Ronja the Robber's Daughter season 1 recap: All you need to remember before season 2 arrives

Astrid Lindgren's tale, Ronja the Robber's Daughter season 1, launched on Netflix in select countries on March 28, 2024, introducing viewers to one of Sweden's most beloved fantasy stories. The Bridge's Hans Rosenfeldt is behind the script of the Netflix adaptation, with A Royal Affair's Lisa James Larsson directing the series.

Six 45-minute episodes dropped for its first season, with six more to come for Ronja the Robber's Daughter season 2.

Season 1 follows young Ronja (played by Kerstin Linden), the titular robber's daughter, who is excited to discover the world despite all its dangers.

She begins her adventure by exploring the magical yet dangerous forest near her home, leading to encounters with supernatural creatures and a boy named Birk.

Before season 2 of the new Netflix TV show premieres on October 24, 2024, here is a quick rundown of the debut season's plot and events so viewers can easily catch up with the new season.

Disclaimer: This article contains significant spoilers for Ronja the Robber's Daughter season 1

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A recap of the first 5 episodes of Ronja the Robber's Daughter season 1

Ronja in Ronja the Robber's Daughter season 1 (Image via Netflix/ YouTube)

Ronja the Robber's Daughter season 1 opened with a thrilling introduction to the fantasyland that would be later known as the Mattis Woods. The season premiere started with a man being chased by hybrid creatures—half human and half bird—called harpies.

The following scene features the birth of the titular character, Mattis' daughter, Ronja, whom Mattis claimed to have his "robber's heart."

That was the first introduction to the bandit life where Ronja grew up. Fast forward to the future, Ronja is now a little older, and she joins her parents and other bandits in the forest for raids.

After scenes showing the bandits robbing people, the episode moves forward several years later. Now, Ronja is 10 years old and is starting to get bored with the small bandit life.

The young girl longs to see what's outside of her community and their simple lifestyle. The ever-supportive Mattis thinks that it's time for her daughter to venture into the woods by herself and discover what lurks within.

Before Ronja leaves, Mattis warns her about the great dangers she may encounter, including Borka robbers. Excited about her impending adventure, Ronja seems unfazed by Mattis' warnings.

Ronja the Robber's Daughter season 1's opener then cuts to Ronja wandering around in the woods without care. There, she meets gray dwarves who are preying on her. Luckily, Mattis saves her in time. However, Ronja doesn't seem affected by the previous night's incident because she ventures into the forest again.

The episode continues with Ronja trying to find adventure in the woods, meeting one disaster after another, until her father rescues her and brings her to safety.

In subsequent episodes, Ronja continues with her forest adventures, unfazed by all the dangers she encounters, until one day, she meets a boy named Birk Borkason, Borka's son. They secretly spend time together, searching for what the forest has to offer.

Meanwhile, the tension between Mattis and Borka escalates as the two clans compete for land in the fortress, making Ronja and Birk's budding friendship more complicated.

Ronja, who, until she saw her father rob a family in a carriage, didn't know what her father did for a living, thought highly of him. But after witnessing his father's robbery, her illusion is shattered, and she lashes out to Mattis that she will never become a bandit like her father.

On the other hand, while Ronja and Birk's friendship grows, their father's rivalry only worsens.

Throughout the first five episodes of Ronja the Robber's Daughter season 1, snippets of Mattis and Borka's past are featured. It turns out that they were childhood friends, but Mattis's father kept him from playing with Borka when they were kids.

Mattis, while skeptical, also revealed to Ronja the real reason why there's a lot of hate between him and Borka.

It turns out that the rivalry started with Mattis and Borka's fathers, who, for unknown reasons, have been enemies ever since. But when they were children, Mattis and Borka were friends, and like Ronja and Birk, they had to meet in secret so their fathers wouldn't know about their friendship.

However, Mattis' father still finds out, and he forbids Mattis to see his friend again.

Mattis' father's warning, however, fell on deaf ears, and he remained close to Borka. They still meet in the woods until Borka betrays him by leading soldiers into the fortress using the secret entrance.

Since then, their friendship has been over, and Mattis still hates the Borka robbers.

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What happened in Ronja the Robber's Daughter season 1 finale?

It's finally spring in Ronja the Robber's Daughter season 1 episode 6, which means Ronja can explore the Mattis Woods again and meet Birk in the process after winter forces them to separate from each other.

But while they continue where they left off, exploring the forest, Mattis is investigating the missing food supplies. As seen from the previous episode, it was Ronja who took some of the food and gave it to Birk because the Borka clan were starving.

Starving the rival clan to death was Mattis' plan, but when he caught the news that they were still alive, he was even more eager to find out who betrayed him.

While Ronja and Birk are innocently exploring the woods, the two rival clans are facing off against each other. Borka taunts Mattis by telling him how he and his people survived the winter—because his son stole food from Mattis.

Meanwhile, when Ronja is alone in the forest later on, someone named Chegge, who doesn't have the best of intentions, lures her away. This is where the episode ends, marking the end of Ronja the Robber's Daughter season 1.

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Catch Ronja the Robber's Daughter season 1, now streaming on Netflix in the Nordic countries, CEE, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and the Netherlands.

Those who face regional restrictions can use a trusted VPN service to watch the series on Netflix or wait for its US premiere on Viaplay on November 21.