The Sheriff of Nottingham is perhaps the best villain in all legends, literature, ballads, movies and television. He has long been my favorite bad guy.
My colleague Jeff might argue the point, but I think nowhere else is there a villain given such scope and latitude to perform evil. In the second season of the BBC series Robin Hood, injustice abounds, and of course the Sheriff is at the heart of the trouble.
I’m biased favorably towards all Robin Hood productions, so my “collection” of Sheriffs of Nottingham includes a diverse group from Melville Cooper in the Errol Flynn classic movie to Roger Rees as the Sherrif of Rottingham in Mel Brooks’s send up of the legend.
I love the Richard Greene Robin Hood television series that had a Sheriff (Alan Wheatley) who was cut from the cloth of a power hungry politician, and I love the Sheriff (Keith Allen) in this BBC series who is so over the top evil, he is spectacular to watch.
The Sheriff represents all the bad things that happen in spite of precaution, preparation and care, the force that we have no control over, personified. This Sheriff played by Keith Allen is completely insane with power-lust, and is ably seconded by Sir Guy of Gisbourne (Richard Armitage).
Where the Sherriff rants and postures and seems to greatly enjoy working his evil plans, Sir Guy is just plain surly. He is quietly ruthless, very angry and totally revenge-bent because he cannot seem to win Marian’s affection away from Robin. What a duo of destruction for Robin and his band to battle.
We’ve heard in the media that Jason Armstrong who plays Robin Hood has quit the show after the third season, and one cannot help but feel that there are premonitions of this change throughout the stories in Season Two.
This may result in the tapping of a new “Hood” like the 1980’s take on the legend. In that version Robin of Loxley played by Michael Praed was killed and Herne the Hunter drafted Robert of Huntingdon played by Jason Connery (son of Sir Sean) as the new “Hood.”
It worked and holds true to some interpretations of the legend that claim there were many “Robin Hoods” in Merrie Olde England. Whatever happens in the future of the series, Season Two is action packed, full of scoundrels and dastardly deeds that require Robin and his Sherwood men to seek their brand of justice.
There is humor and tragedy in these episodes. Each has a modern sensibility that makes it easy for viewers to relate to the action and yet makes us wonder at the life of people in that time period. And of course there is the Sheriff!
Robin Hood - Season 2 is attractively packaged in a folder box illustrated with photographic art from the series. All season two episodes are presented on four discs with a fifth disc just for the special features. The included Beneath the Hood: Making of Robin Hood Season 2, a Marian Featurette and an Edward featurette. There is commentary for selected episodes.
All in all, this is a nice set for series collectors, and for those like me who enjoy all the versions of the legend.
Robin Hood - Season 2 is now available at Amazon . It is available for pre-order at AmazonUK for a Nov. 3rd release. Visit the DVD database for more information.
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