#malcolm of locksley

[redkimmie]

the 11th set ! 😀

I'm back ! My god it's been so long, I blame college. Good thing I have something to show to make up for it. This time, it's more on the McDuck ancestors with some others. 😊

As usual, if you are unfamiliar with any of the faces, just keep reading 👌.

For this set, we have :

1.) Sir Slye McDuck(1st-2nd century) - ancestor of Scrooge McDuck. A sneaky medieval member of the Clan McDuck, Sir Slye MacDuich assisted King Malcolm II in 1018 in his conquest of the Angles as a spy.

2.) Sir Murdoch McDuck(11th century) - ancestor of Scrooge McDuck. For unclear reasons, Sir Murdoch held the local patent on longbows at the time. Thus, in 1066, when England was invaded by the Normans, the English Army signed a contract with Sir Murdoch McDuck so he could supply them with longbows not knowing that the arrows cost extra.

3.) Don De Pato(16th century) - an ancestor of Scrooge. McDuck. His Spanish ancestor who was in command of a treasure galleon covered in gold foil which he called "La Dorada". Later, he left the Spanish Armada in 1588. He was featured in "The Golden Galleon" illustrated by Tony Strobl.

4.) Frederico Von Pato - an uncle of Ludwig Von Drake. First featured in the totally contradictory "History of Duckburg" series. A friend to Gyro's grandfather Prof. Pardalto. Appeared in two stories with both being illustrated by Brazilian artist, Irineu Soares Rodrigues. He was given the unofficial English name "Friedrich Von Drake" by Gilles Maurice.

5.) Locksley Mcduck(18th century) - an ancestor of Scrooge. In around the 1700's, Locksley McDuck, decided to join rebelling outlaw Rob Roy to battle evil landlords such as Rob Roy. The partnership was, however, short-lived, for once they had robbed the rich, Locksley refused to conform to the proper Robin Hood tradition and give to the poor. His design here is based on an unknown ancestral ghost of Scrooge McDuck featured in Don Rosa's "The New Laird of Castle McDuck".

6.) Sir Donald Mcduck(15th century) - an ancestor of Scrooge. He was nicknamed "Black Donald" due to his foul temper. In 1440, Sir Donald invented golf, a sport that quickly caught on among the Scottish nobles. However, due to his temper which resulted in violent tantrums, King James II outlawed the sport in 1457.

7.) Upsy Duck - an uncle of Donald Duck. The peak of his career was becoming the first man to climb to the top of Mount Stratoshaft, in Switzerland. Unfortunately, while he was standing on top of the mountain, the wind caught his hat and carried it to the top of a small ice hill called the "Matterthorn" down in the valley. Upsy, due to the ice's slipperiness, was unable to climb to the top of the Matterthorn to retrieve his headwear, and he was disgraced. He was featured in a 1965 story "Mastering the Matterthorn" illustrated by Tony Strobl.

8.) Swashbuckle Duck - a great-uncle of Donald Duck. A big-game hunter, whose personality was transferred to Scrooge via a portrait as shown in the story "Outer Space Safari", illustrated by Tony Strobl.

• Characters such as Sir Slye McDuck, Sir Murdoch McDuck, Locksley McDuck, and Sir Donald McDuck are all creations of Don Rosa and were featured in the sketch-only prologue "The History of the Clan McDuck".

• Don De Pato would later be introduced in the animated show "Legend of The Three Caballeros" using the German name, Don Dugo. Although there is a big difference. In the original comic, he was only related to Scrooge McDuck but in the animated show, that relation was not shown and instead, he was an ancestor to Donald Duck through to his great-grandfather Clinton Coot.

Note : The portraits here may be changed a bit anytime which means that the portraits here are not the final version. If there's anything wrong here, lemme know 😁

[lyledebeast]

I've been pondering why it is that I was able to write so much fic with Benjamin Martin as a main character when I hate the canonical version so much. It's different from when I was writing for the BBC Robin Hood fandom and realized very early on that I had no interest in making Robin "better" than he is in canon. I'm surprised because in so many ways they are very similar characters, but there is a crucial difference. Martin does have some self-awareness and discernment--he is a lot older than Robin, after all--but whenever he tries to act on it the narrative shames him into doing something else.

At the South Carolina assembly he says a bunch of nonsense, but the gist of it is: Oh shit, war is coming! War is bad, and it's bad for me in particular. Because as everyone gathered here today knows, war makes me INSANE, and I can't afford to be INSANE when I'm a single parent to seven kids.

This is a perfectly reasonable and even laudable position to take, but like Malcolm Locksley in the aforementioned BBC RH, he lets his son bully him into doing some bullshit instead. When that bullshit bears consequences--the death of the bullying son--Martin has another moment of clarity and realizes that this is all his fault, that things have gone as he predicted they would way back when, and if he'd stayed home and protected his kids, this might have been avoided. And he is about to do the right thing! He's about to go back to his five remaining kids and see if he can't keep any of them from dying!

But then the narrative is like, no, sweetie, you're just depressed. Here, have an American flag, and you'll feel much better.

In canon, Martin is an incredibly flawed, frustrating, stupidly-written character. But, there is potential there. What if his desire to avoid triggering situations and prioritize his family was treated as a good thing? Is it possible to keep his personality, but have him make different and better choices. After eight fics, I hope so!

[robinhoodrevisited]

Sins Of The Father (Pt. 1)

It is a troubling time for England… (Following the murder of Thomas Beckett, international pressure on King Henry II grew. The Catholic church was infuriated by Henry’s lack of interest in finding Beckett’s killers and in May 1172 Henry negotiated a settlement with the papacy in which the King swore to go on a crusade to appease Rome. But Henry was already fighting a war with France and at home. Henry and Eleanor had eight children. As they grew up, tensions over the future inheritance of the empire began to emerge, encouraged by Louis and his son King Philip II. In 1173 Henry’s heir apparent, “Young Henry”, rebelled in protest; he was joined by his brother Geoffrey and by their mother, Eleanor. Two of the King’s other sons, Richard and his favoured son, John swore allegiance to their father and would strive to put an end to the revolt.)

Meanwhile, in Nottingham. (A young boy kneels at the side of a grave on the grassy hillside overlooking Locksley. His father stands by the cross with his bow. The grave is that of the child’s mother and the child’s name is Robin.) Robin: “Do you think Mother watches us…from heaven?” Malcolm: “Yes, son. I’m sure she does. I’m sure she sees everything we do.” Robin: “I wish she were still with us.” (Malcolm solemnly nods his head then kneels by Robin and puts his hand on his shoulder.) Malcolm: “Robin, one day you will be Lord of Locksley, lord of my lands. You must grow up and learn to take on all of the responsibility that comes with it. It is not only ourselves that we must look after but the people of Locksley too. Together we must continue to make Locksley a place your mother would be proud of. Do you understand?” Robin: (Nods:) “Yes, father.” (Malcolm chuckles slightly, ruffles Robin’s hair then holds out his arms. Robin embraces his father.)

Gisborne. Barn. (A man waits in the barn. A dark-haired woman, Ghislaine, comes in, smiling.) Man: “Oh, Ghislaine. (Ghislaine runs to him.) I’ve been thinking about you all day.” (Ghislaine hugs him and the Man kisses her cheek. She speaks with a French accent.) Ghislaine: “We do not have much time, but if you wish to talk, then…” (Ghislaine kisses the Man.) Man: “Oh… Oh, I look forward to the day when we no longer have to hide in stables and outhouses to do this.” Ghislaine: “Mm. Not long now, my love.”  (She kisses him again. Through a crack in the wall, seventeen-year-old Guy of Gisborne watches them. Though unable to see the Man’s face, Guy runs off in anger.) Gisborne. Night. (The village is decorated for a celebration. A roasted pig is brought into the village. There are jugglers and fire-eaters and music. Lanterns have been strung round in a ring just outside the manor. Ghislaine comes out of the manor with her children.) Ghislaine: “Guy, Isabella, come with me. (She walks to the crowd and addresses them. Guy stands beside her, sullen because of his discovery earlier in the day.) Ladies and Gentlemen, I am so pleased you decided to join me in celebrating the safe return of our men from war. (The crowd quietens and gathers around her.) Sadly, not everyone was able to make the journey back, and I would ask that we think also of our loved ones who died on this day. As you know, I feel your pain, as it is my own, my own husband being among the dead.”  (Guy hangs his head, as does Isabella. Longthorn pushes through the crowd.) Longthorn: “My Lady Gisborne, as bailiff of these parts, it’s my duty to ask who will now be the lord of the manor?” Swain: “Longthorn! Now is not the time.” Ghislaine: “No. He is right to ask. There will be no lord. (Brightly:) Instead, there will be a lady of the manor.“ Longthorn: “So… we’re expected to serve a woman? (Longthorn looks around at the villagers:) A French woman? (The villagers laugh:) I don’t think so.”

Guy: (In warning :) “Longthorn…!” Longthorn: “This village was awarded to your husband for his services in the King’s army. Now he’s dead. (To the villagers:) Did you see the way she declared herself  ‘lady of the manor?’ She has no right to this estate.” (A horse whinnies and hoofbeats approach. A soldier riding a white horse stops behind the crowd and quickly dismounts.) Roger: “Stop! I command you to stop!” Longthorn: “On whose authority?” (The soldier strides quickly forward through the villagers.) Roger: “The King’s… as he made me lord of this land. I am Sir Roger of Gisborne.” Village Man: (Boldly:) “No!” Roger: (Turns round to glance at the villagers:) “What? You doubt my word?” Swain: “We thought you were dead.” Roger: “I was captured, not killed. (Looks at Longthorn and jerks his head to the side:) Out of my way.” (Longthorn draws his dagger.) Longthorn: “I cannot do that. (Roger stops abruptly in front of Longthorn, then backs off:) As bailiff, I must uphold the law.” Roger: “You are no longer bailiff. (Steps forward:) Out of my way! (Longthorn lashes out with the dagger. Roger puts his left hand up to block and the dagger goes right through it. Roger doesn’t make a sound as Guy throws off Longthorn and pushes him back. Ghislaine faces Roger, staring at the dagger in his hand as the people groan in horror. Roger pulls out the dagger, again with no sound or flinch of pain. to Longthorn:) You will never hold office again as long as I am lord of this manor.” (Roger throws down the dagger and goes to his family.) Ghislaine: “Roger. (She stares at him like a ghost:) They told…” Roger: “I was captured. There was no way to get word to you.” Ghislaine: “Captured? Did they hurt you?” Roger: (Shifts his feet, thinking:) “I must talk with you at once, Ghislaine.” (Roger walks past his wife, who is still frozen in place.)

[incorrectbbcrobinhood]

Robin: Father, I feel like I'm going to die.

Malcolm: We're all gonna die, son.

Robin: I meant soon.

Malcolm: So did I.

[theladyofspaceandtime]

Robin Hood - 3x10 Bad Blood Meta

Here’s another crazy Robin Hood meta by Jamie about her thoughts pertaining to the confusing and retcon mess that is episode 3x10 of BBC Robin Hood. 

Let me know your thoughts and I hope you enjoy my ramblings once again. 

“I’ll free you, free you from the bad blood that shackles you to each other.” - Malcolm of Locksley to Robin & Guy

Where do I begin with this? No honestly, I’m not sure exactly where to start. 

I guess I’ll start with the obvious fact that while most of the fandom dislikes Season 3 in general, this episode is only one of the things that fuels it more. You can tell that the writers were trying to come up with a Surprise Mcguffin™ to keep the show running despite a good majority of the cast wanting to leave the show (all except one honestly.) Hence the retcon mess that transpires. Don’t get me wrong, I actually love some things about this episode, but there are also somethings that make me (and the fandom) scratch our head and just downright facepalm. 

Follow me through the ride that is this episode and make sure you don’t forget about that Mcguffin. There is a pop quiz on it later. 

Welcome to the first episode where Guy has become an outlaw. What there is only 3 episodes of this before it’s the end? Yeah, I feel ya. We should have gotten more of this. Anywho, Robin runs into the newly outlaw Gisborne in the forest as the two do what they do best: argue and fight with each other. It leads to a strange hooded man in the forest who shoots them down with poison darts, ties them up, and tells them a bedtime story of their past once they awaken because he wants to end the bad blood between them.

Kay...sounds legit???

Flashback to 20 years earlier! 

We are introduced to a couple kissing. Oh, don’t worry, it’s just Ghislaine of Gisborne and Malcolm of Locksley having a secret affair with each other. WAIT, WHAT?! Guy and Robin sit around the campfire as Gisborne tells him of the fact he spotted this happening. The stranger reminds Robin he was once on a different path. In fact, Guy and Robin both were. 

This episode is pretty much about the affair between their parents and is mostly a flashback episode, so the only way I can explain it all is in the characters themselves.

Ghislaine of Gisborne - Guy & Isabella’s Mother

She’s a supposed widow who has two kids, is ridiculed by the villagers for not only trying to run a manor/village all on her own, but for also being French. 

I LOVE THIS PRECIOUS MAMA! FIGHT ME! Her two children idolize her and love very much and so does her husband. Ghislaine was one of my favorites from this episode because despite her affair, it only ended up happening because she thought her husband was dead and since women (yes, even noblewomen) didn’t have many rights, the only way to secure her children’s future was to have a husband. Did Ghislaine love Malcolm? Yeah, probably, but there is also no denying the fact that even when her husband returns back from the crusade alive and is discovered as a leper, she still dearly loves him. She even sneaks to the leper colony to feed him and make sure he is well. 

As for the way she dies....by pretty much getting knocked back by Malcolm and hitting her head on the floor, I can see it, but I still call BS. 

Ghislaine was greatly loved by children so much that even once they discover the truth about her affair, they try to deny she would be capable of such a thing.

Malcolm of Locksley - Robin’s Father

THIS ASSHOLE! With all the problems I have with this episode, they all stem from this man right here. Who knows what happened to his wife? She’s never even mentioned, but it’s assumed she passed away. He’s a somewhat good father to Robin...at least he gives him helpful advice. He helps support Ghislaine while her husband is gone. 

But once everything is out in the open about the Secret Mcguffin, this shitstick says that despite the fact her husband has returned, he will declare his feelings for her, marry her or else once it’s discovered her husband is a leper, she will lose everything. Ghislaine is obviously having trouble accepting this, so he says she will have their Secret Mcguffin in secret and have it taken away for a short while until they can recover it.

Once Roger is kicked from the village for being found as a leper, probably by the hands of Malcolm since he was with the priest and bailiff when it happened. However, after the event when Robin refuses to go inside a lepers house, Malcolm at least calls his kid out on his shit. He also tries to defend Ghislaine from the bailiff who has spotted out their Secret Mcguffin, but does a wrong move by trying to marry her soon or else she will lose her lands to sneaky bailiff that goes to take the deeds at his order. 

But here’s the cake taker for me: despite fighting Roger for breaking the code to visit his wife, Malcolm of Locksley fakes his own death and makes his son think he is dead for years until he shows up to tell him this very story. Yep, the strange hooded man is none other than Malcolm of Locksley himself, much older and scared by the fire during his fight with Roger. Oh, and he only appears in this one episode to unite Guy and Robin to find the Mcguffin before disappearing again.

*sarcastic* A+ Parenting right here. Wow.

Roger of Gisborne - Guy & Isabella’s Father

This man is literally EVERYTHING Malcolm wants to be...no honestly, he’s literally trying to take his wife, and his lands, and probably his kids too. 

Presumed to have died fighting in the crusades, he mysteriously returns back with a secret (and no, it’s not the Mcguffin.) He contracted leporsy. He confides in his wife who tries to keep it a secret despite the villagers talking about the possibility of it. This man loves his wife and his kids dearly and pleads with his wife to pronounce herself a widow so his family doesn’t follow in his fate; homeless in a leper camp in the forest. Roger even tells Malcolm to take good care of his wife and kids, but still doesn’t know of the affair between them.

When Guy comes to warn his father of the fact Malcolm is trying to get Ghislaine to marry him, rules be damned. This man goes back to the village and speaks with his wife. Malcolm walks in on them and that’s when shit hits the fan. The asshole fights him for no good reason and when his wife is knocked dead, Roger refuses to leave her side and stays in the fire to die by her side. 

I mean, it doesn’t help their kids, but the kids have already lost their future at this point. 

Meet Young Robin of Locksley

He’s small, a great archer, and comes off as an irritating brat that accidentally causes trouble and ends up almost getting you hanged for it (whoops, sorry Guy.) He doesn’t listen to others that well, but can you blame him? He’s only 11.

He is assumed to be childhood friends with Guy, or at least they live in the same village and their parents know each other (a little too well.)  While the focus is on the parents in this episode, it was nice to see a Young Robin and Guy. Especially at the end when Robin finally listens to his father’s advice and takes up his bow, refusing to be afraid and fight for what’s right. 

Sure, I mean his dad faked his death and left him all on his own, but this kid will go places.

Meet Young Guy of Gisborne

Me being the big Guy fangirl I am, of course I have a lot to say about him. And of course it’s one of the reasons I love this episode: because we get hindsight into his backstory and find out why he turns into the asshole he is later on in life. This is pretty much a episode that makes you sympathize with him if you haven’t already and lets us see why he has no family as he’s told us in Season 1 and 2. 

Despite being 15-16, this boy comes off like an older brother figure when interacting with Robin. He easily shows his emotions unlike his older self and honestly just wants to protect his family. He doesn’t like that his mother is having an affair and feels she is being used by Malcolm. He also doesn’t like that his mother is visiting his father in the leper colony despite telling him not to do so himself. 

While trying to defend his parents when Malcolm comes bursting through the front door like a wild man, Guy grabs a torch, trying to scare him away. Malcolm pushes him back which ends up causing said torch to fall from his hands and start the house fire. While the parents quarrel inside, the manor burns to the ground and the parents with it. 

The other asshole (and supposedly main villain of this episode) Bailiff Longthorn exiles the Gisborne kids since the lands are his now and Guy is left to raise his little sister; homeless, penniless and without any help. He had to quickly become tough in life. Sorry, it just makes me sympathize with him more. 

Meet Archer: The Mcguffin - Robin & Guy’s Half-Brother

I love and hate this character so much. He only appears as a baby in this episode, but he is the reason that Malcolm of Locksley finally shows his face after hiding for years. Apparently he had been searching for him the whole time, but neglected Robin, wow. Okay....sure.

It’s not Archer’s fault but yet it is. When you meet an older version of him in the next episode, there is no denying he has a wonderful personality and lots of potential, but yet the reason he was created bugs me, especially since we only get to “know” him in only 3 episodes which isn’t enough honestly.

Jamie’s Pros & Cons of this episode:

Pros:

Backstory exploration showing the history between Guy & Robin that explains their conflicts with each other (Despite both losing their parents, Guy also lost his home and titles which were given to Robin by the villagers.)

Introduction to the parents (Roger, Ghislaine and Malcolm.) 

The Acting

Young Guy and Robin. Just look at how adorable they are.

A cause that unites Robin & Guy to work together for the only family they have left (Archer)

Cons:

The story can be confusing at times. I definitely didn’t understand it the first time I watched. In fact, I still question things.

The somewhat love triangle between Roger, Ghislaine and Malcolm. It feels more forced on Malcolm’s side then anything else because he is literally coming between a couple that is already married and clearly in love with each other.

Malcolm of Locksley. Mostly everything he does in this episode is stupid. Lets not talk about the fact he left his kid thinking he was dead for years only to show up once telling him the story of how he abandoned him....only to abandon him once again. Great, give this man Best Dad in the World mug. 

The townspeople who don’t help the Gisborne kids and criticize them for being French and exiling them, but giving everything to Robin because he’s the kid of an English Noblemen. What assholes. 

The fact that when you think about it: this episode is just a way to bring Guy & Robin together as well as keep the show going with Archer as the new Robin. Yep, that’s pretty much why our Mcguffin was created. I think they could have brought Guy and Robin together in a way that didn’t involve a secret Half-Brother between them....but that’s just me. 

The puzzling questions of Retcon:

Is the land that the Gisborne’s run Locksley village or is it an unnamed village? Where is Marian? How did Robin grow up fine and well if Malcolm left him behind? How did Guy and Isabella survive for the little bit they had together before he sold her as bride when she turned 13? Why wasn’t this established sooner? Oh yeah, that’s right, it’s a retcon. 

My thoughts in total:

Despite my issues with this episode, It’s actually one of the ones I enjoy in Season 3. I love that we got a glimpse into Guy and Robin’s backstories and firmly know that a character’s backstory is what shapes them into the people they are going to be later on down the road and this episode is proof of that. 

It’s a good episode in itself, but it clearly has some flaws that just don’t make sense and leave you with questions. I think if anything, this should have been revealed earlier in the season or done differently. 

[theladyofspaceandtime]

Guy is totally right, Malcolm of Locksley IS a punk ass bitch. 

…I’m hilarious

@distinctgoldcalling @ilariaeugealtomasini @lyledebeast @ghisborne

[jadelotusflower]

Robin Hood Rewatch: 3x10 - Bad Blood

aka Retcon: The Episode, aka Childhood Trauma, aka Daddy Issues

Kate, not being in this episode, is safe from my ire week - this time it is directed towards Malcolm, the worst father in the world. I’m aware that this rewatch has devolved from a commentary into a litany of complaints, so proceed with caution.

Again, they should have called this episode Sins of the Father instead of 3x04.

Guy is very nervous walking around the forest, carrying a makeshift bow and arrow. Robin finds him and they draw their swords instead of trying to shoot each other.

I think it’s pretty clear now that we’ll never see Robin’s scimitar again - it was left in the Holy Land and he carries a broadsword now. Just another confirmation that the Robin of season 1-2 has been all but erased.

But before we can get to our once-a-season Robin/Guy smackdown, they both get shot with sleeping darts from a unknown assailant.

Credits! Where we don’t get our usual cast, since they won’t be appearing in this episode. Instead we get the guest stars, and all the clips are of Robin and Guy, which is quite well done actually.

This episode is written by Lisa Holdsworth, who wrote Let the Games Commence earlier this season.

Robin and Guy wake up around a fire, where a hooded figure with a raspy voice wants to tell them a story. We know it’s Malcolm, and that the boys don’t figure that out when he starts to tell the story that only he and a dead woman would know, is a choice.

“Everyone knew that we both became orphans that day.” Everyone except the audience!

And we’re into the flashback, helpfully “twenty years earlier” where Malcolm and Ghislaine are meeting in secret. “Ghislaine of Gisborne” has real Julia Goolia vibes. She’s played by Sophie Winkleman, who was older Susan in Narnia 2005 - and Lady Susan in Sanditon if you like coincidences.

Teenage Guy is rather creepily spying on them.

Back in the present, Robin refuses to believe it and is likely projecting a little when he steadfastly declares his father “loved one woman only.”

We don’t know what happened to Robin’s mother - my headcanon is that she died in childbirth.

Guy accuses Robin of being shielded from reality by Malcolm, and...yes? Generally parents try to shield their eight (ten?) year old children from the ills of the world?

There’s was a feast at Locksley, and we see little Isabella, even if she gets no lines the entire episode. And wait...if Robin and Isabella knew each other as children, and appear to be around the same age, why was this never mentioned before now? I know, it hadn’t been thought of yet, but this should have played heavily into their dynamic.

Missing from the flashback who should have been there: Edward and Marian - I would have liked a nice little scene with Robin and Marian bickering or something, but maybe they didn’t want to visibly put teenage Guy next to small child Marian.

It’s conceivable they wouldn’t be at a feast in Gisborne, but Much absolutely should have been there. There’s no excuse for him not to be, other than they wanted to hone in on Robin and Guy.

The bailiff Longthorn arrives to ask who will be lord now that Ghislaine’s husband has been declared dead, and when she says herself he argues that the land should be returned to the Locksley holdings

Malcolm is referred to “Lord Locksley” - isn’t he an Earl? Lord Huntingdon, surely? Anyway he chooses not to take the lands back.

Alright, my next pet peeve. Robin’s recurve bow. I suppose it was never explicit that he got it himself in the Holy Land, only that Luke Scarlett was unfamiliar with it - which technically works since he wouldn’t have been born at the time on this flashback. But if Robin had been kicking around with that thing for years, surely it wouldn’t be such a novelty?

And where did Malcolm get it? Did he fight in the crusades too? I know it’s pedantic to keep bringing history into a show that is deliberately ahistorical, but this flashback would be taking place around 1174-5, when there was no active conflict in which England was involved in the Holy Land, and there’s no indication that Roger went there for either pilgrimage or penance.

The recurve bow as an inheritance from his useless father takes away from the character beat of Robin acquiring knowledge and respect on his own journey, and I hate that it’s been repurposed like this.

So we get to the purpose of this episode: junior jerk Robin and sullen sadboi Guy, to make us think that hey teen Guy wasn’t so bad after all, and ugh, child Robin sucks. It’s just so...inelegant.

I actually think Charlie Row is a good fit for young Robin, but Tommy Bastow as young Guy is less of a match.

Robin shows off trying to shoot down a lantern and instead the fire wheel comes crashing down on a priest - he then denies he was responsible.

Longthorn blames Guy and throws his misogyny around, wanting him hanged to hurt Ghislaine. Malcolm is comically inept despite ostensibly being the well respected Earl, and Roger arrives to exert his status as lord of the manor. Longthorn stabs his hand and Roger shows no pain, Ghislaine arrives to say the priest will live, and Guy is freed.

Robin of the present claims that he made a mistake and the incident made him a better man, child Robin is penitent at his mother’s grave. He confesses to his father the hypocrite, who tells Robin he must take responsibility when he’s done something wrong.

As an explanation for Why Robin Is The Way He is, there’s just not enough in this for me.

Ghislaine and Malcolm meet in the forest, and he’s figured out Roger has leprosy. And uh oh, she’s preggers, and too far along to pass it off as Roger’s. Longthorn is spying from the woods, and wow are these two terrible at secret meetings.

Malcolm seizes on the opportunity to cast Roger out and marry Ghislaine himself, what a creep. Not so keen on applying that taking responsibility speech to himself and his unborn child, is he?

Back at Locksley Gisborne Manor, Roger is sitting by the fire. I know they just repurposed the Locksley set and it’s not actually meant to be the same house, but they didn’t even remove the Locksley crest from the mantle.

He knows about the affair, but is remarkably sanguine about it - and we have the comparison of Guy’s father = pretty decent fellow, and Robin’s father = dick.

Roger is condemned as a leper, including by the priest Ghislaine saved. She declares herself a widow. He is unable to climb out of the grave by himself and Malcolm helps him - an act that makes him seem generous to the people, when we know it’s his fault Roger has been cast out. I really can’t express how much I hate Malcolm.

Guy, distressed, tries to follow and Malcolm stops him, reminding us that not only has Malcolm’s actions hurt Ghislaine - a woman he claims to love - but he has taken a father away from Guy and Isabella, all for his own selfish ends.

Robin declares he won’t go in a leper’s house, and this is where I feel the characterisation doesn’t square with his future self - hubris, self-aggrandizing and showing off, sure, but Robin at his core is kind, particularly to those below him, in a way that seems more innate that acquired. Yes he’s still a child, and the plot of this episode is that he “learned” to be better because of these events, but it just doesn’t ring true for me.

Not that I think Robin does anything terribly bad this episode - he’s a brat at worst and still a child, but it seems a deliberate turn of the narrative to position him as the cause of Guy’s ruin in a way that is reminiscent of Once Upon a Time and the villianisation of child Snow.

“Imagine you had lost what he had lost.” I mean, we just saw a scene of Robin at his mother’s grave? He has indeed previously lost what Guy has just lost?

Longthorn arrives to blackmail Malcolm and Ghislaine - he wants the Gisborne lands or he’ll blab about the baby. Malcolm’s plan is to agree to hold him off, then quickly marry her so the lands become his. Either Malcolm is just stupid or is again forming plans that suit him best - he could simply say that now that Roger’s been stripped of his holdings he’s exerting his right to reclaim Gisborne after all.

Even if Longthorn did tell everyone about the baby, I hardly think it would be that big of a scandal, so long as they married before the child was born. Again, Malcolm’s the Earl! He has immense privilege and power! A lowly bailiff is hardly going to be an obstacle!

Teen Giz sees Ghislaine visit Roger at the leper colony, and is quite rightly angry that she forbids Guy from seeing him but goes herself.

He confronts her and suggests they all go back to France, but she goes into labour.

Baby Archer has a birthmark of an arrow on his chest. Malcolm takes him away to give to a random mustache.

Back at the leper colony, Guy tells Roger about the wedding and accuses him of not fighting for their family.

Robin is practicing his archery and sees Roger, rushing to tell everyone about it and Longthorn whips up the mob. Just to make sure Guy has a “valid” reason to hate Robin, I guess.

Guy accidentally starts a fire trying to keep Malcolm away, then gets the silent Isabella out (seriously, why does Isabella get absolutely no attention in the flashbacks?).

Malcolm finds Roger with Ghislaine upstairs, the men fight and the Robin/Marian/Guy parallel could not be more on the nose.

Ghialaine really has no agency granted to her at all - she starts out strong declaring she will be the “lady of the manor” but then spends the flashback drawn along by the whims of Malcolm and Roger as she vacillates between them, has her baby taken away, and then dies.

Robin tries to go inside to his father, but is retrained by the priest. Guy just stands there, and in the present day laments that he should have gone in to save his mother.

Malcolm reveals that she was already dead, as when she tries to stop him killing Roger he pushes her away and she hits her head. Okay, so it could get more on the nose.

In the present, Guy tries to strangle Robin - his impeccable logic being since Malcolm is already dead, he can kill Robin in his stead. Malcolm reveals that the former isn’t true.

Because it turns out Roger couldn’t bring himself to kill Malcolm, instead he just wants to die with Ghislaine. 

Robin throws Guy off, claiming that his father never would have left him alone. Malcolm reveals himself, heavily scarred from the fire, and Robin’s heart visibly breaks.

“How could I be your father, after what I’d done?” Um...maybe that’s when you most needed to be his father, Malcolm? Not leave your small child all alone because of your selfishness? Take responsibility for your actions? Try to atone? Look after Isabella and Guy after you made them orphans? How about that?

The same could be said of Roger, choosing to lay down and die rather than be there for his own children. Sins of the father(s) indeed.

Guy gets to be relieved of guilt, thinking he started the fire that killed his parents, Malcolm asks that Guy and Robin forgive each other, for the sake of their brother.

“You lost the right to call me son when you left me alone in the world.” Good response from Robin, but then Malcolm has the AUDACITY to say “but didn’t it make you the man you are today?”

Because you see, this traumatic childhood event was character building for Robin! That makes it all okay!

Longthorn tries to seize Gisborne, but the priest points out that they should revert to the Locksley holdings and their new master: Robin.

There’s something almost interesting going on with the priest here - he’s on Robin’s side, he wants to help him, and we can infer that he becomes a mentor to Robin in the following years, perhaps where he acquires his religious fervor and desire to go on crusade. I just think there were so many other interesting stories to tell about a Robin/Guy backstory but we got stuck with this secret baby nonsense.

Robin Refuses the Call and runs away to his mother’s grave. She is not named in this episode and is only a narrative device, another missed opportunity.

But instead Robin hears his useless father’s voice: “you shouldn’t stand by and let something terrible happen because you were too scared to do the right thing.” A more compelling narrative would have been child Robin learning of his father’s actions and realising he’s a fallen idol, therefore being compelled and committed not to repeat his mistakes - instead we have Robin buying into his platitudes even though we know Malcolm to be a hypocritical pos.

And the bow APPEARS FROM FUCKING NOWHERE WITH A SHAFT OF HEAVENLY LIGHT. Come on, show. The bow was absolutely not there in the preceding shot, there is no rational explanation for its appearance.

Holdsworth took Campbell’s Supernatural Aid quite literally, apparently.

Robin returns to the village where Longthorn’s men are already terrorising the people, and does anyone else think this should have been a young Vaisey? Perhaps that’s too much of a coincidence, although it would make a kind of sense - he is ousted by Robin as a boy, goes on to do dastardly deeds and return 15 years later and assume the role he coveted and more.

It probably wouldn’t have worked from a Guy perspective, given he tried have him hanged, unless that actually played into Guy’s twisted relationship with him - playing on his resentment.

Robin declares that he will care for the people as his father intended, ironically exerting more authority than Malcolm managed in the opening scene. You know you suck as a lord when an eight (ten?) year old is more effective.

The priest villagers support Robin, and he basks in their love.

In the present, Robin declares he can never forgive Guy “because he showed no remorse for what he did to Marian.” It’s interesting how his language has already shifted from anger at him killing Marian, to a grudge because he doesn’t show remorse for killing her.

Guy deflects, and Robin says he killed for the Sheriff for years, to which Guy implies they should be grateful for him because otherwise they’d still be under his rule, and Robin is surprised to learn this? They didn’t know Guy killed Vaisey? Who else would it have been?!?

Malcolm tells them Archer is in York jail ready to be executed. WHY DON’T YOU GO SAVE HIM THEN YOU USELESS PRICK? Oh he’s too sick and dying, well boo hoo. Clean up your own mess Malcolm.

I mean just the AUDACITY to run away, leave your small child with a huge responsibility thinking his parents are dead, and never make contact with him or try to help him until your other son gets in a sticky spot, then you dump the problem in your first born’s lap, insist he work with the man he has every reason to hate, and peace out. Malcolm is THE WORST.

Robin is however moved, and embraces Malcolm. Instead of returning it, or taking the time to talk to his son who has just magnanimously forgiven him, Malcolm sticks him with another sleeping dart. A complete waste of space until the end, slinking off into the shadows instead of lifting a finger to help either of his children. Worst. Father. Ever.

Seeing this, Guy says “look, I really have no desire to see you again” which is a brief light in an episode absolutely devoid of humour, but still gets shot and gives an exasperated look before passing out.

I am just baffled that it was written this way instead of Malcolm just dropping dead for whatever reason at that moment. I mean, where does he go after this? What does he do? How awful for Robin to wake up after being reunited with his father, finding out that father is a terrible person, and just go on not knowing what actually happened to him.

Guy and Robin head off to York to rescue Archer, who unfortunately takes after Malcolm in the character department.

I just am sad about this episode. I LOVE an flashback episode. I am a sucker for a flashback episode. This was just...a waste of a flashback episode, solely to setup this secret half-brother to Robin and Guy to bypass any actual character development and make them allies of necessity, but without actually exploring anything about them by revealing their pasts.

I don’t object to them having grown up together - in fact that’s interesting! But instead we spend the episode with Malcolm, Ghislaine, and Roger instead of Robin and Guy, with only the barest lip service to explaining why they became the men they did.

But I suppose why does it matter at this point, we’re steamrolling to the end of the season to put us out of our misery.

[pedroam-bang]

Princess Of Thieves (2001)

[sacrosanctvm]

Anyway, here’s a casual list of muses who need more love that is absolutely not ridiculously long, so if we’re mutuals and you’d like any of them, feel free to let me know.

Adam Bolivar

Adele Bellerose

Adrian Deatherage

Aeron Nixon

Alexander Petrov

Aoife Hawk

Atticus Faust

Caedmon Kenway

Camila Lovecraft

Corbin Solas

Declan Hyde

Ecaterina Dragomir

Elijah Malone

Elita Vane

Emery Seguin

Ezekiel Lockwood

Gemma Monroe

Gunnar Aslan

Harlow Shepard

Hayden Donovan

Ibrahim Lucis

Isaiah Sanderson

Josefina Guerra

Kaidan Hyde

Kennedy Locksley

Kingston Knochen

Landon Hyde

Leonidas Typhon

Lochlan Typhon

Lucinda Grigorian

Maebh Danvers

Maksim Barlow

Malcolm Kenway

Mateo Flores

McKaylee Aedus

Monroe Hyde

Nikita Xander

Parker Whitman

Rebecca Fawn

Rigel Malik

Rohan Kumar

Ryder Dillinger

Samson Drake

Sarah Ingram

Sedona Monroe

Siphosethu Nokuduma

Shoshana Ray

Stellan Scott

Takashi Blair

Temperance Fayreweather

Thane Ulric

Thiago Corso

Zane Regis

Zoe Pirotta

[rachelstipe]

The most luxurious homes for sale in each state and territory

  For Australia’s wealthy, the price tag for a home that meets their needs and tastes now goes all the way to $100 million.

And if you have the cash to splash, you can fork out on breathtaking views of the Great Barrier Reef, a slice of Tasmania’s own take on Brideshead castle, or an opulent mansion in the heart of a suburb best known for housing our prime ministers.

Here is a look inside the properties asking top dollar in each state and territory.

Western Australia

This federation classic is seeking offers above $15 million. Photo: Mack Hall Real Estate

The priciest property surprisingly doesn’t sit on Sydney’s glittering harbour, but on the other side of the country, in Perth’s Peppermint Grove. With views of Freshwater Bay, the four-bedroom, three-bathroom houseis set on 3652 square metres, with a 41-metre water frontage to the Swan River.

Selling agent Mack Hall Real Estate is seeking offers above $15 million for the home.

Victoria

Shadow Creek comprises more than 2300 square metres of living space. Photo: Abercromby’s

The most expensive property currently on the market in Victoria is Shadow Creek in Locksley, 90 minutes’ drive from Melbourne, or quicker by helicopter if you chose to use the property’s private helipad.

On the edge of the Great Dividing Range, between Euroa and Seymour, the property is a six-bedroom mansion featuring its own lap pool, an expansive cellar and a four-bedroom manager’s residence, set on a holding of 314 hectares.

Shadow Creek, which the agent’s blurb says “proves what is possible when quality comes first and money is no object”, is on the market for $11.8 million.

The property comes with 314 hectares of land. Photo: Abercromby’s

New South Wales

Next up on offer is the grand Vaucluse family home of Chinese property developers Bowei Yang and Wenjing Xie, on the market with an asking price of $10 million to $11 million.

This property has an asking price of $10-$11 million dollars. Photo: Ray White

The five-bedroom, five-bathroom (plus two powder rooms) property is next door to the home of former Australian cricket captain, Michael Clarke, and is just a stone’s throw from the house of former prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull.

Photo: Ray White

  There’s a self-contained cabana and swimming pool, lift, wine cellar, home theatre, billiards room and a four-car garage set on a block of more than 1300 square metres.

Queensland

This six-bedroom Port Douglas property has views of the Great Barrier Reef and is named after one of literature’s greats – Ernest Hemingway.

The Villa Hemingway has a price tag of $10.8 million. Photo: LJ Hooker

Billed as “the grandest property” in the area and with a price tag of $10.8 million, Villa Hemingway sits on Flagstaff Hill with commanding views of the area.

Photo: LJ Hooker

Set on six levels with six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, six balconies, a cocktail bar, pool and tennis court, the property also has a separate two-bedroom, self-contained apartment.

  South Australia

This Adelaide Hills property is situated on 6.47 acres of bushland. Photo: Sotheby’s

This striking property in Heathfield, in the Adelaide Hills, is set on 2.6 hectares of bushland and features five bedrooms and four bathrooms. The asking price is $4.6 million-$5 million.

The property comes with a double garage, large elevated pool overlooking a hillside landscape, a tennis court and ground-floor retreat.

It features a separate pool house and entertainment pavilion. Photo: Sotheby’s

But it doesn’t stop there. There’s a pin-coded wine cellar, two open fireplaces, a spacious scullery and an orchard.

Photo: Sotheby’s International Realty

 Australian Capital Territory

This “sleek architectural masterpiece” located in Yarralumla, in the heart of Canberra, is set on three levels comprising five bedrooms and four bathrooms and could be yours for $4.5 million.

Set on 810 square metres, the home also features a sheltered alfresco area with a barbecue kitchen, gas fireplace and large sun-drenched patio next to a resort-style swimming pool with spa and a covered cabana.

Photo: LJ Hooker

There’s also an eight-car garage with a spacious wine cellar/storage room and a window that looks into the pool.

This “sleek masterpiece” is on offer for $4.5 million. Photo: LJ Hooker

All four bedrooms come with their own ensuites, with the two top-level bedrooms with walk-in wardrobes, dual balconies and rumpus area,

Photo: LJ Hooker

Tasmania

The estate is on the market for $2 million. Photo: Harcourts

If a full estate is more your thing, 10 minutes from Launceston’s CBD is this historical homestead, Old Marchington, currently on the market for $2 million.

The story of Old Marchington goes back to 1821 when a parcel of land was granted to free settler John Smith, a man who, according to legend, had royal connections to King George IV.

By 1842 the five-bedroom property was described as one of the best vineyards in the colony, and by 1884 it had become a prominent stud, importing top champions from England.

Photo: Harcourts

Northern Territory

Surrounded by rainforest and boasting ocean views, this five-bedroom mansion in Larrakeyah in central Darwin is on the market for $2.2 million.

The Larrakeyah mansion is on the market for $2.2 million. Photo: Knight Frank

Set on two levels and surrounded by rain forest and tropical gardens, the home has a pool, games room and wrap-around balcony to soak up those classic Northern Territory sunsets.

Photo: Knight Frank

This article originally appeared in The New Daily.

The post The most luxurious homes for sale in each state and territory appeared first on News.

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[lyledebeast]

Robin Hood and His Dad

So, I had very ambitious plans to write long posts about all the adaptations of the Robin Hood films I’ve been watching, but it’s the week before Thanksgiving break, and reality is catching up with me.  But, there are a few interesting points of comparison between BBC RH and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves that I want to address.  The first of these, as the title suggests, involves Robin’s relationship with his father in the two respective versions.  There are striking similarities.  In both versions, Robin’s father makes a decision that causes significant pain to a third party to avoid causing Robin pain.  In PoT, the old Lord Locksley abandons a peasant woman and the son he fathered with her because 10 year old Robin feels like he is disrespecting his mother’s memory. Malcolm of Locksley in RH BBC leaves his community, and his son, believing him dead because he can’t stand the idea of ten-year old Robin judging him.  Meanwhile, teenaged Guy of Gisborne is blamed for Malcolm and his own parents’ deaths, and he and his sister, Isabella, are exiled from the community.

The important difference here lies in how the fallout from these decisions is handled.  First, I want to look at how they impact the Robin and father relationship. Costner’s Robin continues to have a contentious relationship with his father well into Robin’s adulthood.  His father saw the crusades as “a foolish quest,” but Robin goes anyway. He admits later that he had never really forgiven his father for taking a mistress even after he gave her up.  In spite of this animosity, Robin’s father continues to love his son.  At the beginning of his one scene in the film, he is writing a letter attempting to find out if Robin is still alive, and if he is imprisoned, how he might come to be released.

While we’re clearly meant to believe that Malcolm loves his son--and Armstrong’s Robin is all too ready to embrace and forgive him--he chose to have no relationship with his son at all over potentially having the kind of contentious relationship Costner’s Robin has with his father. While growing up without a father doubtlessly created some hardships for Robin, it did not really alter the course of his life.  He still grows up as lord of the manor, with all the privileges that go along with that title.

Will Scarlett in PoT is an illegitimate son of a lord, so he only has privileges if his father recognizes him. Old Lord Locksley does not, thanks to Robin.  Will tells Robin “you ruined my life,” which begs the question of what impact being Lord Locksley’s son had on him before Robin interfered. Did he lose the privileges themselves or only the possibility of them? Unfortunately, these are not questions the film answers, but it does present Will’s grievances against Robin as justified. It probably helps that they come to light as part of a narrative in which Will already finds himself inspired by Robin, and that he ultimately wants the reconciliation as much as Robin does. “I have a brother,” Robin says as he embraces Will, thus granting the recognition his father had withheld.  It’s very sweet.

When Armstrong’s Robin embraces Malcolm, Guy is standing in the background awkwardly watching.  If he’s thinking about the fact that Malcolm is the father of all his and Isabella’s misfortunes, he keeps it to himself.  These misfortunes go far beyond being homeless as a teenager and child respectively.  To get them both out of poverty, Guy sells thirteen year old Isabella in marriage to a man who turns out to be an abusive rapist.  He himself ends up working for an abusive man (and likely rapist, though it’s not as obvious there as in Isabella’s case.) Malcolm unequivocally ruined their lives in ways they are both still suffering the effects of, but Guy is not even permitted to acknowledge it. 

 He says that he has felt guilty for his parents’ deaths in the fire every day before lunging at Robin, as though it’s his fault.  In the following episode, he claims that he will never forgive Malcolm, but the reason is that “he seduced my mother.” Sure, Guy.  That’s the real problem here: Ghislaine’s choice, not Malcolm’s.

“Bad Blood,” the BBC RH episode in which these events take place, is notorious in the fandom for the poor writing choices. I personally find it very interesting, mostly because of all the flaws in the Locksley family that are exposed before they’re immediately and permanently covered up.  Earlier in the episode, Robin almost kills a priest with Guy’s bow and then lets Guy take the blame for it. His father very, very mildly chastises him (positing his future, and not other people’s lives as a reason to be cautious). Then he turns around and lets Guy take the blame for his mistakes.  What the fuck is wrong with this family?

I think the reason for these differences in the two versions largely comes back to their respective conceptions of Robin Hood.  Both present him as flawed hero, but a lot of Costner Robin’s arc involves him attempting to redress the pain his flaws have caused.  Armstrong Robin’s flaws seem to exist solely to make him feel more fleshed out and believable, like shading in a sketch or painting.  He’s largely insulated from having to recognize the impact those flaws have on others, and in “Bad Blood” that narrative privilege is extended to his father.  The real focus is on Robin’s feelings about his father’s abandonment.  Who cares if others actually suffered more from it?

[ivegothalfaplan-blog]

[lyledebeast]

Robin: “I’m younger than you, and everyone knows I’m the best shot in the village”

Guy: “Only because you keep telling everyone you are.”

Honestly, if adult Guy had half as much sass as his teenaged self, I would be much happier.

I have to rewatch some parts of Bad Blood; there was too much to unpack in just one viewing.

“Aww, how touching,” Guy says at the end of the sweet father-son moment where Robin tells Malcolm that he almost killed the priest and Malcolm tells Robin it’s important to take responsibility when he does something wrong.

What stands out to me about that scene is that they actually only discuss Robin injuring the priest by accident and not fessing up to it. The fact that Robin let Guy take the blame, and Guy almost got HANGED for it isn’t even mentioned! Not only to Robin and Malcolm not apologize to Guy, they don’t even bother to clear his name! Which becomes interesting later on as it’s the priest who stands up for Robin, but not Guy and Isabella.  Would it have been different if he knew Robin had caused his injuries and then lied about it, and Guy was innocent? 

Malcolm gives Robin this fluffy little speech about responsibility, but he doesn’t actually expose his son to consequences of any kind.  Robin gets treated like a fragile little teacup from childhood to death.

But he makes Robin apologize for calling Gisborne Manor a “leper’s house.” Well, shit.  I take it all back.  Malcolm of Locksley for Father of the Year! (Wtf, writers?)

But perhaps they just rushed through completely disregarded Guy’s first trauma to make room for the second one at the end of the episode.  Now, Malcolm did what he could to stop Guy from being hanged (though it seems to be Roger’s arrival that actually does that).  If anyone could have stopped Guy and Isabella’s exile, it’s Malcolm of Locksley.  But he can’t be bothered; he abandons the community because he can’t handle being judged by a ten year old. The Gisborne siblings actually suffer a lot more as a result of Malcolm’s disappearance than Robin does, but hey this isn’t the Guy and Isabella show, is it?

And Robin grows up to be just like his father.  He talks a big game about honor and fighting for the cause, but whenever any obstacle comes up that he can’t overcome with strategy and archery, he’s ready to bail too.  The only difference between them is that Robin has Much and Marian to stop him the first time and Tuck the second.

[theladyofspaceandtime]

Chapter 34 is up and it’s a long one full of flashbacks. 

Pairing: Guy of Gisborne/Original Female Character. Robin Hood/Marian of Knighton

Chapter Summary: When a familiar face comes across the Gisborne's, Marian and Robin, they must relive the horror's of their past once again and learn the truth's hidden within them in the form of Malcolm of Locksley. (follows 3x10 episode Bad Blood.) 

[theladyofspaceandtime]

I love how even though Malcolm of Locksley knows there is a fire in the house, he doesn’t do anything to stop it or put it out. His immediate thought process is: 1. Get the kids out (which is good), but he screws it up at 2.Go confront the man who’s wife I’m trying to get it on with while I forget about the fire and could have saved us all. 

Don’t mind me, just watching Bad Blood again for the meta I’m gonna write up. 

[buildarocketboys]

bbc robin hood + 1, 3, 7 for the fandom ask?

1. if you could hit any character without repercussions, who would it be?

Either Thornton (Isabella's husband) or Malcolm of Locksley. S3 really said let's reach full capacity on trash men

3. characters you would marry in an instant?

Uh, Marian bc bae (although she scares me). Also Allan but it'd be like...a queerplatonic open relationship. Oh, and Djaq. Actually Djaq would probably be the least stressful and most stable one of those to marry.

7. name a character you wouldn’t mind naming someone after.

In terms of actual names I like, Guy and Isabella are pretty nice names. I especially like Isabella. Not sure about specifically naming someone after either of these characters tho.