Parents' Guide to

Robin Hood

By Will Wade, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Remake of the legend almost hits the bullseye.

TV BBC America Drama 2007
Robin Hood Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

  • Robin Hood TV Series: Scene #1
  • Robin Hood TV Series: Scene #2
  • Robin Hood TV Series: Scene #3

Community Reviews

See all
age 11+

Based on 4 parent reviews

CSMContentDefault
CSMContentDefault Adult
October 28, 2018
age 10+

Good shows

This is a very good Robin Hood show. Some action and blood . Very little drinking
the Rogue
the Rogue Adult
January 29, 2018
age 12+

Robin Hood: A Rollicking Ride

Ride along with Robin Hood as he aids the various peasants who are being tortured by the cruel sheriff. This TV show presents an interesting take on Robin Hood, with a younger, more immature Robin than normal. Season 1 poses interesting questions such as: Will Robin continue to refrain from killing, especially his greatest enemies? Does Sir Guy really care about Marian? Will Robin's band hold together despite various disasters? This TV show not only poses interesting questions, it is also remarkably clean with only a few minor issues. In season one I only counted three brief scenes that made me uncomfortable.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In this modern update of the ROBIN HOOD legend, Robin (Jonas Armstrong) quickly runs afoul of the Sheriff (Keith Allen) when several hungry Locksley villagers are sentenced to death for stealing food. Robin must decide whether to support the Sheriff's cruel reign or fight back. For Robin, the choice is a simple one, but it brands the young noble an outlaw. Along with his dedicated manservant Much (Sam Troughton) and a few trusted allies, he takes refuge in the wild Sherwood Forest to plan a rebellion. Robin's years at war in the Crusades have had a profound influence on him -- he has become an amazing marksman with the bow and a fearsome swordsman, but he's also developed strong feelings about violence and oppression and would rather give up his land and his title than let the Sheriff oppress the villagers.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4):
Kids say (22):

One of the show's faults is that it sometimes seems a little short on action and a bit too preachy. There are many scenes in which Robin explains his theories of social justice and agrarian economics, occasionally with a few more details than necessary. And many of the other characters debate whether the long-absent king would approve of Robin's actions because he's trying to take care of the peasants or condemn the bandit for undermining the fundamental notions of law and order.

Meanwhile, despite his combat skills, Robin is reluctant to hurt anyone, even the Sheriff. As a result, many of the fights in Robin Hood seem oddly one-sided, pitting a man who won't kill against nameless, flunky soldiers whom any viewer can tell are destined to lose their battle. Pairing a brutish despot who endorses torture and wanton killing with a somewhat pacifistic hero who makes light of the entire conflict gives the show an odd tone. Though entertaining, the series seems uncertain about whether it's trying to be a serious action-adventure show or a lighthearted spoof of one.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about law and order. The show's central theme is Robin Hood's decision to become an outlaw rather than support the Sheriff of Nottingham's routine exploitation of the struggling peasants. Is Robin's basic rob-from-the-rich-give-to-the-poor strategy just? When is it OK to take the law into your own hands? Is crime ever defensible? What's the best response to a corrupt government?

  • Also, how does this version of the Robin Hood tale compare to others you've seen? Do you think it's more or less accurate? Why?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended tv lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate