Robin of Sherwood 1.6: The King's Fool
OK! Season 1 finale! I have memories of really liking this episode. We'll see how it holds up.
It occurs to me, as I begin watching this episode, that this show is very fond of making people wear leaves. It does help to conceal them in the forest. However, the second they step into the open, it looks extremely goofy.
King Richard, riding alone (he really shouldn't be alone, but there we are) is attacked by a bunch of outlaws - not Robin. Having rescued him, the Merry Men start criticising King Richard, the French, and the way the country is run, which is equal parts amusing and awkward.
(It should be noted that as yet King Richard has not explained that he is, in fact, King Richard. They think he's some rich Norman).
Tuck adding up the cost of the meal is an excellent touch. I love him. In fact, I think there's few iterations of Tuck I'm unhappy with.
Richard decides that single combat is the way to deal with this. This leads to Little John getting smacked into the dirt.
King Richard then punches Robin in the face, knocking him to the ground (nice ballad/early material touch) and announces himself. Oh, and he's here to hunt a wolfshead by the name of Robin Hood.
Oh crap, is he going to hang us?
Fortunately, that whole saved-his-life thing has put Richard in a generous mood, and he pardons the lot of them. Robin thinks this is brilliant. Will Scarlet has a lot of (very sensible) doubts.
Poor Gisbourne. He thinks he's done so well capturing the outlaws, and then of course they've been invited and Richard yells at him.
The first clue that not all is as good as it looks comes when Richard cuts Robin off mid-speech and dismisses him, but Robin isn't noticing... yet.
"I have pardoned them, Hubert... and that makes them mine." OK OK not ominous at all. And sure the wolf has never served the lion... but this time will totally be different, right? Right?
At this point I can't blame Robin or anyone else for not thinking, because they're all Very Drunk.
Yess Marion dump water over his head! Yell at him about to fight in Normandy! Be the only sensible person here!
Ranulf Earl of Chester you say? Is... that the guy from Piers Plowman? Is that a sneaky reference?
"Now we're not going to panic-" "I'm not panicking!". Ahh welcome back Abbot Hugo I'd missed you.
Uhhh Robin showing off for Richard gives me such an icky feeling... like buddy you're not a performing monkey you're not his trained dog you don't have to do this! But it's not out of character - Robin Hood is a show-off, he is a performer, especially when it comes to archery. He just - ahh. It's such an interesting little character moment to me for everything it's saying, and when juxtaposed against my other thoughts and feelings about Robin (in general, not just this specific version of him).
Anyway, Little John gets it.
OK guys I think we can stop kissing Richard’s hand now. Like we've seen that shot enough now. Thanks bye.
UM EXCUSE ME YOU DON'T MAKE LITTLE JOHN CRY? THIS IS MY FAVOURITE VERSION OF LITTLE JOHN YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO UPSET HIM
King Richard. My dude. What did you expect. You pardoned the guy who made 'not afraid to criticise the higher-ups' his whole thing.
Asdghkll 'Is he discreet?' *huge pause* '...yes.'
Ah, Gisbourne, you're making a classic villian error! If only you'd killed them at once before they woke up. But you had to make a performance out of it, and now you're on fire and Marion has shot you with a crossbow. (I think he survives this? Don't ask me how)
Oh hell I forgot Marion got shot too. Yikes. What a season finale. Argh, this scene, is giving me feels!
*princess bride voice* don't worry, she doesn't get eaten by the eels die from the arrow. Or possibly she does for a bit, but the magic of Herne the Hunter brings her back. Aww.
And that's the season! I am genuinely amazed that Martin is still alive.