James Bond, King Arthur, Doctor Who, Robin Hood... what do these icons have in common besides being British institutions? They have had many incarnations played by a number of actors. In 2006, the BBC launched a new Robin Hood series starring Jonas Armstrong as the man who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor. In order for me to review season three, I must summarize seasons one and two, which will contain spoilers, but you should really watch those seasons anyway before delving into the third season.
The series starts with Robin (Jonas Armstrong) returning to England after fighting for five years in the Third Crusade as part of the King's Guard. He is appalled at how the sheriff (Keith Allen) is running Nottingham and protests. The sheriff then declares Robin an outlaw. Robin has to do something, so he decides to steal from the rich and give to the poor. Robin is joined by his best friend Much (Sam Troughton), Will Scarlett (Harry Lloyd), Allan A Dale (Joe Armstrong), the ex-leader of another gang , Little John (Gordon Kennedy), and Djaq (Anjali Jay), a Saracen girl who is using the name of her dead brother as an alias.
Robin receives help from inside the sheriff’s camp from Lady Marian (Lucy Griffiths) who Robin has feelings for and is reciprocated by her. But since the sheriff's second-in-command Sir Guy of Gisborne (Richard Armitage) is in love with her and puts Marian in situations where she must be with him in order to protect the people she loves; Robin and Marian can’t be together. Marian also has created the Night Watchman to fight Gisborne and the sheriff who gives the poor food and supplies.
The first season establishes Robin as an expert bowman and smart-alec as he plays a cat and mouse game with Gisborne and the Sheriff as well as stealing moments with Marian. It did get a bit serious in the 12th episode when Gisborne does stab Marian in her Watchman outfit and she dies, or so it seems — apparently her body just shut down to deal with the trauma and the season ends on a happy note.
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