Movie Review: BBC Robin Hood

Ok, here it is - my review of Seasons One and Two of the BBC Robin Hood TV series (2006).

I was not expecting to like this series, mainly because I can't imagine anyone but Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland as Robin and Marian. 
And I knew the costumes weren't period correct.
They were more like modern with a splash of medieval...or possibly medieval with a splash of modern.  I'm not sure which.  Either way, my inner costume geek was horrified in the extreme.

But, to my great surprise and utter astonishment, I enjoyed it.
Ok, I'll be honest - I really, really enjoyed it.
As in, I watched season one in just a few days and season two as quickly as I could get it from the library.

Robin was a bit of a rouge, and that's how it should be.  Never at a loss for words or arrows.  I wasn't sure I liked him at first, but I grew to like him as I went through the series.  The same with Marian.  I didn't really like her costumes, although they weren't entirely devoid of inspiring details, but how can you not like a girl who wears dagger hair ornaments...and isn't afraid to use them?!

Maid Marian & Robin Hood

  The Sheriff of Nottingham was cruel, heartless...and actually rather funny, for someone who is cruel and heartless.  Dark humor, to be sure, but he made me laugh a lot.  

As did Robin's Merry Men, Much in particular.

And now we come to my favorite part of the series, and the reason I decided to watch it in the first place - Sir Guy of Gisborne.

be. still. my. beating. heart.

 *swoon*

Yes, he's one of the bad guys, but what a bad guy!!

I must confess that I'm rather partial to bad guys in the first place (not because they're bad - they're just so much more interesting), but when you take someone like Richard Armitage and turn him into a villain...wow.
Awesome stuff.

Especially riding horseback. =)
 True, the all black leather look he sports made me rather expect to see him to hop on a motorcycle and zoom off at any moment...
But I can forgive him that.
  His Sir Guy is so full of passion and you can see that he has a softer side.

 I confess, I was totally rooting for him and Marian, not Marian and Robin.

Which brings me to my rant...

I was so mad at Marian for leading Guy on the way she did, making him believe that she loved him when she really loved Robin, just to get information.  I know, I know, she was only trying to help Robin, but...
Guy was so passionately in love with her, and she trampled all over his heart.  I was pretty much ready to punch her and *spoiler warning* I wasn't entirely sorry when she died.  And no, I did not hate Guy for doing what he did...well, not much.  I don't think he even meant to kill her, although he was passionate enough to be capable of killing her simply so Robin couldn't have her.  No, I think that really and truly was an accident.  The look of surprise, shock and grief on his face spoke volumes.  Oh, and I'll give Marian this - it was a good death.  She knew how to die.  And it added an interesting twist to the usual Robin Hood story. *end spoiler*

I don't want this rant to get out of hand, so I'll end it now, while I'm able;)

The plots were interesting and varied.  The dialog was good, with lots of truly funny lines.  That always wins points with me - real funny, as opposed to dumb funny.

There was hardly any of what I consider to be inappropriate content in the series.  There were a few things, mostly implied rather than shown and some spoken.  Quite a few of the women's costumes weren't all that modest and there were a few shirtless guy moments...no pun intended.  I don't know that I'd want my brother to watch the series, because of the women's costumes.  And, although not nearly as gruesome as I thought it might be, there were a few parts that were too gross for me...but I'm easily grossed out.

In conclusion, I enjoyed Seasons One and Two of Robin Hood very much.  I'm not sorry I watched them.
Yes, the lack of period costumes bugs me, but if I need exquisitely beautiful medieval/fantasy costumes for inspiration, I'll watch Lord of the Rings.  They don't get any better than that.

And there you have my review of Robin Hood.
Happy Trails, y'all!