NGTV Guide: Saturday, December 5

In the final episode of the series, Robin Hood battles for all of England.

Robin Hood – BBC America 9/8c

“Something Worth Fighting For, Part 2″ – Robin and Gisborne ride out to meet the Sheriff. He won back the Prince’s patronage by securing him the services of a deadly European fighting force who stand behind him now. He orders the firing of a flaming missile over the town walls with his trebuchets and tells Robin he has until dawn to surrender Nottingham and Gisborne or they’ll all be annihilated. Gisborne offers to give himself up but Robin tells him this is bigger than him—it’s about the future of England. The outlaws say goodbye to Allan as they place his body on a small pyre. As the Sheriff’s battering ram smashes through the town gates. Robin leads a team of archers to take on the invading soldiers—but the Sheriff’s men keep coming. Gisborne, Robin, Archer, and the outlaws all find resolve in highly unexpected ways.

NGTV Guide: Saturday, November 28

We’re counting down to the series finale of Robin Hood with tonight’s penultimate episode. Battles, surprise guests, and even a death set up part one of the two part finale.

Robin Hood – BBC America 9/8c
“Something Worth Fighting For, Part 1″ – The Outlaws intercept a message from Isabella for Prince John. King Richard’s return is imminent and Isabella has agreed to supply the Prince with 300 men and supplies—Prince John is preparing for a battle for the throne. Robin, Gisborne, and Much plan to storm the castle. If they fail to take the castle, Tuck and Little John will try their best to stop the convoy of men and supplies getting to Prince John. They appeal to the Locksley men to help but to Tuck’s disappointment, they’re too frightened to stand up for what’s right. Will they take the castle? And at what cost?

Giving Thanks in TV Land

It’s the beginning of Thanksgiving week, a time when it’s considered cool and hip to show your gratitude. In the spirit of the season, here is a list of things that I, a person who watches too much TV, am thankful for.

My DVR: how did I call myself a TV watcher before I had a DVR? The freedom to record shows at the touch of a button and watch them whenever I want has been remarkable. Sure, a VCR has a similar benefit, but the DVR is so much simpler than a mess of tapes that have to be rewound and fast forwarded. Thank you to the inventor of the DVR for making it easier to watch hours and hours of television on my own schedule.

Glee: In a startling turn of events, I’m in love with a musical. This show is a delightful mixture of high school drama, unrequited love, poignant situations, witty dialogue, and toe-tapping musical numbers. Thank you to FOX for taking the risk and to everyone involved with the show for producing such a quality product.

My Treadmill: I bought a treadmill a few weeks ago, in hopes that it would be easier to work out while watching TV. It is. I’m thankful that I can burn calories, tone muscles, and improve my health all while catching up on what’s on the DVR.

Robin Hood: I wasn’t sure how the series could continue after they did the unthinkable at the end of season 2 and killed Marian, but it’s even better this season. By losing the love triangle, the show has been able to explore other aspects of the legend of Robin Hood and what was happening in England at that point in history. The series comes to an end in just a couple of weeks, after three seasons of action, romance, and even some campy fun. Thank you to everyone who brought the myth to life, and to whoever cast Richard Armitage as Guy of Gisborne.

That’s the short list. What are you thankful for this season?

NGTV Guide: Saturday, November 21

Robin and Gisborne united against a common foe? Be still my heart!

Robin Hood – BBC America 9/8c
“The Enemy of My Enemy” – Robin and Gisborne resolve to go to York to free their brother, Archer, but it’s not long before old tensions soon re-surface and they’re fighting again. Allan spots them and the outlaws leap to Robin’s defense but to their surprise Robin stops them and announces that Gisborne is one of them. Meanwhile Isabella is anxious to know the whereabouts of Hood and Gisborne. She pays Lipscomb, who collects the toll on the Great North Road, to gather information for her. When Robin and Gisborne rob the tollhouse, Lipscomb takes word to Isabella that her two enemies are heading to York together. Isabella grows paranoid—what are they plotting? She sends her Guard to the Sheriff of York to offer 100 crowns each for their heads—alive. In Sherwood, Little John is still reeling from the shock of Robin working with Gisborne. They’re meant to protect the people and they’ve joined forces with their oppressor. He storms off, but Allan chases after him. The outlaws are Robin’s only hope.

The Flashback: Show Don’t Tell (Plus, Costume Fun!)

Warning: possible spoilers ahead!

There’s no shortage of twists, turns, major reveals on our shows, and this season the flashback emerged as a favorite way to show us those big secrets. It also gives the cast and creative team a chance to mix things up with new sets, costumes, and even actors.

The Vampire Diaries: In “Lost Girls” Stefan agrees to provide Elena with answers with a flashback to the 1860’s in Mystic Falls. We saw pre-vampire Stefan and Damon, were introduced to Bonnie’s ancestor, Emily, and finally met Katherine, only to discover that the presumed love of Stefan’s life was actually a vampire. All of this and period dress? Loved it!

Robin Hood: The latest installment of this series, “Bad Blood”, featured a flashback to the days of Robin and Guy of Gisborne’s youth, revealing the root of Guy’s hatred of Robin and the source of Robin’s moral compass. The storyteller (Robin’s father) also revealed the news that the two share a half brother, son of Robin’s father and Guy’s mother, who is now awaiting execution in a jail in York. We’re definitely veering off-myth now.

Dollhouse: In “Belonging” we learned the truth about how Sierra arrived at the Dollhouse in a flashback that was at once disturbing and amazing. In addition to showing us Sierra’s backstory, we discovered more about Rossum and the groundwork was laid for “Epitaph One”, the flashback/flashforward thirteenth episode of season 1.

Bones: For the series’ 100th episode, which will be directed by star David Boreanaz, we’ll flash back to Booth and Brennan’s first assignment, which was a disaster! Plus we’ll see the introduction of Angela  Montenegro and the beginnings of her friendship with Brennan. This episode will air in the spring; can’t wait!

The Mentalist: Ausiello announced that we will meet Alex Jane, Patrick Jane’s father, in a series of ’80s flashbacks that will shed light on the man he is today. The first episode with Papa Jane was supposed to air November 12, but it looks like some scheduling changes were made and his first appearance may not be until early next year.

Which other series could benefit from a flashback episode? I wouldn’t mind seeing Glee’s Mr. Shu back in his original glee club days. I bet he was rocking a Justin Timberlake circa N’Sync ‘fro.

NGTV Guide: Saturday, November 14

As if Robin and Gisborne’s relationship wasn’t already complicated, tonight comes word that they’re tied together in a way the never expected.

Robin Hood - BBC America 9/8c
“Bad Blood” – Thanks to Prince John, Gisborne has gone from Sheriff to outlaw and is now living in the forest. Robin comes across him but their stand-off is brought to an abrupt halt when they are both hit by tranquillizer darts. Robin meets someone from his past and learns that he and Gisborne share more in common than either of them could have thought.

NGTV Guide: Saturday, November 7

Things are heating up in Nottingham between Robin and Isabella, but how will it play out?

Robin Hood – BBC America 9/8c
“A Dangerous Deal” – Robin breaks into Isabella’s chamber at night to strike a deal. If she will keep him informed about the Prince’s plans, he’ll protect her when the King returns. She calls for her guards but Robin escapes. Isabella presides over the trial of Meg, a young woman charged with disobeying her father and refusing marriage-suitors. Isabella likes Meg’s attitude and frees her. Isabella is determined to win the people’s respect. Robin is hopeful for Nottingham’s future but her rule is brought to an abrupt end when her husband, Squire Thornton, arrives and announces he’s taking over as Sheriff. Isabella orders her guards to arrest Thornton but he tells her if his men don’t receive word of his safety, they’ll ride to Prince John to inform him she is a deserting wife, a criminal. Isabella would lose everything. Robin and Kate surreptitiously watch Thornton dig up a Danish burial mound—the gold coins in the ground. Robin finds Isabella and agrees to get rid of Thornton if she agrees to give up the hoard and accept his deal to secretly share her power. But can he trust a Gisborne, male or female?

NGTV Guide: Saturday, October 31

Happy Halloween!

Robin Hood - BBC America 9/8c
“The King Is Dead, Long Live The King” – Prince John announces that King Richard has been killed in the Holy Land and that he is to be crowned King. The outlaws are devastated by the news but Robin suspects that something doesn’t add up. He investigates the claim and realizes the truth—that King Richard is not dead and that Prince John plans to steal England from under him. At the coronation, Robin and the outlaws launch an elaborate scheme to successfully expose Prince John’s lie and save England. Isabella saves Prince John’s life and he rewards her by appointing her Sheriff before leaving Nottingham.

NGTV Guide: Saturday, October 24

You know, I think BBC America wins for most detailed synopses of upcoming episodes. Crazy.

Robin Hood – BBC America 9/8c
“Too Hot To Handle” – There is a heat wave in Nottingham and the villages are short of water. Prince John hatches a plan to block the castle’s underground stream and to control the local water resources. Isabella and Robin can no longer deny their feelings for each other and secretly meet. Without Robin, the gang launches a mission to retrieve water for the dehydrated villagers. Meanwhile, Gisborne is furious to see his sister kissing his mortal enemy and, under instructions from Prince John, lures Robin and Isabella to the underground spring, trapping them inside as the water rises.

NGTV Guide: Saturday, October 17

Thieves and vampires – it’s all about the rogues tonight!

Robin Hood – BBC America 9/8c
“Do You Love Me?” – Prince John arrives in Nottingham. Publicly, he is here to meet his loyal subjects, but privately he wants to put an end to the Sheriff and Gisborne’s way of running things. The Prince feels there’s only room for one side-kick, but who will it be? In the dead of night he asks Gisborne to kill the Sheriff and, soon after, he summons the Sheriff and tells him to kill the treacherous Gisborne. The two men finally face each other in an epic duel.  Tuck informs Robin that the Prince has been touring England, buying the loyalty of nobles to help him seize King Richard’s throne. Robin decides to steal the Prince’s gold to stop him and recruits the Locksley villagers to help the outlaws ambush the Prince’s retinue as they travel through the forest.

True Blood – HBO2 10/9c
“First Taste” – Bill returns Sookie’s favor by rescuing her from the Rattrays’ revenge, healing the wounded waitress with his own blood and leaving her with temporarily heightened senses. After being invited into Gran’s (Lois Smith) house for a “get-to-know-you” gathering with Jason and her family, Bill joins Sookie for a nocturnal sojourn. They end up at Bill’s dilapidated antebellum estate, where he fights off his primal vampire urges for the acquiescent Sookie. Later, Sookie’s desires get the better of her as she returns to Bill’s – and is greeted by a gaggle of his bloodthirsty vampire friends. (HBO2 is rerunning season 1 of True Blood; perfect for those who found the show in season 2 or those who want to relive the magic.)

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