Robin of Sherwood: a few randoms and Nasir

Some of this has come up in replies, but...

1.  I really like how they did King Richard in Robin of Sherwood.  Unlike other productions, where Richard is perfect and shining and when he comes back all is well in England, this Richard is portrayed as a good man, but flawed, and more concerned with battle than anything else...in other words, the way he was, both in history and in legend.  And, like the legends, his return isn't the end of Robin's troubles, but merely a brief reprieve.

2.  Before Judi Trott became Marian, Marian was usually a brunette with straight hair.  Then Judi Troot came in with her curly red hair, and most Marians since have had the same.

3.  The idea of a middle eastern man as part of Robin's band originated in Robin of Sherwood with Nasir.  In fact, TPTB in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves didn't realize that, and almost named Morgan Freeman's character Nasir(opening themselves up for sueing) until someone who worked on both the series and the movie mentioned that Nasir originated with the series, and they changed it.

I am currently amused by a scene where Nasir tries to teach Little John how to say his full name(Nasir Malik Kemal Inal Ibrahim Shams ad-Dualla Wattab ibn Mahmud according to wikipedia-he should just be happy they can manage "Nasir") and it reminded me...Nasir almost never speaks...in fact, I'm not sure he said ANYTHING in season 1.  Granted, in generally he doesn't seem to actually have anything to say.  However, when he DOES speak, he speaks as if he's learning the language, and often when he's spoken to, it comes across as he more understands what is meant than what is said.  Unlike the characters he's inspired, Nasir doesn't speak perfect English.  Instead, even though it's never stated or directly addressed, he comes across as learning as he goes, which makes sense, as he was captured and de Belleme ensorcelled him, and he joined Robin because, hey, stranger in a strange land, this guy killed my enemy and freed me and seems pretty decent and honorable.

2 eps left...

( pics for the curious and the Michael Praed fangirls )

( pics for the curious and the Michael Praed fangirls )

Robin of Sherwood: a few randoms and Nasir

Some of this has come up in replies, but...

1.  I really like how they did King Richard in Robin of Sherwood.  Unlike other productions, where Richard is perfect and shining and when he comes back all is well in England, this Richard is portrayed as a good man, but flawed, and more concerned with battle than anything else...in other words, the way he was, both in history and in legend.  And, like the legends, his return isn't the end of Robin's troubles, but merely a brief reprieve.

2.  Before Judi Trott became Marian, Marian was usually a brunette with straight hair.  Then Judi Troot came in with her curly red hair, and most Marians since have had the same.

3.  The idea of a middle eastern man as part of Robin's band originated in Robin of Sherwood with Nasir.  In fact, TPTB in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves didn't realize that, and almost named Morgan Freeman's character Nasir(opening themselves up for sueing) until someone who worked on both the series and the movie mentioned that Nasir originated with the series, and they changed it.

I am currently amused by a scene where Nasir tries to teach Little John how to say his full name(Nasir Malik Kemal Inal Ibrahim Shams ad-Dualla Wattab ibn Mahmud according to wikipedia-he should just be happy they can manage "Nasir") and it reminded me...Nasir almost never speaks...in fact, I'm not sure he said ANYTHING in season 1.  Granted, in generally he doesn't seem to actually have anything to say.  However, when he DOES speak, he speaks as if he's learning the language, and often when he's spoken to, it comes across as he more understands what is meant than what is said.  Unlike the characters he's inspired, Nasir doesn't speak perfect English.  Instead, even though it's never stated or directly addressed, he comes across as learning as he goes, which makes sense, as he was captured and de Belleme ensorcelled him, and he joined Robin because, hey, stranger in a strange land, this guy killed my enemy and freed me and seems pretty decent and honorable.

2 eps left...

( pics for the curious and the Michael Praed fangirls )

( pics for the curious and the Michael Praed fangirls )

Robin of Sherwood(finished)

Is it really, really bad of my that, in "Swords of Wayland," what stood out the most to me was when the riders were chasing Morgwyn and I thought "so THAT'S where Jackson got those scenes!"(because really, if you look at 80s fantasy, you see the early versions of a lot of LOTR visuals and effects, especially in Legend.)

BTW, watching the outtakes, Praed sure trips and stumbles a lot...and Judi Trott has problems keeping that arrow notched...*is amused*

But, most of you just care about the end, so...

( spoiler cut )

Robin of Sherwood(finished)

Is it really, really bad of my that, in "Swords of Wayland," what stood out the most to me was when the riders were chasing Morgwyn and I thought "so THAT'S where Jackson got those scenes!"(because really, if you look at 80s fantasy, you see the early versions of a lot of LOTR visuals and effects, especially in Legend.)

BTW, watching the outtakes, Praed sure trips and stumbles a lot...and Judi Trott has problems keeping that arrow notched...*is amused*

But, most of you just care about the end, so...

( spoiler cut )

help me be bad

I seem to have exhausted my ability to get free trials of Paint Shop Pro XI and Photoshop CS2.  Anyone know any tricks?  Or any programs that work pretty much the same(that I can get free trials of)?

*needs her photo editting software even if she tosses over half of what she makes*

help me be bad

I seem to have exhausted my ability to get free trials of Paint Shop Pro XI and Photoshop CS2.  Anyone know any tricks?  Or any programs that work pretty much the same(that I can get free trials of)?

*needs her photo editting software even if she tosses over half of what she makes*

PB to HC conversions for authors

Up to now, I've had pretty good luck when it comes to my writers switching from initial print runs being in PB to HC.  Off the top of my head, Barb and C.J. Hendee's books were pretty much unchanged.  Robin Paige's book became less mystery and more historical trivia and events, but not to the point of annoyance, so the enjoyment level is the same.  I haven't read E.E. Knight's Vampire Earth HC yet, but the dragon books, published in trade size, have been excellent, so I have faith.  Butcher's Dresden Files went from awesome to even more awesome, and the Codex Alera series, which I'm almost as attached to, kicked off in HC at the same time.

Then came this week, with two HUGE disappointments.

Nancy Martin's Blackbird Sisters series has always been fun, and throughout, we've had Mick/Nora in a rocky relationship, but with no indication that we needed to worry.  When Richard was brought in in Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die,  he didn't seem to be a romantic rival as much as prrof that, while it was difficult, Nora was sticking with Mick, and they were essentially engaged at the end(unless her wearing his engagement ring on the proper finger means something else altogether and no one told me)  Picked up the new books and Nora's dumped Mick for Richard and the main subplot was "who's the daddy" as apparently she didn't wait long in between(and may I say that wet rags are more interesting than Richard?) and Mick has been going through a string of floozies.  I made it about 70 pages.

Then I picked up Kim Harrison's latest, For A Few Demons more.  The Martin book I waited for the PB for(thankfully) but I was able to get this one cheap enough that I sprung for the HC.  Sadly.  Harrison gets compared to Laurell K. Hamilton a lot, which had me leery at first, but so far, while Rachel has had 2 different boyfriend, it was quite a while in between for her, and she was completely monogamous with both.  She's STILL monogamous, but this book honestly reads like she's in heat with a chastity belt on or something, gender does not matter(not that I care about that part as a general rule, but this is the first book there's been any indication she's attracted to Ivy) and at times, her hormones seem to be more important than the plot, and there have been several times I was wondering what kind of scene I was about to be reading(the borderline explicit kinky sex scene didn't help)  I'm giving it to the end of the book because it's POSSIBLE something is making her act like this, but I'm thinking it's more likely that the LKH comparison is being played on for the HC sales.

Upside?  The new Dresden book, White Night will HOPEFULLY be here tomorrow.  If not tomorrow, then Monday  And the mailman brought me 2 new issues of Fables and Captain America #25.  And other things, too(not that I've finished February's comics yet.

PB to HC conversions for authors

Up to now, I've had pretty good luck when it comes to my writers switching from initial print runs being in PB to HC.  Off the top of my head, Barb and C.J. Hendee's books were pretty much unchanged.  Robin Paige's book became less mystery and more historical trivia and events, but not to the point of annoyance, so the enjoyment level is the same.  I haven't read E.E. Knight's Vampire Earth HC yet, but the dragon books, published in trade size, have been excellent, so I have faith.  Butcher's Dresden Files went from awesome to even more awesome, and the Codex Alera series, which I'm almost as attached to, kicked off in HC at the same time.

Then came this week, with two HUGE disappointments.

Nancy Martin's Blackbird Sisters series has always been fun, and throughout, we've had Mick/Nora in a rocky relationship, but with no indication that we needed to worry.  When Richard was brought in in Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die,  he didn't seem to be a romantic rival as much as prrof that, while it was difficult, Nora was sticking with Mick, and they were essentially engaged at the end(unless her wearing his engagement ring on the proper finger means something else altogether and no one told me)  Picked up the new books and Nora's dumped Mick for Richard and the main subplot was "who's the daddy" as apparently she didn't wait long in between(and may I say that wet rags are more interesting than Richard?) and Mick has been going through a string of floozies.  I made it about 70 pages.

Then I picked up Kim Harrison's latest, For A Few Demons more.  The Martin book I waited for the PB for(thankfully) but I was able to get this one cheap enough that I sprung for the HC.  Sadly.  Harrison gets compared to Laurell K. Hamilton a lot, which had me leery at first, but so far, while Rachel has had 2 different boyfriend, it was quite a while in between for her, and she was completely monogamous with both.  She's STILL monogamous, but this book honestly reads like she's in heat with a chastity belt on or something, gender does not matter(not that I care about that part as a general rule, but this is the first book there's been any indication she's attracted to Ivy) and at times, her hormones seem to be more important than the plot, and there have been several times I was wondering what kind of scene I was about to be reading(the borderline explicit kinky sex scene didn't help)  I'm giving it to the end of the book because it's POSSIBLE something is making her act like this, but I'm thinking it's more likely that the LKH comparison is being played on for the HC sales.

Upside?  The new Dresden book, White Night will HOPEFULLY be here tomorrow.  If not tomorrow, then Monday  And the mailman brought me 2 new issues of Fables and Captain America #25.  And other things, too(not that I've finished February's comics yet.