For those who love Robin Hood, BBC America premiered a new series Saturday March 3, 2007. The new Robin Hood series has advertised for several months on BBC America in anticipation for the show’s success and is referred to in the ads as “A different kind of hood.”
Just how different is this hood? He’s not very different at all. The show opens with a hunter about to kill a deer. The sheriff’s men capture him and as punishment for poaching he is to have his finger axed off. Right before the man is about to lose his finger Robin Hood intervenes. He shoots some arrows and with the help of his hiding manservant tricks the sheriff’s leading man into thinking there are more of them. As the bad guys are riding off the manservant quickly boasts about what he and his master will do to them if they come back. The sheriff’s leading man hears the words “master and I” then quickly realizes there are only two men. He commands his men to go after them. In the pursuit of being chased by men on horseback Robin and his manservant hide in some underbrush and manage to escape unharmed. All on foot I might add.
On the way to Locksley Robin runs into a man digging a ditch who asks if “He’s on the run?” He tells the man “He’s on his way home to Locksley.” The man offers him and his servant a meal of roasted boar if they’ll dig the ditch. The manservant seems to have a thing for food and begs Robin to let them do it. There is an attempt for dry humor as the man makes fun of how they dig.
Later Robin goes into a tent, where the wild boar is roasting, and returns two cups to the mans daughter. She kisses him and he returns the kiss. While they are doing some serious smooching Robins manservant tries to distract the father who finally sees them. A sword fight ensues. Robin gets away.
Upon his arrival to Locksley Robin and his servant notice things have changed. Everyone runs off and hides when they see the two except for an old friend who has had his hand chopped off under the new sheriff’s rule.
The sheriffs leading man and his men make an appearance entering homes and shoving the occupants into the Dirt Street claiming someone stole something. Robin introduced himself as being the Lord of Locksley. With authority Robin announced that no charges were to be made on any one in Locksley and any prisoners of Locksley were to be released.
The new sheriff of Nottingham had more sinister plans. He wanted to control Robin and keep getting rich by taxing the peasants. There was a showdown towards the end of the first episode where Robin was going to let three of his peasants from Locksley and the guy he had saved from losing a finger in the beginning be hanged. He had a change of heart and saved them with a bow and arrow. Robin, his manservant, and the guy whose finger was spared got away on horseback. They are in Sherwood Forrest about to be attacked by Little John and his men as the episode ends.
Although this Robin Hood is pretty much like all the rest of the Robins throughout the years its still entertaining to watch. Its fast moving, exciting and you still want more when it’s over. I think this Robin deserves a Ten out of Ten rating.
