Robin Hood Week Tag

Thanks to Olivia at Meanwhile, In Rivendell..., I've gotten back from a two-week trip (and consequent internet break) just in time to catch the second half of Robin Hood Week. Time to wax nostalgic about good-looking men beating each other up. Here goes the tag:

What was your first exposure to Robin Hood?

The animated Disney movie, one of those movies that I don't remember watching for the first time because it was so long ago and I watched it so many times. On VHS, of course.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how big a fan are you?

5? I'm into it more than the average person, and I love the swashbuckling idea of a bunch of guys partying and sneaking around and stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. But I haven't seen every version, and I read the book so long ago that I don't remember it very well. So I'm not a die-hard fan, just like I'm not a die-hard fan of Tolkien because I could never make it through The Silmarillion. *hides*

How many versions and spin-offs of the legend have you experienced?

Five. The Disney version, Prince of Thieves, and the BBC version *blissful nostalgic sigh*. Ah yes, and the original book. I read it when I was eight or so and I loved the ending. It was depressing but epic and very, very fitting.

And Leverage, if that counts...? I've only watched the first few episodes but it's growing on me.

What is your favorite version of Robin Hood (can be book, movie, TV series, anything)?

The BBC show, if you haven't guessed. It's cheesy and my parents claim that the acting is "worse than Merlin," which to them means a lot. But it's nostalgic for me because I watched it a couple years ago, and the visuals are gorgeous, and the cheesiness is the over-the-top kind  that I love in Pirates of the Caribbean and Merlin.

Prince of Thieves gets second place, if only for Alan Rickman:

Are you one of the lads? (Meaning, have you watched/are you a fan of the BBC show?)

Are Twinkies delicious?

Who is your favorite Merry Man?

Allan in the BBC version. His character arc is painful but rich, and he is rather good-looking. Not that that matters, of course. Hehe.

And the fact that he fits my conflicted-Flynn Rider-type crush complex doesn't hurt.

"I'm not being funny, but..."

Do you have a favorite portrayal of Lady Marian?

Lucy Griffith in, of course, the BBC version. She's not my favorite actress but she's pretty and has beautiful costumes, and Robin cares about her which makes me care. And she's more of a get-up-and-go character than the other Lady Marians I have seen portrayed.

Do you have any interest in or aptitude at archery?

Interest, yes--if I can play with Hawkeye's exploding arrows. *evil grin* As for aptitude, I'd rather not talk about that, thank you very much.

Fact or fiction -- which do you think? 

Huh, this question is the first time I've ever thought about Robin Hood being real--it was always just a legend to me. I think it's better that way because I'm sure the real-life version would have been a lot more grimy and frightening and sweaty and slow-moving and morally conflicting than the story version.

Do you think Robin Hood has been "done to death," or are there still new twists that can be found?

A sci-fi Robin Hood would be cool, like what Marissa Meyer did with fairy tales in the Lunar Chronicles.

Something this awesome can never be done to death.

BBC Robin Hood Tag

A click will teleport you to Ruth's wonderful blog.  :)

Hi, everyone! I just discovered Ruth's blog, "Amongst Spring Blossoms," and she has a BBC Robin Hood tag going, which is super exciting because there are very few fans of that show. In fact, I've only actually met one person who is super into it, and that was at youth group and he doesn't go very often. So it's refreshing (and encouraging) to meet other Robin Hood lovers!

Honestly it's a cheesy show, but that's part of the lovableness of it. Everyone I've tried to watch it with has despised it, so let's just say it's not for everyone. xD

All right, I haven't watched the show in about a year, so please forgive me if I'm not as specific as I was in the Tolkien tag:

*****SPOILERS RUN RAMPANT*****

1. Who is your favourite character?

Guy of Gisborne. I know he's supposed to be the villain, but I tend to go for the lonely and conflicted types, and Richard Armitage portrays Guy's indecision excellently. 

Gotta love that Tangled reference  :D

2. Who did you dislike the most?

Kate. The one true love for Robin is Marian, end of story.

3. Which couple did you like the most?

It's a close tie between Robin and Marian and Guy and Marian. Robin obviously is more noble than Guy, but it seemed that Guy actually paid more attention to Marian and was a good fit for her. Her lighter personality fit well with his dark and brooding persona and dry wit. But obviously it couldn't work out.

Guy and Marian's relationship in one gif

4. Who would you rather have as a couple together with Kate?

No idea. Sorry, I don't remember Kate's character that well, I just remember that she was rather irritating so I wouldn't wish that suffering upon any of the main characters. 

Hey, and I just discovered that Wikipedia agrees with me on this issue! 

Kate was generally disliked by fans of the series, who considered her a poor substitute for Marian and Djaq. Reasons cited include her unlikeable personality, her unconvincing relationship with Robin, her particularly high tendency to get captured or injured, and her inability to live up to the praise and compliments regularly given to her by the other outlaws. 

You tell 'em, Wikipedia! 

5. Which death was the saddest?

Definitely Robin's. He had time to prepare for it, which made it worse; one image that I vividly recall from the show is him running his hands through the grass for the last time. 

6. Who deserved more than he/she had in the series?

Guy of Gisbourne. With enough counseling and a person who genuinely cared about him but also resisted his aggressive tendencies, he could've been a hero.

7. Which of the characters who you didn't see much in the series (only three or less episodes) would you want to see more?

Prince John. I think I remember him being entertainingly pouty...


8. What do you think of Allan's betrayal and Robin's reaction on it?

My heart broke. I kept waiting for Allan to realize that he didn't have to betray Robin and that they could be reconciled, but that never happened. 

As for Robin, I think I remember what he did...so if I remember right, Robin's reaction to Allan was justified but he should've been more merciful. That seems to be one of Robin's main character flaws in this series: he thinks of himself as the main administrator of justice and forgets about forgiveness. 

9. Who do you think is funniest?

Much, in his dreadfully cheesy way.

He has the best expressions!

10. Which character bored you most?

Huh, I can't think of one. Probably one of the side characters that just shows up in one episode. They're usually pretty flat.

11. Who changed to someone less nice in season three, do you think?

Robin. He started becoming more self-righteous and negative, which I guess I should've seen coming, but it still hurt.  :(

*****END SPOILERS*****

Thanks, Ruth! It was fun to reminisce. And to all you fellow BBC Robin Hood fans scattered throughout the world:

Is there a particularly cheesy tv show that you enjoy? Have you seen any other adaptations of Robin Hood? And on the slim chance that you've seen the BBC show, who's your favorite character?