Robin Hood, 0208, "Get Carter"
Warning: I'm feeling snarky. I did like the episode. I just feel the need to snark a little.
Robin Hood: I came for the hot men, I stayed for the hot men and the slash subtext. Yeah, that's about as cerebral as this review's going to get this week.
I should say something profound, shouldn't I? Well, "make me" ;)
First thing. The assassin. Fight scenes were well-choreographed this week, especially so. Shock of the week: he didn't die heroically. I enjoyed that. Although I do wonder if Robin would have a little more success taking down the Sheriff if all the really interesting guest stars stuck around to help, instead of finding deep and meaningful reasons to leave at the end of forty-three minutes.
Disappointment of the assassin: he was wearing black. Robin, you should have known better. He was clearly dressing from the same wardrobe as Team Leather. And yet you let him tag along until he tried to kill you. *headdesk* If people must wear team colours, can the gang please notice?
Of the Carter/Robin interaction, can I just say a) kudos to the choreographers, you WIN and make the action-loving seven-year-old in me squee with delight b) Carter, come back from the Holy Land with a special book of "How to Tie Knots for the Socially-Conscious Outlaw" then give it to your new and rapid BFF Robin for Christmas.
Snark aside, I loved seeing Robin work with another aristocratic soldier and talk about men in the wars - the one line that seemed to work really well in that fight-whilst-expositioning hooplah in the barn was when he listed the dead men who'd tried to save Thomas. It makes me crave the flashback episode to the missing five years where they flesh out everyone's backstory during the war that they haven't done yet, but that I wish they'd do. Robin being a commander in the war! Djaq as Safiya/the attack on her family/slave! Allan thieving his way across England! Marian's training and first outings as the Nightwatchman! Little John's self-exile with his outlaws! Will learning carpentry with dad and brother, possibly showing the death of his mother! *wants badly show like now*
Allan and Guy interactions increase the joy in my flat more every week. It's positively gleeful nowadays. The Allan/Marian scene was (hopefully) steeped in foreshadowing. But Allan, come on. You saying you're 'good with nuns' is like me saying I'm 'good with my computer'. Brute force does not equal skill. Although feel free to make that smutty little face you made when you said it, it was quite cute. Me thinks you've been taking lessons from Team Leather/Guyliner/Smirky.
Although slash OTP of the week (so much chemistry in this show that it changes by the week, yes it does) is Vaysey/Guy: You have me by the legs :D Seriously, though, their interactions were funny, layered, insightful and managed to make serious points about character development! *show wins*
Marian, though. I usually like her and everything, but her darling-likes-to-kill routine didn't fly for me. For a start, that camouflage trouser combo might work if she were hiding in a tree on the winter side of Narnia, but I can't see it in Sherwood. Then again, we are talking about this lot - it's not like they put that much effort into hiding in the normal run of things. See? She's fitting in perfectly by sticking out like a sore thumb. The scenes I did like her in:
- the Guy/Marian: the girl does what she has to do, and wouldn't you enjoy it too? And talk about Allan/Marian/Guy OT3 love, that "kissing him but eyes on you" look was all sorts of win. I'm all for an increase in ass-kicking, feminine wiles Marian. Beyond those, I love that the Guy/Marian was an almost entirely honest conversation on both sides. Robin should be thanking Guy for calming Marian down - when she says "My father is dead, I need time to grieve" it's a real turning point.
- the Marian/Little John: partly because I love when a) they reference past events and b) Little John is a character not a talking club because he does it so well. I also like his protectiveness of the women in the gang - last season he was all for rescuing Djaq, this season he tries to hold back Marian when she runs into Clun, hugs her and threatens to kill Allan in more than one word when he finds out he's been near her.
Brings me nicely onto the next of the "things that needed to be referenced" which the beloved show went and did. Robin and Much, you have a special place in my heart, and I want to hug the both of you. He's right, they *don't* talk about the Holy Land, and the fact that it screwed with both their heads so badly looms over them in every single episode. And Much - Much! - they finally said it out loud that Much is such a good soul that he came back damaged, but not in a way that makes him kill people. Much killed me on so many lines - the delivery was spot on, just the right side of whiny but so very not because it need to be said, dammit.
Final note because come on, it's me. Will/Djaq tied up together *glee* And Really Deep Moment of the week is that he should hold babies more. I suspected it in season one, but now I realise it's The Look for him. Deranged and vengeful comes a close second.
PS: As I proof read, I realise I've missed out Robin's death. Clearly he should do it less often, so that it then has some drama.
[Preview]
I got nothing. Except noting that Marian's still wearing that outfit. And the marriage proposal surprised me because I thought he was courting her, and that the marrying each other was a logical ending to that anyway. Also, I think - I'm not getting my hopes up but i can't help it - there may have been Will/Djaq interactions *in the foreground of a scene*. *Prays*.