Robin Hood 2x02 "The Booby and the Beast"

This episode is one of the strangest and most ridiculous episodes of the entire series but it's also one of the most fun! It holds a special place in my heart just for being the Djaq-in-a-dress episode and has one of my absolute favorite scenes: the reactions of the rest of the gang to her wearing a dress. If you're looking for anything even closely resembling historical accuracy or realism, this definitely isn't the episode for you. But then again, if that's what you're looking for, you might want to try a different series altogether. We'll be headed to medieval Las Vegas for this one; let's begin!

Thoughts While Watching:

• Okay so, before we even get started, I just gotta ask...does "booby" mean something different in British slang? Or does it have some other meaning that I'm unaware of? I have literally never heard it used in the context that it's used here before in my life. In my world, a booby is a breast.
• It's always tax season in Nottingham.
• Will looks super hot in his guard outfit.
• I love how Much and Djaq team up like that. She flirts to distract them, Much steals the money. For some reason I can't picture him being entirely comfortable with that plan, so I'm guessing it was her idea. They make such great partners though.
• I don't know why, but I find it so cute how Robin uses Djaq's shoulder as an armrest. Like a subtle, silent way to tease her for being the smallest. And her smile's so cute!
• I just love that whole opening "we're winning" sequence.
• The booby trapped strongroom is the most ridiculous thing in the world (okay, so maybe I do know two different definitions of that word, but I've still never heard it to describe someone like how it's used for the Count later).
• I love the way Will hugs Robin to pull him out of the way. They're so cute!
• LMAO omg:
• Much: Will, what's this?
• Will: Much, don't touch that! 
• *Much plucks string, ridiculous sound effect, alarms sound*
• Much: Why do I do it?
• I'm absolutely dying at Guy's face when the sheriff stands up naked out of the bath!!! Poor Guy. That was too funny.
• Sheriff: And stupid too, so you and he should get on. *Guy rolls his eyes*
• "I've taken my bath six months early for a reason." So...how often does he normally bathe then? Annually? Gross.
• So what is this then, like six more people we can add on to the list of people Marian's gotten killed by spying? Add on at least one I can recall from last season. I can't help but think back to the cocky way she said, "so far nobody has had their tongue cut out because of me." Don't get me wrong, I'm 100% blaming Guy for all these deaths, but they were also directly caused by her actions.
• This is such a ridiculously modern casino. How many of these games existed back then? Any of them? 
• The sheriff is now whoring out Marian and Guy is going along with it.
• Guy, stop trying to make fetch happen! It's not going to happen!
• Why is Much always the one causing a scene in Nottingham to provide distractions for the gang? Is he the official distraction guy?
• If Marian didn't want him to go to the strongroom because it's dangerous, why did she tell him about it in the first place?
• I wonder if Steven's wife was Persian or if he just got the box for her while he was working out there.
• I get that Allan was being an ass, I do, but that was really unnecessary. He's going to be putting his life on the line for some coins that they really don't need to steal in the first place and while I get that he shouldn't have underestimated Steven just because he's blind, he was bringing up valid concerns. Steven knocks him to the ground and everyone starts laughing and smirking at him. That's just mean. I get why he got all pissed off. Now, I'm not saying that he was right to go betray them as a result of that, especially because if it had happened to anyone else, he'd be the one laughing. He makes fun of Much all the time, but it's interesting that when he's the butt of the joke he has such a thin skin.
• Guy is making some of the funniest faces in the background of that scene where the Count was flirting with Marian.
• I want to take a minute to consider some of Allan's motivations here. This is the first time we actually see him betray the gang. Was he always planning to do it or did he have doubts about going along with Guy's arrangement? Did he originally intend to stay loyal but let Guy's words to him in the dungeon replay through his head enough times until he convinced himself? Maybe he didn't say anything to the rest of them about it so he could leave his options open. I do think that the reason why he actually went along with the idea right here, right now was because they were making fun of him and he got pissy, but what's interesting is that he was careful to not really give up any important information. He didn't implicate Steven or Marian, all he did was let him know that they'd be planning to get in again within the next few days, something which was obvious and that Guy had already assumed on his own. Was he maybe originally going to say more (like for example, mention that Steven was helping them because he was pissed at him) but calmed down enough while he was waiting in the tavern that he realized how awful that would be? Was he ready to walk out because he was tired of waiting or was he having doubts? The biggest question is, was he only originally willing to give little meaningless tidbits like this and is this what he actually thought the arrangement would be like? Because that's not actually that bad and I can see how he could've convinced himself that a little tip here or there about obvious stuff wouldn't make a difference. Did he only decide to stick with the arrangement and start giving more important information because of Guy's threats here? Guy tells him, "come to me again with nothing and I will be very disappointed, understand?" and "don't make me wait too long," both of which sound threatening to me. Was he afraid of Guy? I'm still not saying that makes it right, because his safest option would be to confess to Robin about what's going on, but it does make a difference to me whether or not he genuinely felt threatened.
• Also worth pointing out that Guy dropping that coin for Allan is the second time this episode he's making someone fetch.
• Haha, aww poor Count! That was funny though. Marian's kind of taking it out on the wrong person though, unless she assumes that he knows she's being forced into this.
• Little John's face when he heard "a vat of molten lead" is too funny! That eye roll is like, "I'm too old for this shit, Robin."
• Djaq is so excited by the genius of this room. It's adorable!
• Allan's really quick with math, impressively so.
• Robin should really listen to his gang's opinions. I get that he's the leader, but they are all putting their lives at risk, John and Much are both clearly against this plan, and the money is just not worth it. It's not like someone's life is in danger and they have to rescue them, it's just money.
• Those guards are ballsy. I wonder what Guy would do if she told him the guards were trying to get her to sleep with them. Were they actually planning on attacking her if she stood her ground? It kind of seemed that way.
• I love how the Count makes a mustache out of her hair.
• LMAO SOOO HARD!!! Alright, this is now the second time a guy has gotten hit in the balls this episode. Poor Robin. I love how the gang all start bickering too.
• It's kind of an interesting yet confusing choice to have Djaq give the Count that death stare and to keep a sword pointed at him during this. Nobody else appears to have a weapon pointed at him and the whole gang heard Marian talk to him about intentionally bringing him out there to meet them. Why is she so suspicious of him? Robin and the rest are suspicious too, but not to that extent.
• Will says going tonight is not possible because they're not ready, Allan says it's certain death and expressed doubts earlier as well, Much and John already made it clear they weren't happy about the plan, which means that everyone in the gang except Djaq (who hasn't expressed an opinion other than interest in the strongroom itself) and Robin are against this, yet Robin keeps pushing for it anyway. He also keeps framing it as a life or death thing but it's not. To me, this is an example of poor leadership. He's willing to put them all in very serious danger for a chest of coins when almost all of them have said they don't feel comfortable taking this risk. Nobody's life is actually in any immediate danger if they don't do this, he's just making it seem like that's the case because he wants the chest.
• Guy looks so pissed, but what did he expect? He shouldn't have supported the sheriff's plan in the first place. He has no right to be jealous now.
• DJAQ IN A DRESS!!!! 
• I really want to know who came up with the plan for Djaq to wear a dress. Was it her idea or did she have to be coaxed into it? She looks beautiful though!
• REALLY, GUY?!?! How did he not recognize her? How many short haired Middle Eastern women are in Nottingham in the year 1192? How did he recognize Allan last episode but couldn't recognize Djaq in this one?
• This scene with Djaq faking a twisted ankle is super cringey. Also, how does she punch them in the face with them wearing their helmets like that?
• Oh, it's my favorite scene! The gang's reactions to seeing Djaq in a dress!
• John looks a little horrified. I think he definitely views himself as the father figure of the gang and this is like seeing his little girl all dressed up in a revealing outfit to go out for the very first time. 
• Much is so innocent and pure. "Oh, I didn't recognize you."
• OMG WILL! His reaction is fucking funny. He comes out, turns to face her, and immediately and obviously looks right down her chest. Not even just pointing his eyes downward, but his whole head looks down like he completely forgot to hide what he was doing. And her reaction to him is priceless too. Notice how annoyed she is when she asks, "what?!" I wonder if she was annoyed because he was looking down her cleavage or if she thought he was judging her outfit or both. Regardless, she did not seem flattered. This is another small and mostly insignificant reason why this ship doesn't make a lot of sense to me. But Will's awkward and nervous, "nothing" in response to her question is priceless. I think that his crush on her is super cute. I wish nothing would have come of it, but it's still cute. I love how she's still giving him a weird look as he walks away. 
• I just remembered how Will has actually seen her naked breasts before, so you know as he was looking down her cleavage he was imagining them under there. He's gonna be masturbating to this later, I'm 100% sure.
• My favorite reaction! Unlike Will, Allan isn't nervous, awkward, or embarrassed at all about checking her out. He does it openly. He starts checking her out before John's even finished pulling him through. Now, what I heard here was "You've gotta dress like a girl more often." but according to the captions it's "You wanna dress like a girl more often." which is probably correct but is a much weirder way of wording the exact same sentiment and I don't know why he would say it that way. Anyways, he's blatantly flirting with her and she flirts right back. She gives him a little smile and says, "Oh, I do, do I?" in an extremely flirty and teasing tone and he says, "It's just a thought." They are openly flirting with each other. They are absolutely adorable.
• Her reaction to Allan checking her out is so much more positive than her reaction to Will checking her out. She's annoyed by Will but she's flattered by Allan and flirts back. Why is Will/Djaq the more popular ship? Just because they actually ended up together? Because let's be real here...if Allan wouldn't have betrayed them and got caught, it was never gonna be Will. Will won by default. Will won because his competition got eliminated due to other reasons. Maybe it's because they think Djaq deserves someone who will put their loyalty to her above their desire for money and power and they think Will will treat her better...which actually, they're probably right on both of those fronts, I'll give them that. Will is probably the safer choice in that respect, but the chemistry is just so lacking. She really doesn't show any attraction to him at all until the extremely out of character season finale.
• I REALLY wish we would've gotten a reaction from Robin. I wonder what his initial reaction to seeing her that way would've been.
• Djaq and Much make such a good team. I like how he pulls her out of the way, just in case.
• Aww, poor Will! That arrow almost took him out. His face is so funny though.
• You see, Allan? Do you see how close that poisoned arrow almost came to killing your friend? Do you feel guilty yet? When will you learn that your actions have consequences?! (Alright, now I have that vine stuck in my head...) Robin too for that matter. If Will had died, Robin and Allan would both be to blame. Allan for giving Guy the heads up to change the sequence and Robin for insisting they all risk their lives for something so stupid.
• "If we die, don't come running to me." I love you Much and you're right. John finally gets on board here but Much still isn't convinced and Robin bullies him into it. Shit leadership.
• I like that Marian and Djaq are working together! They so rarely get any interaction.
• The sheriff has a new sparkly outfit this episode. Most fabulous Sheriff of Nottingham ever!
• The one thing I will say for Robin is that he's the one who actually goes in and risks his life the most. That's good at least. He doesn't make anyone else go in.
• All of these costumes are so completely from the wrong era.
• Did Robin just open the hellmouth?! Is there a hellmouth under the castle? I get he said there would be a vat of molten lead but that is so far down and really looks like hell.
• Hahaha Guy's face again when she says, "no, it wasn't." Richard Armitage is making some fantastic faces this episode.
• All that caution when he goes into the room, but he just runs right out through the arrows. Okay...
• Aww, more Marian and Djaq partnership!
• Now the sheriff is punching and slapping guards in the face too just like Djaq did earlier. How do they not break their hands?
• Poor Steven. How many people have to pack up and leave their homes because of Robin?
• What was Robin going to say when he told the Count, "About Marian...?" Was he going to ask if something happened between them or tell him to back off? Did he really think that Marian was seriously interested in the Count? Was he just going to warn him to keep her involvement with him a secret? I wonder where he was going with that.
• "I'm not being funny, but the poor have it easy." A very telling line from Allan. I don't think that he actually believes that the poor have it easy, but I think he does believe that the poor have it easy in comparison to him. He's the one that's constantly in danger, fighting constantly, risking his life constantly, he's the one who's been homeless up until very recently and even now the camp is still not a real house, and he gets nothing because they hand everything to the poor. From his perspective, the poor are too cowardly (or weak) to fight back and the ones who do fight back don't get to keep any of it at all. I still agree with him from last episode, "what's that about?" 
• Djaq and Allan share an amused look whenever Much is rambling on about his nonsense. They actually do this fairly often which is yet another reason why I ship them. They bond over laughing at him.

Final Thoughts:

I absolutely LOVED getting to see Djaq get all girly this episode! This is the only time we ever see her like this and it was a fun change of pace. Watching her flirt to get what she wanted was a little awkward and seemed a bit out of character for her, but I don't think it actually was out of character. I think it's something she decided to try, decided she didn't like doing it, and that's why we never see her do it again. I think at this stage she's still experimenting with how much femininity she's comfortable with and that's fine. I wonder if she was using Marian as inspiration for this since Marian obviously is willing to flirt to get what she wants. But I loved getting to see her wear a dress and it seemed like she did feel comfortable with that. She certainly looked confident in it! That's my favorite part of this episode, hands down. Especially that absolutely perfect scene with the gang's reactions.

Allan's subplot was actually the most important and significant part of the episode though. The main casino with a deathtrap strongroom plot was fun, but it was just that: fun, fluffy, and filler. Allan's story was truly intriguing. He actually looked guilty in the scene where Will almost got shot like he realizes that it would be his fault and he isn't comfortable with it. Yet, as we know, he's going to continue to betray them. His comment about the poor at the end revealed some of his ongoing frustrations with their lifestyle but also served as a way to justify it to himself. And the thing is, I really do genuinely understand where he's coming from. I don't condone his actions, I think betraying the gang is a bad mistake, and I think he handled this all very poorly, but I can completely understand where his frustrations are coming from and I can relate pretty well to what I think his motivations are for doing this. At no point during this entire traitor storyline do I ever think Allan is a bad person. I think he's a good person who just makes some pretty tragic mistakes.

Alright, that's it for this episode! See you next time.