Total Eclipse - Robin Hood 3x01
Can I just say... *squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee*! It's just so wonderful to have Robin Hood back, and I have so so much to say!
Well, it's traditional for me to do it by numbers, so...
1) The opening scene was a lovely homage to Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (one of my favourite films ever), the bit where Robin and Aseem land in England and Robin starts kissing the sand while Aseem fights off the nasty boat people. And there was another echo of that wonderful film at the end when we saw Robin kneeling down with Marian's ring grasped in his hand, which recalled the bit where Robin swears to avenge his father's death in PoT. Anyway, back on topic...
2) Robin is being such an annoying so-and-so again. I mean, it's not that I don't understand why. What's awesome is that Much isn't upset about the way he treated him - the insults (leech??? poor Much!), the punch, the being left behind. He accepts it because he gets why Robin is behaving that way. In a way, seeing Much tell Robin that it's OK at the end made me think that we've reached a new era of treatmuchright. It's not that Robin is being any nicer, but seeing Much able to cope with him, being stronger for both of them, is utterly heartwarming. Is it because of Robin's confession at the end of the last series? Or because Much feels reinstated as Robin's primary support since Marian died? Or just because he's come to believe in himself more? Well, whatever the reason, I hope it continues!
3) But of course, I do want Robin to be nicer to Much as well. Come on Robin, Treat Much Right!
4) And while I'm talking about Much, I have to say how heartbreaking it was to see him crying like that when he was tied up in the dungeon. That was the only true grief we got to see following Robin's 'death', and it's interesting how he kept it all to himself. I don't think he would have done that before - he would have broken down when he was with the others too. But here he kept the pain to himself, and when he was alone he was completely broken, but he could still learn to be stronger for it.
5) And poor Much getting tortured! OK, we got to see him topless, which was new. But this was nothing like Allan's torture scene from the last series (which I found a total turn-on, I admit!). I just felt so sorry for Much, for his physical pain as well as the mental anguish.
6) One nice thing in this episode was Allan's new-found caring for Much. That really is something new, because they've never really got on before. Maybe something happened in the months they spent travelling back from the Holy Land? He had to be restrained from charging in to rescue him from Guy. Now that isn't what I was expecting at all - I was after some torturous latent feelings for Guy, actually. Come on, can we see just a little bit of Guy/Allan please??
7) Before I stop talking about Much, just one more thing. His cunning plans are as Much-like as ever. I loved his bluff about finding Robin's 'stash'. He was right first time, of course - Robin wouldn't dream of having a stash, and the Sheriff just doesn't get it. It's lovely to see the way his mind works though - the first bit of pain and he decides it's best to lead them on a wild goose chase for a bit. Later on we get to see the same sort of spirit when he decides not to fight Tuck. Aww!
8) Now then, how is it that I've left any comment on Guy's new look until point 8? The truth is, I love it. The long hair, grubby-looking as it is, is very nice, and I decided on the second watching that his new outfits are nice too. The first one we see him in is quite classic, showing off his leanness, but the second one is quite padded and sinister-looking. If only he's put a bearskin on I'd be in heaven!
9) But I have to admit, Guy's hair isn't exactly... convenient. When he was talking to Tuck in the woods, I couldn't help thinking that he was so angry because he couldn't see anything. And when the Sheriff has his arm round him when they're talking to Sir Jasper, I thought Guy rather looked like his girlfriend. But in a good way!
10) Nice to see Sir Jasper back. I don't know if it's intentional, but he's pretty much the same character as Lytton (his character in Life on Mars). It's such a shame we don't get to see Allan rubbing up against him any more though. But I hope Jasper comes back. I think he will, because Prince John is going to make an appearance, isn't he?
11) I'm not terribly pleased that we don't get to see Allan in black any more... but I do think his new outfit is great. That cloak, very nice.
12) It's weird how I wait until point 12 to say this... but the plot was great too, wasn't it? Tuck seemed to fit in well, there was plenty of action, a delicious fight scene between Guy and Robin (which really could have lasted longer!), and an absolutely classic ending where the Sheriff's latest plan in quashed in front of his eyes at the castle. Every first episode has ended like that, have you noticed? :)
13) Tuck's moon chart was a bit dodgy though, wasn't it?
14) I have to say, I'm feeling very sorry for Guy. I very very much hope that this series brings him to a happier place in the end... but I'm guessing it won't! Never mind, I can deal with angst. In fact, what am I saying?? I *love* angst!
ETA:
15) The bit where Guy told Tuck about his demons very much made me think of the Eumenides in Euripides' Orestes - anyone else thinking that? (The Eumenides are the Furies of Greke mythology, and they pursue someone who has done wrong, driving them mad.)
ETA: New grubby Guy icon!
Well, it's traditional for me to do it by numbers, so...
1) The opening scene was a lovely homage to Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (one of my favourite films ever), the bit where Robin and Aseem land in England and Robin starts kissing the sand while Aseem fights off the nasty boat people. And there was another echo of that wonderful film at the end when we saw Robin kneeling down with Marian's ring grasped in his hand, which recalled the bit where Robin swears to avenge his father's death in PoT. Anyway, back on topic...
2) Robin is being such an annoying so-and-so again. I mean, it's not that I don't understand why. What's awesome is that Much isn't upset about the way he treated him - the insults (leech??? poor Much!), the punch, the being left behind. He accepts it because he gets why Robin is behaving that way. In a way, seeing Much tell Robin that it's OK at the end made me think that we've reached a new era of treatmuchright. It's not that Robin is being any nicer, but seeing Much able to cope with him, being stronger for both of them, is utterly heartwarming. Is it because of Robin's confession at the end of the last series? Or because Much feels reinstated as Robin's primary support since Marian died? Or just because he's come to believe in himself more? Well, whatever the reason, I hope it continues!
3) But of course, I do want Robin to be nicer to Much as well. Come on Robin, Treat Much Right!
4) And while I'm talking about Much, I have to say how heartbreaking it was to see him crying like that when he was tied up in the dungeon. That was the only true grief we got to see following Robin's 'death', and it's interesting how he kept it all to himself. I don't think he would have done that before - he would have broken down when he was with the others too. But here he kept the pain to himself, and when he was alone he was completely broken, but he could still learn to be stronger for it.
5) And poor Much getting tortured! OK, we got to see him topless, which was new. But this was nothing like Allan's torture scene from the last series (which I found a total turn-on, I admit!). I just felt so sorry for Much, for his physical pain as well as the mental anguish.
6) One nice thing in this episode was Allan's new-found caring for Much. That really is something new, because they've never really got on before. Maybe something happened in the months they spent travelling back from the Holy Land? He had to be restrained from charging in to rescue him from Guy. Now that isn't what I was expecting at all - I was after some torturous latent feelings for Guy, actually. Come on, can we see just a little bit of Guy/Allan please??
7) Before I stop talking about Much, just one more thing. His cunning plans are as Much-like as ever. I loved his bluff about finding Robin's 'stash'. He was right first time, of course - Robin wouldn't dream of having a stash, and the Sheriff just doesn't get it. It's lovely to see the way his mind works though - the first bit of pain and he decides it's best to lead them on a wild goose chase for a bit. Later on we get to see the same sort of spirit when he decides not to fight Tuck. Aww!
8) Now then, how is it that I've left any comment on Guy's new look until point 8? The truth is, I love it. The long hair, grubby-looking as it is, is very nice, and I decided on the second watching that his new outfits are nice too. The first one we see him in is quite classic, showing off his leanness, but the second one is quite padded and sinister-looking. If only he's put a bearskin on I'd be in heaven!
9) But I have to admit, Guy's hair isn't exactly... convenient. When he was talking to Tuck in the woods, I couldn't help thinking that he was so angry because he couldn't see anything. And when the Sheriff has his arm round him when they're talking to Sir Jasper, I thought Guy rather looked like his girlfriend. But in a good way!
10) Nice to see Sir Jasper back. I don't know if it's intentional, but he's pretty much the same character as Lytton (his character in Life on Mars). It's such a shame we don't get to see Allan rubbing up against him any more though. But I hope Jasper comes back. I think he will, because Prince John is going to make an appearance, isn't he?
11) I'm not terribly pleased that we don't get to see Allan in black any more... but I do think his new outfit is great. That cloak, very nice.
12) It's weird how I wait until point 12 to say this... but the plot was great too, wasn't it? Tuck seemed to fit in well, there was plenty of action, a delicious fight scene between Guy and Robin (which really could have lasted longer!), and an absolutely classic ending where the Sheriff's latest plan in quashed in front of his eyes at the castle. Every first episode has ended like that, have you noticed? :)
13) Tuck's moon chart was a bit dodgy though, wasn't it?
14) I have to say, I'm feeling very sorry for Guy. I very very much hope that this series brings him to a happier place in the end... but I'm guessing it won't! Never mind, I can deal with angst. In fact, what am I saying?? I *love* angst!
ETA:
15) The bit where Guy told Tuck about his demons very much made me think of the Eumenides in Euripides' Orestes - anyone else thinking that? (The Eumenides are the Furies of Greke mythology, and they pursue someone who has done wrong, driving them mad.)
ETA: New grubby Guy icon!