Robin Hood 1x01 "Will You Tolerate This?"

[Xyanthon]

<sigh> - I really wish Robin of Sherwood would come out on DVD In the US.

I dunno why we get really obscure shows like Omega Factor and Sapphire & Steel, but not something like that which was actually aired in the US in sydnication (and maybe on Showtime, too). (Or for that matter, Blake's 7). But I digress.

Hopefully BBC America will show this one eventually, if the Sci-Fi channel or something doesn't snatch it up...

You can get it in the US. Here's the website to order it directly from Network video (who is distributing it). This link is for the complete Series in the NTSC Region 0 format: http://www.networkdvd.co.uk/product.php?GROUP_ID=28&PROD_ID=184

I got it a few months ago and it has been on of the best DVD purchases I've ever made (YMMV). I'm a huge fan of the show. The complete series is somewhat expensive (I think in the end it cam out to be around $180) but that was a small price to pay. I still think it is the best take on Robin (even though it doesn't follow the original story very closely).

 

[Steel_Wind]

The new Robin, now being shown on BBC1 on Saturday nights (in Doctor Who's timeslot), is a co-production of BBC America. I expect they will be the one's showing it in the USA in 2007.

Which, in a world increasingly being levelled by BitTorrents, is damned stupid marketing and distro. It should be available now.

Oh wait. It is. Just not so that the people who made it are making any money off of it.

Yes, it is being broadcast in HD format as well in the UK.

There is a lot more buckling of swashes in this version. I would have preferred a revistiing of the darker Michael Praed Robin of Sherwood . A shame Micheal Praed left that show to go be a big star on Dynasty. Look where that got him? Precisely nowhere. Ah well.

 

[variant]

Didn't like it at all.

War for Pope Gregory? Did they even research the war King Richard the Lionheart fought or did they basically look up the Pope of that year? The King never answered to the Pope, especially King Richard.

 

[Iku Rex]

War for Pope Gregory? Did they even research the war King Richard the Lionheart fought or did they basically look up the Pope of that year? The King never answered to the Pope, especially King Richard.

The third crusade, which Richard fought in, was initiated by Pope Gregory VIII. I'd say that justifies calling it "Pope Gregory's holy war".

 

[variant]

The third crusade, which Richard fought in, was initiated by Pope Gregory VIII. I'd say that justifies calling it "Pope Gregory's holy war".

It was King Richard that pushed for the war. As it was his goal to take back the Holy Land. You can see this as King Henry II and Phillp went home while Richard continued on. It was only the trouble in his own kingdom and the worry of what King Phillip was up to that got King Richard to turn for home.

 

[Mark Hope]

It was King Richard that pushed for the war. As it was his goal to take back the Holy Land. You can see this as King Henry II and Phillp went home while Richard continued on. It was only the trouble in his own kingdom and the worry of what King Phillip was up to that got King Richard to turn for home.

This is wholly inaccurate.

The loss of Jerusalem following the debacle of the Battle of the Horns of Hittin (itself the consequence of a degenerating situation in the Levant, catalysed by raids carried out by Reynald de Chatillon) led to a call for Crusade. Pope Gregory insisted that the loss of Jerusalem was a punishment for Christian impiety across Europe - his first act as Pope was actually to issue the papal bull (decree) calling for Crusade.

Although Henry II supported the Crusade, he died before ever embarking upon it. It was his son Richard who took the English on Crusade. Phillip II did go, but eventually departed the Holy Land, due to a combination of poor health and political and military disagreement with Richard. Richard didn't leave just due to worries about Phillip (although these will have been a lesser factor) - he left because Saladin outmaneuvered him in the larger crusade. Although Richard was able to win battle after battle, he was unable to take Jerusalem and was forced into a truce, leaving the Holy Land somewhat dejected. He subsequently spent a long period imprisoned by rivals from the Crusade whom he had insulted, and was ransomed for something like 150,000 marks (which was one of the causes for all the taxes being levied back in England, something which is not often mentioned in Robin Hood stories).

So calling it "Gregory's Crusade" is not that inaccurate after all. It was the case that only Popes could call for Crusade, and not kings. The Fourth Crusade is a perfect example of what happens when this goes wildly awry.