OUAT: Hellbound

Last time on “Once:” The Ringwraith Convention haunted Storybrooke as our heroes tried to find Captain Hook. They learned that he intended to send them to the Underworld, allowing the Ringwraith Convention to come back to life as Dark Ones. Regina tried to reason with him while Emma prepared to sacrifice herself to save everyone.

Meanwhile, Zelena was going to use the fact everyone was about to go to hell as a way to get sole custody of Peanut. Robin and Regina worked together and Regina banished Zelena back to Oz.

In the flashbacks, the Evil Queen tested Hook by insisting that he kill the father who abandoned him as a child. Hook and Papa Jones had a heart-to-heart where Papa Jones insisted he’s changed. So Hook decided to fake Papa Jones’ death, and to squirrel him and the son Papa Jones now has out of the country. But when Hook learned that his new brother shares the same name as his late brother, he saw red and killed Papa Jones.

Back in Storybrooke, the heroes prepared to go to hell. Gold sent Belle on a world adventure, the Charmings had one more family dinner and Outlaw Queen actually made provisions for their children. Emma tried to talk sense into Hook and he it worked. He took in all the darkness and asked Emma to kill him with Excalibur. She did so, freeing herself from being the Dark One.

When Emma discovered that Gold was the Dark One again, she blackmailed him into taking her to the Underworld so she could rescue Hook. Everyone else decided to come along for the ride because their names are in the credits.

Which brings us to now…


The yellow bug in an abandoned carnival. Emma sits up, looking around to find Neal is with her. Hey, everyone, look! They actually brought Neal back! 

(Hi, Michael Raymond-James)

She explains that she’s on her way to the Underworld to rescue Hook and apologizes for not being strong enough to do the same for him. He tells her that he’s not in the Underworld because it’s a place for people with unfinished business. While I find it hard to believe that Neal has no unfinished business, at least he’s in a better place. He warns her not to go, that it’s dangerous but she’s determined. They talk about Henry for a bit before having a sweet goodbye.

(Aww)

Emma wakes up at the bottom of the boat. Aww, that’s the first rest she’s gotten in a season. Gold leads them down the creepiest dock ever as they enter the Underworld.

Everything takes on a red tint as we enter…Storybrooke? Except with the clock tower broken and fallen in the middle of Main Street. Regina is freaked out but Emma is focused on getting Hook. Gold warns them that the place is full of dead people, many of who were there because of our heroes. To prove his point, Cruella’s car drives by. Clearly Emma hasn’t seen too many horror films because she still suggests splitting up, which they do. As Regina passes by a man spray painting “Closed” on a building, he turns and meets her eye.

(This is a bit creepy)

We flashback to the Enchanted Forest as the Evil Queen storms into a village. One woman darts forward, holding a pie. She wishes the queen a happy birthday and holds it out to Regina. She dips her finger into it, trying it. She notes it’s blueberry and that while it’s good, she prefers apple.

(That has to be sin)

But actually there’s only one thing Regina wants for her birthday—Snow White’s head on a platter. She knows her stepdaughter has been hanging around the village and wants them to give her up. The man who had been giving Regina the evil eye steps forward, asking what they will get in return. She says death will be quick rather than slow, killing him.

Snow pops up behind her, telling her it’s time to end this. Charmings and the dwarfs show up as Regina prepares a fireball. She exchanges some words with Snow White before blowing out her fireball. Regina tells Snow that she’s lucky it’s her birthday and she’s feeling benevolent. Then she poofs herself out.

Regina arrives back at her palace, where her father is waiting. Let’s all say hi to Henry, Sr. He begs his daughter to forget her quest for vengeance because that’s what her mother would want. Henry wants Regina to be her own person and to find her happiness. She’s still convinced it’s a dead Snow White.

(Hello, Henry!)

The man who had been giving Regina the evil eye walks into the Mayor’s office. He reports to someone that “she’s” here. The chair turns around to reveal CORA MILLS! (Yeah, we all knew she was coming back. She was in a lot of promos and Barbara Hershey’s return was announced). She smiles and thanks the man.

(Cora!) 

Mary Margaret enters Granny’s and finds the Blind Witch behind the counter. She takes a deep whiff and realizes she’s talking with Snow White. Giddy, she offers her gingerbread or children. She then says she’s kidding but that the gingerbread is pretty good. Mary Margaret asks if she’s seen a friend of hers—dark hair, hook for a hand. The Blind Witch knows she’s talking about Hook but he hasn’t been there yet.

(Welcome back, Emma Caulfield!)

The door opens and David enters. Mary Margaret greets him and he kisses her. When he pulls away, he says that now knows why his brother loves her. Yep, it’s not David but James! She recoils and he grabs his order, giving her a message to give to David: There’s a new sheriff in town.

(Either way, Josh Dallas gets to kiss his wife)

James goes off as David enters. He asks if that was his brother and she says it was, but doesn’t repeat his warning. She asks if they found anything and Emma says they looked everywhere. She grows worried that Hook didn’t have any unfinished business. Gold says he was a Dark One when he died so he definitely has unfinished business. He tells them that they’re going to do things his way so they don’t spend too long in the Underworld and leaves.

Henry emerges from the back and comes up to Emma. She notices he has a key—the one to room 8. It had been Neal’s room back in Storybrooke. Henry admits he went looking for his father. She tells him that Neal’s not there and that he’s in a better place. Henry asks her how she can be so sure and she tells him she just knows. Because I guess he’d feel bad that Neal appeared to her and not him in a strange dream?

(Swan Believer)

Robin and Regina head down a street, noting how much it looks like Storybrooke. She says she made the town based on the Dark Curse, so maybe its Author based it on the Underworld? Her musings are interrupted by the Creepy Man, who has come to fetch her.

(Behold, Creepy Guy!)

In the Enchanted Forest, Regina is picking petals off a flower. But instead of “He loves me, he loves me not,” she listing all the reasons she hates Snow White. Including her band of sweaty children. Henry says they’re called dwarfs but she doesn’t care. She storms off and he sighs, asking for the Magic Mirror. Let’s all say hi to Giancarlo Esposito! Anyway, the mirror connects Henry with Cora, who is already the Queen of Hearts in Wonderland. 

(Talk about your long-distance call)

She’s also well aware it’s Regina’s birthday. Henry says Regina is too focused on getting revenge on Snow White and isn’t happy. So Cora tells him to get Snow’s heart. He realizes it was futile and walks off. But then Cora is able to come through the mirror and is back in the Enchanted Forest.

If she could do that, why didn’t she do that before? Or is that how she got there for the events of “Mother”?

Regina enters her office and finds her mother there. Cora smiles and hugs her daughter. She then says that Regina must leave immediately, that there will be consequences if she stays in the Underworld. She’s made arrangements for a boat to take Regina back to Storybrooke. Cora tells her daughter to take Henry and her archer and leave. (So Cora knows about Robin. Hmm…) Regina says she came to help Emma and won’t abandon her family. Cora sighs and says that if Regina doesn’t leave, her father will suffer.

(Mother-daughter reunion)

Cora takes Regina to a chasm in the Underworld. Fire seems to flow in a river underneath a stone ledge. The Creepy Man stands there and Cora shows Regina the fate that awaits Henry, Sr. Fire leaps up and consumes the man, dragging him down into the river. Regina gasps that her mother killed him and Cora’s like “We’re all dead except you and your friends, remember?” She says there are fates worse than death, though, so Regina needs to leave and save her father.

Gold stands outside his shop in the Underworld and heads in, spotting chip in the store. I guess a teacup can have unfinished business? Anyway, it sparks a memory for Gold, letting us have Belle’s appearance in the 100th episode. It’s him telling her that he’s taking everyone to the Underworld. She asks him why and he replies it’s because he’s the only one who left and came back. Belle still doesn’t know why he has to go with them and he pretends to be a hero so he doesn’t have to admit the truth—he’s really the Dark One again and Emma’s blackmailing him.

(Belle knows something is up. You can just tell)

He leaves the memory and spots his old doll. It unnerves him but he heads straight for the safe. However, Daddy Dearest himself stops Gold. Yep, as we all knew, everyone’s favorite kidnapper, Peter Pan, is back. And Robbie Kay seems even more menacing. Even though he’s trying to reconnect with his son, every word out of Pan’s mouth sounds like a threat.

(Ahh, this little jerk again)

Gold refuses to have anything further to do with his father. He just wants to help the others find Hook and then get the hell out of…well…Hell. Pan offers Gold the thing he was looking for, free of charge. But he anticipates Gold will be coming back. Gold grabs the vial and leaves.

In Granny’s, Regina informs the others about her mother’s offer. Robin and Henry aren’t too sure about it, Mary Margaret and David are surprised she would leave and Emma thinks it’s a great idea. She thinks it would be better if those three head back. Then she wouldn’t have to worry about anymore people getting hurt in her quest to find Hook. Especially as it’s taking forever to find him.

Gold enters and says he has a way to make the search quicker. He holds up the Draught of Sinead, saying all Emma has to do is sprinkle it on Hook’s grave and ask him where he is. Emma’s like “His grave?” Gold explains everyone in the Underworld has one. So they all agree to go to the cemetery.

(I guess the Merida episode wasn't entirely pointless)

Back in the Enchanted Forest, Henry meets with Snow White. He says he wants to end the bad blood between her and Regina. She seems interested, allowing Henry to get close enough…to rip out her heart! It’s not Henry at all but Cora. Henry arrives and is horrified to see his wife. As well as what she’s done. Cora uses Snow’s heart to send her away, telling her to forget this happened. Cora leaves with the heart, ready to give Regina what she always wanted.

(Two Henrys?)

In the cemetery, they find Hook’s grave—marked Killian Jones. She pours the Draught of Sinead on it. After a few seconds of waiting, Hook starts to blink into focus. And he’s absolutely bloodied and bruised, one eye swollen shut. Regina immediately blocks Henry’s view and as Emma tries to communicate with Hook, we see the boy’s head is buried in Robin’s shoulder to avoid the sight. Hook flickers out of view and Emma worries that he doesn’t know she came for him. Her parents assure her and then Emma gives the draught to Regina to use.

(I'd do the same thing, Henry)

We cut to a cake with a candle on top. Regina glares at it as her court watches terrified along the wall. Only her Jester braves it, telling her to make a wish and blow out the candle. She does so and he asks her what she wished for. She said it didn’t come true because he’s still a terrible Jester. And then she kills him before yelling that she just wants the party to end.

(Regina lit her own candle with just her glare)

Cora says she has to open her presents first and she can start with hers. Regina is surprised to see her mother but Cora’s like “I’ll explain later. Open the gift.” Regina seems nervous and you can imagine that Cora’s presents in the past probably were things she thought Regina wanted but not anywhere near accurate.

Regina opens this present and discovers the heart inside. She’s amazed and Cora confirms it’s Snow White’s. With a wave of her hand, Snow appears in a mirror. She’s drinking at a tavern with the dwarfs and Charming, toasting Regina on her birthday. Regina begins to squeeze the heart and Snow becomes distressed, clawing at her shirt. Charming grows concerned as it appears Snow is having difficulty breathing. Regina squeezes harder…but all that happens is that Jiminy Cricket jumps out of Snow’s shirt.

I…I don’t even want to know what Jiminy was doing down there.

I miss Raphael Sbarge, though.

Angered, Regina demands to know who the heart really belongs to. She crushes it and one of her guards keels over. Everyone flees as Cora tries to figure out what happened. Henry shows up to reveal that he switched the hearts. Regina asks for some time alone with her father.

Henry explains that he just wants her to be happy but that killing Snow isn’t the way. Regina, though, is convinced it is and she can’t have her father interfering anymore. So she uses her magic to shrink him, putting him in the box instead. As she closes the lid, she holds it close with a pained expression.

(Poor Henry)

In the cemetery, Regina pours the draught over her father’s grave. When Henry appears, she can’t even look him in the eyes. She apologizes over and over as she cries. Henry takes her in his arms, telling her  that he forgives her because he’s her father and he loves her. He says that he has plenty of unfinished business and he’s not sure which one is keeping him there. Regina mentions what Cora told her and he tells her to stay with her friends, not let Cora control her life. He tells her that it doesn’t matter what happens to him.

(Father-daughter reunion)

Regina returns to her bedroom and reveals to Cora she put her father in the box. She also tells Cora that she’s sending her back to Wonderland and that she’s enchanted the mirror so Cora can’t return. Cora protests it but the magic pulls her in. So the last thing she can do is take the box with Henry from Regina, pulling him into Wonderland with her before Regina can stop her. A devastated Regina is left to grieve in her room.

(Why try to run in that dress instead of using her own magic?)

Regina and Henry her son race into the cavern to see that her mother has Henry Sr. on the ledge. Cora says that since Regina didn’t leave, Henry Sr. must pay the price. Regina pleads with her mother as Cora once again convinces her to leave. In the midst of all this, Henry tells Cora to leave Regina alone and encourages his daughter to be true to herself. Regina does so and the fire recedes from trying to consume Henry Sr.

Cora vanishes as a bright light erupts across the chasm. The ledge turns into a bridge, leading into…the Land Before Time? I don’t know, it’s hard to tell. Henry smiles and reveals that it’s apparently “Someplace Better.” I always thought heaven would have more clouds.

Henry says Regina was his unfinished business, finally standing up to Cora and making sure Regina became the woman he always knew she was. At this point, the two Henrys met and I got a little choked up. Tony Perez’s acting when Henry Sr. learned he had a grandson whom Regina named after him. Henry Jr. thanks his grandfather for believing in her the way he does and Henry Sr. thanks his grandson for being there for her now that he can’t be.

(Look how happy he is!)

With that, Henry Sr. walks into the light.

Regina and Henry return to the others, assuring them everything is fine. So the quest to find Hook presses on, though Gold is not thrilled to find their stay in the Underworld extended. He storms off as Henry dubs their mission “Operation Firebird.” Everyone else walks down Main Street. Regina pauses, looking at the clock. It moves one minute and she smiles before joining the others.

(Look at that smile!)

Down below the library, we see the lair of Hades. He rests in a chair as someone gives him a pedicure. Cora stands before him and he reveals that every time the clock moves, a new soul has left his domain. And he doesn’t like when that happens. Cora was supposed to get Regina out of the Underworld and she failed. So now she has to pay the price—Hades turns her back into the Miller’s daughter. He orders her to deliver flour and she says he promised to help them all before leaving. Hades laughs and you know he never meant to keep that promise.

(Behold the God of the Dead)

So that was the 100th episode! It was nice to see the Evil Queen again. You can tell Lana Parrilla always has so much fun playing her. And it was nice to see more of Regina’s dynamics with her mother and father. It was nice to get resolution of the fact Regina killed her father and the acting was amazing.

Greg Germann as Hades is pretty great so far. He has a good menacing quality to him. It’s going to be fun to watch him over the next eleven episodes.

Next time: A Snow centric episode! She has an old friend in the Underworld who might be able to help them. 

Screen caps from here.