MovieChat Forums > Robin of Sherwood (1984) Discussion > Poaching 'lop off a hand' error?

Poaching 'lop off a hand' error?

posted 14 years ago by jh66
3 replies | jump to latest

In the first episode, Robin and Much (who has killed a deer) are seen skulking through the forest, and Robin lectures his ward about the severe risks of what he has just done, mentioning as if it were common that the king would 'lop off his hand'- so he 'wouldn't forget it'.

As they are characters during the reign of Richard, this would be between 1189-1199, but in fact mutilations of limbs as poacher punishments had very nearly all been abandoned by 1135 (end of Henry I's reign), 60yrs prior!

[–] auroracat-1 14 years ago

Not sure about the timing, as I haven't been able to do research. But on general principle, 99% of the viewing public wouldn't know or care about such a minor inconsistency. What's a few decades and who's to say that the Sheriff of Nottingham wasn't carrying on this type of punishment regardless of what the was going on in other locations.

[–] jh66 14 years ago

But on general principle, 99% of the viewing public wouldn't know or care about such a minor inconsistency.

I think this sums it up- not much historical accuracy as much as sheer fantasy, which is fine for this great series, but several interesting opportunities regarding this fascinating period were lost. Even facts in the script in digestible chunks.

They were rebels, yet no-one mentioned the many great Anglo-Danish rebellions against Norman king of England, William I?

They mentioned 'Hasting's in the original episode, but failed to reveal a few relevant facts in relation to the [now] Angevin dynasty?

Likewise with the characters in many episodes when discussing Anglo-saxon and Norman history in relation to Henry II (father of Richard Lionheart and John)?

As you said, audiences either don't care, or are ignorant?

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[–] auroracat-1 14 years ago

Really?!?! Is any of this an issue with a fictional show where they had to write a complete story into a less than 1 hour time span?

The audience is perfectly capable of doing historical research is they so desire and I doubt anyone really thought that the show was 100% historically accurate. That would be impossible as the legends of Robin Hood are just that legends and there is no historical evidence that a single man "Robin Hood" even existed. Further, on the DVD commentaries Kip even says he pulled in elements of the Robin Hood legend from multiple sources.