Sherwood series 2 ended with an atmospheric lakeside scrap between the show's two baddest bitches - here's what happened in our episode six recap.

The finale saw Ryan's criminal activities finally uncovered, the end of the Branson family's hold over Ashfield, Nottingham, and a happy-ish ending for Ian St Clair.

Here's all the major storylines unravelled as tvguide.co.uk explains the ending.

***Warning: spoilers from Sherwood series 2 episode 6 ahead***

Sherwood series 2 episode 6 recap

The brilliant Sherwood series 2 came to a tense and emotional conclusion on Monday (September 09, 2024).

At the end of episode 5, Ann Branson had shot and killed Mickey Sparrow as payback for his wife Daphne "being a grass". Of course, the Sparrows had not gone looking for the trouble. The pivotal moment came in episode one, when a psychotic Ryan Bottomley took against Nicky Branson and shot him dead.

Ronan Sparrow and his sister Rachel were unfortunate witnesses. The Bransons had then forced the Sparrows to help them get the revenge they craved. And so began a tortuous alliance - with Daphne trying to do the right thing by her children. Even if it meant working with the police (something the Sparrows had never done, despite Daphne being a secret former copper).

While episode six concluded multiple storylines, it was the battle between the Sparrows and the Bransons that had everyone desperate for closure (by that we mean, Ann dead).

What happened to Ann Branson in the Sherwood series 2 finale?

After killing Mickey Branson, and with her husband Roy in jail for killing Denis and Pam Bottomley, Ann went into hiding.

But she'd made enough enemies in Ashfield that eventually her location was leaked to the Sparrows. At the end of the episode, Rory was hurtling towards her hiding spot intent on avenging his dead dad. But Daphne and her daughter Rachel got there first...

In a tense showdown (which included a very rare c-bomb for the BBC) Ann shot Daphne in the arm, and the pair grappled by the lake with Ann falling on her arm and breaking it. Daphne eventually got the upper hand, and held her gun to Ann's head. But ultimately, she couldn't bring herself to kill her.

Mickey's last words to her were to stop the war. She knew that if she killed Ann she would "betray what Mickey wanted". She also knew that Ann would be the big cheese in jail.

Instead, she told Ann to run and live the life of a fugitive. However, an injured and furious Ann launched herself at Daphne in one last attempt to take her down. Instead, she fell in the water, unable to swim because of her broken arm.

In an unspoken agreement, Daphne and Rachel - proving she was a Sparrow at last - watched Ann drown. It felt a fitting end. No one killed her. No one saved her. But it was retribution either way.

By the time Rory, and later Ian St Clair and the police, arrived on the scene, Ann was just a bubble on the surface of the water.

While the Bransons reign of terror had ended, it felt like Rory Sparrow was about to fill the hole that they'd left. But only a series 3 would enlighten us there.

Sherwood ending explained: Did Ian St Clair and Julie Jackson get together?

Ian did get a happy ending of sorts. He left the police force (again) after becoming frustrated with their heavy-handed tactics when it came to dealing with young offenders.

The copper with a conscience subsequently had a smile on his face, thanks to the reappearance of Julie Jackson. The pair agreed to give their relationship a go, putting their shared baggage behind them. "We have to live," said Julie. True words indeed.

Was the crooked cop found out?

Marcus Clarke, the crooked detective, was eventually exposed by Harry Summers. Suspecting something was up, Harry had told Marcus a few falsehoods - only for them to be repeated by Roy Branson in jail. Caught, hook, line and sinker!

We discovered that the Branson family had paid for Marcus to complete his degree, leaving him in their debt.

He showed no remorse, however, and we doubt he'll ever serve as a police officer again!

What happened to Ryan Bottomley and Steffi?

Poor Steffi eventually told the police what was happening at her gaff. She blew the lid on the drug operation, and their part in the Sheriff of Nottingham's poisoning.

All the drug dealers were arrested, including Jordan. Unbeknownst to Ryan, Jordan had targeted Sheriff Lisa Waters because of a personal grudge. He blamed her for prison cuts that had affected his brother in jail. She'd been a councillor at the time, although not directly to blame.

Ryan was eventually transferred to a prison further away, as punishment for his scary attempt to bring drugs into the jail via books. Steffi entered a new, and hopefully happier, time of her life in a new home. She got away with killing Kyre Branson. But nobody in the world could blame her for that. She was a victim in all of this.

The Sheriff of Nottingham survived. Meanwhile Franklin Warner's ego was finally starved of oxygen when his mine was voted against, and his son ousted him from the board.

Will there be a series 3 of Sherwood?

The BBC has not confirmed whether they'll be a series 3 of Sherwood yet. But we'd definitely tune in if there was.

While series 1 was based on shocking true events, series 2 was a fictionalised version of events. The drama was inspired by stories and events in the community where the author James Graham grew up.

It drew on a difficult period in Nottingham during an escalation in crime following the collapse of coal mining and other industries.

Sherwood series 1 and 2 are currently available to watch on BBC iPlayer.