who atempted to kill King Richard.

Sam Troughton is just Too Much!

This latest TV version of Robin Hood has received a LOT of negative comment recently. Most of it in response to the ending, but to be honest, quite a bit of it had been building up since about half way through the second series. So I thought I'd offer a couple of posts emphasising positive aspects which, in my opinion, continued to shine.

Sam Troughton as Much was a favourite character of mine from the outset. Troughton himself has a gift when it comes to delivering his lines, showing the comic timing of a real pro. A good example would be his comment in Episode 6, as they pass the guards dressed as minstrels. When the guard's curiosity is aroused at the unlikely sight of Little John in all that garb, Much quickly retorts "he's the drummer". And Troughton also knows exactly how to react to the teasing comments directed against him, as when the boys in Episode 3, identifying each outlaw in turn, say "oh you must be the servant".

But of course it's not just the humour that we get from Sam Troughton's character. In a series which featured only two female roles, both reluctant to exhibit their softer side in the male domain of Sherwood Forest, Much was never afraid to wear his heart totally on his sleeve. He would worry terribly about Robin Hood's often reckless courage, as when he was dodging the booby traps in Episode 2, and he would frequently seek reassurance that Robin still cared for his companionship, especially after hearing of the leader's engagement to Marian (the news of which brought unseen tears to Much's eyes). Amidst all this pathos, as Much increasingly deliberated upon his future as "the lone outlaw", it was only ever Djaq who took a moment to express her friendship and gratitude to Much with a simple kiss on the cheek.

And yet, more than all of this, I think there is another reason why Much has been so well conceived in this series:

As stated elsewhere in my Robin Hood blogs, Much was only ever a small but significant part of the legend. Whereas the other outlaws line up like a positive medieval team of super heroes; the giant Little John with his staff, beautiful Marian the spy, Friar Tuck (sadly missing here) with a bible in one hand and a sword in the other, it befell Much (the Miller's Son) to simply be the common man. Much represented what Robin Hood was fighting for; indeed the very reason he became outlawed, when saving Much from the Sheriff of Nottingham's men after being caught poaching.

All that changed of course in series 1 which introduced a new Much; Robin of Loxley's servant and subsequent Brother in Arms. But that's where the new concept gets particularly brilliant, whether by intention or default. As opposed to being the symbol of what Robin Hood's cause should be about (remember "rob from the rich and give to the poor"?), he became a barometer of Robin Hood's worth as a leader. And, I'm sad to say, this Robin Hood was found lacking.
Jonas Armstrong's Robin Hood was a poor leader of men, and one who lost sight of the common man. He neglected to pick up on the signs that Allan A Dale and Will Scarlett had such concerns about their future that Allan even deserted him altogether (both outlaws having already left him once in the past). Little John and Marian also engage in acts of defiance, trying to return to the basic cause of serving the people of Nottingham, but Robin Hood is blinkered in his blind faith that the clue to the future is King Richard. And as he looses sight of the common man it is no wonder he loses sight of Much.

When the outlaws play Djaq's honesty game, whilst preparing to make their last stand, they all nod in agreement when Much expresses his feeling that he has been taken for granted and undervalued. The greatness of Sam Troughton's Much is in the fact that he has learned from the horrors of war, and returned a better man. (Remember the tears in the bathtub at the start of series 1?)

Sadly, this Robin Hood has not. He responds to Much's comment by saying he is afraid to confront those horrors for fear it will impede his abilities to be the leader. He doesn't realise it would have strengthened them. And it is the new Much character through which we now not just illustrate what traditionally Robin Hood was all about, but judge his current failure.

Sam Troughton was absolutely brilliant at realising all aspects of his role.


Find out more about Much (the Miller's Son) on this link

Robin Hood, Series 2, Picture Gallery 15.

Guy of Gisborne promises Allan A Dale his services will be rewarded. We all know that Gisborne's rewards are invariably a blade in the gut. Allan seems to be the gullible one this time.

Marian contemplates the gallows, whilst Allan A Dale plays the Night Watchman.

The King's Mother takes a curious interest in Djaq, a Saracen amongst the Saxons.

Marian is foolish enough to think she can influence and control Gisborne, but only the Sheriff of Nottingham is ever capable of that.

Marian's last smiles. For many more pictures of the death of Marian follow this link to the Robin Hood Pictures blog.

Djaq and Will went down the hill?

Will Scarlet quietly makes his mark.
By the end of Robin Hood series 1, Harry Lloyd's dark good looks had certainly established him as probably the most popular male cast member with the teenage viewing audience. However, his Will Scarlet character was still lacking in definition. The direction he received from the producers often seeming to amount to little more than "strike a pose". So, along with the Harry fans, I awaited Series 2 with interest; wondering how Will Scarlet would develop.

I had wanted an "angry" Scarlet, of the kind Ray Winstone instigated with "Robin of Sherwood". After all, the producers of Robin Hood had made several disparaging remarks about that earlier series, and so surely they were going to show us how it should be done? Well, not exactly. Poor or inconsistent character development would be a running criticism of the programme.
Between Robin Hood Series 1 and 2, Harry Lloyd appeared in two episodes of Doctor Who as the "possessed" school prefect Jeremy Baines, and he was really good. Given a well defined, well directed role, I actually think that performance was his best to date. Therefore, when Robin Hood returned to our screens, we anticipated that both Harry's popularity and proven ability would merit a higher profile. We were wrong.
Will Scarlet's big moment came in episode 4, "Angel of Death", when he witnessed the murder of his father. For that one episode, I at least got the "angry Scarlet" I had wanted. But you know what? Good performance though it was, it just wasn't quite right for Harry Lloyd.

Then, for the next eight episodes Will Scarlet became a figure in the background, as plot lines increasingly revolved around Robin Hood (Jonas Armstrong), Allan, A Dale (Joe Armstrong), and Guy of Gisborne (Richard Armitage). This lack of attention to Will's character is precisely why "that love scene" between him and Djaq in episode thirteen was so painful; neither the viewers nor the actors had been given the opportunity to find it at all convincing. A little prior development would have been all it needed to make it work; a walk in the forest, or a few exchanged "looks". But all we got was Djaq's response to Will seeing her in a dress. Fans were otherwise left guessing as to whether or not he seemed to be sitting rather close to her in any given ambush scene, and as soon as the script relies on the wishful thinking of the viewer, rather than the written page, trouble looms. (Witness the Gisborne / Armitage divide for example).
To end on a positive note, now the series has ended, I find myself more aware of Harry Lloyd's version of Will Scarlet than I had been during its transmission. And maybe (like Gordon Kennedy), this is where Harry Lloyd's strengths lie; making a lasting impression through a succession of small opportunities. I find myself really liking this new angle on Scarlet; an inventor, the person who designed and constructed the hide out in Sherwood Forest; the person who turned musical instruments into deadly weapons; the outlaw Robin Hood most confided in (above Much and John), when it became apparent a traitor was in their midst. I may not have got my "angry Scarlet" (and thank goodness I didn't get a 1930s / 50s style minstrel in a red coat!), but I did get a new interpretation of the outlaw that has proven more interesting in retrospect than was perhaps apparent at the time.

Question: Harry Lloyd is in the upcoming Richard the Lionheart mini-series, playing "Lucas". Does anyone know if this is a totally new character, or is it meant to be Will in disguise? Also, If Lucas is indeed Will, where does Djaq fit in?Djaq, missing in action.
What happened to Djaq? After Robin Hood series 1, she and Much were probably my favourite characters. Anjali Jay in particular had proven most impressive in taking on the role of the Saracen outlaw that began with Mark Ryan in the 1980s, and which in 2006 (given the world situation as it is), had become an even more important role.
When I visit Sherwood Forest I see children from all manner of cultural and religious backgrounds buying their souvenir Robin Hood bows, arrows and hats. That's precisely the way it should be. Robin Hood is a hero of the people. All the people. The early legends about Robin Hood were never linked to King Richard's Crusades and, especially after Michael Praed's Robin of Sherwood dropped all that baggage long ago, I think it bordered on crass stupidity in 2006 to drag such links up again.
So for me, the Saracen outlaw tradition is not only an important one, but one that carries a certain responsibility. More so when that character is also an intelligent, independent, woman of action. At the outset, Anjali Jay absolutely shone in the role. The contrast between her scientific mind, and the superstitions of the Saxon outlaws, was good humoured and well written. One might say "It's only entertainment", but entertainment is where we get a lot of our ideas from, and can be a powerful tool in breaking down barriers.

After Robin Hood Series 1 Anjali Jay had a lead role in "Blind Dating", in which her ability to balance comedy with drama came across well. And certainly when Robin Hood returned to our screens for a second series we all expected to see more of Djaq, the woman who had "saved" Marian's life. We were wrong.
I hate what the writers and producers did to Djaq in series 2. Suddenly this strong female "warrior" was wearing a fitted waistcoat to enhance her curves, before making her only real subsequent contribution to series 2 in episode 2 (The Beauty and the Booby), when she was required to use her cleavage to distract the guards. And as if that wasn't enough, to add insult to injury, the very woman who had been able to perform surgery on Marian in Series 1, was now totally unable to help deliver a baby in Series 2.
Anjali Jay was wasted in Robin Hood Series 2, whilst the character of Djaq was systematically destroyed.

Okay Hoodies, over to YOUR opinons. The comment box beckons!

Robin Hood, Series 2. Picture Gallery 14

Robin Hood carries Marian to her grave in the desert sands, as the original English Rose dies a long way from home...

There is a bronze age stone structure called Robin Hood's Stride in Matlock, Derbyshire, the site of several stone circles.

Robin Hood's magnificent seven are reduced to just four before returning to Sherwood Forest from the Holy Lands.

Robin Hood. Series 2, Picture Gallery for Episode 13

Robin Hood (Jonas Armstrong) in the Holy Lands.

Marian (Lucy Griffiths) in chains.

Did all UK Hoodies notice talented Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq in the role of the servant girl spy? (above).

King Richard (Steven Waddington) and the Crusader Carter. At the time of writing a mini-series about King Richard is already in post production. It will once again star Steven Waddington as Richard, and Harry Lloyd as "Lucas". Given the world situation as it is, one awaits with interest to see what angle this will take...

"Let the desert decide", as King Richard leaves his most loyal soldiers to their fate.

Robin Hood wears quite a different disguise to greet the King's would be assassin.

Marian lays dying. Not at all the ending we wanted, but another great performance from Lucy Griffiths.

An emotional goodbye to Djaq and Will Scarlet, as Robin Hood sees in their romance all that he himself has lost.

A full review of Robin Hood series 2, Episode 13, featuring the death of Marian, can be found below.

Next Weekend: "Djaq and Will went down the hill?" Did we get enough Harry and Anjali in series 2? Keep your opinions until then Hoodies!

Robin Hood. Series 2, Picture Gallery for Episode 12

Robin Hood's birthday is interrupted by the arrival of the Sheriff of Nottingham's mercenaries. But Djaq's exploding pig party trick is about to save the day.

Marian attempts to assasinate the Sheriff. It will be her final act of combat.

Robin Hood and his not so Merry Men engage in a truth game on what looks set to be their last night on Earth.

Djaq and Will express their love for each other in a scene which had even die hard Harry Lloyd fans cringing.

One of the most bizarre scenes in Robin Hood: Gisborne dreams of Marian and Will massaging his shoulders, before he awakes to find the Sheriff say "I hope you're not too disappointed"...

A full account of Robin Hood series 2, Episode 12, appears below.

Lucy Griffiths tribute: Marian R.I.P.

Did Marian love Robin Hood? Of course she did. It was written long, long ago, in Faith systems older than Christ, that when the Green man comes down into the village from the forest during the first days of Spring, and takes a Maid (virgin) for his bride, then the harvest will be rich and plentiful, and only good will return to the land. Did they marry? Of course they did. But probably not in Edwinstowe Church. The Green Man would have married his Maid in a simple Pagan ceremony, deep in the forest, and long before subsequent faith systems made Pagan sound like a dirty word.
This is surely the basis of the Robin Hood legend: Two characters of equal importance, whose love provides a source of hope for all. So it's not too difficult to see how, decades later, the tale incorporated teenage youths from the streets of Nottingham, desperate to try and improve the circumstances of their families. Neither is it hard to see how that tale was extended to include the Royalist propaganda that King Richard's return to England (a country he disliked), would mean a return to happier times. Therefore, even though I don't subscribe to the theory that the "real" Robin Hood was ever Lord of Loxley, nor had anything whatsoever to do with King Richard, the fact that the relationship between Robin and Marian was a story of hope and optimism against all the odds, was central to Lucy Griffiths' role. It was her skill in portraying that aspect of the legend which made her particular Maid Marian not only so very popular, but arguably the main character in the series itself.
Our Marian, the old Sheriff of Nottingham's daughter, fell in love with Lord of Loxley during their teens. It was a "first love", but no less the serious for it. We never knew too much about their early courtship, but Marian's slightly petulant outbursts when Robin returned from the Holy Lands, exhibit both a degree of immaturity, and her obvious feelings for him. This is in part a teenage girl feeling deserted by the man she loves, embarking on who knows what adventures abroad (with the enemy and with the girls); but it is also a young woman who has witnessed at first hand the suffering caused at home by the neglect of an absent King. She sees the truth which Robin Hood will never see: the King has deserted them. And it is this reality which pushes Marian towards adulthood. A "maid" she might indeed remain, but she will reach a level of maturity beyond that of Robin Hood.

We all remember those early days; Lucy in her "Top Shop" styles, the cause of much good humoured comment here. But that was a part of her charm; the "girl next door" (if an ex-Sheriff's daughter might be considered "next door"!). And it was a tribute to Lucy Griffiths that she quickly gathered a huge and loyal female audience. We all remember her typically teenage problems with her father, Edward. He of course only wanted what was best for her, and once Robin of Loxley had lost his title, Gisborne soon seemed a more appropriate match. Such is the way with fathers.
Lucy Griffiths' Marian was not the first Maid Marian to be a capable fighter, archer, or spy. All these qualities were prevalent in the first successful television series of the 1950s. But what was new was her determination to "go it alone" on behalf of the people. Not for Lucy the waiting around in expectation that Robin Hood would "see the light". Witnessing the horrors of war would never change Robin the way it did Much, and so it was that on several occasions Marian donned the Night Watchman costume to deliver food to the people of Nottingham. Her tactics were quintessentially female: No more violence than was necessary (we never knew where she acquired her fighting skills), and if all else failed there was always her beauty and her feminine guile. Sadly, it was her reliance on these latter qualities which led to her fate.

Marian never loved Gisborne. As an inexperienced young girl she was not unaware of his physical attraction (Armitage with his armour off was an attractive sight), but it never went deeper. However, true to the tradition of Marian being a symbol of hope, Lucy did harbour thoughts that Gisborne might somehow be "saved" from himself. She believed that, if anyone could change him from being a simple beast with a basic urge for power, it was her. That was the charitable side of her disposition. It's what Marian, the "original English Rose", was all about. But she was wrong. Gisborne's pulse only ever quickened when some kind of abuse was involved, such as the threat of killing either her or her father if she didn't comply with his demands. On the one occasion when Marian really seemed willing to lower all resistance, offering herself to Gisborne if the Sheriff were dead, Gisborne loses all interest and gives her up for execution. The fact that Series 2 ended with Gisborne riding away on the back of the Sheriff's horse, just as Series 1 had ended with Marian riding away on the back of Robin Hood's, was an iconic and meaningful image not lost on this reviewer at least.
The relationship between the Beauty Marian and the Beast Gisborne confused many. I've always thought that was due to "wishful thinking" on the part of many fans, that Gisborne would reveal himself as a dark, romantic type; a roguish lover. But that was never, ever in the script. Gisborne watched Marian's hair shorn in public (Series 1, episode 4). It's how he got his kicks. Nevertheless, the relationship was the most important in the series because it contrasted Marian as a symbol of what England could be about, against Gisborne as a symbol of brute force and ambition driven solely by a desire for power. It was fascinating to observe Lucy Griffiths rise to the challenge of this role, and develop as an actor. Remember Series 1, Episode 7, when she was locked in the bedroom with Gisborne, and Robin was on the balcony? We were all terrified because she took us inside her mind; terrified at the balancing act she was having to perform between preserving what she could of the England she remembered in her father's day, and the risk of physical attack from the man threatening her in the privacy of her own quarters. I think it was from that moment on that we knew Lucy Griffiths was the star of the show, her character representing what "the cause" was all about. It could only be Gisborne's small blade which scarred and drew blood from that character at the end of Series 1, a climax by which Lucy's acting skills had developed beyond all criticism.

On that occasion, Marian didn't die. She rode away with her true love, and the prophesy of the Green Man of the forest and the village Maiden was fulfilled. It could have, maybe should have, ended there. The confusion which followed, often expressed within the comments boxes on this site, was never anything to do with Lucy Griffiths who retained her popularity throughout. It was to do with the depiction of her character. And maybe that was inevitable. After all, what role is the village Maiden to play once her love is given, and the harvest is good?
All of Marian's problems in Series 2 came not only from the Beast she thought she could control, but from the man she loved. As Robin Hood stubbornly refused to turn his attentions from the King in the Holy Lands, Marian became increasingly embroiled in her own intent to fight for causes closer to home. But in doing so she quickly got out of her depth: Even Count "Fruitcake" Freidrich could see through her feminine advances when she pretended to serve the Sheriff, and later on, holding a dagger to the spine of the Sheriff's armour maker was just asking for trouble, and she ended up spending the next part of the series confined to quarters.

The true climax of Series 2 is the climax of Lucy's character between Episodes 6 and 8. We were promised a "darker" series than the first, and this was where it truly culminated: In Episode 6, when Gisborne leaves her room and meets the Sheriff in the corridor, we know he will only ever really be the Sheriff's "boy", and that Marian has really pushed her luck too far in trying to control this Beast who then watches her pimped out to Winchester. In Episode 7 Lucy gives another award winning performance when her father is slain. Award winning? Well, it should have been. I can understand the accolades poured upon Billie Piper for her performance as Rose in Doctor Who. It helped re-launch the series. So I fail to understand why Lucy Griffiths hasn't been applauded in the same way by the industry at large. Possible because of perceived faults in Robin Hood as a whole, and certainly not because of her contribution.
Episode 7 could have (should have?) been the end. Once again, as with the end of Series 1, the Green man prophesy is fulfilled as she rides towards the forest. But for Episode 8 at least there is still a kind of insane logic to the proceedings. Accusations have been levelled about a lack of continuity, but by now the whole world in which Marian is living has turned upside down: She is a young woman now. Nothing makes one embrace adulthood quicker than the death of a parent. But she does not giving herself a chance to grieve for her father, distracting herself instead with her fight for justice in Nottingham. And of course, because of Robin's attitude, she doesn't only find herself alone in that fight, but also witnesses Allan's desertion from the ranks. Marian has surely never felt so alone as she felt at this moment. When Robin Hood proposes in Episode 9, of course she agrees. But her words echo back to us now like someone alone and confused: "Who will give me away?" These are no longer the words of the focussed, energetic, youthful Marian we knew. Her time (England's time?) was running out; if not actually been and gone.

In the end, with her judgement impaired by confusion, Marian stood too close to the Beast one too many times. She was boxing far above her weight, and it was inevitable that Gisborne's blade would not fail a second time anymore than his naked, animal aggression could ever be tamed or controlled. His greatest desires were neither romantic nor sexual. His greatest skill was to kill.
This is not a fan site. This is not simply about Lucy Griffiths, however excellent she has certainly proven to be. This site is about the BBC's "Robin Hood" in relation to the whole legend. And it is the death of Marian which has effectively killed, though not necessarily ended, the BBC's series. In the timeless legend of Robin Hood, it is the love and future plans between Robin and Marian, which bring hope of a brighter future. The death of Marian, and the meaningless waffle Robin Hood came out with in response to Much's more moving and personal revelations about the horror of war, meant an end to all optimism. It is a cynical ending, devoid of true innovation, and one destined to prevent this particular interpretation of the Legend of Robin Hood from becoming an enduring classic through the years ahead.

I know everyone here would like to wish Lucy Griffiths a long and successful career.

Robin Hood. Series 2, Episode 12 "A Good Day To Die", and Episode 13 "We Are Robin Hood".

Episode 12: "A Good Day To Die"

The outlaws are in a (rather familiar) barn in Nettlestone Village, Much having planned a surprise birthday party for Robin Hood. But the real surprise comes when over 100 mercenary soldiers surround the barn, word having been leaked of Robin's presence. Their attack on the barn is stopped by Djaq's use of some "black powder" she had kept concealed from Robin (remember last series?), but it is only enough to delay their seemingly inevitable fate. The mercenaries have orders not to burn the barn down, because the Sheriff wants Robin Hood's head on a stick, so they content themselves to starve the outlaws out.

Meanwhile, in Nottingham Castle, Guy of Gisborne tells Marian he has to go away for a while and seeks her reassurance that she won't masquerade as the Night Watchman in his absence. Later, Allan A Dale tells Marian that Guy's trip also involves himself, but that all he knows is they are bound for Portsmouth. However, as Portsmouth is the port most likely to be used by the King, it doesn't take her long to figure out that an assassination attempt must be involved. Allan refuses to help her, and when she goes in search of Robin, she of course finds his hideout empty.

Returning to Nottingham Castle, Marian takes desperate measures, punching Allan to the ground and stealing his sword, intent upon killing the Sheriff of Nottingham. (Apparently this is okay now? The Sheriff having been given total immunity by the outlaws before this?) Anyway, as she is creeping up behind him, the Sheriff catches her reflection in a glass and steps aside.

Marian is now chained before the Sheriff, when Guy and Allan come to the room. Allan confesses that she did indeed manage to steal his sword, and that "she's good, but I'm better". This comment costs Marian dearly, for it reveals to the Sheriff that Allan and Guy knew of her combat skills. Guy now goes one better and admits Marian was the Night Watchman! The Sheriff's reaction is predictable, and after he calms down he decides Marian should accompany them to the Holy Lands; his master plan now incorporating a deadly twist. On route to the Holy Lands, the Sheriff also reveals to Marian that Guy is the assassin who once tried to kill the King. (This is only a brief scene, but probably quite important if we are to believe Marian's changing attitude towards Guy in this episode; an attitude which has caused some concern amongst Hoodies for its lack of consistency. There is a similar very brief moment on the journey when Guy asks Allan if Marian still loves Robin Hood.)

Back at the barn, Robin Hood's Merry Men are not feeling too merry. Arguments are breaking out due to all the stress. So Djaq suggests a game of "Kaleela". (A kind of Truth or Dare game, the spelling and true name of which escapes me). Djaq goes first, speaking of her affection for all those present, but suddenly confessing that it is Will Scarlet she truly and actually loves! Not only that, but Will reciprocates in kind, now professing undying love for Djaq! And it doesn't stop there. Pretty soon Little John is screaming like a banshee, having a complete breakdown, wanting his "good day to die" to come a few hours earlier than scheduled! (Sorry guys, I found this complete sequence involving Djaq, Will, and John, unconvincing and faintly ridiculous).

As their final dawn approaches, Much and Robin Hood will each undergo a turn at Djaq's truth game. Much takes the opportunity to say how he feels undervalued, and "taken for granted". His speech is a particularly good one (Sam Troughton once again on brilliant form), about once being "brothers in arms" with Robin, suffering the horrors of war together. When Robin Hood speaks, he confesses he hasn't been able to face those horrors for fear of losing his ability with the bow, and that trying to avoid killing now is his way to try and atone for what happened in the war. If the intent here is to clarify the relationships between the main characters at the end of the series, then the bizarre sequence which follows gives us even more of the same: Guy is having what might be construed as an erotic dream, being massaged from behind by both Allan and Marian in alternation. However, when he awakes he finds the hands on his shoulders are those of the Sheriff, saying "I hope you're not too disappointed", before informing him Allan (his "boy"), has run away. The Sheriff says to let Allan go. (Apparently three's company!)

Allan A Dale has of course gone to help Robin Hood, blagging his way past the mercenaries, and entering the barn under the pretence of taking the outlaws back to Nottingham. Allan tells Robin Hood of the Sheriff's plan to kill the King in Holy Lands, but once the mercenaries realise what he is up to the outlaws are forced to fight their way through 100+ mercenaries and escape. (It seems 5 outlaws couldn't take on 100+ mercenaries, but 6 can!?) Allan then tells Robin Hood that Marian is with the Sheriff and Guy on route to Plymouth, so all go in pursuit as Robin cries out "I'm coming my love"...

(Pictures for Episode 12 appear above).

Episode 13: "We Are Robin Hood".

As both episodes ran together in the UK I am guessing that the start of Episode 13 is when Robin Hood reaches the Holy Lands, Marian having now been chained in prison by the Sheriff of Nottingham. The Sheriff's plan is simpler than the editing would have one believe. Basically he is having someone imitate Prince Saladin's envoy, have him go to King Richard to arrange a peace conference, and then kill Richard when he turns up. In an attempt to foil this plan, and not knowing Robin Hood has survived the ambush, Marian offers Guy her hand in marriage if he will kill the Sheriff.

The outlaws reach Bassam's House (he being the chap with the pigeons). With Djaq's support Robin Hood is able to convince Bassam that he only wants to take King Richard home, and help bring about peace. However, one of the servant girls hears Robin and informs those working with the Sheriff of Nottingham of his whereabouts. The Sheriff is delighted, and embellishes to his plan: Now his fake envoy from Saladin will not only lure Richard into a trap, he will also tell the King that Robin is an assassin working for the Black Knights! And so it is that, when Robin Hood goes to the King's camp, to be greeted by the Crusader Carter as a friend, he also finds himself arrested by the King as a traitor. However, rather than execute Robin, King Richard "lets the desert decide" their fate and has them all tied to stakes under the hot sun.

As they are suffering under that sun the Sheriff decides to add to their number. Guy of Gisborne has told the Sheriff that Marian asked him to kill him, but that he has decided to remain loyal. All he asks in return from the Sheriff is that he be allowed to take Marian "by force" as his bride upon their return to Nottingham. But the Sheriff decides otherwise, and they bind Marian to the same stakes as Robin Hood. Once the Sheriff rides away, Robin and Marian begin to trade wedding vows with one another, but their ceremony is interrupted by the arrival of Carter, who sets everyone free.

The action now quickly moves on to the meeting between the Sheriff's fake Saladin envoy, and King Richard. But it is Robin Hood pretending to be the King, and a fight ensues between both sides before the Sheriff and his group retreat to a nearby town and wait in ambush for the pursuing outlaws. The Sheriff now enhances his reputation by plunging a sword deep into Carter, and even shoots an arrow into King Richard's back! But the climax is yet to come…

As King Richard lies wounded, Guy of Gisborne advances to finish him off. Only Marian is close enough to stand in his way. She cannot step aside and watch England be killed, but what false promises can she offer Guy now that haven't been broken a million times before? In one fatal act of defiance she proclaims her love of Robin Hood, and that she would never marry Guy if he were the last man in the world. Guy's response is swift, and his sword plunges deep into Marian's stomach before he rides away behind the man he has devoted his murderous services to.

Laying in the dust, Marian's first reaction is to laugh: "Am I beyond even Djaq's amazing talents?" But she soon realises Djaq cannot withdraw the blade without killing her, and that the situation is deadly serious. Smiling as best she can, Marian has Robin continue with the wedding vows they began earlier in the desert, but this time with King Richard's ring for blessing. Then, slowly, painfully, she herself extracts the blade….

End piece: Not everyone gets to go home. King Richard (true to history) stays in the Holy Lands. Djaq and Will embark on a new life together, as Robin Hood looks on with envy at their happiness, reminding him as it does of the girl he has lost forever.

The BBC tell us Robin Hood will return next year for a third series.

Comment: I may no doubt be in a very small minority here, but I thought that was a very disappointing finale to the series. Where to start?

The "truth game" outbursts from Djaq (who hasn't really said a word all series) and Will were totally unconvincing, and even the actors knew it. The writing here felt like a "quick fix" to allow two main players out of the series. Little John's contribution in this scene was equally out of character, and devoid of the conviction Gordon Kennedy has delivered elsewhere. Poor script. But if I thought those scenes were unconvincing, they were as nothing when compared to the sight of King Richard spouting "We are Robin Hood". Give me a break.

Recently there has been a lot of comment about the Guy / Marian relationship. Although I have been critical of the Guy character (not Armitage himself), I had thought that had resolved itself for the better in Episode 11. Seemingly not. Once again Lucy Griffiths proved herself the star of this particular series during those final scenes, but I for one felt oddly removed from events I no longer found convincing. Sorry. End of series 1? Tears all 'round. End of Series 2? Not a one.

(Pictures for episode 13 appear above).

Robin Hood Series 2, Episode 12 / 13 preview pictures.

We don't usually do previews, but seeing as the next episode is the last in the current series, here are some pictures from it. (And yes, that is Allan A Dale tied up amongst them...)

Robin Hood. Series 2, Picture Gallery 11.

Robin Hood (Jonas Armstrong) takes aim against the Sheriff of Nottingham (Keith Allen); arch enemies destined to do battle across decades past and those yet to come.

The Night Watchman (Lucy Griffiths) prepares for what could be her final mission!

A romantic encounter in Sherwood Forest. Teenage lovers find their affections and their relationship, complicated by England's troubled times.

Robin Hood fires an arrow through an alignement in the mystical stone circle, to locate the whereabouts of hidden treasure.

Robin Hood. Series 2. Episode 11: "Treasure of the Nation".

Robin Hood, episode 11 (an episode which wipes clean the previous slate on Marian and Guy's relationship to draw it afresh), begins with Robin's men ambushing a convoy of grain being escorted through Sherwood Forest by Allan A Dale. Later, whilst concealing the grain in one of their many secret locations, Robin Hood ponders upon the sheer amount of sacks, thinking something must be afoot back in Nottingham. At that very moment they are attacked by yet another blonde haired blue eyed Crusader, Legrand, returned from the Holy Lands. (Is there anyone left over there fighting the wars with King Richard?) However, he turns out to be another messenger from Richard, speaking that immortal catchphrase of old, (all together now!): I have a message from the King".
The message turns out to be a cryptic picture, which none of them can understand. (No, not even Djaq). However, learning that a second message is located at Paxton House, they go in search. Sure enough, Paxton himself does have a matching cryptic picture, and combining the two they at least understand that the Latin thereupon means "Treasure of the Nation" (thanks Djaq), but are no wiser as to the whereabouts of that "treasure". However, holding the paper before the heat of a candle flame, several more marks are revealed, which appear to correspond to an arrangement of buildings. Meanwhile, Loxley Village is being requisitioned as a military garrison by order of the Sheriff of Nottingham. Marian is trying to resist these measures, and arguing with Guy of Gisborne, but to no avail. Guy is especially angry with Allan for the loss of the grain, and forces Allan to lead his troops to where he knows it will be hidden. (Not the main hideout). This Allan does, observed from the surrounding trees by Marian.
When Marian goes to tell Robin Hood of Allan's latest act of treachery, plus the fact Loxley Village has been commandeered, they meet with a passionate embrace. But Robin explains that until the King's message has been decoded and dealt with, there's little he can do. He also makes her promise not to go it alone. She gives this promise but as he walks away, goes on to mutter under her breath that, whilst she will not intervene, the Night Watchman might… Robin Hood returns alone to the outlaw's camp, where they have identified the marks in the picture to be a map of a stone circle with which they are familiar, and to which they immediately embark, leaving only Paxton behind. Upon reaching the Circle, Robin fires an arrow through an alignment in the stones, and all follow to see where it falls to ground. Where that arrow marks the spot they discover an entrance to an underground bunker, and further clues therein which indicate that Kirklees Abbey is where the Treasure of the Nation will ultimately be found. However, no sooner do they make that discovery than the Sheriff appears. He has been following them, led by Paxton! Trapping Robin Hood and the outlaws in the bunker, the Sheriff makes for Kirklees, but not before rewarding Paxton with a blade to the gut! Later, only Little John's mighty strength against the stone doors, aided by his new friend Legrand, will free them.
Back in Loxley Village the entire Robin Hood series is about to turn on its axis as the Night Watchman goes into action single handily against the military presence there. Allan is the first to intercept the masked vigilante in a barn, and does try to reason with "her". But suddenly Gisborne appears, and a huge fight ensues. It is an impressive battle. Every blow, every kick Gisborne delivers makes us wince because we know whose figure lay beneath that mysterious outfit. The Night Watchman puts up a good fight, but the outcome against the master assassin is inevitable. Gloating, Guy approaches the defeated people's warrior, reaches out, and….Pulls off the mask!!!!
"Not you…" are the only words he can muster, before turning away, and running distraught from the barn. Marian pleads with Allan to let her escape, but Allan refuses. As far as he is concerned all Allan has left is his future with Gisborne. Suddenly (speak of the devil), Gisborne returns carrying the small Saracen blade he stabbed the Night Watchman with one year ago! He demands proof from Marian that she was in fact that person he stabbed, and Marian raises her garment to reveal the scar on her side. It is all he needed to see before, sending for the Sheriff and arranging her execution. Meanwhile, Robin Hood has realised the Sheriff misinterpreted the instructions on the cryptic map, and that Barnsdale Church is the more exacting location for the Treasure of the Nation than Kirklees. And indeed, when they themselves reach the church, the Treasure stands revealed: It is nothing less than the Queen Mother, tricked and imprisoned by her wayward son Prince John! The Queen is particularly curious about two of the outlaws: the Saracen, Djaq, whom she quickly takes a liking to and expresses a wish to get to know better, and Little John, for whom she takes quite another kind of liking. Indeed, John's rear is in for a good pinching from the flirtatious Royal before the day is through.
Suddenly, the outlaws are once again surrounded by the Sheriff's men, but they manage to escape without too much incident. However, when ambushed a little further down the road, Legrand is fatally wounded in his defence of the Queen, causing John to offer an epitaph akin to that spoken once before over Marian's dying body: "Him, I liked".

Within the Nottingham Castle, Marian is trying desperately to escape by lighting fires in her room. But to no avail. Neither can her charms seem to work so well on Gullible Guy this time around, even though there does seem to be a growing realisation upon her face that her previous deceptions might have hurt the "human" side of Guy more than she had right.

The episode climaxes as the Sheriff returns, angry at the loss of the Treasure of the Nation, and in desperate need of a good hanging to calm his senses. The gallows stand prepared in the background as the Sheriff consults with Guy. Then Marian steps forth and says: "I am ready". But of course the Sheriff doesn't know she is the Night Watchman, and simply invites her to witness the hanging! At which point "the Night Watchman" himself appears on the battlements, raining arrows into the courtyard below!

Guy glances at Marian. Is this his planning? As the Sheriff goes into another fit of rage, the soldiers go in pursuit. After they pass an overlooked water well, a dark masked figure emerges in safety. He removes the mask. It is Allan a Dale!

At the conclusion to all this activity, and no doubt with the Sheriff still screaming somewhere in his chambers, Marian, Allan, and Guy are alone in her chambers. She hugs Allan with a genuine "Thank you" for saving her life. Guy is now smiling (!), and tells Allan to burn the Night Watchman's outfit. Once they are alone, Guy asks Marian to stay, saying she is the "only thing which makes this place bearable". Marian embraces him, not with a deep kiss, but certainly with genuine affection: "I will stay…"

Comment: Wow! Will we ever see the Night Watchman ride again? Has Guy truly captured a part of Marian's heart? Where does this leave Allan? (Allan could now be in an even more precarious position. He not only has links to Robin, but has witnessed Guy's actions to conceal Marian's identity). A lot to digest here, especially as we have a whole third series before us next year!
I loved the little references to Stone Circles and Kirklees. (Follow the link and you'll find how they are indeed related to the legend of Robin Hood). And I loved the Queen Mother's advances towards Little John. (So did he!) Another good couple of guests here, in both the Queen Mother and the Crusader Legrand. (Can we please have one of these guys stay and join the gang?) Loved this episode.

Robin Hood Exhibition

Robin Hood has been enjoying a successful exhibition at Nottingham Castle. To see some pictures and video from the costumes on exhibition there click here.

Robin Hood. Series 2. Picture Gallery 10

Fagin? No! It's our cunning Sheriff of Nottingham, in disguise and in the secret camp!

Gisborne, the Man in Leather stares down the Man in the Hood, having to ask his arch enemy for help.

Gisborne doesn't bow to many. But here he goes on one knee to propose to Marian.

Brothers in Arms once again. As the steel circle of troops gathers beyond the gates of Nottingham Town, Allan A Dale and Will Scarlet fear that this battle will be their last.

Much contemplates life as The Lone Outlaw after Robin Hood marries Marian.

Robin Hood. Series 2, Episode 10. "Walkabout".

The Sheriff of Nottingham suffers not only from nightmares about Robin Hood, but also about his missing beloved Pact; the document which contains the signatures of all his Black Knights, sworn to support his attempts to overthrow King Richard. And after one particularly disturbing nightmare, the Sheriff finds himself sleep walking alone out into Sherwood Forest. When he is attacked he acquits himself well. (The script writers should thank Richard Armitage for knocking Keith Allen's tooth out in real life. It has been the source of a running gag ever since). Eventually the Sheriff comes across a rather tough outlaw beggar woman and her family of three boys. Seeing her potential he hatches a plan by which they can enter Robin Hood's camp; she to take the loot, he the Pact.
When the Sheriff is discovered missing Guy is reminded by Prince John's messenger that if anything happens to the Sheriff, Nottingham will be burnt to the ground. Although Guy doesn't know it yet, the Messenger has a vested interest in this happening: He has relatives in the re-building trade! Alarmed at the prospect of losing his position of authority, Guy sends his soldiers out looking for the Sheriff. Meanwhile, Marian comes up with a suggestion for Guy: She could ask Robin Hood into the Castle, knowing he would come to save the people. Guy appears to like that idea.
At the outlaw camp Allan A dale tells Robin Hood that Marian is asking for his help, and offers Marian's engagement ring as proof it is not a trap. They immediately set out for Nottingham, leaving no-one behind (for a change!) However, as they reach the gates John becomes increasingly concerned about the number of beggars that continue to accumulate in the streets. He believes the group should not all enter the Castle, as the poor are so dependant on them for their future welfare. Robin agrees and enters alone. As he stands before Guy and Marian she outlines the predicament the town is in: Unless the Sheriff is found, Nottingham is destroyed. Will he help? Robin smiles. He wants Guy to do the asking, which he eventually does between clenched teeth. As the outlaws once more re-group and head for Sherwood Forest Robin leaves Will behind to guarantee Marian's protection should the town be attacked.

Whilst searching the forest for the Sheriff, Robin Hood and Much pair up. "Just like old times", says Much. In the ensuing dialogue Robin tells Much of his engagement to Marian. As Robin then turns away he fails to notice Much holding back the tears…
The other pairing of Djaq and John are having a discussion about the task in hand. John feels there are already enough people looking for the Sheriff, and that they should be attending to the poor. Of Robin's plan he says "Even leaders can be wrong". They then come across the Sheriff disguised as a blind beggar, with his accomplice and her three boys. Of course the outlaws fail to recognise them, and decide to lead them back to the camp for food.
Back in Nottingham the advancing army has begun to enter the city in preparation to destroy it. Guy suggests Marian run for her own safety. She replies she will not leave him in trouble, a statement intended to support her disguise, but one he of course misconstrues. Guy will learn later that he is free to leave the town by virtue of the fact he is a Black Knight, and that if Marian was his wife by sundown, then she could leave to.
Within the courtyard Allan and Will Scarlet are arguing. Allan is asking, when it's all over, can he come back into the gang. But Will responds with a resolute "There's no coming back". His opinion might soon change as the army beyond the town's gates mount in number, forming a "ring of steel", and Guy, Allan, and Will are practically all that stands against them, the Sheriff's men having been dispatched to the forest in search of him. As this realisation sinks in, Allan and Will do indeed shake hands. Guy himself goes one better, and goes down on one knee with a proposal of marriage to Marian, saying he needs her answer by sundown. Indeed, the situation seems so bleak, even Will takes Marian aside and suggests she accepts Guy's proposal just to survive!
Within the forest Robin and Much have come across the man with whom the Sheriff swapped his black silk pyjamas for rags. They realise his plan, and rush towards the hideout. Only taking the Sheriff back to Nottingham can save the town and its people from destruction. Of course back at the hideout the Sheriff has been active in not only overcoming the giant Little John (thanks to the rather silly and unconvincing aid of the three small boys), but locating the Pact itself.

Call Gisborne what you will, but he has never been a coward. When Marian rejects his proposal on the grounds that she cannot desert the people of Nottingham in its hour of need, he retorts:" Your wilfulness will be the death of you!" Marian ponders his words as if they strike a chord somewhere deep inside, and that she suspects this indeed will one day be her fate. Guy then rides out towards the gathering army as if leaving. But he rejects their invitation to do so, and turns back to fight them using an army of his own: the amassed poor of Nottingham. As Marian stands at the ready by his side, taking his arm, Guy turns to her: "Marry me now. Make it the last thing we do".
She looks up at him, just as a familiar voice calls from outside: "Gisborne!" It is the returning Sheriff…

Comments: A good episode in which it seems every one of the main cast got a little moment to shine: Much holding back the tears at Robin's news about the engagement; Guy showing some nobility, and possibly a genuine affection for Marian which transcends lust; Allan and Will shaking hands; John disregarding Robin's orders about the search, to go and attend to the poor. (Gordon Kennedy speaks!) So there were lots of very good little bits of character development; the kind we all love to see. I could have done without the boys overcoming John. And John's silly line to the Sheriff as his disguise fell away: "I know you". Well I hope you do John. This is the chap who once had you padlocked into an oak stock whilst heating his torture irons in the fire, and that you subsequently pinned to the ground threatening to kill. But maybe a good pair of contact lenses are hard to find in Sherwood Forest.

Next Week: The return of the Night Watchman. But for how long? Cheers Hoodies!

Robin Hood. Series 2, Picture Gallery 9

Above: Allan A Dale says he counts his money in the morning, with a clear conscience. Below: Gossip in the camp about all the couples pairing of. Is that a sad expression on John's face? Remembering perhaps his own courting days with his ex-wife. Watch Gordon Kennedy carefully. He's never given much dialogue, but often conveys these little nuances of character in silence.

Above: Trapped and surrounded!
Above: In the midst of their dilema, Robin Hood makes the engagement official with a ring. (We hope you bought that one with your own money Robin, and didn't just rob it from the rich!)
Above: Marian accepts Robin Hood's proposal of marriage beneath the leaves of Sherwood Forest.

Robin Hood pictures. Lucy Griffiths and Anjali Jay

The "Lucy Look" once centered around her retro costumes as much as her acting. But there's no doubting the tremendous acting skills of Lucy Griffiths as Marian.

The concept of including a Saracen outlaw amongst Robin Hood's "merry men" started with Mark Ryan in Robin of Sherwood. In Series 1 of the current "Robin Hood" I actually thought Djaq (Anjali Jay) was even better than the high standards he achieved. But in Series 2 she seems to have less to say. One hopes Anjali will soon have the opportunity to do more than just express that big brown eyed "Djaq look". She's certainly more than capable of it.

Robin Hood. Series 2. Episode 9. Lardner’s Ring.

Guy of Gisborne is celebrating his birthday in “his” Loxley Manor when a messenger from King Richard arrives. But before Guy is informed of his presence someone tells the messenger Robin of Loxley no longer lives there and he flees into Sherwood Forest, to be hotly pursued by Allan a Dale and the soldiers.
Robin Hood and Marian (who incidentally prefers an English bow to that of Robin’s Saracen design), are too late to save the messenger’s life, but not too late to hear his last words: “Lardner‘s ring”. The note he was carrying from the King asks for reinforcements, and to send Lardner with a return message.
Back at Gisborne’s party, whilst awaiting the capture of the messenger, a jester has started telling jokes about King Richard. These go down very well, but his similar jibes about Prince John enrage the Sheriff and he is arrested. In an attempt to save himself he tells the Sheriff he knows about Lardner’s ring. The Sheriff is as confused as Robin Hood, and throws the jester into the dungeons.

Meanwhile, events are to take a romantic turn in the most unlikely of settings. Robin and Marian have buried the messenger, and she asks him if he wants to say a few words over the grave. The few words which leave Robin’s mouth are “Will you marry me”! Then, on bended knee, fumbling for the right things to say, he tries to express how important Marian is to him by comparing her to his bow! Marian can’t help teasing him about this, but agrees to marry him. They plan to wait until King Richard returns, so the King can give her away in place of her late father. So now they really must find Lardner, whoever he is, and get a message to Richard so he might be persuaded to return to England.
When Allan A Dale arrives back at the Castle he explains he was too late to capture the messenger, but that he did hear the last words spoken: “Lardner's ring”. This sends the Sheriff into a rage as the mystery deepens, and Gisborne is dispatched to find out if the villagers know who this mysterious Lardner might be. Gisborne sets about the task with some relish, confiscating everyone’s ring. As he is poised to cut the ring finger itself from an old woman a nearby Djaq overhears the word Lardner. She knows what it means, and her and Will save the woman by causing a diversion. The old lady is saved, but Will Scarlet is captured.
When Djaq reaches the outlaws camp she explains that Lardner is the name of the Sultan’s best carrier pigeon, and that if she is correct, they could locate the pigeon and send it back to the Holy Lands with a new message for the King. (Note: There is a touching edge to this scene which almost goes unnoticed as Djaq realises that if the Sultan’s best carrier pigeon has been captured then the Sultan himself may have been taken. Because of her Saracen roots this worries her, but the moment quickly passes before we see how the other outlaws react to her concern and noble cultural loyalties).

In Nottingham Castle both the Jester and Will are thrown in the dungeon, but not before the jester manages to take the cell door key from Allan A Dale’s belt. Allan does in fact realise he’s done this, but chooses to let him proceed, because it might also enable Will to escape the gallows.
Knowing now that Lardner is a bird, Robin and Marian go in search for it at the place where the messenger died, whilst the rest of the outlaws (you guessed it!) stay behind. (These outlaws only work a three day week!) They do indeed locate the pigeon, but as they do so the Sheriff of Nottingham, Gisborne, and Allan arrive with many soldiers, and trap them up the tree. At first, Gisborne doesn’t know Marian is in the tree with Robin, and he prepares to burn it down.
Against Robin’s wishes, Marian eventually persuades her new fiancé to tie her up and hang her from the branches as a pretend hostage. She is keen to return to Nottingham Castle anyway, feeling she can be of the most use there. Before Robin complies he produces an engagement ring from his pocket and places it on her finger. As Marian then hangs in space beneath the leaves of Sherwood, the outlaws arrive, enabling Robin to escape into the smoke with the all important Lardner.

This leaves only Lardner to be released, carrying a message from Robin Hood to the King. It takes flight… the soldier’s arrows skim close to his wings… and miss! But wait… the Sheriff of Nottingham has come back. And is that a hawk on his arm!?

Comment: Mixed opinions about this one. The proposal was great. We all wanted that to happen, and Robin’s shy delivery, trying to explain his feelings in simple terms, was amusing and touching. One of the funniest scenes involved Much speculating that when Djaq and Will went off to “get some honey”, they weren’t just after honey at all! And the basic premise of the story was quite good. But, I couldn’t help feel at times that the direction of the story was unnecessarily cluttered; things didn’t ever seem to really get going. And then, at the end of those frustrations, Marian was mad keen to get back to the Castle anyway.

Robin Hood Guest Poll. RESULTS!

The most popular guest character in episodes 1 - 8 of Robin hood series 2 were:

1. Matilda the Witch.

Matilda won 36% of the votes, and rightly so. Where would a good Robin hood story be without a little superstition and witchyness? In fact, I'd like to see a lot MORE stories with some kind of superstitious or Pagan content. Remember, many people believe the roots of the Robin Hood legend come from Pagan beliefs in "the Green Man".

2. Count Fruitcake (Count Freidrich).

The Count won a staggering 25% of the vote! It must be something to do with his romantic charms…

3. Carter the Crusader

Carter won 21% of the vote. A very respectable result, and a popular character should he ever decide to return to the outlaw gang.

More polls in the future, Hoodies!

Robin Hood, series 2. Picture Gallery 8

Robin Hood assures Much with a wink that he hasn't fogotten about his loyal partner, nor lost his affection for him. Below: Maid Marian and Robin Hood, together in the forest at last. But for how long?

Hoodies! (The original Hoodies!) Below: The Sheriff of Nottingham gives Gisborne a hard time, and Gisborne passes it on.

Robin Hood. Series 2. Episode 8: "Get Carter".

Nottingham Castle is host to a new guest; the Sheriff of Nottingham has hired Carter, a Crusader, to assassinate Robin Hood. Robin doesn't know it yet, but Carter believes the outlaw leader killed his brother, and he wants revenge more than he wants the purse. Carter shows great respect for the Sheriff, bowing to kiss his hand, which leads the Sheriff to ask Gisborne "How come you never kiss my ring?"In Sherwood Forest, Robin Hood's gang are watching a village as the Sheriff's soldiers prepare for a hanging. Against Robin's orders Marian recklessly charges right in, sword arm flailing mercilessly. Robin is afraid she will be recognised and drags her from the fight to tie her up out of sight. Then, in the heat of battle, the assassin Carter rides up and rescues Robin Hood, killing many soldiers in the process, and gaining the admiration of the outlaws.After the fight is over Carter secretly inflicts a wound upon himself, so Robin Hood will take him back to their camp for treatment. On the journey there Carter explains he is in England to seek his brother's killer, whilst Much questions him more about his background, suspicious that he's seen him somewhere before.

As they all recuperate from the battle Robin chides Marian for her conduct, telling her she must accept orders and function as part of a team. She storms off, declaring Robin is basically being sexist. Then, in a particularly illuminating scene, it is Little John who goes to console her with a huge friendship hug, saying that he understands she is grieving over the loss over her father, and that that is the cause of her unrest. (Note: Good to hear him addressed here as "Little John", something which doesn't usually happen in this series). But whilst John is comforting Marian, Carter is at work stealthily attacking the outlaws one by one. Before long, both Marian and John will also fall victim to his skills.

When Robin Hood returns to camp he is met with the sight of everyone tied up on the cliff edge, and Carter insisting he be given the Sheriff's Pact or they all die. Robin is able to overcome Carter, and tie him up in return. At this point Marian plunges once again into a mental red mist and starts throwing punches, demanding information from Carter "one way or the other", all of which provokes Robin to say that's not the way they do things. (Note: It was last week!) It is decided to send Carter back to the Sheriff, knowing the Sheriff will hang him for his failure. On their journey back to Nottingham, Robin shows Carter the plight of the poor villagers, believing he can redeem him by showing the assassin the error of his ways. However, when Carter breaks free, it seems Robin's hopes are in vain and a chase leads to a duel in a barn before Carter does indeed break down in tears when he finally accepts the truth about his brother's death. In that moment Robin and Carter decide to combine forces against the Sheriff.

Back at the hideout Marian has been confined to camp, and is practicing her knife throwing skills when no less that Allan A Dale creeps up on her (nearly losing an eye in the process). Allan explains that Gisborne has sent him for her, but that they could pretend Marian has sought life in the Priory as a nun. Marian is not sure Allan could get the required fake proof, but he smiles saying "Trust me, I'm good with nuns", and their plan is hatched. However, when a wise cracking Allan returns to Guy with the story, he is not readily convinced.

Robin Hood's plan regarding the Sheriff is to feign his own death, have his body taken into the Castle as if Carter really had killed him, get the reward money which is carter's fee, and give it to the villagers. Djaq (of course) administers the potion, and Robin is quickly put to sleep, having once again ordered Marian to stay behind. This she does not do, and hides amongst the outlaws as they enter the Castle courtyard. They are greeted by Gisborne, who wants to be sure Robin Hood is dead and draws his sword to do just that. In order to save Robin, Marian appears from the crowd, expresses no regret at seeing Robin dead, and tells Guy she must speak with him at once. Distracted and delighted, Guy puts his sword away and goes with Marian whilst the cart bearing Robin's body is brought before the Sheriff.

Marian tells Guy she has come to ask him not to visit her at the Priory; that she needs time to grieve. Guy believes the best solution for grief is to bring a new baby into the world, and is not easily persuaded otherwise. At one point, to keep Guy distracted from the outlaws, some rather heavy snogging is necessary on Marian's part!Meanwhile, in the Sheriff's quarters, Robin Hood rises smiling from the table as he and Carter prepare to make their escape with the money whilst consciously avoiding any bloodletting in the process as they fight off the soldiers. But the true climax of the episode is not really this swashbuckling sequence at all but rather Marian's simple advances and apologies to Robin for her recent behaviour. They tease each other playfully, before Marian takes his hand in hers; "an item" for all to witness.

Comment: Good episode, in which the subplot was far more satisfying than the main story. Great character development in the Little John role. Kennedy is great at these scenes (as he was in the childbirth one), and it's a shame we went an entire first series without seeing more of this. Similarly, a really nice short scene between Much and Robin when Much was trying to ascertain if Robin still cares for him. Allan breaks me up the way he is so flippant with Guy, and yes it's official, Marian is still a "Maid" Marian (or so she tells Guy). If I had any negative observations it would be about the inconsistency in the way the writers are portraying Robin Hood. In this episode he went out of his way to avoid any killing of soldiers and, more notably, the very assassin that was trying to kill him. What's going on? For the last couple of episode's he's been positively merciless. If Carter had appeared last week he'd be dead!

More pictures to come, Hoodies!

Robin Hood, series 2. Picture Gallery 7

Allan A Dale, hero or villian?

Robin Hood determines to kill the traitor. Only Marian, the person who stands to lose everything if Allan reveals her secret, can stay Robin's hand.

Edward, Marian's father, dies a hero's death. He may have spent his final years in feeble acceptance of the Sheriff of Nottingham's plans, but in the end it was he who obtained the Pact for Robin Hood, and which can prove the Sheriff's acts of treason.

Robin attempts to console Marian by once more offering her a change of lifestyle in the heart of Sherwood Forest.

Robin Hood. Series 2. Episode 7: "Show Me the Money"

Robin Hood is trying to steal the Pact from Nottingham Castle; this being the document which proves the Sheriff of Nottingham’s acts of treason. As he is discussing the matter a traveller, John of York, passes through the forest and is caught in one of Will Scarlett’s traps. Such traps suspend the victim helpless above the ground. John of York explains he has no money, but is on his way to Nottingham to release his sweetheart Beatrice by paying her bond. He doesn’t in fact have enough money, but Robin Hood decides to give him the required amount from his loot. Robin‘s plan is to bore a small hole in the treasure chest, and follow the trail of sand which trickles out, thus leading him straight to the place the Pact is likely to be kept. Clear so far? Okay, because it does get better.
Once Robin Hood and his gang have followed the treasure into the Castle (looking completely out of character in 1940’s hats and overcoats!), they witness more evidence of Allan A Dale’s treachery. Allan has warned the Sheriff that the boxes containing the treasure are those used by Robin Hood, and the Sheriff follows his advise to have the treasure hung in the courtyard in full view of his deadly archers, where everyone can see it but no-one is likely to attempt to take it. Not only that, but John of York is told by Canon Berkley that he must find even more money to free Beatrice, and his resulting protests land him in jail.

Marian has already once overheard Allan helping the Sheriff, and held a dagger to his throat saying she will kill him if he doesn’t stop. Now she overhears the Sheriff saying he must lead Gisborne to Robin Hood’s secret hideout. At first Marian consults her father, Edward, about what to do. But as ever he is reluctant to make a stand, and tries to embrace her through the bars. Marian says “I’m ashamed of you sometimes”, and leaves. Edward discovers he has inadvertently removed the small dagger from her hair…
In order to leave the Castle, Marian persuades gullible Guy (one more time) to let her walk with him as far as the physician’s. He is on his way to the hideout; she says she needs medicine for her father. Of course, as soon as Gisborne is out of sight she dashes to the forest to warn Robin, only to find herself suspended helplessly from the trees in one of Will’s traps! Robin Hood finds this most entertaining, until a swift punch from the freed Marian brings him to order. Then, in spite of Djaq’s pleas, they resolve to stop Allan and Gisborne, - permanently! One by one the silent arrows from the trees find their mark in the chests of the soldiers. At one point it seems like it could also be the end for a dismounted Gisborne, until Allan A Dale himself sweeps him up onto the back of his own horse, and rides hell bent for Nottingham!

Robin Hood’s outlaws put on the soldier’s clothing and go in pursuit. Once inside Nottingham Castle, Robin wastes no time in locating Allan. Swords are quickly drawn, and an impressive duel begins. Eventually Robin gains the upper hand and presses his blade against the traitor’s throat. But it is Marian who suddenly appears and pleads with him not to kill Allan, saying “If you love me let him go”. Robin declares “I do love you”, and explains it is for her safety that he must kill Allan. Reluctantly, he gives way to her request. As Allan crawls away Marian hurls the dagger at him. It lodges inches from his face, and he promises never to betray her. Robin and Marian slump exhausted to the floor. “You took a long time to tell me that”, she smiles, and Robin confirms that yes he does love her. (If the viewer’s tears aren’t streaming by this stage, believe me, they soon will be…)

Later on Marian takes Edward his food. But Edward appears to be sleeping, and she decides not to disturb him. However, possibly in response to Marian’s last words to him(!), Edward has used the dagger to kill his guard and sneak into the Sheriff’s quarters to get the Pact. Once inside his plan coincides with that of Robin Hood, and they are forced to escape together into the marketplace. It seems they have been successful, until Canon Berkley (the man to whom Beatrice’s bond has to be paid), sees Robin Hood with Edward and grabs the old man, holding him at dagger point. Robin Hood doesn’t hesitate in placing a well aimed arrow in Berkley’s heart. However, as Berkley’s grip loosens, we see his dagger protruding from Edward’s chest!
A highly emotional conversation ensues between Marian’s father and her true love Robin. Edward at long last expresses his belief in Robin Hood's mission, glad of his daughter’s affection for him, and passes on a message for her via Robin: “It’s good to dream”.
When news reaches Marian she is of course inconsolable. Guy attempts to appease her, declaring his feelings for her are stronger than ever. He even returns her dagger to her, knowing the one Edward used to kill the guard is hers. But it’s not Guy she needs, and as she returns to her room Robin Hood is waiting with a simple invitation: “Come into the forest. I have a horse waiting”….

Comment: About 15 minutes into this episode I thought it was rather average, and a bit “wordy”. All that stuff about the Pact, the Bond, and John of York. But oh boy, was I proved wrong. The fight between Allan A Dale and Robin Hood was excellent (best of the series?), and the emotional roller coaster ride which carried us from the romantic declarations of love, to the final scenes with Edward, had me on the edge of my seat. Brilliant. Will Guy now finally give Marian up? Will Marian regret her last words to her father? Will Djaq now accept Robin’s advice about Allan, or will she make an attempt on her own to save him? Will Marian have to buy a new wardrobe for the forest? Will Lucy look good in green? As she says, it’s not really her colour! And why does Robin ever need a disguise to get into Nottingham Castle? He spends half his time in Marian’s room anyway! Just one criticism. Those stupid 1940’s hats and overcoats?! What the heck was that all about? Otherwise? Excellent, with top honours going to Lucy Griffiths (in particular), Jonas Armstrong, and Joe Armstrong for their excellent work. Robin Hood films rarely ever venture into such emotional territory as this!

More pictures in th week Hoodies!

Robin Hood. Children in Need, 2007

The Robin Hood Children In Need video (captured by Yorkshire Wench and previously posted here) has been removed by YouTube.

I was sorry to see this happen, particularly because an awareness of Children In Need is not a commercial venture of the kind which infringes on copyright. It is a year round state of mind, and one I was keen to support.

This site has never linked to, nor shown, illegal copies of episodes of Robin Hood. This site uses Google ads to promote good quality legal merchandise. But I do think Children In Need was an exception, and should have been made available as such.

Robin Hood Resources

Robin Hood Resources is a new site intended to help those people researching Robin Hood films, Robin Hood television, and other aspects of the Legend of Robin Hood.

Robin Hood links are listed simply and efficiently according to characters, actors, films, television shows, events, and places. To view and use Robin Hood Resouces click on the following link, which is also placed on the sidebar right.

Robin Hood Resources.

Robin Hood, Series 2 Picture Gallery 6

Above: Deep inside Nottingham Castle the Green Man of ancient legend and England's first Rose, unite against tyrany as Robin Hood and the maid called Marian go into action!

Above: Allan A Dale on his last mission as part of Robin Hood's "merry men". Below: These days Allan takes his fashion tips from Guy of Gisborne...

Above: Harry's Hat! This idea of depicting Will Scarlet as a minstrel, no matter how brief, does in fact go back many decades. In both literature and films, Will Scarlet has mostly been depicted as a brightly clothed rogue with musical skills. Below: I wonder how long it took them to persuade Gordon Kennedy to get into that outfit!

Above: The Sheriff of Nottingham, lord of all he surveys. The Sheriff wants his cake and eat it. But as long as that cake is England shaped Robin Hood has other plans. Below: Ninja Robin Hood resolves to kill the Black Knight, Winchester.

Above: It's bad enough that Robin Hood's gang have to eat Much's food, let alone listen to him chattering on!

Robin Hood. Series 2. Episode 6. "For England!"

The Story opens as the Sheriff of Nottingham is throwing his mute scribe from the battlements of his Castle. It's a simple way to ensure secrecy! The scribe had just prepared a document upon which the Black Knights will be required to pledge their allegiance to Prince John, and against King Richard.
Deep in Sherwood Forest Robin Hood and his gang come across Allan A Dale as he searches for the purse of blood money he dropped there. They taunt him and, although Djaq seems to want to give him a second chance, Robin declares Allan might as well be dead as far as they are concerned. As they are talking, a small number of Black Knights pass by and Robin decides to follow them into Nottingham to investigate. (Both his gang and myself are left wondering what he needs them for in the first place if he's always telling them to stay behind?)
In Nottingham Castle Guy of Gisborne presents Marian with a new dress and invites her to be his partner at the celebrations where the document supporting Prince John will be signed. As he leaves, Robin enters by the window and he and Marian resolve to find out exactly what the document is all about. This they do, and Marian is startled to read the Duke of Winchester's name listed upon it. He was an old friend of her father, Edward, and she cannot believe he would betray the King. So Robin goes to intercept Winchester and make an ally of him. When he does so, Winchester appears to take Robin's side.
Robin Hood then returns to his camp to enlist the outlaws' help. But Will Scarlet is one step ahead of him, and has been using his skills to produce a range of musical instrument which conceal deadly weapons. ("Q" would have been most impressed, as would 007 himself!) Dressed as minstrels the "Merry Men" (and woman) gain access to the Castle under the pretence of playing later at the banquet where the Black Knights are to assemble.

When Winchester arrives at the Castle he asks to see Edward, and tells him of his encounter with Robin Hood. Much to Edward's alarm, he also tells him he is in fact going to sign the document and take Marian for his own; this being in revenge for the fact Edward married the woman Winchester once loved (Marian's mother). And that's not all. Winchester also insists to the Sheriff that, unless he gets Marian and the county of Sussex, he will not sign his pledge.
Gisborne is beside himself with rage at the prospect of Winchester gaining Marian, but the Sheriff gives way to the demand. However, Sussex is not a prize he is best pleased to lose and, when Winchester leaves the room, he insists that Gisborne arrange a hanging just to cheer him up! And who should enter the room at that ill timed moment? Allan A Dale, now working for Guy! Guy speaks on Allan's behalf, but as far the Sheriff is concerned he is of no further use, and Allan renews his acquaintance with the dungeons. (He must know his way around there by now!)
The tension then rises dramatically. In another part of the dungeons Robin Hood learns from Edward that Winchester will betray him and pledge support to Prince John after all, whilst up in Marian's room an uninvited Guy tells her all about Winchester's designs on her and that she must run away and escape! This is a great scene, presenting us at long last with a very different side to Gisborne as he kisses her cheek and leaves her to prepare. And it gets better! Outside the room Guy is stopped by the Sheriff who is well aware of what's been happening. Rather than fly into a rage, or indeed have an armed escort at the ready, the Sheriff uses only the power of his personality and authority to "seduce" Guy back into line with his promise of the great power which he stands to inherit. As Guy loses all sense of pride and gives in, the Sheriff even seems to brush a tear from his cheek, putting him firmly back in his place. (A remarkable touch this, and just the kind of tiny ad-lib one suspects Keith Allen has placed there in the moment). Marian is then stopped from leaving. Her wrists are chained as Guy and his men escort her to the Duke of Winchester.

After learning that Winchester has betrayed him Robin Hood knows there is only one plan of action open to him. He must kill the Black Knights so that England might live, even though he knows it will cost his life, and he writes a note to Marian expressing his love and his regret. Disguised as one of them Robin attends their meeting, leaping on the table after Winchester signs his name. Before they can summon the guards, or even defend themselves, Robin Hood displays his skills with the knife; his blades fly through the air and sink deep into the hearts of everyone present, including Guy and the Sheriff!
But wait… can they still be alive? And laughing? Robin hadn't reckoned on Winchester telling the Sheriff of his likely presence in the Castle, and they have had time to pad their clothing. Now the show's true climax can take place as the Sheriff pits Robin Hood against Allan A Dale, high above a vat of boiling oil in the Castle courtyard! The insults between these former friends fly thick and fast as they are forced to fight to the death, with Marian (still chained) looking on and the minstrel band of outlaws awaiting a safe moment to just try and intercede….

Comment: Another fantastic episode. Great to see Guy risking his own life for Marian, as well as his very own special way of rescuing her in the end. We were told this series was going to get darker, and it has. When Robin threw those blades there were no "trick shots" intended, just a clean kill! As with Allan. When Robin was distracted, Allan took full advantage of the moment and wanted him in that oil! Also, how scary is Keith Allen? Less panto more psycho!
Good bits of humour too. We even got a musician joke when the guard looked rather incredulously at John, and Much said "He's the drummer". Other fun bits for me were Much chatting up the "groupie", and Will only making John the bells after he'd made everyone else a deadly musical weapon.

More pictures in the week Hoodies!

Robin Hood pictures: Harry Lloyd, Jonas Armstrong & Joe Armstrong.

Dear Hoodies,

Whilst other sites contain comments about what is scheduled to happen in this series during the episodes yet to come, I choose not to. Speculating about the future is great. Information about what is scheduled to happen ("spoilers") is not. No matter how "official" the source of that information may be.

Even my reviews of the latest episodes do try and leave something to the imagination where the final scenes are concerned. I think that's what the majority of fans prefer.

So "spoilers and "spoilers alerts" are likely to find themselves deleted.

Very best wishes.
Robin.

Robin Hood, Series 2. Picture Gallery 5

Above: Mr and Mrs Hoodie?

Above: Allan A Dale leaves his signal for Gisborne. Below: A friendship is broken.

Above: Mistrust in Robin Hood's camp. Below: A new life is born in Sherwood, assisted by the forest giant's hands.

Above: Are we all getting a bit tired of the Marian and Guy situation? Isn't it just better when he's just plain mean to her? Below: Robin Hood turns for continued support to his now depleted band of outlaws.

Robin Hood. Series 2. Episode 5, Ducking and Diving

The story opens on a dark, gloomy night in Nottingham as the familiar black shape of Gisborne strides towards another meeting with Allan A’ Dale, once loyal outlaw, now turned traitor. Allan tells Guy of Robin Hood’s plan to ambush Henry of Lewis, messenger to the Sheriff of Nottingham with information about where King Richard will land on his return to England. Later, when Henry fails to show up, Robin realises he must have a spy in his midst, and warns Marian she may be in danger of having her secret identity revealed as a result.
Before Guy of Gisborne can get him to the Castle, Henry is taken ill and the Sheriff’s own doctor is unable to cure him. The Sheriff then sends for Matilda, a woman renown for her ability to heal people, but whose own daughter is about to give birth to a breached baby. Although the Sheriff doesn’t know it yet it was Matilda who delivered the baby Robin of Loxley, something which pleases him even less than her greeting of “Hello baldy!”
Fearing she might be able to save Henry, and that he will deliver his message to the Sheriff, Robin gains access in disguise and threatens to kill him first. Matilda intervenes, but drugs Henry so he is unable to speak sensibly. Robin then escapes to help Matilda’s daughter, whilst she herself is restrained by the Sheriff.
Whilst this was going on Marian has used her charms on Guy to persuade him to allow her to roam the castle without an armed escort. She hopes to spy on him and find out who the traitor is. To this end she follows Guy into “The Trip”, and hears him deliver a message (plus a purse of coins), to the serving maid. But Gisborne catches her, and it is only his vanity which has him believe she is following because she desires him and for no ulterior motive. (Gullible Guy!)

Back at the outlaw camp Much cannot keep secret the knowledge he has learned earlier from Robin himself that there must be a spy in the camp, and heated arguments ensue before Robin arrives with Matilda’s pregnant daughter, now in labour. Robin gives the traitor one chance to step forward and confess, but no-one does.
Then follows what I think is the most brilliantly edited sequence of the series so far. Whilst the Sheriff of Nottingham puts Matilda on trial in Loxley for being a witch, her daughter undergoes a painful childbirth assisted only by Djaq and John. The scenes involving Gordon Kennedy (John) are especially poignant as his huge inexperienced hands first “turn” and then deliver the baby, as the mother asks him about his own wife. John explains he could not be present when his own son was born, because he had to be “in the forest”. It is a scene of few words, but much is conveyed. And all the time the camera is cutting back and forth to Matilda, strapped to a ducking stool, and being repeatedly submerged under the river, screaming curses at her gloating accuser the Sheriff.
In what will be their final act as one united group, the outlaws rescue Matilda by having Robin swim under water with an air pipe, whilst Henry of Lewis is also captured. More excitement ensues when, on the way back to camp, Henry manages to free himself and put a blade to Much’s throat. Henry believes Robin will not shoot to kill, but tonight this was the Robin Hood of legend, and one deadly arrow finds its mark in his chest.
Robin still has to deal with the problem of a traitor in his camp. Who can it be? He devises a plan involving Will Scarlet. Perhaps because of what happened to Will last week, he trusts him most. Robin takes Will to one side and, without explaining too much, thumps him severely in front of the others and sends him away, telling them Will was the traitor. But Robin knows from what Marian heard whilst spying on Guy, that the real traitor will go to The Trip that night for his / her money.

Night falls, and an anxious Allan A ‘ Dale goes to the Inn for his blood money. But a well aimed arrow pins it to the table, and a blade is placed against his neck. “You’re always in the sun, Robin. I’m always in the shade”, pleads Allan. But there can be no forgiveness and Allan knows that to cross Robin Hood’s path again is to forfeit his life.

Comment: Outstanding episode. In fact this was my personal favourite of this series so far. Brilliant acting in that final scene between Joe Armstrong (Allan) and Jonas Armstrong (Robin). In fact both these two actors really shone throughout the story. Superb work also from Gordon Kennedy (John) who can do so much with so few lines. (I really liked the bit about the naming of the new baby.) Also, as we guessed, Djaq did indeed have her suspicions about Allan. The scene where Allan approaches her, knowing she must have guessed his secret, is another high light of the show. Joe might not command the teenage fan base Harry and Jonas enjoy, but for my money he's the best actor among the younger cast.
It was interesting that the one thing Djaq couldn’t do, having demonstrated so many advanced medical skills in the past, was to “turn” a breached baby and deliver it. The final scene was also well placed, seeing Robin Hood and “his merry men” reduced in number now, but still heading towards the main road to rob from the rich and give to the poor. Fantastic episode!

Oh, and yes there really IS a place called The Trip (to Jerusalem) in Nottingham. It is the oldes inn in England, and has strong links with Robin Hood. You can see it HERE.

More pictures in the week, Hoodies!

Robin Hood poll. What will be Allan A Dale's fate? Cast your vote!

Well, an overwhelming amount of Hoodies voted that Robin Hood would forgive Allan for his trechury. But that didn't really happen did it? But, neither did he get killed by Gisborne, ...yet.... Nor die in an act of personal sacrifice... yet...

So, what will Allan A 'Dale's ultimate fate be? Will he prove himself worthy of rejoining the group? Or are his days numbered? Where will he go?

One thing is certain, if he ends up in Eastenders or Hollyoaks (they're British "soaps" for all you Americans and Australians out there), I will indulge in an act of personal sacrifice myself! Joe Armstrong is one fine actor. He'll be missed.

Robin Hood Series 2, picture gallery 4

Above: Robin Hood cannot console the Scartlet brothers after the murder of there father. Below: Some people keep their dentures in a glass overnight. The Sheriff of Nottingham prefers to keep his false tooth in the jaw of one of his victims!

Above: Marian, dashing over the rooftops of Nottingham and into the arms of Robin Hood! Below: Like the Big Bad Wolf come knocking at her door, Gisborne is on the prowl!

Robin Hood. Series 2. Episode 4: “Angel of Death”.

The story begins in Sherwood Forest when an impressively camouflaged Robin Hood and his men capture two travellers who turn out to be Will Scarlet’s father and younger brother. (The outlaws look great, and one of the really nice things about the timing of these shows as they air in England is their synchronicity with the actual seasons). Will’s father wants him to join them in Scarborough, but having been impressed by his work building their hideout, agrees first to watch his son in action before pressuring him any further to leave.
As night falls Allan A’ Dale takes a particular interest in a letter Robin is writing. Robin explains it is destined for King Richard, to inform him about the Sheriff’s Black Knights. Meanwhile, back in Nottingham, there is more trechury afoot as a fake Night Watchman (Joseph), is delivering poisoned pies to the poor people of the town. This he is doing not only for the Sheriff of Nottingham, but because of his own fascist obsession to kill off the weak in order to improve the English race.
By morning Marian has discovered her father Edward has been locked in the dungeon without food, as a punishment for her own behaviour. The Sheriff agrees to feed her father if she reads out a message to the people informing them that the Pestilence has arrived in Nottingham, and that Pit Street is to be barricaded up with all its residents under quarantine. Sure enough, as the message is being read, children are falling prey to the sickness, not realising yet the true source of the problem. It is Will’s father, upon seeing one of the sick children, who realises it is not in fact the Pestilence, and that the Sheriff must have some more devious reason for the barricades. But before his protest can be fully heard he is slaughtered before his sons' very eyes.
As confusion breaks out, Robin Hood and his men enter Pit Street before the barricades are in place, thinking themselves better positioned to help the people. The traitor Allan seizes this moment to offer to deliver Robin’s letter to the King’s messenger, whilst Will elects to take his distraught brother home to Scarborough. But Will’s stated intention is only a ruse to placate Robin, for as soon as his brother is over the Castle walls Will turns back, his mind bent on revenge, and the words “This place is about to turn to Hell” coming from his lips.
Marian, locked in her room, swaps clothes with her servant in order to escape and join the action. No sooner does she reach Robin’s side than she sees Joseph amongst the Outlaws espousing his twisted beliefs about genocide to Much. She recognises him from the Castle and his cover is blown, but not before a few well aimed arrows must knock the poisoned supper plates from the outlaws’ hands! Joseph remains unrepentant. Gloating there is no cure for his poison before he escapes them.
It is John (not Djaq!) who comes up with a possible remedy. He remembers that the poison belladonna can in fact work as a cure for other poisons. He rubs a small amount on a sick child’s lips, and a dreadful silent pause ensues…
Only now do the outlaws learn from Marian that Will has been seen inside the Castle. Robin Hood vows that Will must be stopped from killing the Sheriff “whatever it takes”, and they bluff their way through the barricade to go after him. But they are too late. Will has taken the disguise of a servant and delivered a glass of poisoned wine to both the Sheriff and Joseph. Not only that, but upon leaving the Sheriff’s quarters, he locks Djaq up in a room with the antidote. When Robin catches up with Will he knows only drastic action can get him to reveal where Djaq is hid. So he himself drinks from what is apparently a bottle of the poison and writhes in pain on the floor. Will naturally wishes to save his leader, and Djaq and the antidote are soon located.
As the Sheriff lays dying, Robin asks Will himself to either administer the antidote, or know that King John will slaughter all the people of the town as an act of revenge. What Will does next he does in his father’s name…

Comment: Good episode. We’ve waited since the series began to see Harry Lloyd have a chance to do something other than strike a pose. (Although that is more than enough for Harry fans I know). So it was good to see an angry, “scarlet” Will Scarlet for a change. I personally think it a shame this isn’t going to sustain as it did with Ray Winstone (or even Christian Slater), but Harry’s version of Scarlet is absolutely perfect for this particular show.
The psychopathic tendencies of Joseph were interesting. We haven’t had the “political” bit this series, so the sub text here about genocide (“ethnic cleansing” as the news politely puts it), once again related the legend to whole world issues.
And two lighter moments: Don’t miss the quick kiss from Djaq to Much (and his response), as well as Marian alighting from the rooftops into Robin Hood’s arms, but not before a scene in which Gisborne came knocking at her door!

More pictures in the week Hoodies!

Robin Hood. Series 2. Picture Gallery 3

Gisborne! Evil, ruthless, but no coward. If Gisborne has one scruple it would probably be that he wouldn't murder a child. Below: The Sheriff of Nottingham has no such scruples. Children or canaries, it's all the same to him!

Above: Marian praises Alan on his courage, but little sideways glances suggest the outlaws suspect something may be wrong...

Above: Robin Hood faces Gisborne in his Damasus Steel suit.

Robin Hood. Series 2, episode 3: "Child Hood".

The story starts with some young boys playing in the forest pretending to be Robin Hood’s men. Obviously his legend has spread. They come across Guy of Gisborne and his archers testing the strength of some new armour on a live subject. Well, alive for the present… The children are seen and have to run. Whilst Robin Hood saves their leader, Daniel, the others are taken captive by Gisborne who decides to save them for his mines rather than slay them.
Robin takes the boy Daniel back to camp where Much is cooking and having to endure many jokes about what is apparently meant to be chicken. Djaq teases them all about their lack of any vegetable content to their diet. The boy recognises the men, reacting as any Hoodie might, but denting the pride of John, whom he thought would have been a real giant, and Much, who he thinks of as "the servant". This is a really nice scene. Very in keeping with the original "merry men" concept which has endured over the centuries.

Back in Loxley Village the Sheriff is inspecting the process by which this new armour is made. (Djaq of course will later recognise it as Damascus Steel!) He orders 5,000 suits of armour to be made for his proposed "indestructible army". He also discovers the children Gisborne captured, and wonders why they haven’t been slaughtered, thinking Gisborne is showing too much compassion.
Robin Hood and his outlaws have learned of the armour from Daniel, and go to Loxley Manor to steal the black diamonds which are a part of its secret formula. But as he is taking the box he is interrupted by Guy and a well screened fight ensues; the first of two between these characters in this episode! Outside a further fight breaks out between the Sheriff’s soldiers and the outlaws who are trying to rescue the boys and, although Robin and his men escape with the diamonds, Daniel is captured. To save the boy’s life Robin will have to agree to a trade.
Robin Hood goes to Nottingham Castle and tells Marian of both the boy’s plight and the armour for which the black diamonds are intended. She says she will rescue the boy, but the outlaws also devise a plan of their own just in case she fails. Their plan is to put pitch in the diamond box so, when the Sheriff takes it back, one flaming arrow can set it alight. Marian’s plan involves her obtaining a pass from the Sheriff, permitting her to leave the Castle at night, under the pretence of visiting Guy in order to make up to him for her past demeanour at the altar. The Sheriff signs her pass, not realising he has also signed a consent form for the boy to be escorted from the prison. She takes this pass to the outlaws, where the traitor Alan A Dale volunteers to be the one to trick the guards with it.

Marian then does indeed visit Gisborne that night, thus ensuring her story to the Sheriff won’t give her away. She enters Guy’s room as he is stripped to the waist, trying on his armour, and there is no mistaking her reaction to Guy’s rather impressive physique, not realising Robin is watching from the window! Gisborne will have another visitor that night in the Tavern when, instead of attempting to free the boy, Alan goes straight to him and discloses Robin’s plan about the booby trapped box! He is rewarded well, but not without a few good punches from Gisborne to make his alibi convincing.

The climax of the story starts with the boy at the gallows. Robin and the Sheriff do indeed exchange the diamonds for the boy, but because of Alan’s deal with Gisborne the booby trap plan fails. Suddenly Gisborne enters in all his Damascus Steel armour plated glory, looking like he could give Robocop a good kicking! But it is Robin Hood’s body which finds itself being thrown through various barn doors as his men look on, helplessly involved in a bows drawn Mexican stand off with the Sheriff’s soldiers. When Robin spies a pot of molten pitch nearby the conclusion is a fiery one, leading to an ironic twist in the tale where Marian saves Gisborne’s life!

Comment: Excellent episode! Great to see the two main characters involved in a pitched battle (no pun intended), and what about that scene between Marian and Guy? I think her reaction even surprised herself! The young boys were also outstanding in delivering their parts. (I loved the scene where John was offended at not being considered big enough and Djaq says "Men always lie about their size".) And how great is it to see Marian holding a dagger to someone’s spine and she’s not even in the Night Watchman costume?! She is certainly headed for big trouble. As indeed is Alan, who surely can only ultimately redeem himself with his very life…

More pictures in the week, Hoodies!

Robin Hood. Series 2. Picture gallery 2

Above: A glamorous Djaq uses her feminine charms on the guards whilst a rather frightened looking Will nearly catches it in the neck from a poisoned dart! (Will Scarlet fans can view a VIDEO of his actual grave on this link.) Below: Marian, the original English Rose, Lucy Griffiths style!

Above: What will Robin Hood's outlaws say when they find out Allan is a traitor? Below: The Sheriff never stops scheming; today Nottingham, tomorrow the whole country!

Robin Hood. Series 2. Episode 2: The Beauty and the Booby.

Story opens in Loxley Village as Robin Hood and his men are relieving the Sheriff’s tax collectors of their takings. Not content with their successes they venture into Nottingham Castle and attempt to break into the Sheriff’s inner strong room. Although they manage to get a tantalising glimpse of the Sheriff’s gleaming treasures, the sophisticated security measures and booby traps defeat them. But the slightly reckless smile on Robin’s face tells us he can’t resist the challenge of returning at a later date.
News of their raid reaches the Sheriff of Nottingham and interrupts his bath time, which Guy is apparently being forced to attendant (most reluctantly!) The reason he is having his bath “six months early” is because he has invited the German Count Freidrich (already better known as "Fruitcake" amongst the Hoody fraternity after seeing the advance trailers), to come to Nottingham for a bit of gambling. He intends to win the Count's money for his coffers, and to this end he has built a Casino, complete with green baize tables. (This is one Sheriff who likes his canaries shaken but not stirred!) Gisborne is despatched to deal with those who built the Sheriff’s strong room and leaked the secret to Robin Hood. It won’t be pleasant…

Will Scarlet takes the outlaws to a man called Stephen, describing him as a great “teacher”. It was William who designed the strong room. He’s one of those blind but wise types who gained his martial arts skills whilst on a trip to the East (this being about the time when Richard Branson made air travel so cheap for the working classes). William is so wise he can feel your face and judge your character. He feels Will’s face and describes him as “passionate and angry”. (We wish).
Meanwhile back at the castle Count Freidrich arrives in all his splendour. (He is the Booby in this episode’s title). Marian has been instructed by the Sheriff to cater for the Count’s “every desire”, and wear something which will “stimulate the imagination”. Her red dress hit’s the spot, and double entendres such as “do you ride” and “gently caress the ball” will amuse the family orientated tea time audience.

That night Allan A Dale meets with Gisborne and tells him Robin is planning to rob the Sheriff’s strong room. The following morning he is suspiciously late for the meeting between the outlaws and Stephen as they try to learn its secrets, the most deadly of all being the molten lead designed to flood the chamber! As they formulate their plans, Marian and the Count are doing the same. The Count has overheard the Sheriff speaking about him, and has decided to team up with Marian against him. She takes him to see Robin, who appears more than a little jealous.
As night falls, a very glamorous Djaq gains entrance to the casino and lets the outlaws into the hallways outside the strong room. Whilst the Count and Marian commence their game at the dice table, Robin and his men pit their wits against an array of deadly swinging pendulums, poisoned arrows (nearly grazing Will’s neck), and molten lead…

Comment: I have to say I think the Casino idea is the most ridiculous since the retro ninja go go dancers of episode 10 (series 1). Why oh why couldn’t the Sheriff have challenged the Count to a Jousting Tournament? We could have seen the Count’s championed pitted against Guy of Gisborne! What a great story that would have made, especially watching Marian’s face if Guy was injured. At least we could have been given a more ruthless type of Count. Nevertheless, I loved the scenes here in the strong room, with Robin Hood’s almost reckless courage shining through whilst the ever faithful Much looks on. Also note how it’s always Little John who gives the men that one last push into action when the others look like backing out. Nice little detail in the character there. Another nice touch was in Djaq’s contrasting reactions to Will and Allan when they saw her in that dress…

More pictures in the week, Hoodies!

Robin Hood series 2. Picture Gallery

Above: Jonas Armstrong strikes that classic Robin Hood pose. Below: A sinister silhouette flickers amongst the shadows of Nottingham Castle as the Night Watchman springs into action.

Above: Robin surrounded by Gisborne's men. "Welcome to the darkside". Below: Robin Hood and the outlaws in their new hideout designed by Will scarlet.

Robin Hood. Series 2, episode 1: Sister Hood

The story opens on a rather gruesome scene in the vast expanses of Sherwood Forest, and what appears to be a badly injured Robin Hood laying amongst the leaves. However, the rather rich looking travellers that stop to investigate soon discover they have been ambushed by Robin and his outlaws. A fight ensues in which these travellers reveal themselves to be trained knights, skilled in the martial arts. Their leader, a woman, shows more concern for what she alludes to as her “babies” in a large chest, than the money they are carrying. The outlaws escape to the sanctity of their new, camouflaged hideout. Once there they discover the Sheriff’s insignia amongst the loot, and realise the woman must be a very important person indeed to carry this.
Robin then goes to visit Marian, and asks her to join his gang and live in the forest. Fans don’t have to wait long before they kiss, and the continuity here from the last series is very encouraging. However, you guessed it, no sooner do they kiss than an argument ensues. Marian will not abandon her father, nor her home. And what better time for Guy of Gisborne to turn up?
Gisborne is acting under the Sheriff’s orders to take her and her father to Nottingham Castle. This he does, but not until he has forced Marian to beg him not to burn the Manor down. She begs, and he burns it down anyway!

Back in Nottingham Robin is able to identify the black hooded knights who are visiting the Sheriff. Whilst he is watching them an argument breaks out between Alan and Much. In keeping with sentiments Alan has expressed in the past, he wants to keep some of the outlaw’s loot for himself. He leaves Robin and Much to go gambling in the Tavern, but is soon arrested and tortured by Gisborne.
Before leaving Nottingham Robin talks to a woman, Rose, tied to a post and apparently taking a punishment on behalf of her children’s stealing. Robin promises to help, but the Sheriff appears with the children and orders that their hands be publicly chopped off anyway. Only the marksmanship of Robin Hood can save them as the executioner’s blade takes aim above their tiny shackled arms. But this time it was Robin’s turn to be duped, and Rose turns out to be no other than the rich lady he had ambushed in the forest. Not only that, but she is the Sheriff’s sister. Robin is arrested and taken away.
The scene then changes to inside the Castle as the Sheriff addresses his assembly of the Brotherhood of the Black Knights. Their long term plan is to take over England whenever (and whichever) King eventually returns. As he speaks Robin is revealed to be hanging from his ankles above a trap door. The trap door conceals the “babies” from the ambush; a pit full of snakes. Whilst he is tied in this position Gisborne tries to get him to reveal the identity of the Night Watchman. Right on cue, the Night Watchman herself has slipped into costume and causes enough of a diversion for Robin to escape, but not before the Sheriff’s sister falls into the pit. With a touch of irony, Robin and the Sheriff have to combine forces to pull her out, but not before she is bitten. Robin threatens to kill the Sheriff (yawn, heard that one before), but before the poison can reach her heart she reveals that Prince John has made the Sheriff a prince, and that if he was murdered Nottingham would be burnt to the ground.

Back in the dungeon Allan is striking a deal with the devil Gisborne. In exchange for advance information about Robin Hood’s plans, Guy is willing to pay him money. This would not be information about his whereabouts, simply his intended targets for robbery. Allan appears to agree, and returns to camp with a sizeable bag of coins secreted under his cloak. For one brief second, Djaq looks suspicious as only Djaq can…

Comment: Good episode. Very good continuity in the repeated kissing scenes between Robin and Marian, and in Allan’s dissatisfaction at his situation. He would never have agreed to sell Robin’s life (especially to the Sheriff who hung his brother), but to the cunning Gisborne? I think yes.
The Night Watchman’s new costume may not be to everyone’s liking, even though “his“ higher profile in the series surely will be. The new costume is very “Lincoln Green”, and if the Sheriff and Guy can’t see that’s a rather shapely woman underneath there, especially when the Sheriff is pinning her arms back, then they really should get out more. But I loved the bit where Gisborne held up that little Saracen blade to remind “him” of their last encounter. Wonderful!
And what about Djaq? Suddenly she’s become a complete girlie! Hope that doesn’t spoil her character. I’m sure she’s still capable of administering to the outlaw’s wounds, as she famously did with a dying Marian, but I can’t help thinking she might now want to get changed first.
So. LOTS of really good stuff boiling under here: The Black Knights; Allan’s treachery (which can only end in serious tears); plenty of romance; and above it all the Sheriff and Guy in obvious competition as to who can be the most evil!
More pictures during the week, Hoodies!