This Week On Robin Hood – 12 – 05 – 09

Robin (Jonas Armstrong) prepares his battle plan. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

It looks like BBC America amended their previously announced schedule and aired episode 12 last week (11-28-09), with episode 13, the series finale, airing tonight. So there are two episode updates this week. Sorry for being a week behind! 

SPOILER ALERT!! – Robin (Jonas Armstrong) and Gisborne (Richard Armitage) ride out to meet the Sheriff (Keith Allen). He won back the Prince’s (Toby Stephens) patronage by securing him the services of a deadly European fighting force who stand behind him now. He orders the firing of a flaming missile over the town walls with his trebuchets and tells Robin he has until dawn to surrender Nottingham and Gisborne or they will all be annihilated. Gisborne offers to give himself up, but Robin tells him this is bigger than him – it’s about the future of England. The outlaws say goodbye to Allan as they place his body on a small pyre. As the Sheriff’s battering ram smashes through the town gates, Robin leads a team of archers to take on the invading soldiers – but the Sheriff’s men keep coming. Gisborne, Robin, Archer (Clive Standen) and the outlaws all find resolve in highly unexpected ways. Episode thirteen (season/series finale) airs Saturday, December 5th @ 9:00 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America. 

Isabella (Lara Pulver) and Gisborne (Richard Armitage). Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

Archer (Clive Standen) lends his half-brothers, Robin and Gisborne, a hand. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

As noted above, all photos copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

This Week On Robin Hood – 11 – 28 – 09

Robin (Jonas Armstrong) strikes an heroic pose! Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

SPOILER ALERT!! – The outlaws intercept a message from Isabella (Lara Pulver) for Prince John (Toby Stephens). King Richard’s return is imminent and Isabella has agreed to supply the Prince with 300 men and supplies to help with his preparations for a battle for the throne. Robin (Jonas Armstrong), Gisborne (Richard Armitage) and Much (Sam Troughton) plan to storm the castle. If they fail to take the castle, Tuck (David Harewood) and Little John (Gordon Kennedy) will try their best to stop the convoy of men and supplies getting to Prince John. They appeal to the Locksley men to help, but to Tuck’s disappointment, they’re too frightened to stand up for what’s right. Thanks to some surprising allies, Robin triumphantly takes the castle. But there is a delivery at the town fates – Allan’s corpse followed by the old Sheriff, who they though was dead, and a huge army. Episode twelve of season three airs Saturday, November 28th @ 9:00 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America.  

Sir Guy of Gisborne (Richard Armitage) has a contemplative moment. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

As noted above, all photos copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Jonas Armstrong Talks About Robin Hood

Jonas Armstrong as the legendary Robin Hood. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

In the last of a series of three BBC America Q & A’s with the cast of Robin Hood, the show’s leading man, Jonas Armstrong, takes a few minutes out from stealing from the rich and giving to the poor to answer a few questions. Enjoy! 

How has Robin changed since the death of Marian? 

Jonas Armstrong – Although Robin is totally devastated losing his wife, it takes him in a new direction for fans. I’ve always tried to find the darker aspects of the character because the good sides are clearly there for all to see. But now that Robin has lost Marian, the heartbeat of his life, I’ve been able to darken and deepen him. The beginning of season three is explosive – it’s really strong. Robin has just gone mad because he’s obsessed with revenge. He must kill Gisborne (Richard Armitage) whatever the cost to himself and others. So he doesn’t care about his men and being the champion of the people. All that is gone. 

What are your feelings about Kate becoming a love interest for Robin? 

JA – There is potential, but you’ll just have to wait and see! Kate (Joanne Froggatt) has her own quest. She’s like a mini-vigilante all by herself – her family have suffered a terrible loss at the hands of Gisborne. Robin and the gang have to calm her down, otherwise she’ll be killed, too. Eventually she joins the lads and become indispensible to them. Joanne’s performance as Kate is fantastic. 

What are your thoughts about this series being your last? 

JA – I wouldn’t swap the experience for anything. I feel immensely lucky to have played Robin Hood for three years and I’ve had the time of my life in the role. But the show has to keep changing and evolving – we’ve done about 30 hours now of Robin Hood, so it needs to go in different directions. It’s the greatest experience I’ve had in my career so far, but you can’t do one thing for too long. It’s a brilliant finale to the three years. We all got quite emotional watching it and were trying to hold the tears back. We’ve been racing around those forests for three seasons and we’ve been through a lot together and become true comrades at arms. 

As noted above, photo is copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

This Week On Robin Hood – 11 – 21 – 09

Archer (Clive Standen) and Robin (Jonas Armstrong). Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

SPOILER ALERT!! – Robin (Jonas Armstrong) and Guy (Richard Armitage) resolve to go to York to free their half-brother, Archer (Clive Standen), but it’s not long before old tensions soon re-surface and they’re fighting again. Allan (Joe Armstrong) spots them and the outlaws leap to Robin’s defense, but to their surprise Robin stops them and announces that Gisborne is one of them. Meanwhile, Isabella (Lara Pulver) is anxious to know the whereabouts of Hood and Gisborne. She pays Lipscomb, who collects the tolls on the Great North Road, to gather information for her. When Robin and Gisborne rob the tollhouse, Lipscomb takes word to Isabella that her two enemies are heading to York together. Isabella grows paranoid – what are they plotting? She sends her Guard to the Sheriff of York to offer 100 crowns each for their heads – alive. In Sherwood, Little John (Toby Stephens) is still reeling from the shock of Robin working with Gisborne. They’re meant to protect the people and they’ve joined forces with their oppressor. He storms off, but Allan chases after him. The outlaws are Robin’s only hope. Episode eleven of season three airs Saturday, November 21st @ 9 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America.

An unlikely alliance - Gisborne (Richard Armitage), Archer (Clive Standen) and Robin (Jonas Armstrong). Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

Things do not look good for Gisborne. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

And Robin's prospects look none the better! Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

As noted above, all photos copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

This Week On Robin Hood – 11 – 14 – 09

Gisborne (Richard Armitage) contemplates his future. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

SPOILER ALERT!! – Thanks to Prince John (Toby Stephens), Gisborne (Richard Armitage) has gone from sheriff to outlaw and is now living in the forest. Robin (Jonas Armstrong) comes across him but their standoff is brought to an abrupt halt when they are both hit by tranquilizer darts. Robin meets his father again, who he believed had died in a house fire when he was a child. He learns his father was too ashamed to face him again after he accidentally killed Gisborne’s mother, his lover, Ghislaine (Sophie Winkleman). Robin learns that his father and Ghislaine had an affair and a child was born and given away. This child, named Archer (Clive Standen), half-brother to Gisborne and Robin, is in York Jail awaiting execution. Robin’s dying father appeals to Robin and Gisborne to end the cycle of violence started by their fathers and unite to save their brother. Episode ten of season three airs Saturday, November 14th @ 9 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America.

Dean Lennox Kelly as Malcolm. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

As noted above, photos copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

This Week on Robin Hood – 11 – 07 – 09

Kate (Joanne Froggatt) and Robin (Jonas Armstrong) plan their next move. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

SPOILER ALERT!! – Robin (Jonas Armstrong) breaks into Isabella’s (Lara Pulver) chamber at night to strike a deal. If she will keep him informed about Prince John’s (Toby Stephens) plans, he’ll protect her when the King returns. She calls for her guards but Robin escapes. Isabella presides over the trial of Meg (Holliday Grainger), a young woman charged with disobeying her father and refusing marriage-suitors. Isabella likes Meg’s attitude and frees her. Isabella is determined to win the peoples’ respect. Robin is hopeful for Nottingham’s future but her rule is brought to an abrupt end when her husband, Squire Thornton (Nicholas Gleaves), arrives and announces he’s taking over as Sheriff. Isabella orders her guards to arrest Thornton, but he tells her if his men don’t receive word of his safety, they’ll ride to Prince John to inform him she is a deserting wife, a criminal. Isabella would lose everything. Robin and Kate (Joanne Froggatt) surreptitiously watch Thornton dig up a Danish burial mound – the gold coins in the ground. Robin finds Isabella and agrees to get rid of Thornton if she agrees to give up the hoard and accept his deal to secretly share her power. But can he trust a Gisborne, male or female? Episode nine of season three airs Saturday, November 7th @ 9 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America.

Sir Guy of Gisborne (Richard Armitage) has suddenly fallen from someone's grace. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

Hoping to keep his head on his shoulders, Sir Guy awaits his fate. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

As noted above, all photos copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

David Harewood Talks About Robin Hood

David Harewood as the re-imagined Friar Tuck in BBC's Robin Hood. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

Continuing the series of Q & A’s with the stars of Robin Hood, season three of which is currently airing on BBC America. This time around, David Harwood chats about life in Sherwood Forest as Friar Tuck.

What do you think of this modern version of your character, Friar Tuck?

DAVID HAREWOOD – Creating a modern, strong Tuck for a 21st-century audience is a terrific opportunity and a real challenge, because many of us already have a picture of a roly-poly monk who loves his food and drink. But the new Tuck’s heart and mind are elsewhere. He’s a warrior poet, a man of vision and imagination, who has a very hands-on approach when it comes to justice and freedom and, believe me, you want him on your side!

I actually laughed at first and thought it was ridiculous! But they sent me that character breakdown and it was very different from what I expected. It was a welcome change and something I really felt was going to be exciting. Funnily enough, when I first saw Robin Hood, when it started three years ago, I thought they’d missed a trick and that they should have had a black character in it. It turns out that I am the black character, so I think it adds a modern dimension to it as well. I think viewers will really take to it…at least I hope they will.

Tuck is very much is own person. Many times he will go against Robin (Jonas Armstrong), argue with him, talk him into doing things he doesn’t want to do. I think he’s going to be a challenge to the whole group.

What do you think Tuck wants from Robin Hood?

DH – He wants England to be a place of hope, but he comes back to find that the people are slightly broken, much like they are now with the credit crunch! The people need a hero, and that’s what Tuck very much wants – to stand behind a symbol of good. If he did have an ulterior motive, I think it would be to make the country a republic. He’s not necessarily in love with the country at all. He’s very much for the people, by the people and, if it was up to him, he’d get rid of the monarchy and make it a republic. He wants the people to govern and be happy.

What type of training did you do for this role?

DH – My stunt double was a kind of capoeira champion, and there’s quite a lot of martial arts that my character does later on in the series which was really, really fun to do and very physical. It was a very enjoyable good romp. The guys were great fun, it was an amazing setting and the cast and crew were great. The series is fantastic, action-packed and it has something in it for the ladies as well as the guys; it’s just a very entertaining show. There’s a lot of comedy, but the ending is extremely moving.

As noted above, photo is copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

This Week On Robin Hood – 10 – 31 – 09

Robin (Jonas Armstrong) takes aim as Kate (Joanne Froggatt) looks on. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions

SPOILER ALERT!! – Prince John (Toby Stephens) announces that King Richard has been killed in the Holy Land and that he is to be crowned king. The outlaws are devastated by the news, but Robin (Jonas Armstrong) suspects that something doesn’t add up. He investigates the claim and realizes the truth – that King Richard is not dead and that Prince John plans to steal England from under him. At the coronation, Robin and the outlaws launch an elaborate scheme to successfully expose Prince John’s lie and save England. Isabella (Lara Pulver) saves Prince John’s life and he rewards her by appointing her sheriff before leaving Nottingham. Episode eight of season three airs Saturday, October 31st at 9 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America.

Lord Sheridan (Robert Pugh) confers with Isabella (Lara Pulver). Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions

As noted above, all photos copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

This Week On Robin Hood – 10 – 24 – 09

Robin (Jonas Armstrong) and Kate (Joanne Froggatt) share a secret. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

SPOILER ALERT!! – There is a heat wave in Nottingham and the villages are short of water. Prince John (Toby Stephens) hatches a plan to block the castle’s underground stream in order to control the local water resources. Isabella (Lara Pulver) and Robin (Jonas Armstrong) can no longer deny their feelings for each other and secretly meet. Without Robin, the gang launches a mission to retrieve water for the dehydrated villagers. Meanwhile, Gisborne (Richard Armitage) is furious to see his sister kissing his mortal enemy and, under instructions from Prince John, lures Robin and Isabella to the underground spring, trapping them inside as the water rises. Episode seven of season three airs Saturday, October 24th @ 9 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America.

Robin must think quick if he is to save himself and Isabella. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

As noted above, all photos copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

This Week On Robin Hood – 10 – 17 – 09

Isabella (Lara Pulver) and Prince John (Toby Stephens). Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

SPOILER ALERT!! – Prince John (Toby Stephens) arrives in Nottingham. Publicly, he is here to meet his loyal subjects, but privately he wants to put an end to the Sheriff’s (Keith Allen) and Gisborne’s (Richard Armitage) way of running things. The Prince feels there’s only room for one sidekick, but who will it be? In the dead of night he asks Gisborne to kill the Sheriff, and, soon after, he summons the Sheriff and tells him to kill the treacherous Gisborne. The two men finally face each other in an epic duel. Tuck (David Harewood) informs Robin (Jonas Armstrong) that the Prince has been touring England, buying the loyalty of nobles to help him seize King Richard’s throne. Robin decides to steal the Prince’s gold to stop him and recruits the Locksley villagers to help the outlaws ambush the Prince’s retinue as they travel through the forest. However, they succeed only in capturing the Prince’s “double” and a treasure chest of stones. Episode seven of season three airs Saturday, October 17th @ 9 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America.

As noted above, photo is copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!