Something Worth Fighting For, Part 2 - Robin Hood 3x13
Well, first they moved it to BBC2 at 7pm because of the damn tennis (Andy Murrary won apparently - I DON'T CARE), then my reception went really dodgy part way through and was lost completely for a good 10 or 20 seconds (of Guy!!!), and then later on when I tried to rewatch it I found that my tape had gone funny, and had to put up with double and rolling images constantly - so let's just say my visual observations may not be as sharp as I'd like because effectively I only saw it once!
Anyway, in spite of this conspiracy to stop me watching it, I have a lot to say. Firstly, to sum up, I think I thought it was pretty brilliant :)
1) Let's start with poor Allan. Nice to see hm alive again in the 'previously on Robin Hood' bit. But it was all a bit too much for me seeing him lying there, and being given a nice traditional Darth Vader send off. This was the first point where I cried. It was lovely that they took time to do this, even though it was rather impractical what with the hostile army getting ready to attack. And lovely, again, to watch everyone's faces as they grived Allan - especially Much, and also Guy, who seemed to be standing back to acknowledge that Allan was never really his, but also paying his respects. I love you, Allan, you'll never be dead in my heart!
2) But I have to object that they removed Joe Armstrong's name from the title sequence! I mean, it's not like he wasn't in it, even if he was just playing a dead body! Poor Allan :'(
3) Now there's so much to say about the episode, but I think I'll go by character and see if I can manage to cover all my points like that. First up, it has to be Much. Incidentally, while I was watching by dodgy taped copy, there was a moment where the screen went clear, and it was Much shouting something from the battlements (erm... I forget the words, but something along the lines of it being OK now), which was oddly appropriate.
4) One of the most awesome things about this episode was that we finally got to see Much the warrior and commander. The Much with all that battle experience from the Holy Land, the side of him that gets forgotten as the writers concentrate on his unfortunate side. This time we saw Robin trusting Much as his second in command - not Tuck (well, very slightly later, but only because Much wasn't there) or John, but Much. We saw Much organising the defence, leading a small troop of archers, showing everyone else how it's done, shouting commands - now that's a real hero. He's sensitive and lovely, but he's a fighter too, and it was lovely to be reminded of it.
5) When Robin and co went out to sabotage the trebuchets (I'm loving this sentence - and indeed, how wonderful to hear the word 'trebuchet' being used in a family show!), Robin left Much behind (despite that he'd already got his cmouflage make-up on - awww!) because he needed a cool head back in the castle. Much, cool headed? Well yes, actually, this is the reliable fighting Much of the Holy Land, and how wonderful it is to see Robin trusting him the most out of everyone to be the cool headed one who would save the day. The second time a tear came to my eye was when they got back from the sabotage raid, having been saved by Archer (whom Much clearly sent out to help them), when Robin gave Much a sort of manly huggy clap on the shoulders and declared that that was why he had left him behind. How amazing to see Much appreciated.
6) Yet again, Much saved the day when he daringly and competently went down to save Kate from the clutches of the Sheriff handy that winch being there!), on Robin's orders. Can he do it? You just watch him! It was perfect. Much the hero. Kate ran straight to Robin of course... but we'll deal with Kate later.
7) I really think the Treat Much Right Campaign has had a major boost from the writers in this episode. They gave us Much the independent thinking, well loved and trusted character, who can be a hero to his friends. I'm not sure we've really fully seen this side to him before - just bits and pieces in various episodes, but nothing like this. I haven't been keeping track of who wrote each episode, but whoever wrote this one I'd like to thank them for treating Much right for once!
8) The Sheriff (and I mean Vaizey, the one true Sheriff!) next. It was nice to have him back in one way... but in another he was quite different, in the sense that we didn't get to see the wonderfully cheerful and almost playful nastiness in his character that has run through the three series (mostly 1 and 2 though). He was woefully underused, I think, and that's a shame in what was his last episode too. Everything seemed a bit more serious to him, even though he was in a clear position of power. He didn't have many lines. He had no quips at all! There was the odd flash of the old Sheriff we know and love, but for the most part I think he was being used to drive the plot along and nothing more. But then this was all about the good guys, of course.
9) On a side note, I just can't believe what the Sheriff said about Allan squealing as he died. But then, we don't know about Allan's final moments, do we? The last time we saw him alive, he was clearly fatally wounded, and looked up and recognised the Sheriff... but who knows what happened between that moment and the moment of his death? Perhaps the Sheriff even tortured him. I shudder to think of it. But did you notice that when his body was delivered to the castle at the end of 3x12, there appeared to be blood on his chest? We never saw an arrow hit him in the chest, and the ones that hit him in the back didn't seem to have gone through, so where did that come from? I'm all worried for his dying moments now :(
10) A quick note on Blamire (sp??) too. He's horrible, but... well, considering that his character wasn't explored, I don't see why someone couldn't have killed him in the tunnel fight - it would have been nice for the good guys to score one kill!
11) While we're on the dark side, I have to say I wish we'd seen more of Isabella's complexities this week. She really did seem to have fallen completely into bitterness and hatred, with no sign that she could come out of it in the way that Guy did. Maybe she just needed more time, and another character who could have genuine feelings for her - that seemed to be what saved Guy in the end.
12) Isabella's chatting up the guard was typical of her usual resorting to her feminine wiles to get her own way, but I can't think why they left her a guard at all. She was locked in a cell - leaving a guard with her was like leaving the keys lying round in reach of the bars! If they'd just left her to rot down there... well, someone I loved wouldn't have died :(
13) This brings us to Guy. I was touched when he gave Isabella the poison to drink, to release herself. He's clumsy in his affections, but you can see that he meant well. After going on and on about how he wanted her dead, it turned out he couldn't do it but still had to acknowledge that she had to die - especially after what she did to Allan. The bit where Guy sort of embraced her, and stroked her hair (which was pretty wild this episode - though I thought she looked stunning), and talked about their mother, was just slightly creepy... but also quite heartwarming. I love seeing that hold that Guy has over her, of which you just get the occasional glimpse.
14) I was so glad that the gang didn't turn on Guy at all. There still wasn't much sign of the others fully accepting and embracing him, but he stuck with Robin, and Robin didn't abandon him. It was lovely that Robin didn't even think about giving Guy up just to buy them some leeway with the Sheriff, and that he put his trust in him fully. Guy really really needed that.
15) The tears are already welling up in my eyes again, but before we get to that, I have to mention a few more things about Guy :) He looked stunning, of course, and I'm glad he never ended up trading in his black leather for forestwear. I'm working on a fic on this very topic, actually :)
16) Guy was also competent in his military movements, like Much, though he didn't really have as much to do. He got to shout the odd line, and look as though he was pitching in, but I think his involvement crumbled a bit as everyone else took over. Poor Guy. I wonder whether he actually has any proper military experience. All we know of is his time working for the Sheriff, with occasional assassination trips, but we don't really hear about whether he's ever commanded troops. You'd think, as a knight, he would have!
17) When Robin gave his stirring 'Something Worth Fighting For' speech, everyone was cheering heartily... and Guy sort of raised his sword and looked like he believed in it, but without the overt cheering. It looked to me like he was chewing something? Anyway, it was nice that finally he stopped pretending he was only in this fight to defeat Isabella or the Sheriff - and indeed, his last act was to tell Robin about the part of the tunnel where they could hide all the people to escape. He was a hero in the end.
18) In many ways, I was devastated to lose Guy. If I had to choose one single favourite character that I love above all the others, it would be him - in spite of my obvious and frequently asserted love for both Much and Allan. Guy was the perfect man, as far as I'm concerned, and with the best dress sense in Nottingham as a bonus. I wasn't ready to lose him. I think, above all it's losing Guy that means that this is the true end of Robin Hood for me, whether or not they do another series. I'd keep watching, but it wouldn't be the same, even if Much stays around. Guy, I love you, and like Allan you'll never be dead in my heart.
19) But I have to say - I'm very glad that Guy had a good death. His redemption was completed as he stuck with Robin right to the end, and died trying to save him. He even seemed more upset that Robin had been fatally wounded than he was about his own impending death.
20) The first time I heard Guy's last words, I struggled to hear the very last bit, and then the second time I was distressed about the picture scrolling through the screen as I watched (damn tape!), so I really really need to watch again. But it was lovely how he gave Robin the information he needed to save everyone, and gave Archer a very sweet 'Brother', and spoke of Marian, the love of his life, and how she would always be Robin's. But he died proud and free, thanks to Robin. This broke my heart. In my mind, I have many more details (some invented) of Guy's death running through my head, but it's making me cry, so I'll stop talking about that now!
21) A brief mention of Archer, who had little to do other than be knowledgeable about weapons and ride in with flaming arrows to the rescue. I'm not sure I like him, and I don't think I'll ever love him, but maybe he has the potential to be OK. But if he dares to pretend to be the gang's leader in the event of a new series, I won't be happy. Surely they must realise that this is Much's rightful job! I hope they rename it 'The Sherwood Avenger'...
22) And I'm a bit miffed that when Guy gave Archer his final smile and whispered 'Brother' to him, Archer just gave a little half smile and left him! I know he hadn't known him long, but didn't he feel anything?
23) Isabella seemed a little affected when she later walked past her brother's body - well, who wouldn't be affected, with him lying there looking utterly beautiful? He looked at peace too, which is nice. I think Marian would be proud of him, but we'll come back to her shortly.
24) Speaking of Isabella, why on earth did Guy assume that she was trying to blast her way through the tunnel? For one thing, surely the doors in the tunnel can be opened from the inside? For another thing, he knew the Sheriff knew about the tunnel, so why wouldn't he think that the Sheriff might be trying to get in that way? And for yet another thing, how on earth did he think that Isabella had any Byzantine Fire?
25) Oh yes, Byzantine Fire - it's like an upgrade to Greek Fire.
26) Isabella's part in the Sheriff's little plot to get Guy on his own to kill him in person (surely that wasn't the only reason though??) seemed to be unknowing. The Sheriff manipulated her from afar, sending in Blamire to set up everything for him, and getting Blamire to feed Isabella a little inkling that she might survive if she managed to get Guy down to the tunnel. So Guy probably ended up assuming, wrongly, that this was Isabella's plan... but no matter, it's not like she wasn't guilty as hell of something, and she probably deserved his contempt/pity.
27) But I'm very sad that Isabella had to die in the end! She would have been fantastic in the next series, if there is one, if she'd survived :(
28) I heartily approve of Robin's last act, blowing up Nottingham Castle with a single flaming arrow and an awful lot of Byzantine Fire. If the destruction of the heart of Nottingham doesn't say 'This series is over now', then I don't know what does!
29) This gives me an excuse to mention Tuck, and then the odd other gang member. Tuck got to be all Djaq in this episode - a reminder that a major part of his function is to be a replacement for her and Will. But I think it felt right, and he did the job. Most of the time, I've done nothing but complain about Tuck - how he's annoying, and winds people up, and assumes too much power for himself, and so on. But he's OK.
30) Then there's Kate. Kate, who got captured *again*. I'm not being funny, but wasn't that quite a short time in which to have gone to Loughborough and back on foot??? I don't suppose anyone knows the distance...? :)
31) I meant to say this last week, but couldn't we just have one season finale that didn't hinge on whether the King returns or not?? :)
32) There was an especially squeeful historical reference about the King too. We found out that he had been captured by Leopold! This is very thrilling, because it's a real historical event and everything! However, it rather messes up the timeline of the series (see my workings out here). You see, Richard was actually captured just before Christmas 1192 (and 1192 is when we know that season 1 takes place!) and was released in February 1194 (see here for information). By my reckoning, we're already in 1195, so all these events, historically, had already happened. However, I'm perfectly happy with moving Richard's capture to 1196 to fit in with the series :)
33) I digress, anyway. I still just don't buy Kate as a character. And was it only me who found is particularly annoying when she rushed in to Robin shouting about the courtyard being about to fall to the enemy? I'm not sure why that line in particular grated, but it just did! But at least she got exactly the comeuppance I was hoping for - we'll talk about that in a minute!
34) Brief mention of John, while I'm talking about the gang. Yet again, he was a bit underused, but at least he reinforced his role as the person who cares about other people. His sadness over Allan, his worry for Kate, etc. He's a lovely character, I just wish we saw more of him. Well, at least we got to hear his 'good day to die' slogan, even if he didn't get to say it.
35) Before I forget, just to say that the outlaws defending the castle, with the Sheriff storming it, was a lovely way of inverting everything and coming up with a fantastic plot. Nice role reversal.
36) And generally I just loved the idea of the besieged city, and the death and destruction raining down on them, the struggle of a few good men against the onslaught of an army... it's epic and romantic and I love it. This is how I like my Robin Hood. It reminds me a little of 2x10 (Walkabout), and what might have happened then.
37) Finally, I turn to Robin - fittingly, since it was his series. well, for me it was never his series... but his death had such poignancy that I finally think I came to care about him as a character. He won't live on in my heart the way others will, but this was the perfect ending for him. When Robin first realised he was going to die, it was interesting how he handled it - strongly, privately. He has always been private, right up to when he thought he was going to die in 2x12 and didn't want to share his feelings with the others. Guy reminded him that Marian was waiting for him, and I think that was enough to give him peace. He delivered his final blow to the Sheriff and everything the Sheriff stood for, and was ready to accept his death.
38) The others, of course, were not ready to accept his death. Those final goodbyes were interesting - the full hug with John, the last thanks to Tuck, the final encouragement to Archer, and those last words to Kate - and may I say, thank you thank you thank you to the writers for not playing up a romantic goodbye between Robin and Kate! This was just the right ending for that storyline, which I never accepted anyway - she might have loved him, but he was never meant for her.
39) As always, it was Much's reaction that finally broke my heart (again, yes). He didn't want to accept that Robin would die, but he had to in the end. And when Robin told him that he was his best friend, and he removed his cap (yay! Much's hair!!!), and they had that beautiful embrace... well, I started crying quite a lot. Thank you, Robin Hood, for giving me such fantastic emotional release. More than anyone, it's always Much who can elicit this emotional response from me. That's a testament to how well acted he is, even when he isn't given the scripts he deserves. And how lovely that one of Robin's final actions was to reassert his love for Much (I wish he had actually said it, but what was said was enough, I think).
40) Robin's death started off quite beautifully, as he found his resting place in the forest - and then, to my surprise and excitement and delight, we got one final scene with Marian. She looked stunning, she claimed Robin for herself, and he was finally able to give himself to her completely. And now, just as she wished in 2x13, they have forever together in heaven. I didn'[t think I would start crying again at this - but it was so beautiful and haunting when he picked her up and they laughed together again, and the laugh echoed in the forest that I was moved to tears for the last time. This was the perfect ending I'd hoped for. My only complaint was that Robin didn't look so photogenic slumped forward right at the end as he did slumped backward before Marian turned up! But it was lovingly done, and was followed up by the obligatory setting up scene, where everyone pledged their devotion to Robin's cause - interesting that Much was reluctant, but in the end they all signed up provisionally for season 4.
Postscript: So, I may not have a decent copy to watch right now, but I can report that my Mum and I raided the piggy banks (we have several, where 5ps and 2ps and 1ps have been building up over a few years), and I have enough to buy the box set, which is released tomorrow :) So there'll even be extras and everything :D
Postscript 2: It actually took 2 hours writing this. I' dbetter get on with some work now!
Anyway, in spite of this conspiracy to stop me watching it, I have a lot to say. Firstly, to sum up, I think I thought it was pretty brilliant :)
1) Let's start with poor Allan. Nice to see hm alive again in the 'previously on Robin Hood' bit. But it was all a bit too much for me seeing him lying there, and being given a nice traditional Darth Vader send off. This was the first point where I cried. It was lovely that they took time to do this, even though it was rather impractical what with the hostile army getting ready to attack. And lovely, again, to watch everyone's faces as they grived Allan - especially Much, and also Guy, who seemed to be standing back to acknowledge that Allan was never really his, but also paying his respects. I love you, Allan, you'll never be dead in my heart!
2) But I have to object that they removed Joe Armstrong's name from the title sequence! I mean, it's not like he wasn't in it, even if he was just playing a dead body! Poor Allan :'(
3) Now there's so much to say about the episode, but I think I'll go by character and see if I can manage to cover all my points like that. First up, it has to be Much. Incidentally, while I was watching by dodgy taped copy, there was a moment where the screen went clear, and it was Much shouting something from the battlements (erm... I forget the words, but something along the lines of it being OK now), which was oddly appropriate.
4) One of the most awesome things about this episode was that we finally got to see Much the warrior and commander. The Much with all that battle experience from the Holy Land, the side of him that gets forgotten as the writers concentrate on his unfortunate side. This time we saw Robin trusting Much as his second in command - not Tuck (well, very slightly later, but only because Much wasn't there) or John, but Much. We saw Much organising the defence, leading a small troop of archers, showing everyone else how it's done, shouting commands - now that's a real hero. He's sensitive and lovely, but he's a fighter too, and it was lovely to be reminded of it.
5) When Robin and co went out to sabotage the trebuchets (I'm loving this sentence - and indeed, how wonderful to hear the word 'trebuchet' being used in a family show!), Robin left Much behind (despite that he'd already got his cmouflage make-up on - awww!) because he needed a cool head back in the castle. Much, cool headed? Well yes, actually, this is the reliable fighting Much of the Holy Land, and how wonderful it is to see Robin trusting him the most out of everyone to be the cool headed one who would save the day. The second time a tear came to my eye was when they got back from the sabotage raid, having been saved by Archer (whom Much clearly sent out to help them), when Robin gave Much a sort of manly huggy clap on the shoulders and declared that that was why he had left him behind. How amazing to see Much appreciated.
6) Yet again, Much saved the day when he daringly and competently went down to save Kate from the clutches of the Sheriff handy that winch being there!), on Robin's orders. Can he do it? You just watch him! It was perfect. Much the hero. Kate ran straight to Robin of course... but we'll deal with Kate later.
7) I really think the Treat Much Right Campaign has had a major boost from the writers in this episode. They gave us Much the independent thinking, well loved and trusted character, who can be a hero to his friends. I'm not sure we've really fully seen this side to him before - just bits and pieces in various episodes, but nothing like this. I haven't been keeping track of who wrote each episode, but whoever wrote this one I'd like to thank them for treating Much right for once!
8) The Sheriff (and I mean Vaizey, the one true Sheriff!) next. It was nice to have him back in one way... but in another he was quite different, in the sense that we didn't get to see the wonderfully cheerful and almost playful nastiness in his character that has run through the three series (mostly 1 and 2 though). He was woefully underused, I think, and that's a shame in what was his last episode too. Everything seemed a bit more serious to him, even though he was in a clear position of power. He didn't have many lines. He had no quips at all! There was the odd flash of the old Sheriff we know and love, but for the most part I think he was being used to drive the plot along and nothing more. But then this was all about the good guys, of course.
9) On a side note, I just can't believe what the Sheriff said about Allan squealing as he died. But then, we don't know about Allan's final moments, do we? The last time we saw him alive, he was clearly fatally wounded, and looked up and recognised the Sheriff... but who knows what happened between that moment and the moment of his death? Perhaps the Sheriff even tortured him. I shudder to think of it. But did you notice that when his body was delivered to the castle at the end of 3x12, there appeared to be blood on his chest? We never saw an arrow hit him in the chest, and the ones that hit him in the back didn't seem to have gone through, so where did that come from? I'm all worried for his dying moments now :(
10) A quick note on Blamire (sp??) too. He's horrible, but... well, considering that his character wasn't explored, I don't see why someone couldn't have killed him in the tunnel fight - it would have been nice for the good guys to score one kill!
11) While we're on the dark side, I have to say I wish we'd seen more of Isabella's complexities this week. She really did seem to have fallen completely into bitterness and hatred, with no sign that she could come out of it in the way that Guy did. Maybe she just needed more time, and another character who could have genuine feelings for her - that seemed to be what saved Guy in the end.
12) Isabella's chatting up the guard was typical of her usual resorting to her feminine wiles to get her own way, but I can't think why they left her a guard at all. She was locked in a cell - leaving a guard with her was like leaving the keys lying round in reach of the bars! If they'd just left her to rot down there... well, someone I loved wouldn't have died :(
13) This brings us to Guy. I was touched when he gave Isabella the poison to drink, to release herself. He's clumsy in his affections, but you can see that he meant well. After going on and on about how he wanted her dead, it turned out he couldn't do it but still had to acknowledge that she had to die - especially after what she did to Allan. The bit where Guy sort of embraced her, and stroked her hair (which was pretty wild this episode - though I thought she looked stunning), and talked about their mother, was just slightly creepy... but also quite heartwarming. I love seeing that hold that Guy has over her, of which you just get the occasional glimpse.
14) I was so glad that the gang didn't turn on Guy at all. There still wasn't much sign of the others fully accepting and embracing him, but he stuck with Robin, and Robin didn't abandon him. It was lovely that Robin didn't even think about giving Guy up just to buy them some leeway with the Sheriff, and that he put his trust in him fully. Guy really really needed that.
15) The tears are already welling up in my eyes again, but before we get to that, I have to mention a few more things about Guy :) He looked stunning, of course, and I'm glad he never ended up trading in his black leather for forestwear. I'm working on a fic on this very topic, actually :)
16) Guy was also competent in his military movements, like Much, though he didn't really have as much to do. He got to shout the odd line, and look as though he was pitching in, but I think his involvement crumbled a bit as everyone else took over. Poor Guy. I wonder whether he actually has any proper military experience. All we know of is his time working for the Sheriff, with occasional assassination trips, but we don't really hear about whether he's ever commanded troops. You'd think, as a knight, he would have!
17) When Robin gave his stirring 'Something Worth Fighting For' speech, everyone was cheering heartily... and Guy sort of raised his sword and looked like he believed in it, but without the overt cheering. It looked to me like he was chewing something? Anyway, it was nice that finally he stopped pretending he was only in this fight to defeat Isabella or the Sheriff - and indeed, his last act was to tell Robin about the part of the tunnel where they could hide all the people to escape. He was a hero in the end.
18) In many ways, I was devastated to lose Guy. If I had to choose one single favourite character that I love above all the others, it would be him - in spite of my obvious and frequently asserted love for both Much and Allan. Guy was the perfect man, as far as I'm concerned, and with the best dress sense in Nottingham as a bonus. I wasn't ready to lose him. I think, above all it's losing Guy that means that this is the true end of Robin Hood for me, whether or not they do another series. I'd keep watching, but it wouldn't be the same, even if Much stays around. Guy, I love you, and like Allan you'll never be dead in my heart.
19) But I have to say - I'm very glad that Guy had a good death. His redemption was completed as he stuck with Robin right to the end, and died trying to save him. He even seemed more upset that Robin had been fatally wounded than he was about his own impending death.
20) The first time I heard Guy's last words, I struggled to hear the very last bit, and then the second time I was distressed about the picture scrolling through the screen as I watched (damn tape!), so I really really need to watch again. But it was lovely how he gave Robin the information he needed to save everyone, and gave Archer a very sweet 'Brother', and spoke of Marian, the love of his life, and how she would always be Robin's. But he died proud and free, thanks to Robin. This broke my heart. In my mind, I have many more details (some invented) of Guy's death running through my head, but it's making me cry, so I'll stop talking about that now!
21) A brief mention of Archer, who had little to do other than be knowledgeable about weapons and ride in with flaming arrows to the rescue. I'm not sure I like him, and I don't think I'll ever love him, but maybe he has the potential to be OK. But if he dares to pretend to be the gang's leader in the event of a new series, I won't be happy. Surely they must realise that this is Much's rightful job! I hope they rename it 'The Sherwood Avenger'...
22) And I'm a bit miffed that when Guy gave Archer his final smile and whispered 'Brother' to him, Archer just gave a little half smile and left him! I know he hadn't known him long, but didn't he feel anything?
23) Isabella seemed a little affected when she later walked past her brother's body - well, who wouldn't be affected, with him lying there looking utterly beautiful? He looked at peace too, which is nice. I think Marian would be proud of him, but we'll come back to her shortly.
24) Speaking of Isabella, why on earth did Guy assume that she was trying to blast her way through the tunnel? For one thing, surely the doors in the tunnel can be opened from the inside? For another thing, he knew the Sheriff knew about the tunnel, so why wouldn't he think that the Sheriff might be trying to get in that way? And for yet another thing, how on earth did he think that Isabella had any Byzantine Fire?
25) Oh yes, Byzantine Fire - it's like an upgrade to Greek Fire.
26) Isabella's part in the Sheriff's little plot to get Guy on his own to kill him in person (surely that wasn't the only reason though??) seemed to be unknowing. The Sheriff manipulated her from afar, sending in Blamire to set up everything for him, and getting Blamire to feed Isabella a little inkling that she might survive if she managed to get Guy down to the tunnel. So Guy probably ended up assuming, wrongly, that this was Isabella's plan... but no matter, it's not like she wasn't guilty as hell of something, and she probably deserved his contempt/pity.
27) But I'm very sad that Isabella had to die in the end! She would have been fantastic in the next series, if there is one, if she'd survived :(
28) I heartily approve of Robin's last act, blowing up Nottingham Castle with a single flaming arrow and an awful lot of Byzantine Fire. If the destruction of the heart of Nottingham doesn't say 'This series is over now', then I don't know what does!
29) This gives me an excuse to mention Tuck, and then the odd other gang member. Tuck got to be all Djaq in this episode - a reminder that a major part of his function is to be a replacement for her and Will. But I think it felt right, and he did the job. Most of the time, I've done nothing but complain about Tuck - how he's annoying, and winds people up, and assumes too much power for himself, and so on. But he's OK.
30) Then there's Kate. Kate, who got captured *again*. I'm not being funny, but wasn't that quite a short time in which to have gone to Loughborough and back on foot??? I don't suppose anyone knows the distance...? :)
31) I meant to say this last week, but couldn't we just have one season finale that didn't hinge on whether the King returns or not?? :)
32) There was an especially squeeful historical reference about the King too. We found out that he had been captured by Leopold! This is very thrilling, because it's a real historical event and everything! However, it rather messes up the timeline of the series (see my workings out here). You see, Richard was actually captured just before Christmas 1192 (and 1192 is when we know that season 1 takes place!) and was released in February 1194 (see here for information). By my reckoning, we're already in 1195, so all these events, historically, had already happened. However, I'm perfectly happy with moving Richard's capture to 1196 to fit in with the series :)
33) I digress, anyway. I still just don't buy Kate as a character. And was it only me who found is particularly annoying when she rushed in to Robin shouting about the courtyard being about to fall to the enemy? I'm not sure why that line in particular grated, but it just did! But at least she got exactly the comeuppance I was hoping for - we'll talk about that in a minute!
34) Brief mention of John, while I'm talking about the gang. Yet again, he was a bit underused, but at least he reinforced his role as the person who cares about other people. His sadness over Allan, his worry for Kate, etc. He's a lovely character, I just wish we saw more of him. Well, at least we got to hear his 'good day to die' slogan, even if he didn't get to say it.
35) Before I forget, just to say that the outlaws defending the castle, with the Sheriff storming it, was a lovely way of inverting everything and coming up with a fantastic plot. Nice role reversal.
36) And generally I just loved the idea of the besieged city, and the death and destruction raining down on them, the struggle of a few good men against the onslaught of an army... it's epic and romantic and I love it. This is how I like my Robin Hood. It reminds me a little of 2x10 (Walkabout), and what might have happened then.
37) Finally, I turn to Robin - fittingly, since it was his series. well, for me it was never his series... but his death had such poignancy that I finally think I came to care about him as a character. He won't live on in my heart the way others will, but this was the perfect ending for him. When Robin first realised he was going to die, it was interesting how he handled it - strongly, privately. He has always been private, right up to when he thought he was going to die in 2x12 and didn't want to share his feelings with the others. Guy reminded him that Marian was waiting for him, and I think that was enough to give him peace. He delivered his final blow to the Sheriff and everything the Sheriff stood for, and was ready to accept his death.
38) The others, of course, were not ready to accept his death. Those final goodbyes were interesting - the full hug with John, the last thanks to Tuck, the final encouragement to Archer, and those last words to Kate - and may I say, thank you thank you thank you to the writers for not playing up a romantic goodbye between Robin and Kate! This was just the right ending for that storyline, which I never accepted anyway - she might have loved him, but he was never meant for her.
39) As always, it was Much's reaction that finally broke my heart (again, yes). He didn't want to accept that Robin would die, but he had to in the end. And when Robin told him that he was his best friend, and he removed his cap (yay! Much's hair!!!), and they had that beautiful embrace... well, I started crying quite a lot. Thank you, Robin Hood, for giving me such fantastic emotional release. More than anyone, it's always Much who can elicit this emotional response from me. That's a testament to how well acted he is, even when he isn't given the scripts he deserves. And how lovely that one of Robin's final actions was to reassert his love for Much (I wish he had actually said it, but what was said was enough, I think).
40) Robin's death started off quite beautifully, as he found his resting place in the forest - and then, to my surprise and excitement and delight, we got one final scene with Marian. She looked stunning, she claimed Robin for herself, and he was finally able to give himself to her completely. And now, just as she wished in 2x13, they have forever together in heaven. I didn'[t think I would start crying again at this - but it was so beautiful and haunting when he picked her up and they laughed together again, and the laugh echoed in the forest that I was moved to tears for the last time. This was the perfect ending I'd hoped for. My only complaint was that Robin didn't look so photogenic slumped forward right at the end as he did slumped backward before Marian turned up! But it was lovingly done, and was followed up by the obligatory setting up scene, where everyone pledged their devotion to Robin's cause - interesting that Much was reluctant, but in the end they all signed up provisionally for season 4.
Postscript: So, I may not have a decent copy to watch right now, but I can report that my Mum and I raided the piggy banks (we have several, where 5ps and 2ps and 1ps have been building up over a few years), and I have enough to buy the box set, which is released tomorrow :) So there'll even be extras and everything :D
Postscript 2: It actually took 2 hours writing this. I' dbetter get on with some work now!