March 12, 2012

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!

11 comments:

  1. Ok, I think you've definitely sold me on the show. I'm going to have to see if I can find it. ^^ the costumes do look interesting, though it does annoy me that they wouldn't have used more medieval styles, which I love do much.

    ~Vicki
    deckedoutinruffles.blogspot.com

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  2. Perhaps what makes bad guys seem more interesting is that most of them do have a "softer side," and we as the viewer tend to hope (however faintly) that, like Darth Vader, there's still some good in them, and that they'll be able to "come back to the light," as it were. Usually doesn't happen, but we can always hope.

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  3. I think the bad boys are the ones who appeal to our hidden fantasies that we don't want to show others for fear of being labeled a bad girl! We are curious and they can be so charming too! Of course being handsome makes it even harder to resist. I agree that Marian created her own demise of sorts.

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  4. Ok, so I've been going back and forth the past three years on whether or not to see this show - and you've sold me (I can't believe I held out this long against Richard Armitage, I know...baaaaad me). I know what I'll be looking for this library trip! :-)

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  5. I absolutely loved reading all of your thoughts! I think both Wild Rose and Winnie are correct about why the bad guy is usually more interesting.

    @Vicki Let me know what you think of the series once you watch it=)

    @Alexandra That is exactly what I did - I can't believe I held out this long against Richard Armitage, either;)

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  6. ANOTHER HOODIE!!! YESSS!!!
    ....don't you think Allan's awesomeness should at least get a n honorable mention, though!? He and Will totally stole the show! (When they were in it, anyhow)
    Oh goodness, the first time I watched this show, the ending had me a mess of emotions.
    Now I've watched it 4 times, give or take a few episodes, and it still does things to me. >.<

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  7. *high fives* ;D
    Now I'm sitting here trying to figure out why I didn't even mention Allan and Will...I think I was still suffering trauma after the ending (talk about a mess of emotions!). And swooning over Richard Armitage;)
    But yes! Allan and Will were awesome!! "I'm not being funny, but..." ;D
    Once I'm done going through Doctor Who, I'm totally watching this series again=)

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  8. Hehe, made me laugh that you watched it mainly because of Richard Armitage. That was my main reason too. Though I wasn't quite impressed with the series - I guess I just wasn't in the right mind set to watch them. But - apologies to those who like Robin - I couldn't stand Robin Hood. And it totally bugged me that Marian did act that way towards Guy of Gisborn and actually loved Robin Hood. I understand your rant extremely well ;) I may try the series again someday...because Richard Armitage *does* look awesome in it... :D

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  9. I tried and tried but I could not get into this show at all. I really didn't like Jonas Armstrong's acting and the show was much too politically correct for my liking. I remember one episode in particular where they kept comparing the Crusades to the War on Terror and it was really unsubtle. The only thing I loved about Robin Hood was Richard Armitage as Gisborne. He's a brilliant actor and so extremely attractive : D I prefer Merlin, the show that replaced Robin Hood. If you love Sherlock and Doctor Who you'll probably love it too : )

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  10. Hello Natasha!
    After seeing this post, we watched the show, and loved it!
    We reviewed it on our blog too, and linked this post at the end.

    Beth & Becca

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  11. Beth & Becca - Thank you for the link! I'm so glad you enjoyed the show!! :D

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