Robin Hood (TV series)

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Fandom
Name: Robin Hood
Abbreviation(s): RH
Creator: Dominic Minghella and Foz Allan
Date(s): 2006–2009
Medium: BBC television series
Country of Origin: UK
External Links: BBC; IMDb; Wikipedia; Wikia
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

For other Robin Hood source texts, see Robin Hood

According to the BBC summary: "Drama series which gives a contemporary feel to the classic Robin Hood legend, focusing on Robin Hood's fight against the evil and corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham." Known for its cartoon villainy and irreverent anachronisms.

This version takes the Earl of Huntingdon origin story for Sir Robin of Locksley, ex-Crusader and King Richard’s loyal man who is later known as Robin Hood (BBC 2006 character) (“Hood”). Robin’s love interest, Lady Marian of Knighton (Marian Fitzwalter or "Maz") disguises herself as a caped Crusader to fight with Sheriff Vaisey – the Night Watchman. Robin is played by Jonas Armstrong, Marian – by Lucy Griffiths.

The Sheriff's sidekick, Sir Guy of Gisborne ("Giz"), is played by the popular Richard Armitage, who features in a lot of fanfiction. Other characters with a fannish following include Much, Robin's former manservant; Allan a Dale, Guy’s unwilling informant and spy in Robin Hood’s camp; and Djaq, young Saracen wonder-healeress.

Fannish Response

A fan in 2010 wrote:

I love so many things about this show — the complexity of the characters, the moral nuances and shades of gray, the absorbing stories (in spite of their silly elements), the mix of drama and humor, the quirky sensibility … even the creative treatment of history! ... I actually think that Robin Hood was full of moral nuances and shades of gray. Guy isn’t "all bad," and Robin and Marian are not "all good." Robin is very flawed and even dark at times, not just in his fanatical devotion to the King but in his callousness toward those who love him (especially Much). Marian is guilty of some morally questionable acts as well — not only her deceptions toward Guy but her cruel words to her father before he dies, or the fact that in 1×07 (Brothers in Arms) she allows an innocent man to be tortured and executed for something that she did (passing information to Robin). Allan, too, is full of gray areas, and Will has his darker moments. The moral complexities are part of what makes me love this show.' (LadyKate)[1]

Fandom

The fandom probably peaked during the first two seasons (2006–7); S3 was less popular with fans. Livejournal was a major venue. There's some overlap with other Armitage fandoms such as North and South and Spooks, and Armitage forums such as C19 host discussion and fanfiction.

Major pairings include Guy/Marian as well as the canonical Robin/Marian and Will/Djaq in het, and Guy/Robin, Robin/Much and Guy/Allan in slash. Various threesomes can also be found, including Guy/Marian/Robin, Guy/Marian/Allan and Will/Djaq/Allan.

Marian's death at Guy's hands in the S2 finale was not popular, and one widespread trope is Marian Lives! fix-it AUs. There are also fix-its for the (Almost) Everybody Dies! S3 finale. Kate, Marian's replacement as S3 love interest, wasn't very popular with some sectors of the fandom, and Kate Gets It! is another trope.

Example Fanworks

Fanfiction (Robin/Marian, Guy/Marian, Robin/OFC, Guy/OFC, and other pairings)

  • Fans are encouraged to add more examples

Fanvids

Archives

Fanfiction

Fanvids

Recs

Forums & Communities

Dreamwidth

Livejournal

General

Characters

Pairings

Fansites

Reference

  1. ^ me + richard armitage: Fan Showcase: LadyKate63 (accessed 29 May 2013)
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