There have been a host of bad Robin Hood shows in recent decades, but none of them ever reached the heights of Robin of Sherwood, easily one of the more interesting contemporary portrayals of that legendary figure.
Originally run on British TV in the 1980s and featured on Showtime in the US, Robin of Sherwood was one of the best series of its era. After three decades, its influence on how Robin Hood is portrayed can still be seen, from its over the top take on the Sheriff of Nottingham to including a Saracen as one of the merry men. Ever wonder why Morgan Freeman was hanging out with Kevin Costner? Turns out the people who made that movie watched Robin of Sherwood.
Richard Carpenter, one of the best British TV screenwriters in the last half of the twentieth century, led the efforts on this show and he offered some unique angles on the old legends, creating a haunting if somewhat grim look at the Robin Hood mythology. The directors of the various episodes also do a remarkable job, especially with the lush scenery which adds to the show. Sherwood Forest never looked as mysterious and as timeless as it did in this show.
Strangely enough, the haunting and memorable soundtrack by Irish New Age band Clannad adds to the show. The show was launched after Enya left the band to go solo, but Clannad is in good form here even if the lyrics – if not the vocals – sometimes fail to impress.
There are some interesting threads in the show as Saxons battle Normans, pagans try to keep their legacy alive (and frankly some of it is eye rolling), and distant wars and local tyranny present threats to the general populace. All of this comes together to create a fascinating tapestry. This is not the typical Robin Hood fare where our hero tips his hat and shows deference once King Richard returns from the Crusades. There are few good guys outside the merry men and the people they try to help. Kings, crusaders, aristocrats, church leaders – almost anyone in authority proves to be a villain in the series, which raises the stakes considerably in plenty of episodes.
The show lasted three seasons and there are two lead actors playing very different Robin Hoods (the plural is intentional there). Michael Praed offers a strong and fascinating Robin of Loxley in the first two seasons. This is a different take on Robin Hood as the show presents a near mystic figure who is connected to the land and ancient powers associated with England. This Robin rises up against the corrupt foreign aristocracy which has taken over.
The mantra of the show is “nothing’s forgotten…nothing’s ever forgotten,” a line which is repeated over and over again in the three seasons. Robin of Loxley makes that point very clear in the first episode.
“Listen to me,” he tells the merry men. “Our friends who were killed, they’ll never starve, or be tortured or chained in the dark. They’re here with us, in Sherwood, and they always will be… because they’re free. You were sleeping. You’ve slept too long – we all have. It’s time we woke. It’s time we stopped running.”
That’s a message that still resonates after more than three decades.
Praed is helped by a great cast including Ray Winstone as a driven and often bitter Will Scarlet, Nickolas Grace as the Sheriff, and the late Robert Addie as the sneering aristocratic Guy of Gisburne. Judi Trott plays a strong and feisty Maid Marion whose chemistry with Praed helps propel the first two seasons along until they reach “The Greatest Enemy,” the finale of the second season and easily one of the best and most moving television episodes I have ever come across. Most of these actors – with the exception of Winstone – have faded over the years, but they do a remarkable job on this series.
The guest stars and bit players also add to the show. Much of the story is turned upside-down, with Richard the Lionheart – played by the always wonderful John Rhys-Davies in a memorable guest appearance – shown in a far less heroic light than he usually is in the Robin Hood stories. Even Jeremy Bulloch – Boba Fett himself – appears in a minor role.
The third season, far longer than the first two, loses momentum, especially as Jason Connery (Sean’s son) takes over in the lead role as Robert of Huntington. Whatever his pedigree, Connery simply is not as strong a lead as Praed was and fails to connect with the cast – especially Trott –the way his predecessor did. Hobbled by finances despite some solid ratings, the series limped to a conclusion at the end of the third season, even though it ended on a cliff hanger.
Besides switching out the lead, there are other problems. For example, one of the best villains of the entire series comes back from the dead and promptly does nothing for the rest of the series. Carpenter kept going back to a few plot devices – mind control, strange prophecies which immediately come true, villains deciding they want to marry Marion – a little too often. Most of the characters and their settings are properly grimy in good medieval fashion, but viewers can be pardoned if they get distracted by the amazingly 80s hair featured by the two Robins of the Hood and Trott.
Despite the missteps, there is much to ponder in this series, and the action scenes guide the show along. So do the strong cast, wonderful music, and lovely settings. This show is certainly flawed as the actors sometimes ham it up, and there are too many strange mystical asides while major plot holes are left unresolved and sometimes not even acknowledged. However, “nothing’s forgotten…nothing’s ever forgotten”. This show has a loyal fan base for a reason after all this time, and they even funded an audio drama a few years ago. When it was released, Robin of Sherwood: The Knights of the Apocalypse helped bring some conclusion to the series.
In spite of its faults, Robin of Sherwood provides more than its share of moving moments and exciting stories. Fantasy fans should enjoy this show even if the third season drags as the show came in for a less than ideal landing. Highly recommended.