New Robin Hood Series Airs 3/3 At 9PM On BBC America

[Aetius]

I was a big fan of the Robin Of Sherwood TV series. Recently, I learned that the BBC is airing another retelling of the classic story.<br /><br />Has anyone here seen the new series, Robin Hood? Do you think it's any good?

 

[enigma10]

Ok. So either we're going to have a series where robin hood and the sherrif of nottingham never get the better of each other, and that delicate balance rages on for a few seasons, or Robinhood will be after the whole nottingham incident and it will go into what roll he could play after the kings return. Either way, its robinhood. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"<font color="#333399">An organism at war with itself is a doomed organism." - Carl Sagan</font></em> </div>

 

[cdr6]

In days of yore (circa mid 1950s) the were 3 programs done by the brits and imported to the US of A. Robinhood, Sir Lancelot and The Buccaneers. All them held me to the TV set when I was a kid, and were generally good fun stuff! I'd like to see them redone.

 

[etavaunt]

I really loved that programme. Especialy the Saracen bloke. He used to get few lines, but they were goodies.<br /><br />And he had two swords <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> And John Little was very well played.<br /><br />What I would love to see, is the "REAL" King Arthur story, done with art and craft, proper stories, and the Grail , and the Black Knight, and the whole works of Celtic/British legend, taken seriously. <br /><br />It is proper for American people to have their interests, their Idols. Just so, please to Idol-ise yourselves and may you avoid blindness too <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />But it is MORE THAN proper, it is a moral imperiative that the BRITISH peoples and most importantly their new generations of children, get each their own reading of our mystic history. We benefitted so much from those stories as New Zealand children, for all they are scorned by soi disant elites.<br /><br />The strong must protect the weak.<br /> A True Knight is valiant, honest, loyal, and holds his beneficant hand over all the land, and he needs a squire, youngsters, always room there for a true stout heart, and don't you seek it, for vainity is a mortal sin, but the King, the font of all Honour, will place spurs and an illustious duty on the best of you.<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />Not so sure we can stick perfectly to history, AND appeal to the lasses. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[Aetius]

Actually, Little John reminds me of you, Avaunt! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Your comments about the communitarian social values inherent in the Arthurian mythos are spot on. This is one of the reasons that I was somewhat disappointed in the movie <i>King Arthur</i>, despite its lavish production values. The <b>real</b> stories of the Romano-British warlord(s) who lived on the cusp of the Dark Ages, who has (have) come to be known as "King Arthur", don't matter in the grand scheme of things. It is the <b>values</b> of self-sacrifice and service to the community, which the legendary heroes embody, that are of the utmost importance.<br /><br />All the supernatural elements just make for a much better story, in my opinion. Maybe it's just me, but I feel there's something wrong with an Arthurian movie in which:<br /><br />Excalibur isn't a magical sword endued with powers and a destiny<br />Merlin isn't a sorcerer<br />Guinevere is a Welsh imitation of Xena<br />Arthur isn't destined to be the 'true king'<br />Camelot doesn't actually exist<br /><br />Like I said, <i>King Arthur</i> was a visually stunning film. But you and I both still await a definitive retelling of that story, made for 21st century audiences. I feel that <i>Excalibur</i> was the last movie to get it right.

 

[Aetius]

My wife recently bought me the entire <i>Robin Of Sherwood</i> TV series on DVD, much to my enjoyment. It was something I'd waited a long time for, as the complete DVD set didn't become available until relatively recently in the USA (to the best of my knowledge).<br /><br />I first saw the show when it aired on the Showtime cable network in 1989-90. I was totally hooked, for the same reasons you were. It may seem old now to some, with its 1980s video quality and special effects. But the captivating storylines, excellent writing, and superb acting make it something unique in the annals of television. Hollywood could never have made anything like it. It was worth waiting 17 years for. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />As another Internet commentator once remarked about <i>Robin Of Sherwood</i>, "Some old pearls never lose their shine."

 

[etavaunt]

I missed your reply here, Mate.<br /><br />Yes, just so, That previous Arthur was good for what it seemed to be, an exploration of the real stock that budded off the immortal legend for us British, but as you say, "Excalibur merely some prosaic Roman officiers sword?".<br /><br />One might as well pretend that Napoleon wasn't the half son of Satan, and Nelson no Immortal.<br /><br />To me, some new media needs to come along, for us to get the true portrayal of Arthur.<br /><br />Immursive X-box massive multiplayer, with an inducement coil in place over that "God Region" of the brain they found. You start the "Programme" cold and grubbing up fern-root for your very survival. You get a chance to aid a Knight, beset by robbers, and he takes you for to be his loyal Squire *burst of noble awe of the numinous from the coil*<br />You take food from the corpses of the robbers, and start to gather wood to make a meal, when you find some starving villagers. Knot your belt tighter, and say "Here, I have eaten twice today already, you take this". The Knight overhears you, and is content. *Burst from the coil over your reward cortex*<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <br /><br />You chance on a Knight Errant, and he tells your Lord that a moot is being held, to crown a new King. While there, your path crosses that of a youth, goodly of face, well placed in form, whom is being attacked and subjected to a drubbing by chaffing apprentices, and you throw your right arm into the balance.<br /><br />You rout the foe, and he takes your hand in companionhood, "I shall not thank you for doing your duty, , but neither shall I fail in mine to a Brother". *Coil on reward*<br /><br />You get the idea.<br /><br />Kids today. When I were a lad, we activated our OWN reward centres, mulling over the chance to slip between the pallisades, and re-join Squire Trelawney and Captain Smollett, and astound them with our wonderful singlehanded recaturing of the Hispaniola, we didn't NEED to see it in 3d and

 

[Aetius]

That's not a bad idea, Avaunt! <img src="/images/icons/cool.gif" />

 

[Aetius]

The new <i>Robin Hood</i> series airs tonight on BBC America at 9PM!