Robin Hood (TV Series) The Swords of Wayland (1984) User Reviews

The Swords of Wayland

[Prismark10 · 7/10 · 2 October 2020]

The village of Uffcombe are having a devil of a time. They are being attacked by the Hounds of Lucifer. They would much prefer the Hounds of Love.

Robin and The Merries travel to the village. They find the villagers are frightened. Some have made a pact with satan.

A group of nuns led by Morgwyn of Ravenscar (Rula Lenska) are actually devil worshippers. They want the seven mystical Swords of Wayland to summon Lucifer. Robin's sword, Albion is one of them and Robin gets a warning from Herne.

This feature length episode is a good follow up of the previous story, The Enchantment. They follow similar beats and complement each other.

This time it is the Merries who are bewitched as Robin and Marian find themselves in danger.

I had to remind myself that this was originally broadcast at a prime family viewing slot. This was more Hammer Horror. I think the scene where the devil appears is a homage to the Hammer film, The Devil Rides Out.

I reckon many small kids were spooked out especially when the Merries had white eyes.

Rula Lenska camps it up really well as the nun with a hidden agenda. I think the plucked eyebrows were a clue.

Loved it.

[chathud · 10/10 · 9 September 2013]

I loved this as a kid.It was mesmerizing,me and my friends used to play these characters,we even drank one cup of water passing around among us while chanting 'Herne Protect us'I love the series,It has been Brilliant. I really liked the 1st Robin,after he was dead it was a bit of a disappointment.Though creators were able to checked all the boxes,making it absolutely original Still when I pass 'Nottingham' these characters come into my mind.We recently visited Nottingham Castle and while we were there we talked about the ways that 'Robin Hood 'sneaked into the castle,where was the Sheriff took his bath and stuff. It sounds silly me and my friends are in late Twenties and early Thirties,we can't stop loving Robin Hood yet. 'Together ...We'.Loved it then,love it now Robin Hood.

Classic of the period

[ant501 · 9 November 2020]

This is quite typical of the type of epic adventure series made for British TV in the 1980s. But who added the technical specs to this episode? I saw it re-broadcast on ITV4 in November 2020 and it definitely didn't look like it was shot in 35mm. Too much dirt and dust visible on it. Looked like 16mm to me. Good that it was real film though.