TV Series Review: "Robin of Sherwood"

Today I hope to share with you what was one of the most influential TV series in my life. The series is the 1980's UK show, "Robin of Sherwood". Yes - the budget was small. Yes - it is a distinctly English TV show. Yes - at times you were left wondering why Robin would behave so "goody-two-shoes" etc.....BUT, for me, this was the finest take on the Robin Hood myth to date. The show was the first to (re)introduce some of the mysticism of the older mythology which had long been lost in a tide of Douglas Fairbanks/Errol Flynn, tights-wearing, thigh-slapping, silly-hat wearing, swash-buckling japery. Then this show came around.....with a deep connection to the mysticism of an older England....a more ancient Britain. The woods are haunted by ancient gods.....and the battle between the powers of Dark and Light rage everywhere.

Although there were two "Robins" in the series, I shall concentrate here on the first two series with Michael Praed as Robin of Loxley, the first Robin i'th' Hood. In this show Robin of Loxley finds himself the chosen one of the ancient Green-man figure of English Folklore, Herne the Hunter (aka Cernunnos etc). He is chosen by Herne to "be my son and to do my bidding". As such he becomes Robin Hood - freedom fighter against oppresion and injustice. He is joined by the usual suspects from the tales and ballads - Little John, the giant one-time shepherd from Hathersage; Friar Tuck; Will Scarlet - an angry ex-soldier whose wife was raped and murdered by mercernaries, hot for vengeance and with a very short fuse; Much the Miller's son - Robin's adopted brother, innocent and naive and never the sharpest tool in the box; Marian - Robin's great love and (long before a certain Mr Costner presented it) Nasir an ex-Hashashin, absolutely lethal killing machine. All guided by Herne the Hunter, Lord of the Trees - the stag headed god-man who guides them - often speaking in riddles, as such deities are wont to do!

In the series Robin faces numerous foes - the Baron de Belleme, dark occultist and master of the black arts; the Knights Templar; a duplicitous Richard the Lionheart; a Satanist coven; Branbancon mercernaries and of course, needless to say the Sherrif of Nottingham, played superbly and with scenery-chewing relish by Nickolas Grace, and his lackey, Sir Guy of Gisburn (played by the late Robert Addie).

There were many classic episodes - through two series we felt like we were part of this band, sharing their adventures with them through many wonderful locations. At times, there were scenes which had a great artistic quality - a supreme example of which was the opening to the story "The Seven Swords of Wayland". Indeed this story was one of the absolute pinnacles of the series and had many such scenes - another example being when Robin is captured and we see him from behind with his arms outstretched as he is lead away in an almost crucifixion like pose.

However, all things had to come to an end and so we hit the final episode of Series 2, "The Greatest Enemy". In this episode, Robin makes a last stand on a hill allowing Much and Marian to escape. Hopelessly outnumbered, he is eventually overwhelmed - the scene is again extremely artistic and was excellently played out - Robin firing his last arrow, giving a knowing, resigned look, and breaking his bow over his knee before turning to face a storm of crossbow bolts from teh Sherrif's men. That was not however the end.....as the mantle of "Herne's Son" was to be taken up by Robert of Huntingdon in Series 3. The stories were still good but somehow.....not as good.....Jason Connery took time to fill Michael Praed's shoes....and lacked some of the energy of his predecessor.

I found a compilation video on YouTube set to some of the music from "The Last of the Mohicans" movie soundtrack. Towards the end of the compilation you will see the demise of Robin of Loxley.

This series was at times controversial in its day - with its portrayal of the magickal and mystical on a Saturday "tea-time" coming in for criticism from religious fundamentalists. Now it all seems quite normal, and even, maybe, a little dated.....but this is still a great show and for me the best retelling of Robin Hood to date.

Soon I shall start examining some of the great edifices of Gothic and neo-Gothic architecture,

Until next time...."Nothing's forgotten, nothing's ever forgotten".