OUAT: No One Mourns the Wicked

I don’t think I’ve recapped this since the season premiere back in 2011! But I feel like I’ve neglected this blog as of late. The tumblr I created for this blog is more active than this place! So I’ve decided to start recapping more. And I’ve decided to use Wicked song titles…even if they don’t exactly fit.

We open in the Enchanted Forest. Prince Philip rides up to a waiting Princess Aurora. They have a sweet reunion where Aurora says she’s hungry. Philip teases her about always being hungry and that’s because Aurora is pregnant! This cute Moment of Matrimony is interrupted by a giant purple cloud overtaking the Enchanted Forest. Philip recognizes it as magic and he and Aurora take cover. When the cloud dissipates they look up to find the denizens of Storybrooke standing there. Aurora recognizes Snow and rushes to ask her what is going on. “We’re back,” Snow says. And I was trying to figure out why Charming had blood on his shirt when it hit me—he was stabbed before the curse sent everyone to Storybrooke. Nice continuity, show!


Then we go to New York, one year later. Emma’s on a date! With Christopher Gorham!!! I still see adorkable Henry from Ugly Betty whenever I see him. And he is cute with Emma. He asks how Henry’s science project went and she says it went well before thanking him for his help. The dinner continues, Gorham is still adorkable, Emma seems happy and then Gorham (who is playing a character called Walsh) excuses himself. Hook slides into his place. Emma is none too thrilled to see him. He tries to convince her to listen to him but she’s having none of it. She chases him away as Gorham returns. With dessert!

Emma protests, saying she’s too full for dessert. Gorham tells of their first date, how all Emma ate—at that very restaurant—was an ice cream sundae. Emma protests that it was because she was nervous. Gorham’s like “Just look at the damn plate” and this is obviously a proposal set up. Sure enough, there’s a diamond ring on the plate! So what’s Emma’s response?

We’ll find out after our trip to the Enchanted Forest! Philip and Aurora confirm that while Charming and Snow’s castle did not survive the curse, Regina’s did. Everyone seems surprised, which even Regina notices. She’s like “I protected my own castle, duh.” So everyone decides to make for the castle…except Hook. He decides to bail and go find his ship. As everyone makes their preparations, Philip and Aurora have a private chat. She says they have to tell “her” but Philip says they can’t turn the others over. But Aurora reminds them they have an unborn child to think about and Aurora doesn’t want “her” to take it out on their baby. And Aurora knows about that. She says they have no choice. How mysterious!

Except we totally know who “she” is because ABC has been promoting the Wicked Witch like no one’s business.

Emma leaves the restaurant, Gorham close behind. She hasn’t responded to his proposal, saying she needs more time. After all, they’ve only known each other 8 months. But Gorham is understanding, willing to wait. How sweet!

Returning home, Henry asks if she said yes. Emma wonders how he knew. Henry deduced it from the fact Gorham took her to the place where they had their first date. Emma reveals she didn’t give him an answer yet. Henry pretty much tells his mom to stop worrying and just trust her heart. Emma’s like “Go to bed, kid.”

Back in the Enchanted Forest, the group journeys toward Regina’s castle. Except they lost Regina. Most are ready to believe the worst, but Snow goes to find her stepmother. She finds Regina burying her own heart. Like mother, like daughter. Losing Henry hurts too much. But Snow talks her out of it. Mostly by using Henry. Regina sticks the heart back into her chest and agrees to join the group. But before she and Snow can rejoin the others, something swoops down from the sky! I won’t play coy with you because we all realized it was a flying monkey even if the show made sure not to show it clearly as if we wouldn’t guess what it was despite ABC’s campaign about the Wicked Witch of the West.

Regina and Snow try to fight it off but need some help. And who gives it to them? A certain outlaw who robs from the rich to give to the poor. For those who don’t know why this is so important, earlier in the season we learned that Robin Hood is Regina’s second chance at true love and happily ever after. She just doesn’t know it because she was too scared to go inside the tavern. And now they are meeting face-to-face.

Excuse me while I go squee again.

We return to New York, to Central Park. Emma meets Hook, who tries to convince her that Storybrooke is real and that it needs her help. He tells her that Henry has some pictures that she should develop, that they’ll prove to her that what he’s talking about is real. She handcuffs and has him arrested for harassment. Some things never change.

So in the Enchanted Forest, Robin and Regina finally meet. And he meets everyone else. They continue to trek to the castle.

Emma, meanwhile, picks up Henry as well as gets his pictures developed. She sends her son up ahead of her as she looks at the pictures. Guess who is in them? People she doesn’t know, in a town called Storybrooke! The town Hook was talking about. She decides to go bail him out of jail. He is, of course, grateful as they tried to feed him baloney. (And no, I don’t think he meant “bologna”). Emma asks him how he knew about the pictures. He says he knows a lot more and has a way to help her remember. Memory potion! Emma downs it and kudos here to Jennifer Morrison’s acting. She really portrays the moment Emma remembers in her face. “Hook?”

Yes, Emma remembers it all! Hook tries to fill her in as best he can but there’s a lot he doesn’t know. If she wants answers, she’s going to have to go to Storybrooke. But first, she has to deal with Walsh. She takes him up to the roof and starts to let him down gently. But he knows about the potion. How? Well, the fact he becomes a flying monkey might be a clue. Yes, Gorham is a minion of this part of the season’s big bad. Poor Emma! Even Hook’s surprised. But no doubt happy his competition is gone.

Henry comes home and Emma explains that they have to go to Maine for one of her cases. He’s pretty okay with this. And pretty okay that Captain Hook is just Killian, his mother’s client. They get ready to leave but Emma needs to grab one thing. She walks to her closet and opens the door. Pushing other clothing aside, she pulls out her red leather jacket. Emma Swan is back.

In the Enchanted Forest, the gang arrives at Regina’s palace. Except it now looks like it is inhabited by one Wizard of Oz. Regina tries to go to it, but a force field keeps her out. She’s confused. Everyone else realizes they have to move on, to try and figure out a new way into the palace. Regina looks so dejected as they walk away.

Hook, Emma and Henry arrive back in Storybrooke. You would never know it got swallowed up by a giant purple cloud and disappeared! Hook warns Emma that people have lost their memories and he’s not sure exactly the extent of it. She thanks him for the warning and goes to Mary Margaret’s apartment.
David opens the door. Emma’s like “Hi, you probably don’t know who I am but…” David, though, recognizes her and pulls her in for a hug. He says they remember who she is and they remember saying goodbye to her and Henry. Then they woke up back in Storybrooke and a year had passed but they had no memories of it. Emma wonders how they know a year has passed. Cue Mary Margaret running to hug her daughter. A very pregnant Mary Margaret. Looks like they did decide to work in Ginnifer Goodwin’s pregnancy. Good to see.

We end in the Enchanted Forest, a year ago. A flying monkey flies into Regina’s castle. It hands something to the Wicked Witch. Turns out to be Regina’s blood from when the monkey scratched her. The Wicked Witch collects it. What she wants it for, who knows? I guess we’ll find out as the season finishes!
That was a good start to the second half of the season. Hopefully, it won’t drag like the Neverland Arc did at times in the front half. And I’m becoming obsessed with Outlaw Queen (Regina/Robin). Be prepared for more squealing.

And now to address something I’ve seen on tumblr: This Wicked Witch of the West should not be confused with the one portrayed in “Wicked.” Elphaba Thropp belongs to Gregory Maguire and the people behind the musical as their take on The Wicked Witch. It is NOT the official portrayal of The Wicked Witch and so it should not have been expected that the Wicked Witch (who we know is named Zelena) should be called “Elphaba.” Besides copyright issues, would we want her to be Elphaba? They would have to use her backstory and that’s clearly not what they wanted. I am excited to see their take on The Wicked Witch of the West.

Next time: Emma’s investigation begins and Regina comes face to face with the Wicked Witch in the Enchanted Forest.