A woman is accused of being a witch. The Sheriff uses this to blackmail her to infiltrate Robin Hood's band in Sherwood, holding her husband as hostage.
This is perhaps not the most exciting episode story-wise. It doesn't have the epic scope of the two-parter that kicked off the series - few of them do, but this one gets the ungrateful task of following directly, so it's inevitably a step down. I still think it's pretty good, and a lot of fun.
Lady Marion, the Sherwood version (all deglamorized and realistically dressed, which I love) is trying to find her place among the Merries. Feeling taken for granted doing traditionally female chores, she instead wants to accompany the men on their raids and adventures. Robin thinks that's too dangerous, and so she has to prove her worth.
With a little help from Herne, but hey, Robin gets that all the time. Must be quite nice to have a god on your side like that!
When Marion argues that she wouldn't want to go on living anyway, if anything happened to Robin, it's impossible not to think about how things will eventually turn out for him. I guess he didn't agree that "Our fate must be shared"..
And ah, the age-old gender debate... At the moment (2023) so polarized you really want to avoid it like the plague. Even back in 1984, they were very keen to emphasize that this Maid Marion would be "one of the boys and do everything the men do". The idea of the "strong" and "independent" female character isn't new in any way. Since at least the 1970s, that's been the ideal and the thing to strive for in western culture.
Personally (and as a woman myself), I think they struck a reasonably good balance with Judi Trott's Marion. While not having the forceful personality of, say, Carrie Fisher, this former ballet dancer is still so light-footed, quick, and brave you easily believe she could hold her own in the action. Better than Tuck and Much, as a matter of fact.
Except in swordfighting and other kinds of close combat. Today, they might well have her do stuff like that (don't get me started...), but she IS petite. Hence the female antagonist in this episode, I suppose.
Either way, the bow is as important as the sword on this show.
What sticks out the most to me about this episode, is actually Ian Sharp's way of composing shots. I don't really know the technical terms, but instead of using the "over the shoulder back and forth" editing technique when people are talking, he seems to have filmed several scenes with just one long take. Check out the early scene in which they are discussing Robin's dream. Simple scene, beautifully composed. Or even choreographed. Must have taken some time to plan.
The other thing that sticks out is the chemistry among the guys. It's often been said that they had a genuine cameraderie that translated on screen, and that is the way it comes off. Take the scene when they are celebrating the successful robbery. It doesn't even seem like a scene, it just seems like real buddies chillin' and winding down. Wouldn't be surprised if they improvised all the lines!
7/10
Best moment: Tuck forgetting Gisburne under water. Not being real life (where he'd be, y'know, dead ages ago), it's hilarious.
Worst moment: That kiss from Robin. Really, that peck was the best you could do, especially with the other couple going at it right beside you? Did you *want* an unfavourable comparison?
Random thoughts/obs:
-Robin Hood gives to the poor in this episode. Don't remember seeing them do that much. RoS seemed more interested in the fights, sorcery, and paganism, than in the justice part.
-Apparently it's also the only time Robin fights the Sheriff of Nottingham in person. The reason being, as stated by Nickolas Grace himself, that he was bad with the sword :)
-Wonder if they ever considered having Marion get pregnant? I doubt it, but it's what would realistically happen, given how early they get married in this version. Any basis in the legends for Robin and Marian having children..? I suppose there she's the eternal Maid.
This is perhaps not the most exciting episode story-wise. It doesn't have the epic scope of the two-parter that kicked off the series - few of them do, but this one gets the ungrateful task of following directly, so it's inevitably a step down. I still think it's pretty good, and a lot of fun.
Lady Marion, the Sherwood version (all deglamorized and realistically dressed, which I love) is trying to find her place among the Merries. Feeling taken for granted doing traditionally female chores, she instead wants to accompany the men on their raids and adventures. Robin thinks that's too dangerous, and so she has to prove her worth.
With a little help from Herne, but hey, Robin gets that all the time. Must be quite nice to have a god on your side like that!
When Marion argues that she wouldn't want to go on living anyway, if anything happened to Robin, it's impossible not to think about how things will eventually turn out for him. I guess he didn't agree that "Our fate must be shared"..
And ah, the age-old gender debate... At the moment (2023) so polarized you really want to avoid it like the plague. Even back in 1984, they were very keen to emphasize that this Maid Marion would be "one of the boys and do everything the men do". The idea of the "strong" and "independent" female character isn't new in any way. Since at least the 1970s, that's been the ideal and the thing to strive for in western culture.
Personally (and as a woman myself), I think they struck a reasonably good balance with Judi Trott's Marion. While not having the forceful personality of, say, Carrie Fisher, this former ballet dancer is still so light-footed, quick, and brave you easily believe she could hold her own in the action. Better than Tuck and Much, as a matter of fact.
Except in swordfighting and other kinds of close combat. Today, they might well have her do stuff like that (don't get me started...), but she IS petite. Hence the female antagonist in this episode, I suppose.
Either way, the bow is as important as the sword on this show.
What sticks out the most to me about this episode, is actually Ian Sharp's way of composing shots. I don't really know the technical terms, but instead of using the "over the shoulder back and forth" editing technique when people are talking, he seems to have filmed several scenes with just one long take. Check out the early scene in which they are discussing Robin's dream. Simple scene, beautifully composed. Or even choreographed. Must have taken some time to plan.
The other thing that sticks out is the chemistry among the guys. It's often been said that they had a genuine cameraderie that translated on screen, and that is the way it comes off. Take the scene when they are celebrating the successful robbery. It doesn't even seem like a scene, it just seems like real buddies chillin' and winding down. Wouldn't be surprised if they improvised all the lines!
7/10
Best moment: Tuck forgetting Gisburne under water. Not being real life (where he'd be, y'know, dead ages ago), it's hilarious.
Worst moment: That kiss from Robin. Really, that peck was the best you could do, especially with the other couple going at it right beside you? Did you *want* an unfavourable comparison?
Random thoughts/obs:
-Robin Hood gives to the poor in this episode. Don't remember seeing them do that much. RoS seemed more interested in the fights, sorcery, and paganism, than in the justice part.
-Apparently it's also the only time Robin fights the Sheriff of Nottingham in person. The reason being, as stated by Nickolas Grace himself, that he was bad with the sword :)
-Wonder if they ever considered having Marion get pregnant? I doubt it, but it's what would realistically happen, given how early they get married in this version. Any basis in the legends for Robin and Marian having children..? I suppose there she's the eternal Maid.