OUAT: Twice the Darkness and a Pinch of Cute

Last time on “OUAT:” We learned about the origins of Merlin and the Dark One. Merlin drank from the Holy Grail, which gave him magic and immortality. He helped a village thrive when a young woman named Nimue asked him for help. She fell in love with him instead. He created a sword in order to get rid of his immortality but he needs one more thing. So he and Nimue go on a quest when she found the man who destroyed her village. She tried to get vengeance but it seemed she died. Except she didn’t—she had drank from the Holy Grail and became immortal. She killed the man by crushing his heart and became the Dark One.

Merlin and Emma went to get the flame but they have to summon Nimue, who has it inside of her. Nimue though encouraged Emma to give into the darkness but Emma proved stronger. She got the flame and was one step closer to being rid of the darkness. Merlin though disappeared, summoned because Arthur had Zelena bind him to Excalibur. She had betrayed the others after helping them into the palace.

In Storybrooke, Emma reforged Excalibur as the past Dark Ones celebrated.

Everyone is in trouble now.


Captain Charming Hood pay a visit to Camp Camelot, determined to get the truth out of Arthur. And for the first time since Season 3 I think, we see Robin with his bow and arrows. Yay! Hook and Robin hang back as Charming goes into Arthur’s tent. He asks him why he tried to destroy the toadstool. Arthur runs like this is Law and Order and he’s the guilty guy.

(Oh. Crap)

Hook pursues, chasing the man into the woods. He almost gets the upper hand but Arthur manages to reunite Hook with his forgotten love, Floor. Arthur taunts the pirate before raising his sword. Excalibur blocks him and he’s amazed to see it reforged. Emma fights him and sends him running away from her, saving Hook.

(Never mess with a Dark One's loved ones)

He thanks her and she tells him to not make her have to save him again. But he wants to know why she did when he rejected her on his boat. He wants to know why she keeps doing what she’s doing. Emma yells back that she’s doing it for him, which confuses him.

(Hook just wants answers)

Back in Camelot, Emma returns to Granny’s with the flame. She goes in, greeted by Granny and Henry. After revealing she was successful but that Merlin disappeared, she’s concerned to learn the others haven’t returned from getting the sword. Granny decides to lock up so they can go looking for them but as she tosses the key to Henry, the two are frozen.

(Easiest game of Monkey in the Middle ever)

Emma tries to get a reaction from them but nothing. Merlin appears and apologizes for leaving her alone. He tells her that Arthur is controlling him and has forced him to tie her family up to trees in the middle of the woods. She has to bring the dagger and the flame to them or else Arthur is going to force him to hurt her loved ones.

Uh oh.

The heroes throw Arthur in jail and Hook demands answers. However, Arthur hasn’t been faking the memory loss. Emma took his memories too. So they still don’t know what’s going on and Hook is running out of patience. Regina snaps at him, telling them they’ll get Emma back.

(Hook is pissed)

But Hook isn’t satisfied. So he goes to Gold for answers. He isn’t surprised to see him though he does have to tell Belle to put her crossbow down. She apologizes, saying she’s tense with Emma on the loose. Especially because Emma stole Gold’s store of squid ink. But one has to imagine she was also unsure about what Hook was going to do with Gold.

(Belle's ready)

Hook asks Gold what’s going on Emma’s head and why she says she’s doing everything because of him. Gold says that he became the Dark One to save his son. But then he fell deeper into the darkness and did horrible things, all believing he would atone for them once he had Baefire back. But that didn’t work out the way he planned. He says he recognizes the regret in Emma’s eyes, meaning she has something to atone for. Hook just has to figure out what it is. But Emma won’t talk to them, Hook says. So Gold suggests giving her a reason to find him. The pirate leaves Gold’s store and seems to come up with a plan.

Outside Granny’s in Camelot, Emma sits and watches the flame. Rumpelstiltskin appears to once again be the devil on her shoulder, trying to get her to act in the Dark One’s best interest. But he’s chased away by Henry, who comes out to give his mom a pep talk. He hands her a newspaper, opened to real estate section. A house is circled and Emma asks why. Henry explains it was Operation Lighthouse, that Hook wanted to find a house for them to move into once they returned to Storybrooke. He was planning for their future.

(Did Granny have a red marker in the diner?)

Also, the house he was looking at? Is the one Emma has claimed as her own back in Storybrooke. While this is definitely worth a squee, it’s all nice to know she didn’t just evict some poor family.
Emma is a bit nervous to see that Hook was planning to buy a house but Henry tells her that he was planning their future. He says that Emma has something to fight for and she realizes he’s right. She thanks him and gets ready to meet with Merlin.

She approaches Arthur, Zelena and Merlin where they’ve tied up her family in the woods. Arthur asks her to give him the flame but she wants him to let her family go first. Arthur says he doesn’t want to hurt her but Zelena does. She approaches Emma and looks ready to have some fun. 

(Emma doesn't like this)

Speaking of Zelena, she’s back in her cell in Storybrooke and reading to her unborn child. It’s also Hansel and Gretel but I don’t think it’s the version from “True North.” Especially as Zelena says it’s her favorite, so I doubt it would be so if she knew about Regina’s role in the story. Anyway, she feels a kick even though she still shouldn’t be that far along. But painful pains wrack her and she’s thrown about. She crawls to the door and begs for Nurse Ratchet to help her, promising it’s not a trick.

(How most OQers feel about this plotline)

Regina and Robin rush to Zelena’s cell. Nurse Ratchet warns them that something weird is going down before opening the door. Zelena almost falls out, very pregnant and clearly in labor. Robin looks more confused than ever, saying she’s only two months pregnant. (Which isn’t so great for OQ fans as it does mean that Robin and Marilena did sleep together only a few weeks after leaving Storybrooke). Zelena says dark magic did this and Regina asks who’s dark magic.

I’ll give you three guesses, Regina, and the first two don’t count.

(Robin's face is my new reaction shot)

Meanwhile, Hook’s taken Gold’s words to heart. He goes to the clock tower and decides to hurl himself off. Because that’s normal. Why not chant her name three times? Why go the “mortal peril” route? Good Jonas, Hook!

(Is it bad I wanted him to at least yell "Cannonball" before jumping?)

But it works. Emma uses her magic to save him and she’s not thrilled he did that again. He explains it was the only way to get her to talk to him. Hook apologizes for what he said on his ship, saying he understands the darkness. He goes through all the people he killed and got rings from. Emma asks him about the ring he gave her and Hook says it was Liam’s. He tells her that he still loves her and she says that she’ll tell him the truth.

(She looks like she needs a good cry and then a nap)

Emma takes him to her house and shows him a telescope she has set up at a window. He looks through it and notices that it can see the ocean. Emma says she remembers that he said it calmed him and he asks if that’s why she chose the house. She tells him he chose the house. Hook finds the paper and sees his handwriting on it. Hook wants to know more, to know why he was house hunting. She kisses him before he collapses in her arms. She apologizes as he passes out.

In the hospital, Zelena is rushed to a delivery room. Robin reminds her to breathe and she snaps at him that she was a fake midwife and knows what to do. They get her into a room and Blaine Debeers from iZombie shows up. Well, actually, it’s Dr. Whale but clearly David Anders dyes his hair for his role on iZombie. 

(Maybe he's really a Zombie)

He makes some off-color comments that earn him glares from Outlaw Queen before Regina makes a comment about his hair. Whale whines that Emma can change her hair and no one says boo but they give him crap for doing the same. Stop being a jerk and maybe they won’t. Zelena yells that she thought she killed him last time but he says he was hurled into a wall. But he won’t let that color his work as he delivers her baby.

Belle then comes in and Whale’s like “There are too many people in this delivery room.” Regina is like “My sister is about to deliver my soulmate’s baby in a really horrible plotline so can this wait?” Belle reveals that there is a spell to snuff out all the light magic that requires the cries of newborn. Everyone thinks that’s why Emma accelerated Zelena’s baby. Zelena pleads with her sister to take off the cuff so she can defend herself. Regina and Robin focus more on the baby and if Zelena has to be defended to save the baby, then so be it. If not…eh.

But first! Back to Camelot. Emma hands over the flame to Zelena, who opens it. She’s then trapped by some of Emma’s darkness and tied to a tree. The other heroes are impressed…until Arthur orders Merlin to kill Snow. He has no choice, sending down a vine to choke the woman. Emma fights Merlin, her gold magic colliding with his purple one. All the while, she encourages Merlin to fight against the darkness. If anyone can do it, she knows he can.

(Poor Snow)

Merlin listens to her and fights against the spell. He manages to gain control of himself just as Hook manages to get out of his bonds. Hook fights Arthur, getting nicked by Excalibur. With Merlin no longer under his control and Excalibur out of his hands, Arthur realizes he’s outnumbered. He and Zelena retreat as Merlin frees Emma’s family.

Charming embraces Snow as Emma thanks Hook for his help. She notices his cut and he says that he’s gotten worse from scratching his nose with the wrong hand. Emma heals it and kisses him. They decide to regroup at Granny’s while Merlin still has the strength to resist the sword. Merlin asks Emma to light the flame but she’s having trouble with it. Everyone’s like “You have to do it” so Emma storms out, upset.

She retreats to the well and Regina follows her. She asks if Emma is drawn to the power. Emma admits she does like it a bit and asks if it’s wrong. Regina tells her it is but that it’s human. She also says that Emma is scared about something so they need to figure out what it is. But Emma refuses to play along. Regina uses the dagger, pushing Emma to find the truth despite her resistance.

(Regina will get to the bottom of this)
(Also, Lana's hair)

The others spill out of Granny’s and aren’t thrilled to see what Regina has been doing. Mary Margaret and Hook lay into her as Emma goes off further into the woods. Hook follows her and Regina returns to the diner. Mary Margaret and David have a conversation where Mary Margaret reminds her husband not to give up.

Back at Storybrooke General, Zelena is in the midst of labor as Robin awkwardly stands in the corner looking like he would rather be anywhere but there. To be honest, it looks like Sean Maguire would be anywhere but stuck in this storyline. As Zelena berates Dr. Whale, we cut to Regina and Mary Margaret outside. Mary Margaret asks if she’s ready to meet the newest member of her family. Regina says she doesn’t know as she expected to have seven more months to prepare for the birth.

In the end, Zelena gives birth and Regina enters the room to meet Robin’s new daughter. Spoiler alert—she still doesn’t have a name. So I will follow tumblr’s lead and dub her “Peanut” until she has one. (Maybe even after). Robin rocks Peanut as Regina smiles at the new addition. Zelena makes a comment about Regina being envious, which shatters the mood. But it’s clear she did that not only to get at her sister but because she’s envious. She’s not included in that little tableau. But she’s also not clamoring to see her child. She’s focused on Regina. That’s all she sees her child as—a pawn to keep trying to destroy her sister.

Emma appears and makes a snarky comment back to Zelena. Robin pulls out a sword and can I say thank you to whoever finally decided to give Sean Maguire a sword? Because I’ve wanted it since I saw “Prince Charming.” Anyway, he holds the sword on Emma and vows that she won’t touch his daughter. Regina also steps in between father, daughter and Dark One. But Emma isn’t there for Peanut. She tells Robin to keep the kid, she’s taking the Wicked Witch. Emma disappears and now Regina has to figure out what Emma wants with her sister.

(Sean Maguire+baby+sword=Yes, Please!)

At Emma’s house, Hook wakes up in the Not-So-Secret Lair with Zelena. She says that Emma kidnapped her after she gave birth and says Emma really is evil. Hook doesn’t care and is more focused on what Emma’s plan is.

(Hook is concerned)

Hey guess what! We’ve reached the equivalence to the part in the movie where the bad guy reveals everything to the good guy. Emma says that she accelerated Zelena’s pregnancy not because she wanted to get rid of the light but because she wants to get rid of the darkness. She didn’t want the innocent baby to suffer so now Robin has his daughter. And soon, he won’t have to worry about sharing custody with Zelena because Emma is going to put all the darkness in Zelena and kill her with Excalibur.

Look, Emma, I’m not fond of this whole Zelena and Robin sharing a kid plotline but there are other ways to deal with this. Besides, this show needs a steady villain. Regina has been redeemed and you turned Gold into a hero. So Zelena’s it. Unless Lancelot really is Cora…

Hook gives Emma a “What the hell, hero?” speech but Emma is determined. She says she needs a few more things and then Zelena is a goner.

Back in Camelot, Hook finds Emma sitting and staring at the flame. He sits down next to her and they begin talking. She admits that she is scared about something and hands him the paper with the house circled. Hook says Henry wasn’t supposed to tell her and she assures him Henry was just giving her something to fight for. Emma says she’s scared because someone wants to have a future with her and for once, she wants it to. Hook assures her he’ll be there for her and they share a kiss. When they break, Hook tells her to look down—the flame has been lit.

(We have fire!)

David, Mary Margaret and Regina storm Emma’s house. Regina is in full sibling mode, saying the only person who gets to hurt her sister is her. Mary Margaret and David remind her that Emma is still their daughter but Regina says she will do whatever is necessary. That’s why Emma gave her the dagger in Camelot.

(Regina is determined)

Down in the not-so-secret lair, Zelena and Hook make a deal. He’ll use his magically enhanced hook to get the cuff off her and she’ll use her magic to get him out. Despite everyone no doubt yelling at their TVs for him not to do it, Hook takes the cuff off Zelena. First she changes into a Wicked Witch outfit and then she keeps her word, getting them out of the not-so-secret Lair.

(This can't end well)

Emma comes out to end the squabbling. They ask her to tell them what she’s doing, especially once she shows them the whole Excalibur. Regina pleads with her, telling her that no matter what she can come back from it and they can help her. But Emma uses Excalibur to freeze them in place, saying she needs time to do what she needs to do.

(Once Upon a Time presents "Stomp")

Meanwhile, Zelena and Hook escape the not-so-secret lair. She says she’s going to get out of there but Hook wants to stay. Zelena’s like “Whatever, your funeral” and leaves. When Emma returns inside, Hook paralyzes her with squid ink and says he’s going to get the answers he needs. She pleads with him to not do this.

(She's glowing!)

Zelena returns and says she might have the answers Hook is looking for. He doubts it until she stabs him. When nothing happens—no blood, no death—Zelena asks if he wants to know what’s going on now. Emma pleads with Hook to talk it out with her but Zelena holds up a dreamcatcher she found on the lawn (coughbullshitcough). She says he can watch it. And the dreamcatcher glows as the memory begins…

(Coincidence my ass)

Emma brings the flame into the diner and starts to reforge Excalibur as everyone looks on. But then Hook grabs his neck as blood begins to gush out of the wound from earlier. Merlin reveals that Excalibur has been enchanted so that no wound from it could be healed. Hook is pretty much a goner, which distresses Emma as the others stand around, grief-stricken.

(Dearly beloved, we gather here to say our goodbyes...)

But Emma won’t just let him die. She suggests releasing Merlin from Excalibur’s control and binding Hook instead to keep him alive. But Merlin says it would allow the darkness to fully consume her. Her family tells her she can’t risk it and she snaps at them, saying they’ve risked as much. And Regina asked her to risk the darkness for Robin. They look understanding but try to reason with her one more time. She transports her and Hook out of the diner.

They land in the field of Middlemist roses they kissed in a few episodes ago. Hook is fading fast but he pleads with Emma not to turn him dark either. She says she can’t lose him but he tells her to free herself and live her life. That’ll make him happy. As his eyes close, Emma ignores his last request and holds Excalibur over him. As the darkness leaves Merlin at the diner, it swirls around Hook until it transports him away. Emma is dressed in her Dark Swan outfit as “Killian Jones” appears on Excalibur.

Darkness pools at the vault before forming into a person. When it falls away, a figure in a black hooded cloak is left behind. The camera zoom in to reveal Captain Hook.

dun dun DUN!

The camera zooms out to return us to Emma’s house. Hook is none too pleased with the memory. As Emma looks ready to burst into tears, Zelena sets the dreamcatcher down and picks up Excalibur. She waves her hand over it to reveal his name engraved there, saying it was a simple glamour spell. She says that it’s not the Dark One but more like the Dark Ones.

Emma tries to explain why she did what she did but Hook doesn’t want to hear it. Not when she turned him into the one thing he hated. But now, he feels freer and is ready to get revenge. But first, he tells Zelena they need to deal with Emma.

Uh oh.

Hook is a Dark One? That’s a twist I didn’t see coming! And is really dark? She seems to only be playing at being a Dark One, focused on saving her true love. No deaths, no revenge, so maybe she’s not dark? Anyway, the baby is here and while I think Peanut is cute, I’m not sure I liked the accelerated pregnancy route. Especially if they still refuse to give OQ the attention they need to do this plot justice.

And now for part two…

Next time: Merida! Mulan! Ruby!

Screen caps from here.