Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-27079851-20171120082917/@comment-4839682-20171120233420

See, I don't think Robin being brought back was an effort to placate. I don't think the writers consider fan reaction at all.

Male rape is not a thing in their minds. So the struggle over the baby was about Zelena, not Robin Hood. And Roland disappeared, because he's male and this show's producers love the "Strong female" idea, and hide behind it. Pretty much every writer has confessed an attachment to Regina... so they bring back Robin Hood so that some form of Regina ends up with her TL. It's business as usual for them.