How the New ‘Robin Hood’ Is Rewriting the Book on Robin & Marian’s Romance

The story of Robin of Locksley and Maid Marian is one of the most enduring tales in all of literature and pop culture. The legendary outlaw who steals from the rich to give to the poor, and the noblewoman who steals his heart in return, have been retold for centuries in every imaginable form, from swashbuckling heroes to animated foxes who enchanted an entire generation. Yet no matter the medium, the romance of Robin and Marian is always at the story’s core.

MGM+’s Robin Hood reimagines the legend in the brutal aftermath of the Norman conquest. Jack Patten stars as Rob, a Saxon forester’s son driven into rebellion by loss and injustice, while Lauren McQueen‘s Marian — the daughter of a Norman lord (Steven Waddington) — works from inside the court to expose corruption. Together, they become two sides of the same fight.

Still, the heart of the story is their relationship. In Episode 1, “I See Him,” Rob and Marian first meet as children, only to be torn apart when her father, the Earl of Huntingdon, threatens the boy for trespassing on land that once belonged to his family. Years later, they cross paths again during a hunt led by the Sheriff of Nottingham (Sean Bean). The spark is immediate, but once more short-lived, forcing Rob into secret meetings in Sherwood before he’s driven off by her father’s men.

Fed up with stolen glances and guarded conversations, Marian finally seeks Rob out on his own ground. She joins him and his family at a pagan wedding full of wine, music, and dancing — a rare moment of joy that strips away titles and loyalties. Under torchlight, surrounded by celebration, the two finally share their first kiss.

Aleksandar Letic/MGM+

Sadly, that same night, Robin’s father is arrested on false charges of murder and aiding poachers, and the Sheriff orders his execution.

By Episode 2, “A Heinous Devil,” Rob is still reeling from his father’s execution and, soon after, the death of his mother. Marian sneaks away to offer her condolences, but grief has hardened him, and he pushes her aside. Regretting it, Rob takes a risk and goes to her estate, begging her to run away with him into the forest. “Everything I had is gone — except you,” he tells her. Their moment is shattered when Marian’s father discovers them. He savagely beats Rob, and only Marian’s intervention keeps him from shooting Rob with a crossbow. Furious at her defiance, he curses his daughter and arranges to send her away to London to the court of Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine (Connie Nielsen).

They share one last moment in the rain, when Marian visits Rob to say goodbye. She admits that her father was behind his father’s murder, that she despises her abusive father, and needs to escape him, but will be with Rob always in spirit. Unable to comprehend what he has been told, he cannot accept her. At least not now.

The scene sets the stage for the epic romance ahead, as we watch their bond grow out of stolen moments shared by two people marked by loss and trauma. This isn’t the familiar tale of a bold Robin Hood rescuing a helpless Maid Marian; it’s a love story built on equal footing. Swooon talked to actors Jack Patten and Lauren McQueen about their interpretations of the classic characters and bringing them into the modern age.

“I wanted to put my own stamp on it, and the writing was such an amazing guide for me,” said McQueen. “Her journey and character arc of this Maid Marian was just something that I really admired when I read it. As a woman, even though she has a very sheltered and abusive childhood, she has this inner strength in her that really grows and flourishes as her eyes are open to this world of opportunities.”

She continued, “I think the female characters are written so well, and I was so moved by the first episode when I read it that I knew I just wanted to be a part of it. But it was building our relationship; it felt pretty easy, really. From when we met in the chemistry read, it was like our ideas clicked, and it just felt right. And we just really enjoyed exploring those relationships together.”

“These two people on paper shouldn’t be together, especially in that time,” said Patten. “So to see them fight for their love. It’s quite a vulnerable thing, but it’s beautiful. I mean, what’s not to like? I think younger audiences should embrace that.”

McQueen believes this Marian is a new take on an old idea, and it is because of her relationship with Rob.

“I think she struggles with her identity from the very beginning. She despises everything the Normans believe in. She’s kind of figuring out why her father’s so cruel to her, and why she in this situation of abuse from such a young age,” she said. “But I really like that. It doesn’t stop her from that strength growing, and as she experiences the injustices and the class division, that inner strength just keeps growing. Her confidence grows and her maturity. And when she meets Rob, I think she feels seen for the first time, and even though they’ve both been through that trauma, and I think that’s what makes the bonding connection really special.”

Robin Hood, Sundays, 9/8c, MGM+