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Continuing Robin of Sherwood rewatching
Aug. 19th, 2024 01:17 amI am continuing to watch these on ITVX. Though generally in spread out spurts, rather than more steadily.
Tonight I was watching the latter half of "Lord of the Trees", all of "The Enchantment", and starting on the first half of "The Swords of Wayland". All episodes from season 2.
One thing that's striking me a lot is how sanitised it is, both in violence, but also in sexual relations. The fight scenes - heavily signposted by the start of the "fight music" each time - are pantomime like a lot. Older me fast forwards through many of them. They also often go on for a very long time. But they're also rarely too gory (*). Nor is there anything like as much sexual violence or menace as you would expect for the time, and would be shown in a more adult aiming programme. Even Lilith's seduction (of a sort) of Robin is remarkably asexual, especially from Robin. And as for Robin and Marion, well that's minimal too.
Against that mythology is heavily used throughout. And it's often very dark. As are the frequently threatening visuals. I've just got to the start of "The Swords of Wayland" two-parter. The images at the start of riders on horseback and menacing people is very visceral and scary. Not in a light Hammer way. Watching "Lord of the Trees" tonight I wondered what Mary Whitehouse would have made of it all! Checking on Wikipedia it seems that she did have views, and "objected to the [show's] relentless slaughter and blasphemous religious elements". No big surprises there!
Women frequently have very strong roles in the series, which is nice to see. Though not so much Marion, even if her agency improves in season 2 over season 1. But I'm thinking especially of villainesses, such as Lilith and Morgwyn. Though quite what that says, that it's generally the evil women who get the strong female roles, I'm not so sure. To be fair, this is set in medieval times, when things were even more limited than today.
It is a bit exasperating how certain storylines are left unfinished though. I'm thinking in particular of what happened to Gisburne at the end of season 1, the story of Baron de Belleme, and of course, and most sadly, the unfinished storylines after the series was cancelled after season 3.
The guest cast is often astonishing though. I've been marvelling at that throughout. I am looking forward to next season, and Richard O'Brien's repeated appearances. Though I'm less excited about an upcoming major cast change. On plus we will have other great guest stars to enjoy. I am especially looking forward to seeing William Russell.
Anyway yes, very happy rewatching these. A marvellous series, that first aired 40 years ago this year. And still well worth making time for.
* I know that ITVX has cut some of the violence. But I've seen enough of the series on DVD before to remember that even in the original uncut form it's not as violent as you might expect for the time. Very impressive, albeit a bit overlong for me now. But remarkably non "eek!" inducing.
Tonight I was watching the latter half of "Lord of the Trees", all of "The Enchantment", and starting on the first half of "The Swords of Wayland". All episodes from season 2.
One thing that's striking me a lot is how sanitised it is, both in violence, but also in sexual relations. The fight scenes - heavily signposted by the start of the "fight music" each time - are pantomime like a lot. Older me fast forwards through many of them. They also often go on for a very long time. But they're also rarely too gory (*). Nor is there anything like as much sexual violence or menace as you would expect for the time, and would be shown in a more adult aiming programme. Even Lilith's seduction (of a sort) of Robin is remarkably asexual, especially from Robin. And as for Robin and Marion, well that's minimal too.
Against that mythology is heavily used throughout. And it's often very dark. As are the frequently threatening visuals. I've just got to the start of "The Swords of Wayland" two-parter. The images at the start of riders on horseback and menacing people is very visceral and scary. Not in a light Hammer way. Watching "Lord of the Trees" tonight I wondered what Mary Whitehouse would have made of it all! Checking on Wikipedia it seems that she did have views, and "objected to the [show's] relentless slaughter and blasphemous religious elements". No big surprises there!
Women frequently have very strong roles in the series, which is nice to see. Though not so much Marion, even if her agency improves in season 2 over season 1. But I'm thinking especially of villainesses, such as Lilith and Morgwyn. Though quite what that says, that it's generally the evil women who get the strong female roles, I'm not so sure. To be fair, this is set in medieval times, when things were even more limited than today.
It is a bit exasperating how certain storylines are left unfinished though. I'm thinking in particular of what happened to Gisburne at the end of season 1, the story of Baron de Belleme, and of course, and most sadly, the unfinished storylines after the series was cancelled after season 3.
The guest cast is often astonishing though. I've been marvelling at that throughout. I am looking forward to next season, and Richard O'Brien's repeated appearances. Though I'm less excited about an upcoming major cast change. On plus we will have other great guest stars to enjoy. I am especially looking forward to seeing William Russell.
Anyway yes, very happy rewatching these. A marvellous series, that first aired 40 years ago this year. And still well worth making time for.
* I know that ITVX has cut some of the violence. But I've seen enough of the series on DVD before to remember that even in the original uncut form it's not as violent as you might expect for the time. Very impressive, albeit a bit overlong for me now. But remarkably non "eek!" inducing.
