Reimagining a Folk Legend
When Robin of Sherwood aired on ITV in 1984, it stood apart from earlier portrayals of England’s outlaw hero. Instead of a light-hearted rogue robbing the rich, this version embraced folklore, mysticism, and spiritual depth. Series creator Richard Carpenter grounded the story in myth and ancient belief, turning Robin Hood into a figure shaped as much by destiny as by rebellion.
Herne the Hunter and the Old Religion
At the heart of the series was Herne the Hunter, a horned forest spirit drawn from English folklore. Reimagined as a shamanic guide, Herne offered Robin wisdom and purpose. He served as a symbol of the natural world’s power, setting the show apart by suggesting that justice came not from the Crown or Church, but from something much older.
The forest wasn’t just scenery. It became sacred ground, inhabited by spirits and steeped in forgotten rites.
Pagan Themes and 1980s British Culture
The 1980s saw a quiet resurgence of interest in paganism, Druidic traditions, and folk spirituality across Britain. As economic policies hardened under Thatcher and traditional institutions came under question, many looked to older belief systems for meaning. Robin of Sherwood mirrored this shift. Its spiritual tone tapped into a wider unease with modernity and a longing for something more grounded, mysterious, and ancient.
Setting, Soundtrack, and Symbolism
Visuals played a key role in reinforcing the show’s tone. Locations included mist-covered woods, ruined monasteries, and ancient standing stones, places charged with historical and spiritual resonance. The soundtrack by Clannad, filled with Gaelic influences and ethereal melodies, added a haunting layer to the narrative.
Nature wasn’t just part of the setting. It was a living presence.
Robin as a Chosen Figure
In this version, Robin wasn’t just a rebel or nobleman in hiding. He was chosen, marked by higher powers, guided by visions, and bound to a deeper fate. Both actors who played the role, Michael Praed and Jason Connery, carried the burden of that calling in different ways. Robin’s enemies weren’t only political. He also faced the cost of serving something larger and less understood.
Magic and Morality
Supernatural forces were central to the story but were never played for spectacle. Villains like Simon de Belleme and Gulnar wielded dark magic, creating real threats rooted in occult tradition. Herne’s presence, meanwhile, introduced a more balanced but demanding moral order, one grounded in harmony with nature rather than law or conquest.
These spiritual elements were treated with seriousness, giving the series a tone that was rare on British television at the time.
Lasting Influence and Legacy
By the end of the decade, the cultural interest in folklore and pagan themes had begun to fade. Television turned towards grittier realism, and fantasy gave way to political drama. But Robin of Sherwood left its mark. It remains one of the few British series to fully explore the spiritual roots of the Robin Hood legend.
It offered more than adventure. It gave voice to a different kind of resistance, one rooted in the land, the past, and the persistence of myth.
