The new Robin Hood series on MGM+, which premiered on November 2, 2025, presents a darker and more serious version of the classic legend. The first two episodes show how a young man named Rob of Locksley loses everything and begins his transformation into the famous outlaw who fights for the poor. This is the story of Robin Hood before he became a legend.
The Fall of the Locksley Family
The series begins in Norman-controlled England, a land deeply divided where the conquering Normans rule over the oppressed Saxons. We meet Hugh Locksley, a proud Saxon man who is desperately trying to get his family’s ancestral lands back from the Norman Earl of Huntingdon. Hugh’s wife, Joan, worries about his dangerous dreams, while their young son, Rob, looks up to his father with pure admiration.
Hugh’s hope for justice is shattered when the Sheriff of Nottingham dismisses his plea. The Sheriff, played by Sean Bean, offers a hollow compromise: submit, live in the woods, pay taxes, and obey Norman law. The situation reaches a breaking point during a royal hunting tournament. Rob accidentally wounds a poacher, and when he defends the man, the Earl takes it as a grave insult. From that moment, the Locksleys are seen as enemies.
A Saxon man named Alwin then betrays Hugh, giving false testimony to the Sheriff and the Earl that paints Hugh as a traitor. Hugh is arrested, framed for the death of a royal guard while in prison, and sentenced to death. In a devastating final scene for the first episode, the young Rob is forced to watch his father be hanged as a crowd cheers. The boy who believed in honor is now filled with a burning rage.
A Boy Becomes an Outlaw
Episode 2, titled “A Heinous Devil,” deals with the terrible aftermath of Hugh’s execution. The Locksley family’s world completely falls apart when Joan, consumed by grief, dies just days after her husband. In a very short time, Robin loses his parents, his home, and his faith.
His uncle, Gamewell, tries to guide him, suggesting that Robin go to London to train as a page in the royal court. However, Robin refuses. He will not serve the crown that killed his father. He feels his future is tied to the forests of Sherwood, not to a Norman castle.
During this time of deep pain, Marian Huntingdon, the Earl’s daughter, becomes Robin’s one source of light. Their forbidden love, which began during the fateful hunt, grows in secret. Robin even begs her to run away with him, and she agrees. But their plan is discovered by Marian’s father. The Earl catches them and sends Marian away to Queen Eleanor’s court, effectively banishing Robin from her world.
Left with nothing more to lose, Robin enters an archery competition where his incredible skill with a bow impresses everyone. However, fate turns against him once again. Captain Laforce of Nottingham, who has been having a risky secret affair with the Sheriff’s daughter, Priscilla, mocks Robin and forces him to shoot a deer. When Laforce then tries to corner him, Robin makes a fatal move in self-defense, killing the captain. This single act seals his destiny. Robin of Locksley is now an outlaw, becoming the Robin Hood who will stand against the Sheriff, the Earl, and Norman tyranny.
A Grounded and Gritty Retelling
This new series sets itself apart by focusing on historical context and the political unrest of the time. It explores the harsh reality of the Saxon people under Norman rule, stripped of their lands and forced to live under oppressive laws. The show presents Robin not as a finished hero, but as a broken young man shaped by tragedy and injustice.
The series also introduces a hint of the mystical. In one scene, while hunting, Robin hears whispers from the woods warning him not to kill a deer. He obeys, believing it to be the voices of forest spirits, suggesting a deeper connection to the natural world that will likely guide him in the future.
The cast, led by Jack Patten as Robin and Lauren McQueen as Marian, delivers strong performances. Sean Bean’s Sheriff of Nottingham is given more depth than in past versions; he is not a simple villain but a conflicted man burdened by his power and duties. The show has been praised for its high-quality production, including authentic costumes and a compelling musical score that helps bring the 12th-century world to life.
Also Read: Russell Crowe Broke His Legs While Shooting Robin Hood, But Didn’t Know For 10 Years
