I hate to admit it, but I loved the final episode of Robin Hood

By Paul Hirons on January 2nd, 2008 11 comments

There, I’ve said. I’ve spent all year sniping at this series, incredulous at the shite storylines, the poor acting and the even poorer dialogue. If I saw one more episode that featured Robin and his bloody band of merry men have a fight in the woods, one of them captured by the Sheriff’s men and mount a daring jailbreak from Nottingham castle one more time I swear I would’ve thrown the TV out of the window. This was the template each episode of Robin Hood seemed to be hewn from, and it was getting seriously tiresome.

This second series had started to become even more ridiculous – some of the stories Dominic Minghella was coming up with defied belief. And Ocean’s 11-style gambling scenario in medieval England? Why, of course. Indiana Jones-style treasure hunts? Mark it down. It was all the worst kind of TV rubbish and forgot what Robin Hood was all about – robbing the rich, scrapes on the open road and much japery. With this in mind, I sat there on Saturday night, mouth agape – the last episode was fantastic and I could not believe it.

The episode was a feature-length affair, with two distinguishable parts – the first showed Robin and his crew trapped in a barn surrounded by the Sheriff’s mercenaries. While Robin pined for Marian, there was much honest talking going on – Much (surely the most irritating sidekick since Jar Jar Binks) had a go at Robin for treating him like an idiot (well, you would wouldn’t you), Jack and Will proclaimed true love for each other and John broke down at the thought of his lost wife and son.

Meanwhile, Marian was getting into trouble with the Sheriff, and was carted off to the Holy Land, to witness the Sheriff’s grand plan – to kill King Richard. The one with the lionheart.

But Alan A Dale (who had betrayed Robin) decided the mission wasn’t for him, and he went off to save Robin and his old pals.

The next part took place in the Holy Land, with Robin and co looking for the King to warn him that the Sheriff was in town and wanted him dead. But that dastardly Sheriff had got there first, and hired a messenger (posing as a minion of the Arab king) to tell Richard to meet his master alone in the desert to discuss peace, and to warn him that a man would be coming to try and protect him while actually trying to kill him.

When Robin showed up, the King was shocked to find that it was his old friend the Hoodster who was the man sent to kill him. Despite Robin’s protests, the merry men were dragged off to the desert, were tied up and left to burn.

They escaped, of course, saved the King and went after the Sheriff, and things came to an exciting climax in a Holy Land town, where lots of arrows were flying about. Unfortunately, Marian was fatally wounded by Guy of Gosborne, who couldn’t come to terms with the fact that she was still in love with Robin. Marian died in Robin’s arms.

Phew! Now THIS was more like it – plenty of action, simple story befitting time period, and lots and lots of buckles well and truly swashed. I loved it. In fact I almost cried when Marian died!

So please, please, please… when it comes back next year, keep the stories simple, believable and go heavy on the original romance of the original Robin Hood myth. Don’t bugger about with casinos featuring roulette tables made out of grass and stuff. Keep up to this standard, and I might even watch it.

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Category: Drama
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Erin

You failed to mention that Marian is the most interesting character on the show, and her death, reinforces the unfortunate theme of the rebellious, or bad woman being punished for sexuality and her refusal to behave and follow the conventional rules of society. Marian, has used her sexuality to attempt to control Guy and her toughness as the Night Watchman, to rob him and fight the tyranny of the Sheriff. Her conflicts with her father, Robin Guy, and the Sherriff are always about men telling her what to do, but she maintains her fierce independence and makes her own decisions. As a woman, even though presumably playing Guy, she is torn between Guy and Robin, knowing that Robin is her soulmate but undeniably attracted to Guy- she is stirred by him & believes that her love can redeem him. That is her fatal mistake. Ultimately she is murdered because of her refusal to submit. As she lays dying, murdered by Guy, she finally submits herself and marries Robin. This ending only proves that if only Marian had kept her place and made a choice, and done what she was told by either Guy or Robin, she would be safe. She dies ultimately not for her pursuit of justice, but for her duplicity in being involved with both of them, and of her desire for the bad man, Guy. But her refusal to give herself to him completely without some compromise on his part, has caused her death. Coversely, if she would have done as Robin wished, and stopped acting on her own, married him sooner, stayed with him and his gang, she would be alive as well.
Barbara Johnson

The last episode was a complete betrayal of the audience. If Marian’s final taunting of Guy indicated her feelings throughout season two, she suddenly comes across as completely callous, deceitful and vindictive. Therefore, the finale erases not only Guy’s complex road to redemption but her nobility as well. This ending is a huge disappointment to Marian’s fans, Guy’s fans and Robin’s fans.
http://www.reddersramblings.blogspot.com Helen

I enjoyed the seies all the way through and had high hopes for the ending. But like Barbara above I thought the finale a complete betrayal. Things were wrapped up too quickly for a neat ending, Guy suddenly had a personality change when all the way through the series it looked like he could come good, and as for the King not believing Robin but some stranger he was fighting against. It was preposterous. I could go on. I don’t know how they will start series three but killing off one of the main characters I fear was a bad mistake, and looking at the chat rooms I know I’m not the only one who feels this way!
Carla

I’ve actually loved the entire second series of Robin Hood. I loved the finale for the action also. I did not, however, love the part with Marian dying. There is so much I could say but this really isn’t the place. To comment on your take specifically, how can they “go heavy on the original romance of the original Robin Hood myth” next series? Marian is dead. Aren’t Robin and Marian the original romance? Not sure what you mean by that.
Cindy

I love to watch Robin Hood 1 & 2. What it takes to make a show a hit this has it. I just love the way Jonas Armstrong acts. From the first show to the last one in series 2, he has made Robin Hood his own. This series had me sitting on the edge of my chair from the beginning to the end of each show wanting more or wanting next Saturday to get here so I can see the next one. There isn’t a show in the USA that does that for me ever. Jonas will be a super star one of these days and I will be there watching him on the silver screen one of these days.
Lana

I don’t hate to admit that I have really enjoyed this Robin Hood series. I have always enjoyed the legend and the romance of it. That said, the romance is twofold. The first part is good over evil/helping the poor. Second is that there is a happy ending for Robin and Marian. It’s the good guy’s reward at the end. I have enjoyed the writer’s take on the theme and it is a fun, family show that entertains. With Marian’s death, the fun and romance has been taken away. I love a great swashbuckling adventure, but this went too far.
Lisa Akker

Isn’t this an interesting state of affairs? Mr. Hirons, who is evidently not a fan of Robin Hood and didn’t seem to like any of the past episodes, liked the horrific, implausible conclusion. I, on the other hand, a devoted fan of the entire series and great admirer of the excellent actor, Jonas Armstrong, was so traumatized by the final episode, I am almost not able to write this comment. What, Mr. Hirons, do you think the Robin Hood legend consists of? Remember the robbing from the rich and giving to the poor stuff? That entails fighting the Sheriff and his minions in the environs of Sherwood Forest and helping the local inhabitants. The finale was so far removed from the Robin Hood legend, it was ridiculous at best, absurd and bizarre at worst. Especially dispensing in such a final and brutal way with Marian. This also defies the legend, never mind belief. You almost cried! I haven’t stopped crying. I think the writers of this show should think long and hard about down what path they have led this show and what direction they plan to take it in future if they want to retain their devoted fan base.
Thank you for the opportunity to be able to express my views.
Lisa
Judy Nash

Who is this twerp Hirons? Everybody has a choice, that is one of the best quotes from this series, and the choice of the entire devoted fanbase of Robin Hood, the series and Jonas Armstrong, the actor who portrays the part brilliantly as does Lucy Griffiths/Lady Marian, is to follow the series as people have done throughout the ages, those in the minority who do not like it, turn the programme off – simple! Everybody has a choice – not to mention they are entitled to their own opinions which shouldn’t interfere with the opinions of the majority. If you want to make an ass of yourself, Mr Hirons do so, you obviously don’t need anyone’s assistance there but keep your stupid opinions to yourself! There are children to be taken into consideration here so what do you think your lousy comments might do to their faith and belief of a wonderful legend that has culminated in the untimely and unnecessary, previously unscripted death of their beloved heroine? Criticism like you have spouted, we do not like, now the powers that be and the writers have the unenviable job of rewriting the scripts to bring them back more in keeping with the legend to undo the major damage they have created.
Judy Nash

Who wrote the entry surrounding the photograph of Robin Hood “I hate to admit it but I loved, etc. etc”. I have rushed off in a hissy fit and assumed it was this Mr Hirons I hadn’t previously seen any reference to and on re-reading his actual entry which is beautifully written and more to the point of the story, I believe I owe Mr Hirons an apology, a very deep apology and humble one at that. I have egg all over my face.
I am extremely embarrassed and have no other explanation to offer – I just assumed Mr Hirons was responsible for the article.
Paul

Don’t worry Judy, no egg on your face – it was me who wrote the post. And I always make an ass out of myself, so don’t worry there. Just can’t help it. Must be my genes – my mum and dad are both supreme idiots as well.
As for Robin Hood, it’s good to see the legend and the new incarnation has its fans. I didn’t like the rest of the series, but enjoyed the finale – for some it was the opposite way round. Just my opinion, as equal and as valid as yours. Everybody has a choice, everybody has an opinion.
Thanks for commenting! Let us know what you think of series three later in the year.
Shaun

After the return of Who, i was delighted to learn that “Aunty” was to revamp Robin Hood. I wasn’t expecting to have the new incarnation knock Richard Greene’s crown off (or Michael Praed-wonderful),but, this was a disaster of a series from start to finish.
Robin was ugly according to all my women friends; too much of a wimp say my pals.Suspension of disbelief is one thing ,but, this “boy” was not fit for the roll.
Little John was too small and Much an idiot.
The S of N was a microphalic looser and Maid Marion was too masculine.
The swordsith’s daughter from the first episode would have made a better stab at the heroine.
Please , please don’t let this rubbish return.It was a waste of money!