RH series 3 finale review
SERIOUSLY MAJORLY HUGELY SERIOUS SPOILERS FOR RH SERIES 3 FINALE
I shall attempt to write this post without bursting into tears again. I make no promises though...
Firstly, this week I managed to stay pretty much completely spoiler free. The sum of what I knew was that both Jonas and Keith had said they would not be returning, yet there was still speculation about a fourth series. I made a series of predictions, most of which were right. Basically, pretty much everyone that had appeared in series 1 and 2 had to die. I was a little wrong there, but close.
I actually thought this episode was handled pretty well, at least compared to what I was fearing based on Marian's death and Will & Djaq's departures last year, and Allan's death this year. Like I've said the writers really don't know how to handle farewells. I was I think much more touched by the farewell at Marian's fake death than at her real one. But anyways, I digress. I was so stressed, after Allan's death last week, the anticipated deaths this week, and other things that have happened over the week, I was on the verge of tears before the opening credits even rolled, and from Guy's death onwards I was sobbing.
Before we get to the deaths, the two early contenders for my favorites thing about this episode were Much's awesomeness and Isabella's hair. The second one first- in the dungeon, her hair really did look like she was actually imprisoned in a dungeon. Granted none of the rest of her did and she still managed to look beautiful but her hair was so disheveled it made me happy. Is that odd? The other point is NOT odd. Much proved that he was a hero- by leading from the front and by example, by doing a ridiculous Robin stunt to rescue Kate, by staying behind because his organizational skills were needed rather than putting Robin above everyone, and very importantly, by making sure Allan was properly remembered (I was a bit shocked they burned the body, but I guess they didn't have a lot of spare time to bury him, and at least they wrapped him up because they would have freaked me out SO badly). I think it might have added to this that I was convinced Much was going to die too.
Archer's rescue of Robin et al irritated me in the same way that Robin always irritated me- I think it's pretty clear from his actions and the ending that if they continue producing, there will be no reimagining or renaming, it will be series 4 of Robin Hood with Archer taking over as Robin (I was glad to see they did incorporate "WE are Robin Hood" since that catchphrase really seemed to be leading up to this finale last season).
But I think I was intending to speak of the "positive" points about this episode... the innards of the castle- why have we not seen these passages before? It was so beautiful and spooky and atmospheric. It was a fitting setting for Guy's death I thought, even if that fight was over-choreographed, it fit the series, and I thought his death, at the hands of mentor and his sister both, was rather lovely actually. His calling Archer "brother" was a bit too cute for me, but his words to Robin made me sob all the harder. Poor thing!! Stunning acting from RA as ever. (When Spooks starts up again I think I might start sniffling when he first appears onscreen)
I was expecting the Sheriff and probably Isabella to die (with no Robin and no Guy, what's the point in Isabella) but I honestly wasn't expecting them to blow up the whole castle and destroy the city... not sure what they'd do with that in a fourth series... I would kind of have liked to see the Sheriff die at the hands of either Robin or Guy, rather than unseen in an explosion, but oh well. He's definitely dead.
Now for Robin's death... I knew I was going to cry... didn't know I'd be blubbering (though that started with Guy's death). Someone made a point on RH06 that I wouldn't have thought of- Guy gave the poison to Isabella as his mercy. Of all the times he'd tried to kill Robin and failed, it was once he'd joined Robin's side that he inadvertantly killed him through Isabella. Interesting. Robin's words to Much were PERFECT. Telling him he was more of a man than him, which I think Much had proved for himself in this episode, and that he was his best friend, which Robin had never shown enough. If I hadn't been sobbing already, I would have started there. I liked how he told John it was a good day to die, I did like it all coming full circle like that. I was glad he didn't say anything lovey dovey to Kate or kiss her. I kinda don't even remember what he said to Tuck or Archer, meh. I didn't understand why he had to die alone UNTIL HE SAW MARIAN. I DON'T KNOW HOW I MANAGED TO AVOID THAT HUGE SPOILER but I'm glad I did because it made such an impact. Very touching. Yes I was still sobbing.
After Robin's death I don't know what more to say. I liked the use of We Are Robin Hood, though I think it would have made sense from someone who'd been around longer.
The only thing I'm actually torn about is Much... like I said, I figured he had to die, and as much as I love Much, I think I would have preferred to see him die in the fight alongside Robin. Making him watch Robin die was just cruel. I've always likened Much to Sam Gamgee, but Sam Gamgee started a family and settled down while Frodo went away... I don't want Much to do that. Especially not with Kate, blech (is that mean?) I think maybe it would have been lovelier for Much to prove he was a man, a fighter, a hero, and die defending the castle. (Also I'm on the bandwagon for Sam for Doctor 12 so he needs to be free of commitments to ridiculous shows that can only get worse)
Anyways, I do think this was a fitting and fair farewell for Robin and Guy, possibly slightly less for the Sheriff, but oh well. I said last week I'd never watch a series 4. I'm not sure if I love Much and LJ, and Much really, enough to survive another season of Tuck, Kate, Archer, and really bad writing... Oh yeah, and I'm hugely ashamed of myself for having cried much more for Robin and Guy than for Allan. I was glad to see they remembered him though.
Ok now that I'm totally drained I'm going to go to bed. If I can?
I shall attempt to write this post without bursting into tears again. I make no promises though...
Firstly, this week I managed to stay pretty much completely spoiler free. The sum of what I knew was that both Jonas and Keith had said they would not be returning, yet there was still speculation about a fourth series. I made a series of predictions, most of which were right. Basically, pretty much everyone that had appeared in series 1 and 2 had to die. I was a little wrong there, but close.
I actually thought this episode was handled pretty well, at least compared to what I was fearing based on Marian's death and Will & Djaq's departures last year, and Allan's death this year. Like I've said the writers really don't know how to handle farewells. I was I think much more touched by the farewell at Marian's fake death than at her real one. But anyways, I digress. I was so stressed, after Allan's death last week, the anticipated deaths this week, and other things that have happened over the week, I was on the verge of tears before the opening credits even rolled, and from Guy's death onwards I was sobbing.
Before we get to the deaths, the two early contenders for my favorites thing about this episode were Much's awesomeness and Isabella's hair. The second one first- in the dungeon, her hair really did look like she was actually imprisoned in a dungeon. Granted none of the rest of her did and she still managed to look beautiful but her hair was so disheveled it made me happy. Is that odd? The other point is NOT odd. Much proved that he was a hero- by leading from the front and by example, by doing a ridiculous Robin stunt to rescue Kate, by staying behind because his organizational skills were needed rather than putting Robin above everyone, and very importantly, by making sure Allan was properly remembered (I was a bit shocked they burned the body, but I guess they didn't have a lot of spare time to bury him, and at least they wrapped him up because they would have freaked me out SO badly). I think it might have added to this that I was convinced Much was going to die too.
Archer's rescue of Robin et al irritated me in the same way that Robin always irritated me- I think it's pretty clear from his actions and the ending that if they continue producing, there will be no reimagining or renaming, it will be series 4 of Robin Hood with Archer taking over as Robin (I was glad to see they did incorporate "WE are Robin Hood" since that catchphrase really seemed to be leading up to this finale last season).
But I think I was intending to speak of the "positive" points about this episode... the innards of the castle- why have we not seen these passages before? It was so beautiful and spooky and atmospheric. It was a fitting setting for Guy's death I thought, even if that fight was over-choreographed, it fit the series, and I thought his death, at the hands of mentor and his sister both, was rather lovely actually. His calling Archer "brother" was a bit too cute for me, but his words to Robin made me sob all the harder. Poor thing!! Stunning acting from RA as ever. (When Spooks starts up again I think I might start sniffling when he first appears onscreen)
I was expecting the Sheriff and probably Isabella to die (with no Robin and no Guy, what's the point in Isabella) but I honestly wasn't expecting them to blow up the whole castle and destroy the city... not sure what they'd do with that in a fourth series... I would kind of have liked to see the Sheriff die at the hands of either Robin or Guy, rather than unseen in an explosion, but oh well. He's definitely dead.
Now for Robin's death... I knew I was going to cry... didn't know I'd be blubbering (though that started with Guy's death). Someone made a point on RH06 that I wouldn't have thought of- Guy gave the poison to Isabella as his mercy. Of all the times he'd tried to kill Robin and failed, it was once he'd joined Robin's side that he inadvertantly killed him through Isabella. Interesting. Robin's words to Much were PERFECT. Telling him he was more of a man than him, which I think Much had proved for himself in this episode, and that he was his best friend, which Robin had never shown enough. If I hadn't been sobbing already, I would have started there. I liked how he told John it was a good day to die, I did like it all coming full circle like that. I was glad he didn't say anything lovey dovey to Kate or kiss her. I kinda don't even remember what he said to Tuck or Archer, meh. I didn't understand why he had to die alone UNTIL HE SAW MARIAN. I DON'T KNOW HOW I MANAGED TO AVOID THAT HUGE SPOILER but I'm glad I did because it made such an impact. Very touching. Yes I was still sobbing.
After Robin's death I don't know what more to say. I liked the use of We Are Robin Hood, though I think it would have made sense from someone who'd been around longer.
The only thing I'm actually torn about is Much... like I said, I figured he had to die, and as much as I love Much, I think I would have preferred to see him die in the fight alongside Robin. Making him watch Robin die was just cruel. I've always likened Much to Sam Gamgee, but Sam Gamgee started a family and settled down while Frodo went away... I don't want Much to do that. Especially not with Kate, blech (is that mean?) I think maybe it would have been lovelier for Much to prove he was a man, a fighter, a hero, and die defending the castle. (Also I'm on the bandwagon for Sam for Doctor 12 so he needs to be free of commitments to ridiculous shows that can only get worse)
Anyways, I do think this was a fitting and fair farewell for Robin and Guy, possibly slightly less for the Sheriff, but oh well. I said last week I'd never watch a series 4. I'm not sure if I love Much and LJ, and Much really, enough to survive another season of Tuck, Kate, Archer, and really bad writing... Oh yeah, and I'm hugely ashamed of myself for having cried much more for Robin and Guy than for Allan. I was glad to see they remembered him though.
Ok now that I'm totally drained I'm going to go to bed. If I can?