In the Holy Land, the Sheriff and Gisborne meet up with their Saracen allies, Karim and Nasir. Their plot is for Nasir to pose as Saladin's messenger and convince Richard to meet with Saladin - who will really be Karim - for peace talks, whereupon he will be murdered. Marian, still their prisoner, attempts to convince Gisborne to kill the Sheriff and so save the King's life; if he does so, she will willingly give herself to him and speak in his favour. Meanwhile, the outlaws arrive in the Holy Land.
After staying with Djaq's friend, Bassam, the outlaws arrive at King Richard's camp, where they meet up with Carter. However, Nasir, as well as telling the King of the fake peace meeting, has supplied him with false information that Robin is working for the Sheriff. When the King sees that Robin has bought Djaq into the camp, as Nasir said he would, he orders them put to death. In gratitude for saving the King’s life in the past, Richard doesn't execute the outlaws but instead ties them up in the scorching desert, to live or die as fate decrees. The King then leaves for his meeting with "Saladin" near a ruined town.
At the Sheriff's house, Gisborne approaches the Sheriff, unaware that he is also armed; Gisborne reveals Marian's plot to the Sheriff, and when prompted, determines he will not kill the Sheriff; instead, he will "take Marian by force".
Later, the Sheriff turns up with Marian, whom he leaves tied to Robin before going to observe the King's death. Fearing this may be their last chance, Robin and Marian begin to exchange wedding vows. Midway through, though, Carter arrives to rescue them and to go after the King.
At the meeting point, Karim rides out to meet Richard, who turns out to be Robin in disguise; King Richard realises his mistake. When it is clear that the plan has been blown, the Sheriff and Gisborne retreat to the ruined town. In the ensuing battle, the outlaws kill the Sheriff's Saracen allies, but then the King is shot in the back by the Sheriff, moments before Carter is stabbed to death by the Sheriff.
The King collapses in the town square, helpless. Gisborne arrives intent on finishing the job, but Marian runs out in front of him, shouting at him to stop. Guy reiterates that he will kill the King and then be with Marian, but she informs him she never loved him, and that she loves Robin Hood. Unable to accept this, Gisborne plunges his sword into Marian; the Sheriff arrives and, in spite of his disbelief of what he has just done, Gisborne runs to safety with him as the outlaws arrive. Robin and Marian complete their wedding vows, and then she removes the sword from her stomach, killing herself.
Later, Will and Djaq opt to stay in the Holy Land. Robin, Allan, Much and Little John set off for England again, the King remaining in the Holy Land.
Tropes
- Breaking the Fellowship: With Marian killed and Will and Djaq Put on a Bus (never to be seen or heard from again) this is the last episode in which the original configuration of outlaws all feature together.
- Cruel Twist Ending: After a series of Hope Spots, Marian is Killed Off for Real. Just to twist the knife, Will and Djaq opt to stay in the Holy Land, severely depleting the original cast.
- Gut Punch: Marian is murdered by Gisborne. No fake-outs, no takebacks. She's dead and buried in a pauper's grave far from home.
- King Incognito: King Richard hides amongst his men to avoid detection in the Holy Land.
- Long-Lasting Last Words: Marian's Final Speech (which includes her wedding vows) goes on longer (and is far more coherent) than should really be possible for someone with a sword in their stomach.
- Love Makes You Stupid: Marian. Oh Marian. What made you think that running up to Guy of Gisborne and yelling: "I love Robin Hood! I'm going to marry Robin Hood!" was a good idea in any way, shape or form?
- Missed Him by That Much: Robin and Much have a whispered conversation outside the cell that Marian is being held in. She hears their voices and hurries to investigate, but by the time she gets there, they've moved on and she dismisses it as her imagination.
- Mood Whiplash: On the
DVD Commentary, after Marian's death, the participants are quietly contemplating what has happened during the Really Dead Montage. Richard Armitage then says "They do this on Big Brother, don't they?", to much laughter. - Sudden Downer Ending: Compared to the rest of this episode, and in fact the entire series up until this point. There have been plenty of Hope Spots throughout, though no one is in any doubt that the outlaws will eventually save the day, as they always do. Then Marian is abruptly killed.
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Marian is aware Vaisey will do away with her at some point due to this. He's perfectly willing to agree.Sheriff: I owe you a debt of gratitude, young lady. Thanks to you, I know that Guy is loyal, because if you can't turn him with your pretty little head, then nobody can.Marian: Your heart... must be the coldest place on Earth.Sheriff: Are you a little disappointed that he told me about your offer? I'm surprised it took you so long, to be quite honest with you. I mean, I was really getting rather bored.Marian': And now I've served my purpose—
