Robin Hood

Robin Hood is a work of FICTION. Robin of Loxley isnt a real life historical figure. Yes, the story is based off of a few different historical figures during the 12th-13th centuries, but the story is a fairy tale.

That said. Yes, the first 2 episodes are slow but it's deliberate. This is a story from start to end. The first two episodes are there to set everything up. By episode 3, it really starts to pick up and we begin to see how this version of Robin Hood becomes the heroic outlaw he is. We see the beginnings of his band of merry men and we learn why each of them gravitate to him and join him. It's story telling done well. Sure, there are times that the dialog is a bit wanting, but for the most part, the show is pretty good.

As a Chinese person, I really enjoy medieval European dramas; some characters based on popular historical stories, such as Robin Hood, are still quite well-known. But I was quite shocked when I saw that the character of Little John was Black, as it didn't match my understanding of history, even though it seems this show doesn't aim for historical accuracy.

In Chinese culture, figures who rebel against authoritarian rule always leave a lasting impression and earn respect. Throughout thousands of years of history, with the changing dynasties, such figures have always been present. This is why I like Robin Hood; we enjoy seeing such characters grow and change history. However, the first few episodes made me drowsy; the character development was weak, and the romance was also underdeveloped. The actors were very beautiful, which was the only thing keeping me watching.

My first brush with this tale of daring do stretches back to a 1955 TV series!

So far the settings are good, costuming is good, and acting is strong so, maybe, this one will be a fresh set of eyes and not disappoint.

But they're going to need to get someone on staff that knows more about the 12th century than the crew they have now as some serious errors have already crept in. Nothing to distract too much from the story line but really shows a lack of respect for the viewer.

This show reminds me a lot of Robin of Sherwood from the 1980s, a dash of historical accuracy with a lot of creative license and a pinch of druidic mysticism. As shows go, it's definitely commodity rather than prestige TV. It's not going to generate much viral chatter or water cooler conversation. But the sets are pretty decent for this budget of show, the costumes, the acting is all perfectly fine. There's an absence of the hacky and twee 'subversion' modern show makers cram into such shows for 'modern audiences' that don't really exist, and that elevates it, in this regard even above some prestige shows.

I'd definately given it a 5/10, maybe slightly lacking in dramatic punch here, if this were not the case, and we lived in an age of more authentic story telling. But as it is, story telling as bad as it is these days, it deserves the bump for simply telling a story with no agendas.

The new Robin Hood series begins with a strong sense of time and place, capturing the uneasy relationship between Saxons and Normans in a way that feels both personal and believable. I especially liked how the show grounds this tension in individual stories - through Rob's family and his connection with Marian's - instead of relying on exposition alone.

Lauren McQueen shines as Marian, bringing warmth and quiet strength that make her scenes among the most engaging in the series so far. The actor playing Rob shows flashes of real emotion - especially in the rain - though his range still feels limited in quieter or more reflective moments.

Episode 2 is particularly effective in showing how Rob's circumstances push him toward life as an outlaw. It's not rebellion for rebellion's sake - the story takes care to show how injustice corners him, giving weight to his choices and deepening the emotional stakes.

After two episodes, the series feels promising: visually rich, emotionally grounded, and already layered with moral complexity.