Robin Hood season 1 premiere ending explained: Who is Robin of Locksley?

Robin Hood season 1 premiered on MGM+ on November 2, 2025. Produced by Lionsgate Television, the action-adventure series offers a grounded reimagining of the legendary tale. It stars Jack Patten as Robin Hood, Lauren McQueen as Marian, and Sean Bean as the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Set in Norman-controlled England, the show explores the political unrest and personal losses that shape Robin’s transformation. Born into privilege, he witnesses his family’s downfall and the corruption of those in power. Forced into exile, Robin learns to survive in the forests of Nottingham. The premiere introduces him not yet as an outlaw, but as a man defined by loss, resilience, and awakening rebellion.

Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers. Read at your own discretion.

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How did tragedy shape Robin’s destiny in the Robin Hood season 1 premiere?

Robin Hood season 1 (Image via Facebook/MGM+)

Robin Hood season 1 takes place in England during the Norman conquest. The Saxons had to deal with strict rules and high taxes. The Norman Earl of Huntingdon takes over the Locksley family's estate, which they used to own as nobles. Hugh Locksley, Robin's father, refuses to give up and goes to the Sheriff of Nottingham to ask for help, but is turned down and betrayed.

Robin accidentally hurts a poacher during a royal hunting tournament, which makes the Norman lords enraged. The Earl sees it as a sign of resistance and calls the Locksleys traitors to the crown. Hugh is falsely accused of treason, thrown in jail, and killed in front of the townspeople not long after.

Robin watches his father hang while a crowd cheers in the last scene of the first episode. This event changes his life, going from being privileged to rebelling. This is where the story of the series begins. It tells the story of England's most famous criminal and how loss and wrongdoing shaped his early life.

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When does Robin become Robin Hood?

The series continues after Hugh's execution. Robin's mother, Joan, dies soon after, leaving him alone. He runs away with nothing to lose. In Sherwood Forest, the story goes from hopelessness to destiny.

In one story, Robin hears whispers in the woods telling him not to kill while he is hunting. It's a subtle but good way to get into the series' magic. Forests, which are almost alive, give shelter and direction. This connection between Robin and nature hints at his role as protector of Sherwood.

A later archery event completes his metamorphosis. Robin must prove his skill after Captain Laforce mocks him. He shoots back in self-defense, killing Laforce. This act makes him an outlaw, but it also revives his reputation. Now Robin of Locksley is Robin Hood, fighting tyranny rather than the poor.

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What role does Marian play in Robin’s journey?

Robin Hood season 1 (Image via Facebook/MGM+)

Marian plays a central role in Robin Hood season 1, giving new depth to the legend’s love story. Marian Huntingdon, daughter of the Earl, meets Robin during the hunt that destroys his family. Unlike the nobles around her, she sees kindness and courage in him. Their quiet friendship grows into a forbidden love.

When Robin loses everything, Marian becomes his last source of hope. She struggles between loyalty to her father and her feelings for Robin. But when their secret is exposed, the Earl sends her away to Queen Eleanor’s court. Their farewell is painful and final.

Her absence changes Robin. Grief turns to strength, and he becomes the outlaw of Sherwood Forest. Though separated, Marian’s influence stays with him, which comes as a reminder of the humanity behind the legend.

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The ending of Robin Hood season 1 marks the true beginning of the legend. Stripped of his family and home, Robin of Locksley transforms from a grieving son into an outlaw ready to fight for justice. The final moments show him standing at the edge of Sherwood Forest, no longer seeking justice through the law, but through rebellion.

Robin Hood season 1 is now available for online streaming exclusively on MGM+.

Edited by Bea Melisse Ibañez