Conspiracy Theory Time!!

[railise]

There are many aspects to S3 that have left fans scratching their heads. And now, I'm putting it to all of you to help explain two Robin-related mysteries-- one disappearance, and one appearance:

What happened to his (gorgeous, awesome) Saracen sword?
and
What's the story behind his tattoo?

I have my own theories worked out, but I'm going to wait to share them, since I want to see what you all think! :)

A couple of images to jog your memory/imagination (a.k.a. "Railise always welcomes an excuse to screencap Robs" lol):

~~~

ETA: I'm looking for explanations that could fit into the show-- while I assume (with no actual knowledge) that something happened to the sword between S2/3 which prevented its use in S3, I'm looking for stories. Rational, wild; short, detailed-- hit me with it. :D

Comments

[roh-wyn.livejournal.com]

Am I allowed to comment? (That's a rhetorical question, 'cos I'm commenting anyway, lol).

I loved that Saracen sword, and I have no idea how it completely disappeared in S3. Obviously, someone decided to retcon it out of the plot. My own (highly speculative) explanation is that he sold it at a market in Acre so he could buy passage back to England for his men. The guy who bought it was the same guy who sold Will the unexplained new clothes he's wearing when the gang first arrive in the Holy Land. ;)

As for the tattoo, I'm guessing it happened during the Crusade and that copious amounts of alcohol were involved.

[railise]

Of course, you're allowed to comment!! :) And stuff like your highly speculative explanation is exactly what I'm after here!

The thing with the tattoo, is that it wasn't there in 104, when Marian stitches up his arrow wound. However, (dun, dun, duuuuuun, lol), that wound is roughly where the center of that cross is...

[roh-wyn.livejournal.com]

Ah, for some reason, I thought the stitches were on the other arm.

If not, I'm now even more irritated at S3 for attempting to shove Marian out of the plot. *grumbles*

[jagnikjen.livejournal.com]

TBH, I never realized the sword was missing. But I like roh_wyn's explanation. ;)

As for the tattoo, I just assumed he got it in the Holy Land after Marian dies as a remembrance thing. I was very surprised, but no less pleased to see it in 3x01.

[railise]

Ohyes, "pleased" is a good word. "Drooling" works, too. ;)

[desertrose9.livejournal.com]

They lost the prop more than likely. When it comes to the sword I do quite like roh_wyn's idea. However (now this is just an idea I thought of now so it's not all that strong) what if it was because it reminds him of the Holy Land? Robin says in 301 that Robin Hood died in the Holy Land, and his sword was a big part of him (and I can't remember if he actually still had his saracen bow? who knows) But like I said, this is just a theory that came to me there. Plus, when Marian died in 112, in 113 after telling them that she is dead he throws the sword into the ground. Perhaps he left the sword near her graveside as some symbolism of the protection he wished he gave her? Again, just a thought I had there so it might be full of holes.

As for the tattoo, it is either a large overlook by the s3 writers, or a tribute to Marian/the cause he's fighting for. That type of Cross resembles in Christian faith the ressurection. Perhaps it's symbolism that the first time we see it is just after he basically should be dead from falling off that cliff and before Tuck starts building the pieces back together to ressurect the idea of Robin Hood.

Again, these are just ideas that have come to me now so *shrugs*

[railise]

Oooo, there's a thought! He did have the Saracen bow, but if 310 is to be believed (which usually I prefer to discredit portions of it, but let's run with it here), he got that from his father, so it would have different meaning.

Perhaps he left the sword near her graveside as some symbolism of the protection he wished he gave her?
LOVE THIS!!

That's also a really fascinating thought about the resurrection idea-- that hadn't occurred to me at all, but it makes a lot of sense.

[jagnikjen.livejournal.com]

Perhaps he left the sword near her graveside as some symbolism of the protection he wished he gave her?

Another great theory. Did he use that sword when he fought the Saladin wannabe on Richard's behalf? Have we been able to pinpoint the last time we saw it?

[desertrose9.livejournal.com]

I'll check that now since I just checked about the last time we saw it, and he doesn't leave King Richard with it on his person. he has a dagger, his bow and his arrows, but no saracen sword.

Yup he has it when fighting on Richard's behalf.

[jagnikjen.livejournal.com]

Well, then it seems your theory is entirely plausible. I really like it and seems like something Robs would do.

Not that roh_wyn's theory isn't plausible, but yours is so much more romantic. ;)

[desertrose9.livejournal.com]

It's the shipper in me that loves that idea:P

[railise]

I'll throw some of my theories out there, now that the discussion's started--

As far as the sword, my sane idea was close to roh_wyn's, although I'd gone with the money from the sale going toward the new articles of clothing, especially the leather, the gang had.

The not-so-sane idea, which was concocted ages ago with mylogiceatsyou (and I can't recall now which of us first came up with this, but I've taken it to heart in a cracky way), is that Robin hadn't read the fine print when he bought it in the Holy Land-- "will become a normal sword upon the event of your true love's passing." (This also explains the green/purple ring of Marian's. Although if you go kind of darkly funny with that, it could be seen as a mood ring, with "green" indicating "alive"... ;))

As for the tattoo, I agree that copious amounts of alcohol were involved. And with that in mind, I could almost see him thinking that, as she's buried in the Holy Land, it's in the shadow of the Cross, so to speak-- which is why the tattoo is a shadow, rather than an outline.

Or, he might have lost a bet, probably also whilst heavily intoxicated, on the journey back. ;)

As far as the sword goes, though, I think I'm going with desertrose9 now-- and that he buried it with Marian. I really, really like that symbolizing his desire to protect her. Actually, that could even be taken as that he failed to do so, and thus was not able to wear that any longer... if I'm saying that well?

[mylogiceatsyou.livejournal.com]

Hahaha I'd forgotten that cracky theory. Brought up during Zombie Hood discussions yes?

I really think I'm with you, I'm going with desertrose9 on the sword now. Partly due to the shippy romantic in me, and partly just because that really works.

The tattoo? Totally with wastingyourgum, or, if I'm being serious, I love that whole resurrection idea desertrose9 has come up with.

...(None of these problems are at all to do with the writers. Definitely not)

Oh how I missed the sword when it was gone.

[wastingyourgum.livejournal.com]

Re: the tattoo - Tuck did it while he was unconscious... XD

[railise]

We have a winner!! XD XD XD

[mylogiceatsyou.livejournal.com]

LMFAO this is so canon now.

[railise]

Our tag-team Robins are wigging me out O.O

[mylogiceatsyou.livejournal.com]

IKR when I saw that I was like whoa...trippy

[ladyarcherfan3.livejournal.com]

The theory my brain came up with for the sword dealt with the idea that Marian had been killed with an "normal English" sword (Gisbourne's obviously), so Robin was going to kill Gisbourne with a similar weapon.

Honestly, I'm prefering the other theories mentioned here. :D

As for the tattoo, I was just confused and had no real theory. :)

[railise]

Oh, wow-- I really like that! Good thought.

[ladyarcherfan3.livejournal.com]

At first I thought it might be the same weapon - then the idea would have been that the same blade that killed Marian would kill Gisbourne. Though after some rewatching, I saw it's not the same sword, but similar.

[mylogiceatsyou.livejournal.com]

Ooh, but a really cool thought...

[heffermonkey.livejournal.com]

TBH I hadn't noticed the disappearance of the sword either but now that it's been brought to my attention I'm a little upset by it's absence in S3 (Along with one or two or even three characters I won't go into mentioning!)

As for the tattoo - the only thing that came into my head when I first saw it was - oooh yummy *drool* - as well as trying to figure out if there was a scar there also from the arrow wound he'd received and Marian had stitched up back in S1.

But having read through people's theories on both matters I've been inspired to write the some RH fanfic for the first time in what has to be at least eight months!

[railise]

Really, I missed most of the characters in S3, since even the ones who were still present weren't really there or themselves a good portion of the time... but, that's a whole other thing. ;)

YES-- I've looked for a scar, as well, but I think they forgot it. :S

WOOT!!! That's fantastic! :)