In Review: Robin Hood (S1 – EP6) Bound by Love, Divided by Lies

Synopsis: In Bound by Love, Divided by Lies, the Queen’s arrival in Nottingham forces the Sheriff into an impossible choice: support her ruthless plan or risk his life to prevent a war. Meanwhile, Marian and Rob share a brief, emotional reunion—only for it to shatter when she discovers his role in her brother’s death.

The Story

Following the events of last week’s episode, the Queen arrives in Nottingham with a single aim: to stir enough trouble to draw King Henry’s attention back to England. Knowing Lady Marian may have a connection to the Hood, she pressures Marian into asking Rob to arrange a private meeting with Robin Hood—offering the pair a brief but emotional reunion.

Meanwhile, in the Nottingham court, Queen Eleanor attempts to strong-arm the Sheriff into signing a pledge urging King Henry to support a full campaign to capture Robin Hood. Every noble signs the document except the Sheriff, who recognises the Queen’s latest attempt to sow discord. The matter becomes moot when a Saxon from Rob’s childhood village publicly reveals that Robert of Locksley is Robin Hood.

During the secret meeting arranged by Marian, the Queen confronts Robin Hood directly and quickly recognises him as Robert of Locksley—especially when he demands Marian’s release from royal service as a condition for helping her. The Queen’s plan is simple: she wants Rob and his outlaws to cause enough chaos for the Sheriff that the King will be forced to return to England.

Later, as Marian prepares to meet Rob again, she is intercepted by her father, the Earl of Huntingdon, who reveals a devastating truth: Rob played a role in the events that led to her brother’s death.

Acting

Connie Nielsen delivers a superb performance in this episode, with the Queen arriving in Nottingham determined to sow discord and drive a wedge between the Sheriff and his allies. The tension between her and the Sheriff (Sean Bean) is electric, making for genuinely compelling television. Queen Eleanor is quickly becoming one of the show’s most intriguing figures, and this episode goes a long way toward deepening her complexity and appeal.

Overall

For me, this was the strongest episode yet, and the fallout in next week’s instalment is sure to be huge. Rob’s lie of omission to Marian is likely to come at a heavy price—the look on her face in the final moments, when her father reveals Rob’s role in her brother’s death, said everything without a word spoken.

Adding even more intrigue is the Queen’s request that Rob make life as difficult as possible for the Sheriff. I’m genuinely excited to see how this plays out in the coming episodes.