"Beyond Sherwood Forest": Robin Hood goes sci-fi

There have been plenty of takes on the tale of Robin Hood, the typically hunky guy who robs from the rich and gives to the poor.

But I don't think you've seen one like "Beyond Sherwood Forest" (Syfy, 9 tonight).

All the familiar characters are present: Maid Marian, the evil Sheriff of Nottingham, Little John, Friar Tuck.

The story begins in England 1166 when three men are chasing a winged dragon-like thing through Sherwood Forest. The creature, which is pretty ugly, kills the current Sheriff of Nottingham. The other two find out that the creature can transform into a young woman who can heal its own wounds. One of the men wants to share the knowledge of the strange woman with the king; the other doesn't, so he kills his friend.

Then the new murderous Sheriff of Nottingham, Malcolm (Julian Sands), steals the winged creature/woman --named Alina -- and locks her away for his own future use.

Witnessing the murder, though, is young Robert, the son of the murdered man. He runs away; when we meet him years later, he is Robin Hood (Robin Dunne). Meanwhile, Robert/Robin's old friend Marian (Erica Durance) is being forced into a pre-arranged marriage. She runs away too. In Sherwood, she comes upon Robin (a re-meet cute fight scene) but he doesn't recognize his childhood friend.

Robin Hood gets the king's brother (temporarily running things) real mad when he robs his men of gold and an important heirloom box. The king's evil brother raises taxes even higher and makes the people turn against Robin. And he demands that Malcolm handle the Robin Hood problem and get back that heirloom box. Malcolm's plan involves putting the tortured 'Alina' back in play.

There's a strange community of folks called "Sylvans," and a magical solution 'the Desamonia' amid the basic swordplay you'd expect in a Robin Hood tale. It's a little gory, but in true Syfy fashion, the effects are also pretty cheesy.

But probably not cheesy enough. "Beyond Sherwood Forest" is a little too earnest for its own good. If you're going to have a little science fiction fun with the Robin Hood legend, acknowledge that you're adding some new dimensions and go all the way, I say.