OUAT: Dark Hook May Be the Worse Villain Yet

Last time on “Once:” We took a side trip to Dun Broch for a little trip with Merida, Mulan and Red that really had no bearing on the current plot and killed the momentum.

Last time on the other episode of “Once:” Emma rescues Merlin from Arthur’s control when he and Zelena make the miscalculated step of threatening her loved ones. Hook’s belief in them and their future helps her light the Flame of Prometheus. But when a wound he suffered from Excalibur proves to be fatal, Emma sacrifices everything to save Hook.

In Storybrooke, Zelena’s pregnancy was accelerated and she gave birth to a daughter. It was feared Emma would use the baby to destroy the light but she actually wanted to capture Zelena. She planned to put the darkness in Zelena and kill her. Hook and Zelena escaped as the Nolans and Regina tried to stop Emma. Zelena revealed Emma’s deep dark secret—the way she saved Hook? She turned him into a Dark One too.

What a twist!

We open where we left off in Episode 8, with Emma frozen with squid ink and Dark!Hook ready to burn Storybrooke, it seems. He works with Zelena and she uses her cuff on Emma before they blow that popsicle stand, despite Emma begging Hook to listen to her and to let her help him. But Hook is having none of it. Not when she turned him into the one thing he detested most of all:

The Dark One

(Zelena is enjoying this)

Back in the Enchanted Forest, Hook ends up in the Dark One Vault and is covered with the black goo of evil. We see clips of every time the Dark One wronged him and he emerges from the vault to see…Rumpelstiltskin AKA Dark One Clippy.

(That's terrifying)

He tries to help Hook adjust to being the Dark One but Hook is having none of it. Especially as he looks as Rumpelstiltskin. Or “The Crocodile” as he keeps calling him. But Dark One Clippy tells Hook he can finally do what he’s always wanted—get his revenge against Rumpelstiltskin. Hook looks intrigued.

I guess either with Emma cuffed or Hook running off with Excalibur freed the Nolans and Regina. They storm the house and start looking for Emma. Mary Margaret finds her daughter on the couch, looking zoned out. She checks on Emma before calling for help.

(Mary Margaret is very disappointed in her daughter)

As David continues to search the perimeter, Mary Margaret makes some tea while Regina takes stock of the situation. Namely, that Hook is also a Dark One. Emma says she had a plan to fix everything and says that Regina’s life would be so much better without Zelena. While true, Regina reminds her that killing Zelena isn’t the way to go. She and Mary Margaret wonder why she didn’t let them help her. Emma says she felt it was better to separate herself but when she did that, she didn’t have anyone to counsel her or tell her she was being stupid. Regina is more than happy to tell her she’s being stupid now.

Mary Margaret tells Emma that they need their memories from Camelot. Maybe it will help them figure out what Hook is going to do next. Emma agrees but David comes in to tell them that all the dreamcatchers are gone. Regina is more concerned then ever.

Hook is visiting Rumbelle. He tells Gold that he wants his revenge—Gold’s hand for Hook’s missing appendage, his head for Milah, and his life for Emma. Unless Gold can kill him first. Gold points out Dark Ones don’t die but Hook reveals he has Excalibur. So he challenges Gold to a duel on the Jolly Roger, where it all began.

(Hook apparently does impressions)

Gold reports all of this to the heroes at their powwow at Emma’s house. They don’t think he should duel Hook but he wants to. Wants to settle things between them. Emma wants to help but they need to take the cuff off her. However, no one seems willing to do that. Gee, wonder why?

(Most of the heroes...and Gold)

Henry especially doesn’t trust her, which hurts Emma. She says he’s forgiven Regina and Gold, who look a bit uncomfortable. Henry points out that they’ve repented for their crimes (to which I give an “eh” for Gold. Regina, yes). Emma, though, hasn’t. So he has no reason to trust her.

We return to the Enchanted Forest/Camelot. Everyone goes to investigate at the Dark One Vault but they realize Hook is not there. So they have to go searching for him. Merlin in particular wants to get him back so they can destroy the darkness from Captain Swan. Lancelot is back and offers to get help from his mother. He then leaves. 

(Nice to see you again, Lancelot!)

As they go to find Hook, Charming and Snow have a conversation. He wonders if Hook is worth it and Snow reminds him that their daughter loves him. Charming is still not sure Emma should’ve done what she did and Snow reminds him they share a heart. So they can’t judge drastic measures. They need to help their daughter. Charming can support that.

Meanwhile, Hook finally changes his outfit and asks Dark One Clippy how he can get revenge on Gold when he’s back in Storybrooke. Dark One Clippy suggests a Dark Curse. Hook, though, is against it because it would mean crushing Emma’s heart. Despite the fact she turned him into a Dark One, Hook still loves her. As Dark One Clippy suggests there’s a loophole, Emma shows up.

Emma is relieved to see Hook is alive. But he’s not happy with how she did it. She said she wasn’t going to lose him and that’s why she tethered him to Excalibur. Hook asks where it is and she lies, saying it disappeared after he did. Dark One Clippy notes that it’s convenient and Emma tells him to shut up. Hook asks if she can still see him and Dark One Clippy says she can because she’s still a Dark One. Even if he thinks she’s ineffectual.

(Which she kinda is)

Emma pleads with Hook to stop listening to Dark One Clippy. To remember the future they wanted—them together, happy in the house in Storybrooke. She tells him they can still have it, that they can still be together. As Dark One Clippy disappears, Emma and Hook share a kiss.

(Reunited)

Everyone divvies up responsibilities and heads out, leaving Emma behind. As they leave, Gold stops Belle for a moment. He says he doesn’t deserve a second chance but is asking for one anyway. If he survives the duel with Hook, he tells her he’ll be waiting by where they got married. If she meets him there, he’ll know she wants another go at their relationship. If she doesn’t, he’ll understand and will wish her only the best. Belle understands and wishes him luck in his fight.

(Belle's conflicted)

We cut to Storybrooke Mercy General Whatever. Zelena finally decides she should go see her daughter and she storms the maternity ward. Nurse Ratchet tries to stop her but she is no match for Zelena’s magic. She is tossed aside as Zelena approaches the nursery. She looks in and finds the crib marked “Baby Hood” empty.

Can I say that I love the fact they call Peanut “Baby Hood”?

Regina is there as well and she says they weren’t going to let Zelena take the baby. Zelena argues that it’s her daughter and Regina reminds her that Peanut is also Robin’s. And that Peanut is there because Zelena deceived and violated Robin in the worst way possible, which is pretty much the show acknowledging that Robin was raped without saying the word “rape.” Zelena pauses, smiles and asks if Regina is complimenting her. Regina realizes something is really wrong with her sister and the audience realizes that she should probably be kept far, far away from Peanut.

Meanwhile, back at Regina’s, Merida is watching her. She has an arrow trained on her but Emma is going anywhere. She just lays on the couch as Merida rants at her. Namely, Merida wants to put an arrow or two in Emma as revenge for what happened to her so far. But someone startles her and her arrow goes rogue.

(Nice save)

Hook catches it and Emma sits up as he knocks out Merida. He makes a comment about the heroes but Emma says he’s there because he loves her. He does still love her but the anger is so much more prevalent. He says that by tethering him to the sword, she opened his eyes. Hook says he now sees Emma for what she’s always been—a pretty blonde distraction.

Emma pushes past her breaking heart and insists that Hook doesn’t mean that. She also says that whatever deal he made with the Dark One for revenge isn’t worth it. But Hook disagrees. He says he’ll have his revenge on the Crocodile and her. She tries to tell him again that everything she did was for him and he says that she always ends up pushing people away. He tells her that she ruins her life and that she’ll always be an orphan.

Harsh, Hook.

We return to the Captain Swan kiss. Emma parts to get things ready for their quest. When she leaves, Hook starts to hear voices in his head. Dark One Clippy returns to tell him that it is the sword calling to the dagger. He says that means that Excalibur is near and that Emma is lying about it having disappeared. Hook doesn’t want to believe him but Dark One Clippy keeps insisting it must be so.

Emma returns and tells Hook to stop listening to him. But he asks if she has Excalibur. Emma comes clean and admits she does but that she was afraid he’d want it. He grows angry with her as she pleads with him to let her help him. Hook reminds her that he’s always supported her and stopped everyone from using the dagger on her because he believed in her. But she doesn’t believe in him, so why should he fight the darkness? As he disappears in a cloud of red smoke, Emma looks close to tears.

(I like the red smoke)

Gold prepares for the duel in his shop when Emma pops in. She returns the squid ink she took, asking Gold to keep Hook occupied long enough so she can steal back her dreamcatchers. Gold puts it in his safe and says that he’s going to fight Hook honorably. And he’s going to win. Emma thinks he’s on a suicide mission. Gold doesn’t correct her but does offer her some advice. He tells her that her stakes are higher than his and that she should stop being a lone wolf. Emma says she’s confident she can stop Hook. Gold tells her that confidence is great at starting fights but not finishing them.

(Gold's dropping some wisdom)

Meanwhile, Regina leads Zelena up to the Charmings’ loft. And it’s at this point my stomach drops into my stomach. They aren’t going to do what I think they’re going to do, are they? And is Robin living with the Charmings? Because Zelena found him there in the first episode and now he’s there. If they were trying to hide him, I would think the vault would be better. But someone also pointed out that the Charmings’ probably still have all of Regina’s protections spells on their place. I guess what I’m saying is—I want to know more about Robin, show! Is he living with Regina or not?

Zelena makes a snarky comment about having sex with her rape victim and really show? One step forward, two steps back it seems. Regina controls her rage as Robin reminds her that they talked about this. You know what would’ve been nice? If we could’ve seen this. Outlaw Queen was handed a rather crappy plotline but it could’ve been saved if they let Lana Parrilla and Sean Maguire bring all the feelings Regina and Robin to life. To let us see the anguish and conflict these two must be experiencing.

THROW MY SHIP A BONE ADAM AND EDDY! LET THEM DO SOMETHING! LANA AND SEAN ARE AMAZING ACTORS AND COULD KILL IT!

Sorry. I have strong Outlaw Queen feels. I am Outlaw Queen trash. But I’ll return us to our regular recap.

Anyway, Regina talks about how she was a lot worse than Zelena but she changed because of Henry. She hopes her sister will also want to change once she experiences the unconditional love between parent and child.

Okay, I’m sorry. But I have a lot of feels about this. And since this my blog, you get to hear them all. You can go get a snack now, scroll down and resume the recap later. I’ll understand. I just have to get them off my chest.

There’s a BIG different between where Regina was when she became a mother and where Zelena is now as she becomes a mother. Zelena has become a mother for two reasons—to have someone who will love her and to be a perpetual pain in her sister’s ass. After giving birth, Zelena has shown little interest in her daughter until now. Her first comments were to hurt her sister, not express wonder at her daughter. When she was freed, she didn’t go right to the hospital. No, she stayed at Emma’s to cause trouble. Only once she was certain there would be enough chaos going on did she finally think to see her daughter.

Now, let’s look at Regina, shall we? She wanted a child because she wanted someone to share her life with, to bake cookies for and most of all, for her to love. Not for someone to love her. After all, during the difficult adjustment period between her and baby!Henry, she never begged him to love her. She wanted to make him happy, to soothe him. Regina took a potion to forget that he was born from the one person who could undo the life she made for herself because she loved him and he was her son.

That love led to her redemption. Because she wanted to be a better person for her son. She loved him so much, it inspired her to change. And I don’t think Zelena is at that point. I don’t think Zelena will ever reach that point. So just letting her have time with Peanut is not going to change anything.

Okay, rant’s over.

For now.

I’ll return you to our regularly scheduled recap.

Anyway, Robin says that despite his and Regina’s best instincts they are going to let Zelena have a relationship with Peanut. But she will only be able to see the baby on their terms—they will have to be present and Zelena will have to behave herself. Robin lets her hold Peanut and I felt sick. Listen to your instincts, OQ. And Regina, grab that baby back from Zelena. She is not to be trusted with one!

Save Peanut.

(Same, Regina. Same)

Emma seems to take Gold’s advice as she sneaks into the library where her family is doing research. She pulls Henry aside and he’s surprised to see she escaped the house. Emma says she’s not going to ask him to remove the cuff and needs his helps. She says that Hook took her memories as well as the other dreamcatchers, so she figures she must know something as well. She wants to get the dreamcatchers back so they can figure it out. Emma says Henry has a knack for breaking spells. He says they can use a locator spell and Emma dubs this “Operation Cobra Part II.”

(Woman on a mission)

In the Enchanted Forest/Camelot (?), Emma stands in the field of roses and summons Hook with Excalibur. Though it looks like it physically pains her to do so, Hook is not pleased to be summoned. He’s also still not pleased by the whole situation in general. He reminds her that the last time he was being controlled by a Dark One, Rumple nearly killed him and her. She remembers.

(Emo!Hook)

Emma tells him that everyone she loves abandons her. Hook reminds her that he didn’t and Emma says that’s why she couldn’t let him go. She tells him that he knows when she gets scared, she puts up walls and pushes people away. But she’s not going to do that. She’s not going to control him and holds out Excalibur for him to take. He does and she promises to get rid of the darkness. She tells him she loves him. He pauses, saying he’s usually the one who says it first. Hook tells her he loves her and they share a kiss.

(Aww)

We return to the Jolly Roger. Gold shows up and Hook is impressed. He heals Gold’s leg to ensure a fair fight. They begin their duel, battling across the deck of the Jolly Roger while exchanging barbs. Hook gets a good slice in at Gold and should we be worried? You can’t heal a wound inflicted by Excalibur.

(Hook is fine form)

Back in the Enchanted Forest/Camelot, Hook and Emma return to Granny’s. Regina, Snow and Charming are outside to greet them, Regina explaining they had looked everywhere for them. Snow and Charming are a bit disturbed by their daughter’s attire but she assures them it’s better than it looks. She and Hook want to get the darkness out and Hook heads in when David informs them that Merlin is in the diner.

Merlin is leaving his message when Hook enters, locking the door. He tells Merlin that it’s too little, too late. For he wants to get his revenge, but he needs to get to Storybrooke. Merlin notes he needs to crush the heart of the thing he loves most to cast it. Hook says he has a way to do that. Dark One Clippy takes on the form of Nimue and she tells Merlin that she is all Dark Ones. And that he is still the thing she loves most. So when Hook crushes Merlin’s heart, it will really be her so it’ll totally count.

…

That’s totally cheating, writers.

Emma and Henry locate all the dream catchers in the clock tower. She wonders why he would leave them some place they could be so easily found…until she reaches for one. He had enchanted them, knowing she wouldn’t have magic. Henry though reveals he took something from Gold’s shop that will allow him to remove the cuff. He agrees to use it because Emma has shown that she’s willing to head back to the light. Henry removes the cuff and tells Emma to save the day.

(Operation Cobra!)

In the Enchanted Forest/Granny’s, Emma storms in and sees Hook holding Merlin’s heart. She says he played her and he doesn’t deny it. He says that after she lied about Excalibur, all bets were off. He’s going to make sure no one can control him again and orders Excalibur back to its stone. Emma turns to Nimue and asks if she’s really going to let Hook do this. Nimue says all Dark Ones have an ulterior motive and she’s no difference. Emma wants to know what Nimue wants and Nimue says Emma knows—all Dark Ones want it. Whatever it is, it’s bad judging by Emma’s face. She pleads with Hook not to go through with it but he crushes Merlin’s heart anyway. As the entire fandom lets out frustrated groans that a likeable and sexy (POC) character was killed, Hook casts the Dark Curse.

(Here he lies, no one knew his worth)

Back aboard the Jolly Roger, Hook taunts Gold some more. He says he’s impressed that Gold lasted so long and says that if he had done this back in the Enchanted Forest, Hook might have given him Milah back. Gold yells at him to finish him but rigging takes out Hook. Seizing his chance, Gold grabs Excalibur and gets the upper hand. Now Hook tells Gold to finish it but Gold wants Hook to live with the knowledge that he was bested by him. Hook then disappears as Gold drops Excalibur.

(Hook is at Gold's mercy)

Gold takes Excalibur as a prize and waits for Belle by the well. She does show and is happy to see he’s victorious. He’s happy to see she wants to give him a second chance. But that’s not why Belle’s there. She’s there to tell him that she’s been deceived too many times and can’t trust him right now. He vows that he’s changed and that his heart is pure now. Belle says he’s becoming the man she always knew he could be but she’s not sure she wants to be with him anymore. She says she needs to time to be by herself and figure things out. And so she walks off, leaving behind a brokenhearted Gold.

(You okay, Rumbelle shippers?)

So, in the Enchanted Forest/Camelot, Merlin’s dead and Emma apologizes. She makes his body disappear before turning back to Hook. He says she can’t stop a Dark Curse and she replies that she can make him forget why he cast it. She knocks him out and takes out a dream catcher, making him forget that he was a Dark One all together as Dark One Clippy watches. She kisses Hook and says that when he wakes up, he’ll be the man she loves and the man who loves her.

Dark One Clippy reminds her that there’s more she has to do. She poofs the others into Granny’s, all knocked out, and removes their memories. After putting the cuff back on Zelena, she puts the dreamcatcher into the Dark Curse to serve as a forgetting spell. Dark One Clippy wonders if she’ll like the darkness it’ll bring her.

Emma returns and holds Hook as they are engulfed in the familiar purple smoke of the Dark Curse. It flows through Camelot, engulfing Merida who is there for…revenge? I guess? In the palace, Arthur wonders why Excalibur is suddenly back but his wife is more focused on the giant purple cloud engulfing their kingdom. Arthur recognizes it and holds her as he tells her very dark magic is coming.

(Throwback to Snowing in the premiere?)

In Storybrooke, Emma gathers everyone in Regina’s office and gives them the dreamcatchers with their memories. They get them back and Robin immediately brings his hand to his side. (Nice move by Sean Maguire). Everyone’s demeanor toward Emma changes and she begs them to help her stop Hook.

(Wrong side, Robin)

Hook and Dark One Clippy stands on the shores of the lake. Dark One Clippy reveals that Hook was okay with losing the duel because it was never about killing Gold. It was about getting his blood. Gold had died and come back, which makes him special. His blood can be used to open a portal to the Underworld, which exists on the lake. Hook notes that the portal could only be opened when the moon reached its zenith but Dark One Clippy says that was only for the Fury. The portal is always there and can always be opened. That’s…alarming.

Dipping his blood covered hook in the lake, it sends ripples across the water as fog rolls in. The boat returns, laden with Dark Ones. Nimue wades to shore and Hook helps her out of the lake. She tells them the others are there and are ready to proceed with their plan. Hook welcomes her to Storybrooke.

That’s Regina’s line, Hook.

(Look down, look down, don't look them in the eye...)

So could one make the argument that maybe Emma never was fully the Dark One? She got the outfit but never the mindset. Emma always fought to remain the hero she was. So I don’t think we really saw the Dark!Emma we were promised at all. Yes, she made some mistakes and pushed the people she loved away but that’s Emma. We’ve seen her do it before. I feel there was so much more potential and for whatever reasons, the writers truly didn’t let Emma be dark.

Hook, though, is terrifying. He seems to have nothing to lose and is enjoying being dark again. This is a Dark One.

Next time: Can the heroes stop Hook’s evil plan?  

Screen caps from here.