redfiona99 | Entries tagged with robin hood

This is the first in an irregular series of posts about films with sword fights. Although they're all part of a series, the formats will be slightly different, for reasons which will become clear as the posts occur.

Some time ago, in a post about the 1938 Oscars,

nwhyte wrote that he'd never seen the Errol Flynn Robin Hood. I was surprised, but looking back on it, I'm not sure why, because former housemate P didn't watch it until his mid-20s, and as a fencer, he'd had more reason for watching it.

Following on from that post, I wondered which sword-fighting films I would recommend for people to watch. And then I realised I'd watched a lot, and probably needed a way of splitting them up, so I am writing about them by topic, starting with Robin Hood, since it was the Errol Flynn version that kick-started this idea.

Robin Hood:

Must watch: As you may have guessed from that intro, as far as I'm concerned the Errol Flynn version is the best film version. Partly it's Flynn himself, in all his charming, insouciant glory, but there's also Olivia de Havilland as a beautiful, charming and courageous Maid Marian, Claude Reins and Basil Rathbone as excellent villains, and comic relief characters who get to be both funny and heroic.

Of course, the fight scenes are famous for a reason (spoilers for the big end fight). It's amazing what you can do when one of your principals is a fencer.

Ex-housemate P didn't like it because it wasn't flash enough for him and too slow, but he was more than occasionally wrong about films (he didn't like Casablanca). His favourite version will be mentioned shortly.

In the same vein: The Richard Todd and Richard Greene versions of Robin Hood stick closely to the Errol Flynn model, and the Richard Greene TV version is one of my family's favourite ways to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Something different: The Disney Robin Hood is actually my favourite version. However, because it's animated, I have to admit that the sword fights aren't all that. On the other hand, there are some truly excellent villains, an adorable Robin and Maid Marian, one of my favourite Friar Tuck's (seriously, watching him go full "badger don't care" at the Sheriff is glorious), excellent music (A Pox On The Phoney King of England, Not In Nottingham) and Lady Cluck.

I could write whole essays on how Lady Cluck is just the best (which she is), but I shall provide video evidence instead:

Watch on YouTube

Anyone who has ever seen me do sports may recognise a certain similarity in both shape and attitude.

The Disney Robin Hood is an hour and a half of sheer sugar candy joy.

Other options:

The ITV Robin Hood, Robin of Sherwood, which is housemate P's favourite. I happen to think it's New-Agey, pseudo-realistic nonsense, but several other people I know like it.

I also blame it for several of the modern Robin Hood cliches. It popularised one of the Merry Men being a Saracen, Will Scarlet being an (angry) working class man rather than Robin's cousin, and Robin going off to the Crusades before the story starts. This annoys me. It's like, 'why are you doing this to the character and the story, not going to the Crusades it what gets him outlawed in the first place?!!!'

I find it interesting that in 1938 you could get away with a Robin who says "no way, you go fight your own pointless war if you want to but I am staying here to protect my people" whereas nowadays you can't. I don't know how much of that was due to US isolationist policies pre-WW2 and general public opinion, or wanting to stay close to the original legend, but it's an interesting difference.

I like that Robin doesn't go to war, despite the threat of being outlawed if he doesn't. He goes ahead and follows his conscience. It makes him a more impressive hero. It's all well and good to show him fighting against a prince who has usurped power, but for him to disobey someone who he regards as the rightful king, with all the moral and legal force that implies, now that's a different thing.

If storytellers want to have a story with a Crusader veteran horrified with what they'd seen for the one (and it's only ever one) PTSD-related episode or section, then Will Scarlet, nobleman with fewer reservations than Robin, seems like an excellent choice. He already canonically wanders around a forest wearing red, which I think might well be described as a death-wish.

Unnecessarily long story short - I don't particularly like this version, although I do recognise that it has its own distinctive feel, and does its own thing its own way, which I admire.

The Patrick Bergin Robin Hood, which was unlucky enough to have been released at the cinema at the same time as the Kevin Costner version. I prefer it, even if it is a bit heavy-handed. Also, it has Owen Teale's Little John and is about the only modern version that gives Little John anything to do. (Why do modern versions give all/most of Little John's important bits to Nasir/Azeem?)

Avoid:

The BBC's 2006 Robin Hood - But, I hear you cry, you spent far too much time watching it. And this is true, any time spent watching it would be too much.

via GIPHY

Basically the BBC Robin Hood was one very good performance, four good performances and Keith Allen eating more than the Recommended Daily Allowance of scenery, being hamstrung by increasingly poor and peculiar authorial choices on the part of the writers.

The Kevin Costner version (mild spoilers ensue) - I am about to be accused of being mean, and it's not just that they hew very closely to Robin of Sherwood to the point where you think they should have paid licencing fees, but I can explain my objection to the film in four words: Will Scarlet would never.

I don't mean this Will Scarlet, I mean any Will Scarlet. In fact, having any Merry Man betray the rest is a good way of ending up in the avoid list. Even Alan Rickman's glorious, vivid and vile Sheriff of Nottingham cannot save this film, nor can Morgan Freeman and Michael McShane. It is un-salvagable.

If anyone has any other Robin Hood recommendations, please send them my way. It's a legend I never tire of.

Crossposts: https://redfiona99.livejournal.com/1218561.html

Huge Spoilers

I've been thinking about this (because I have been writing fic), and I've decided that the problem was that they had no idea how to write Robin, because he was the least sympathetic character who wasn't the Sheriff, and the Sheriff was, you know, the Sheriff.

The main problem was that he had a *wonderful* tendency towards double standards, like him not letting Will kill the Sheriff for killing his father (I think) but being perfectly cool with trying to kill Guy for trying to kill King Richard. Notice please, the lack of success of Guy's plan.

Or you know, refusing the kill the bad guys with a name but being perfectly willing to shoot third Sheriff's guard from right. Now, I am aware that this is an problem with any show like this, but most shows sensibly avoid the lead having a speech about "we do not kill" followed a scene later by him shooting random guard number 3 with an arrow in a rather deadly area.

I've seen Jonas Armstrong in other things and he's been perfectly servicable, if better at jack-the-lad than noble hero, but I don't think anyone could have done anything with the character.

The other problem was that he was up against Richard Armitage (in black leather) doing a bang up job of conflicted villain. Who was just more interesting than Robin, because none of Robin's decisions ever seemed to cost him anything, or at least nothing he cared about, while the rest of the Merry Men, whenever they make a decision, it hurt them. That was why everyone loved Marian, Much, Guy, Djaq, Will et al a lot more.

It's just really odd that they got everyone else so right (~ish) and managed to screw up the main character.

My shiny new scarab ring arrived yesterday. It's a bit awkward to get on and off, but once it's on it fits like a glove.

~~~~

So Robin Hood gets cancelled (and way to spoil me for the ending of the show with your press release BBC) and I'm kind of relieved because it's gone way down from its "glory" days of season 2. So what does it do - it goes and produces two good episodes in a row.

The first was a twenty years before thing ( Which was nowhere near as bad as expected )

Shame that most of what we could take from that is that Robin was a prat, is a prat and always will be a prat. Also, that Guy is more justified that most woobiefied bad guys.

This having lead to great confusion as to who I'm supposed to be cheering for, lead to N. suggesting the best possible course of action. Cheer for Much, he's always on the right side. Never have wiser or truer words been spoken.

The second episode introduced a character called Archer and spoiler he's Robin and Guisbourne's half brother (same father as Robin, same mother as Guisbourne) end spoiler . He is made of awesome and attractive, in roughly equal measure, and appeared to be channelling Errol Flynn. He managed more moments of cool in one episode than Robin manages in one series. In case this isn't enough, I direct you to the actor's IMDB page to see for yourself - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1641140/

Also, Robin and Guy having to team up was made of funny. Including them launching into a particularly spirited round of 'your Mum', general winding up and smirking and dude, in parts, this was season 2 good.

They even seemed to remember Much's crush on Robin.

Very much looking forward to the 2 part season ender.
~~~~

The Sarah Jane episodes we watched were part 1 and 2 of the Eye of the Gorgon. While the acting was uniformly superb (Phyllida Law is ... she just is), including the actress playing Maria's Mum, and the character writing, again, particularly for Maria and her family was great, I think the plot was lacking something in the plot department.

I also blame my kindergarten experiences with nuns for this urge to obey them :)

There's a strong possibility that Alan Jackson has patience stronger than that of a saint.

Two things I forgot to mention:

1) Next week's Robin Hood is Robin Hood: the Previous Generation, which can only lead to bad things.

2) Christian Horner, the Red Bull chief, other than being a marvellous man who lets me hear the Austrian national anthem on TV, is also kind and generous and sent Adrian Newey up to collect the winning constructor's trophy. Adrian Newey is made of engineering awesome, and I'm really pleased that this season is coming down to who has the best engineers. You know the silly crooked nose that all the F1 cars have nowadays - that's a Newey original, that he designed for the McLarens in 1998, the year they were frequently minutes faster than everyone else.

Robin Hood is either getting worse, or failing in its attempts to do interesting things with the characters. Because Isabella has such great potential, but she's so flat. With her being the big evil from here on in (dear Prince John having retreated to London), it's going to take some major re-jiging of the plot, because she just doesn't chew scenery as well as PJ or the Sheriff.

Also, interestingly, events of the last episode have moved Guisburne towards what he could have been at the end of last series. Even if the basic moral of the story appears to be Guisburne can never be happy. I think they've done the right thing giving him all the major dramatics because Jonas Armstrong cannot do the major dramatics, but he can do light and fluffy.

By the by, Robin, stealing your best friend's girl is wrong. And Kate, how could you! (She asked Much to tell Robin it was okay for Robin to go out with her, knowing that Much adores her.) Much then tries to run away from home, all very Gromit in the Wrong Trousers, and ends up saving the day. What on Earth do you see in Robin, Kate?

Other than that, Robert Pugh acted his socks off, Toby Stephens appears to enjoy playing a pantomime villain, the Archbishop of Canterbury is made of awesome and Thorton is a suitably nasty piece of work.

They seem to have stuffed a lot into the last two episodes, if only to allow Isabella to make her three allignment turns per episode (seriously, it's like Stephanie McMahon but more so).

( Why Isabella should be an interesting character )

We're still left with at least 4 sides to every plot (Robin's, Guy's, Isabella's, PJ's and possible the villain of week) which tends to lead to over-complication.

Also, if there's a sillier scene than Guisburne infiltrating the church on TV this year, I will be deeply shocked.

So Robin Hood. I watched 3 more episodes, Saturday just gone, and I do believe it's getting worse.

The first one was "Let the Games Begin", which featured the return of Guy of Guisburne. I have to assume that Richard Armitage has given up all hope of escape, given the ludicrous levels of evil leering he did in it. But having Guy about the place tends to spice things up. There was also stuff for Little John to do (which is good) as him, we like. Oh, yeah, if the fabulous Stu reads this, I recognised Bertha from Queer as Folk.

Of course, this was only setting up for the introduction of the big bad in "Do You Love Me", Prince John has arrived, and he's played by Toby Stephens -

Yeah. I'll get round to hating him once my body has finished being in a full-body toe curl. I have no explanation for it but Toby Stephens has, for as long as I can remember, induced a state of deep seated umf (to steal Wyndi's phrase).

So yeah, you get Guy (who looks like this

) [Further photos behind ( this cut )

on his knees in front of Prince John, who is demanding to be told that Guy loves him.

Despite the fanservice (and really, Guy is the go-to guy for fanservice in this show) it still terrible. Although, the number of women who have suddenly revealed a thing for leather when it's on Guy borders on the disturbing.

So yes this continues ( on to the actual plot of both 'Do You Love Me' and the episode that follows it 'Too Hot to Handle' )

Now my complaints (anachronisms caught = 3, 1) Kate is carrying a katana or something of a similar design, 2) Tuck's blow dart and 3) Alan joking about 'a slice and ice'.) will centre on the writing, and it's complete lack of cohesion.

Now, I'm used to them ignoring what has gone before, but normally they keep the characters the same, and by the end of the last series, they'd at least achieved a cohesive tone.

So far this season, they've straightened out Much so he isn't continually fussing over Robin, which is really odd, and they seem to have totally forgotten Marian. Not that she existed, but how she made Guy and Robin. I mean, at the end of the last series, it's was an even money bet as to whether Guy was going to show his true 'evil' colours, or whether he was going to go off the deep end. Neither happened. Robin hasn't gone on the epic revenge that he promised either, and about the only thing that Marian is used for is as something they can insult each other with. There's very little organic growth to the random call backs to Marian either, especially in comparison to the times when they have shown it (i.e. Little John at the end of last season, he'd not mentioned his family, but when he did speak of them it was entirely fitting, and he got a couple of scenes like that this year too.)

It's really strange, and I don't know how much of this is to do with them killing Marian off at the end of the last series, it seems to have unbalanced everything. Especially the female characters, I mean, Marian and Djaq at least had their own characters, and while Isabella does, Kate really doesn't (mooning around over Robin and being the 'girl power' girl don't count as character). I do wonder how much notice Lucy Griffiths gave of her intention to leave, because large chunks of Kate's character could have been written with her in mind and the whole thing smacks of hasty re-write, especially as it's not like they've got new writers (I looked it up), and I refuse to believe they lost what little talent they had overnight.

And because of having three new characters to write in, the old regulars have had very little to do. I mean, Tuck has Djaq's misc. alchemy/medical/general chem knowledge, and Kate has taken up Marian's 'girl in peril' position. (There's been no one to replace Will, but they've upgraded Much and Allan's fighting abilities instead). Tuck's been getting a lot of Little John's 'this is a bad idea' lines, and I'm not sure Allan has had anything to do except mock Much.

Isabella seems to be very much a dark! Marian, whose forced/arranged marriage actually took place, and she has character, mostly an inverse of her brother's but ... well, with this, I'll take what I can get, and if Marian had stayed, I think her character would still have worked.

It'll be interesting to see how it develops.

Apparently we're following previous seasons's pattern of ignoring the previous season pretty much entirely.

I am deeply unamused by people who complain that Friar Tuck is being played by a black actor. 1) David Harewood is an awesome actor. The series is more than lucky to get him. 2) To those who are saying it's ahistorical - big woop! So's everything else about the series. 3) To those that say it goes against the legend (alegendary ?) - I love how you were all so up in arms about Robin going to the Holy Land. Oh wait you weren't. Mysterious how it's only when a black guy gets cast that you get all protective about a legend.

Fuck 'em, I say.

They're straightening out Much. It is disturbing. Given that the first two seasons plots could be summed up with 'The Sheriff plots, Robin and Marian exchange unconvincing dialogue, Much declares his undying love for Robin, Robin defeats the Sheriff's scheme and comes up with some dim reason not to kill the Sheriff', it's strange and obscure. We think they're trying to set up a love triangle between Much, not-Marian and Robin (although the addition of a certain other character's sister, this could get more complicated). Much, as he tends to be, is being decidedly whole hearted about it. He is adorable, and I do not understand why anyone would choose Robin over him. If this leads to him being a bad guy by the end of the season, I will not be happy.

I am happy about the shiny new icon I have. It's by

shorecallssea

Okay, so maybe I am moving into obsessive territory, but Carter is definitely there in the trailer for next week's episode, because he's with the gang when Richard turns round and yells about them trying to kill him.

He isn't on the stakes with them later though, which either means he got killed already (which would make me unhappy), has gotten away and is planning their rescue (which would make me happy), is with the King to protect him from whatever else is going on (can live with), is with the King and pretending to agree with his actions in order to rescue them later (which would also make me happy) or has turned traitor entirely (which would make me unhappy).

I swear it's the unfortunate combo of kick-ass dude, with the scary vengence thing going on, and a vaguely amoral sheen and him being a Templer Knight that does this to me.

Finally managed to watch Blink. In between the giggling at timey-wimey, the tearing up and the absolute terror, I enjoyed myself immensely. Well done that man Moffat. Thankfully the angels weren't quite as terrifying as the gas-mask children, but they were so fantastically well done. And some of us squeamish types did not need the repeated warning at the end ;)

Robin Hood actually left me speechless with glee at points, because yes, they finally seem to have gotten Crusades != good and Eleanor of Aquitaine = awesome (also Lynda Bellingham was both a great casting choice and good in it). Also = awesome was LaGrange and Little John and that the Queen was so regal and I'm sorry but Robin Hood has been upgraded from useless to fun.

And next week's preview looks so interesting from them casting Stephen Waddington as the Lionheart to the situation that's been set up. One does wonder what happened to Carter and to Lardiner. Although Carter turning up to rescue them would make my Christmas just that little bit more complete (finding out that he'd been killed would upset me though - this season's episode guests have been so much better).

Of course the big things was ( Great big squee causing spoiler )

Caught Blood Ties as well, which is my second favourite present vampire show, because they've done some interesting stuff and minimised the brooding angst that was starting to take over the genre. It's very much a case of come for the occult wierdness and vampires, stay for the most wonderfully balanced love triangle.

Must find and read the books it's based on.

~~~~

As for my favourite present vampire show, it would be 'Young Dracula' (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0876219/) it's pitched at the young teenage audience but is one of the most fun things on the show.

You've got Vlad who doesn't want to be a vampire (his Dad being the Count and his older sister being Ingrid (which I just love as a possible Ingrid Pitt reference). His best friend Robin wants to be a vampire. There's Renfield and the Van Helsings (father and son). The Elder Van Helsing teachs Vlad and Robin woodwork and has a pyschotherapist wife who thinks he's insane and they all know each other and it's the most genius thing on TV.

Even if it's part of Cardiff's plot to take over the world.

Which leads me on to the re-run of Charlotte Church's chat show which is possibly the worst programme ever to be shown on TV, but did feature the Manics and John Barrowman in one of the wierder guest line-ups ever. I love that they re-jigged 'Your Love Alone' for her and James's singing is still too high.

Given that this week I've also seen Jonathan Firth on Ghost Whisperer, it's been a good tv week, even if you count trying to terrify myself with ghost stories on the box, two so far, one a Dennis Wheatley adaptation with Julian Sands, Scott Handy (one of my favourite 'you know, thingy's) and the boy that played Cedric Diggory who did a marvellous job of someone slowly losing his mind.

Add that to an MR James ghost story tonight (and OMG I've found out that they did audios of all his stories voiced by Silver from Sapphire and Steel and I may have to buy them for Mother) and the angels and I may never sleep again ;)
~~~~

In case you haven't guessed by the overall tone, lame has been found so Mother will not murder me, for at at least.

Meme first: Comment here and ask me ANYTHING about any fandom I'm involved in/have been involved in, or fandom in general. Controversial or innocent, silly or serious, ask and you'll get my honest opinion on the subject [to the best of my knowledge/ability].

Robin Hood next - I am about to say something I never expected to say. Robin Hood was good last week. In fact it was more than good, there was tension and suspense! Okay the week before's also managed that and had the best guest ever (seriously, if we can't have Friar Tuck, could we have the reprise of the fool). It's actually getting to be a good programme.

There was sense, because when they wished to convey huge army, they just used different shots of real people on horses rather than bad CGI. I mean, Nottingham itself was still bad CGI, but we've come to expect that.

And I think they've figured out how to write Robin, because last season the scene at the end with Little John would have been painful because Robin would have been a wanker about it. Also I wish to hug Little John.

It's also quite interesting what they're doing with Guy of Guisborne. Because they've not made him nice, he's not a good guy, not even in the Marvel anti-hero sense. He is still a dyed in the wool bad guy. But he loves Marian so much. I do always wonder if she knows quite how much (because, for all he is occasionally stalker creepy, I refuse to believe I was the only one who cheered when he turned back). They've also been really careful with Marian's character because she doesn't seem like an arse for refusing him.

And, while I'm aware that this really doesn't need saying, Sam Troughton brought it with a vengence. Because when Robin tells him, he's so utterly heartbroken and he just glowed with misery because he's happy for Robin. Well done sir, my heart is making with the aching on your behalf.

Squee

Sorry just saw this week's Robin Hood and they made up for the lack of Much in a couple of the earlier episodes because of a scene where, and I am not making this up or taking anything out of context, they have a discussion which starts with:

"You don't hold me like you held him."

Followed by a mini-domestic wherein Much comes out with 'We don't talk' and then 'you never listen to me'.

After citing a specific example Robin says 'fine then, talk,' and Much says 'No, not if you're just humouring me'.

So Robin assures Much that he'll say it if Much wants him to, and says how Much holds a special place in his heart.

Of course the bit that got me was when Robin was telling Much that Much's stories were his stories and I'm sorry, I don't want fic for these two because the fic will only get it wrong. Because it's the one thing the series is doing perfectly right.

Got to the final of the county foil. Lost to that 13 year old again (although she's now 14). Beat one of our girls in the semis. She may never forgive me, given that she beat me in the pools. I always said I was better at longer matches.

I spent most of the time trying to figure out where S got his jeans from, given that they were pretty much the perfect jeans. But then again S also has a BMW (a nice one, I didn't know BMW made nice cars) so I imagine they are far out of my price range.

My Nan was in hospital, or so I have been told, nothing major (well as unmajor as hospital treatment at the age of 86 can be) something to do with her bladder I think. Of course no one told me because they thought I'd worry. I do feel like turning round and pointing out that I actually spend most of my time worrying that the next phone call is them telling me Nan's dead and they didn't tell me she was ill.

Other than that, Phil walked out of another job, his Dad's threatening to throw him out, Mum's put her foot down and said we're not having him. Christmas may well be hell again. I'm probably escaping up to Cumbria for New Years which should prevent murder.

On to media/fandomy matters:

I presently have a copy of Q for the first time in years, just for the Manics. Oh what you do to me boys.

Have read the Survivor Series spoilers ( Am presently a-squee )

Also Robin Hood, in the last two episodes ( Might finally be getting good )

Also, how did I not know that Ridley Scott was a Sir?

Two of the things that annoyed me the most about last season are still there - the stupid arrow location effect thing and the 12th century English ninjas.

( Other than that )

I wish to complain - this is not an adaptation of the Robin Hood legend, it's an adaptation of Robin of Sherwood. This is what happens when you have no Prince John in your story.

Warning - capslock abuse ahoy!

This is in fact last Wednesday Torchwood that I will be talking about. The reason I didn't speak about it before was that the only thing I really have to say is that I think I preferred it when it was called 'Love and Monsters'. (PS: how you can tell the reviewer at Television without Pity is lousy - he didn't like Love and Monsters)

On that tip, Elton in Love and Monsters was played by Marc Warren who is one of my favourite actors and OMG THE BBC ARE DOING AN ADAPTATION OF DRACULA AND I DON'T CARE HOW BAD IT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE BECAUSE MARC WARREN IS PLAYING DRACULA!

I'm better now. If somewhat stoked for this when it finally comes on.

Robin Hood was good this week, if only because Gordon Kennedy can bring it and Little John just rocks for ever and ever.

Had a Christmas dinner avec amigos and had lots of fun. Although one particular person is liable to be told that his interest in my love life borders on creepy uncle Bad Touch unpleasantness and would he cease and desist. He seems to think every unattached and, to make it worse, deeply unsuitable male of my acquaintance has the hots for me, and generally has a creepifying interest in getting me shacked up with someone. He was also the one who complained about my tiny, tiny dress being unsuitable and unladylike. Grr!

Because there's going to be a long fencing post after this so I thought I'd break them up because there has been much viewing of media this weekend. Mostly thanks to the marvallous Dr. Stu.

( Robin Hood, was even more awful than usual )

( Torchwood- They Keep Killing Suzie, which I swear was the episode title )

Now onto films.

( Nightwatch )

( Forrest Gump )

( First, I'd like to fire the fight choreographer )

Now on to rugby.

First, having finally seen the generally disgraceful behaviour of Willie Mason (and various GB players responding to it), I'd like to say I'm appalled. Because I remember seeing photos of Paul Deacon having to be carried off the field and the fact that he then had to have reconstructive surgery on the roof of his mouth. Many hours thereof. In a more selfish vein, Saints lost the Superleague last year because Sean Long was out for a couple of months due to a broken cheekbone and orbital thanks to a late, deliberate tackle. So cut it out, all of you.

But it was nice to see Great Britain win. I know it was just the Australians lulling them into a false sense of security, as they do every now and again, only to pound them into submission. Yet every time we hope against hope. And the knowledge that Darren Lockyer is just that good.

Goodness knows who GB will use instead of Long given that he's gone the way of many recent Saints greats and has been retired for GB service (seriously, from about 1992-1999, the GB coach was always a Wigan person, and if you played for Saints you didn't get a look in, so they all switched allegiance to Ireland) for reasons as yet unspecified. It's not like Danny Maguire is up to the job. He's not bad, but he's not Long. Richard Horne was the chosen replacement, which I can see the sense in because he really might well be that good but he unfortunately had his first match against Australia, which aren't exactly brilliant conditions to do scrum-half magic in.

Then again, we're talking about a coach who takes Rob Burrows on tour and then doesn't play him. Noble's an idiot, or at least not a good coach. I suggest a new coach for GB, preferably one without team affiliations, because in light of the problems with Long, it must be said that Noble is the Wigan manager so I trust him as far as I can throw him.

- Came second in the County foil. Got beaten by a 13 year old. Have sworn vengence next year.

Actually had a lot of fun and I think this girl will be good in a couple of years so I'm not too disheartened.

- No funky coloured trousers in Leicester. Am now accepting suggestions as to where to look for fun trousers.

- Did join Amnesty. Buying knitwear and more anime next weekend.

- Saw Robin Hood. Much better than usual. Much > everything else in the show as usual.

- Fireworks fun. There were pirates and much silliness.

- May have started yet another bout of rumours about me and another fencer but seriously, last night I was too tired to care and this morning, I'm too old to give a damn. I'm going to tell someone that one of these days. I am 21 not 13 therefore I have 1) the right to fuck around with whoever I want, 2) the right not to fuck around with whoever I want to (for varying definitions of the words 'to fuck around'). My life, my rules.

Anyway, I couldn't really go out with him, he's one of my babies i.e. he was a fresher the year I was on the committee and I'm so proud that they've all grown into nice young people. Then again, I'm also of they opinion that any educational establishment worth its salt also ought to help you grow as a person as well as help you learn, and that's what the fencers do. I wouldn't be the person I am today without several of the fencers, notably Danny and Babs and I'm basically acting as Babs in relation to Dave. Danny is acting as himself. It's basically an extension of what my Mum brought me up with which is, if you're going to do something silly do it with friends that will look out for you. And that's what societies and clubs provide.

This was an advert for society associations, societies and sports clubs ;)

Seriously, if you have friends or relatives or something else going to uni, encourage them to join at least one society or sports club, it will make their stay a lot more fun.

( This will not be a 500 word love letter to Captain Jack Harkness )

It says only good things about Torchwood that while I was trying to get to sleep I was actually thinking about it ( and )

But yes, Torchwood totally rocked. Need a Jack icon. Possibly to replace my one of 10 temporarily.

Which according to at least one of my fellow watchers made Robin Hood even more of a let down. Then again, he doesn't believe me when I say that once you're used to the awful bits (Robin's dialogue, the stupid camera work, that bloody arrow) it's kind of fun and amusing.

It was even more amusing to note that this episode also stuck to the tried and tested formula of Robin and Marian exchange unrealistic dialogue (although this week's was definitely an improvement on previous weeks), Robin annoys the Sheriff and Much declares his undying devotion and love to Robin.

Seriously, he did it again. And while I can and am totally willing to believe he means it in the same sense of friendly love that I normally mean, they're definitely sailing mighty close to the wind.

( Particular spoilers )

Remember I mock because I love. The Robin Hood myth, not this version, although it is kind of fun.

The new BBC Robin Hood is not as bad as expected. If you forgive the 'arty' style of the director - no Mr. Director using slomo repeat as a signature does not make you a good director - and the cheesiness they've reinforced despite claims that they were going to avoid it (seriously, they have an SFX arrow and sound to announce changes of location) it's not too bad.

I particularly like Much (who is not the Miller's son in this but is Robin's best friend and squire) and Will Scarlett, who is a very angry, and oddly socially concious, young man. They have tried to adapt it to make reference to the war in Iraq which are the worst bits since, as everyone knows, Robin didn't go to fight in the Crusades because he realised it was stupid.

Keith Allen is fantabulous as the Sheriff. I'm a little confused as to why, when everyone else speaks pretty much standard English (including the random serfs), Guy of Guisbourne has a thick Sheffield accent.

Also, I'm starting to see a pattern, Robin exchanges bad dialogue with Maid Marian, makes declarations of undying gratitude or love to Much (seriously, I do not jest) and then goes to annoy the Sheriff for kicks.