OUAT: Under Pressure

Last time on “OUAT”: Emma freaked out about her out of control powers and decided to ask Gold to take them away. Regina and Robin had a night of passion followed by a day filled with her helping locate Emma while him tried to find more information about the storybook for her. Hook tries to stop Emma as does Elsa. The latter succeeds while the former loses his heart to Gold. Robin discovers something that could change everything for Regina. In Arendelle, Anna and Elsa plot to take down Auntie Ingrid but she gets the drop on them. She casts Shattered Sight on Anna, which is how Elsa ended up in the urn. Rumple stole the urn back and the Apprentice sent Ingrid into our world to wait for Emma. Now, she’s casting Shattered Sight on all of Storybrooke.

Duck for cover, here comes another curse.

(You think the residents of Storybrooke are used to this by now? Like the rest of them are like “Oh, another curse? Must be Thursday”?)


Ingrid stands in the woods, arms outstretched as she guides her curse toward Storybrooke. Gold approaches her. The curse won’t effect him, but it will effect Belle and Henry. He wants her to let him leave with them and then she can watch the rest of the town tear each other apart before skipping off to be sisters with Elsa and Emma. She agrees.

(Doesn't it look like they are getting married?)

The other members of the main cast, including Leroy, watch the curse from the clock tower. Regina uses her knowledge of magic to determine that the curse will descend by sundown. David suggests they take cover in the mines and vaults but Regina says magic isn’t deterred by walls. There’s no place to hide. Everyone in town will start tearing each other apart by nightfall. So Emma suggests they leave town.

(Iceberg, right ahead!)

Our intrepid heroes trek to the town line and David prepares to climb over the wall. Except Ingrid’s thought of that and makes it difficult for them to climb the wall. Hook decides to check to see if water will be a better solution and everyone heads back into town. Except Regina and Henry, who go to warn Robin and the Merry Men. Meanwhile, Elsa finds Anna’s necklace, the one she lost in the second episode. She hopes she can use it to find her sister.

Speaking of Anna, Arendelle finally unfreezes from Auntie Ingrid’s spell. Anna and Kristoff are reunited before Anna remembers what she did. She needs to find Auntie Ingrid and the urn to rescue Elsa because Elsa’s the rightful ruler. Except Hans also thawed out. He and his brothers decide that Hans should be ruler because…reasons? It’s not explained if Hans has any legitimate claim to Arendelle’s throne, like he’s a distant relative or something. Just because he accuses Anna of treason doesn’t mean the throne automatically goes to him. And who in Arendelle is going to listen to him? He tried to kill their Queen and her sister. Who’d give him the throne?

Anyway, Anna is furious. She lashes out at Hans, saying “And I sang with you!” Kristoff’s face as well as Hans’ brothers is hilarious. I also liked the nod to “Love is an Open Door” as well. Anna and Kristoff realize they’re outnumbered and so decide to trick Hans and his still unnamed brothers. They run for it, determined to find Elsa.

("Miss me?")

("No. Not really.")

Elsa is in Gold’s shop, talking with Belle about finding Anna. Belle thinks it’s a great idea because she’s been reading more about the curse. If someone’s experienced it before, they develop an immunity. Elsa realizes Anna was under the Shattered Sight spell when she trapped her in the urn. If they can find Anna, they can make a vaccine of sorts for the people of Storybrooke. Belle gives them a locator spell before going to rally the fairies to get ready. Gold realizes he has to put his plan on hightailing it out of town on hold for a bit. But he can use this to his advantage.

("This is a deus ex machina")

Hook realizes that they can’t escape by water—Ingrid has created an ice wall to blockade the harbor. Gold approaches and tells Hook he has one more job for him. All the fairies will be at Granny’s. Hook has to capture them all and that will give Gold enough power to separate himself from the dagger and get out of town. Hook points out he’ll then be dooming Belle and Henry along with the rest of town. Gold reveals he is leaving with his wife and grandson. Hook’s probably thinking “Over Emma’s and Regina’s dead bodies in regards to Henry.” But he has no choice. He has to do Gold’s bidding.

Regina and Henry enter Robin’s camp and she tells him that the curse is coming. He and his men need to separate and get away from their weapons. Robin calls for Will, who emerges from a nearby tent, and orders camp to be broken. Will leads Roland away while Regina sends Henry with them. She wants some alone time with Robin. Outlaw Queen fans, you ready?

Regina is worried about what the spell will do to her and Robin comforts her. She studies his face and says she wants to remember him like this. He wants to know why she wants to remember him looking alarmed and worried. But Regina wants to remember the love in his eyes. She says Robin and Henry are the only two who believe in her. The thought of him looking at her with hatred hurts her. He tells her the love is real and kisses her. He then holds her.

(Swoon!)

Clean up, aisle me!

Anna and Kristoff decide to escape across the sea to find Elsa and/or Auntie Ingrid. They talk to Blackbeard who didn’t die in “The Jolly Roger.”

(Hello again, sir)

And who Hook apparently sold his ship to for the magic bean to rescue Emma. Anna promises Blackbeard riches for something called The Wishing Star. You think this would’ve been mentioned beforehand, especially as Blackbeard reveals her parents wanted it as well. They got it but couldn’t use it because they weren’t pure of heart. That’s what you get when you put your sister in an urn before hearing her side of the story, Gerda.

But wait! Hans has actually beaten them to Blackbeard. And he has access to the Arendelle treasury because no one still hasn’t challenged his claim to the throne. He tells Anna he’s gone swimming in the money and I had the Duck Tales theme song in my head for the rest of the scene.

(Happy to see me now?)

Anyway, Hans has paid off Blackbeard to kill Anna. The pirate has them tossed in a box as Anna tries to plead with Blackbeard to cross Hans. Why a box? Well, he was rescued by a mermaid (named Ariel) and he doesn’t want to chance them having the same thing happen. He tells them to enjoy the same place Anna’s parents ended up before tossing them overboard.

Elsa and Emma follow the necklace to the library. 

(Follow the Leader)

Elsa’s confused—she’s been there plenty of times and had never seen Anna there. But Emma reveals that there are a series of tunnels under the library. Maybe Anna’s been down there? So they head down there and encounter…a wall of dirt. Someone has blocked off the tunnels and they are pretty sure it’s the Snow Queen. Elsa wants to blast it with her powers but Emma’s afraid of another cave in and probably what Belle would do if something were to happen to the library. She convinces Elsa they should get help.

At Granny’s, Gold tells Hook to wait in the back. He has to get Belle out of there before Hook can use the hat. When Gold enters, the fairies go silent and Blue looks ready to smite him on the spot. He tries to convince Belle to leave, but she refuses. She wants to stay until they can make the vaccine. Gold suffers a setback but he refuses to give up.

Leroy goes over some plans, trying to figure out if there’s a way to rescue Anna. He notes the infrastructure is crumbling and Regina takes a swipe at Mary Margaret’s mayoral skills. Mary Margaret points out that one has more time to worry about these things when the only villain in town is yourself. Regina seems impressed that Mary Margaret is fighting back. She points out that it’ll take too long for them to dig through the wall. Mary Margaret agrees, surprising Regina and Emma. 

("Quick. Check hell. Make sure it hasn't frozen over.")

It’s revealed that there’s glass particles in the necklace and they can use that to make the vaccine. It will destroy the necklace and any chance of finding Anna that way. Everyone agrees it’s the best course of action. Elsa sneaks off with the necklace.

Everyone realizes that Elsa’s absconded with the necklace. Regina asks if Mary Margaret has any inspiring speeches about hope now, but she says Elsa’s hope is screwing them over. Regina says that sounds terrifying coming from Snow White. Emma goes after Elsa, feeling that finding Anna is their best hope.

At the bottom of the ocean, the chest lands next to the letter Gerda was writing way back in the premiere. 

(Hi. Remember me?)

Inside the chest, Kristoff tries to free himself while water fills up. As it gets higher and higher, Anna starts to recite her wedding vows. She wants to die as his wife but Kristoff vows they will get out and have a proper wedding. He frees his hands and hers but it doesn’t look like they’ll get out of the chest. They embrace each other.

(I might've fallen a little in love with Kristoff at this point)

Emma finds Elsa at the giant wall of dirt. Elsa apologizes before blasting it. On the other side is…the beach. Even Emma’s surprised. They go to the water’s edge, but the light dies out. Uh oh, you guys. Do you think this means that Anna and Kristoff are…? Distraught, Elsa drops down on the sand while Emma tries to comfort her.

They decide it’s best to go to the fairies, to see if they can make the cure anyway. Elsa stands at the water’s edge and wishes she could see her sister again. And guess what bubbles up from the ocean floor? The trunk! And the bottle with Gerda’s note! Anna and Kristoff climb out of the trunk and are reunited with Elsa. They are filled in on the situation and Anna agrees to help with the cure. Guess what no one grabs? The bottle with Gerda’s note!

(Anna in the Box)

Anna walks through Storybrooke, confused by the Land Without Magic. Meanwhile, Belle’s out of the diner and so Hook starts capturing the fairies. Blue tries to hide but Hook finds her. He apologizes while she pleads with him not to. But he vacuums her up just as everyone arrives.

(Poor Blue. They like to knock her off, don't they?)

They are horrified to find the fairies gone and the lab destroyed. Everyone wonders what happened and Emma assumes it’s Ingrid. She and the Arendellians go to find the others. Their fates are sealed. As they leave, the camera zooms in on a broken Hook hiding behind the counter. He then goes to confront Hook, who still refuses to release him. But he does let Hook know that he’s going to die soon.

(Look at that face!)

Emma finds her parents at the Sheriff’s station. David is reunited with his old friends Kristoff and “Joan.”  Anna admits it was a code name. David’s like “No kidding.” He then introduces everyone and Anna’s confused as to how Emma could be their daughter. Emma promises to explain everything once they survive the curse. Anyway, Mary Margaret tells Emma to look her and David in the cells for safety. Emma doesn’t want to do it but they insist it’s for the best. Mary Margaret hands Neal over to his sister for safekeeping.

(Siblings together)

Hook shows up and Emma hands Elsa Neal for a bit. She tells Hook she’s not good at teary goodbyes. Hook says he had to see her one last time before he tied himself to the docks. They share a kiss before Hook leaves. Emma touches her lips, like Hook did back in Neverland. But it looks like she might realize something’s wrong.

(Emma senses tingling)

Gold brings Belle to his shop and puts her in the backroom. He tells her the spell won’t effect him, so he’ll keep watch. He leaves and places a protection spell on the shop so that no one will get to Belle. She stands there, nervous.

Regina brings Henry into her office, apologizing for getting distracted from Operation Mongoose. He’s okay with that because I think Henry’s an Outlaw Queen shipper on deck. Or I could be projecting. Anyway, she tells him she loves him and not to be scared. He says he’s not. Regina wishes she had his bravery. After a hug, Regina locks him in and places a protection spell around the door.

(Mother-son hug)

Out in the hallway, Regina runs into Robin. He tells her that Marian and Roland have been taken somewhere he doesn’t know. And he’s going to chain himself up to a tree after he sees her. Regina tells him she’s going to seal herself in her vault and he asks if she wants him to come. She tells him to stay far away. Robin insists he’s not scared of her but she says he should be. She runs off.

Remember the Snow Queen? We get to see her again as the curse hits the town. Her plan is working. As the winds pick up, we see the main cast await the curse’s arrival.

(It's kinda beautiful, isn't it?)

The curse arrives in Storybrooke and it starts raining mirror shards. Emma covers Neal against the onslaught while Anna and Elsa embrace. Elsa covers her eyes even though she is immune. Anna watches Kristoff as the shards hit his eyes. In their cells, the shards hit Mary Margaret and David. We see their eyes ice over and they release their hands. The two glare at each other as the curse takes effect.

(This moment was terrifying)

Things are about to get dangerous in Storybrooke. How are people going to behave under the curse? Will Ingrid get the family she feels she deserves? Will the Savior save the day again? Or will it take a True Love’s Kiss? If so—who has to pucker up? Find out next week!

Next time: Everyone’s under a curse! The return of the Evil Queen! Snow vs. Regina!

Screen caps from here.