Robin of Sherwood (1984) vs. Robin Hood (new BBC series)
Ranked #1,214 in Movies & TV, #32,244 overall
Which Interpretation of the legendary hero is better?
1984, and about the only notable cable channels worth mentioning were HBO and Showtime. Warring with each other over quality content, a small BBC production snuck onto the landscape of the small screen. HTV's Robin of Sherwood seemed like yet another version of the lincoln green-clad hero of England's 12th century. Or was it? Quickly it became clear to this budding writer, only 16 at the time, that this Robin of Loxley was different. Up until this time, Errol Flynn was Robin Hood. After all, only Errol Flynn's Robin Hood could boast an appearance in Bugs Bunny's "Rabbit Hood" (1949, Warner Bros.). What higher honor could be bestowed upon the Man in the Hood?
Robin Hood on Amazon
Out of Sherwood and into the Amazon...
Respecting The Legend
More Robin Hood on Amazon
Is he getting homesick for Sherwood yet?
The Characters
The Merry Men, and Maid Marian, were all embraced well by the actors who played them, meshing together in a rarely-combined chemistry of friendships. For the first time, a Saracen as outlaw, hinting at the Crusades as a story element, was introduced in Nasir, played by Mark Ryan. This would inspire Azeem (Morgan Freeman) and others in later film portrayals.
Robin of Loxley
At this point, I thought, all good things must come to an end. For one more series, Jason Connery nobly stepped into the role, if not the shoes, of Praed. As Robert, the Earl of Huntington, Herne's new 'chosen one', Connery did a fine job. But the lustre was gone for me. I am often left wondering, should the series had been allowed to go on to further seasons, would Connery have replaced Praed as the Robin Hood?
Maybe. Maybe not.
The In-Between Years
Nevertheless, more Robin incarnations were on the way, notably Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves. Good acting by all except Kevin Costner (no offence to the talented actor, but this was not a role suited for him), the best part of this production was the music, scored by Michael Kamen (may he also rest in peace) and featuring Bryan Adams with "Everything I Do". Not worth comparing to Robin of Sherwood.
Better that year was Robin Hood, starring Patrick Bergen as Robin and Uma Thurman as Marian. More intelligently played than Costner's Hollywood style production.
Robin and Marian
A moment from Prince of Thieves
Robin Hood on Amazon Still
Perhaps he is lost?
Then came 2006
Still reeling from the disappointment of the "betweeners" brought to us during those 20 years, skepticism led with caution to the first episode of BBC's Robin Hood. No Clannad-style music haunting the mood of this show. Reminiscent of the Errol Flynn Robin Hood, a sense of swashbuckling romance met me at the doorway to this series. No problem, I was well prepared to return to my Robin Hood roots and swash my buckle here.
The Crusades played a heavy part in this series. While the characters found themselves in subsequent episodes, and thereby became as real as those back in 1984, the pagan undertones had vanished, replaced by realistic oppression of the times. The poor were poor and the rich lived off their sweat and toil.
They also lived in fear of the equally cruel Sheriff, played by Keith Allen this time around. A slight resemblance to both the appearance and personality of Nikolas Grace brought back good memories of yesteryear. There was hope again. This sheriff, however, was meaner and more evil than Robert de Rainault, Grace's well-played Sheriff. Allen plays the sheriff with both a sense of wit, as well as a sense of evil. He will get what he wants, at whatever the cost. I actually fear for the Merry Men (not so merry here), having seen some of them (Roy, for instance) killed by the sheriff's men. That didn't happen with Grace.
Guy of Gisborne is a complete makeover also. Respecting Robert Addie's portrayal of a spoiled rich kid losing it all to the hero, this Guy of Gisborne is cunning, cool and ready to make Robin suffer. There are times when you root for the poor fool, only to find out how black his heart is underneath all that leather. Well balanced performance by Richard Armitage.
Maid Marian
And her tough alter-ego, the Night Watchman? Too soon to offer an opinion of this new angle.
Who "Made" Marian?
Vote for your favorite Maid Marian on TV or movies, for my next lens!
I am gathering data to write another comparison lens on Maid Marian.
The Final Comparison
Robin of Sherwood or Robin of BBC?
In a word, no.
I have come to realize that along with the fact that there is always going to be a Robin Hood in our lives, there will also be a unique portrayal of the young hero. Jonas Armstrong is no Michael Praed. But that is not meant to insult Armstrong, because I have found as the new series progresses that here is a new Robin Hood. Just as Praed evolved the character from the swashbuckling Errol Flynn, so, too, has Armstrong taken and evolved the character from the mystical, paganistic Hooded Man of Praed's time.
Armstrong is Robin Hood. Just as Praed was Robin Hood. So was Errol Flynn. I think, as the series moves forward into its second series, Armstrong will continue to leave his mark on the legendary character. Armstrong's Robin has a dark side, which I like and Praed lacked. Weaknesses and flaws make a hero character more likeable, because only cardboard characters are all white or all black.
So, with Allen's Sheriff, I find Armstrong's Robin certainly capable of killing. But as we saw him struggle in his conflict with Guy after finding out Guy was the assassin in the Crusade who stabbed him and nearly killed King Richard, we are left wondering not only if this Robin will kill out of anger, but quite possibly when. Could it happen? I think the doubt that he won't is certainly planted well.
Closing thoughts...
Give me your thoughts on Robin Hood
The characters, the movies, the tv shows, books, anything...
Add your thoughts on the legend of Robin Hood.
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- Greekgeek Greekgeek Dec 8, 2009 @ 12:21 am
- Just found this lens and found i had already rated it. I've been enjoying watching my Robin of Sherwood DVDs again and just got the Jason Connery season for my parents for Christmas. (I like Michael Praed better, but they've seen all of his, and there are moments in the later episodes worth savoring if only to get more of the other characters, especially Will.)
I wish there were more Robin of Sherwood episodes. I can't really claim it's the best, because I haven't seen the new Robin Hood, but Robin of Sherwood was SO good.
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- Suzie-Shine Suzie-Shine Jun 9, 2009 @ 3:23 pm
- I have a bit of a thing about Robin Hood and I don't feel that the latest BBC incarnation is convincing. There's something not quite right about this Robin. I suppose we all have a picture in our mind of our ideal Robin Hood and it's hard to please everyone.
Suzie
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- Hob Gob Hob Gob Feb 6, 2009 @ 6:07 am
- Sorry, but Americans shouldn't do RH. Like English shouldn't do Superman or Billy the Kid. Kevin Costner- big no. Flynn, fair enough for the time. RoS is hard to top -ie the work and thought that went into it. The music for me one of the best things -am not a huge Clannad fan otherwise, but here it works and elevates the visual, in ways that most music for TV/film does not (forgettable 'dramatic' string arrangements and, nowadays, depressing lack of silences necessary to emphasise the music when it is used, e.g. Dr. Who). Newer BBC Robin Hood I watched once and never again. It didn't seem interested in taking it to a next level, just reducing it, perhaps as some supposed back to basics reaction to RoS? But then it's probably an age thing too, RoS is pretty tough to follow- it's all in the atmosphere, of a truly anarchic medieval Britain, about as anti Hollywood as one can get. Praed obviously sticks in the mind, he was RH before Connery and when the series was still at it's freshest.
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- Oct 19, 2008 @ 11:06 pm
- A very good lens to come across and I am a very big fan of Robin Hood. I almost read all of his stories. He is a real hero of all the times. Thanks for the wonderful lens.
Checkout my blog
http://maidsearch.net/
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- richgerman richgerman Jul 28, 2008 @ 4:27 am
- WOW Nice lens... 5 stars favored... Keep it Up...
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- alanders alanders Sep 27, 2007 @ 11:28 am
- I like Errol Flynn the best! But nice lens.
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- rms rms Jun 14, 2007 @ 7:18 am
- Sharing his name I give you 5 stars for a great lens!
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- surfsusan surfsusan Jun 12, 2007 @ 11:53 am
- I just love the original version - I read it first time when I was a child - many, many years ago ;-)
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- Greekgeek Greekgeek May 11, 2007 @ 9:26 pm
- Gah, never enough room. Thank you for the informative, nuanced review. Good to point out the overlooked debate: who's the best Marian? (Trott!)
2 suggestions. 1) Shorter affiliates modules with more careful selection of items; there's so much to scroll through 2) "Favorite Robin Hood version" plexo!
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- Greekgeek Greekgeek May 11, 2007 @ 9:22 pm
- Wow. VERY interesting; I had missed the news about the new Robin Hood. I stumbled across Robin of Sherwood at the phenomenally suitable age of 18, and the myth of youthful idealism and determination (not to mention a precious dollop of the old pagan roots of the story) was a delightful inspiration.
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