Robin Of Sherwood - Set Two (1983 British Television series/Acorn Media)
Picture: C+ Sound: C+ Extras: A Episodes: B
Robin of Sherwood Set 2 is the box set continuation of
the 1980’s BBC television series. Though
there are some major changes in the series from Seasons One and Two (more on that in a moment), the overall tone
and feel of the series is much the same, as is the picture and sound quality. For the basics, see my review of Set One elsewhere on the site at this
link:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/5437/Robin+Of+Sherwood+Set+1+(1983
Now,
before we go any farther, be aware that there are major spoilers ahead.
The last
episode of Set One (Season Two), ended on a somber
note. It appeared that Robin Hood had
been killed and the final scene was of Marion and the rest of the Merry Men
shooting flaming arrows into a stream in memoriam to their fallen leader. The reason for this was the behind-the-scenes
reality that Michael Praed, the actor who portrayed Robin, was leaving the
series (to go to America where he joined the cast of Dynasty). Rather than cancel
the successful series they took a cue from soap opera tradition and recast the
title role.
Luckily,
they didn’t simply have a new actor that no one else on the cast noticed (a la
Darren Stevens on Bewitched). It had been established in Season One that Robin of Loxley had
been recruited by the mythical being Herne the Hunter to be the living spirit
of the forest. In Set
Two, Herne chooses someone new to take up the role of the fallen hero. Enter Robert of Huntington, played by Jason
Connery (son of Sean). Most of the
season deals with him taking on the role of Robin and gradually winning the
trust and respect of the surviving Merry Men.
Connery pulls it off with aplomb, and a situation that could have been a
tragedy for the series became one of its strengths.
Everything
that made the series work is still in evidence here; tight stories, beautiful
natural settings, and tremendous acting. In my previous review I mentioned the
career-making performance of Ray Winstone (seen most recently in the new
Indiana Jones film), as Will Scarlet. It
bears repeating. The series is worth
watching for him alone.
Extras
this time include no less than nine audio commentary tracks on the episodes, two
documentary/featurette pieces, behind-the-scenes footage, Clannad: Scoring Robin of Sherwood, the U.S. credit sequence, outtakes
and text cast filmographies. Also note
that both sets are coming out as one set, which another writer will take on for
its July 2008 release.
- Wayne Wise
www.wayne-wise.com
Wayne Wise again really recommends the book Robin
Hood by Celtic/Arthurian scholar John Matthews to anyone more interested in a
more in depth look at the mythos and symbolism behind the character.
