![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Rewatching Robin of Sherwood season 1
Apr. 2nd, 2024 01:10 amIt's ages since I've watched the whole of Robin of Sherwood, but I'm part way through another rewatch. And just finished season 1, the first half of the Michael Praed era. I thought I'd jot down some thoughts. Beware ahead lie spoilers. For those unfamiliar Robin of Sherwood was a British TV series produced between 1984 and 1986 by HTV, starring first Michael Praed and then later Jason Connery.
Watching with adult eyes is a different experience from watching as an 11 year old in 1984. I'm more aware of gender issues, including the poor treatment of women - albeit fair for the historical period. On that subject I'm far from sympathetic towards Will Scarlet's actions in one episode. Marion is still a role model for me, as she was for young me, but I realise how underwritten her character is. And also that there's a surprising lack of chemistry between her and Robin. Or at least that their relationship isn't as prominent as I think it should be.
Frequent long, often comedic, fights between the outlaws and between the outlaws and the baddies are things I'm more likely to fast forward through, lacking the patience to rewatch every feint and parry. But I love the forest scenes, even if adult me wonders how well the outlaws slept when it rained. This is Britain after all!
Although there are a lot of outlaws - and several I'd forgotten, unsurprisingly given how short periods they appear for - there are very few ongoing baddies. It's a remarkably minimal cast, bumped up by villagers, people milling around Nottingham, and the numerous guards. The guest cast is phenomenally strong, and will remain so in later years. Probably due in no small part to the quality of the scripts.
The first season is bookended by two especially strong stories, and slumps somewhat in between for me. But the camaraderie between the outlaws is well handled, and they remain the strength of the show. Having said that I was surprised by some of the things I'd forgotten in the season finale. Not least a plot point which is forgotten by season 2 (( Spoilers... )). I'd also forgotten the mystical ending, which is echoed in future of course.
Watching with adult eyes is a different experience from watching as an 11 year old in 1984. I'm more aware of gender issues, including the poor treatment of women - albeit fair for the historical period. On that subject I'm far from sympathetic towards Will Scarlet's actions in one episode. Marion is still a role model for me, as she was for young me, but I realise how underwritten her character is. And also that there's a surprising lack of chemistry between her and Robin. Or at least that their relationship isn't as prominent as I think it should be.
Frequent long, often comedic, fights between the outlaws and between the outlaws and the baddies are things I'm more likely to fast forward through, lacking the patience to rewatch every feint and parry. But I love the forest scenes, even if adult me wonders how well the outlaws slept when it rained. This is Britain after all!
Although there are a lot of outlaws - and several I'd forgotten, unsurprisingly given how short periods they appear for - there are very few ongoing baddies. It's a remarkably minimal cast, bumped up by villagers, people milling around Nottingham, and the numerous guards. The guest cast is phenomenally strong, and will remain so in later years. Probably due in no small part to the quality of the scripts.
The first season is bookended by two especially strong stories, and slumps somewhat in between for me. But the camaraderie between the outlaws is well handled, and they remain the strength of the show. Having said that I was surprised by some of the things I'd forgotten in the season finale. Not least a plot point which is forgotten by season 2 (( Spoilers... )). I'd also forgotten the mystical ending, which is echoed in future of course.
