Radio Times

• Episode 1/13 Sisterhood

  The outlaws set up home in their newly built camp, but it's a different story for Marian and her father. Their home has been destroyed and the pair are held captive at the castle. A disheartened Allan leaves the gang as Robin seeks a way to help a woman and her daughters, and rescue Marian. But Robin soon faces an even greater challenge - foiling the Sheriff's latest traitorous plot.

  RT Choice (David Butcher, 6 October 2007)

  Early signs are that this rollicking kids' drama has lost none of its rollicks. Providing you're content to be swept along by the action (and that gallopy theme tune), most adults should be happy to swallow their reservations about the jinking plots and historical howlers. I swear, before the series is done, Robin will get himself out of trouble by producing a 3G mobile phone from his hoodie.

• Episode 2/13 The Booby and the Beast

  Robin learns that the Sheriff is keeping the funds for his plot to overthrow King Richard in a strongroom at the castle. But the Sheriff foresees the outlaw's attempt to break in and sets a series of traps to prevent him stealing the money. Meanwhile, a Bavarian count arrives to gamble at the medieval casino, unaware of the Sheriff's plan to cheat him. Hotel Babylon's Dexter Fletcher guest-stars.

  RT Choice (Jane Rackham, 13 October 2007)

  I've watched this episode very carefully. I've even freeze-framed bits. And I'm absolutely certain: Robin Hood has its tongue in its cheek. The Sheriff of Nottingham (Keith Allen) acts as if he's in Carry On Up Sherwood Forest, and I suspect Marian (Lucy Griffiths) thinks she's in a medieval version of The Devil Wears Prada because of her Vivienne Westwood-style costumes. Meanwhile, Gisborne (Richard Armitage) is a pantomime villain. All of which is absolutely fine, because as a serious historical drama this is nonsense, but as a light-hearted romp it does the job nicely.

• Episode 3/13 Child Hood

  A group of children are taken prisoner after stumbling across Gisborne's secret weapons-testing site. One of them manages to escape and warn Robin that Gisborne has developed an indestructible suit of armour, leaving the gang facing a twofold challenge: save the captive boys from a death sentence, and prevent Gisborne from using his latest invention to dethrone King Richard.

  RT Choice (David Butcher, 20 October 2007)

  There's a moment tonight, as the dastardly Sir Guy of Gisborne gets himself in a spot of difficulty, when we cut to a reaction shot from the Sheriff, who does a wonderful pantomime grimace, rolling his eyes to the heavens at the uselessness of everyone around him. It's the kind of expert mugging we've come to love from Keith Allen, whose performance will, I suspect, be the one from this series that in 20 years' time is still fondly remembered in pub conversations and nostalgia shows.

• Episode 4/13 The Angel of Death

  An outbreak of illness in Nottingham is blamed on the pestilence. But the truth is, the Sheriff and scientist Joseph (guest star Ralf Little) are testing a chemical weapon. Will's father Dan suspects that the locals are being used as guinea pigs - and pays the price for speaking out. As Robin and the outlaws try to determine the source of the poisoning, Will sets out to wreak revenge.

  RT Choice (David Butcher, 27 October 2007)

  Will Scarlett goes on a dark journey of revenge, which involves Harry Lloyd acting far better than this series is used to. For a moment, it's like real drama; then normal service is resumed and we're back to boisterous panto. Phew.

• Episode 5/13 Ducking and Diving

  Wisewoman Matilda agrees to help Robin silence the Sheriff's spy, Henry of Lewes. But when the Sheriff uncovers Matilda's link to the outlaws, her life is in peril. Robin must rescue her before she pays the ultimate price for aiding him - but he must also work out which member of his gang has turned traitor and is feeding information to Gisborne.

  RT Choice (Jane Rackham, 3 November 2007)

  Yak, yak, yakety yak. Why does Robin Hood talk so much? Any other medieval outlaw, confronted with the identity of a traitor in his camp, would run the wretched spy through with his sword, but not Robin. He tries to talk the bloke to death.

  Someone needs to give our hero a bit more swashbuckle and a little less chinwag.

• Episode 6/13 For England…!

  The Black Knights congregate at the castle to sign a pact supporting Prince John. The outlaws adopt an ingenious disguise to infiltrate their ranks, giving Robin the chance to confront one Black Knight in particular - Winchester (guest star Denis Lawson). Can Robin persuade Winchester to turn against his comrades and help him defeat the Sheriff's plan to dethrone King Richard?

  RT Choice (Alison Graham, 10 November 2007)

  It's breathless and fun, with guest star Denis Lawson very sinister indeed as the charming and ruthless Sheriff of Winchester.

• Episode 7/13 Show Me the Money

  Robin's desperate to get hold of the Great Pact of Nottingham as proof of the Sheriff's treason. He strikes a deal with lovelorn Knight John of York that should enable him to find the document. But he hadn't bargained on Allan A Dale filling Gisborne in on the outlaws' plans, and before long Marian's in peril. Meanwhile, Edward resolves to escape the dungeon and steal the Pact himself.

  RT Choice (Alison Graham, 17 November 2007)

  There's lots of roistering fun and fighting, but things get serious when Robin has to say farewell to a trusted friend.

• Episode 8/13 Get Carter!

  The outlaws are defending the people of Clun village from pillage and assault by the Sheriff's men but their adversary is winning. The arrival of a courageous ex-Crusader named Carter brings hope to the weary men. Little do they know that Carter has been sent by the Sheriff himself to infiltrate Robin's camp and retrieve the Pact of Nottingham. And Carter has his own reasons for wishing to see Robin dead…

  RT Choice (Alison Graham, 24 November 2007)

  For all its wonderful swordplay and derring-do, I often feel Robin Hood is the wettest drama on TV. Take this episode, which starts brilliantly with a black-clad man doing acrobatic things with swords and knives. He's a baddie and he's out to kill Robin (who isn't)? But fairly quickly he and Robin are hugging and crying. Oh, for heaven's sake, can't villains just be evil, without all this touchy-feely nonsense?

• Episode 9/13 Lardner's Ring

  Robin receives a mysterious message from King Richard when a wounded emissary arrives exhausted in his camp. With his dying breath the man communicates the king's wish that Robin joins in him in the Holy Land and utters the word "Lardner". But no one knows what the word means. Meanwhile, the Sheriff and Gisborne are ransacking Locksley Village in the belief that whatever Lardner is, it will be found there.

• Episode 10/13 Walkabout

  The Sheriff has disappeared but Prince John's army is looming, so Guy and Marian must join forces to convince John's messenger, Jasper, that all is well. Meanwhile, Robin goes in search of the Sheriff in Sherwood Forest, but the Sheriff has joined a group of vagrants and infiltrated Robin's camp disguised as a blind beggar. Can Robin, Marian and Guy protect the Pact and save Nottingham from destruction by Prince John?

• Episode 11/13 Treasure of the Nation

  Robin and his band are plotting to rescue Locksley from the Sheriff, who has turned the villagers out of their homes to provide shelter for an army of mercenaries. Then King Richard sends an urgent message to Robin asking him to move his "thesaurus patriae" or "treasure of the nation", forcing Robin to temporarily abandon the village. But Marian continues the fight - a risky strategy that could expose her allegiance to Robin.

• Episode 12/13 A Good Day to Die

  The outlaws gather to celebrate Robin's birthday, but the mood turns sour when they find themselves trapped in a barn, surrounded by the Sheriff's mercenaries. Are things quite what they seem, though? Allan-a-Dale makes a shocking realisation and must decide once and for all whose side he's on. Meanwhile, Marian is determined to put a stop to the Sheriff's murderous plans.

• Episode 13/13 We Are Robin Hood

  Marian, Robin and his men follow The Sheriff and Gisborne to the Holy Land, desperate to warn King Richard of the plot against him. But the silver-tongued Sheriff has already convinced the King that Robin is not to be trusted, and the outlaws find themselves being treated as traitors. Elsewhere, Gisborne must decide what he really wants when Marian comes to him with an offer.

Go to Series one