OUAT: Ice, Ice Baby

Last time on Once: Elsa put up an ice wall to keep everyone inside until they could find Anna. Then she accidentally encases Emma and herself inside the wall. David and Hook go searching for Anna in order to free Emma, who bonds with Elsa as she slowly freezes to death. Regina hides away after her breakup, even shutting out Henry. He sulks while the town turns to Mary Margaret to be their new leader. First order of business: restore electricity to the town. David learns he knew Anna as Joan, a young woman who helped him defeat the evil warlord, Bo Peep. He knows a way to find Anna and Elsa lets Emma go. As Henry barges into Regina’s solitude, Elsa tries to take the wall down. But it won’t. Does it have something to do with Elizabeth Mitchell, who is running the ice cream parlor?

Robin shows Marian around Storybrooke with Roland. He tells her that she’ll come to love the town as much as they do. He tells her everything that Roland likes and the cutie pie adds that he likes ice cream. He then asks for some but Robin says that Marian’s probably tired. Roland pleads with his mother, using the Regina card. So Roland gets ice cream at Any Given Sundae. Elizabeth Mitchell knows their favorite flavors, but not Marian’s. Robin explains Marian is new to ice cream. So Elizabeth gives her a plain cone with sprinkles. But she adds some ice magic to it.

(You can't deny those dimples anything)

This does not bode well.

Hook, Emma and Elsa confront Mr. Gold. They are convinced he has to know something about Elsa because she came out of an urn located in his vaults. But he insists he didn’t put her in there and that he just collected the urn somewhere along the way. No one seems to believe him. Mr. Gold says they should ask Elsa what happened to her, but she’s missing some memories. Which brings them back to Mr. Gold. He continues to swear that he’s not responsible and that they can trust him because he’s changed. He’s lost his son and gained a wife and has a whole new outlook on life. When they continue to doubt, he asks Belle to use the dagger on him. She doesn’t want to but he says it’s okay. 

(You know, a lie detector test would probably be easier. And more reliable)

She commands him to tell the truth. He swears he has nothing to do with Elsa’s imprisonment nor does he know where her sister is. Time for Mystery, Inc. to move on to the next suspect.

Might I suggest Red Herring?

In Arendelle, Elsa has a new hair do. And can I say it’s lovely? 

(See?)

Anyway, she’s worried because she hasn’t heard from Anna yet. Kristoff tells her not to worry and that Anna can handle herself. Like she did against wolves, Marshmallow and “that idiot from the Southern Isles.” Hee. Elsa warns Kristoff not to underestimate Prince Hans and they bicker. It’s strange, but I feel like these two have chemistry. Of course, we haven’t seen Kristoff with Anna yet.

Just then, a scout bursts in to tell Elsa that a massive army has been spotted. It’s leader? Prince Hans and some of his brothers. Looks like they want to take over Arendelle…for some reason. Kristoff wants to go spy on them, to learn more, but Elsa forbids it.

At Granny’s, Regina and Henry bond over comic books. One eagle-eyed commenter on the internet noted that one of the comics (SHIELD—corporate synergy at work!) was released in October 2011, when the events of the first season began. Regina’s going over the comics she missed with Henry! Aww. As she flips through them, she starts talking about Henry’s book and if there were any clues about who wrote it. He doesn’t know and wants to know why she’s asking. So she tells him about his plan to find the writer and make him…no, ask him…to give her a happy ending. Henry is all for the plan. They even give it a name—Operation Mongoose. More savvy internet commenters noted that mongooses are the predators of cobras—remember Operation Cobra?

Nice move, Regina.

(Look at that smile!)

In Arendelle, Kristoff disobeys Elsa and goes to scout out Prince Hans and his army. Sven is not too fond of this plan. But they discover where the Southern Isles camp is. Hans’ brothers tease him and he tells them to be more respectful to the future king of Arendelle. One brother tells him not to get ahead of himself as it didn’t work out for him the last time. But Hans says he has a secret weapon, holding up a drawing of the urn. He explains it’s hidden in a nearby cave and it will be able to trap Elsa and then he will rule the world the tristate area Arendelle.

All that’s missing is an evil laugh.

(They nailed the muttonchops, though)

Mary Margaret is having a fireside chat with the people of Storybrooke! All while still holding Baby Neal. She is not letting that kid go. Anyway, she tells everyone that the Mayor’s Office used to be a place they feared but she wants it to change. She wants everyone to feel comfortable there, starting with these meetings. Mary Margaret tries to stick to her agenda but Leroy wants to go to item four, the ice wall. She obliges, explaining it goes around the town but it’s a temporary problem. Everyone’s like “We’re trapped? Again?” They start yelling at Elsa, while the Charmings try to keep her safe. As Baby Neal cries, Marian starts to freeze up and fall over. Robin catches her.

(I'm sure the meeting isn't that bad, Marian)

Kristoff returns to the castle and tells Elsa what he learned. After she reams him out for disobeying her, she decides that they have to get to the urn before Hans can. Kristoff says he knows the area well and he’ll go get it. But Elsa says she’s going to go with him.

Robin enters Granny’s and goes straight to Regina. He tells her that he needs her help because something’s happened to Marian. She and Henry go with him to the Mayor’s office. Regina is horrified to see how Mary Margaret has started to change the place. But she focuses on the freezing Marian. Robin asks if there’s anything she can do but she doesn’t know. She asks Elsa about the spell but Elsa swears it wasn’t her. She does know that an act of true love can undo a freezing spell. Regina says “True Love’s Kiss” and looks at Robin. He’s like, “Okay, I can do this. I just need to kiss my wife. Something I do all the time.” As he goes in for the kiss, Regina looks away.

It doesn’t work.

("Oh no, it didn't work. What a surprise.")

A distraught Robin asks Regina if there’s anything else she can do. She explains she can’t figure out how to undo it without knowing exactly what spell was cast. And since Elsa didn’t do it, they have to find out who did. But she can do something to help Marian as long as Robin trusts her. He does. Regina tells Henry she’s going to send him to her vault for some supplies. Emma says she’s going to find whoever did this and asks Hook to take Elsa to the sheriff’s office. He wants to go with her, but she tells him she needs him to take Elsa somewhere safe. Regina tells Emma that maybe she needs backup since she got flatten by that snow monster in the last episode. Emma tells Regina that she’s still bitter about the whole Marian thing but David says he’ll go with her.

Elsa and Kristoff go through the forest in search of the cave with the urn. They come to the edge of the cliff and Kristoff stops her. He goes down and she follows into the cave. The urn sits there, waiting. Kristoff wants to destroy it immediately but Elsa hesitates. She wants to know more about it—why is it there? Why was it made? Were there others with powers?

But then Hans shows up, holding Kristoff at knife point. They banter and Hans is like “Anna chose this man after me?” Kristoff points out he never tried to kill Anna. Hans corrects him, saying he only left Anna to die. Kristoff fails to see the distinction. 

(Kristoff is not impressed with Hans at all)

Elsa, meanwhile, wants Hans to let her future brother-in-law go. But he won’t without the urn. Instead of using her ice powers, she agrees. Of course, Elsa’s still not in complete control of her powers so she probably didn’t want to chance hurting Kristoff instead of or in addition to Hans. She tells Kristoff that they are in this mess because she didn’t trust him. She trusts him to find Anna, stop Hans and rescue her.

Hans opens the urn but a liquid pours out. Is it Alex Mack? I’ve been wondering what she’s been doing. No, it’s Elizabeth Mitchell in a white dress with cleavage to rival Regina’s Evil Queen’s. She takes one look at Hans and freezes him on the spot. While Kristoff freaks out about everything, Elsa is more focused on the fact that there’s someone else with her powers. She’s not alone!

(Elizabeth looks amazing)

In Storybrooke, Grumpy meets with other townsfolk in front of Granny’s. They decide that Elsa’s guilty and it’s time to break out the pitchforks. Archie pleads for some sanity and reason but nope, time to form an unruly mob! Elizabeth Mitchell looks pleased as they pass her.

(Archie, Lone Voice of Reason)

They take to the streets as Hook and Elsa hide in an alley. Once it’s sake, Hook asks her if she wants to figure out who really did this. Elsa’s all for it.

(Elsa's all for teamwork)

Emma and David go through the woods, deciding to check Robin’s tent first. They hear someone inside as they approach and draw their weapons. Who is in the tent? None other than Will Scartlet from Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, making his debut as a series regular! Welcome, Will!

(Will Scarlett, ladies and gentlemen!)

Will is not too thrilled to see a sheriff. He runs and Emma pursues. But he’s taken down by David, who says he’s the sheriff too. Will says that isn’t fair. But he does know who is responsible for Marian’s condition. He explains that he broke into Any Given Sundae during the blackout and that all the ice cream was still frozen. He thinks it was magic. Emma and David aren’t so sure but he encourages them to visit the shop.

In the shop, everything looks fine. But Emma realizes it’s too quiet. She doesn’t hear the hum of the refrigeration unit. Will tells her to check the back. She and David do so to discover it’s completely frozen. They realize Will’s telling the truth and that there’s another person with ice powers in Storybrooke. Emma also realizes they’ve left Will alone. She runs to the front of the store but Will is gone…with the cash. Emma wants to pursue but David wants to have a heart-to-heart. Even Emma thinks this is rather poor timing.

Meanwhile, Mary Margaret tries to go home. But she has trouble folding up her stroller because she refuses to put Neal down, even into his car seat. This is very good character development—Mary Margaret had to give up her daughter shortly after birth and missed 28 years of Emma’s life. And then her son was kidnapped within minutes of his birth and who knows what Zelena’s curse would’ve done to him if Heroes, Inc. hadn’t shown up to save the day. And Archie, who seems to have given up talking since into the mob, understands that. But he tells Mary Margaret that it’s okay to let go for a little bit. That it’s best for her and for Neal. This strikes a chord with Mary Margaret.

I do notice Archie never offered to help her, though, with that stroller.

(See?)

Hook and Elsa confront Rumple, who refuses to help them. But Hook blackmails him—he realizes that Belle doesn’t have the real dagger. He wonders what would happen if Belle were to find out. Rumple’s caught and so he says that magic is unique to each person who uses it. Like a snowflake…He is able to use some residue from the spell affecting Marian and it forms into snowflakes, flying back to the person who cast the spell. Hook and Elsa follow them.

(Such a gorgeous shot!)

It leads them to the woods, where Elizabeth Mitchell is building an ice fortress. Hook hides behind some logs but Elsa wants to talk to the woman. She’s framing Elsa and she has similar powers. But Hook convinces her to lie low as he tries to call Emma. He has to explain what a cell phone is to Elsa but fails. He just says that he pushes the button marked “Emma” and she answers. Except today. He tells her voicemail “What’s the point of me having this if you don’t answer?” But he tells her where they are as Elsa keeps watching Elizabeth.

(The face of everyone who has ever gotten someone's voicemail) 

Back in Arendelle, Elsa brings Elizabeth to her palace. She asks Elizabeth if she ever made a snowman that came to life. Elizabeth hasn’t. But she has made a snow fortress—what about Elsa? Elsa says she did and promises to show it to her sometime. Elizabeth would like that. She’s then distracted by a giant portrait of the king and queen.  Elsa says it’s her favorite painting of her parents. Elizabeth asks about the queen and a somber Elsa informs her that the queen is dead. Elizabeth is upset and reveals that she is the queen’s sister. Auntie Elizabeth has come home!

But wait! There’s more! Turns out the Queen imprisoned Auntie Elizabeth in the urn, afraid of her powers. Elsa is confused and horrified. She doesn’t believe it. Auntie Elizabeth says she will.

Regina keeps a watch over a rapidly freezing Marian. Robin returns after leaving Roland in the care of Little John. He says he wishes he could tell his son he had done everything to save Marian. Regina assures him he did but Robin says he knows why the kiss didn’t work. It’s because he’s in love with someone else. Hope fills Regina and her eyes light up. But Robin’s pained expression and the presence of Marian reminds her that they can’t be together. He has to honor his vows to Marian.

(Look at the hope in her eyes!)

Five bucks says frozen!Marian still hears all of this.

Henry comes in and tells her that she needs to clean her vault. But he found what she needed, pulling out a wooden box. Regina plunges her hand into Marian’s chest. It looks like she has a little difficulty doing so, but she ends up pulling out Marian’s heart. Regina says the ice hasn’t touched it and that’s a good sign. She places the heart in the box, telling Robin that they’ll keep Marian alive while they try to find a way to reverse the spell. And she will do so, she vows.

(Regina's showing a lot of restraint)

Elsa can’t wait any more and confronts Elizabeth Mitchell. She tells Elsa that Anna put her in the urn, that everyone turns on people like them in the end. That’s why she froze Marian—to stir up the mob to chase after Elsa so she would learn that lesson. They can only rely on the other. But Elsa doesn’t believe her. Anna would never put her in the urn. Elizabeth says Elsa will realize she’s telling the truth soon enough. She forms several large icicles over Hook and freezes him in place. Elsa tries to keep them from impaling him. But Elizabeth says Elsa’s magic is no match for her own and everyone will blame her for killing Hook.

(This doesn't bode well)

As the icicles drop, white magic destroy them. Emma and David have arrived! Elizabeth recognizes Emma and says her name in such a way, it gives Emma pause. But she then uses her magic to stop Elizabeth from hurting other people. Especially her boyfriend. Elizabeth disappears. Everyone returns to town.

At Granny’s, Emma and David talk. She says that she feels like Elizabeth Mitchell knows. It’s just a feeling based on how she said Emma’s name and how she looked. But Emma doesn’t recognize her. David says they’ll figure it out.

Emma leaves and Hook invites her to join him for a beer. She storms away from him. He pursues, apologizing for not listening to her. But he wanted to help. She still storms away until he makes her stop. He asks her to tell him what’s wrong. And the truth comes out—Emma’s scared. She points out that everyone she’s ever been with is dead—Graham, Neal and Walsh. She’s afraid Hook will meet a similar fate. He tells her that he’s pretty hard to kill and he’s in it for the long haul with her. They share a kiss in the middle of the street.

All together now: Aww.

(Captain Swan kisses!)

Elizabeth wonders the forests until she runs into Rumple. They know each other, it’s clear from their conversation. He asks if it went as she planned. She admits it didn’t but she knows she’ll get Elsa and Emma to remember eventually.

Hmm…

(That's one determined Snow Queen)

Well, that was interesting. I like Elsa becoming part of the main group. I also like that Robin went to Regina and trusted her to do whatever she could to save Marian. I wonder how Elizabeth knows Emma. Many think she might have been someone Emma ran into in the foster care system. I can’t wait to learn more!

As for how the Outlaw Queen triangle will resolve…Clearly, I want Regina and Robin back together. Sean Maguire and Lana Parrilla have amazing chemistry together. But I don’t want it to come at the cost of Marian’s life. I think Marian is going to realize that Robin is only staying with her out of honor to their vow, not out of love for her. And so she’s going to release him from the vow and they’ll co-parent Roland together.

Next time: Hook and Emma go on a date! Anna meets the Dark One!

Screen caps from here.