One of the shows I’ve been looking forward to seeing this year is the BBC’s new version of Robin Hood.
Billed as a Robin Hood for contemporary audiences, I was a bit afraid they’d screw it up – rather like Kevin Costner’s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves or the mystical mumbo-jumbo version, Robin of Sherwood.
Instead, after two episodes, I’m quite enjoying it.
Robin of Loxley, Earl of Huntington and his manservant Much return from 5 years fighting alongside King Richard in the Crusades. When he returns, he finds that the new Sheriff of Nottingham has made life miserable for the people. With high taxation and brutal enforcement of the law, he and his henchman, Sir Guy of Gisbon, have brought a dark shadow over Nottinghamshire.
Robin rebels against the Sheriff (and therefore, technically, the law) and becomes an outlaw living in Sherwood Forest.
Making it relevant for contemporary audiences, in this case, means using the series to play some anti-war sentiment.
So far, the characters are still in development, but so far, Robin is a likable, principled young man with phenomenal skill with the bow and an eye for the buxom ladies- which just makes him even more likable. He’s had too much of killing in the Crusades and now he will go to great lengths to avoid to killing. A plot device that it probably necessary, as the show would be cut quite short if he plopped and arrow or two in the Sheriff and Sir Guy, as they so richly deserve. One wonders how he will keep his band of men from finishing them off.
Marion is more of the strong-willed, independent modern type and Robin’s manservant, Much, is… well, he’s a bit too much.
Little John and his crew of outlaws have only just joined forces with Robin, so their characters are still too early to tell.
Sir Guy of Gisbon is suitably slimy, and the Sheriff is more of a philosophical baddie – inclined to wax poetic about his point of view and cut tongues from villagers.
So far, it’s been a romp, with sword fighting, archery, chases and comedy. What more could you ask for in a Robin Hood – except perhaps clothing in Lincoln Green?
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