[SPOILERS] The best finale's need to be dramatic and fast-paced, where the stakes are high and emotions are large, that finish ongoing storylines and lay the groundwork for more adventures. Robin Hood concluded its inconsistent but entertaining third year with unarguably its biggest episode (in terms of spectacle, incident and drama), to bring some of the series' long-running storylines and characters to a fitting, effective close. I don't mind admitting that this was, quite unexpectedly, a rousing and supremely enjoyable finish.Picking up exactly where we left off last week, the Sheriff (Keith Allen) has raised an army with the help of his gruff henchman Blamire (Fraser James), who have encircled Nottingham, trapping Robin's (Jonas Armstrong) gang and their ragtag army of local peasants inside. The Sheriff plans to bombard the town with "byzantine fire" flung from trebuchets (inextinguishable flaming projectiles), while Robin knows he has to hold off the Sheriff's army until the returning King Richard's men can come to his aide from Loughborough.
Story-wise, there's not much more going on in Simon J. Ashford's script, which instead delivers an extended siege scenario over the hour. The show isn't known for its realistic combat and battle sequences, but director Matthew Evans pulls out all the stops and managed to create some thrilling set-pieces that rank amongst the series' best. Suddenly, Robin Hood grew a backbone and we were thrust into the midst of a darker, less frivolous situation. Arrows spit through the air, fireballs are slung over castle ramparts, a group sneak across a smoky, amber field to sabotage trebuchets, swords clash in the heat of battle –- all tempered by Allen's wild-eyed scenery-chewing. Silly moments still bubbled up, but most weren't worth getting upset about, or passed by so quickly you barely had a chance to scoff.
In the dungeon, the imprisoned Isabella (Lara Pulver) escapes by fluttering her eye-lashes at a horny guard ("... open the door and I'll give you exactly what you want..."), and the various relationships of the characters cause their own conflicts and concerns. Guy (Richard Armitage) shows mercy by offering his sister a vial of poison to limit her suffering, she in turn escapes to join forces with the Sheriff, and Archer (Clive Standen) decides to stay and help his half-brothers defeat Vasey.
In the underground tunnels, the first of the episode's death scenes occur when a four-way fight ensues between Robin, Guy, Isabella and the Sheriff, when Guy is stabbed twice and is left to die in his former-enemy's arms ("... because of you, I die proud... and free"). Robin also finds his neck has been sliced by Isabella's poison-tipped dagger, consequently made aware he only has a short time to live before certain death. This gave the struggle even greater significance, as Robin tries to end the Sheriff's tyranny once and for all as his strength ebbs away.
We're even treated to a few amusing homage's along the way; Robin evoking memories of Kevin Costner, by shooting a flaming arrow into a chamber full of flammable liquid, killing the Sheriff, Isabella and Nottingham Castle in one fell swoop. Following that, a victorious Robin dragged his hand through a straw field as he retired to Sherwood (an echo of Gladiator), before ensuring his gang that "today is a good day to die" (a sentiment cribbed from Star Trek!) For once though, it all worked and felt fun -– welcome relief from the emotional toll of losing the show's main triangle of characters in one episode. Fans were also given a real treat after Robin limped off into the woods to die alone, as he envisioned his beloved Marian (Lucy Griffiths) in ethereal form, there to promise him that "the greatest adventure is yet to come"... as she took his hand, and Robin died peacefully at the foot of a tree...
Overall, you'd have to be very mean-spirited to pick fault with this finale too much, as it provided a solid hour of engaging action, three seminal moments for the series, and a welcome surprise appearance from Griffiths (who appears to have grown even more attractive, minus her puppy fat.) The only thing I was unsure about was the denouement, where Tuck (David Harewood) inspired the grieving gang into keeping Robin's legacy alive by continuing their fight against evil Prince John. It seems likely that Archer will become their new leader, another Sheriff will rebuild Nottingham's castle and start squeezing taxes from the peasants, while the virtuous King Richard has apparently been taken hostage overseas.
Can the show survive without its eponymous lead, its hammy villain, and his smoldering lieutenant? Or will that require a reinvention they'd be unwise to try and pull off? "Something Worth Fighting For" did feel like a perfect end to me, and I'm not convinced there's much more to be done with this family-friendly vision of the enduring legend.
27 June 2009
BBC2, 6.45pm
written by: Simon J. Ashford directed by: Matthew Evans starring: Jonas Armstrong (Robin), Richard Armitage (Guy), David Harewood (Tuck), Keith Allen (Sheriff), Gordon Kennedy (Little John), Sam Troughton (Much), Lara Pulver (Isabella), Clive Standen (Archer), Joanne Froggatt (Kate), Fraser James (Blamire), Lucy Griffiths (Marian) & Daniel Mogacs (Guard)
