Mark Gatiss penned an episode which is a love letter both to Warner Bros' 1938 Technicolour, swashbuckling, marvel Robin Hood and to the Doctor. He then sprinkled in more than a dash of Robin Hood Men in Tights which seems to have broadened the appeal for most; and lessened it for me.
I ought to mention, right about here, that I'm not a huge fan of comedy under the best of circumstances. In fact, last Saturday's episode made me laugh only once, or twice - at best. So, I'm really not the target audience. Trying to be more objective about it, I re-watched again last evening. While there are moments (some exquisitely detailed acting, thank you Peter Capaldi) which I loved, I didn't find it any funnier on rewatch, than I did last weekend.
Robot of Sherwood is light, tea-time fare, for all that it aired at a later time in the evening. It has charm, but most of the charm it does have was - I feel - lifted almost directly from the Warner Bros original.
Both Jenna Coleman and Ben Miller excelled. Coleman is superb at playing the wide-eyed, hero-worshipping heroine, who is not at all a damsel in distress - regardless of dungeon, villain with designs, or garb. This episode is Clara in cosplay. Her costume and hair are worthy of a nod to both the costume department, and the make-up team. Or if I ignore the fourth wall then just let me say, I didn't realise the TARDIS wardrobe was also supplying hair extensions. But the ringlets? The crushed velvet dress, complete with bell sleeves? It's all gorgeous; and wouldn't be out of place on a 1930's Hollywood sound stage.
Complementing Coleman's performance (especially in the scene they have together) is Ben Miller. His villainous sheriff (first seen in a shot of a black riding boot and a swirl of a crushed velvet black cape) has the menace, malice, and the tinge of darkness seen in Rathbone's Guy of Gisbourne. Miller really calls that performance to mind, despite being stockier and possibly more overtly drawn in the vein of Alan Rickman's sheriff, circa Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. Black garb, flowing hair, beard, and a wicked tongue - I can see why younger viewers (or those not steeped in classic Hollywood film of yester-era) would think of the villain from Prince of Thieves Yet, even with the nod to the lethal power of the spoon (albeit the Doctor being armed with one, rather than the Sheriff cutting out a heart) I still think Miller's villain is penned more in the style of Rathbone than Rickman.
The hint in the text (apparently made clearer before the episode was edited due to appalling, current, world events) that the Sheriff was upgraded and is part robot, or cyborg confused me. He picks at the feast he partakes with Clara, but he dies eat. When did man become machine? Before the TARDIS landed and took an arrow to her side? I would have loved some clarification, something more than his just coming to an ignoble end, dipped in a vat of gold.
And the clue, or is that red herring, of the promised land? Is it a world where all are robots or cyborgs? Or some giant matrix? I did wonder if the Doctor's suppositions (as to whether or not the Sherwood Forest they find themselves in is real, a miniscape, or theme park) might not be a hint as to the X marking the end of the plot-trail, this series.
Weapons of choice in the episode, apropos of the Hollywood film, are arrows. And the golden arrow which saves the day, thanks to teamwork? It's such an iconic feature of the Warner Bros. film that, once Mark Gatiss chose to keep it in the script, it would have even downright odd for it to have been thrown away by the Doctor, and the writer.
Plus (though it's ham-fisted) the Doctor and Robin, at loggerheads for most of the episode, collaborate and save the day - at Clara's urging - thanks to the fortuitous arrow. I assume this foreshadows the future tone of the series once, Danny Pink comes aboard. On one level the entire episode is a competition between two fictional heroes to save a damsel who, basically saves them. It's all about whose arrow flies truest, and whose ego is bigger. For me, all the jousting, shouting and jostling, (chained and unchained) are the weakest parts of the episode. And, as I said, Errol wins in the er... ego stakes.
I did love the opening and the finale, those quieter moments which bookend the manic comedy. And, I do wonder if the mathematical calculations the Doctor is working on aren't something to do with finding the pocket universe Gallifrey is folded within. I also wonder why the Doctor doesn't want Clara telling his story, at this earlier point in time and space. It seems a little rum to have issues with her having told Robin, with having someone see him as heroic - for all that he refuses to cast himself in that light. I wonder if the issue is that he doesn't want his story told at all? And if so why?
I also really liked some of Mark Gatiss' writing and dialogue. The Doctor asking Clara:"When did you start believing in impossible heroes?" Her answer: "Don't you know?" Tom Riley's Robin may be a rather weak rendition of Errol Flynn's portrayal, but he is given some really excellent lines of dialogue, to juxtapose the booming laugh. "Withered Man-crone" is a brilliant description of this Doctor.
On first viewing Riley's portrayal really annoyed. On second viewing I admit it grated less. Still where guest stars are concerned, Miller realy stole the show. Acting-wise though, Peter Capaldi is in a whole other league. That moment after Marian kisses the 'Clever One' in thanks, Capaldi curling his hand against his cheek to press against the ghost of that kiss. Heart-breaking. Twelve's first kiss? Interestingly, it mirrors Clara's farewell kiss to Robin later in the episode. And, I can't help feeling that her farewell to one hero foreshadows her farewell (at some later time) to another: "Be safe, if you can. But, always be amazing!"
Although I loved Clara (for all that the tae-kwon-do seems to come out of left field) I might have liked a little more disquiet at her dungeon captivity. Marian, rescued and gifted to Robin, by the end of the episode seems like a sop to the original story. Interestingly, she's not Warner Bros' Olivia de Havilland's Marian. No ward of Prince John here.
I wish the episode had been amazing. I'm probably in the minority, feeling that, played for laughs an opportunity was missed in this meeting of two great British folkloric heroes. Is the Doctor the stuff of folklore? I think so, yes. I also would have wanted less comedy and more drama, but from a brief glance at the reviews in the press (haven't had a chance to pop into a comm or peruse a blog) I know I am very much in the minority.
One more thing, if you've never seen the 1938 Warner Bros "Robin Hood" rent it from Netflicks or Love Film, or hunt down a web stream. It is perfect Saturday afternoon matinee telly. Really.