Because I have to go back to work tomorrow, haven't been able to finish a chapter on either one of my stories and am still having back problems, I'm taking time out tonight before bed to post once more about Robin Hood. A few vid recs to revel in the memories for a while longer.

( Robin Hood vids under the cut...and Guy too of course.  )

I've hurt my back again...Yay. And so I've spent most of this day on the couch with a heating pad and a back pillow. Joy.

But one July 4th tradition hasn't escaped me. I'm currently watching 1776. I love this movie. I watch it ever 4th without fail. And here is my favorite musical number from it. John Adams singing "Is Anybody There." I love YouTube.


And in a more patriotic and inspirational vein here is the ending of the movie showing the signing of the Declaration.

It's been nearly a week now since the final episode and the BBC has finally confirmed that the show will not continue...it's over. There will not be a fourth series. And isn't that a good thing since every single character that we'd all come to know and love is dead...well, nearly every one. As Shakespeare said, it was "a royal fellowship of death." Some were expected, some were not. Some hurt to watch, some did not. Overall it was an excellent finale, an action packed episode, a hard one to watch and an even harder one to digest. It was truly the end...and I'm just glad that the powers that be are willing to let it stand as the end rather than continuing on. After all these losses the show would only have been a shadow. I honestly don't see how they could've gone on.

A review of the show is difficult and I haven't found the strength to re-watch it yet, but I'm going to try to convey a few thoughts before I draw a veil on the third season of Robin Hood.

( Review with Spoilers and two vid recs under the cut... )

Taking time out tonight to do a meme because it's about sexy men and what could be better...stolen from persiflage_1 and sunnytyler001 .

Post your top 30 sexy actors in alphabetical order with pictures.

( Meme is under the cut... )

I have just watched Penelope for the first time. I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. And as a bonus there was an unexpected Whoniverse encounter as Burn Gorman from Torchwood was in it. Am currently watching Hancock and so far I like it too. Day off tomorrow. Dentist appointment and a concert to go to. Yay! fun day. If only I could sleep late.

In other news I've been researching my trip to England/Scotland a lot this week. I'm trying to schedule a day tour to Stonehenge/Avebury and figure out how to get all the must sees of London into a very short time. Right now it seems impossible, but somehow I know it will all work out. To top it off, I would really like to get to Forbidden Planet. Right now I'm leaning towards trying to make my way over there the first day I'm there. My plane gets in at 10 am and then I figure it will take probably 2 hours to get through customs and get to the hotel. Then my family wants to do the British Museum. They're not completely thrilled with taking time out to go to a Doctor Who store, but I'm trying to wrap it in with Covent Garden, which I think is close by, so hopefully they won't notice too much.

Robin Hood on Saturday was interesting...strange and cheesy, but interesting. I've heard a few rumors about how it's going to end, but I'm trying to stay away from too many spoilers. I don't want to know who's going to die and who's not. At this point we still are not sure if the show's coming back so I'm not going to be too concerned one way or the other.

Thoughts about Something Worth Fighting For Pt. 1...The "limestone" that looked like kitty litter was very stupid. They could've at least made it something that looked a little more realistic up close. Very sad about Alan and doubly sad that the gang thought he was a traitor. But it was the Sheriff of Nottingham (the real one) that at least made it a bit thrilling. And I loved the reveal at the end with Guy yelling and Alan's body delivered to their doorstep and Robin standing there staring at Vasey like he's a ghost. It was a beautiful way to end the episode. Kate is really getting unbearable. I hate how they've developed her character into a whiney, jealous, little girl. Archer came through for them in the end but I'm not sold on him yet. He's a bit of a hypocrite and an arrogant jerk. If he does end up taking over for Robin then he's going to have to change a lot to be likeable as a main character. Guy, on the other hand, was brilliant this episode. He was loveable and likable and beautiful to look at. Not sure if I'm looking forward to the next episode as it will probably mean the utter destruction of everything we love about this series, but the end must come.

( Vid Recs from the last two episodes of Robin Hood.  )

I really am going to bed soon...really. But since I'm up already I have happened upon a spectacular Torchwood video that I must share...and since I'm sharing here's a few others to go along with it.

Let's Give Them Something to Talk About - a Jack/Ianto vid edited by thaddia13, with some dialogue.

( A few more Torchwood Jack/Ianto and John & Gareth @ Comic Con vids. )

So there's still some family stuff going on and prayer seems to be the big order of the day there but on the up side of things my boss is back on Thursday and I made it through all the major work stuff successfully.

Fandom seems to be pretty good too, aside from the official announcement that Primeval has been canceled by ITV. Which leads me to the big question, "How can you leave our characters stuck up a tree?" (literally). This has to be the stupidest move ITV could possibly make. Leave the show on this incredible cliffhanger and then cancel it. Now we are left with no hope of ever having the story resolved...No way of knowing if they ever get back or if they get eaten by dinos during the night...Not cool.

I'm very excited about Torchwood: Children of Earth starting in a few weeks. The previews for it look proper scary. Gareth David-Lloyd who plays Ianto gave a good interview about it today that you can read here. I've heard that he said at the last convention that everyone is planning on a Series 4, we just have to wait and see how the ratings turn out. So everyone has to watch this show and get it recommissioned...I need more Ianto.

David Tennant is back being the Prince of Denmark (Hamlet) for a film version of the RSC play. They are in the middle of production right now. I've been following the daily blogs of one of the producers and if you're at all interested in David or even just Shakespeare this blog is a must read.

I'll leave you tonight with the BBCA promotion clip for TW Children of Earth. Each of the actors and RTD talks a bit about what we can expect.

Lots of things going on in fandom lately. But this late at night after such a lazy weekend I think I'll just focus on Robin Hood for now. I watched the new show yesterday and now there's only two left. It seems like there should be more. The interaction between Robin and Guy was really great this week. I loved the scene they did over dinner about how neither one could trust the other and what their plan should be. Also loved the fight at the beginning, even though they do fight like little girls. The dialogue between them: "You killed my wife and you expect forgiveness?" And guy's passionate reply, "I loved her as you loved her. I'll never ask for your forgiveness. I cannot forgive myself." And then Robin replies with a confused, "What?" I was sorry there wasn't more to that conversation. I think so much between them could've been resolved just then.

The gang's reaction to Robin's announcement about Gisborne was interesting. John deciding to leave and then coming back. Alan sticking by Robin and his decision. Kate just accepting it after Robin kisses her and sweet talks her. I'm really not liking that relationship. The look on John's face after Guy saved his life was priceless. Guy might actually be with them after all. And the best part was Guy standing in their lair at the end asking where they wanted him to sleep and the whole gang looking at him like they'd never thought of it before. I think that Archer is a jerk...same as Robin really, Robin just has that streak of morality and goodness that balances out the arrogance.

Overall, I thought this was a pretty good episode and a much better followup to last week than I expected. Although I'd still like to pretend none of that father, mother, brother stuff happened...apparently it did. And it was worth it all to see Guy join the outlaws in the forest.

( Robin Hood Vid Recs behind the cut... )

Yeah, so this week has been crazy. I've spent the last three nights in a very small classroom trying to control 12-14 teenagers aged 11-15. It's been fun at times but tonight it was just trying. They were wild and nothing seemed to go as planned. There's always one down day during these VBS weeks and this was definitely it. Hopefully, tomorrow I can come up with something a bit more fun that will actually go well.

There's other stuff going on in real life as well. Friends and mother-in-laws of people I know have passed away this week, etc...I believe the phrase is 'when it rains it pours'. So yes...it's been a bad week all the way around and I'm only half-way through.

To stay sane I've been coming home and watching YouTube videos and trying to forget real life for a while. And so I've discovered a bunch more vids that I'd like to rec on my LJ, if only so I'll have them all in one place for easy re-watching.

( Vid Recs for Doctor Who, Torchwood, Robin Hood and Merlin...Under the Cut.  )

Now I must try and sleep and make it through the rest of this week. Saturday...come soon.

Having watched Robin Hood tonight I'm left with an empty, confused feeling. What the hell was that??? Was it Robin Hood or a medieval soap opera? Are you kidding me with all this family relations crap? I mean, it was like watching the actors perform bad fanfiction. Not to mention exactly how many previously established facts they trampled over in the process. To sum up...Excessive cheese, massive inconsistencies and confusing plot points. What are you doing show??? Are you trying to get yourself canceled??? And after last week's brilliance this was an extreme disappointment.

( Spoilers along with my ranting and opinions beneath the cut...and the requisite vid recs.  )

I'm seriously considering writing a Lucas North fanfiction piece. Nothing technical, just an introspective one-shot. But we'll have to wait and see if I can actually pull that off since I've been writing Doctor Who stuff all day. But this evening I needed a break and I turned to YouTube and Spooks for distraction. Here are a few of my favorites.

( The lovely Richard Armitage and the rest of the Spooks cast in Vid Recs...under the cut.  )

Time for a review of last night's episode of Robin Hood. In short it was brilliant, moving, emotional and turbulent television. I was at the edge of my seat at times, had my hand over my mouth intermittently and even yelled at the screen a bit. Absolutely winning.

( Spoilery thoughts and opinions beneath the cut...along with Guy of Gisborne vid recs.  )

Am currently watching Torchwood on BBCA and this scene has just crossed my screen. I'd forgotten how lovely it is. They are so sweet together. Also they are showing advertisements for Torchwood: Children of Earth, 'coming in July' they say. Can't wait.

So after watching the entire series a few times now I just have a few random thoughts...

- What did Elizabeta think had happened to her husband? Had she been told he was dead by MI-5? She had remarried, so she must've thought he was dead. She also says that she was approached a year before by the Russians and told he was alive. Are they the ones that told her he was a spy?

- So your dead husband returns after 8 years and you're mad at him because he lied to you? Don't think to say 'Welcome home' or 'I'm so glad you're not dead.' No, she goes straight to 'You lied to me and it's coming back to bite you.' If his only lie was not telling her he was a spy with MI-5 wouldn't you call that 'protecting her' for the sake of national security.

- Lucas is so concerned about blowing his cover as a double agent with the Russians that he and his team fake an explosion. At this point in the series I thought his cover was already blown, after all Kachemov had 'disappeared' on his watch. And there is no way the Russians can still think that he's working for them after the shootout and the standoff with the FSB agents in the subway tunnels in the last episode. If they persist in exploiting Lucas' supposed Russian double agent status in the next series that will really be pushing it. He's MI-5, always has been, always will be.

- Lucas tells Harry that he was tortured for 17 days continuously while being questioned about Sugarhorse. I love how his voice cracks as he says this. But is it believable that someone could be tortured for 17 days straight and still be sane afterward? I realize that he had years to recover, but it just seems to me that something like this would've broken him.

- It seemed like the writers couldn't decide who was responsible for Lucas' release, Harry or the Russians themselves. Harry tells him that he traded him for a Russian spy that they caught. Lucas tells Harry that Kachemov told him he could come home if he would spy for them. He also tells Connie in the last episode that he endured 8 years of hell because he remained loyal to his country. So what made him say yes the last time? Of course he probably knew he wouldn't remain true to his promise to the Russians, but he seems to imply that he could've been free any time if he'd chosen to betray his country. I suppose it was a combination of the two forces that set him free and also his plan to double cross the Russians after earning their trust and being accepted back on the grid. Complicated much?

I love shows that make me think.

I'm currently watching the Top Gear boys race across Japan. I've seen it before but as repeats go it's pretty entertaining. And now it's time for my weekly review of Robin Hood & Primeval. Both racing towards their finales, which by the way I'm not very happy about Primeval's being delayed a week for the Britain's Got Talent final. And both of them are waiting to find out if they get recommissioned for a fourth series.

Robin Hood I think would be better off just ending. I can't imagine it going on without Jonas and if the rumours about them simply replacing him with a look-a-like actor are true then definitely just end it instead. Richard Armitage is Spooks' leading man now so he's being pulled in two directions, Keith Allen is AWOL at the moment and I just can't imagine a fourth series at this point.

Primeval I would love to see continue for a fourth series. Danny has just gotten started on the show, his character could go so much further. Connor and Abby have just got together and Becker is turning into a truly interesting person. I want more. Forget Cutter, forget Helen, just please bring this show back.

Now, about this week's episodes.

First off, Robin Hood. We were seriously lacking in the Gisborne department this episode but the little he was in it was good. I don't understand why Robin shot Guy though, he shot Isabella in the arm, not Prince John. Robin didn't need to shoot him. And it looked like the shot hit him in the back, but he seemed perfectly fine when they showed him in the cage at the end. Maybe he wasn't actually hit or maybe I'm just confused. So he's scheduled to be executed next week. Please Gisborne, don't die. I do have a feeling that he will get free. And then there is the undead Sheriff still to be dealt with. I just have a feeling he'll save Guy for some reason. Otherwise it felt like a pretty hollow episode this week. Robin rushes to stop Prince John's coronation and big surprise, he does. The whole 'steal the crown' plan was just stupid and the waxwork king was especially ridiculous. So as episodes of this show go the cheese was piled on quite thick in this one. Not one of the best. But I'm still hooked.

Next, Primeval. It was good this week. Sadly, not quite as good as last week. I didn't properly review last week and I just have to make up for that by saying that Becker got some truly spectacular lines. He was good, heroic and lovely to look at. Loved how he confronted Danny, telling that he was supposed to make the tough decisions. And then he referred to Abby by her full name. Also found it interesting how he was listening to her conversation with her brother, seems he might fancy her just a bit. This week Becker had almost no screen time and the character I am most sick of, Helen Cutter, came back. Was it just my imagination or did she have the exact same dialogue that she had in episode 3? Spouting all that business about "it all starts here". Just tell us why already. The best part of the episode was Connor racing through the forest with a prehistoric bull rhino chasing him. Overall, I was underwhelmed. But still, the final episode is coming up and I want to know what happens. BBC America is only on Episode 3 and Sci-Fi is showing Series 2 right now. I hear that the region 2 dvd is coming out before the series ends in Britain, hope this doesn't spell the end of the show.

( Robin Hood and Primeval vids under the cut... )

Late at night on a Friday and I'm finally blogging for this week. Went to my youngest cousin's graduation yesterday which was held in the rain on a football field. Umbrellas are truly lifesaving devices. It was nice though and I'm so proud of her. I do, however, feel incredibly old. I was a sophomore in high school when she was born. How on earth can she be graduating? Time flies...

Speaking of time, Primeval last week was good. Not spectacular and not really review worthy other than to say "Yay!" for the kiss and to mention that Becker is truly turning into a very hot "Action Man". More tomorrow after the new episode, I'm sure.

My obsession this week has been Spooks. Yes, the seventh series with Richard Armitage. I told you that I had it bad after the last Robin Hood. But whoah! I never expected Spooks to be so good. And I'm not really into the James Bond type of thing. But this was a truly awesome British spy show. I have read that this series was better than all that came before it and I can't help but think that must've been due in some part to RA and his character Lucas North. What a back story he had. I love angsty characters and Lucas did not disappoint. After all, if you've spent 8 years in a Russian prison and then come back and jump right back into the spy world you certainly have a lot to think about. Is he damaged? Yes. Broken? No. He's a hero, but a flawed one. A class act who is just doing the best he can under the circumstances. And talk about suffering for your art...They actually put Richard Armitage through waterboarding for the torture scene. He was apparently in no danger and a signal to stop had been worked out before hand...but he said in one interview that when he cried out for them to stop he was not acting.

The writing on this show was top notch. Every moment was well orchestrated and woven into the overall storyline like a finely tuned instrument. Reminded me a bit of West Wing, though honestly I'm not sure why. I suppose because that is the other show I admire for its spectacular writing.

I'm sure I could gush more about how much love I have for this show, but I'll save that for another time. For now here are a few vid recs showcasing this well oiled British spy extravaganza and the newest leading man, Lucas North (Richard Armitage).

( Spooks & Lucas North vid recs under the cut... )

Blame sunnytyler001  for this one. She posted a poll the other day that got me thinking. Given a choice of Captain Kirk and Captain Jack the choice for me was obvious as I'm not a big Trekkie. But given the choice between two Captain Jacks which would I choose? I'm not sure. They're both so pretty. Granted, one is decidedly omni-sexual but at least a girls got a chance. Not too mention he's from the future, competent in a fight with aliens of all shapes and sizes and immortal (or at least incapable of dying). And the other looks damn good in pretty much every way. Plus he's a Pirate which earns him extra bonus points. Two Captain Jacks...how do you decide? So I thought I'd see how you all felt. Your choices?

Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean:


or

Captain Jack Harkness from Torchwood:


Which do you prefer?
Poll #1401671 Favorite Captain Jack
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

Which do you prefer?

I'm a bit late this week on my weekly fandom ramble. First I was out of town, then there was a funeral and so on and so forth. All this has conspired to keep me from writing my thoughts down on fandom for the week. Robin Hood's off tomorrow for Eurovision but I think Primeval is still on, so before the new episode airs here's my late review.

( Review of Primeval and Robin Hood with vids under the cut... )