Robin Hood (TV Series) Robin Hood and the Sorcerer (1984) User Reviews

Robin Hood and the Sorcerer

[Prismark10 · 8/10 · 14 July 2020]

Ever since its early days. ITV was always associated with the adventures of Robin Hood.

In the mid 1980s, Robin Hood was reinvented. Richard Carpenter's masterstroke was to combine the stories of Robin Hood with English folklore, paganism and the near destruction of Saxon England.

The first episode has the dark arts of devil worship. Baron de Belleme has his evil eye on Maid Marion who is the ward of the church and the Sheriff of Nottingham. Belleme wants to marry Marion, she wants to become a nun.

Before that, we see the backstory of Robin of Loxley (Michael Praed.) His father was murdered, raised by the miller, imprisoned when the miller's son killed a deer in the king's land.

Robin escapes his dungeon with others who will become the merry men. Robin's destiny is revealed by Herne the Hunter to take on the Norman oppressors.

The first adventure is a disguised Robin taking part in an archery competition to win the silver arrow.

There is a lot packed in with the feature length first episode. The reinvented Robin of Sherwood is earthy, shrouded in mysticism and also contains the heroics. There is plenty of sword fighting and arrows being fired.

Nothing is ever forgotten...

[Isis-16 · 10/10 · 26 May 1999]

This is the first part of the wonderful tv series "Robin of Sherwood", which aired in the early and mid 80's. Although it can often be found in the children's or family sections of video stores, it deserves much more respect than this; it is one of those rare incidences of really good television.

The show mixes magic and paganism into the familiar Sherwood tale, and music by Clannad adds to the mystical atmosphere. But the characters are anything but the swashbuckling cardboard heroes that the Robin Hood stereotype embodies, and we have come to expect. Michael Praed (in my mind, the perfect Robin Hood), plays a fallible, conflicted Robin, who is nonetheless idealistic and strong. All of the Merry Men are fleshed out as full characters, with their own motivations and ideas, and Marion (Judi Trott) is represented particularly well. She avoids many female stereotypes: she is beautiful but not plastic, a fighter but still definitely feminine. The Sheriff of Nottingham (Nicholas Grace) and Guy of Gisburne (Robert Addie) are present as the classic villains, but they both go far beyond the usual limited parameters of these roles. The characters are all comfortable and unselfconscious, as though they don't realize that they are legends. To me, this is their most appealing trait of all.

Even after all this time, the show still has a devoted cult following, who gather for yearly conventions with the stars. Their devotion is understandable; "Robin Hood and the Sorcerer" is the beginning of the best representation of the Robin Hood legend that has ever been created.

Kick Off To A Fantastic Series

[sgpfan · 10/10 · 14 July 2002]

This double length feature (shown as two parts in most markets outside the UK), was the first of the Robin Of Sherwood programmes. It introduced the principal characters in the series and the mystic angle that series creator, Richard Carpenter, was trying to weave into the age old ballads of Britain's most celebrated outlaw.

The combination was dynamite and led to a highly rated series that found many followers around the world.

The young cast, led by Michael Praed as Robin and Judi Trott as Marion, had real chemistry among themselves, which, aided by Carpenter's superb writing and Ian Sharp's direction, made for an eminently watchable movie length feature and following series.

Anthony Valentine's role as the demonic Simon De Belleme will send a shiver through many viewers, particularly in the confrontation between Robin and himself. Nickolas Grace also deserves mention for his portrayl of the Sheriff of Nottingham.

The romantic angle hasn't been ignored either, with Praed and Trott hitting it off beautifully from the moment they first meet on screen.

The show may be close to two decades old, but like good wine, it has aged well and still comes across today as a good watch for its blend of drama, action and romance.

Magnificent

[mr_eleganza · 10/10 · 8 April 2004]

This is quite simply one of the best Robin Hood interpretations ever made. I remember enjoying it as a kid, and now that I have it on DVD it's just as enjoyable. It's just a shame that it wouldn't be possible to show such an obviously pagan program in this day and age.

The actors look refreshingly human, and not too hollywood-ised and full of girly make-up. All in all a fantastic fantasy series which is a worthy benchmark to compare other fantasy movies/series against...

Just the very best of Robin that there is

[ultraarcadian · 10/10 · 5 September 2004]

What can I say about this series... It's just a fantastic portrayal of the Robin Hood legend. For those who watched it the first time in the 80s or for those who would like to revisit it now in the new millennium, it's well worth buying on DVD or video. It's recently been released in the UK (2001).

Whole series still available to buy (present 2004) - not sure about US. Check out various on-line stores. I don't want to blatantly advertise it or infringe the user guidelines. But people should really make a point of watching this, if they can.

I won't talk too much about the plot-lines, so as not to spoil them for anybody. But both leading men, Michael Praed and Jason Connery both excel in the role of the 'Hooded Man'. You just can never get bored with this series. On the DVD versions, it's interesting to see the casts and directors comments about the whole show and to see the out-takes.

They're all just such a band of talented actors, that could teach so many a great deal today.

The fantasy elements to the plot-lines, the scenery and the moving music by Clannad making it a thoroughly enjoyable and watchable set of shows. If you've never watched it, you should.

Moreover, there are countless fansites and fan conventions every year. America seems to have taken the whole show to its heart. Go to a convention if you can and dress like an outlaw.

More about the cast:- Nicholas Grace is excellent as the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham, and the late Robert Addie was great as his evil sidekick, Guy of Gisburne (God Bless). It's just a televisual masterpiece.

Interestingly, Mark Ryan who played the saracen, Nasir in the show and Steve Dent, who was part of the cast/crew, were also responsible for all the action/fight scenes in the recent movie block-buster Arthur (starring Keira Knightly).

Would love to see a new series of Robin of Sherwood come out, with the original cast, if possible. Apparently, a script was written, but it was never filmed. Lets hope the powers that be, make some more TV magic.

Best Robin Hood ever made!

[Loxley · 10/10 · 27 February 2002]

These BBC-series are the best Robin Hood series/movie ever made. The cast is excellent, the soundtrack beautiful. After almost 20 years it still doesn't seem eldered. The BBC has done very well and I hope Dutch broadcasting compagnies will show these series again, I'm looking forward to it.

The Greatest TV-Series Ever

[ranjm7-1 · 10/10 · 12 June 2007]

I have watched this for more than 5 times and still it is my favorite. I have watched many other Robin Hood stories. (including Sir Sean Connery's , Cevin Costner's and many other) But sorry to say these other stories are nothing (like junk) compared to Robin of Sherwood. I can not imagine why these types of TV shows are never produced these days.

I watched it when I was about 10 years old. At that time there were lots of other good dramas were clashing with RoS in other channels. Knight Rider was one of them. But Robin of Sherwood excelled all the other shows . As a proof I can say that most of Sri Lankans'( I am a Sri Lankan) favorite foreign TV series is Robin of Sherwood. It has many things that would not be forgotten. Its stories, actors, music and etc. "Nothing is ever forgotten!" is another thing like that.

Nothing is ever forgotten.

A view of greatness to come...

[ewok · 6/10 · 29 May 2006]

As a double episode it is kind of poor and out of the four double episodes I would rate this as the third. The problem with this, is the same as the problem with the entire first season. The action is kind of weak and enemy soldiers rarely get killed. The silver arrow isn't the best prop either.

However, in this episode Michael Praed makes his first appearance as Robin of Loxley. He is as charming and gloomy as he is through the entire series. Mark Ryan is really great as the silent Nasir. My favorite however is Robert Addie as Gisburne. The entire cast is great, but these three really stands in front of the others.

There are three reasons that the series is so great. 1 The cast is magnificent. 2 The environment at which the series takes place in. 3 The mysticism that was brought to the Robin Hood legend. The magic wasn't tacky as in other series that gone this route. It was mystical and some times at the verge of scary.

All these three elements were present in the first episode and that was what made this episode great.

/Your friendly neighbourhood Ewok