History Series / MaidMarianAndHerMerryMen

''Maid Marian And Her Merry Men'' was a children's SitCom made by TheBBC, based on RobinHood and written by Tony Robinson, who also played the Sheriff. Calling it [[LighterAndSofter a kids' version of]] ''{{Blackadder}}'' is trite and obvious but also, to a certain extent, true. Only much more surreal.

** Shrove Tuesday IS known as Pancake Day/Pancake Tuesday in the UK, and doesn't share many similarities with Mardi Gras despite it being celebrated for the same reasons.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: In the first episode, the Sheriff displays a childish sadism that would be more typical of King John in later episodes -- the later Sheriff typically acts villainous out of fear (for what the King might do to him), greed (for what he personally can get out of a situation) or sheer annoyance from being SurroundedByIdiots rather than gleeful ForTheEvulz.
** In the same episode, the Sheriff also makes references to a "Mrs. Nottingham," but there's no indication anywhere else in the series that he's married or has any sort of family.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: In the first episode, the Sheriff is notably more childishly sadistic in a manner more typical of King John in later episodes. He also makes references to a "Mrs. Nottingham," though there's no indication anywhere else in the series that he's married or has any sort of family.

* HeyItsThatGuy: Barrington the Rasta is [[Series/RedDwarf the Cat]], and the Sheriff is [[Series/BlackAdder Baldrick]] (but [[PlayingAgainstType acts more like Blackadder]].

* HeyItsThatGuy: Barrington the Rasta is [[Series/RedDwarf the Cat]], and the Sheriff is [[Series/BlackAdder Baldrick (but acts more like Blackadder)]].

* HeyItsThatGuy: Barrington the Rasta is [[Series/RedDwarf the Cat]]

* JiveTurkey: Barrington.

-->--Marian

[[quoteright:150:~~[[{{Formats}} HalfHourComedy]] [[CategoryShowGenres BritCom]]~~]]

* LimitedWardrobe: Most of the characters, though Marian and the Merry Men get two wardrobe upgrades -- after the third episode of the first series they begin dressing mainly in green to "coordinate with the trees," and from the second season on their outfits have become more detailed, distinct and idividual. The one exception to the trope is Robin, who has ''lots'' of outfits, and from the second season onwards [[UnlimitedWardwobe seldom wears the same one two episodes in a row]].

* CatchPhrase "UNDERSTAND?". (King John as coda to his latest threat to do something nasty if the Sheriff fails in carrying out his orders.)

''Maid Marian And Her Merry Men'' was a children's SitCom made by TheBBC, based on RobinHood and written by Tony Robinson, who also played the Sheriff. Calling it [[LighterAndSofter a kids' version of]] ''{{Blackadder}}'' is trite and obvious but also, to a certain extent true. Only much more surreal.

Prince John, technically the leader of the forces of opression (or "Ye Baddies", as the credits had it), was usually portrayed as an unstable raving lunatic, leaving the actual scheming to his [[TheDragon Dragon]], the Sheriff of Nottingham. The Sheriff's two {{Mooks}}, Gary and Grahame, were almost as stupid as Rabies.

Since Marian and the Sheriff were the only intelligent people within walking distance (the villagers were just as bad), they were usually the only ones the other felt they could talk sensibly with, even though they were on opposing sides. Somehow, this never made the Sheriff look like a PunchClockVillain; he was just biding his time til he could catch the whole gang.

Later seasons added two new Baddies: Rotten Rose Scargill, Marian's RivalTurnedEvil with a crush on Robin, and Guy of Gisbourne, John's childlike, and borderline deranged, nephew.

* AnticlimacticParent: Marian never admitted to her mother that she was an outlaw. This leads the main characters to keep up the charade of being The Merry Dentists. However, when Marian is captured, her mum leads the rescue effort and ultimately reveals she has her own geriatric gang of outlaws.
* BeautyIsNeverTarnished: The show a very good example of the second kind. The show featured a considerable amount of slapstick (mostly mess), though almost no actual violence, but Maid Marian herself is practically never a victim, even when all of the rest of her band are. The worst that happened to her was a bucket of water, once. Admittedly Rose once got paint poured over her, but then Rose is a villain (The trope seems to apply slightly less strongly to female villains).
** Though in the season 4 premire episode where she was pelted with mud while her and Rose were tied up together thanks to Guy. Of course that was nothing compared to what happened to two of the bad guys that episode as the Merry Men had set up a maze specifically designed to get them CoveredInGunge. However Marian also received the mazes final big gunging, it happened off screen but we did get to see the aftermath IIRC.

* EveryoneMeetsEveryone: The first episode is even called "How The Gang Got Together."
* FakeUltimateHero: Robin Hood was mistaken for being the leader of the merry men, even though it was Marian

* PlayingAgainstType: Tony Robinson's most famous role is the imbecilic BumblingSidekick Baldrick in ''{{Blackadder}}'', a complete 180 from the savvy, intelligent Sheriff. In fact, one gets the feeling that Robinson fancied playing Blackadder for a change. (With Gary and Grahame as his Baldricks.)

* VisualPun: In one episode, the Sherriff is collecting taxes. This includes a large carpet (the carpet tax) and a small mint (the Tic Tax).
* YouMeanXMas: Invoked and parodied. The Sheriff of Nottingham and his henchmen, Gary and Grayhame, invent a public holiday called "Bloopy" in order to get out of trouble with King John, and every single cynical thing ever said about Christmas applies to Bloopy as well. Also, Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras) becomes "P-p-p-p-p-p-p-pancake Day!"

''Maid Marian And Her Merry Men'' was a children's SitCom made by TheBBC, based on RobinHood and written by Tony Robinson, who also played the Sheriff. Calling it a kids' version of ''{{Blackadder}}'' is trite and obvious, but also, to a certain extent true. Only much more surreal.

* DifferentAsNightAndDay: Subverted, everyone expects Richard the Lionheart to reclaim his kingdom and sort everything out but he turns out to be John's Just As Evil Twin.

* HeyItsThatGuy: Barrington the Rasta is [[RedDwarf the Cat]]

by some of King John's characteristics.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Sometimes even the Sheriff was disgusted

* EarWorm: Practically all of the songs. Special mentions go to the P-p-p-p-p-p-p-p-pancake Day song and the one about "Pixie Paul.
-->So look out your door, and look out your bedroom window!
-->(And your bathroom too!)
-->'Cos here come's Pixie Paul and his wife Linda!
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Sometimes even the Sheriff was disgusted by some of King John's characteristics.

* DreadlockRasta: Barrington. Specifially described as a Rasta on several occasions, despite living centuries before Rastafarianism existed. He sometimes acts as a sort of narrator for the ongoing events.

* RalphWiggum: Guy of Gisbourne.

* AnachronismStew: Virtually everything that happens. Despite being set in TheDungAges, it still manages to have a Rastafarian (identified as such), a telethon and sell-by date laws. Amongst many other examples.

* YouMeanXMas: Invoked and parodied. The Sheriff of Nottingham and his henchmen, Gary and Grayhame, invent a public holiday called "Bloopy" in order to get out of trouble with King John, and every single cynical thing ever said about Christmas applies to Bloopy as well.

* PlayingAgainstType: Tony Robinson's most famous role is the imbecilic BumblingSidekick Baldrick in ''{{Blackadder}}'', a complete 180 from the savvy, intelligent Sheriff. In fact, one gets the feeling that Robinson fancied playing Blackadder for a change.

!!''MaidMarianAndHerMerryMen'' has examples of: