Robin Hood: What a Pity
BBC’s new television series, Robin Hood, was an unfortunate disappointment. Premiering tonight on BBC1, it’s been advertised quite extensively, from bus-side billboards to ads on the TV. I had been very impressed with HBO’s Rome, and was somehow hoping for a similar experience, with great attention to detail in everything ranging from costumes to historical accuracy. I mean, what boy hasn’t been a fan of the story?
Sadly, Robin Hood doesn’t seem to be at that level. Sure, we’re talking about a depiction of a fictional character from a time with limited documentation of the conditions, but I was hoping for a more nitty-gritty tale of drama and depiction of unbearable conditions which drive people into desperate outlaw activity to alleviate the suffering of others. Instead, the show portrays a swashbuckling, good-willed Robin, fresh from the Crusades where his attitude toward violence and suffering has changed. The tone in the series is not unlike Xena, Warrior Princess or its contemporary, The New Adventures of Robin Hood, which are both fine Sunday afternoon fare but certainly not high points of television.
Technically, the show disappoints as well. The camerawork is all right, but the editing seems to be the work of a doubletake-crazed film student still impressed with The Matrix. Strictly speaking, it’s also partly due to the direction, which seems to have used all Legolas scenes from the Lord of the Rings movies as a guide. Instead of an angelic sharpshooting elf, the hero is a somber little man with bow skills to match anything in fantasy movies. Instead of massive, beautiful scenery, untouched by man except in settlements the shots feel cropped, as if the film crew had limited space to shoot. At least the music was sufficiently pompous.
The BBC seemed to have touted the show as something for the whole family to get together for and excited about in terms of the history and moral questions presented. Instead, it’s little more than an action series for teenagers, complete with awkward flirting between Robin and several female characters. I’ll watch the second episode, but unless it gets better, I’m afraid the channel will see viewer numbers drop, though apparently other reviews have been positive.