WRITER: Paul Cornell DIRECTOR: Graeme Harper
CAST: Jonas Armstrong (Robin), Lucy Grifiths (Marian), Keith Allen (Sheriff), Richard Armitage (Guy Of Gisbourne), Sam Troughton (Much), Gordon Kennedy (Little John), Harry Lloyd (Will Scarlett), Joe Armstrong (Allan-a-Dale), Anjali Jay (Djak), Michael Elwyn (Sir Edward), Simon Green (Merton) & Kelly Adams (Eve)
A scientist who has created an explosive powder is tortured by the Sheriff into revealing how to make it. Meanwhile, Much is made a Lord as part of a propoganda plot...It's a Doctor Who reunion in Sherwood Forest, with writer Paul Cornell (Father's Day) and director Graeme Harper (Rise Of The Cybermen) both involved in Robin Hood's ninth adventure, as the series gallops into the home stretch...
Things seem to be solidifying more in this episode. The series began on a shaky footing that showed signs of improvement around episode 4, but most plots still suffers from a repetitive nature. In A Thing Or Two About Loyalty, if you ignore yet another prisoner in the dungeon, the deja vu is quite minimal -- although it's unfortunate last week's acid plot bares similarities to this week's quest for "Greek Fire"...
What works best in episode 9 is the characterisations, most notably Sam Troughton's Much, who gets away from dopey sidekick status to become quite an endearing hero, after the Sheriff grants hima Lordship. Of course, it's all in the hope of making the populace believe such reward is possible if they follow the law. It's an idea that seems implausible and weak at first, but the plot thickens once Much's new servant girl, Eve (Adams; excellent), is revealed as snooping for the Sheriff.
Quite why Much seriously thinks the public wouldn't be suspicious of the Sheriff rewarding a known outlaw is anyone's guess, though! Maybe he was just too enamoured with those fancy robes to think straight? Or maybe he really is just a dopey sidekick after all...
Richard Armitage is fast overtaking Lucy Griffiths as the best reason to watch. As Sir Guy, his rortured character is the most three-dimensional creation. Here it's revealed the principled scientist Lambert was once Guy's friend -- hardly the sort of friendship you'd expect. So was Sir Guy once a more level-headed nobleman before the Sheriff poured poison in his ear? Darth Vader to the Sheriff's Emperor? It certainly seems that he's using Marian as some kind of redemption through marriage, at any rate.
Paul Cornell's script is good, moving smoothly between the two plots (the Greek Fire ledger and Much's nobility) with ease. It also manages to overlap both stories without seeming too forced. The explosive finale (literally) is a little over-directed by Graeme Harper, appearing disjointed in places, but the effects work is decent.
However, it's becoming apparent to me that the modern flourishes to Robin Hood don't do the show any favours. Every time a fired arrow makes a cartoony whoosing noise, an on-screen legend shoots onto the screen, or a "bullseye screen transition" occurs, it just distances me from the period setting. But I don't hold out much hope in them disappearing!
Overall, the strong characterisations help grease the wheels on an occassionally wayward plot. It's good to see some darkness return (a death scene is quite grizzly, even if it's not shown on-screen) and the performances from Armitage, Troughton and Allen provide a lot of enjoyment. I particularly hope Much's love interest Eve (the beautiful Kelly Adams) returns soon.
