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keep_countingYou know, I always thought it was cool to live in a (very) small country like Denmark. And sure, I still like it. However, they have a very bad tendency to air shows almost a year later, than they do in other contries. Which is annoying when you surf the net as much as I do, and don't want to be completely and irrevocably spoiled of all things!
And it's even more annoying, when they decide to air the final season of a certain show (
Well, I guess I'll just have to rewatch. And because I have nothing better to do (life? did I say something about a life... well, I lied) and because certain people (
I actually quite like the start of the first episode (that is, until Robin enters). I always go YAY ALLAN! I like that the guards actually seem… more human, instead of just being useless. I mean, really, they don’t even do much do they? They’re certainly not very good at their job, what with outlaws (who they must have seen millions of times) wandering about the castle all day long.
Ah! First arrow-shot! See, even though Robin is annoying as heck, he still somehow worms his way into my heart with his amazing bow-skills of doom. But how can he see anything with that hood on?
As I said before, I like how the episode starts out, but it annoys the heck out of me, that they somehow come of it again. I mean, this series is practically famous for jumping the shark in every episode and it bugs me sometimes (other times it makes me laugh. Or squee with glee.) There’s just so much potential isn’t there? I mean, I still think it's a great series, but I think the writers limited themselves a lot. Which is a shame.
Aw, Much. I love you, but your mother did drop you a few times when you were a baby.
Okay, can I just admit that I love the intro-music? It’s freakin epic! I can’t help but hum along every time it plays. (and squee when Richard Armitage name appears).
Ah, I do love the running-scene. Robin looking so determined and Much just looking terrified. Oh, a hidey-hole! How fortunate
‘… I’m gonna weep. I’m gonna cry like a baby’. Aw Much. This is why I love you. Never change
Aaand then he ruins it by talking about food! Ah, I still like you!
I think the first few scenes do an incredible job of summing up the Much/Robin relationship. How Much will always, always be Robin’s servant. How, little by little, Robin somehow forgets that they’re also friends. I mean, really the way he treats him sometimes? I think that’s why he bugs me so much; it’s not just the holier-than-thou glow, it’s the way he treats those most loyal to him (*cough*Much*cough*)
- Okay, moving on to the plot, this scene is just ridiculous. What the hell – I mean, a tavern in the middle of nowhere, with no walls, with some weird… digger and his… his daughter? What was he, ten when she was born? Sorry, I know this scene is mainly an excuse to show of Robin’s awesomeskillsofdoom general skills without a bow, but it still bugs me. And hey, look, he really is a bird!
- Aw, Locksley village, when it was still just a band of five houses. No, seriously, it just goes from this small, merry place to being ENOURMOS as of season 2-3
Oh Dan. I love Dan. And again, Much shows how sweet he is.
I like the guard watching over the village. It’s very creepy and it gives the clear impression that Guy/The Sheriff does not trust their people.
I think it’s funny that both Dan and Will refer to Luke as Lukey? It’s sweet and… not at all demeaning to the poor lad.
And here we get the first taste of how idealistic Robin is. And how inspiring he actually can be when he’s not being a daft idiot.
- OH IT’S WILL! Willwillwillwillwillwill!!
Okay, can I just say that I REALLY do not like Robin smirking when Luke says; ‘I bet you killed loads of men when you fought for the king’. I mean, I know its Robin and he’s cocky to the end, but this is a war that must have been horrible. They must have seen absolutely heinous things and so, Robin should look troubled when it is mentioned, not busy looking as if Luke is a good little boy with just the right questions. Maybe this is just me not able to be satisfied with anything, but I really think they could have pulled this off better. He’s just returned from war. The things that go on in a war, especially in those days, must have been enough to crack even the hardest soldier. Well, maybe not the Sheriff. But he’s… in a whole other box of his own.
Despite that, I still like the next shot, with the bow. It really gives you the feeling that these are good and kind people, and Robin evidently care for them.
- Oooh! It’s Guy. I have to admit, the first time I watched this show, I didn’t like him (even if he was hot). I found his character more and more interesting the longer into the show we got, but it actually wasn’t until 1x08 (Tattoo? What Tattoo) that I really got intrigued. But more on that later.
I like how superior Guy acts in this scene. It’s fun to watch the difference between Guy on his own and Guy with the Sheriff. Especially when talking to the people, because when the Sheriff is there, it is very clear that Guy is just the henchman. He stands in the background and follows orders. Here, he’s the one in control.
(I find it funny how the guard pronounces ‘Gisborne’ different than everyone else has this far)
- Okay, Guy, you have the greatest voice ever. I swear, every time you speak… or well, every time you speak in normal tones, I melt a little.
- See, this is another scene I find interesting; if we take into account the third season (which I know the writers hadn’t even thought of yet and so it makes sense that it doesn’t seem consistent), we can actually still merge it. I mean, I know at this time they probably weren’t supposed to know each other, but yet they still instantly go into the mood of insulting one another. I know there can be a lot of other reasons for this, but it still comes very quickly if you think about it. From the first time they lay eyes on each other, it is very obvious that there is no love lost there (sorry slash-fans, you know what I mean, heh). Since I am a fan of the whole Robin-and-Guy-knowing-each-other-before thing that the third season cracked up, I find it interesting to go back and watch how it could work with the earlier episodes.
- Much eating the rose-petals. I just had to point it out! Though the next scene is heartbreaking. Sam Throughton really does a brilliant job with this scene.
Also, does Robin even take a bath before going to see his old love the former Sheriff? His hair isn’t wet… is it bad that I’m focusing on this?
- OH IT’S MARIAN! I love her introduction – it’s so powerful, exactly like her. You get the impression that she’s not one to be trifled with. And she isn’t. I really like that she doesn’t immediately melt upon seeing Robin. I mean, it must’ve come as some of a shock when he’s standing on her door-step all of the sudden, but she’s probably too angry and too worried about her father to care about that.
‘And I thought you’d come to see the old Sheriff!’ trust Robin to have ulterior motives – especially when they concern Marian. It again also shows that Much is a little show; one could’ve figured this one out by themselves if they’d had the background information that Much did.
- So, why does everyone look so much more miserable in this first episode, than they do in the others? I guess it’s just to show us how bad it is, but still…. Consistency people! Robin can’t possibly be making such a big difference? There are practically no people there now, and next episode the streets are bursting with them?
- I have to admit I’m a huge Sheriff-fan. Just his laugh gets to me. Even if it is my Gizzy-boy he’s laughing at. This is also interesting, because Guy actually doesn’t seem as cowed by the Sheriff as he will later appear to be. I know, I know; start of the season, not everything established yet blabla, but still interesting to note.
Seriosly, Vasey looks hilarious in that costume (the white fur) but I am terribly glad that he doesn’t keep on wearing it. Like, really, terribly, bursting-with-you glad that he doesn’t. Because it would have been weird.
- When the Sheriff and Robin talks about Guy managing Locksley, notice how ticked of Guy looks at Robbie’s comment. Again, I know that season 3 wasn’t planned yet and it’s just me trying to put some consistency where there really isn’t, but those two are just determined to hate each other, aren’t they? I know there are a lot of reasons besides the childhood-affair, but it still intrigues me that they hit off on a bad note so early on. I mean, Robin hasn’t even gone outlaw yet!
(See, Robin IS annoying. He interrupts people. Poor lord with a funny hat.)
- Hehe, see how short the Sheriff is. Being quite little myself, I find this amusing.
(Robin, seriously, can you not even sit properly on a chair? You’re just going to be cross about everything, aren’t you?)
- I really, really like the fact that the Sheriff has all those birds. I like the analogy, that birds are usually the most free of all creatures, but the Sheriff has so many cages to put them in. Yes, I’m a metaphor-whore, I know.
I also like how they use him crushing the bird in his hands, to show how violent and absolutely insane slightly psychotic he actually is. Up until that point, we’re not sure how bad the Sheriff is. After all, he could just be following Prince John’s orders. This, and his continuing actions, really shows how twisted his head must be.
- Robin, stop flirting with Marian. Maybe you should have started the conversation with, ‘hey, sorry I abandoned you for five years’. Instead, you have to be your usual over-flirting self. I know that it gets to her (it must, right? I mean, she still loves him, even though he’s been an abandoning jackass), but personally, I think I would have slapped you.
Is it bad that I melt when he says; ‘you can still see into my soul?’ Urgh, how can someone this annoying be this sweet? Come on Marian, punch him for God’s sake!!
Okay, so no punch, but no kiss either. Well done dear lady! And can I mention how much I love that the jailor is consistent? This is the same one as in the other seasons, no? (at least s 1-2, I think)
- Am I allowed to laugh at the fact that Allan got captured again already? Ah, you’re so charming, I forgive you (and I’m not even being funny!).
Also, they’ve been living under this Sheriff for four years now, and they’re still surprised that they get hanged for stealing? Shouldn’t they be used to it, what with the public executions? Still, I like Luke yelling and Will just looking… shocked or terrified. And he’s looking towards his brothers. Aaawww
- ‘Grow up!’. Couldn’t have said it better myself Marian…
What do you think would have happened if Robin had listened to Marian and her father here? (they say that he shouldn’t trifle with the Sheriff and that he should try and get the other lords on his side, before doing anything, thus letting loads and loads of innocents die in the meantime). I know we would have no show (duh!) but what if he had decided to work within the system? Would he have been more successful on the political route or would it all just have gone to hell like the season 3 finale?
I find it a little out-of-character that Marian speaks for killing them. Wouldn’t it have been great, if we’d caught a glimpse of the Nightwatchman trying to break them out the night before the execution? Surely she must be very much against this as well. Ah, the many faces of hypocrisy!
- Hey, that old lady spat in Robbie’s face! I am strangely pleased by this!
- There is not a single scene with Keith Allen, in which he does not blow my mind. Seriously, the man is a genius. No one could play the Sheriff like him (well, Alan Rickman came close, but let’s please not get into the horror that was Prince of Thieves, please)
See, even the guards look sad about the hanging. They know it’s wrong, but they’re just carrying out orders, or it’ll be them on the block. When did they transform from actual human beings into useless mannequins huh? Was it before or after Little John outgrew his hair? I don’t recall.
- Oh, it’s the Egg-man. Oh well, nice try people. I knew there was some sense in you and your tricks.
- Am I the only one who thinks that Robin’s speech-making is much better here than in the later seasons? This is heartfelt and gets straight to the point.
Oh, and also, that throw is impossible. Robin’s, with the sword, not Marian’s crazy ninja-hairpin. That’s just wicked cool.
- Oh, Guy smirking. Gets me every time.
Love how Allan and Much are already quarreling. ‘Tis great. Oh! It’s little John! And Roy! And some other, non-important people! Oh… oh and the episode is over. Well, alright then.
Generally, I think they do a good job with the first episode. It certainly made me want to watch more (mostly because I wanted to see if Will would have more lines or just stand there looking handsome). I also like how the ending of this one, leads straight into the next episode. Not many shows do that anymore, they just make a first episode and then you get to decide if it was rubbish or not. Here, you actually have a reason to want to watch it (and not just because you want to look at Guy or Allan some more)
