Being born in 1982, I'm too young to remember this from back in the day. (I only saw it for 1st time around 2020) What I can say is that this production certainly provided (slightly older) kids of the 80's with their screen 'prototype' of the mythological icon Robin Hood, kind of the equivalent of what Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves meant to someone of my age, only more organic and traditional; less Americanized !
Sure, the programme itself is perhaps just another cheesy 80's fantasy production (if not as much as RH:POT !), and sure, such fantasy kitsch can only be so original, and subsequently quite generic ! But it does have its distinct attributes.
For a start, trained ballerina Judi Trott was a very cute, tender, petite and refined Maid Marian, and a particularly confident and talented actress considering she was only 20-years-old in the 1st series.
Other actors included Clive Mantle as Little John; think Casualty, Bottom, Vicar Of Dibley and the 1996 UK stage production of 'Of Mice And Men'. 'Cockney geezer hardman' Ray Winstone was an unexpected choice of actor for Will Scarlett; in the old mid-20th century screen productions of Robin Hood he was typically portrayed as quite camp !
Another substantial element was the tender, harmonic and enlightening theme tune by Clannad; quite evocative of the 'magical' natural forest setting. I believe they did the other music in the production too.
All in all, lets give it 6/10 for cute actresses, enlightening music and an iconic 80's interpretation of old robin Hood, even if it's otherwise yet another quite cheesy and generic 80's fantasy production.
Sure, the programme itself is perhaps just another cheesy 80's fantasy production (if not as much as RH:POT !), and sure, such fantasy kitsch can only be so original, and subsequently quite generic ! But it does have its distinct attributes.
For a start, trained ballerina Judi Trott was a very cute, tender, petite and refined Maid Marian, and a particularly confident and talented actress considering she was only 20-years-old in the 1st series.
Other actors included Clive Mantle as Little John; think Casualty, Bottom, Vicar Of Dibley and the 1996 UK stage production of 'Of Mice And Men'. 'Cockney geezer hardman' Ray Winstone was an unexpected choice of actor for Will Scarlett; in the old mid-20th century screen productions of Robin Hood he was typically portrayed as quite camp !
Another substantial element was the tender, harmonic and enlightening theme tune by Clannad; quite evocative of the 'magical' natural forest setting. I believe they did the other music in the production too.
All in all, lets give it 6/10 for cute actresses, enlightening music and an iconic 80's interpretation of old robin Hood, even if it's otherwise yet another quite cheesy and generic 80's fantasy production.