Hey guess what! If you're in the UK, Maid Marian and Her Merry Men is being repeated on the CBBC Channel at 2.30 every Saturday and Sunday!!! [And of course, it's also partially on DVD...]
How the Band Got Together is on tomorrow, followed by Robert the Incredible Chicken on Sunday.
What is it? It's a brilliant show. It is shown on kids channels/kids times, because it's suitable for children. It's like Shrek. But, also like Shrek, adults can watch it and love it, and when it originally came out, it was a huge success amongst students, both highschool and university, and many parents would sit down to watch it with their kids as well.
It's written by Tony Robinson, ie, Baldrick from Blackadder, and he also is The Sheriff of Nottingham in it. Danny John Jules, ie, Cat from Red Dwarf, plays Barrington, a rastafarian merry man. It's basically the 'true' story of the Robin Hood legends. Quite feminist, and it's about the fact that it was Marian who was the leader, and Robin Hood was just assumed to be the leader because he's a man and all the girls have a crush on him, so of course, he simply must be in charge, right? But in reality, he's a vain, cowardly, gullible, metrosexual/yuppie tailor. It's full of historical anacronisms and references to the modern day, as well as parodies, political and cultural commentaries, and innuendoes.
It is also a musical, and at least once an episode, someone will burst into song. It's like a mix between a musical, Blackadder, and Red Dwarf, but with less sexual references. It's what got me into britcoms and it was the first show I ever obsessed over.
Tony Robinson wrote it because his 9 year old daughter was fed up with there never being any good female characters on tv.
The other characters are, The Sheriff, who is fairly intelligent (though, everyone in the show isn't exactly intelligent... things like a guy dressing in a wig and dress 'fooling' everyone into believing that he's Marian...), and his henchmen, Gary and Graeme, who are castle guards, very sweet, innocent, and are 'bestest mates'... but also have GSCEs in Killing, Maiming and Chewing People's Heads Off. The actors have described the characters as CAF or 'camp as *beep*
Then there's King John, bald, shouty, good with threats, favourite hobby is torture, has been known to eat the hay for his horses and his horses, because he's incredibly greedy. He's always after money or goods.
Then there's Guy of Gisbourne, who is the King's idiot nephew who seems to have the mind of a four year old. He's 28.
And Rose Scargill, Marian's ex best friend who is now on the baddies side, living in the castle.
Then there's Little Ron, a violent midget, Rabies, a strong idiot, and Barrington, a cool rastafarian.
And the Villagers, who have only got huts and mud. And eat at Mud Donalds. They're starving, highly unintelligent, dirty, and downtrodden. And totally fangirling/boying over Robin.
here's some clips!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5C1ITKawD4 "Rabies In Love". One of the songs. This is the valentine's day episode.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WERMGYQBXwc "Pancake Day" song, sung by Barrington. He tends to be the narrator.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1cLNS8jL7Y The song "Robin Hood". An example of the stuff i'm surprised the CBBC let them get away with. "If i were an arrow I would climb inside his quiver" etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BorejUOJ5-o some out takes involving Tony Robinson, David Lloyd, and Mark Billingham (ie, Sheriff, Graeme and Gary). Mark Billingham is now a successful crime writer. These outtakes are just so cute.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdmTAeNt7bQ "Much". Another song, from the Christmas Special episode.
As you can see, it's hardly historically accurate. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loc58KFIJys I love this song. The Sheriff invents secular christmas in this episode. :D But he calls it "Bloopy" because it was just a random word he came up with.
The King insisted on being given a present, and they got a giant jellybaby the same size as the King. But then the Merry Men stole it as they were taking it home. (what I love about this show also, is that you feel bad for the Sheriff quite a bit). So the Sheriff knows that he's going to be hurt rather badly if he doesn't have a good reason. So he says it was a public holiday so it couldn't be delivered. And the King's like 'what public holiday???' and Gary says "um...Bloopy!" and then they just invent this holiday. :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWhLp2Zpn1w the absolutely brilliant end titles! Really catchy themesong.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUhEJ9lUPYE this is how the first episode started.
Anyway! I *highly* recommend it if you don't mind that it's not as adult as some shows. Or, if you think you're too mature for it (in your opinion) get younger siblings, or your children, or your cousins or whatever, to watch it!
http://www.maidmarianandhermerrymen.co.uk
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