Robin of Sherwood:
Set 2 (1983/Acorn
Media U.S. Blu-ray Set)
Picture: B- Sound:
B Extras: A Episodes: B+
Life and death in Sherwood Forest have never felt more
real than while watching Robin of Sherwood. The atmospheric and brooding series continues
with Set 2 (featuring the episodes
that comprise Series 3). As the first episode opens we see a quick
recap of the tumultuous events that ended Series
2, including the death of the title character! Michael Praed’s Robin Hood suffers fatal
wounds at the hands of the Sheriff of Nottingham’s (Nickolas Grace) men, and
his not-so-merry band of followers disbands and scatters to the countryside and
beyond.
Continuing with the quasi-mystical themes and moody music
of the previous series, this set of thirteen episodes develops Robin’s eventual
replacement, the noble but reluctant Robert of Huntingdon (Jason Connery). After rescuing the merry men at the end of
series two, Robert rejects the Herne, a mystical pagan spirit of the forest who
acts as his guide. Eventually, circumstances drive the young noble back toward
this destiny, and Robert takes up the mantle of the “hooded man” and becomes
the new Robin Hood. This action plays
out over the course of the first two episodes of series three, Herne's Son (Part 1) and Herne's Son (Part 2).
Robert Addie plays the villainous Guy of Gisbourne, and
had the series continued, the plot would have woven his character’s background
more tightly with that of Robert of Huntingdon’s. Mr. Addie’s performance in a supporting role
is superlative, and reinforces why he worked so well with John Boorman as
Mordred in Excalibur. Excellent
casting like this marks just one of the ways the show maintains its high
quality throughout its run.
This excellent quality and care seen in the previous two
series (also available from Acorn Media as the Set 1 boxed set, reviewed elsewhere on this site, including an
import version and the original DVD set)
remains present in this third, and sadly, final series of the show. Wonderfully authentic costumes, weapons, and
locations all blend with the solid performances of the cast to maintain this
show’s reputation as the definitive take on the Robin Hood legend. The music of Clannad adds tremendous texture
and atmosphere to each episode, giving the show an authentic feel. The music blends especially well with
quasi-mystical scenes featuring the pagan spirit Herne.
This four disc set features over nine hours of special
features. Included in the mix are nine
episode commentaries, a 400 image photo gallery, music tracks from three
episodes, a 76 minute documentary about the Making
of Series 3, an interview with members of Clannad, outtakes, promotional
shorts, and more duiplicating the U.K. Blu-ray set from Network U.K. and the
previous Acorn U.S. DVD Set.
Although financial woes in the movie industry ultimately
doomed this excellent show, series three at least leaves the show on a high
note. Mr. Connery wins back his not so
merry men and takes up the struggle for justice for the common folk. Although sometimes tinged with shades of gray,
the bad guys are mostly pretty villainous, playing their roles to the
hilt. One could have seen the show going
forward with at least another one or two series, but fans will have to content
themselves with these excellent Blu-ray compilations. Set 2
makes a fitting finish for what remains the definitive take on the Robin Hood
legend.
You can read more about the seires, starting with these
links among many in our continuing coverage of Robin Hood on home video:
U.S. Acorn Set One
Blu-ray
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/10990/HawthoRNe+-+The+Complete+Second+Seas
U.S. Set Two DVD Set
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/7128/Robin+Of+Sherwood+-+Set+Two
- Scott Pyle
