The Adventures of Robin Hood – “The Final Tax”

Original Air Date: February 4, 1957

Directed by: Terry Bishop

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this episode!

Synopsis: When Serf Tom Joyner (Fred Goddard) appears to be mortally injured, Sir Charles Bixby (Paul Eddington) is only anxious to collect on the man’s death tax. Even when Tom survives, Sir Charles finagles to soak Tom’s poor family dry. It’s up to Friar Tuck (Alexander Gauge), without the aid of Robin Hood (who sat this episode out) to outsmart Sir Charles.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): At the beginning of the episode, Sir Charles’s bratty son Simon (Barry Fennell) carries his large, longhair tabby cat Peterkins into the castle courtyard.

The Adventures of Robin Hood - The Final Tax - Simon Barry Fennell carrying large longhair tabby cat Peterkin into courtyard
The Adventures of Robin Hood - The Final Tax - close up of large longhair tabby cat Peterkin

His father arrives on horseback and the pounding of the horse’s hoofs on the drawbridge frighten the cat, who bolts up a tree.

The Adventures of Robin Hood - The Final Tax - large longhair tabby cat Peterkin startled by approaching horses animated gif
The Adventures of Robin Hood - The Final Tax - large longhair tabby cat Peterkin in tree

Simon is in hysterics, blaming his father for scaring poor Peterkin and demanding that the cat be brought down right that moment. Like the coward he is, Sir Charles humors his son and orders Tom to climb the tree and fetch down the cat.

The Adventures of Robin Hood - The Final Tax - Tom Fred Goddard climbing tree to retrieve large longhair tabby cat Peterkin

Of course Tom falls from the high branch and lands in a seemingly lifeless heap on the ground. Peterkin jumps down of his own accord and Simon gleefully announces that the cat is completely uninjured, ignoring the twisted serf on the ground.

The Adventures of Robin Hood - The Final Tax - Tom Fred Goddard falling from tree trying to rescue large longhair tabby cat Peterkin animated gif

Final Mewsings: Bratty kids don’t deserve cats.

Many thanks to Laura for letting us know about the cat in this episode.

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