Robin Hood: Season 3

With new allies and old enemies, Robin Hood returns for a third series full of thrilling adventures as Robin and his gang continue to outwit the dastardly Sheriff and his forces. As the series begins, the outlaws are in disarray. Marian is dead and Robin has split up the gang and launched a solo mission to avenge her and kill Gisborne. It is only the intervention of the mysterious Tuck that stops Robin joining Marian in an early grave. Which is bad news for Gisborne and the Sheriff. Under pressure from Prince John, they must take down Robin Hood once and for all. When the prince, tired of their ineffectualness and bad leadership, arrives in Nottingham to reprimand the Sheriff and Gisborne, it becomes clear that there is only room for one sidekick at his table, but which one?

1. TOTAL ECLIPSE
Written by Michael Chaplin
Director Douglas Mackinnon
When Robin returns from the Holy Land to avenge Marian's murder, an epic battle rages between him and Gisborne, with both determined to fight to the death. Tuck arrives in Nottingham searching for Robin Hood, believing he is the only man who can unite the people of England and destroy the tyrannical reign of the Sheriff, Gisborne and Prince John.

2. CAUSE AND EFFECT
Written by Simon J Ashford
Director Douglas Mackinnon
The Sheriff sells the local village men to Irish warriors who need new army recruits. When Robin is captured himself, can he escape execution in time to save the conscripts? Kate, a village girl from Locksley, tries to help the outlaws and rescue her brother, but her heroics have devastating consequences.

3. LOST IN TRANSLATION
Written by Ryan Craig
Director Alex Pillai
The Sheriff turns the heat up on Robin and his gang by forcing the Abbot to accuse them of stealing from the Church. Tuck's attempt to clear Robin's name ends with him being captured and tied to the rack. Will the gang free Tuck in time, while escaping execution themselves?

4. THE SINS OF THE FATHER
Written by Holly Phillips
Director Alex Pillai
Ruthless Rufus is in town, intent on revenge. When he kidnaps Allan and Kate, Robin retaliates by snatching his son. Robin and the gang face a race against time as they try to find Rufus's hiding place. Will they succeed, or is this the end of the road for Allan and Kate?

5. LET THE GAMES COMMENCE
Written by Lisa Holdsworth
Director Patrick Lau
Gisborne is back, and he is not alone; by his side are Prince John's Elite Guards and a mysterious weapon. This time, he is determined to catch Hood. As the gang run for their lives, Little John gets separated and ends up in a Gladiator circus. And who is the damsel in distress that Robin saves?

6. DO YOU LOVE ME?
Written by Timothy Prager
Director Patrick Lau
Prince John pays a long-awaited visit to Nottingham, and he is out to make mischief. With Gisborne and the Sheriff assigned a royal mission, it surely spells the end for one of them. Meanwhile, Robin is up to mischief of his own, but who is the lucky woman?

7. TOO HOT TO HANDLE
Written by Chris Lang
Director John Greening
A heat wave hits Nottinghamshire and, when Prince John blocks all the local wells, the outlaws are forced to take desperate measures to save those at risk. Prince John discovers Robin and Isabella's secret relationship, and orders Gisborne to dispose of them, telling him that if he completes the task he will be made the new Sheriff. Isabella proposes a life away from Nottinghamshire, and Robin has to make a difficult choice about his future.

8. THE KING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING
Written by John Jackson
Director John Greening
Isabella will go to any lengths to prove her loyalty to the Prince, and to win the Sheriff's job for herself. Meanwhile, suspicious news arrives from the Holy Land that King Richard is dead, and Robin squares up against his former mentor, Lord Sheridan, in an attempt to stop Prince John's hasty coronation..

9. A DANGEROUS DEAL
Written by Michael Chaplin
Director Graeme Harper
Robin tries to strike a deal with the new Sheriff Isabella but she rejects it. Isabella's husband arrives and takes over as Sheriff and Robin drives him away. Isabella reneges on her deal to hand over the hoard to Robin so the Outlaws steal it during Gisborne's execution, which Robin interrupts to save Meg by shooting the executioner. Kate tells Robin how she feels. They kiss but Robin is apprehensive. He worries about Much's feelings for Kate and thinks that doing what they do, it just won't work. By the end of the episode, Robin has come to realise he really does care for her and throws caution to the wind; they kiss again.

10. BAD BLOOD
Written by Lisa Holdsworth
Robin meets his father again who he believed had died in a house-fire when he was a child. He learns his father was too ashamed to face him again after he accidentally killed Gisborne's mother, his lover, Ghislaine. Robin learns that his father and Ghislaine had an affair and a child was born and given away. This child named Archer, half brother to Gisborne and Robin, is in York Jail awaiting execution. Robin's dying father appeals to Robin and Gisborne to end the cycle of violence started by their fathers and unite to save their brother.

11. THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY
Written by Timothy Prager
Robin tells the shocked Outlaws that Gisborne is joining them. Although he won't forgive Gisborne for Marian he wants to honour his father's dying wish and save his half-brother Archer. He asks Kate in particular to trust him and tells her that he'll miss her. He travels with Gisborne to York. They get into the prisons and free Archer but are caught before they can escape. Archer betrays Robin to save himself and refuses Robin's appeal for him to join their cause.

12. SOMETHING WORTH FIGHTING FOR (PART ONE)
Written by Ryan Craig
Robin is focused on taking the Castle and holding it for King Richard. He can't tell Kate that he needs her more than her family do. He cares for her but with the situation getting increasingly dangerous, he doesn't want to put her at risk and lose her. He doubts Allan's loyalty and ties him up. He is caught with Gisborne and Much in Archer's traps in the Castle tunnel but Archer comes to save him with Kate. Kate gives him the kiss of life. He arrests Isabella and seizes the Castle but is horrified when Allan's corpse is delivered and the old Sheriff returns with a ferocious army.

13. SOMETHING WORTH FIGHTING FOR (PART TWO)
Written by Simon J Ashford
Robin leads the Outlaws and the village men to hold the Castle against the Sheriff's attack. Successfully dismantles the Sheriff's trebuchets. Reels from Kate's news that the King has been captured and his troops aren't coming to relieve them. Still, he rouses the men to fight for freedom. When they're outnumbered he pulls them back inside the Castle. He fights with his brothers, Gisborne and Archer against the Sheriff and Isabella in the tunnel but Gisborne is killed and Robin is fatally injured. As Gisborne dies, Robin forgives him for Marian. With his men evacuated through the tunnel, Robin shoots a flaming arrow into Tuck's home-made liquid fire and the Castle explodes with the Sheriff and Isabella inside. He says goodbye to the Outlaws and brave Kate and tells Archer to stay with them. He walks off into the fading light where the ghost of Marian waits for him.

Directed by Alex Pillai, Douglas Mackinnon, Patrick Lau, John Greening, Graeme Harper
Written by Michael Chaplin, +Simon J Ashford, Ryan Craig, Holly Phillips, Lisa Holdsworth, Tim Prager, Chris Lang, John Jackson, Peter Tabern
Produced by Jane Hudson, Tom Mullens
Executive Produced by Foz Allan

"...swashbuckling adventure drama ... We find a darker, tougher Robin ... Friar Tuck finally arrives in Sherwood Forest. But he's not the roly-poly, comic figure of the traditional Robin Hood legend. This Tuck is a lean, mean, fighting machine, who calls himself Brother Tuck!" Jim Maloney, Sun

"With a thunk of arrows and a clash of steel Robin Hood returns ...this is stirring Saturday stuff, with topical ‘homeland security' and geeky Get Carter references to keep the grown-ups amused."  Neville Hawcock, Financial Times

"As ever, this looks great, and several cast additions bring new life to the third series." Daily Mail

"Hooray - two of the finest family dramas are back! Shame they clash! It's a tough pick between the fun fantasy [Primeval] with its brilliant monsters, and Robin and new sidekick Tuck (David Harewood) with more of their all-action exploits." TV Times

"...dark and gripping opening episode ... Exactly how Robin Hood should be, this is fab stuff. Five stars." David Hollingsworth, TV Times

"Ripping family fare." TV Easy

"It's the off-season for Merlin, so BBC1's other medieval hero swings back to liven up our Saturdays. Hurray! Mead all round! The fantastic music alone is enough to make you want to dash through a forest in a leather jerkin, doing brave deeds and saving peasants from baddies."  David Butcher, Radio Times

"...a new set of action-packed adventures." Bella magazine

"Is it us or does Jonas Armstrong look hotter every series?" Rebecca Fletcher, Closer magazine

"Gorgeous Jonas Armstrong is back to brighten up Saturday nights, as Robin Hood returns to our screens for an explosive third series." Reveal magazine

"There is not a spare ounce of fat on him, he doesn't have a tonsure, looks handy with a knife and he is black. I expected to hate this revisionist Tuck, but Harewood has such presence that my only regret is that he wasn't cast as Robin Hood himself." Andrew Billen, The Times

"David Harewood beefs up the forest as Friar Tuck..." Guardian

"...the Sheriff of Nottingham, still exquisitely played by Keith Allen..."  David Stephenson, Sunday Express

"...the Sheriff of Nottingham (Keith Allen, relishing the role)... Looks-wise, the Robin/Guy of Gisborne confrontations evoke boy bands v Goths..." Neville Hawcock, Financial Times

"This must be one of the few adventure series ever made where your sympathies rest entirely with scabrous villains rather than the limp and weedy heroes." David Chater, The Times