Sean Bean’s ‘Robin Hood’ called “gloriously bad” in first reactions: “Becomes hard to justify its existence”

Sean Bean’s new Robin Hood series has earned very divided first reactions from critics.

The new MGM+ version of the classic story debuted last night (November 2) and features Jack Patten and Lauren McQueen as the titular character and Marian, while Bean plays the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Reviews have now flooded in for the series, with critics giving the show an extremely mixed verdict in general.

RogerEbert.com argued that the series “feels as if it belongs to a different time of TV, for better or for worse”, adding that it “quickly stretches itself so thin that by the end of this first season’s 10 episodes, it becomes hard to justify its existence”.

The Guardian‘s three-star review called it “gloriously bad”, critic Lucy Mangan suggesting that by “any objective measure Robin Hood is terrible”.

“Subjectively? I couldn’t be having more fun and I suspect it will be the same for anyone who goes into it with the right attitude,” she added. “If it’s not for you, fine. You can look forward to whatever great thing Sean Bean does next that this is paying for.”

However, the Radio Times was more positive, saying that the show “delivers the familiar beats with fresh grit and emotional resonance”, and that while it may not be the definitive version, it “carries a surprising weight, heart and ambition” and “rivals even the most acclaimed historical dramas”.

Tech Radar was also won over, writing: “Don’t tell Amazon, but my heart sank when I first heard that yet another Robin Hood adaptation was coming to MGM+. But after watching it, I’ve mostly been won over. As it turns out, you can teach an old dog new tricks.”

In another positive verdict, Collider called Robin Hood a “near-perfect adaptation of one of the greatest legends to ever ‘live’” and “could easily become the next great watercooler historical epic”.

Alongside Bean, Patten and McQueen, Robin Hood also features Connie Nielsen, Lydia Peckham, Marcus Fraser, Angus Castle-Doughty and Steven Waddington.