Watch Maid Marian and Her Merry Men

Maid Marian and Her Merry Men is a British children's television series that aired on BBC One from 1989 until 1994. Produced and created by Tony Robinson, the show puts a clever and hilarious spin on the classic tale of Robin Hood, centered on the character of Maid Marian. It features a talented cast of actors, including Kate Lonergan as the spirited Maid Marian, Wayne Morris as Robin Hood (who is depicted as quite a weakling), Danny John-Jules as the swashbuckling Cat, and Howard Lew Lewis as the dimwitted Little Ron.

The show subverts the traditional narrative of Robin Hood in a number of ways. For one thing, Marian is the true hero of the show, while Robin Hood is more of a bumbling sidekick. Marian is a young woman with a talent for archery, and she's determined to change the world and make it a better place. She puts together a band of unlikely allies - a streetwise cat, a dimwitted squire, and a cowardly Robin Hood - to fight against the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham and his cronies.

The supporting cast is also a joy to watch. The show's villains are portrayed as buffoons: the Sheriff of Nottingham is a vain and pompous figure whose plans always seem to be foiled by his own ineptitude, while his sidekick, Guy of Gisborne, is a hapless henchman who may as well be a walking punchline. The rest of the Merry Men are a motley crew of misfits, including the aforementioned Little Ron, whose main talent is lifting heavy objects, and Barrington, a gentle giant who is relentlessly bullied by the others.

The show is notable for its humor, which is a mix of high-energy slapstick and clever wordplay. There are some genuinely clever jokes, including some that poke fun at modern-day culture (at one point, the sheriff invents a "fax machine" that sends messages by carrier pigeon). The show's anarchic spirit is also evident in the way it breaks the fourth wall: characters routinely address the camera directly, and there's a sense that anything can happen at any moment.

Despite being a show for children, Maid Marian and Her Merry Men doesn't shy away from some darker themes. The Sheriff of Nottingham is a corrupt and oppressive figure who enforces his rule through fear and intimidation, and there are some genuinely tense moments when the Merry Men are on the run from his soldiers. There's also a sense of real danger, with characters getting into fights and being kidnapped or imprisoned.

However, the darker moments are always balanced out by the show's unbridled sense of fun. The show has a real sense of joy about it, and it's impossible not to be swept up in the sheer exuberance of the action. The characters, despite their flaws, are all genuinely likable, and it's hard not to root for them as they struggle against the odds.

Overall, Maid Marian and Her Merry Men is a true classic of British children's television. It's a show that isn't afraid to take risks, subvert expectations, and put its own unique spin on a well-known story. With its talented cast, clever writing, and irreverent humor, it's a show that deserves to be remembered fondly by anyone who grew up watching it.

Maid Marian and Her Merry Men is a series that ran for 5 seasons (26 episodes) between January 1, 1970 and on BBC 1