The MGM+ series Robin Hood reaches its explosive conclusion on Sunday, December 28, 2025, with a season finale that promises high-stakes action and significant character turns. As the show’s first chapter closes, creators John Glenn and Jonathan English open up about their vision for the finale and the “major escalation” that sets the stage for the future.
What Happens in the Season 1 Finale?
The tenth and final episode of the season, titled “One Enemy Falls, Another Rises,” is set to deliver on the tense promises of the preceding episodes. According to the official synopsis, the finale centers on a direct threat to Rob. Guy of Gisborne is actively trying to kill him, forcing Rob and his band of outlaws to prepare for a decisive attack.
Meanwhile, the machinations of power continue. Sean Bean’s Sheriff of Nottingham is plotting to draw the King to England, a move that could upend the political landscape. Marian, played by Lauren McQueen, takes her own daring initiative by infiltrating her father’s home to gather crucial information. The stakes are framed in life-or-death terms: the outlaws’ missions are described as “crucial to victory,” with failure meaning they will “all die”.
Lead actor Jack Patten, who plays Rob, teased the finale’s intensity, describing a massive action sequence that tested him physically.
“We had a huge action scene in episode 10, and that was the first big action packed scene I’ve ever done. Your heart is racing from the moment someone says ‘action’ to when they say ‘cut’… It’s a different skill in itself to keep going with that energy,” Patten said.
The Creators’ Vision for the Finale and Beyond
In interviews, creators John Glenn and Jonathan English have framed the finale not as an ending, but as a launching point. They confirm that while a formal renewal for a second season is pending from MGM+, they are actively developing the story.
“There’s absolute potential for a second season,” Glenn stated. “We’re already working on it… But in the meantime, you can expect some definite twists and turns, some major escalation. High romance and big romance”.
This “major escalation” refers to a narrative and thematic ramp-up that begins in the penultimate episode and peaks in the finale, fundamentally changing the status quo for the characters. The creators’ approach has always been to build a world that feels both expansive and intimately grounded.
English explained their goal was to create a version of the legend that felt authentic and human, drawing from older source material.
“In those early writings, he’s a much more… grounded figure, much more believable figure… all the characters… are somehow a little bit more relatable, a little bit more grounded and more connected to the period as well. I think that was our entry point,” English said.
This philosophy extended to the show’s aesthetic. They aimed for a world that was visually appealing and realistic, not a grim, muddy caricature of the Middle Ages. Glenn, whose background is in modern-day action dramas like SEAL Team, was drawn to the project precisely for its classic, timeless themes of fighting oppression, which he found surprisingly relevant.
Cast and Character Arcs Coming to a Head
The finale brings the arcs of the show’s carefully chosen cast into focus. A central tenet of the creators’ vision was casting relative newcomers in the lead roles to match the story of a hero the audience is meeting anew.
“The best version of this show would be with somebody who the audience wasn’t familiar with, because we’re presenting a new Robin Hood, a Robin Hood that people don’t know either,” English said, discussing the casting of Jack Patten.
The chemistry between Patten and Lauren McQueen’s Marian was immediate and organic, a connection the creators knew was vital. For her part, McQueen has expressed enthusiasm about returning if the series continues, noting, “I think the season ends quite interestingly for every single character… It could develop”.
The finale also sees powerful figures like Connie Nielsen’s Eleanor of Aquitaine playing their final moves. Nielsen has spoken about the resonance of her character, who guides Marian and Rob toward their power.
“Celebrate your power, for God’s sake,” Nielsen advised, summarizing Eleanor’s message—one she believes is vital for modern audiences.
And of course, the conflict hinges on Sean Bean’s nuanced Sheriff of Nottingham. Glenn praised Bean’s performance, highlighting that their version of the Sheriff is not a one-dimensional villain but a “loving father” and a man “dedicated to the law,” whose rivalry with Rob has a compelling origin.
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Where to Watch the Finale
The season 1 finale of Robin Hood airs on Sunday, December 28, 2025.
- In the United States, it airs on MGM+ at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time/Pacific Time (8:00 p.m. Central Time).
- For global audiences, the series is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video through the MGM+ channel add-on, with new episodes typically released in line with the U.S. broadcast.
As the credits roll on season one, the creators have made it clear that the story of this grounded, human Robin Hood is far from over, with the finale designed to escalate the conflict and deepen the romance in preparation for the next chapter.
