A Bit Tedious ***Season Finale Spoilers***
Randy | Reno, Nevada USA | 01/19/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"So, I finally finished Robin Hood Season 1 by the BBC and I have to say I like it... but it has a LOT of problems. The first and foremost being how nearly every damned episode has Robin and his men rescuing a member of his gang, a complete stranger, a towns person, whatever from the castle or else they'll be hanged the next day. There's plenty of potential for other stories, but the writers never use it. I love the characters and the setting, but when they're all sneaking into the castle (again) to rescue someone from being hanged the next day (again) it gets a little tiresome.
Secondly, I'm tired of the "We introduce something during this episode and you know by the end it'll be used in some way shape or form for the conclusion". Only occasionally will something be introduced a couple episodes prior and then come into play later on down the road. It's just so... sit-com-ish, and nothing I would expect from a show of this caliber. Resolving everything within an hour may work well with something like Law & Order, but not so much with a story that should be continuous and have some continuity.
My third gripe was the season finale. I thought it was set up well enough... but WHAT THE HELL happened in those last few minutes?!?!?! I mean, the show's had plenty of corny moments and what have you, but that was just stupid. They finally set up a story that had other elements unused by the writers, but it was all soiled come the end with Robin ricocheting an arrow, tied to a rope, off the ceiling, hitting the sheriffs SANDLE between his toes and hoisting him up in the air in front of everybody at the "festival of pain". Robin proceeds to simply stroll out of the building with his men and whomever else he was rescuing that time, and on the steps of the castle they have an obnoxiously corny moment where the group all jumps in the air in congratulations and the scene freezes in that gray photo-esque look as it's been known to do every episode.
Why didn't the sheriff send his guards after them? Hell, why didn't the sheriff simply slip out of his damned sandle? Why did the fake king simply stand there? Did anybody believe Robin that he was indeed a fake king? Will Marian's father be able to simply go back to his home and wait for other kooky shenanigans to rise from Robin and his merry band of thieves or will the Sheriff simply put a guard at his house and kill him as soon as he walks through the door?
All in all, it's a nice show to mellow out to. It doesn't take itself too seriously, it has a couple of nice "OH CRAP!" moments that I enjoyed. But it's just such an aggravating show. I want to like it so badly, but I simply want to hate it as well for the lazy writing and things that simply don't add up. Maybe season 2 is better, maybe the show has found its feet by then? I guess I'll just have to wait and see."
Best show EVER!
Javier Delgadillo | Loma Linda, CA USA | 11/14/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a well-written, well-acted wild romp of a show. It has all the elements of a cult classic. Each episode is just campy fun. The dialogue is witty. Each character is memorable. The central cast members are so solid. Love the Sheriff, Robin, Guy and Marian. And season one is just the beginning! My wife and I are hopelessly addicted to this series, and only wish there were more episodes..."