Robin Hood series 1 : Episode guide

This is a list of the episodes in the first series of Robin Hood. The episode titles are the ones used when the show was first broadcast in the UK. Some of the titles have been altered for the American broadcast, and these are also given.

Nb There are no major plot spoilers on this page, but some of the screencaptures on the Pictures page do contain spoilers.

Episode 1 - Will you Tolerate This?

Robin of Locksley, Earl of Huntingdon, returns home after five years fighting in the Crusades to find Nottingham under the tyranny of a new Sheriff and his evil henchman, Sir Guy of Gisborne. The people are brutalized and starving, struggling to pay the high taxes now imposed on them. Robin's sweetheart, Marian, daughter of the old Sheriff, is still unmarried but does not seem pleased to see him. Robin must soon choose whether to sacrifice his lands and his title to help his people. Pictures...

Episode 2 - Sheriff Got Your Tongue?

The Sheriff comes to Locksley looking for Robin, now an outlaw. He and Gisborne threaten to cut out the tongues of the villagers unless Robin is given up. Robin and his men are being held captive by Little John and his gang. But when Little John's wife is chosen as the Sheriff's next victim, Robin offers to give himself up and he is taken off to Nottingham Castle. Pictures...

Episode 3 - Who Shot the Sheriff?

A mysterious sniper starts murdering innocent people in Nottingham, and Robin is blamed. Or is it the Nightwatchman? Pictures...

Episode 4 - Parent Hood

Roy, one of Robin's men, is captured by Guy of Gisborne. He is taken to Nottingham and given an ultimatum by the Sheriff - kill Robin or see his mother hanged. Roy returns to the gang, unsure what to do. Meanwhile, a baby is found abandoned in the forest. Whose is it and why was it left there? Video clip with commentary... and pictures...

Episode 5 - Turk Flu (US title - The Arrow and the Optic)

A fatal accident at the dangerous mine that Gisborne runs for the Sheriff prompts the workers to go on strike. One of the workers confronts Gisborne who murders him; his son swears revenge on him. The Sheriff sacks all the workers, having already made plans to bring in slave labour to replace them. But Robin and his men attack the wagon carrying the Saracen slaves to the mine. One of them is a young boy called Djaq. Meanwhile, Gisborne invites Marian to accompany him to the Nottingham Fair, where the highlight will be an archery competition to win a silver arrow. The Sheriff hopes it will draw out Robin Hood. Video clip... and pictures...

Episode 6 - The Taxman Cometh

An abbess arrives at Nottingham Castle saying she has been attacked by outlaws in the forest and asking for the Sheriff's protection. Meanwhile, Robin's men stop a farmer travelling through the forest, and discover that he is actually a tax inspector on the way to Nottingham. The taxes from the whole of the North are being held in the castle vault before being sent to London, and the tax inspector is to count them. Robin hatches a plan to steal the money to give back to the hard-pressed people of Nottinghamshire. Pictures...

Episode 7 - Brothers in Arms (US title - The Brothers A Dale)

Robin's men come across a gang of outlaws that includes Allan A Dale's long-lost brother, Tom. Meanwhile, Gisborne takes a necklace from a village girl and presents it to Marian. Marian passes secret information to Robin about an unguarded consignment of silver being sent through the forest. But Gisborne finally realises she may have been betraying him, and he goes to Knighton Hall to confront her. She must make a difficult choice to save her neck. Pictures...

Episode 8 - Tattoo? What Tattoo? (US title - The Assassin)

Robin and his men interrupt Gisborne's celebration of the King's birthday at Locksley Manor. During a fight, Robin discovers Gisborne's secret and Djaq is captured. Gisborne follows Robin into the forest and is captured by him. A furious Robin wants to kill Gisborne for his crime and his men try to dissuade him. But when they go to Nottingham to rescue Djaq, Robin unties Gisborne and a bitter fight between the two men ensues. Pictures...

Episode 9 - A Thing or Two About Loyalty

Lambert has discovered an explosive black powder that could be used at the Sheriff's mine. But Sheriff sees less peaceful possibilities for the invention, and when Lambert refuses to co-operate he is thrown into the castle dungeon and tortured. Marian tries to persuade Gisborne to save Lambert, but his loyalties are strained. Meanwhile, the Sheriff creates Much 'Earl of Bonchurch'. For Much, it means a good meal at last, and a pretty servant girl. Video clip... and pictures...

Episode 10 - Peace? Off!

Robin saves an arsonist who is about to be lynched by the villagers of Locksley for burning their church. He is a former crusader suffering from 'Crusaders' Sickness' [Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder]. The outlaws then discover an overturned Saracen carriage in the forest. It belongs to Prince Malik, Saladin's cousin, who has come to England to broker a peace deal with Prince John to end the war in the Holy Land. He is a 'guest' of the Sheriff, but does not realise that the Sheriff is actually holding him for ransom. Pictures...

Episode 11 - Dead Man Walking

The outlaws go to Locksley to collect new weaponry and witness Gisborne's brutal collection of taxes. Gisborne's men search the house of one of the villagers who cannot pay his taxes, Luke, and discover that he has been making bows for Robin. Luke has been looking after Little John's wife and son after he disappeared several years previously to live as an outlaw. Little John watches helplessly as his son is taken off to Nottingham along with Luke. He later makes a futile attempt to recapture his son, and is himself captured. Little John's wife Alice is later also thrown into the castle dungeons. The Sheriff devises a 'Festival of Pain' to make an example of Little John and the other prisoners by torturing them publicly. Video clip... and pictures...

Episode 12 - The Return of the King

The Sheriff has news of particular significance for Gisborne - King Richard is returning to England at last. Robin tries to find evidence that will convict Gisborne for his crime. And Marian attempts one last feat of daring - breaking into Locksley Manor to steal Guy's money. Pictures...

Episode 13 - A Clue: No

Cornered by the Sheriff and his men, Robin and the outlaws fight a bitter battle. King Richard arrives in Nottingham and has the Sheriff arrested. The lords who have secretly opposed the Sheriff now begin to give evidence against him. But there is danger, and by now, Robin has abandoned his men and headed into the hills above Locksley. Can Much and the others save the day without him? Pictures...