Morganna: The Ice Princess

Despite the fact that Gaius described Merlin as 'a riddle wrapped up in a mystery' last episode, I think that title might more accurately apply to Morganna.

In my opinion, Morganna is the most interesting of all the characters in the show (not my favorite, just the most interesting). And the funny thing is, I can't put my finger on why. I explained why Arthur (the second most interesting character) fascinated me so much in my last post, however, I have a much harder time describing what is so interesting about Morganna.

In an attempt to explain this, let me side track for a moment.

I think that the writers and casting managers did an excellent job casting all four of the leads. Merlin and Gwen are very much examples of their class. I love them dearly, but I can't say that I'm really intrigued by either one of them. I think I understand them pretty well. I like them in a way that makes me want to be best friends, and give them big hugs. With Arthur and Morganna, I don't think this way at all. They seem, well, much less personable. And yet they aren't. Their humanity is slightly hidden and skewed by their bearing and manners, which are significantly more formal and aloof than their servant counterparts, but it is there none the less.

Even between Arthur and Morganna there is a difference. So much so, that she has earned herself the nickname of 'Ice Princess' from me and my friend. And perhaps it is in this that the issue stands. At first, maybe even second and third, glances, Morganna seems cold. Not necessarily in a bad way, but as different from Gwen as the moon is from the sun. And yet, as in the last episode, she shows bursts of tremendous feeling.

Is it this what causes the uncertainties of her character? Do we unconsciously fear a person who can seem so cold and emotionless one moment, and yet feel so passionately the next?

I also think that Katie McGrath was excellently cast for this part. She looks the part, with her long black hair and snow white skin, and yet can convey a great deal of emotion without saying a word.

One last note on something that I was discussing with a friend. Of all of the characters in Merlin, Morganna is the one I feel the least certain about. I feel like I know her the least, even though she has had plenty of screen time. And, perhaps due to the usual interpretation of the character Morgan Le Fay, I'm not quite sure how far I trust her. There is (again) something about her I just can't put my finger on that makes me wonder if she'll always be on the 'good side'.

Even in the last episode where she helped Merlin, and saved the little boy's life, there were a few elements that keep me unsure of where her character will go. Why was she so strongly attached to Mordred, when the dragon made clear that he was evil? Obviously Morganna couldn't have known this, but even Gwen remarked how odd it was for Morganna to feel this strongly about something.

The character of Morganna is a walking enigma. A riddle wrapped in a mystery. A character full of nuances that could be taken (realistically) in any direction the writers choose. And perhaps that is what is so fascinating about her.

We have no idea what she is going to do next.

Prince Arthur: Just the Future King

Almost everyone has heard of King Arthur Pendragon. The once and future king. Ruler of the knights of the Round Table and friend of Merlin the enchanter.

And as such, I think that the BBC took a great risk in portraying Prince Arthur the way they did.

When Arthur made his first appearance on screen, I must say that I was surprised not to like him. I had gone into the show expecting to like him, and yet his first scene left a very bad taste in my mouth. This Arthur was far from noble, kingly, and gracious. This Arthur was a selfish bully, who thought that he was the greatest thing since sliced bread.

His second scene improved him a little in my estimation, but mostly because of Merlin's uproariously funny lines. He and Merlin definitely play well off of each other, and the first step towards me liking Arthur was Merlin becoming his servant... and the look that passes between them after that. LOL!

The second episode was a giant leap in the right direction. In this episode we were shown the other side of Arthur. The side that is frightened of failing. Of disappointing his father. Of being anything other than a confident unbeatable Prince. Sure, they didn't say that in as many words, but the lesson of duty is very clear. Merlin complains about it at the beginning of the episode, and by the end we have been shown that although Arthur has more privilege than Merlin, he also bears his share of duty. A duty which requires him to never lose.

Along with a greater understanding of Arthur's life (and the reason he behaves so pridefully?) comes a greater sympathy for him. The show also goes out of its way to show us flashes of the justice and nobility which are characteristic of Arthur's legends.

He frees Lancelot. He saves Merlin's life by fetching the poison antidote. He helps save Gwen from being wrongly executed for sorcery. And I believe that he has truly come to like Merlin as a friend. Whenever Merlin has done something idiotic, Arthur has at least tried to take the fall for it. Or at least help Merlin get out of trouble. Two examples...

1. When Merlin tries to take responsibility for magically healing Gwen's father.
2. When Merlin claims that Arthur's cup is poisoned.

And that's only two! But he has several times taken Merlin's word for something that could have gotten him in serious trouble.

The other dynamic that I like about the way this character is written, is that the change doesn't come from nowhere. There has been a gradual building up of trust and friendship between Merlin and Arthur, which explains why Arthur would risk his life for Merlin. Along with Morganna's influence, of course. I don't think he would have had the strength to disobey his father if she hadn't encouraged him.

Both she and Merlin have had a positive influence on him, and in Lancelot's case, he was able to do the right thing without any encouragement from either of them.

I, personally, am very excited to see how the writing team continues to develop this character. They have given him just the right balance of flaws and virtues to make him interesting, and give him room to soar. Plus they have surrounded him with people who are equip (yet have issues of their own) to help him in his journey towards being the King Arthur we all know from legends.

I think that there may be more than two sides to this particular coin...

I'm Back!

You may be wondering why I haven't been posting lately. Honestly, I'm trying to forget that the season 3 finale ever existed, and I don't think that writing about it is going to help.

So, my favorite show has gone and broken my heart, so what do I do? Can you say Rebound?

In this case, my rebound is named Merlin. Which is just now airing for the first time here in the US. Perfect timing!

I know that many people didn't (and don't) like the way this Merlin was created, but it's exactally what I need right now. It reminds me a lot of what Robin Hood was like at the beginning. It's light-hearted, yet suspenseful. It is exciting without being too violent or having any 'content' issues. And the characters are interesting and likable. See, I'm not picky!

In some respects, I think Merlin is better made than Robin Hood, too. The knights actually have real chain mail, and it was filmed on location in France. The entire castle is real, and it's beautiful! However, then there is the CGI, which is quite laughable at times.

The characters, as I said before, are really great. Except for Uther, who is supposed to be nasty. The nice thing about these characters is that they are likeable without being perfect. I think I'll go into all of this in a whole post, but Arthur is a great example. He really is a snotty brat, but somehow I still like him.

Now that I'm back, I should put out some more articles. Merlin, you have brought me back!

Thank you!

Episode 11: The Enemy of My Enemy

Ok, this is the first episode in a while that I've actually felt excited to write about. Don't even get me started on last weeks. I'm trying to forget it happened...

Robin and Guy are riding through the forest towards the camp. Already their truce is becoming strained. A few 'your father this' and 'your mother that' comments, and they're back to rolling around on the forest floor trying to kill each other. Allan witnesses the skirmish and runs to get the rest of the gang.

They run to help Robin, only to have Robin stop Kate from killing Guy. After having a slightly more honest discussion of Marian's death between punches, Robin's willing to resume their 'alliance'. Guy comes back to the camp with them, and Robin explains what he and Guy have learned about their family situations.

Guy and Robin head off to York, while the rest of the gang stays behind to keep an eye on Isabella.

Meanwhile in York, Archer does not seem to be terribly in need of rescuing after all. Despite the fact that he's in the dungeon, he's got the unhappy wife of the Sheriff of York wrapped around his finger. He has already persuaded her to talk to her husband when he gets back to get him pardoned.

Robin and Guy ride as quickly as they can towards York, only stopping to rob a toll house on the road. Unfortunately for them, the toll master is in the pay of Isabella, who is desperately looking for revenge on her brother and Robin Hood. As soon as she hears they are going to York, she sends and emissary up ahead to inform the Sheriff of York that two dangerous criminals, Guy of Gisbourne and Robin Hood, are headed his way.

In the forest, the outlaws are not taking Guy and Robin's teaming up lightly. Little John is so distraught that he drops his stick and storms off. A little while later when he has not come back, Allan goes to look for him. From a view in the trees, Allan sees Little John get captured by Isabella on her way to York. She sends two of her men back to the castle with Little John bound behind. Allan helps him to escape and then they quickly go to inform the others that Robin and Guy are in danger, and they have to be sure that Isabella doesn't reach York.

Robin and Guy have now reached York, and are trying to formulate a plan. They have quite a bit of trouble making one, seeing as neither one truly trusts the other, but in the end, Guy gets captured by York's guard and taken to the dungeons for brawling in a tavern (Robin's plan). There he finds Archer and they wait for Robin to turn up and rescue them.

However, things get a bit more complicated when Archer shows that his loyalty to his new brother's rates about 0, and York decides to disregard the Sheriff of Nottingham's request that Guy and Robin be returned to her alive...

The Good:

Jonas Armstrong and Richard Armitage were in rare form this episode. It was very fresh and fun watching them try to work together. Unfortunately, it's not that simple. But this is the good section, so I won't go into that. The tavern scene was really good, where they argued about who's plan to go with. And Robin's grin when he manages to get Guy captured is priceless! This is the Robin I know and love!

Guy was really good too, this ep. He got some really funny lines which were nice to see. He hasn't really been a humorous character up till now, and RA does a great job delivering lines. Also, the genuine fear when Guy was in the dungeons or about to be executed was very well played. He looked completely terrified!

I'm still undecided about Archer. If they would have played down his affair with Mrs. Sheriff of York, I might have liked him better. He was very good in his scenes with Robin and Guy, managing to be both a shameless rogue, and someone who does care about fellow human beings, both at the same time. I also think he was very well cast. Clive Standen looks very much like a cross between Robin and Guy.

Izzy was good this week, but I've come to expect that from her. She's utterly unpredictable, but I really like Lara Pulver as an actress. Plus her costumes are scrumptious!

Now, the best for last... Allan and Little John! Allan finally got some screen time. I was bouncing and clapping during their whole exchange. The only thing which could have made that scene better would have been for Much to be there. All that is left of the original gang. *sigh* However, it was really good the way it was. I liked the fact that it was Allan who was concerned about Little John. Tuck is too busy with his high and mighty ideals, and Kate is only good for holding sword while they're sharpened. And Much has never been one to be a leader. Allan is the one who is stepping up and caring about the individuals in the gang.

The Bad:

Ok, seriously. When did this show start having so much kissing? I know season two had some, but probably about 1 or 2 per episode. I think you could count the number of kisses in season 1 on one hand. I think there were that many in this episode alone, let alone all of season 3! As I said before, I could have done without the Archer/ Mrs. York scenes. They were seriously bad, and I did not like the actress they either. Kate's scenes with Robin were just as bad. Where did the 'Just come home safe!' thing come from? Where's the feisty-ness in that? There is absolutely no chemistry in their scenes at all, and I find myself not believing it at all. Which is bad because then I start thinking about Marian, which makes all of it worse. *sigh again*

If you actually think about the character of Gisbourne, none of this episode actually makes sense. However, thankfully, RA is a good enough actor not to make it stand out too much while you're watching the ep. In fact, watching this and seeing how well RA and JA act together, I think that the whole, Guy/Robin team up thing should have been done a lot sooner. Maybe they could have planned for it a little, and not made him such a despicable character in season 1. RA obviously enjoys doing the wry humor angle of his character. It's just a matter of being too little, a lot too late.

Kate and Tuck still continue to be useless members of the gang family.

The Ugly:

Continuity and Kate. Ugh. The two plagues of this season!

In Summary:

Well, only two more weeks of this. Then I'm free! I heard many people describe it this way, but the rest of this show feels very much like a train wreck. I just can't look away! The first (and most painful) casualty(s) come just next week. I think I'm almost going to be relieved when it's over. Then I can pretend that everything after season 2 episode 12 ever happened.

~Paige

Episode 9: The Dangerous Deal

Things are looking brighter in Nottingham as Sheriff Isabella takes command of the city. Despite refusing to make a deal with Robin Hood, she plans to be the best Sheriff ever. Her first act as such, is to pardon a girl brought before her for judgement. A girl named Meg, who has refused to accept any of the men her father has wished to marry her to. Isabella sympathizes with her at once, and not only frees her, but makes signs of friendship towards her.

Robin and the gang watch all of this with grudging approval, but are quite concerned when a man interupts the proceedings claiming to be their new Sheriff by virtue of being Isabella's husband. Isabella is instantly terrified, as Squire Thornton forces her inside to have a 'little chat'.

Meg follows them, and is able to save Isabella some discomfort by telling Thornton that she knows where some hidden gold is. As a reward, he throws her in the dungeon, to await punishment should she be telling a lie.

Meg happens to wind up in a cell next to none other than Sir Guy of Gisbourne himself, set to be executed the next day. While Isabella and Thornton leave to search for the treasure, Meg and Guy have some very deep 'heart to heart' conversations through the bars of their respective cells.

Meanwhile, Robin stays back at the castle to watch what will happen after Thornton comes, and Kate stays with him. They see Thornton and Isabella leave the castle, and across a couple of scenes Kate reveals her feelings for Robin. Feelings which he apparently doesn't share, or is too considerate of Much to confess.

After Isabella and Thornton find the treasure, the gang sets up a plan to steal it away. However, Much gets distracted and all sorts of things go wrong. The treasure escapes, and in order to get it back, the gang may have to make another dangerous deal with Isabella...

The Good:

The highlight of this episode, possibly of the season, was the storyline with Guy and Meg. Which is really surprising considering the fact that I'm a lightsider. I've never been a huge Guy fan. As a matter of fact, the last time I felt something akin to 'liking' for Guy, was Treasure of a Nation. Two episodes before he killed Marian. As a result, I'm loath to trust him (or the writers) again. But I can't help it! While Robin is off galavanting (and yes, I do mean galavanting) in the woods with every girl he meets, Guy is tortured and guilt stricken by the memory of Marian. And all of this is brought to a head when he meets Meg, and is stuck near her for about a day.

Meg is the perfect example of a strong, female character that is not annoying or whiny (see:Kate). Despite the odd feminist propaganda they had going this week, Meg was a really interesting character, and the relationship she had with Guy was AMAZING! Those two actors blew me away in all of their scenes. The way they both slowly came around to each other, and how Meg really helped Guy to face himself and deal with his problems was soooooo great. Guy got to talk about Marian, and about how he had destroyed the only good thing in his life, and Meg got to see that not all men are terrible.

I hated the fact that Meg died at the end. I realize the literary signifigance of it, but it still hurt. Guy finally got to mourn for Marian through Meg. He mourned them both. The two women who saw better things in him. One of them he destoryed, and the other brought him back from that, only to die protecting him. He (figuratively speaking) held them both in his arms as Meg died, and brought his struggle with Marian's death to a close as he finally cried for her. He still may deal with it more later, but now that he has accepted responsibility he can truly move towards redemtion.

On to a different subject, anyone who didn't think that Isabella was a very mentally disturbed woman has now been convinced. And I don't blame her! Squire Thornton is by far the most disturbing character this show has had. There is nothing funny about him. I'm actually surprised they had got away with having a character like that on a 'kids' show. He was legitimately abusive and down right scary. Lara Pulver did an excellent job this week playing the slightly insane side of Izzy, and seeing her husband, we are able to see one of the major reasons she acts the way she does. I really felt sorry for her this episode.

Much was absolutely adorable this episode, and I felt so sorry for him! When he left the camp I almost cheered! It's about time that Much just showed them. He's the most abused character in the whole show. Why can't we have some be nice to him?

The Bad:

Allan continues to be completely ignored. It is so sad! He's such an interesting character and he's been completely wasted this season. I'd better stop now, or else I'll just get into a rant about how I'd rather have Allan than Tuck or Kate.

Robin jumped in between being tolerable and down right obnoxious this episode. Apparently this particular writer put all of his creativity creating interesting storys for Gizzy and Izzy, and forgot to pay attention to continuity in Robin's character. At one point he trys to set up Much and Kate cause he knows about Much's feelings, then later he just decides to kiss her. And don't even get me started on his inconsistencies with Izzy. At this point, I don't think the writers know where they are going with Robin, and it really shows. So instead of turning on Robin, as many lightsiders have lately, I'm just going to blame it on the writers and maintain that the real Robin wouldn't have acted in any of those ways.

The Vikings buried treasure was slightly odd, but considering the dramatically good reactions to some character developments, and dramatically reactions to other character developments the actual plot of this episode is rather inconsiquensial.

Squire Thornton was really really creepy. Which gets him a place in both the good and bad sections.

The Ugly:

Ok, Kate is really lucky that I don't live in the 1190's. Because if I did, she would be dead. Kate ruined every part of this episode that she was in. She was obnoxiously jealous of Robin, rude and inconsiderate to Much, self-righteous and know-it-all-y (a word I made up especially for Kate) and then at the end, Robin has the nerve to call her compassionate and brave. Seriously? When?

Kate is the most annoying character this show has ever had, and I really wish that she didn't hog so much screen time. She's just daft! After Robin tells her that a relationship is impossible because Much likes her, she has the nerve to ask Much to tell Robin their only friends. Of course Much agrees, because he's just the sweetest character in the show! Much was slighted by both Robin and Kate so many times this episode, that it was terrible to watch. Why doesn't anyone appriciate him? They don't even use this as an opportunity to develop a relationship with Allan and Much. they just push Much aside.

Now for the Kate/Robin thing that some people are calling a 'romance'. I am so unconvinced about this that it's laughable. Robin has never shown any interest in Kate beyond a little sister type interest. Now all of a sudden, he's kissing her? Despite the fact that this is wrong on so many levels, I just don't think anyone, least of all Jonas Armstrong, is buying it. His scenes with Kate are so bland that I find it hard to believe anyone sees romance in this. Jonas puts much more into his scenes with Izzy or almost anyone other than Kate. Overall, I think that many of the actors are worn out with playing characters that change as quickly and the weather. Much still manages, Allan hasn't has anything to do, and Robin is just tired. I find myself looking forward to his death, because watching this character 'develop' is just painful.

In Summary:

This episode was filled with contrasts. There were parts that I loved, and there were parts that I hated. Unfortunately, my favorite characters had the parts that I hated. They had to go and give the good development to characters that I'm used to disliking.

I'm really looking forward to next weeks episode because it's not going to be a regular episode. Hopefully, we'll be Kate free! The story takes a dramatic turn tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes.

~Paige

Episode 8: The King is Dead, Long Live the King

Sorry to be so late again. This week has been insanely busy.

Somewhere in London, a craftsman slaves away over some mysterious object. A man enters behind him, and expresses congratulations on a job well done. Before stabbing him in the back. The plan which is being carried out can have no witnesses.

Later, in Sherwood forest, the gang is alerted to a royal coach driving towards Nottingham, with King Richard's insignia on it. They follow it, and are shocked when Lord Sheridan, keeper of King Richard's crown, declares to all of Nottingham that King Richard is dead.

Loudest of all in lamenting is Prince John, who throws himself down on the coffin in desperate weeping. However, his weeping is short lived, for someone, of course, must be crowned as a new king, and Lord Sheridan has convieniently brought the royal crown with him. The Archbishop is reluctant to believe that King Richard is dead, and perform the coronation, but when he sees the body with his own eyes, he has no choice.

Robin Hood cannot believe that King Richard is dead. He refuses to believe it, until he has seen the body for himself, so late that night, the gang sneaks into the crypt of Kirkless Abbey, and opens the casket. It is Kate who realizes what Robin doesn't, at first glance. The body is made out of wax.

Just then, they hear Prince John riding into the courtyard, and have no choice but to hide in a pair of coffins. As they wait in silence, Prince John comes and takes out his frustration with the real king on the wax model, pounding it's face in. Then he orders some guards to burn it, and leave no evidence. By the time people realize there is no body, he will already be king.

Robin and the gang are too late to stop the wax model from being ruined, but Robin gets another idea. To prevent Prince John from becoming king, all he has to do is steal the crown...

The Good:

The 'waxwork of the king' thing was very clever, and Prince John gave another amazing performance. I really wish he was a regular, because Toby Stevens just lights up every scene he's in. I'd even give up Kate if he stayed!

The Archbishop was very good, as well as Lord Sheridan who reminded me a little of the Sheriff of Nottingham.

The Izzy/Gizzy situation took a very interesting turn this week, as Guy was on the run, and most definately out of PJ's favor. Isabella, on the other hand, is alternately in and out of PJ's good side, because of various situations. At first Guy comes and threatens to kill her (marvelously acted scene). He holds a sword to her throat, but just can't seem to bring himself to do it. Then they agree to a tenuous alliance, where Izzy will speak to PJ about pardoning her brother. Her only condition is an apology. Of course, if Guy were to apologize he would be admitting something he did wrong. And he can't to that, so she poisons him instead, and ties him up to show Prince John.

All of this was very well acted by Lara Pulver and Richard Armitage. Despite the fact that Izzy seems to be switching sides every five minutes, Lara does a great job of making this credible.

As cheesy as the motion sensative ropes in the dungeon were, I have to admit, they were kinda cool. Watching Robin crawl carfully through them on the way to the crown and then just bust through all of them on the way out was comical.

The final scene in the church, with Guy, Robin, and Prince John in a stand off, was pretty cool. Gizzy having to choose between shooting Izzy or PJ before Robin shot him was interesting, and Izzy diving in front of PJ to save his life was well thought of. Earned her the Sheriff spot, it did.

The Bad:

Allan and Much had more to say this week, but if they're going to turn Much into pure comic relief, and Allan into a brainless idiot, I'd rather they just stopped talking. Kate continues to be annoying, and holds the show record for getting into trouble. Has there been a single episode where she wasn't captured, wounded, or otherwise troublesome? I truly can't remember one. If the writers are trying to get us to like Kate, by having her stand up and tell Much and Allan to stop protecting her, it's not working. Why should they stop protecting her when it's obvious she can't take care of herself?

Oh, and by the way, Much's only crime was aceeding to Lord Sheridan's demands becasue he had a knife at Kate's throat. Just like he would have done if it had been Robin, or Tuck, or Allan, or LJ. Kate acts like it was something special for her, and yet, it's no more than would be expected from a member of Robin's gang. They don't let bad guys kill their friends. Now, of course, Robin, Tuck, Allan, and Little John wouldn't have let themselves get in that position anyway.

With the Allan rescue, I felt that him blowing the scam thing, was way way way out of character. This is Allan we're talking about! If he talked in his sleep he would lie then. Sure, he has become more honest lately, but that's no reason to think that he's become some niave idiot. When he 'saved' Kate, he could have easily called her his sister, or something like that, without blurting out 'you ruined the plan!' Oh, really, there's a plan? However, her chewing him out for it, was not exactally what I had in mind, since she was the one in trouble. I maintain that Allan rescued her because of a brotherly affection for her, not out of jealousy. That makes him right, and Kate wrong, and all is right in the world.

The whole, 'we'll blind them with our shiny shields so that they think we're King Richard thing was lame. Couldn't they come up with anything better? So cheesy. However, I think I need to remember what show it is that I'm watching.

The Ugly:

Allan and Much fighting about Kate! Seriously? I wanted to gag. And then Kate tells them to cut it out. *strangled cry of rage*

Kate is really useless for anything other than being a liablity and love interest. She has to be the most bland annoying character this show has ever had. I feel quite sorry for that actress.

In Summary:
This episode was ok, but didn't hold up to analysis. I enjoyed it more than average, but it was nothing great.

Next week we get Isabella as the Sheriff of Nottingham, and meet her husband, Squire Thornton. Oh, and it looks like she tries to kill her brother. That should be interesting.

~Paige

Allan and Kate: The Next Will and Djaq? or The Day I Became a Cynic

Let me start off my post with a story, which may, at first, seem to have nothing to do with the title. I'm going to talk about one of my favorite couples from seasons 1&2, Will and Djaq.

What made me like them so much, you ask? There really wasn't ever much to it. Their entire love story was done behind the action, so that only those who were really watching would pick up on it's development. A lot of the credit for making small things count has to go to Harry Lloyd and Anjali Jay, two fantastic actors; able to infuse so much energy into small movements or glances that it actually became a credible romance.

It was one of the few subtle things the writers did in the first two seasons, and it's possible that they just plain forgot about it. And if that's the case, I wish they'd forget about more things, because their love story was sweet, genuine, and beautiful. By the end of season two, I had been a follower of their story for quite some time, and adored every small second of it.

That was my position when I started to see screen shots from episode 12, the first half of the season finale. And one of the pictures showed Will and Djaq kissing. To say the least, I was very excited, and yet at the same time, nervous. I was excited that my precious couple was finally going to get some screen time publicly declare their love, but I was nervous too. I was nervous because this couple was special to me, and I didn't want their story ruined. Something about what I was hearing just didn't seem right.

I comforted myself, reminding myself of what an amazing job the writers had done keeping Will and Djaq in character throughout the story. Surely this would be no different? I tried to think through a way for what I was seeing in the screen shots to come about in a way that didn't compromise the characters, but I wasn't having any luck. 'Well, duh!' I told myself. 'These writers get paid to do this. Obviously they can think of better ideas than me.

Alas, I was wrong, and that was the day that I stopped believing in the writers of this show. I trusted them, and they let me down. That, compounded by the fact that two weeks later Marian was murdered.

The writers took my special couple, even more special than Robin and Marian because they got less screen time, and destroyed them. It was like letting a baby play with a beautiful glass Christmas ornament, and watching it be shattered to a million pieces. Goodbye characterization!

Now, don't get me wrong, I would still rather have the 'barn scene' than nothing at all. Harry and Anjali did the absolute best they could with the lines they were given, and I still enjoy watching it, but I can't help but think of what that scene could have been, had it been more true to the characters. (What happens between them after 'the scene' is a different story. Every time I watch them in the Holy Land I want to throw up, but I won't get into that here.)

My point in bringing this up is in the light of Allan and Kate. A couple which has gained quite a following in quite a short time. (More due, I think, to Joe Armstrong being amazing, than Kate. He only has lines when he's talking to or about her so Allan fans are desperate.) And I'll admit, I'm not as opposed to this couple as I was at the beginning of the season. Could this be, as some have suggested, because Kate has less lines and thus, has less opportunities to annoy me? It could be. However, I do see the attraction.

The problem is, it's almost episode 8. Last I checked, there are only 13 episodes in a UK season (who's idea was that, anyway?). Then there is the small issue with the fact that all this couple has going is one good scene of dialog and a few more scenes of Allan being worried. That's it?

Well, you might be saying, you just went to all the trouble of telling us that Will and Djaq didn't exactly hog the screen, and yet their love story was sweet. But here's the thing. Will was a quiet young carpenter, not to mention the youngest member of the gang, who probably suffered from homesickness occasionally. He liked Djaq, but I think was slightly in awe of her. Djaq was very smart, and witty, not to mention the first girl he had ever had feelings for (probably). He was shy!

Djaq was also on the quieter side. She was one of the gang, but she was never one to waste words. So being the two quietest members of the gang (except Little John, but he doesn't count) it makes some amount of sense for their relationship to be quiet, shy, and very much in the background.

That doesn't hold true for Allan or Kate. Allan has never been someone to hide what he thinks, or be quiet about anything. If he thinks something, he says it. Also, from what we've seen of Allan on this show, he's not one to be 'in awe' of anyone. He's not shy around girls, he's a flirt. It would be completely unlike Allan to have a quiet, shy affection for someone. If he liked Kate, he'd tell her, and everyone else for that matter. The only possible exception was Djaq. Allan did like her, and yet was not overly obvious about it. I believe part of this was because he knew of Will's feelings, and didn't want to get in the way, but I also think his relationship with Djaq was special in a way. He really respected her as a person, and as a member of the gang, not just some girl.

Kate, from what we've seen this season, is very apt to speak her mind. Too apt, in fact. At this point she seems to be pretty smitten with Robin, so paying attention to Allan isn't exactly high on her priority list. Oh, and as far as gaining Allan's respect goes, how has she done that again? She's done nothing (alright, not quite nothing. But close.) to really help the gang. She is constantly getting captured, and she runs like a robot. Yes, I know, I'm missing a few things, but Kate's faults are too numerous for the rest of this post to hold.

So here we are, with six episodes left, we still have to get over the whole Robin/Kate lump, and there is supposed to be a credible couple in Allan and Kate? Sorry, but not this season. Unless the writers are geniuses. Which we all know they aren't. Much and Eve had a great relationship going with just one episode, but these are new writers who are even more incompetent than those ones.

I resent the fact that the writers couldn't just make up their mind as far as who to put her with (assuming they had to put her with somebody at all). All of the wishy-washying has wasted valuable screen time which could have been used to give Allan and Much a personality outside of Kate.

So do I like Allan and Kate as a couple? Not really. I'd rather just give Allan the time to develop his own character, rather than a love interest. There were some very interesting threads of his character that were left hanging last season, and thanks to Kate (ok, I mean the writers. I'd better put blame where blame is due.) we haven't gotten to explore that at all.

I'll always think fondly of the scene they had together in the butcher shop. They had potential then. Unfortunately, after that, the storyline has been dropped.

Kate and Allan can't be the next Will and Djaq. They can't have the sweet 'first love' type of relationship that Will and Djaq had. The dynamic just isn't there. If the writers try to force things, we'll just get more contrived love confessions (though I'm sure Joe Armstrong would be brilliant) and more ruined characters.

~Paige

Why Robin and Marian Were Made For Each Other

As someone who has watched, and rewatched, and rewatched, the first two series of Robin Hood, I feel that I've come to a fairly good understanding of the characters. Anyone who grows to love a fictional character, whether it's a book, TV show, or movie, knows what I mean. 90% of the world's female population would cry out in horror, if Elizabeth Bennet ended up falling Mr. Wickham, and spurning Mr. Darcy.

We know those characters, and we know how they're supposed to act.

The same thing has happened for me with Robin Hood. It may have something to do with the fact that as an author myself, my imagination is very willing to fill in the blanks that the writers leave out. Despite the fact that the writers didn't care much for consistency, I still have a picture in my mind of what these characters are. When the writers act in ways that change that image, I blame them, not the character.

Now, back to my point. I know these characters. And because I do, I know that Marian was the only girl who could possibly keep Robin under control.

Much like a parent knows the weakness' in their children, I'm well aware of Robin's weakness regarding girls. He knows that they like him, and since his ego is rather large, he doesn't mind. As a matter of fact, he enjoys it. Even the Sheriff has commented on Robin's desire to be loved. However, when we get things easily, they are that much less valuable.

Back in season 1 Robin was charming, and just about everything else he can be, and yet Marian shows him nothing but disdain for the first three episodes. And even beyond.

What is Robin's reaction? He doesn't give up and go find one of the other Nottingham girls to sweep off their feet. He tries harder.

Now, I'm not suggesting that girls should deliberately toy with a man's feelings (nothing of what I say should be taken as romantic advice. It's just character analyzing) What I am saying is that because Marian's approval was withheld from Robin, he tried all the harder to get it. It was in his nature.

The result was that when he eventually did win her approval, and of course, love, it meant something more to him than just a passing fancy.

Marian was disillusioned by Robin when he left her to fight in the Holy Land. As she said in episode one, his charms ceased to work on her. He would never again win her approval through empty compliments or flattery. Her opinion had to be influenced by something deeper. Something that Robin could only show when he was really trying.

Before Robin could earn Marian's love, he had to gain back her respect.

And he did! All of season 1 established that. They worked together, and even though Marian put a hard face on it, she began to appreciate not only his looks and charms, but who he really was.

On the flip side, while Robin was trying so hard to win Marian's love, he found himself truly loving her back. He wanted her to love him, not simply out of his obsession with love or because she was pretty, but because he had genuine feelings for her. Genuine feelings which originated from a deeper understanding of her, as they worked together.

He began to appreciate aspects of her personality that he was only just discovering. Her bravery. Her intelligence. Her loyalty.

And so, when they finally shared their first on screen kiss in the final episode of season one, it was as people who understood one another, respected one another, and truly loved one another.

During season 2 there is a noticeable lack of flirting on Robin's part. Why is this? Because Robin knows Marian, and of course because he loves her too, he knows that she will not settle for anything other than his best behavior. Since her feelings for him are not based on his own actions alone, but on a conscious decision on her part, she could always withdraw them. Marian is never a slave of her love for Robin.

If Robin had proven unworthy of her a second time, she would have displayed the traits that Robin knew her to possess. Her pride, and her resolve. Her trust would most likely never have been gained again.

Robin's love for Marian in season 2 was a love that went deeper than mere physical attraction, but was secured by each person's complete understanding of the other.

They were complete equals. Robin had no need to flirt with anyone else. He had worked hard to earn Marian's love, and her love completed him. They were two halves of the same circle. They completed each other.

That was why Robin and Marian's relationship was so special. If you contrast it with Robin and Isabella's short lived tryst, you can see the difference. The reason Robin and Marian's love lasted was because they had a deep understanding and love for one another, while Robin and Isabella's relationship never went farther than physical attraction and (in my opinion) selfish manipulation.

That is why I found Robin's answer to Isabella's question last episode so fitting. Who is Marian? What answer could he give? She was Marian. She was everything intangible that Isabella and Kate can never be.

She was the Marian to his Robin Hood. The way the story has been told for hundreds of years, has never been as true as with this 'modernized retelling'.

~Paige

*obviously these are just my opinions. If you're anti-Robin/Marian, then you are certainly entitled to your opinion. I just think your opinion is wrong. :) Just kidding.

Episode 7: Too Hot To Handle

A wave of intense heat has swept over Nottinghamshire. The gang is doing all they can to alleviate the suffering of the villagers, while Robin himself pays secret house calls on Isabella. He stops by to bring her some fresh strawberries, coincidentally during one of Prince John's visits. Despite their secrecy, the Prince spies their clandestine meeting, begins making his plans of revenge.

After Robin leaves, Prince John asks Isabella to accompany him to the castle, where he takes her down to the dungeons to show her how his new plan will work. Underneath Nottingham castle is the spring which feeds the wells of the whole area. He has ordered his soldiers to block it up, depriving every village in the area of water. He will then take his personal supply of water to the villages, and quench their thirst, in an effort to win their loyalty and love.

Unfortunately for him, the outlaws, desperate to get water for the thirsty people, decide to take matters into their own hands by stealing a few barrels of Prince John's water supply. As they are giving out the water to Locksely village, Robin receives a message from Isabella telling him to meet her in the meadow. When Robin leaves to meet her, Prince John happens to ride into town to benevolently supply the villagers with water. When he discovers that the outlaws have gotten there first, with one of his own water barrels, he is enrages, and decides that he will no longer give out the water, he will charge for it.

Robin, meanwhile, is meeting with Isabella who tells him of Prince John's plan. They set off for Nottingham to release the water, before all of the villages die of thirst. They are not alone, though. Prince John told Gisbourne of the secret meeting he saw between Robin and Isabella, and told him to follow Isabella when she left the castle. He sneaks up behind them as they walk through the forest, and quickly locks a chain around each of their wrists'. Instead of killing them both, as he had been told, he offers Isabella one last chance to right her wrongs by killing Robin Hood. If she does, he will lie to Prince John, telling him that he was wrong about what he saw, but if she doesn't...

The Good:

Very well written episode! Izzy's character proved to share many of the same faults with her brother. Her character grows more complex each week, and I may be able to fully enjoy her now that her relationship with Robin seems to be over.

Prince John was excellent again, and Toby Stevens did a great job adding a few new angles to the Prince's character. Not only his he arrogant and obsessed with being loved, but he is also very insecure. I thought this was very well brought out this episode. Just how he said the line, "If you won't love me, then by God, you'll fear me!" was very stirring, and I even felt a little bit of compassion for him at the time.

There were several very well choreographed fights this episode, where you were never quite sure who was fighting whom, as well as some nice dialog between Much and Robin. This episode definitely struck a good balance between action, character tension, and emotion. The next few episodes should hold some very interesting developments, regarding the fallout between Robin and Izzy, and Izzy, PJ, and Gizzy. On the baddie side of things, any trust they might have had in each other has been shattered, and the story could go any number of directions from here.

Last but most importantly, Marian was mentioned multiple times this episode. Jonas did a spectacular job backing up the dialog with facial expressions that could be interpreted many different ways, depending upon your perspective watching the show. We got to see into Robin's head a little bit, when he told Isabella that he 'just wants to forget'. The relationship between Robin and Izzy was IMHO (on Robin's side) just an attempt to forget Marian. I think that what Robin realized today is that he can't forget her. A realization which I am very thankful for. All of this episode, even though Marian was not discussed constantly, Jonas was able to convey with his face, a certain sadness that he has been hiding the last few episodes. It was good to see. They even played Marian's tune a few times. Ahhh...

The Bad:

The gang didn't have much to do again, this episode. After the next episode, Prince John will be leaving, and then maybe they'll have some more to do.

They are hinting at a romance between Robin and Kate again. Ugg. Robin doesn't need a relationship right now, he needs to be focused on what he's trying to accomplish. Especially with so many twists still left to come this season.

The Ugly:

It's two weeks till the next episode. *crying*

In Summary:

The more I reflect on this episode, the more things I remember liking about it. There were some very good moments, and I hope to see the intricacies of these relationships further explored in later episodes. I'm also looking forward to what the Sheriff has up his sleeve when he returns.

We are Robin Hood!

~Paige

Episode 6: Do You Love Me?

Sir Guy of Gisbourne is yanked from his bed, and a troubled sleep, to be hauled before Prince John who is on his way to Nottingham. "Do you love me, Gisbourne?" he asks. If the answer is really 'yes', Prince John demands that Gisbourne prove it. By killing the Sheriff.

Gisbourne's first attempt fails due to the unexpected appearance of his sister, Isabella, in the hall where he and the Sheriff had been talking. And Prince John arrives before he can complete the mission.

Back in Sherwood, the outlaws are plotting a way to steal the money which Prince John is using to buy the loyalty of nobles all across the land. Without the money to do this, Prince John's hold on the throne of England will weaken considerably. They ambush a guarded coach passing through Sherwood forest, with the help of some men from Locksely, and in the fighting Kate is wounded by and knife in the stomach. It is only after this that they discover they have only captured a decoy, Prince John's personal physician.

With help from the physician, Tuck is able to save Kate's life. And with his help, they also concoct another plan to steal the gold from inside the castle itself.

The Good:

I cannot say enough good things about Toby Stephen's Prince John. He really lit up the screen with not only his dazzling performance, but also the well written character. He is absolutely insane! Possibly even beyond the Sheriff, and that's saying something. Despite being an egotistical maniac, it's hard not to absolutely adore him. He really brings a freshness to the screen, and the story in general. Overall, I'd say that he has exceeded expectations, and those were fairly high going in.

Benjamin, the physician was also very well played. I think the guest stars have really been a high point for the series.

Sir Guy and the Sheriff were brilliant this episode. With each being asked to kill the other in order to prove their loyalty to Prince John, it provides for some very interesting non verbal exchanges. Their antics while trying to eliminate the other, and their suspicions of one another were quite comical. And the climactic fight scene (ok, it was unrealistic, but I like it) was very dramatic and well played by both actors. It's rather funny, when the most emotionally impacting scene for a few episodes would be one involving the two main villains. Who would have thought that I felt like crying when Sir Guy apparently 'killed' the Sheriff? With so many familiar characters gone, I guess I have to cling to whatever ones they've left us. Oh, and Guy gets a medal for being the first one to mention Marian by name since episode one.

Just thought I'd also mention that the fight scenes and costumes have been very good this year. Does anyone else find it ironic that now Allan is back in the gang, he finally gets his black leather?

Isabella was very well done, again, this episode. I found her interactions with Prince John to be superb. However, the character has gone a bit sour for me, for a reason I'll mention in one of the following sections.

Kate was better, although she didn't say much, which could have something to do with it. Allan and Much are both obviously smitten, however, there has not been much time spent on developing a triangle here.

The Bad:

Hmm. Not to much to complain about here.

The only thing is, that it seems like some of the characters are not being given enough to do. All Allan did the whole episode was some cool fighting with two swords, and worry himself to death over Kate's injury. All the action seemed to be in the castle, with PJ, Izzy, Gizzy, and the Sheriff.

I'm also not enjoying the Much/Kate/Allan thing they are setting up (though not very well). What I liked about Djaq (and even Marian, to some extent) was the fact that all the lads seemed to treat them like equals. Though Djaq was never injured (that I can remember) they were never silly about her. Or at least not much. And they seemed to have more confidence in her abilities than they have in Kate's. When Djaq infiltrated the 'casino' thing in episode two of season two, nobody doubted that she could do it. There doesn't seem to be the same dynamic with Kate.

The Ugly:

Ok, so I've saved the worst for last. *deep breath*

WHAT WHERE THEY THINKING!

Robin and Isabella kissing, in her second episode, without even a small hint of a sign that Robin remembers that not two long ago the LOVE OF HIS LIFE died. That scene tainted the whole episode for me. Guy, not Robin, is the one still tortured about Marian's death.

There is no doubt that Isabella and Robin have chemistry, but it can never replace the sweetness that Robin and Marian had in their relationship. Plus, knowing that Jonas is leaving at the end of the season, makes me seriously doubt the wisdom of giving him a new love interest. Maybe I'm being old fashioned, but one of the things that I like about Robin and Marian's relationship was the fact that it was built on a very good understanding of one another. They were friends first. Isabella's only been around for two episodes! Their not friends, or even good acquaintances. Plus there's the fact that nearly everyone in the Internet world thinks there is more to Isabella than meets the eye.

Handled tactfully, this could have worked. The actors are great together. But tact seems to be the one thing (ok, one of the things) these writers can't handle. Robin just comes off as a cad.

In Summary:

This show gets so many things right, and yet still manages to miss the most important thing of all. Without the outlaws, this show would not exist, and yet they seem to begrudge them even the small bit of screen time they have.

Marketing for this season touted it as being more 'action filled' and that is certainly true. But there are only 42 minutes to work with every week, and when the action increased, something had to go. That, unfortunately, has been the gang's personalities, and almost all emotionally charged scenes.

There were some brilliant parallels to last seasons finale in this episode (Prince John asking Guy to prove his love by killing the Sheriff, Kate being stabbed in the stomach, etc.) that could have been good 'human' moments, but they were glossed over, or unintentional, being noticed only by those as obsessive as me.

I miss last season. I miss Djaq's independent intelligence. I miss Will's passionate heart. But most of all, I miss the spirit which Marian brought with her. The show is drifting without them.

~Paige

Episode 5: Let the Games Commence

A woman dressed in rich silks flees through Sherwood forest. Her pursuers eventually catch her, after she abandons her horse and hides a pouch of something in a fallen log. It is immediately clear that she is a very capable woman, as she dispatches a few of her captors before being overwhelmed in the end. That's when Robin Hood comes in. With some of his old arrogance, he sends the men running, and then turns to the lady, whose name he finds out, is Isabella.

Shortly afterwards, Robin discovers that Gisbourne has returned; bringing with him a host of Prince John's trained guards. These guards begin 'herding' the gang towards the clearing where Sir Guy has set up his secret weapon. A rather sleepy looking lion.

The entire gang plus Isabella, is rounded up, except for Little John who escapes with the help of Bertha, a circus master, of a sort. In return for her services to him, Bertha asks Little John to compete in a gladiator fight for her that night. Reluctantly, he agrees to do so, while he waits for the rest of the gang to show up in Nottingham.

The Good:

Here we get our first taste of Izzy, Gizzy's sister. I must say that she is a much more interesting/like-able character than Kate was at first. I think I'm really going to like her. The only thing I didn't like was the hint of romance with Robin. However, I'm all for no romance ever again for Robin. In the end, I'm just glad it's not Kate. Lara Pulver did an excellent job portraying Izzy, and I love the family resemblance between her and Gizzy.

The plot was fairly enjoyable at first glance, however there were major issues here, as might be expected. Overall, though, I did enjoy it. Little John spoke a lot, and it was nice to see him get some screen time.

Oh, and Gizzy washed and trimmed his hair while he was in London. That was nice to see.

The Bad:

Judging by how long this section will be, you might think I didn't like the episode, but really, I did.

One of the things that has made me so irritated with this series is the fact that they are so busy introducing new characters that they hardly seem to have time for the old. Much and Allan had significantly small screen time, and were reduced to one-liners. I realize they have to replace lost cast members, but it seems such a shame to have lost the 'family' type atmosphere that the gang had the last few seasons.

Plot holes! Plot holes! Plot holes!
Do the writers even care about this show any more? Did the one sickly looking lion eat all of Prince John's men? There had to be over 100! Why didn't they escape the way Gizzy did? What was with the lion anyway? And GLADIATORS! Seriously? This episode abounded with ridiculous things. More than usual.

The Sheriff acted rather strangely this episode as well. I can't put my finger on it, but... he just seemed off. Until that last scene with Gizzy and Izzy. Then he was back.

Bertha was alright as a guest star, but was not quite up to the high standards set by the previous guest stars of this series (who have all been stellar). Her whole thing just seemed kind of odd.

The Ugly:

I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but I can't think of a single catch phrase that has been used this season. No, "A clue? NO!". No, "I'm not being funny, but...". It's terrible. I LOVE the catch phrases! If they've written them out, I'm going to throw a fit.

It's official. They are never going to mention Marian again. Another key part of the series thrown under the bus. Even in death she could have had some impact. Instead, both Guy and Robin seem to have forgotten her.

In Summary:

I think Isabella really made this episode. She is a very fascinating character, and I'm excited to learn more about her. However, I'm even more excited to meet Prince John next week. Toby Stephens is going to be BRILLIANT! I can't wait.

I think this episode was about the level of episode 3, not great, but not terrible either. Here's to hoping the gang gets more time next week, however, with Prince John coming, and Isabella to continue developing, it's not likely.

~Paige

Episode 4: The Sins of a Father

Sorry to be so late on this. I've been under the weather from surgery (wisdom teeth, ahh!!) but I thought 'better late than never' applied to this situation.

Do you think the Sheriff is at a loss for what evil thing to do next, now that Gizzy is gone? A clue? No.

Especially not when the new tax collector 'Ruthless Rufus' comes to town. In the sheriff's words, he 'makes Gisbourne look warm and snugly.' To create this strong impression, all he has done is destroy the kiln which her family uses to make a living. Oh, and then he takes her prisoner.

Seeing the smoke from the burning kiln, the outlaws, fresh from another successful robbery, run to see what has happened. Robin, with Much right behind, burst into Locksely Manor where Kate is being forced to dance for Rufus. It does not take long to rescue her from him, but the cost is her freedom, as Rufus promises to see that the Sheriff outlaws her for associating with Robin Hood.

Kate decides to stay with the outlaws 'just for the night' and pitches in to help them in their plan to capture Rufus. However, their plans to not succeed and although they manage to make off with Rufus' son, Edmund, Allan and Kate are taken by Rufus and held in the butcher's shop of Locksely. The same butcher shop that Rufus' father owned before he was killed by the Sheriff.

The Good:

This was my favorite episode yet! Great plot. Great guest stars. Great character interaction from the regulars. Kate and Allan get the best scene, when they are chained up in the butcher shop exchanging insults. The banter between the gang and Kate was cute as well.

As I already mentioned, the guest stars were brilliant. Rufus was ruthless, and very well acted. And Edmund was very good too. Tuck had a very nice scene with the latter, giving him some much needed character development.

I like the fact that even though Kate has been in three episodes so far, Robin is showing no romantic interest whatsoever. Much and Allan are, but not Robin. I definitely like it that way. Also, I don't remember any speeches this episode, so that was good.

This section is shorter than usual, because I saw it almost a week ago and I'm keeping it short in general today. Mostly what I remember is just the fact that it was excellent.

The Bad:

Mostly just an issue of math. Rufus' father is supposed to have been killed by the Sheriff 17 years ago. However, according to the chronology of the show, this Sheriff could only have been in Nottingham for 8 years at most. Overall, not a big deal (for this show), just a little something which made me go, 'Hey, wait a minute!'

The Ugly:

Kate needs to loose the braid across her forehead. It's really distracting.

In Summary:

This (as I said before) was my favorite episode so far. I wish I had written this right away, as I'm sure I would have had much more to say.

Hopefully I'll be back up to par next week.

~Paige

An Introduction to Robin Hood

For anyone who is familiar with the show, feel free to skip this post. As someone living on the American side of the Atlantic, I have lots of friends that have never even heard of this show. This post is for them. (Remember in my first post where I said I'd never recommend this show to anyone? I lied. I can't help it!)

I shouldn't really have to explain the premise of a show called Robin Hood. If you don't know the basic story, then go read about it on Wikipedia or something. However, there are things which make this show different from the other versions of Robin Hood which have appeared either on the big screen or the small screen.

First and foremost, it's important to go into this show with the proper mindset. If you're thinking of trying this show to see a serious historical drama, then forget it. The words serious and historical are rarely applicable. Drama however, describes it to a T. It has somewhat justly been called The Sherwood Soap Opera, occasionally.

And as far as historical accuracy goes, well, people who complain about it are just watching the wrong show. This show never ever ever pretends to be historically accurate. The costumes, people's personalities, the way they talk, all of it is 21st century stuff. (Think A Knight's Tale.) That's what the show is. It's a fun show about characters in the 12th century that act like they lived in the 21st century. Minus a lot of the junk that you'd get from a 21st century show.

Now, enough disclaimers. Here is the basic start of the series. It's pretty similar most other Robin Hood stories. Robin of Locksely is just returning from fighting with King Richard in the crusades. With him is his faithful manservant, Much. They are both looking forward to being home after a five year absence, and Much is thrilled that Robin has promised to free him and give him land in return for his service.

On the way home, they encounter a man who has been caught poaching. A group of soldiers are about to execute the law of the land, and cut off one of the man's fingers. He begs them not to, claiming that he must get food for his wife, who is pregnant and will lose the baby if she doesn't eat. Robin and Much decide to give the man a helping hand, and rescue him.

Robin and Much continue on, and the next day arrive in Locksely Village, Robin's home. They are not back for long before they notice that things are not the same as when they left. Robin's land has been left in the charge of Sir Guy of Gisbourne, and his methods of managing the villagers is much different than Robin's. On the very day of Robin's return, three village boys are arrested for stealing flour, and sentenced to hang by the Sheriff of Nottingham. Robin goes to request that the Sheriff release them in honor of his return home, but the Sheriff refuses. He places before Robin a fatal ultimatum. Either watch four (yes, four. Remember the poacher from the beginning? He's in trouble again.) men hang for insufficient crimes, or lose his rank, land, and possibly his life. It's Robin Hood. What do you think he chooses?

Robin Hood:

Although not the typical Robin Hood (Jonas Armstrong is pretty small. Especially in season 1.) The character is quite winning. This Robin is light hearted, and fond of what he does, which is rob from the rich (mostly the Sheriff) and give it back to the people who adore him. He's cocky, and a lady's man, but there is only one lady who really catches his fancy. The lady which I left out of my initial description...

Lady Marian:

If you know anything about Robin Hood, you know Lady Marian (not Maid Marian, this time.) Without her, this Robin Hood's head would get so big it would explode. Robin's former fiancee does not sing his praises as many do. Although she is against the Sheriff of Nottingham, she supports her father, a former Sheriff himself, if a silent opposition to the Sheriff. They work to turn the nobles who serve the Sheriff, and prefer to keep their dissidence hidden. She most often calls Robin a 'fool' although when Robin needs help, or information, he knows where to go.

The Sheriff of Nottingham:
He is evil. And it's funny. That's pretty much all there is to say about Sheriff Vasey of Nottingham. No matter what dastardly deed he is committing, he always manages to bring out the comical side of it, whether by puns, or out right jokes, he is brilliant. Keith Allen brings a real energy to the screen, and provides a great adversary for the great Robin Hood to play off of.

Sir Guy of Gisbourne:
Undoubtedly the most, or at least one of the most, popular characters of the show. Sir Guy is the Sheriff's right hand man, and does not hesitate in carrying out the most violent of the Sheriff's plans. However, the leather clad baddie played by Richard Armitage has a soft spot for Lady Marian. She acts as a conscience for him, and he even listens to it a few times. The somewhat 'grey' nature of his character seems to be a big part of his popularity. However, I think it has more to do with the brilliant Richard Armitage.

Much:

Robin's faithful servant is possibly the most endearing of all the characters. He follows Robin into his exile, of course. Giving up the hope of having his beautiful lodge at Bonchurch, which Robin had promised him. Although not many people would name him as their favorite character, you would be hard pressed to find a person who didn't love Much. He symbolized the average person, in Robin Hood's gang. Not letting Robin get too carried away with his grand ideas to forget about the regular necessities of life. Like food.

Little John:
Not much to say here. Little John is the big man of the gang. If something needs broken, they call on Little John. Other than that, he's pretty much the most bland character in the cast.

Will Scarlett:
One of the boys which Robin rescued from hanging is Will, a village boy from Locksely. He is quiet, but very passionate, and fights with the weapons he is most comfortable with. His carpenter's axes. He is the gang's mechanic. If something needs built, carved etc. They call on Will. If it can be made with wood, he can make it. He also finds himself drawn towards the only female member of the gang.

Djaq:
Pronounced 'Jack', is the nickname of the Saracen woman who joins the gang in their fight for freedom. She was brought to England as a slave, but was rescued by Robin and the gang. She decides to stick around, and becomes the gangs scientist. She has a logical mind and is familiar with many scientific advances which have been made by the Saracen's recently. She also happens to be a proficient fighter. In the words of Allan, she is just 'one of the lads.'

Allan a Dale:

I have saved the best for last. Rounding out Robin's gang is Allan a Dale. (Remember the poacher? Here he is again.) He's not a minstrel in this version, however, he is a storyteller. Or to use the word which is a little more straight forward, a liar. Remember the wife he said he had back at the beginning? He doesn't have one. He was raised a pickpocket, and has the skills to survive in the forest with Robin. He doesn't have much of a noble nature, but he's getting there. His best friend Will Scarlett sees to that. When Robin needs a creative way of getting into the castle, he asks Allan. He's always scheming, and is never short a quick word. He is also the pessimist of the gang, and is fond of saying 'I'm not being funny, but...' when he has some sort of objection to make.

So, there are the main characters for you. This show really is a lot of fun. And it manages to throw in a few good serious moments as well. However, don't take it too seriously, because if you feel like analyzing every episodes plot, you're bound to find a few holes. If you take it at face value and enjoy the fun character interactions as well as some good clean action entertainment, this show is the best!

~Paige

P.S. One more disclaimer. Don't judge the show by the first 15 minutes of episode one. Or all of episode one, even. Give it a few episodes to hook you.

Episode 3: Lost in Translation

The Abbot of Kirklees has a secret. A very dark secret. The Abbot is translating the Bible into English.

Being a person of no scruples, the Sheriff is the first to jump at the chance of using this little tidbit of information to blackmail the Abbot. The penalty for such sacrilege would be certain death, not to mention the destruction of ten years worth of work.

With such terrible consequences looming, the Abbot agrees to publicly condemn Robin Hood as a heretic, and accuse him of attempting to rob the abbey of Kirklees. As a result, none of the people around Nottingham will have anything to do with Robin Hood the next time he comes to visit.

The only person who is willing to risk hiding the gang from the Sheriff, when he rides unexpectedly into Locksley village, is Kate, who seems to have warmed up to the outlaws (just a little.)

Brother Tuck, confused by the Abbot's deceptions, remembering him to be a man of honor, and decides, against Robin's orders, to visit Kirklees and find out what's going on for himself. As a result, he is captured, and turned in to the Sheriff, who tells the people he was caught trying to steal sacred articles from the abbey.

Robin, of course, cannot allow Tuck to be captured and killed, so he comes up with a plan...

The Good:

The plot for this episode was much better than last week's. There were (of course) glaring historical inaccuracies, but if these are no so flagrant that they draw my attention away from the story (as they did last week with the hang-gliding) I don't mind them too much. The Bible being translated into English was a wonderful idea, even though the actual feat would not have been accomplished until a few hundred years later, when more people were actually literate.

This storyline also allowed for some positive Christian story elements, like Tuck quoting Bible verse, which were a nice touch. As a Christian myself, I've been slightly annoyed that the BBC has done everything they can to highlight the other religion's of the world, while glossing over the fact that England was a Christian nation at the time, and religion would have been a part of their lives. Seeing a character like Tuck quoting Bible verses in proper context, is not something this show has had very often.

Then you have the Abbot. I found him to be one of the better drawn guest stars this show has given us thus far. A real grey character. A character who was, in essence, doing the wrong thing, for the right reasons. Yes, a very interesting character indeed.

Kate was (in my opinion) better this week. If her character had been introduced to us in the way she was portrayed this week, I might have liked her. However, right now she is only working to negate the bad impression she left on me last week. She had some nice moments, and at this point, if she continues this way, I could end up liking her. If they don't try to match her up with anyone.

Allan finds his spot in The Good, again. He is pretty much a permanent fixture. He had a very nice fight scene. I mean very nice. Two swords... taking out, like, ten guards. It was sweet. Plus, he's always good for a glib comment. He even makes puns work!

Robin was good this episode, bringing some of his lighthearted banter with the Sheriff back to the show. However, other than that, he didn't stand out too much. Keith Allan, on the other hand, was marvelously villainous. Striking the perfect balance between creepy and comical. It really will be a shame to see him go.

The Bad:

Though I liked the plot, I think they need to come up with some other stories. Every episode is becoming: Sheriff does something bad, Robin tries to help but something goes wrong, Robin tries again and succeeds, Repeat. I did enjoy this episode more than the last one, but they need to come up with something to liven the story up. Quick. It is possible that the addition of Izzy (Gisbourne's sister. You know, Gizzy and Izzy. :) will provide that extra spark that's needed.

I thought there were several missed opportunities for character conflicts, most notably between Allan and Tuck. Allan is not shy about his distrust for the monk, and the writers actually paired them up at one point in the episode. I would have liked to see more conflict there, with Tuck being the moral one, and Allan being the skeptical, distrustful pickpocket that he is. The dynamic between them could be very interesting, if the writers would only clue in.

Robin had another (borderline) inspirational speech. Between him and Tuck, the inspirational speech minutes for the entire season have all been used up. Give the extra talking to Little John. I don't think he's said a full sentence yet this season.

The Ugly:

On one of the other Robin Hood message boards, someone proposed starting a Protect Much Club. He really needs it. Of all the characters on this show, he is the sweetest, and yet he is also the most abused. No one is nice to him! He basically told Kate that he likes her this episode, and instead of leaving it at, 'Sorry, things would never work between us,' she has to throw in, 'you smell bad, etc.' Really, I think the b.o. back then would have been equally bad on all of them. They didn't exactly bathe everyday.

Ok, who else was totally creeped out by the Sheriff's interaction with that little girl. Was she Kate's sister? That was really weird, and wrong. I felt so sorry for her.

In Summary:

This episode was definitely up from last week, but still below the first episode which was touching in it's reverence towards Marian. In my opinion, the writers have made a mistake in, figuratively, burying her too soon. She was a big part of the show for most people, and to just ignore the fact that she was ever there leaves the show feeling hollow. Since the writers decided to kill a main character is such a dramatic way, they should have been prepared to deal with the consequences of that over more than one episode.

Let's just hope the next episode continues the upward trend, and this season will be alright.

~Paige

Casualty Report!

After the Season 2 finale, there is one thing (at least) that we fans learned.

No one is safe.

Already this season, it is pretty common knowledge that Jonas Armstrong is leaving. Which most likely means that Robin will die at the end of this season. *sigh*

So here we have Robin Hood, without Robin or Marian.

Besides Robin, here are my opinions as to who will bite the bullet this season. Not literally, but you never know with this show.

According to an article from last year, the Sheriff will die this season as well. Originally, I assumed that Robin would be the one to do the deed. However, the dynamic between Guy and the Sheriff this season has changed my opinion. I think that when Guy arrives in London, he 'befriends' Prince John, and has no use for the Sheriff anymore. I also predict that the Sheriff won't make it to finale either. I say that Guy does away with his former boss between episode 7-10. Then PJ takes over as the main baddie for the finale.

As far as Sir Guy goes... I can't seem to see how he could possibly survive this season. However, killing of Robin, The Sheriff of Nottingham, Marian, Will Scarlett (effectively), and Sir Guy of Gisbourne... Your getting pretty low on legend here. Plus, if I were the producers, I have to consider that a vast amount of the people who watch this show are RA fans, and will only watch if he continues to be a member of the cast. I predict that Sir Guy survives, simply because they can't kill everybody, and because of his legion of fans.

Next we get to gang members. Tuck is safe, because David Harewood has said that he signed on for two series. Plus he's brand new. The same probably applies to Kate as well. I doubt she'll die in her first season.

All that remain are Little John, Much, and Allan.

I'm not too worried about LJ. Gordon Kennedy said he'd be happy to do more, and I can't think of a valid reason to kill him. You hardly notice he's there anyway. Much, I could see leaving, as Sam Troughton did not ever say that he was coming back. However, some people think this has something to do with the fact that he may have been in the middle of contract negotiations during interviews, and didn't want to sound too committed. I really hope this is the case, because losing Much would be terrible.

And now we reach my greatest worry. Allan.

Since Joe Armstrong doesn't do interviews, we have absolutely nothing to go on. All I know, is that last time they introduced a new character in episode five (Djaq joined in episode 5 of season one. Guy's sister, Isabella, comes in during episode 5 this season) they first had to kill someone. Remember Roy? I'll be content if I see Allan survive through episode five. After that, I think Allan will stick around (if Joe will agree to extend his contract) for the simple reason that if they get rid of the whole original cast, you'll lose a lot of viewers.

I can say right now, that unless the new characters grow on me, I will not be watching a season four (if there is one) for them. If they want to keep this viewer, they'd better be doing everything they can to keep Sam and Joe happy, because they are the only thing keeping me around.

~Paige

Episode 2: Cause and Effect

As this episode starts, Robin Hood returns to what he originally started doing, in episode 2 of season 1. Robbing the rich, to feed the poor.

However, as usual, the Sheriff is up to no good. He has decided to sell all the able bodied men in the county, to an Irish revolutionist, who wished to throw out the English government, and make Ireland a free nation. And he's willing to pay handsomely, for an army.

The Sheriff is desperately in need of funds to pay off the heavy tax that Price John has leveled on him, and he is perfectly willing to sell the men away from their families.

Strongly objecting to the Sheriff selling her brother, is a Locksley girl named Kate. After a failed attempt to sneak her brother away, Kate escapes from Sir Guy's guards with a little help from a kindly outlaw. How does she repay this kindness, you may ask? She obviously allows Robin to make his own plans, and waits to see how she can best help him save her brother. Right?

Wrong. Becoming impatient with Robin's careful planning, she rushes to attack the soldiers that are guiding the band of prisoners through the forest. Robin and his men follow, attacked by an group of Celts, who have come to see that their new army is well cared for. Most of the gang escapes, along with Kate, but Robin is rounded up, unknown to the Celts, and hauled off to Nottingham with all the other villagers.

The Good:

I must say, that the the new Sir Guy is by far better than the one of the last two seasons. Now that he has 'jumped off the cliff of sanity', I am able to truly appreciate him as a villain. Richard Armitage was spectacular, and the new dynamic between the Sheriff and Guy is very well played on both sides. I've decided that Sir Guy is much better as an all out baddie, than the middle ground he formerly occupied. The real kind of villain that you love to hate.

This weeks guest stars were very good, as well. Especially Fin, the wanna-be King of Ireland. His dedication to the cause of freedom was admirable, as was his appreciation of Robin's leadership skills.

Allan was great, as usual. He had some nice little lines, and seemed to be the only one to have a problem with the fact that once Robin was gone, Tuck became the defacto leader. If Allan continues to mature throughout the season, I could see him replacing Robin as leader, when Jonas leaves.

The Bad:

There will be a lot more in this section this week, that there was last week. Unfortunately.

The Bad, will begin with Kate. She was terrible. Despite the fact that the actress seemed to be giving it everything she had, the character was still utterly unlikable. Like I predicted, they seemed to want to make her as similar to Marian as they could. But to change things up, they made her poor, and she has a mother instead of a father. However, they gave her all of Marian's bad points (yes, she had them) and none of her good ones. She rushes into battle without permission (ala. Marian in 'Get Carter') and then blames Robin for the bad things that happen as a result. She always seems to be shifting the blame for bad things onto other people, even when they are her fault. Plus, the need for the 'sobering influence' in Robin's life, is no longer necessary like it was in Season 1, when Marian was always criticizing Robin. And Kate doesn't even have a legitimate reason for her dislike of Robin, unlike Marian. I'm willing to give her more than one episode to make me like her, however, judging by this first episode, the next 11 episodes may be hard to watch.

Joining Kate in 'The Bad' column, is the episode plot in general. I've heard people accuse this show of being repetitive and unoriginal before, but this is the first time I've considered agreeing with them. How many times will it take for Robin Hood to escape the 'slow and painful death' that the Sheriff is saving for him, before the Sheriff will just say, "Kill him on sight!" I realize that would make for a very short show, the next time Robin got caught, but at least it would make the writers think of another story. Something other than, Robin gets captured and imprisoned, then makes miraculous escape, leaving the Sheriff fuming, "Inconceivable!"

This particular 'miraculous escape' happened to be particularly far fetched, involving hang gliding from the top of the castle battlements, using one of the large canopies they have up there. Don't even get me started on the 'stretching of imagination' which the BBC required us to take, this episode. It takes a pretty bad one to bug me, and these ones were pretty bad.

The Ugly:

Kate. Not necessarily, literally, but her character gets put in 'The Bad' and 'The Ugly'.

Much pining over Kate. Apparently the writers have short term memory loss. Or have they forgotten that Much already has a girl? If they wanted Much to get together with someone, they should have brought back Eve, from season 1. You remember her right? We fans do, however, the writers don't seem to.

What I want to know is this. How did they build those arrow launcher things, without Will? Neither Will or Djaq has been mentioned yet, which makes me mad. The were both important members of the team. The fact that they seem to have build a highly complex system for firing arrows, without the one man who could have designed and created that, is completely absurd, and should have been explained.

In Summary:

I really hope this was just a 'down' episode, and that things will be back to the way they started out in episode 1, again, very soon.

If that doesn't happen... Well, I don't know what I'll do.

~Paige

Anti-Kate? A Character Study

Let's talk for a minute, about the male characters in Robin Hood. Just hang with me. You'll see where I'm going with this in a minute.

First, you have Robin. He's cocky, and a bit of a lady charmer. At the moment he's ticked off, and when that happens, people die. Next you have Much. Good dependable Much. He loves to eat, and generally complains about any discomfort. Allan is the storyteller of the bunch. He likes to twist his words around and half the things he says are half lies. He has a wry sense of humor and will try to talk himself out of anything. Little John, on the other hand, says very little, and generally likes to let his fist do the talking. However, he had a strong sense of right and wrong, as well as a dedication to help the poor.

You're probably wondering why I'm pointing all of this out. You all know this stuff already! However, I'm trying to make a point. Looking at these male characters, you see quite a diversity of personalities. And we all love that! Each of the outlaws bring something different to the table. They're not all exactly the same.

But, if you look at the female characters in this show, they are much more similar. The writers are obviously trying to avoid writing stereotypical, damsel in distress, type women. As they are trying to avoid that though, they have simply made their own stereotype.

The similarities have never been more striking than with Kate and Marian.

How can I know this? Or even have an impression of this? She hasn't even been in an episode yet!

I believe it is because of the way this character has been marketed in all of the promotional appearances and articles. She is supposed to be a 'feisty village girl' from Locksley who, like Marian, seems to have an amazing ability for self defense. Even though most women were not trained in hand to hand combat back then.

After the finale last season, the BBC sent out an official statement to all of the outraged fans who had complained about Marian's death. Among other things, they mentioned the fact that Marian would never be replaced. However, they seem to have forgotten their own memo. Either that or their marketing department has made a major blunder.

Obviously the show needs female characters. But they should have at least come up with some original character traits that would make her seem like a new character. Not just a love interest, or female place-holder. Instead they decided to stick with the Marian mold. The traits that they've highlighted so far are all shared with Marian. Kate can fight. Kate is feisty and likes to take care of herself. Kate and Robin don't get along.

As this character is introduced tomorrow, I'm truly hoping that I'm wrong. Surely the people in charge of the press releases and trailers are simply forgetting to show the original side of Kate. The side that has nothing to do with the guy's mouths dropping as they watch the blonde girl take out Sherrif's men.

Not all girls are like that. And a girl could be independent without being 'feisty'.

I'll reserve my judgement until I've seen the episode, and try to keep a positive spin on things. It's just a little hard.
I really hope there is something more to her then they are showing us now...

S3: Episode 1, Total Eclipse

The show opens as a boat glides into the beach on the shores of England. The familiar sub-titles shoot across the bottom of the screen, as a tall black monk steps out of the boat and rejoices to be back on English soil. After this brief introduction to a new character, we switch over to the four characters which have been much in our thoughts these long months of waiting.

However, even before the opening sequence rolls, you can tell that this is not the same staunch, grief weary group of comrades which walked out into the sunset at the end of series 2. No, Robin is out for vengeance, and he wants nothing to do with the men who remind him that there is more to life than just revenge.

Despite the best efforts of his faithful men, Much, Allan, and Little John, Robin insists on confronting Gisbourne, and maintains that 'Robin Hood' died in the Holy Land with Marian. (Wow! He gets it! Maybe he should inform the writers of what they seem to have forgotten. You can't have Robin Hood without Marian!) His all consuming purpose in life is killing the man who murdered his wife, and besides his grief nothing else seems to matter much. He has formally announced his resignation from hero status.

Enter Brother Tuck (no, not Friar). He gives Robin a proverbial kick in the proverbial pants, along with a few literal punches to the face, eventually getting our beloved outlaw back on track. However, not with out some suspenseful situations that complicate things to no end. Of course.

The Good:

Robin Hood has returned after far to long an absence from our TV screens. That, in and of itself, is good. The show, for one episode at least, was faithful to the memory of Marian, and Jonas Armstrong did an amazing job being the crazy grief stricken widower that Robin is. Having just recently watched the finale of season 2 again, I found his touching displays of grief to be soothing to the ache that I felt in my own heart, and his vicious rage against Gisbourne to be exactly what I had been wanting. The scene at the end, where he buried Marian's ring (a ring which has never before appeared in the show, I might mention.) at the tree where he had proposed was sweet, however, somewhat premature.

The addition of David Harewood as Brother Tuck looks to be a good one, as I was impressed with his acting, and intrigued by his character. As far as the other outlaws go, it was good to see Allan being his usual cheeky self, and it's been far too long since I'd seen that. Much was as sweet as ever, and I felt my heart to be breaking for him when he believed that Robin was dead. Little John, was... just Little John.

The Sheriff was up to his usual antics, and Keith Allen was up to the challenge. However, Guy takes the cake as far as first episode baddies go, for the ending scene in which he takes out a bit of his frustration on the Sheriff. Richard Armitage was excellent in portraying the tormented Sir Guy, who has finally fallen beyond the reaches of redemption. Or so it seems.

The Bad:

Though the scene where Robin buries Marian's ring was very sweet, and made me tear up, I'm afraid it was too early for a step like that. It has only been three months, for crying out loud! I'm am afraid that as they buried the ring, they are also hoping to bury the entire Marian storyline, and free Robin up for someone else. I certainly hope this is not the case. Robin getting over Marian (if at all) should be a slow and gradual process.

The gang is in serious danger of being ignored and/or lumped into one giant force for Robin to wield, without any distinct personalities of their own. Ok, that might be an exaggeration, but I just hope that the writers continue to develop the existing characters while they are bringing in new ones as well. And no, that does not necessarily mean giving love interests to all of them.

The Ugly:

Hmm... Mostly everything about Sir Guy except for his acting. He is looking seriously disturbed.

Torture scenes. Ugh. I don't like it when they have on screen torture scenes... especially when they are torturing poor Much!

In Summary:

Overall, it is a pretty promising start coming from some very unpromising promotional material. All of the press about the series lately had gotten me quite nervous, but getting back to watching the show has really helped. The Sheriff's witty remarks. Allan being a smart-alec. Much being adorable. Everything is there, except Marian. *sniff*

Much of how this series goes (for me) will be dependant on the new character for next week, Kate. I'm not optimistic, but I'm trying to keep an open mind. However, I'll address my concerns about her later this week, when I haven't already rambled on enough.

Here's to hoping for another great season of Robin Hood!