Robin Hood season 1 episode 3 ending explained: Who are the Merry Men?

Robin Hood season 1 episode 3, titled No Man Can Hide Forever, premiered on November 9, 2025, and introduces a turning point in the series. Following the murder of Captain Laforce, Robin flees into the forest, where he begins to form alliances that shape his transformation from fugitive to leader. The episode explores the beginnings of the group that will eventually be known as the Merry Men.

As Robin meets others forced into exile, shared struggles lead to unity and purpose. By the end of the episode, his journey evolves from survival to resistance, laying the foundation for the rebellion that defines Robin Hood season 1.

Robin Hood season 1 episode 3 introduces the Merry Men

Robin Hood season 1 (Image via Instagram/mgmplus)

The ending of Robin Hood season 1 episode 3 explains the origins of the Merry Men, the loyal group that fights beside Robin in his resistance against the Sheriff of Nottingham. After becoming a fugitive, Robin flees deep into the forest and meets three siblings: Ralph, Drew, and Henry Miller. Banished from their home for family transgressions, they survive on their wits and courage.

Robin’s first encounter with them is cautious, but shared hardship brings them together. Ralph, disguised as a man to protect her brothers, asks Robin to teach her archery. When Norman soldiers mistake Ralph for Robin and try to arrest her, he defends her and kills again. The moment allowed Robin to see himself not only as a survivor but as a protector of the oppressed.

Their bond soon grows into something larger. The Millers become his first companions, united by exile and injustice. In the same episode, Robin meets John Naylor, a bounty hunter known as Little John, who initially tracks him for the reward but later turns ally after a divine vision. Together, they form the beginnings of a brotherhood that will grow into the Merry Men.

What happened in Robin Hood season 1 episode 3?

After escaping several close calls, Robin’s journey intersects with fate and faith. The episode’s title, No Man Can Hide Forever, reflects how Robin can no longer run from what he has become. He is no longer just a nobleman’s son or a wanted criminal; he is a leader rising from the forest.

As the Sheriff of Nottingham places a bounty on his head, Robin gains purpose through the very act of survival. The forest becomes his sanctuary, not a prison. Little John’s vision of the forest goddess, Godda, reinforces the show’s spiritual undercurrent: that Robin’s path is not accidental but destined. The Sheriff wants to hang Robin as a symbol of power, but the episode closes by suggesting that Robin is becoming a different kind of symbol. This symbol stands for rebellion, unity, and hope.

Meanwhile, tragedy strikes the Earl of Huntingdon’s family when his son Aaron dies during a confrontation with Robin’s new allies. Ralph, newly trained by Robin, kills Aaron in defense of her brother. This death ignites a personal vendetta. Huntingdon vows revenge, making Robin his sworn enemy. The episode ends in tension: a manhunt looms, and the first spark of organized resistance begins.

What major alliances and conflicts emerge in Robin Hood season 1 episode 3?

Robin Hood season 1 (Image via Instagram/mgmplus)

Robin Hood season 1 episode 3 broadens the story beyond Nottingham, linking Robin’s rise in the forest with political developments in Westminster. Marian begins serving at the royal court, where she meets Queen Eleanor and Celine. The queen’s quiet disapproval of the Sheriff of Nottingham hints at larger political tensions and Marian’s potential involvement in them.

The episode also introduces Little John, whose decision to ally with Robin marks the start of an organized resistance. His change of heart turns Robin’s survival into a collective cause. As the episode ends, the Sheriff consolidates power, the Earl of Huntingdon seeks revenge, and Robin gains his first followers. This laid the groundwork for the Merry Men’s emergence.

Robin Hood season 1 episode 4 will release on November 16, 2025.

Edited by Bea Melisse Ibañez