Robot of Sherwood ( TV story ) Synopsis . Clara is offered the chance to choose the next destination for herself and the Twelfth Doctor . They go and meet the English folk hero Robin Hood , much to the Doctor ' s disbelief in the existence of someone who ' s supposed to be a mere folk tale story . Travelling through Sherwood Forest in 1190 , they soon realise that something is amiss , as the cruel Sheriff of Nottingham and his malevolent robot knights set in motion a plot that could rewrite the course of history for the worst . Plot . In the TARDIS , the Doctor writes equations on a blackboard , offering Clara the choice of their next destination . Clara points out that the Doctor will just say that her choice does not exist , but she wants to meet Robin Hood . She goes on to explain that she ' s always loved the legend of Robin Hood . The Doctor thinks about Robin Hood , before immediately telling Clara that he doesn ' t exist . He states " old - fashioned heroes belong in old - fashioned books " . Clara points out that the Doctor is in a lot of books ( fiction and non - fiction ) , and what he does every day is pretty heroic . The Doctor finishes a dessert he was eating , telling her that he ' s just passing the time . With enthusiasm , the Doctor begins listing off other things they could go see , such as Ice Warrior hives , or the Tumescent Arrows of the Half - Light . The Doctor notes " those girls can hold their drink " and fracture 15 different levels of reality at the same time . He pats his jacket , stating that he took a Polaroid of them , wondering where it is . However , Clara adamantly points out that it is " her " turn , not his . Seeing that he cannot win , the Doctor sets course for Sherwood Forest in 1190 , adding that she ' ll just be disappointed when they explore and never find Robin Hood . While Clara is changing into 12th century clothing , the Doctor exits the TARDIS , smugly observing that where they have landed there are no damsels in distress , no pretty castles , and " no such thing as Robin Hood " — just as an arrow flies past him and pierce the TARDIS doorway . Looking at it in surprise , the Doctor turns to find the man who shot it across a river , asking if he called for him ; the man is Robin Hood ! The Doctor looks at him in shock , receiving a smile . The Doctor removes the arrow , watching as the damage it caused heals . Robin goes on about how amazing it was to watch the TARDIS materialise ; he asks if it ' s done with mirrors , stating it ' s similar to what he saw at a fair once . The Doctor declares the TARDIS as his property , but Robin points out that all property is up for grabs for him . Clara exits the TARDIS in a fancy dress , surprised to already be meeting Robin Hood ; Robin is likewise shocked to see someone else come out of a " box " , wondering if there is anyone else . However , the Doctor denies that he ' s real . Robin retorts by asking who is it then that is trying to steal the " magic box " from him . The Doctor tells him nobody will . Robin challenges the Doctor to defend his property , drawing his sword as he invites the Doctor to do the same . However , the Doctor shows Robin that he carries no such weapon on him , but does have . . . a large spoon . Donning a glove to a protect his hand , the Doctor joins Robin on a log over the river ; " en garde ! " the Doctor yells , starting a duel . Clara is impressed that he can fight so well with just a spoon . The Doctor explains he was taught fencing by the best — Richard the Lionheart , Cyrano de Bergerac and Errol Flynn ( who had an enormous ego , which Clara implies is shared with the Doctor ) . Countering Robin , the Doctor feigns surrender . Robin lunges at the Doctor , who easily gets behind him and knocks Robin into the river . The Doctor proudly declares " Like I said , my box " , while cleaning his spoon . Clara rushes over to join him on the log , looking at the river . She says his name in concern , since Robin hasn ' t emerged from the river . Seeing this , the Doctor looks at the river with her , only to be pushed in from behind by Robin ; Clara and Robin laugh . Obviously , the Doctor is less than amused . Meanwhile , in a nearby village , helmeted knights are taking away villagers . In one house , Master Quayle is pleading for the knights not to take his young female ward . She tries calming him , but Quayle yells that he ' d tear out the Sheriff of Nottingham ' s black heart if he was there . As if the mention of his name summoned him , the Sheriff appears ; he goes over the treasure that the knights have collected , tossing aside a ruby and leaving only gold . Quayle asks that he be taken instead of the girl , but the Sheriff dismisses the idea as labour is needed at the castle ; Quayle then spits in his face . The Sheriff says he will live to regret that , immediately correcting himself to say , " Actually , no . You won ' t . " He then abruptly plunges a sword into Quayle ' s abdomen , killing him straight away . The knights take the girl away screaming . Robin takes the Doctor and Clara to his campsite , where he introduces his group : Will Scarlett , Friar Tuck , Alan - a - Dale , Walter , and John Little . As a prank , Robin reveals that contrary to belief , John is actually very small . ( Apparently , writers thought it would be funnier to have a tall man called Little John . ) An excited Clara calls the group the Merry Men , which Robin decides to use as their name . While they talk , the Doctor performs tests to verify or disprove the reality of the situation . He takes a hair strand , confirming it ' s real . He examines a sandal from Friar Tuck , and a sample of Alan ' s blood ; it seems real , but riddled with diseases that will kill Alan in half a year . Before he can perform further tests , the Doctor is pulled away by Clara , annoyed by his actions ; she asks him what he ' s doing . The Doctor explains that he ' s confirmed the Merry Men are living beings , but they could be in a theme park from the future , or a Miniscope ( since the TARDIS could land somewhere else instead ) . Clara isn ' t willing to believe his theories , asking when he stopped believing in everything . The Doctor then asks when she started believing in " impossible heroes " ; Clara smiles at him and asks " don ' t you know ? " Realising it was when they met , the Doctor is at a loss for words . He decides to resume his testing ; he bites an apple and scans it with the sonic screwdriver , walking off . Robin talks with Clara , noting that her friend doesn ' t seem of this world ; Clara responds that on a good day , the Doctor is . Clara then notes Robin mentioned that dark days lay ahead . Robin goes on to explain that since the King is away , his greedy brother Prince John has done nothing but cause misery . When Robin spoke out against the Prince ' s tyranny , he was stripped of his title Earl of Loxley and forced into his current life . At the mention of bringing down the Prince and Sheriff , Robin gets the Merry Men laughing again ; the Doctor , annoyed , wonders if they do that so much because they ' re simple - minded . Clara tells Robin she can tell there ' s been a great loss in his life , which is why he laughs so much — to mask his pain . Robin explains he has been separated from Marian ; until they are reunited , Robin has aspired to be a man worthy of her by fighting against injustice . The Doctor questions what the season is . Learning that it is Autumn , he becomes suspicious of the weather - it ' s too sunny ; as Clara is nonchalant , he asks " have you been to Nottingham ? " . Clara guesses that it could be a climate change , but the Doctor points out that it ' s 1190 , which makes it impossible . Robin announces the Sheriff is holding a contest to find the most skilled archer in Sherwood ; the prize is to be a golden arrow . Clara immediately warns Robin not to enter , since it ' s a trap laid by the Sheriff to capture him ; the Doctor doesn ' t stop her , since he doesn ' t believe what ' s happening is real . However , Robin knows it is a trap ( since everyone knows he ' s the best archer in Nottingham ) , which he will gladly enter . The Merry Men laugh , annoying the Doctor , who hates their bantering . Robin proceeds to enter the archery contest , where he — under the guise of Tom the Tinker — exceeds in every activity and , in the final competition , is pitted against the Sheriff , whose own bow skills are " astounding , " according to the commentator . The Sheriff asks his guards to carry the target back to the very end of the field , which they do , and he shoots the arrow right in the middle . Robin then shoots an arrow at the same target and splits the Sheriff ' s arrow , winning the contest . He is presented with the golden arrow , but Robin ' s arrow is immediately cut by another entry : the Doctor . The Doctor asks for his prize , and is given the golden arrow ; dismissing it as a mere bauble , he discards it , asking for enlightenment instead . However , Robin fires another arrow into the Doctor ' s , without even looking ; the Doctor responds by shooting an arrow off one of the knights , that still manages to hit the target . Robin prepares to fire another arrow , but the Doctor states " this is getting silly " and blows up the target with the sonic screwdriver . Slightly amazed , the Sheriff orders his knights to seize the Doctor , Clara and Robin . Robin then reveals to the crowd who he really is before the knights attack , and Robin begins to fend them off with his fencing skills . When Robin slices off one of the knights ' arms , it ' s revealed to be a robot . The Doctor rushes off to examine the arm , happy to finally see something that " makes sense " the knights ' helmets split upon to reveal mechanical , emotionless faces . The Sheriff orders the knights to scare off the patrons , while the Merry Men flee with the arrow . The Doctor quickly disarms Robin , who believes it to be an act of betrayal . As they are no longer a threat , they and Clara are taken captive ; he explains " best way to learn your enemy ' s plan - get yourself captured . " They are placed in the dungeon , chained to a post , staring at a skeleton . Robin is less than pleased with this turn of events , claiming that he could have won if the Doctor hadn ' t interfered ; however , the Doctor tells Robin that if he hadn ' t the robots would have reduced him to " a pile of laughing ashes " . They then exchange snarky remarks about who will last longest with Robin ' s focused on the Doctor ' s apparent age , and the Doctor boasting to have genetic superiority . Deep in the castle , one of the peasants falls down from exhaustion . The young female ward taken earlier goes over and helps him stand . A Knight comes over and declares that the peasant ' s work capacity has been broken down , and he is no longer useful . They then proceed to disintegrate him , much to the girl ' s horror . The Doctor and Robin Hood call for the guard , asking the other be executed ; the Doctor wants to see if Robin ' s head will keep laughing after decapitation . Clara snaps at them , saying there " isn ' t " a guard . Clara asks them to explain their plans in turn ; Robin wishes to bide his time , while the Doctor doesn ' t have one since the Sheriff took the sonic screwdriver . An annoyed Clara points out the sonic is always taken whenever they ' re imprisoned . A guard comes in , revealing he has been assigned to listen at the door to find out who the true ringleader is , so the Sheriff can conduct an interrogation . Robin and the Doctor both proudly state the Sheriff will never get information out of them , but the guard unchains " Clara " instead . Clara looks at them , asking " seriously ? " Clara is taken to the Sheriff ' s dining hall , where a feast is laid out . She declines to eat , citing she had a bag of crisps earlier . The Sheriff takes note of Clara ' s strange words , and holds up the sonic screwdriver , calling it a strange gallimanfy taken from the Doctor ' s " tunic " . Clara is able to goad the Sheriff into revealing his past — that he witnessed a spaceship crash and has been trying to repair it by collecting all the gold in the nearby land to repair the ship ' s circuits . He then plans to use it to travel to London and take over the kingdom ; the Sheriff is implied to have killed Prince John , as he has complete authority over the kingdom . He tells her that every King needs a consort , and leans in to kiss her . She wiggles out , threatening , " You do that again , and you ' ll regret that . " In the dungeon , Robin asks the Doctor to pretend to be in terrible pain to attract the guard ; however , the Doctor insists Robin do it as it ' s his plan . Robin moans loudly . When the guard demands answers , the Doctor insists Robin is having a nervous breakdown from fear ; the Doctor even says Robin has soiled himself , angering him . He then tricks the guard into the cell by saying Robin carries a vital message for the King , who has promised an enormous reward for it . The guard leans in to hear Robin , who insults and headbutts him ; the keys fall off the guard when he lands . Robin asks " soiled myself ? " ; thinking Robin is admitting to the action , the Doctor says it ' s really getting into character . The Doctor and Robin both try to reach the keys with their feet , knocking them into a grate . Robin is annoyed , but the Doctor points out that the bright side : Clara will never hear of " that " little mistake . . . They decide to uproot the posts and , at a blacksmith ' s forge , break their chains before locating the spacecraft inside the castle . The Doctor checks the computer , learning it ' s a 29th century ship set to reach " the Promised Land " . The Doctor shows Robin photos from books , stories and television shows that follow his adventures , believing him to be a robot used as a hero to boost public morale . Robin is left angered at collusion with the Sheriff , who then arrives with Clara . The Doctor attempts to pass off his new idea as truth as the knights fire at Robin ; however , Clara shields him . Robin takes Clara and jumps into the moat through a hole blasted by the knights . The Sheriff pities the loss of Clara , while the Doctor watches Robin emerge from the moat with her in his arms . The Doctor tells the Sheriff that he knows what ' s going on . The Sheriff states while the plan belongs to the Robot Knights , he wishes to rule omnipotent from the skyship . However , when the Doctor attempts to warn him that there isn ' t enough gold yet to ensure safe travel - " you are stoking up a giant bomb " . However , the Sheriff shushes the Doctor and points behind him ; the moment the Doctor turns a Knight knocks him out . . Back at the campsite , Clara comes to . Robin greets her , but his usual joyful demeanour has changed to that of a serious one . He demands to know who the Doctor is , what he knows about Robin Hood ' s life and what his plans are ; at this point Robin likely believes the Doctor is either a spy or some sort of magical being . Clara is confused that she ' s being interrogated . The Doctor wakes up in the dungeon , finding himself chained across from the young woman the Sheriff captured earlier . Hearing the engines are charging , the Doctor calls the Sheriff stupid and explains the plan to the girl , who grasps the basics . A knight declares that the Doctor is fit for labour , prompting him to reveal he escaped the chains . He and the peasants take shiny plates , reflecting the beam fired by the knights back at them , causing them to destroy themselves . The Sheriff sees this on a holographic projection in his dining hall , wondering how he can get rid of the Doctor . The Doctor sends all the peasants away , earning a peck on the check as thanks from the young woman . The Sheriff arrives , prompting the Doctor explain that he ' ll damage history and that there isn ' t enough gold to ensure a safe takeoff ; however , the Sheriff thinks the Doctor is lying . The Doctor asks for Clara back , so that he ' ll be willing to help fix the mistake . However , the Sheriff points out that he doesn ' t have Clara ; though the Doctor insists that Robin is another of the robots . The Sheriff asks what the point would be to create an enemy to fight . The Doctor realises that he ' s been wrong , but can ' t help saying " [ Robin Hood ] ' s a legend ! " Just then Robin Hood and Clara arrive , seeming to be on friendlier terms again ; Robin finds the Doctor ' s words quite flattering . The Sheriff proposes a final reckoning between him and Robin . He accepts , and after a short sword fight , Robin ' s arm is cut by the Sheriff ; seeing he cannot win normally , Robin uses the same " surrendering " technique that the Doctor taught him and tricks the Sheriff into coming at him . He clips him on the back of the ankle and sends him tumbling into a vat of molten gold , where he freezes eternally . The ship is about to take off , and the Doctor , Clara and Robin escape and watch ( with Robin ' s Merry Men ) the spaceship rise from the castle . Two Knights are at the controls , and the Doctor says that in a few seconds it will explode and devastate half the country . The Doctor realises that if they shoot the golden arrow from the archery contest into the ship , the gold content will give the ship the boost it needs to reach orbit and detonate harmlessly . However , Robin is unable to fire the arrow as his arm is injured , the Doctor cheated at the contest using technology and cannot really fire a bow and Clara has too little experience — so Robin suggests they work " together " to fire it . With Clara and the Doctor aiming the bow for him , Robin fires the arrow into the ship ' s engines . The plan works : the ship reaches orbit and explodes harmlessly . Clara bids Robin farewell , asking him to stay safe if he can ; she boards the TARDIS . Robin asks the Doctor if it ' s true he ' ll be forgotten as a real man , becoming nothing more than a legend . The Doctor confirms this , with Robin happy with the results , stating that while history is a burden , stories can help people soar . When the Doctor admits that he ' s still having trouble believing in Robin ' s , the Prince of Thieves asks " what ' s so difficult to believe that a man born into wealth and privilege would find the oppressing of the innocent too much to bear . . . " The Doctor tries interrupting , but is stunned by Robin ' s next words " until one night he ' s possessed to steal a TARDIS and fly amongst the stars , fighting the good fight . " Robin explains Clara told him all about the Doctor ' s travels , something the Doctor says she shouldn ' t have ; Robin explains that Clara couldn ' t help herself , as the Doctor is her hero . Both the Doctor and Robin admit that they ' re not heroes , but if they continue pretending to be , others may be heroes in their name . The Earl of Loxley and Time Lord of Gallifrey bid farewell to each other . Before the Doctor enters , Robin tells him they are equally just as real . Inside the TARDIS , Clara goads the Doctor to admit he likes Robin . The Doctor says he ' s leaving Robin a gift . . . As the TARDIS dematerialises , Robin looks at a picture of Maid Marian in his locket . Once the TARDIS finishes vanishing , the young female ward is seen standing there — she is revealed to be Marian . Overjoyed , Robin hugs her and races to where the TARDIS was , shouting praise for the Doctor and shooting an arrow to the sky . Story notes . Ratings . 7 . 28 million ( DWM 479 )