In this episode, the entire existence and meaning of those weird "river men"- who seem to be aquatic semi-humans that submerge beneath the water level in wait for an ambush, is never explained?
Were they simply supposed to be superhumans bent on loot? Were they based upon some forgotten legend?
Why wasn't it explained in the script, even a passing reference between Guisburne's mum and Tuck, or the others that fought them?
Anyone any ideas?
shareI always took them to be ordinary brigands who submerged themselves in the water and used small reeds or something similar to breathe as they waited in ambush. The credits list their leader as "Brabancon chief" and you may remember the Brabancons from the episode Lord of the Trees as the Flemish mercenaries Guisburne hires to kill the Merries. It is most likely the river men are of the same breed and have nothing supernatural about them. They are simply hard-as-nails villains whose experiences have led them to devise ingenious ways of cloaking themselves in preparation for sneak attacks.
shareJust watched it again, you're probably right! Thanks
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