30 Dec 06. BBC 1, 7.15 pm
WRITER: Dominic Minghella DIRECTOR: Matthew Evans
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), Lukacs Bicskey (King Richard), Michael Maloney (Pitts), Ben O'Brien (Gisborne's Man), Timothy Knightley (Canon Bond), Simon Green (Merton), Barna Illyes (King's Guardsman), Alexis Latham (Scribe), Michael Elwyn (Sir Edward) & John Carlise (Thornton)
Robin tries to prevent Marian marrying Sir Guy as King Richard arrives at Nottingham Castle. But is everything as it seems?The final episode of Robin Hood's extremely haphazard first season ends on a generally bright note, but one that's not without its problems. It's not a spoiler to reveal that Marian's untimely "death" last week is soon proven inaccurate and the thrust of the episode is divided between Robin's desire to stop her marrying Sir Guy and King Richard's imminent arrival at Nottingham Castle.
A Clue: No (these titles get worse) is a step up from most efforts, again from creator Dominic Minghella, who has the luxury of writing episodes ingrained with importance regarding the season's ongoing plot threads. The most emotionally engaging aspect to the show has been Marian's impending wedding to villainous Sir Guy, despite being written as a medievel soap opera. This strand is fittingly resolved, although the wedding is a damp squib because the story demands most of the characters be elsewhere. Still, there's just the right amount of romance when true love wins through and Lucy Griffiths has never looked lovelier.
The meatier part of the story concerns King Richard's return, although the sovereign's return isn't quite as straight-forward as you'd expect. Actually, you'll probably guess the twist before it happens, but it's good fun and a suitable storyline for a finale.
While the sense of closure to the season is adequate, nothing particularly revolutionary happens. In fact, the finale just resets everything back to how it was by the end of episode 1, which is disappointing. The only thing that will be interesting to see next year will be how Marian is incorporated into events as her priviledged position seems untenable now.
Minghella looks to have a better handle on the characters, with Robin and Much's relationship better explored and Sir Edward (Michael Elwyn) finally getting something to do beyond provide a sounding board for daughter Marian.
Technically, this episode is to the series' usual standards, although a forest fight sequence is better directed by Matthew Evans thanks to good use of wide shots. The scenery and set-design remains excellent, if too pristine and idyllic for my personal taste.
Overall, Robin Hood has been a curious frustration. There have been a few episodes that really worked well, but most are either pedestrian excuses for routine rescues or plain boring. Jonas Armstrong is likeable but lacks gravitas in the title role, Lucy Griffiths struggles to make smug Marian interesting (but when she succeeds it's a joy), Keith Allen has his moments but isn't the electrifying presence the Sheriff role demands, while the gang of outlaws are underwritten and too young (particularly giant bore Little John). Richard Armitage gets the balance totally right as slimy Sir Guy, an enjoyable and charismatic presence, while Sam Troughton is effective comic relief as Much.
The action sequences are over-produced, the supposedly downtrodden peasants rarely look starved or dirty, the storylines are repetitive (how many rescues and Nottingham Castle break-ins can they get away with?), while the attempts to parallel contemporary Middle Eastern politics is interesting but overdone and hackneyed.
However, for all its flaws and disappointments, there's glimpses of something greater struggling to break out. If the characterisation improves, the storylines grow more diverse, the actors attack the script with more relish, and the production designers give us a realistic mediavel world... there's hope yet.
But I won't be counting the days for Robin's return....
