Sheriff Got Your Tongue?

I think that this episode was better than the first episode, but that doesn't mean to say i didn't like the first episode, I LOVED IT! but what i mean to say is that the story is coming together and everyone is fitting in together and everybody has their own part in the story. I find it really annoying when people say that robin comes back too young, because an older man wouldn't be able to fight in a war and run around in a forest and all these daring things robin does. I would also like to say to all the actors/actresses in the show that they are doing a great job. People who do not like the show shouldn't watch it and if they don't have anything nice to say about the show, then don't say it. They say it isn't historically correct, well flick over to the history documentary programmes and watch them instead, this is first-class Saturday night entertainment and it when people say something bad about it, it just makes them sound like grumpy old men. I think this show is going to go a long long way. can't wait for the next episode!

The rumours were right: the second episode is definitely better -- as in, it's actually watchable now.

I still don't find either Much or the pantomime Sheriff funny, Robin is still ridiculously young to be coming back home five years older and wiser (wiser? Has he learnt tactics yet? And just what is the meaning of getting his shaky new allies to risk their lives against heavily-armoured troops for five minutes just so that he can have a philosophical debate with the Sheriff?), and the 'bowshot' location names and jerky rewind stunts are still annoying. But the real first-episode killer, the stilted dialogue delivery, has reduced by a long way -- not, sadly, gone altogether, but reduced to the level of annoyance every so often rather than constant nails-on-a-blackboard torture.

However, at least I now have not one but two characters I enjoy watching: to Guy of Gisbourne I can now add Little John :-)

Annoyances: all-too-blatant digs at contemporary politics (terrorist training camps at the Crusades? Come on!); people fighting with swords who inflict all their damage by kicking people (doesn't anybody EVER get a blow in?); highlighting the credibility problem of failing to kill anybody, even the Sheriff's faceless and stereotypical "Guards! Guards!" (presumably on the grounds that this would be unsuitable for children?) by having a long debate about it; would-be humorous lines that aren't. The Sheriff's black silk pyjamas: horribly anachronistic -- where's his nightshirt and bedgown?

Good points: Marian telling Robin how stupid and useless he is, when he is being stupid and useless. The Sheriff proudly proclaiming that he is going to be vindictive and cruel, and nothing Robin says is going to stop him. (Played straight for once -- he doesn't flinch under Robin's threats -- and that's much more effective.) The outlaws scoffing at the idea of noble heroics.

Rather a negative-sounding list, when I look at it, but then the show still 'could do better' so far as its end-of-term report goes; I wouldn't actively recommend it yet. In honour of its improvement, however, I'll upgrade my initial rating from a 4 to a 6.

(Edit: Right, I've now watched the third episode of this, and that's enough -- I'll leave it to those who actually enjoy it, which frankly I don't.)