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
Monday, April 27, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
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
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
Friday, April 17, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, April 13, 2009
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
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
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
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
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
Monday, April 6, 2009
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
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
Thursday, April 2, 2009
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...
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...
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