‘Once Upon a Time’ season 4, episode 17 review: Sean Maguire shines in Robin Hood hour

After spending so much time hearing about the legend that is Robin Hood on “Once Upon a Time,” Sunday night’s new episode managed to provide us with a very different gift for a change: Getting a real opportunity to actually understand where that legend comes from.

In the past, we learned the circumstances that transformed Robin into Robin Hood, as he devised a way to steal from the rich in order to give to the poor. He became a heroic figure, and he had his love at his side in Maid Marian. She was a different woman then, at least in comparison to the woman that she is now. This is where the episode’s big twist officially came to past: It turns out that Marian was actually Zelena in disguise the entire time!

Through some crazy storytelling, we learned that Zelena had found a way to escape death, and crept her way into Marian’s body, who was actually dead. She managed to ensure that she could slowly win over Robin’s heart so that she could devastate Regina like never before. She also struck a deal with Rumple in order to ensure that she obtains her own happy ending in the process.

Ultimately, this was a strange episode in that Snow, Charming, Henry, and Emma were almost nonexistent through most of it, and we instead focused on a ton of people who we have not seen in a while, not that we really minded. Kudos to Sean Maguire on a tremendous performance in an episode that likely will leave many fans heartbroken. There is still a reason for hope for Outlaw Queen, but it may take a bit of time. Grade: A-.

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