Robin Hood: The Complete Series

The BBC incarnation of "Robin Hood" (2006-2009) is not for everyone. If you're a history pedant who frowns at anachronisms, or if you believe that certain elements of the Robin Hood legend are sacred texts not to be tampered with, or if you insist on strict logic in plotlines, then it is most likely not for you. However, if you want good drama with exciting action, complex and interesting characters and a quirky, often tongue-in-cheek sense of humor, then I strongly recommend this show. It's good entertainment, but it's also emotionally involving and thought-provoking.Jonas Armstrong, to me, will now always be THE definitive Robin Hood. I don't always find his Robin particularly likeable, but he is always compelling -- a genuinely heroic and noble character who also has his flaws and even his dark side, whom you may admire one moment and want to smack one minute later. Despite his boyishness, he exudes genuine leadership quality and charisma.Lucy Griffiths's Lady Marian is a good match for this Robin. She is another flawed hero who has noble goals but often makes morally questionable choices. Far from being a storybook romance, their relationship is full of conflict and tension from the start, though it also has its sweet moments. Griffiths's acting may be a little lacking at times in the early episodes in scenes that call for emotional intensity (though I wonder if part of that was a deliberate choice, with Marian keeping a tight lid on her emotions early on), but she grew very quickly as an actor, particularly in Season 2.Richard Armitage truly shines as Guy of Gisborne, the villain-turned-tormented-antihero who, for many fans, became the real center of the show. The conflict between his ambitious striving for power and his desire for goodness and redemption, with his psychological dependence on the Sheriff of Nottingham thrown into the mix, his love for Marian, his hatred (and hints of reluctant admiration) toward Robin -- all this makes for fascinating drama. You never quite know which way his story will go (unless of course you've been spoiled for some of the big events). Gisborne has appeared as Marian's unwanted suitor and Robin's rival several previous movie and TV versions of "Robin Hood" (including, of course, the 1938 Erroll Flynn movie), but in this version there is enough ambivalence on Marian's part to keep things ... interesting, to say the least. Remember, this is a show on which anything can happen and no legend is sacred.Any description of the show would be incomplete without a mention of Keith Allen as the Sheriff, having tremendous fun in his "Big Bad" role but also doing a fantastic job of creating a character who manages to be both hilarious and chillingly evil. Despite being thoroughly evil, his Sheriff manages not to come across as one-dimensional: he is cynical, smart, manipulative, power-hungry, and thoroughly contemptuous of all human connections and notions of decency. His relationship with Gisborne, which sometimes looks like an abusive marriage and sometimes like a twisted father/son dynamic, is riveting to watch.The cast of characters is rounded out by Robin's longtime servant and loyal friend Much, wonderfully played by Sam Troughton; Allan-a-Dale, a petty crook who finds a new life in Robin's gang but later confronts new temptations and conflicts (Joe Armstrong); Little John, the giant outlaw with an often violent temper but a kind heart (Gordon Kennedy); Anjali Jay as Djaq, the freed Saracen slave who turns out to be a skilled medic and fighter; Harry Lloyd as the quietly intense Will Scarlett; and, later on, Lara Pulver as the mysterious and dangerous Isabella and Toby Stephens as the narcissistic, unpredictable, and ruthless Prince John. And that's not to mention guest characters and actors who managed to make a lasting impression in one or two episodes, like Josie Lawrence's Matilda, a midwife and healer falsely accused of witchcraft, or Joseph Kennedy as Carter, a Crusader turned assassin.While the writing on "Robin Hood" has been criticized for improbable and hole-ridden plots (with a show like this, it's best not to ask questions like "But how did they get from A to B so quickly?" or "Where did those horses come from?"), snappy and intelligent dialogue and highly consistent characterization more than make up for these flaws. The character dynamics, supported by excellent performances, are riveting enough to be make the stories compelling even when the plots stretch credibility. One of the things I admire most about this show is the way it manages to divide our sympathies -- the way the same character can go from deeply sympathetic to deeply unsympathetic in an instant, and the way two characters on opposite sides can both claim our sympathy (and exasperate us at the same time).The writers and producers made some controversial decisions for the Season 2 finale that changed the course of the show for the third season and displeased many fans. See for yourself. I count myself as a fan of Season 3, though it could have been better and some of the missed opportunities are regrettable. Overall, though, my biggest complaint about this show is that there was not enough of it, with only 39 episodes.

If you think you've seen it all when it comes to Robin Hood, including seemingly countless movie retakes and endless television variants, think again, and take a look at this BBC epic remade for an audience looking for a modern version of this medieval story. It's everything you might come to expect from the BBC: lush visuals (and I mean, REALLY lush), beautiful filming, impressively convincing settings (a combination of real and CGI content), and a cast capable of meeting up to all of it. But it's the sum of all these elements, combined with a great use of wit and referential humor (the series contains lots of hidden, and some, not so hidden, allusions to modern events and people) that make this a stand out show that's not only really fun to watch, but also helps us learn the Robin Hood story all over again.Some of the episodes really push into nail biting suspense, and, even with humor so consistently woven into the stories, there is drama to enjoy at every point. Casting for the show was done exceptionally well, with a whimsical, driven Robin Hood (Jonas Armstrong), an evil Sheriff who is part villain, part comic (Keith Allen), and a double-minded Guy of Gisborne (Richard Armitage, of "MI-5" fame). Other cast members are equally excellent. Little John is passionately played by Gorgon Kennedy, and Sam Troughton's portrayal of "Much" is simplify hilarious, touching, and endearing. This is a group that is as fun to watch as it is easy to believe in their story, and being able to drink in the rich visuals and gorgeous costumes as we do is simply to make a good thing better.Season One is the basic Robin Hood story, with all the modifications described above. It's great right from the beginning, but, like many shows, as the directors, writers, and producers work through the actual creation of episodes over time, they hone in on what works best, making the episodes stronger as the season progresses. As we move into Season Two, the ante is raised, with even more dramatic and adventurous story lines, but still holding on to what we might see as the traditional story of Robin Hood. Season Three, however, takes the whole thing a step further, and, without giving any plot spoilers, what we can say is that a unique and powerful story line appears, with both the writers and the actors given a chance to expand and innovate with the characters. (Laura Pulver makes her debut in Season Three, and greatly adds to the dramatic undercurrent of the season.) This makes Season Three the most unusual of the set, but its really not to be missed, particularly once one has gone through the first two seasons. (Like many shows, this series is best watched in order of episodes, and by season, because the story successively builds upon itself as it goes.)You might think that Robin Hood could never interest you in the days of Avatar, but watching even the first few episodes of the set should convince you otherwise.That you can pick up the entire three season set here at once is a real nice bonus. You might find that you'll enjoy it as much as I have. We have watched it in order from beginning to end three times now. That's how good it is. You'll feel like you've been made a part of Robin Hood's family, and its sad to see the series end each time! Five stars for amazing story telling, acting, sets and scenes, costumes, and directing.One minor note ...And this is not to be considered much of a negative in regards to whether you should get the set, but it is an item to note that, for some reason, some episodes of the Season One disks have some uneven black banding in very dark scenes. This only occurs on a rare occasion when the background is completely black (like during the end credits), and then you'll see a back banding problem, which I am assuming is from the digital transfer process. This is pretty unusual for the BBC, and it really isn't much of an issue at all, but I have noticed it. It appears to be minimized or eliminated in the remaining seasons, but you may notice it in the closing and opening credit rolls in Season One. It's not a big deal, and some LCD sets may not even reproduce it.

So happy I remember this series when it was on the BBC

(WRITTEN BY JUDY-LOUISE E-CURTIS) After reading a review for this DVD set, wherein someone said they received a cardboard box full of plastic racks glued together that left some discs badly scratched, I thought I'd be in for the same - just to be nicely relieved to find the three different seasons in their own boxes, inside the big one. Originally bought as another one for my Clive Standen collection, it turned out to be well worth it on its own merit. VERY entertaining escapism and well worth the price --- especially considering it would virtually have cost double to order the three seasons and their shipping separately.Happy all round.

Good product daughter loves it

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We all know the story of Robin Hood but this one is done somewhat different in that it is stretched in many enjoyable hours of family entertainment. I particular love the set design closer to what village towns would have actually looked in 12 & 13 century England. Costumes, farm implements, dwellings etc. true to life of the time. Very good series from the BBC as always.