What better way to start of an episode of Robin Hood than a shot of Guy's raven locks flouncing about his shoulders as he gallops forth, only to be interrupted by a wicked 'your mama' shot from Robin which then escalates into a fight on the forest floor? The two are headed for York this week to rescue their half-brother but first make a pit stop at the outlaws' camp. This doesn't go down too well with the group, especially Kate, whose brother was killed by Guy waaaay back at the beginning of the series. Half-brother Archer, meanwhile, is awaiting execution in York but still managing to get cozy with the Sheriff of York's wife. And really, who would blame her for sleeping with someone who looks like Clive Standen? He gets a reprieve when he turns an iron nail into a gold nugget using some mysterious technique from the Orient but promptly gets thrown back into the clink when it turns out to be fake.Back at Nottingham Castle, Isabella learns that Guy and Robin have teamed up and are bound for York. Bitter and betrayed, she sends an emissary with instructions to drag the two back, alive, before heading off herself. The gang finally makes a substantive appearance after almost a season's hiatus and we get a slight return to the camaraderie that characterized the first two seasons. They are torn between their hatred for Guy and their loyalty to Robin, each with his or her own opinion about how to interpret this new alliance. Naturally they all make good, which is a lucky thing because the men at York have gotten themselves in a bit of a bind. When the rescue goes awry, Robin, Guy, and Archer find themselves ready to hang. The last minute arrival of the gang saves the day, but Archer, armed with the knowledge that his half-sister is the wealthy Sheriff of Nottingham, deserts the outlaws and seeks better fortunes.
The series is finally coming into its own after a lackluster start, but it may be a little too late. In the coming weeks, we'll see if it's picked up for a fourth series. Now that Isabella is firmly established as the villain, the show has emerged from its vacuum of evil and recaptured a bit of that cat and mouse effect. Guy was never that effective as the penultimate bad guy because his insecurity prevented him from being a forceful chief antagonist to Robin Hood's idealistic do-gooder. Isabella's waffling in earlier episodes and the former Sheriff's fall from grace also deprived the show of a villainous anchor early on thus resulting in more distraction and confusion. For example, the fights between Guy and Vaisey (Keith Allen) were an entertaining exercise in power but left little for Robin and especially his gang to engage in. That's why I think this season has been a miserable misuse of talent and why I was happy to see something of a return to form as far as the gang is concerned - though I'm guessing it will be shortlived as Allan will not be making it out alive.
On a minor and unrelated thought, the 'love story' between Robin and Kate is painful to watch. I wouldn't say that Jonas Armstrong and Joanna Froggat lack chemistry but I think it's better suited as partners of the non-romantic sort. On top of this, the story is contrived for the sake of romance and Jonas Armstrong in general seems to be walking through this third series like it was his last...because it is.
At last some words about Archer, our hero in waiting and the most interesting thing to appear on my television in awhile. The character is well written, a rare feat for Robin Hood, but really comes to life thanks to Clive Standen. The man's magnetism has little to do with his good looks and everything to do with the way he infuses Archer with a mix of arrogance, resourcefulness, and vulnerability. Archer is, face it, a player and a rogue but never mean-spirited, which kind of makes him a perfect Robin Hood. Standen, the married with children actor, doesn't look at all like Robin and Guy's much younger brother but he keeps his character cocksure and saucy enough to fit the part.
Finally, we might look back at this episode as the introduction of Archer, but some of us will remember it as the one where Guy, back at the outlaws' camp after the rendezvous at York, asks 'Where do you want me to sleep?' Proving once again that there's no such thing as a bad question. And once again, I can't believe I've written so much about one episode of Robin Hood. If only I could redirect my stamina.
