However, once you get over Praed's departure, there are ample compensations...

Series three sees the production team finally getting the resources the series deserved. The first two series were inspired in terms of Richard Carpenter's vision, but there was always the feeling of constraint: not enough time to really polish the scripts, not enough money for the highest production values (remember the woollen chain mail in series 1?). Here, we see what can be achieved when you spend 100s of thousands per episode and hire specialist, skilled script writers -- the attention they were able to lavish on the dialogue and story lines shows, because this is gripping stuff.

The odd thing is, I never really took to series three back when it was first shown on TV -- I guess I was too committed to the Praed version and never accepted Connery. Now, from the vantage point of a couple more decades, I can see how good this final series really was.

And that's the sad bit: Goldcrest went bust and there was no one in a position to pick up the financing of series 4, which (having read what Carpenter had in mind) might well have been awesome.

The extras in series three are excellent -- including some of the funniest outtakes I've ever seen! and something that comes across in the cast interviews is that all of them enjoyed this, all of them had the time of their lives. And that shows on the screen, too.

Nothing's forgotten...
Review date: 2003-10-24 Rating: 10 out of 10

Well, actually it was, I watched Robin of Sherwood when it was first aired in 1984 and waited for baited breath for each and every episode, but until I watched the new DVD I had forgotten how good it really was.

It was the first Robin Hood version to be gritty and realistic, no men prancing about in tights and perfectly clean clothes here! There was dirt, there was mud, there were rips and torn clothing.

The first time around I'm afraid I didn't give Jason Connery a fair chance, as I thought how could anyone replace Michael Praed? But watching Herne's Son and The Power of Albion again,I have to reconsider. He makes an excellent earl's son and an excellent outlaw too, two different roles but he plays them both brilliantly.

Watching Robin of Sherwood on DVD, with surround sound you can hear every bird singing in the forest, every crack of a whip, fires crackling, it just all adds to it. And the music by Clannad, the whole series is just breathtaking.

Although filmed in the 1980's, it doesn't seem dated at all and it will be something I will be watching over and over again (as long as the DVD player holds up!)

Reviewed by Annette Gisby, author of Drowning Rapunzel and Silent Screams.

Herne's Son Lives On!!!
Review date: 2002-11-09 Rating: 10 out of 10

Having been a ROS fan since it's first screening in 1984, I didn't think it could get much better than the previous DVD releases of Season 1 & 2, but I was wrong! Now there's no mistaking I was always a Michael Praed fan, but seeing the episodes in crystal clarity you expect from DVD with commentary from Jason Connery, Mark Ryan (Nasir) and Clive Mantle (Little John), it's just fantastic! You get to hear about all the in-jokes, the endless mickey-taking of various cast members, stories baout the stuntmen and so much more! OK, so this edition doesn't carry the much awaited season 3 out-takes, but it does have a unique insight to the swordplay with Mark. Also watch out for the surprising photo of Neil Morissey in Merry gear. Enjoy, I know I did, and roll on part 2!!!

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