"Robin of Sherwood" (1984) TV series 1984-1986

User Rating:

8.7/10   

Creator:

Richard Carpenter

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

28 April 1984 (UK)

Genre:

Action | Fantasy | Drama

Plot:

A forest mystical being appoints two men in succession as the legendary outlaw defender of the oppressed.

Plot Keywords:

Outlaw | Magic | Cult Favorite | Fencing | Swashbuckler

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Peter Llewellyn Williams	...	Much (24 episodes, 1984-1986)
Ray Winstone	...	Will Scarlet (24 episodes, 1984-1986)
Clive Mantle	...	Little John (24 episodes, 1984-1986)
Mark Ryan	...	Nasir (24 episodes, 1984-1986)
Judi Trott	...	Lady Marion / ... (24 episodes, 1984-1986)
Phil Rose	...	Friar Tuck / ... (24 episodes, 1984-1986)
Robert Addie	...	Sir Guy of Gisburne (21 episodes, 1984-1986)
Nickolas Grace	...	Robert de Rainault / ... (17 episodes, 1984-1986)
John Abineri	...	Herne the Hunter (17 episodes, 1984-1986)
Jason Connery	...	Robert of Huntingdon / ... (13 episodes, 1986)
Michael Praed	...	Robin of Loxley (11 episodes, 1984-1985)

Also Known As:

Robin Hood (USA)

Runtime:

60 min (24 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Certification:

UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, Northumberland, England, UK

Company:

Goldcrest Films International

Trivia:

Filmed on location in woods outside Bristol, where all the trees still sported leafs of the period, as opposed to Fir trees brought to England in the nineteenth century.

Quotes:

Robin of Loxley: Nothing is forgotten. Nothing is ever forgotten.

Movie Connections:

Edited into Robin Hood and the Sorcerer (1983) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Lady Marian

Nothing is ever forgotten!

Unfortunately, only four episodes of this series are commercially available, and it is not often re-run on television. Although the few available episodes can often be found in the children's or family sections of video stores, they deserves much more respect than this; this show is one of those rare incidences of really good television.

The show mixes magic and paganism into the familiar Sherwood tale, and music by Clannad adds to the mystical atmosphere. But the characters are anything but the swashbuckling cardboard heroes that the Robin Hood stereotype embodies, and we have come to expect.

Michael Praed (in my mind, the perfect Robin Hood), plays a fallible, conflicted Robin, who is nonetheless idealistic and strong. All of the Merry Men are fleshed out as full characters, with their own motivations and ideas, and Marion (Judi Trott) is represented particularly well. She avoids many female stereotypes: she is beautiful but not plastic, a fighter but still definitely feminine. The Sheriff of Nottingham (Nicholas Grace) and Guy of Gisburne (Robert Addie) are present as the classic villains, but they both go far beyond the usual limited parameters of these roles.

The characters are all comfortable and unselfconscious, as though they don't realize that they are legends. To me, this is their most appealing trait of all.

The creators of the show also deserve kudos for their brave move in replacing Michael Praed when he opted out after two seasons: instead of recasting another actor in the same role, a different Robin Hood was introduced -- a man of noble background (played by Jason Connery-- yes, the son of *that* Connery)as opposed to the peasant upbringing of Michael's Robin. The show thereby manages to address both accounts of Robin Hood's origin. (Many people prefer Jason's Robin. I personally still gravitate toward Michael. It is an ongoing debate among fans.)

Even after all this time, the show still has a devoted cult following, who gather for yearly conventions with the stars. Their devotion is understandable; "Robin of Sherwood" is the best representation of the Robin Hood legend that has ever been created for the screen.