Robin Hood season 1 episode 10 (finale) ending explained: Did Robin really defeat Guy of Gisbourne?

Robin Hood season 1 episode 10 (finale) is packed with smart strategies, action and, of course, a reconciliation by the end. The Normans and the Saxons' war was a treat to watch in the finale as both groups had made their best strategies that they could. But thanks to Marian, Robin and his Merry Men got the upper hand despite having a small army against the sheriff and the new troublemaker, Guy of Gisbourne. 

Amidst the chaos, the Sheriff of Nottingham carries out his own personal revenge plan within his allies, and Marian ends up killing her own merciless father, the Earl of Huntingdon. Robin’s vengeful side begins to change when he decides not to kill the sheriff and instead chooses to save Marian, who is locked up in Locksley. This indicates that he is moving away from revenge and violence and is starting to act more human. He is choosing compassion over anger, following the path that Friar Tuck asked him to take in the previous episode.

In the end, Robin defeats Guy of Gisbourne and even heads to start a new chapter of his life with Marian.

How the Saxons succeed in their plan against the Normans in Robin Hood season 1 episode 10

The finale episode of Robin Hood Season 1 opens with the Sheriff and Guy of Gisbourne planning an attack on the cave where the Saxons are hiding. The sheriff knows the cave’s location because he had earlier sent a spy into the Saxons’ group when they escaped the castle.

Guy of Gisbourne is overconfident and believes he understands Robin’s fighting instincts. The sheriff, who has already failed many times against Robin, does not argue much with Guy’s plan because he is more concerned about protecting his own position. Guy plans to send the army straight to the cave and force the Saxons toward the canyon, where they will have no way to escape. He believes the sheriff’s powerful army will easily kill them all. The sheriff, however, knows that Robin is always prepared for attacks, but he still agrees to the plan.

On the other hand, Robin also knows that an attack is coming. In the previous episode, Marian had warned him and shared all the secrets. Robin had also gone near the castle himself and seen the army preparing for another attack. Robin plans to leave the cave before the army arrives and reach Nottingham Castle first. Once the army moves toward the cave, there will be fewer soldiers left to protect the castle. Robin and the Saxons plan to take control of the castle and be ready with troops and arrows to attack when the sheriff’s army realizes that the Saxons are no longer in the forest or the cave.

But timing was very important here. If the Saxons left the cave and hid in the forest at the wrong moment, and the Sheriff, the Earl of Huntingdon, or Guy of Gisbourne’s allies arrived at the same time, they would be killed immediately.

This is where Marian becomes very important. She decides to head back to the Locksley estate and makes her father believe that she made a mistake by choosing Robin over him. By doing this, she cleverly discovers the real plan. She learns that when the main army goes to attack the cave, the Leicester army will come to protect the castle.

This information is crucial because Robin did not know that even after reaching Nottingham, they would have to fight a large army waiting there. When Marian tries to sneak out to warn Robin, her father finds out and locks her up. However, she still manages to pass this information to Milange, who comes to pick her up.

The final battle begins in Robin Hood season 1 episode 10

With this new information, the outlaws change their plan. Friar Tuck decides to cut off the route from where Leicester’s army is supposed to come to protect the castle. The group is now divided: one team heads to Nottingham, while the other works to stop the extra army from reaching the city.

When the sheriff’s army reaches the cave, they realize they have been tricked. The Saxons are gone, and it is clear that Robin had planned everything in advance. As the army rushes back to Nottingham, more danger is waiting for them. Friar Tuck and his group destroy the bridge, stopping Leicester’s army, while Robin and his men reach the castle.

In the chaos, Robin and his Merry Men defeat the sheriff’s allies and Guy of Gisbourne’s forces. They win because the enemies were not prepared for such an attack. During this chaos, the sheriff secretly kills Guy of Gisbourne so that it looks like Guy died in Robin’s attack. This helps the sheriff save his position for now.

Robin then gets a chance to kill the sheriff and take revenge for his father’s death. However, he must choose between seeking revenge and saving Marian. At that moment, his priorities change.

Meanwhile, the Earl of Huntingdon goes to kill Marian but finds that she has escaped her room. Robin arrives in time to save her, but he ends up fighting the Earl. During the fight, Marian stabs her own father to save Robin.

With this, one villain’s story comes to an end, but the conflict with the sheriff remains unresolved. After this, Robin and Marian start a new life with new identities. However, new trouble is hinted at when King Henry II is expected to arrive and seek revenge, setting the stage for chaos in the next season, if the show is officially renewed.