The Enemy of My Enemy - Robin Hood 3x11
Can it really be the penultimate (inasmuch as the last two are shown together as a double) episode? How quickly this series has gone by. I thought this was a brilliant episode, and it even made me laugh out loud in three places. So, yet again I have lots to say...
NB: This is a NO SPOILER zone for episodes 12 and 13. Please don't reveal anything you know about them that isn't based entirely of the preview at the end of 11!
1) Let's deal with Archer first. He actually looks like a cross between Guy and Robin, doesn't he? And he very much reminded me of Errol Flynn in places, especially his outfit. I didn't fancy him - not sure why. But I liked his look.
2) Character-wise, I think I liked Archer a lot. He has a lot of Robin about him - the way he selflessly helped his cellmates, the sometimes thoughtless womanising, and his sweet relationship with the old man. But then there was some Guy about him too, for instance his unapologetic self interest. I think he'll turn out to be interesting but ultimately good. But then again, both Guy and Isabella have had their moments of turning out to be on the dark side despite sometimes appearing good, so who knows?
3) Now then, Guy. How is it that he had his jerkin/tunic thing? I'm sure he fled into the forest with only that lovely black shirt, and yet here he is with the tunic he was wearing before Isabella turned on him!
4) Guy and Robin together were lovely, and yet surprising. Hearing Guy shout 'Robin, in there!' in concern was baffling and yet very satisfying. But Guy wasn't getting too friendly. I think I'm a bit disappointed that he hasn't started to adopt the good guys' creed and thought of himself purely as the enemy of their enemy and hence their friend. But then again, by the end we saw him saving John's life - something that John clearly also found baffling.
5) The bit where Guy and Robin simultaneously shouted 'Oi!' at the bar brawlers was hilarious :) And the ensuing bit where Guy accidentally got taken into custody. Richard Armitage has very good comic timing, and it was nice that he got to show it off in this episode, because he usually doesn't get the opportunity!
6) The second laugh-out-loud moment came soon after this, where we saw Guy in the cell trying to find Archer, and the old man and then everyone else claiming 'I'm Archer!' - I can just never get enough of the Spartacus joke, it's classic.
7) Robin putting on his posh voice to get Guy out was also amusing, but isn't the thid laugh-out-loud moment - you'll have to wait for that one :) So was the bit where the guard accepted all Robin's money and then decided not to let them go after all, but again this isn't the moment. However, these light-hearted touches made it a really nice episode, I thought - classic Robin Hood.
8) The tension between Archer and Guy was interesting, and the bit where Archer found out about his mother having died in a fire was quite poignant. Poor Guy, envying someone who never experienced having a mother or father because he's so traumatised by what happened to his!
9) This brings me back to the beginning of the episode, where Guy remained reluctant to forgive Robin's father and they had a lovely little set-to when Robin insulted Guy's mother. I liked that, and it reminded me of 1x08. There was even a sweet moment between them when Guy said that he couldn't forgive himself for Marian's death - I think that was what made Robin push Guy out of the way of that arrow.
10) I wonder why Allan went all the way to the camp rather than intervening in the fight himself. It surely wasn't that he was afraid, considering the way he waded in unarmed when John was captured... So maybe his loyalties were divided? Maybe he didn't want to have to hurt Guy to help Robin... Just a thought :)
11) Kate didn't really do anything other than annoy me in this episode. She complained about Guy (rightfully, I know, but she's slowly been losing any sympathy I ever had for her), she played the part of Robin's unconvincing love interest... I wonder what Guy will think when he finds out that Robin has moved on from Marian so quickly!
12) Much wasn't in it much, was he? :( Come on writers, treat him right and give him something to do! He showed surprise at Robin's father being alive (which showed that he knew a lot about Robin's past, I think - probably from days when Robin actually used to speak to him!), and exclaimed that they didn't need Guy - but quickly seemed to accept Robin's judgement.
13) Allan was quick to say that Guy helping them could be an advantage, and was the only positive voice in this regard from the beginning. I liked that :) It's a shame they didn't get to interact much, though, because I was hoping Allan's old loyalties would be more obvious...
14) The plot of the episode was straightforward enough, and I liked that Guy having a sudden instinct to rob Isabella led to the convenient plot device of telling her where they were heading. Isabella didn't figure very much, but when she did she was acting very much like the Sheriff (the real one!), and that fit in nicely.
15) I must say, I thought Archer's sleight of hand (in the alchemy bit) was terribly heavy-handed. You'd really have to be concentrating on something else not to notice him switching the arrowhead for a lump of gold (limited because he doesn't have much magic powder, hmmm)!
16) Speaking of which, what exactly happened at the hanging bit at the end? I wasn't paying attention, but was it the Gweneth who got a servant to make the explosion using some of Archer's magic powder?
17) The reason I wasn't paying attention was that I was looking intently at Guy, who for once seemed rather traumatised at the thought that he was about to die. Is it that he now has something to live for, I wonder? He's saying it's all about getting revenge on Isabella, but I just plain don't believe him. He's a good guy and he'll have to accept it :) I hope!
18) Archer demonstrated at least some feeling for Guy when he, simultaneously with Robin, shot Guy's rope and freed him. I think, before that, Guy was thinking that they were going to leave him dangling there! It's nice to see that Archer has some heroic instincts - saving his brother, claiming the blame for Gweneth's seduction even though she was behaving like a slapper, plunging into action when his old friend was killed by the guards... I do think he has promise. Very Errol Flynn.
19) Now, the final laugh-out-loud moment: right at the end, when Guy asked where they wanted him to sleep. I loved this! Everyone looked at him speechless, like they weren't quite sure what to say to that. There are so many different ways to read this ;) At face value, I think they were meant to be adjusting to his presence. But all I could imagine them thinking was: 'Hmm, so where is Guy going to fit into our... sleeping arrangements? RH is just such a hotbed of shipping. I think Team Hood are very much going to benefit from having a bit of leather around, as it were... ;)
20) Next week looks wonderful, doesn't? I'm so excited! No spoilers please, but I hope it's as wonderful as I'm expecting it to be :)
ETA:
21) Allan looked pretty stunning when we got to see him in this. I adored his little exchange with John. They both tried to out-philosophise each other and failed at it mightily. Why are you walking beside me? Maybe I'm going to the same place. But there are many roads to the same place. So nearly genius, and yet so dysfunctional as a conversation!
22) By the way, York just plain doesn't look like that. The walled centre of the city is still standing in large part (there are even streets full of Medieval houses - try the Shambles if you ever visit), and let's just say that York Castle isn't really that impressive!
23) Looks like the Medieval economy is doing well in York! All those merchants...
ETA2:
24) That scene where Allan wants to shoot the arrow and Tuck keeps telling him to wait - that's another one of those classics film moments, isn't it? I can think of one parallel, from POTC2 (battling the Kraken near the end), but there must be others I can't think of??
NB: This is a NO SPOILER zone for episodes 12 and 13. Please don't reveal anything you know about them that isn't based entirely of the preview at the end of 11!
1) Let's deal with Archer first. He actually looks like a cross between Guy and Robin, doesn't he? And he very much reminded me of Errol Flynn in places, especially his outfit. I didn't fancy him - not sure why. But I liked his look.
2) Character-wise, I think I liked Archer a lot. He has a lot of Robin about him - the way he selflessly helped his cellmates, the sometimes thoughtless womanising, and his sweet relationship with the old man. But then there was some Guy about him too, for instance his unapologetic self interest. I think he'll turn out to be interesting but ultimately good. But then again, both Guy and Isabella have had their moments of turning out to be on the dark side despite sometimes appearing good, so who knows?
3) Now then, Guy. How is it that he had his jerkin/tunic thing? I'm sure he fled into the forest with only that lovely black shirt, and yet here he is with the tunic he was wearing before Isabella turned on him!
4) Guy and Robin together were lovely, and yet surprising. Hearing Guy shout 'Robin, in there!' in concern was baffling and yet very satisfying. But Guy wasn't getting too friendly. I think I'm a bit disappointed that he hasn't started to adopt the good guys' creed and thought of himself purely as the enemy of their enemy and hence their friend. But then again, by the end we saw him saving John's life - something that John clearly also found baffling.
5) The bit where Guy and Robin simultaneously shouted 'Oi!' at the bar brawlers was hilarious :) And the ensuing bit where Guy accidentally got taken into custody. Richard Armitage has very good comic timing, and it was nice that he got to show it off in this episode, because he usually doesn't get the opportunity!
6) The second laugh-out-loud moment came soon after this, where we saw Guy in the cell trying to find Archer, and the old man and then everyone else claiming 'I'm Archer!' - I can just never get enough of the Spartacus joke, it's classic.
7) Robin putting on his posh voice to get Guy out was also amusing, but isn't the thid laugh-out-loud moment - you'll have to wait for that one :) So was the bit where the guard accepted all Robin's money and then decided not to let them go after all, but again this isn't the moment. However, these light-hearted touches made it a really nice episode, I thought - classic Robin Hood.
8) The tension between Archer and Guy was interesting, and the bit where Archer found out about his mother having died in a fire was quite poignant. Poor Guy, envying someone who never experienced having a mother or father because he's so traumatised by what happened to his!
9) This brings me back to the beginning of the episode, where Guy remained reluctant to forgive Robin's father and they had a lovely little set-to when Robin insulted Guy's mother. I liked that, and it reminded me of 1x08. There was even a sweet moment between them when Guy said that he couldn't forgive himself for Marian's death - I think that was what made Robin push Guy out of the way of that arrow.
10) I wonder why Allan went all the way to the camp rather than intervening in the fight himself. It surely wasn't that he was afraid, considering the way he waded in unarmed when John was captured... So maybe his loyalties were divided? Maybe he didn't want to have to hurt Guy to help Robin... Just a thought :)
11) Kate didn't really do anything other than annoy me in this episode. She complained about Guy (rightfully, I know, but she's slowly been losing any sympathy I ever had for her), she played the part of Robin's unconvincing love interest... I wonder what Guy will think when he finds out that Robin has moved on from Marian so quickly!
12) Much wasn't in it much, was he? :( Come on writers, treat him right and give him something to do! He showed surprise at Robin's father being alive (which showed that he knew a lot about Robin's past, I think - probably from days when Robin actually used to speak to him!), and exclaimed that they didn't need Guy - but quickly seemed to accept Robin's judgement.
13) Allan was quick to say that Guy helping them could be an advantage, and was the only positive voice in this regard from the beginning. I liked that :) It's a shame they didn't get to interact much, though, because I was hoping Allan's old loyalties would be more obvious...
14) The plot of the episode was straightforward enough, and I liked that Guy having a sudden instinct to rob Isabella led to the convenient plot device of telling her where they were heading. Isabella didn't figure very much, but when she did she was acting very much like the Sheriff (the real one!), and that fit in nicely.
15) I must say, I thought Archer's sleight of hand (in the alchemy bit) was terribly heavy-handed. You'd really have to be concentrating on something else not to notice him switching the arrowhead for a lump of gold (limited because he doesn't have much magic powder, hmmm)!
16) Speaking of which, what exactly happened at the hanging bit at the end? I wasn't paying attention, but was it the Gweneth who got a servant to make the explosion using some of Archer's magic powder?
17) The reason I wasn't paying attention was that I was looking intently at Guy, who for once seemed rather traumatised at the thought that he was about to die. Is it that he now has something to live for, I wonder? He's saying it's all about getting revenge on Isabella, but I just plain don't believe him. He's a good guy and he'll have to accept it :) I hope!
18) Archer demonstrated at least some feeling for Guy when he, simultaneously with Robin, shot Guy's rope and freed him. I think, before that, Guy was thinking that they were going to leave him dangling there! It's nice to see that Archer has some heroic instincts - saving his brother, claiming the blame for Gweneth's seduction even though she was behaving like a slapper, plunging into action when his old friend was killed by the guards... I do think he has promise. Very Errol Flynn.
19) Now, the final laugh-out-loud moment: right at the end, when Guy asked where they wanted him to sleep. I loved this! Everyone looked at him speechless, like they weren't quite sure what to say to that. There are so many different ways to read this ;) At face value, I think they were meant to be adjusting to his presence. But all I could imagine them thinking was: 'Hmm, so where is Guy going to fit into our... sleeping arrangements? RH is just such a hotbed of shipping. I think Team Hood are very much going to benefit from having a bit of leather around, as it were... ;)
20) Next week looks wonderful, doesn't? I'm so excited! No spoilers please, but I hope it's as wonderful as I'm expecting it to be :)
ETA:
21) Allan looked pretty stunning when we got to see him in this. I adored his little exchange with John. They both tried to out-philosophise each other and failed at it mightily. Why are you walking beside me? Maybe I'm going to the same place. But there are many roads to the same place. So nearly genius, and yet so dysfunctional as a conversation!
22) By the way, York just plain doesn't look like that. The walled centre of the city is still standing in large part (there are even streets full of Medieval houses - try the Shambles if you ever visit), and let's just say that York Castle isn't really that impressive!
23) Looks like the Medieval economy is doing well in York! All those merchants...
ETA2:
24) That scene where Allan wants to shoot the arrow and Tuck keeps telling him to wait - that's another one of those classics film moments, isn't it? I can think of one parallel, from POTC2 (battling the Kraken near the end), but there must be others I can't think of??