If you haven't seen the show by now, then there are definitely spoilers. Love: Guy, the sheriff and Prince John. Likes: Much, Allan and so-so Marian. Costumes were terrible at times. I kind of expected that Robin would always win the day, but I think some of the sheriff's schemes should have borne some fruit for a time. The bumbling guards made Guy (imho) seem extremely incompetent, it was obvious he was not always to blame. The night watchman was a ridiculous character that could whip the arses of men twice her size. Especially Gisborne. And the fact that they could not figure out that she was a woman made me want to tear my hair out. All of the other reviews who mentioned the political correctness of the time we're spot-on. I cannot believe they did not know enough about history to to glorify Muslims during the Crusades. Then to have a saracen woman scolding the Gang for how horribly they treated her people and her King, Saladin was ridiculous. still I found it amusing and enjoyable. Especially the very handsome Richard Armitage. The fun and cheeky Jonas Armstrong the blusterous angry and sometimes well most times extremely funny Sheriff and the pompous, pouting preening Prince we're definitely the stars of the show. I still like watching it today even though it's been out since 2009. if they were trying to make an historical record I think it would have been obvious. But it seems to me that it was just meant to be fun. The saracen bow is supposed to stretch out longer as you pull it which is supposedly to make it more efficient to use without having to carry a cumbersome long bow. However, the Longbow is for that era the best sword to use in a fight. The Scimitar was only good for riding horseback and chopping off people's heads,. the show was fun and the humor was quirky. And I still love it today!

For a BBC production I was surprised at the poor acting in this series. I watched the first 13 episodes, more to please the rest of the family than anything else really. Then I thought that maybe the intention of the directors here was to make a TV series for children. Maybe the over-dramatic sheriff finds some interest among this group of viewers. Other roles too were more clichés, full of over-play, fake expressions, more so than anything else. Somehow I also believe the actors were not fully to blame here, for example Richard Arimitage has shown he's a good actor, for example in "Spookes".Watching this series made me think about what children like to watch. I also saw that many of the actors were young. Maybe that is another "quality" for children. I cannot understand that this series appeals to those over 18, or maybe someone can enlighten me on this issue.

I tried watching this a couple times over the years, but kept stopping at the first episode because it was just so bad. But then I carelessly started it again recently - as background entertainment while I worked on a sewing project - and ended up sticking with it (though only half-absorbed most of the time) all the way through. Richard Armitage was great, but his earnest attempt to make something of his character could get awkward in contrast with the bad writing (I'd sometimes cringe, or laugh, or both, thinking, 'poor Richard Armitage, what will they make him do next?'). Harry Lloyd was underutilized. I was hoping (and had sufficient cause to presume) that his character was in love with Robin, but whatever gay subtext I thought I saw forming earlier on was sadly dispensed with. Marion always had a faraway look on her face (but less in a dreaming-of-a-better-world way, and more like she was shrooming). Toby Stephens was an unexpected treat in the third season, and made me feel a little less guilty for putting up with it still.I think this anonymous netflix review said it best: "I thought this show was great!..... Then my high wore off. It's campy, super cheesy, poorly cast, bad costumes and historically inaccurate but if you've got nothing else to watch it's not bad. The guy of Gibson is kind of hot, and you see him shirtless a few times."

WASTE OF TIME, HERE'S WHY... There are at least some qualities to be said about this show. In the first season, you like the characters, you hate the villains, and some of the poor character decisions are bearable, possibly even understandable. Then, all the sudden, my daily boredom juice of watching this show turned into a sour concoction of evilness and political correct decisions made by so called heroes with stature, who have no problem killing all the kings guards, and then have an issue bringing their leader, who really is truly truly evil, to justice. WHAT'S WITH ALL THIS INJUSTICE! RAAAHHH! I can't quite find the appropriate words for a PG review. But these men, these writers, these characters that I was wrapped into liking, are cowardly, moronic, and have absolutely no stones. Don't waste your time. It will just... (anger) you off... Marian's not hot enough to make up for the short comings and idiocy of this show.