Robin of Sherwood (1984 TV Series)

1984’s Robin of Sherwood delivered a moody and gritty version of the character as well as an important early fantasy entry for television.

What Is It?

This series follows the adventures of Robin “in the Hood” (aka Robin of Loxley), who is identified by the mystical Herne the Hunter as the one who will become the champion of the oppressed people in the land. He gathers together a group of outlaws—his “Merry Men”—and becomes a constant thorn in the side of the Sheriff of Nottingham, who rules over his territory with an iron grip.

Aired: Showtime, 1984-86, 3 Seasons Totaling 26 Episodes

Starring: Michael Praed, Jason Connery, Judi Trott, Nickolas Grace, Robert Addie, Mark Ryan

Created By: Richard Carpenter (Creator/Writer), Clannad (Music)

Legacy:

This series brought a gritty reality to the legend of Robin Hood while also incorporating elements of fantasy. Plus, its stories worked in themes of loyalty, the bonds of friendship, and the pursuit of justice, giving it a sense of depth and raising it above the typical action/adventure show of the time, while also making it stand out as a must-watch fantasy entry for television.

A Closer Look:

Taking its cue from the 1976 Sean Connery film Robin and Marian, this series veered away from the stereotype of Robin Hood and his Merry Men as happy, go-lucky outlaws and delivered more of a brooding lead character along with some grittiness to the world he inhabited. When it debuted on Showtime in 1984, there were not too many genre entries on television and little in the way of fantasy shows (though, interestingly, the short-lived Wizards and Warriors aired on CBS just one year prior, more on that one at CancelledSciFi.com). Robin of Sherwood does not count as a high fantasy entry because no elves, dwarves, or dragons showed up in the series. But it did deliver episodes with elements of magic and mysticism along with others that were straightforward adventure tales. In addition, the show had strong themes driving it that emphasized the importance of justice, loyalty, friendship, and dedication, making it more than just a historical fantasy romp.

Very important to this show was its cast, which helped to carry it and keep the audience involved. Michael Praed gives us a strong lead as Robin, but the actors who fleshed out his band of Merry Men proved up to the task of sharing the screen with him. The focus was not only on Robin, as the show gave us a true ensemble cast, which included Judi Trott providing a strong female lead as Marian. The main villains—the Sheriff of Nottingham and Sir Guy of Gisburne—were somewhat two-dimensional, but Nickolas Grace clearly had fun chewing the scenery as the Sheriff. In fact, the show had such a strong cast that it seamlessly handled the departure of one of the main characters after the second season.

Series creator Richard Carpenter wrote the majority of the episodes, which helped the show maintain a sense of thematic unity across its three seasons, even after the major cast change. And the beautiful score by Celtic band Clannad also enhanced the mystical atmosphere of the show while bringing warmth to it as well. In Britain, the series aired on ITV, and in the States it originally ran on the premium Showtime channel as one of the first original dramatic series on cable television. The show was well received when it debuted, but it has since largely fallen off the radar. It is definitely one worth seeking out, though, especially for those looking for a well-done fantasy television series.

Cancelled Too Soon?

Yes. A fourth season of the show was planned but never produced. Its production company, Goldcrest, had experienced a financial downturn due to several box office flops it had produced. Robin of Sherwood was expensive to produce for a television series at that time, so the fourth season never happened, leaving several storylines unresolved.

Should It Be Rebooted?

Possibly. A sequel series was planned in the ’90s that would have taken place ten years after the events of the original show, but it was never produced. Series creator Richard Carpenter passed away in 2001, but others could take up the torch and carry on the show with another generation assuming the mantle from the original characters. (SPOILER AHEAD) The show even set the stage for replacing Robin Hood from time to time with whomever Herne the Hunter deems worthy, giving it something of a Doctor Who-style lead gimmick that allows for a revolving cast of actors in the title role.

Interesting Facts:

Jason Connery is the son of Sean Connery, who played Robin Hood in the 1976 movie Robin and Marian, which, as mentioned above, helped set the tone for the series. Paul McGann (who would go on to play the Eighth Doctor in the 1996 attempt to revive Doctor Who) auditioned for the role of Robin Hood.

Mark Ryan’s Nasir was not originally planned as an ongoing member of the Merry Men, but he ended up becoming part of the permanent cast. The character helped establish the idea of a Saracen as part of Robin’s troop, an element that appeared in later television and big screen versions of the legend.

Where Can You Watch It?

The entire series has been released on DVD and Blu-ray, but sadly both are out of print and fetching high prices from third-party sellers. It is currently available for streaming on BritBox and Amazon’s Prime Video, and you can also watch it for free (with ads) on services like Tubi, The Roku Channel, and Shout!TV.

Read More About the Show:

Wikipedia
IMDb.com