Robot of Sherwood

Episode three's have been fairly hit or miss in terms of Doctor Who's history since it returned in 2005. Episodes such as Gridlock or School Reunion played out as smart character studies, but maintained the entertainment level you'd expect from something so early on in the series, whereas other episode three's like Victory of the Daleks and The Curse of the Black Spot remain all-time low points for the show. This is, in some ways, understandable. We've been introduced to the series in the first two episodes, and it's too early to throw anything too dramatic in just yet, so where does this leave us? Robot of Sherwood is a real mixed bag of an episode. It's good fun, and by no means a bad piece of television, but it lacks that conviction that made the first two episodes of series 8 such a treat. It's enjoyable enough in the moment, but fairly likely to wind up as the most forgettable episode of the series.

In terms of character, everything introduced in Deep Breath and Into the Dalek is maintained here. Despite Robot of Sherwood being played out, for the most part, as a comedy, Capaldi's doctor retains his more serious attitude in the pivotal moments of the episode, but also gets a chance to show his versatility as an actor in terms of comedy. Coleman is great too, and is truly developing as an actress whilst Clara develops as a character. She might not have the emotional weight in this episode that she made use of in the first two, but she suits the more light-hearted tone well. Guest star Tom Riley is also solid as Robin Hood himself, if just a little over the top in moments that don't really need to be, but the three leads here have great on-screen chemistry that makes this episode consistently enjoyable, even in its weaker moments.

Where Robot of Sherwood faults, however, is in terms of story. Whilst this episode was played out as a comedy, it lacks a plot to move the characters from scene to scene. It takes about twenty minutes before we really learn anything, and even then it's more superficial than anything else. I get that writer Gatiss aimed for a more light- hearted outing, but not enough really happens throughout the 45 minute run time to leave us satisfied by the conclusion. This wouldn't be all bad, though, if the episode was also used to develop and analyse the character of the Doctor, but rather than develop the Doctor any further, Gatiss just relies on everything show-runner Moffat has already done for him. Robot of Sherwood wasn't a bad episode, but by far the weakest of the series thus far. It's good fun in the moment, and is certainly better than some of Gatiss' other episodes, but it is, unfortunately, set to be forgotten by the time the title sequence rolls for next week's episode.

This was easily the funniest episode of Series 8 thus far. The banter between the Doctor and Robin Hood was definitely the highlight of the episode (Clara also got some pretty funny lines as well).

After two pretty dark and serious episodes, it was nice for this season to take a breather with "Robot of Sherwood". The Twelfth Doctor and Clara continue to be a fantastic duo and I'm always happy to see them together on screen. Sadly, Capaldi's Doctor doesn't have a lot to do in this episode but he's still entertaining to watch nonetheless. Clara continues to show her cleverness and wit and acts as a nice buffer between the bickering Doctor and Robin Hood.

The supporting cast is decent. Tom Riley and Ben Miller give pretty good performances as Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham respectively. The robot knights had a very cool, intimidating design but I personally feel they weren't used to their full potential.

Overall, "Robot of Sherwood" won't go down as one of my Series 8 favorites but it was still an entertaining episode with hilarious banter and some truly heartfelt, deep moments here and there.

Robin Hood, Robin Hood, Fighting aliens. Robin Hood, Robin Hood, with the Doctor, Clara and friends. Dungeons they escape, behave like children would, Robin Hood! Robin Hood! Robin Hood!

He fought the wicked robots and the wicked sheriff too, who was keen on taking Clara for his queen. They were a merry bunch but they wound up you know Who? He thought they were robotic Lincoln green.

Robin Hood, Robin Hood, Fighting aliens. Robin Hood, Robin Hood, with the Doctor, Clara and friends. Dungeons they escape, behave like children would, Robin Hood! Robin Hood! Robin Hood!

I don't normally critique individual mid-series episodes of Dr Who but I absolutely loved this episode. I've seen almost every TV and cinematic representation of Robin Hood going back to Errol Flynn and this adventure paid due homage to all that history, condensing most of Hood's best-known stories into its 50 minute time-frame (the "Little John"-type encounter on the log over the river, the archery contest set up to trap Robin by the Sheriff of Nottingham and even climaxing in a sword-fight between them, which if not exactly up there in the Flynn/Rathbone class, still paid its due respects).

Underlying the story were subtle questions about the need for heroes and the power of legends, with the Doctor denying the efficacy of both until he realises by the end that the same fate awaits the remembrance of his own exploits in the future. Sensing a rival for Clara's attention (affection?) in Robin, whose fictional dreamboat he's always been, the Doctor is immediately querulous and doubting of his Lincoln Green attired rival. Several quick-fire exchanges take place between them with Clara usually having the last word until they both man-up to take on the nefarious Sheriff and his robotic henchmen.

Cleverly, the plot doesn't allow the inevitable alien-presence to overpower the story and there's another cryptic reference to the promised land to hold the viewer's attention until the series closer. Capaldi is now completely in character and relishing his role, Coleman, her puppy love now replaced by qualified respect is very good too. Perhaps it would have been nice to see more of Robin's Merry Men (Little John, for one, barely gets a line) but this overdue combination of the Doctor and Robin Hood already has the look of the series high-spot.

This was still good. Worst episode so far this season, but it's still pretty good. I hope the season gets better.