OUAT: Trapped in Ice

Last time on “Once:” Emma wants to know more about Sarah Fisher and why she’s so obsessed with her. Robin wants to know why Regina’s avoiding him. That answer is that she can’t unfreeze Marian so he’s just going to have to fall back in love with his wife. Belle reveals she knew Anna in the past having met her while on a quest to discover how her mother died. Anna learns that Auntie Sarah is really Auntie Ingrid, who was one of her mother’s two sisters. Auntie Ingrid captures Anna while Belle feels guilty she didn’t help her friend. After a run in with the Snow Queen’s mirror, Belle comes clean to Elsa. They discover Ingrid is trying to replace her sisters with Elsa and Emma.

Whew.
We open with a kite. Sadly, “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” is not playing. Three little girls dressed in Victorian era dresses chase after the kite until it crashes into a tree. They rescue it and decide to salvage the ribbon. The youngest wants it but of course so do her other sisters. One insists she should have it because she’s the oldest and is destined to be queen. These girls are Gerda, Helga and Ingrid.

(Think they'll get Mary Poppins on here one day?) 

A man emerges from the woods and reveals he’s the owner of the kite. The girls apologize for destroying his kite. He doesn’t care. He can make more money by kidnapping and selling the princesses on the black market! He grabs Gerda and then Helga. Ingrid tells him to put her sisters down. When she goes to fight him, she shoots out ice powers. The frozen tree limb falls off, forcing the man to release Gerda and Helga in order to block the branch. He gets free and runs off, calling Ingrid a monster.

(How did he know the princesses would follow his kite? Or is this a crime of opportunity?)

Ingrid starts to freak out. It seems she just developed the powers. Helga and Gerda rush forward to help their sister but she tells them to stay back as she doesn’t want to hurt them. They each take one of her hands and call her a hero. She saved them from the kidnapper. But Ingrid focuses on the fact the man called her a monster. Helga and Gerda promise to help her with her powers. They divide up the yellow ribbon and vow to wear them always to remember their bond as sisters.

(Let's hear it for the casting department!) 

In Storybrooke, Ingrid stares at the clock tower. She heads up, installing her mirror up there. Uh oh.

Elsa runs in to the Sheriff’s office with a candle. She says that Belle was able to do some research and find a way to capture the Snow Queen. Emma had to use her magic to blow on the candle, creating a way to block Auntie Ingrid’s powers. Emma tries it on Elsa and it seems to work at the start. But she has to leave to pick up her brother—she’s babysitting for David and Mary Margaret.

(Think the black flame candle is lurking around somewhere. Can we get the Sanderson Sisters?)

Mary Margaret is at a Mommy and Me class with Aurora and her son, Phillip, led by Ashley (AKA Cinderella) with her daughter Alex. Everyone is having fun and Ashley tells them she burnt them CDs with the songs they’ll sing next week. Aurora is still adjusting to life in the Land Without Magic. She doesn’t know what a CD is and has a fear of the TV. It’s kinda adorable and it’s nice to see Once’s versions of the original Disney 3 together. Especially as we haven’t seen Ashley since Season 1!

(Look! It the Once version of Disney's Original 3!)

Emma comes in and sees everything Mary Margaret didn’t experience with her. And what she didn’t really get to experience with Henry since her fake memories are gone. Ashley gives Emma a hug as Emma asks about the classes. Everyone gushes about how it’s great to have a place where first time mothers can bond. This catches Emma of guard. She knows Mary Margaret didn’t get to raise her but she’s still not a first time mother. As Mary Margaret tries to remove the foot from her mouth, Emma gets more upset. It manifests by her boiling Neal’s formula. Everyone stares at it, aghast.

Emma brushes it off as left over from practicing to defeat the Snow Queen. But Mary Margaret recoils when Emma goes to grab Neal, which is slightly understandable. But she didn’t have to make it look like Emma was trying to kidnap her kid. Emma’s hurt and glad when she gets a call that the Snow Queen’s been spotted in the clock tower. She makes like a bat out of hell.

In the tower, Elsa and Emma confront Auntie Ingrid. Emma uses the candle and manages to put cuffs on the Snow Queen. She declares herself caught. And everyone goes with this. No one thinks that was way too easy and maybe, just maybe, she let herself be caught and has a bigger plan? No? Fine.

(Seriously, this doesn't strike anyone as WAY too easy?)

Regina sulks in her vault when she gets a visitor—Robin Hood. She points out that this isn’t going to help him forget her and fall back in love with Marian. Robin says he knows but that his heart led him there. Regina stops him and says she can’t hear how much he loves her but how he has to stay with Marian. Robin yells that he’s confused and doesn’t know what to do. Regina repeats that he needs to stay away and forget her.

(Me too, Robin. Me too.)

In Arendelle, the three princesses are grown up and getting ready for a ball. Well, Helga and Gerda are. Ingrid is sitting this one out, afraid of her snow powers. Her sisters try to convince her to go to the ball because it’s for their father’s birthday. And because she should have some fun. Ingrid refuses, saying she doesn’t want to ruin it for Helga. Someone special is coming to the ball. Helga blushes but wants her sister there. Ingrid eventually wins the argument.

(We'll have fun for you)

At the ball, Helga introduces her beau to her father. Who is he? None other than the Duke of Weselton. Yeah, that other douche from the movie who was more of an obvious villain than the King of Douches, Hans. But he does seem to like Helga and is looking forward to spending time with her while on his diplomatic mission. He and Helga go out and dance. The Duke’s dancing skills haven’t changed much. Helga doesn’t seem to mind much.

(Really hasn't changed much)

In a dark corner, Ingrid watches everyone dancing and having fun. Her sadness and loneliness manifests itself as a little flurry storm in the hallway. This causes her to panic and she rushes off.

Upstairs, Helga and Gerda go to speak to their sister and find her packing. She says she was hoping to be gone before the ball ended. Her powers are growing stronger and she has little control over them. She needs to go away for everyone’s safety. Her sisters plead with her not to until Gerda comes up with a plan. She’s heard tell of a powerful man in Mysthaven. Maybe Rumplestilskin can help them.

Oh, Gerda.

(Gerda, no)

Back in her house, Regina reads the storybook as if that’ll cheer her up. She glares at a picture of Robin and Marian as Henry enters the room, asking for her help with a tie. He’s in a nice suit and she wonders where he is going. “I’m getting married,” he deadpans. Aww, he’s Emma’s and Regina’s son. He clarifies that he’s going to work and Gold insists he dress sharply. Regina puts the tie on and Henry asks if everything’s okay. Regina insists she is. But Henry thinks Robin is bothering her. Regina tells him that the relationship is done and she’s only going to focus on Operation Mongoose now. That way, she won’t lose her next chance at love…should she get it.

(They grow up so fast)

Meanwhile, Emma starts interrogating Ingrid. She doesn’t get much out of the Snow Queen. All she does is open the door for Ingrid to play mind games with her. Plant the seed of doubt into Emma’s mind—how her family doesn’t really love her. They fear her and her powers. How her parents have replaced her with a “normal” child (though I do believe Baby Neal’s normalness is yet to be determined. He’s still a child of true love as well). How she’ll see that the only ones who can accept her are Ingrid and Elsa, so it’s best if they go off and be a happy family somewhere else. Emma storms off.

(Master manipulator right here)

Belle rushes up to the clock tower, warning everyone to stop looking in the mirror. It’ll show them the worst in themselves. But the mirror is quiet. Hook says he’s only seen how devilishly handsome he still is. Belle realizes this isn’t the real mirror. It’s a decoy. Everyone comes to the same conclusion I already did: The Snow Queen wanted to be caught. She wanted to be alone with Emma.

In the station, Ingrid uses her powers despite the cuff and freezes the station doors shut. Everyone rushes the doors and realizes their mistake. So they have to go find help to get into the building.

Robin, meanwhile, is throwing darts at Granny’s. And mostly destroying her walls rather than hitting the target. Will comes in, spies Robin and tries to beat a hasty exit. A dart in the doorframe tells him he’s caught. He turns around to find Robin glowering at him. Seems Robin is still not thrilled about what he did.

(Busted!)

This might require some explanation for those who didn’t watch Once Upon a Time in Wonderland. For those familiar with legends of Robin Hood, the name Will Scarlet is well-known as a merry man. And on Wonderland, Will did join Robin’s motley crew. But he wasn’t going to follow Robin’s rules of stealing from the rich to give to the poor. As well as messing with magic.  He was going to steal something magical and keep it. But he had noble reasons—he wanted to find a way to escape the Enchanted Forest with his love, Anastasia, to a place to be happy. But he nearly puts the Merry Men in danger when he does so. Robin throws him out and is clearly still mad.

So Robin has it out with Will until he ends up just telling Will all his sorrows. Robin may or may not have been drinking. (He has). He tells Will about how he met Marian—for the 37th time, by Will’s reckoning. Robin stole Marian’s father’s horse just for the sake of stealing something. He woke up to find Marian aiming a bow at him, demanding he return their horse because it was all they had. He gave it back…as well as one of his. He fell in love then and there.

(That face just screams "Kill me now")

Will tells Robin about conversations he had with Marian himself out in the woods. How she gave up everything for a life of robbing, a life spent in the woods. She did it for love. Robin asks Will how it went with his love. Will doesn’t say anything. Uh oh, anyone else worried about Anastasia? Anyway, Will says he doesn’t regret anything. If you find someone you’re willing to ruin your life for, then you hold on to them. That gets Robin thinking.

Everyone arrives at the station and finds the doors frozen over. They have to figure out a new plan and rush off.

Back in the Enchanted Forest, Ingrid and her sisters petition Rumplestilskin for help controlling her powers. You three are better off running and never looking back. 

(Seriously. Do not trust this man)

Rumple is surprised she wants to hide her powers but Ingrid insists it’s for the best. So he gives her a familiar pair of gloves, saying they will hide her powers. But just in case, he also gives them the urn that they can use to lock Ingrid inside if her powers get out of control. All he wants in return are their friendship bracelets. They have been manifested with their true love for each other and as we all know, true love is powerful magic. Gerda and Helga protest, saying the trade’s not worth it. But Ingrid says this is for the best and that they don’t need the ribbons to remind them of their love. They make the trade.

Gold watches his grandson do menial chores. Henry says he’s swept the floor twice and wants to do something else. Like maybe learn magic? Subtlety is not this kid’s forte. Then again, subtlety is probably not in his genetic makeup now that I think about it. Gold says he does have a magical potion for Henry—furniture polish. He can start polishing the items in the back. Henry looks thrilled. Not.

Everyone rushes in, demanding Gold’s help. How do they get into the sheriff’s station. Gold isn’t really willing to help. When they hear a loud explosion, they rush back out. Hook stays behind to threaten Gold a bit before leaving. Amazingly, Henry hears none of this. How big is the back room?

What was the explosion? Emma went back for round two and the Snow Queen kept at her mind games. This time, she played on Emma’s abandonment issues. How her parents didn’t have to give her up. How they didn’t want her like they want Neal. And so on and so forth until Emma gets so mad, she blows a hole in the sheriff’s office. As she stares at the destruction in horror, the Snow Queen slips out unnoticed.

(Looks like taxes are about to go up)

Ingrid sits in her family’s gardens, dressed in her white gown and holding the urn. She watches some flowers as the Duke of Weselton walks up. He praises her and starts flirting. Ingrid’s confused as he’s been flirting with Helga. But the Duke knows Ingrid will be queen. He’s Hans before Hans! She struggles with him as Helga comes upon them.

(All hail Duke Douche)

The Duke tells her that Ingrid forced herself on him but he tried to fend her off. Helga isn’t fooled. She lays into the Duke for being, well, a douche. She stands by Ingrid but the Duke reacts poorly. In the struggle, Ingrid tries to help Helga. When her powers come out, Helga gets hit. The Duke is horrified at Ingrid’s powers and runs off as Helga freezes over a lot faster than Anna did. She falls and shatters into a million pieces. Ouch.

(Aww. Bye, Helga)

Gerda comes up and sees what Ingrid has done. A distraught Ingrid pleads with her sister to help her, to believe it was an accident. Gerda calls her a monster and then uses the urn to trap her. So pretty much, this is all Gerda’s fault. 

(Gerda, no.)

Anyway, she goes to Grand Pabie and asks for a memory potion strong enough to make everyone forget about Ingrid and Helga. Grand Pabie warns her that it is powerful magic and it comes with a price. Gerda insists she’s already paid it.

Meanwhile, everyone arrives at the station. Emma is outside already, surveying the damage she’s done. When she sees them, she tells them to stay back. Hook though tries to go to her and in her panic, she knocks down a lamppost. David pushes Hook out the way and is almost crushed. Mary Margaret admonishes her daughter as if Emma had any control over the situation. She realizes her mistake immediately but the damage is done. Though Hook tries to grab her, Emma runs away.

(That is Emma's "I'm so done with this" face)

Regina stares at the picture of her blindfolded and about to be impaled by arrows (of course, Snow stopped the execution). She’s in a really deep funk, isn’t she? Anyway, her spidey-senses tingle and she realizes she isn’t alone. She knows who it is—Robin. She points out that this isn’t staying away. Robin gives a whole speech about living his life by some code and Regina asks him why he’s there then. Because that day, he’s not living by his code. He then proceeds to snog the ever living daylights out of Regina.

(Yay!)

Excuse me while I go mop myself up.

After searching for Emma, our intrepid heroes regroup at the Charmings’ loft. They weren’t able to find her, determining Emma didn’t want to be found. Mary Margaret says they screwed up and while David is fine to share in the blame, I have to imagine Hook and Elsa are in the background thinking, “WE?” She says they are supposed to love Emma and today they made her feel like a monster. She needs to know they don’t think of her that way.

Emma sits in her yellow bug in the woods outside Storybrooke, just watching the town.

Ingrid shows up at Gold’s. She wants her ribbons back. But Mr. Gold won’t give them up without a trade. Ingrid offers him the missing information he needs to finally be free of the dagger. She whispers it as he gives her back her ribbons. He says he can definitely do the final step.

Uh oh.

So we now Ingrid’s backstory. And pretty much all of this is Gerda’s fault. Was that what she realized as the ship was sinking? Will we ever find that note again? Who knows?

Mary Margaret screwed up tonight and will have to make it up to Emma. Let’s hope she doesn’t do anything drastic or run back to Boston to hide.

And that Outlaw Queen kiss? My reaction:

Next time: Two hours! Anna vs. Elsa! Emma wants to get rid of her magic!

Screen caps from here. 

Attention Outlaw Queen fans! I have written an AU fanfic featuring both Outlaw Queen and Stable Queen. It's inspired by Diana Gabaldon's Outlander. 

Summary: On a much needed vacation to England with her husband Daniel, Regina Mills-Ahern goes into Sherwood Forest during the Midsummer, when legend says travel between worlds is possible. She exits into a different forest, one populated with characters she only knew from fairy tales. Trying to return home to Daniel, she encounters intrigue, friendship and love. 

You can read it here.