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Robin of Sherwood
Jan. 1st, 2010 07:54 am I have a deep rooted love for tales of Robin Hood. I can still remember my bitter disappointment in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves when it came out. (Kevin Costner?? Seriously? Don't get me wrong; I like him fine in other things, but he was so far from my mental image of Robin, they might as well have cast, I don't know, Steve Martin.)
One of my favorite series to watch in my impressionable years was Robin of Sherwood, an 80's interpretation of the tale that incorporated a great deal of mysticism and featured music by an Irish group named Clannad. (I was collecting them on tape before Enya hit it big.) Over the years, my memory of the show has faded, but I've always remembered it fondly, and often wished I could watch it again.
Well, due to a series of interesting Christmas-shopping related events, I ended up with a copy of Robin of Sherwood: the Complete Collection on DVD. (It was on sale for quite a bit less than that before Christmas; I didn't realize that was a sale price, until finding the link just now and being a bit taken aback to find the price almost $100. I am now extremely grateful for the odd series of events that led to me owning this.)
In any case, I have begun my trip down memory lane, and I've realized something; this show played a huge role in shaping my expectations of Robin Hood. Sure, I've read a dozen different versions of the story. But in my head, Marian always has a long mane of fiery red hair, Little John is always a large man with a full beard and hair just as wild, Will Scarlet looks a great deal like Ray Winstone (who I didn't even remember was in this until I popped in the first DVD), Guy of Gisbourne has always had a helmet of blond hair and a weak disposition, and Robin...
Robin has always been Michael Praed, dark haired, lean, just a little pretty, with a British accent. I know, I know. He sports an actual mullet in this series. It was the 80's! If it means anything, the Robin in my head doesn't need the mullet (thank goodness).
I'm on episode three, so far. I'm remembering things as I go. Like the scene where Robin and Marian meet for the first time. As soon as he walked into her room, the rest of the scene came rushing back. Specifically, I remembered watching breathlessly as my ten or eleven year old self. It seemed so romantic! And I still love it. :D
For the record, Russell Crowe is also nothing like my mental image of Robin (clearly). But at least he'll have the accent right. I'm always excited about a new adaptation of the story, so we'll see when it comes out how much I like this version. In the meantime, I'm thoroughly enjoying watching the one that set the bar for all others, for better or worse.
Oh, yes. I'm up so early watching this, because I woke up at 5:30 this morning thinking my head was about to explode. The joy of migraines! So I'm watching Robin with a piece of carrot cake, a cup of coffee, and less than four hours of sleep behind me.
One of my favorite series to watch in my impressionable years was Robin of Sherwood, an 80's interpretation of the tale that incorporated a great deal of mysticism and featured music by an Irish group named Clannad. (I was collecting them on tape before Enya hit it big.) Over the years, my memory of the show has faded, but I've always remembered it fondly, and often wished I could watch it again.
Well, due to a series of interesting Christmas-shopping related events, I ended up with a copy of Robin of Sherwood: the Complete Collection on DVD. (It was on sale for quite a bit less than that before Christmas; I didn't realize that was a sale price, until finding the link just now and being a bit taken aback to find the price almost $100. I am now extremely grateful for the odd series of events that led to me owning this.)
In any case, I have begun my trip down memory lane, and I've realized something; this show played a huge role in shaping my expectations of Robin Hood. Sure, I've read a dozen different versions of the story. But in my head, Marian always has a long mane of fiery red hair, Little John is always a large man with a full beard and hair just as wild, Will Scarlet looks a great deal like Ray Winstone (who I didn't even remember was in this until I popped in the first DVD), Guy of Gisbourne has always had a helmet of blond hair and a weak disposition, and Robin...
Robin has always been Michael Praed, dark haired, lean, just a little pretty, with a British accent. I know, I know. He sports an actual mullet in this series. It was the 80's! If it means anything, the Robin in my head doesn't need the mullet (thank goodness).
I'm on episode three, so far. I'm remembering things as I go. Like the scene where Robin and Marian meet for the first time. As soon as he walked into her room, the rest of the scene came rushing back. Specifically, I remembered watching breathlessly as my ten or eleven year old self. It seemed so romantic! And I still love it. :D
For the record, Russell Crowe is also nothing like my mental image of Robin (clearly). But at least he'll have the accent right. I'm always excited about a new adaptation of the story, so we'll see when it comes out how much I like this version. In the meantime, I'm thoroughly enjoying watching the one that set the bar for all others, for better or worse.
Oh, yes. I'm up so early watching this, because I woke up at 5:30 this morning thinking my head was about to explode. The joy of migraines! So I'm watching Robin with a piece of carrot cake, a cup of coffee, and less than four hours of sleep behind me.
