Spoilers for Robin Hood Series 3
I didn’t think it was possible, but there are people who read my blog who have seen little or no ‘Robin Hood’ hence the spoiler tag. If you do not know the full story of Guy of Gisborne, please don’t read this piece. Just watch the show.
Last chance to bail. :D
Two years ago today I was waiting anxiously for the resolution of Guy. I had been waiting well over a year to find out his ultimate fate after his killing Marian, and it was so much more than wanting to know the resolution of that situation. It had transcended the absurdity that was the show and had moved from Gisborne’s love and desperation for Marian to become about finding resolution for a damaged man and specifically about finding redemption of his life. Even writing this now, it sounds a bit melodramatic, and well, it was melodramatic, but oh, the way the media treated the show made it abundantly clear Guy’s story was THE story albeit the producers could not acknowledge that overtly. It was still done in ways too obvious to miss.
Just one example was Digital Spy doing interviews with the principals in the cast, and Richard Armitage was the last one interviewed — oh yeah, saving the best for last. Some of the questions asked are a bit hackneyed. As always Richard doesn’t give hackneyed answers. He does seem tired but is still able to reveal what it is we love so much about Guy and about him as an actor:
Revelation of the inner core. Even if he had not been redeemed in the last series, he captured something that most can relate to — the need to be loved and the hunger for redemption at times as part of fulfilling that need. This is the secret of Guy’s appeal and why two years later I can still get choked about his passing.
And if Richard Armitage can pull off this kind of examination of a character most would marginalize, what is he really capable of doing? It’s potentially mind boggling to contemplate, and sorry, my friends, but romantic comedies rarely enter my thinking about potential roles for Richard. I have nothing against them and like quite a few, but I hope someone, somewhere who has the means to supply him with damn fine writing will step up, and I doubt it’s going to be a romantic comedy.
However, on a completely shallow note and completely understanding the need to see him in a romance, phew! he is fine in that clip! Blindingly handsome, and to hear from some who have seen him in person, that is nothing by comparison. If that’s nothing, I’m not sure I could handle seeing him in the flesh.
By the way, I was absolutely sure Guy was history once I saw this interview, but then I had thought for a good while Guy was going to meet his end if for no other reason than Richard Armitage had long since outgrown the show. Please note when he touches his head. A long time ago it became abundantly clear this is an obfuscating gesture and interesting to examine in light of one of Servetus’ recent posts. I guess this comment proves I can still devolve into playing the idiot chick from the O’Reilly Factor :D, and now I feel compelled to ask a pardon:
Dear Rich,
I hope you don’t mind going under the magnifying glass so much, and frankly, that is the chief reason I hope you never read my blog. It would make me feel a little self-conscious to know you see the examination of your every move. By the way, I’m contemplating the movement of your eyelashes at some point in the future, and I can’t indulge my anal tendencies quite so much if well, you’re looking at me. So glad you don’t, but I’m sure my SO is glad I’m doing this blog since my need to examine every cussed thing is not so focused on him at present. :D
Sincerely,
One of your crazy fans, who feels a bit self-conscious right now even if you don’t read my blog.
note: I debated doing this post since I still need to do my follow-up to TDHCMO, but frankly, I don’t want to be on a schedule. I’m on a schedule or at someone’s beck and call so much of the time. That’s not really a complaint despite how it sounds, but I need a place I am not so worried about meeting deadlines or others’ expectations. I guess this is it, and tomorrow, I have to continue on with Guy. Too much to talk about to hit and run with one post.
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RAFrenzy 
I hadn’t seen this interview before and thank you so much for providing it. As a writer currently engrossed with portraying an alternate Gisborne (but nevertheless one just as damaged and potentially dangerous), I find listening to what Richard has to say about the development of the character really enlightening.
I think the strength of Gisborne in Robin Hood was that ultimately he knew he had to pay up… big time.
But its not that easy nor that hackneyed, as you say, and it gave me such incredible food for thought as I come down to the last 20,000 words of the novel ‘Gisborne’. That there will be a second volume is a given but should the outcome will be so searingly heartbreaking…
Sorry… what i meant to say at the end was : That there will be a second volume is a given but should the outcome be so searingly heartbreaking… that’s the conundrum.
Love this question: And if Richard Armitage can pull off this kind of examination of a character most would marginalize, what is he really capable of doing?
This is exactly what is on my mind these days – listening to Clarissa I noticed that you could hear Robert Lovelace´s facial expressions!! He is capable of doing anything…..
I love to listen to Richard’s analysis and exploration of his characters. Not only is he, as you say, “Blindingly Handsome”, but that brain of his is pretty irresistible as well.
I hadn’t seen the interview either. Many thanks! And agree with you – I’m hoping for a serious, intense drama film role (well written) after the Hobbit. I think he’s finally getting recognized and I hope a noteworthy writer will take notice, as will other fantastic directors and producers, like PJ so that we can really see the full range and depth of this amazing talent.
The guy’s so in control of his extraneous body language while he’s acting that I guess we can forgive him a few body language signals while he’s being interviewed :)
I, too, have a bunch of unfinished series, most of them in draft. One thing I want to do this month is look through those drafts, but I also feel strongly that the way to keep doing this is to write what hits you when you have time to write.
Richard Armitage=fine: yeah. OMG.
@Prue: I need a few rays of light, please?
Handsome intelectualist with beautiful voice=genetic trap for all types of women:)(even”the idiot chick”).
I had’t seen this interview too. Thank you RAFrenzy:)
Oh, btw, the other mood I got from this was distracted, i.e., being pulled out of one task and asked to perform another. If you interrupted me while I was lecturing in order to ask, or asked me immediately after a lecture, what I was doing in the lecture, this is the level of attention I’d be able to sustain for your questions.
Looking forward to hearing that, and I think giving up on not wanting to examine RA like an insect. LOL!
Alfie, Loved your post!
Prue, Agree with Servetus. I would love to have a “happy” ending and I’ll wax on about that tomorrow. :D
Calexora, I hope you’re right!
Musa, Well, part of that handsome is certainly how he articulates, which he couldn’t do without that fantastic brain. :) Oh yeah, that brain is a big part of it.
Yep, I think we really get to see him in mid-stride here, and he almost sounds irritated because of it.
Joanna, LOL! Oh, there’s no escape.
And I meant to say I think I’m giving up on not wanting to examine RA. Let me say that again. I can’t help examining him so closely, or as closely as I’m allowed. :D
Gizzyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!! This is the first time I saw that interview. Wow, Season 3 Gisborne is just so. dang. hot! *thud*
Love his interviews! We could have a long session of examining them from the earliest to today! About the development from some shyness to – absolute control of the interview!
@Nat, so pleased you’re keeping in touch with the blog world!
Thanks RAFrenzy. I love his interviews ( and his special patience for these which give questions). I’ll admit that I did not see this interview earlier, so thanks once again. :-)
New interview for me too! Wowzers and gulp and THUD!!! Was I hearing this right….Jonas was leaving was a given…at least in this interview…but it sounded like Guy was going on? Maybe I heard wrong..or maybe like I wanted to hear it? Thanks Frenz…alway on the cutting edge!
Add me to those who had never seen this before! Thank you so much for putting it here for us to watch. He always gives such intelligent answers in interviews even if the questions may not be so great. He is so gracious even when he is obviously tired.
Last night I watched an interview with Helena Bonham Carter after she had won a BAFTA this year? (Sorry I forget where I saw it) I have to say it shocked me. Half the time she was scratching her head – or so it appeared – not even bothering to look at either the camera or the person who was interviewing her. I even wondered for a moment if she was on drugs! I thought it very bad manners to say the least, She may be great actress and deserving of the award but her off-hand manner made me think of at least one actor (no prizes for guessing who I mean) who would have given a wonderful speech if he had been the recipient!!
That was the main impression I took away from the extras on the King’s Speech DVD: that Helena Bonham Carter is just plain strange.
Sorry! Posted my comment before I said how much I enjoyed your posting here as well as the video. I think you posed a very important question here. Just what else IS he capable of? From all we have seen it seems his talents seem to grow more and more as time goes on, rather than diminish as has happened to others. He goes from strength to strength and I find I am totally gobsmacked, as some might say, by what he brings to each role he plays. As many of us have said he totally “becomes” each character he portrays to such an extent that he appears to be completely different people! Just look at the contrast between say John Standring and John Porter to give just one example.
Like you I hope that something wonderful will be written for him that is worthy of his talents and show him to his best advantage whatever the genre.
Dear Frenz,
My agent’s been sending me on personal PR rounds which can be quite trying. Hope you weren’t alarmed by my last missive; when Jacob let the mouse loose, the boa became distracted elsewhere and let me go.
Please don’t feel self-conscious. I’m thrilled when viewers pick up on the subtler points. I’ve actually been perfecting eyelash acting. The only downside is I suddenly find myself fluttering them and can’t stop! It’s like corpsing – very annoying. You caught me out on the hand gesture although I did try not look shifty eyed, don’t you think?
Jacob just texted me that I’ll be the centerfold for the mag in August. So that’s what the feathers were for. Anyway, off on holiday.
Much love,
RA
[Still another fake letter]
She’s BACK!
LOL! Yup and jetlagged to hell and drowned in email. Nice to see everything happens and Frenz posts about Guy WHEN I’M GONE. That’s a sure sign I should head across the pond more often. ;)
That is so cute judiang!! Do you know I can just see him writing a funny letter like that as I think he has a fantastic sense of humour!!
Blindingly handsome – oh yeah!! I have seen that interview before. Obviously he knows he’s leaving too, but he’s trying not to give that away, unlike Jonas who let the cat out of the bag a year ahead.
**Sigh!** That is all… :)
Yes, another email I overlooked. *slaps head* I have seen this interview because I have seen pretty much everything about Guy. As you know, Frenz, Guy is my numero uno and I still get choked up over his death.
In my mind I knew he would die; in my heart I so wanted my redeemed Guy to survive and become the world’s sexiest outlaw.
Richard gave an epic performance as Guy, particularly in the final series. And yes, I think the man could do almost anything in the world of acting. We know he can hair act; why not eyelash act? ;)
I like smart men. Married one. Smart can be very sexy. Combine that keen intelligence with an articulate and expressive soul, loads of charisma and, oh yes–general gorgeousness–whooooooa Nelly!
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