OUAT: Go the Distance

Last time on “Once:” It was Once’s 100th episode! Most of the leads arrived in the Underworld, searching for Hook. Regina ended up reuniting with her mother, who warned her to leave the Underworld or something terrible would happen to her father. Gold reunited with his father and got the Draught of Sinead so Emma could talk to Emma. It didn’t work but she glimpsed a battered and bloody Hook. Regina also used the draught to talk to her father, who told her to stay and help her friends. He forgave her for killing him, giving Regina some closure.

In the Enchanted Forest, Regina celebrated her birthday by almost killing Snow White. Henry Sr. tried to convince her to let the vengeance plot go but she refused. He contacted Cora, who came and took Snow’s heart as a present for her daughter. But Henry ended up switching the hearts, so Snow got to live. Regina punished him by putting him in a box before banishing her mother once again. But Cora took the box with Henry in it from Regina before she returned to Wonderland.

With Regina remaining in the Underworld, she had to stop her mother from hurting Henry, Sr. Regina and Henry stood up to Cora and the fire receded, letting him cross over into a better place. He first got to meet his grandson and say goodbye to his daughter before leaving the Underworld.

Henry dubbed their quest Operation Firebird and the heroes continued their quest to save Hook.
We open with Hook. He’s still bloody and battered, awaking in some sort of prison. Hook decides to try to leave but a scared young woman warns him not to. She says they all end up back in the cells and that they can’t escape. Hook tells her that someone is there for him and he’s going to find her. He takes the young woman, insisting they will escape together.

Hook and the woman start running as they hear growls behind them. It soon becomes clear that they won’t be able to outrun whatever is pursuing them. But Hook can give the woman a chance to get out. He tells her to find Emma Swan and tell her that she knows where Killian Jones—Captain Hook—is. The woman nods and Hook takes a stand as Cerberus, the three-headed hellhound, emerges from the shadows.

(Creepy)

Mary Margaret and David linger in the cemetery. She notes that all the names so far are people from her father’s kingdom—their subjects. She says they didn’t protect them all and feels bad about it. David comforts her and they move on…until she spots a tombstone. She sinks to her knees in front of it and David asks what’s wrong. She says an old friend of hers is here.

(Snow mourns)

We cut to the Enchanted Forest. A group of peasants complain about a band of bandits who are stealing and terrorizing their village. Their mayor, I guess, pleads with Snow White to do something to stop them. And let’s welcome back Bailee Madison as Young Snow! Look at how grown up she’s getting!

(She's practically a woman!)

Anyway, Snow says her father is out of the country and she’ll discuss it with him when he returns. The mayor says they can’t wait that long and Snow needs to do something. She freezes, glancing at Regina for help. The queen smiles but Snow still doesn’t know what to do. So Regina says the princess will help them. That sends Snow running and as she watches, Regina smirks.

Snow runs from the palace and sprints through the woods. She ends up falling into a deep hole, calling for help. A young man appears, saying she’s ended up in a hunter’s trap. He holds out his sword, using it to lift Snow to safety. She thanks him, introducing herself. And who is her savior? The one, the only…Hercules. But she can call him Herc.

(To quote the movie, I think you mean "Hunkules")

In the cemetery, David is surprised to learn that his wife was friends with Hercules. And then asks her define “friend.” She gets a little chuckle out of his jealousy and assures him that it was when they were young. David says it’s not everyday one learns their wife was friends with a god and Mary Margaret points out he was a demigod. Who is now dead. David apologizes for being an ass. (Okay, not in those terms but we know it was what he meant). Mary Margaret forgives him.

She then gets an idea. They need to find Hercules. David reminds her that they’re looking for Hook. She knows and she says that maybe if they help him, he can help them locate Hook.

There’s a small party searching the woods but Regina is certain they are going in circles, chasing down cold trails. Emma doesn’t want to give up. So Regina comes up with another plan. She says that she has maps of Storybrooke back home in her office and wonders if her mother had maps of the Underworld in hers, if everything seems to be the same. Robin offers to go get them and Regina tells him to bring Henry. He seems hesitant but she reminds him that Henry knows the office just as well as she does. And she trusts Robin to keep him safe. Robin gives her a kiss (OQ kiss! OQ kiss!) and leaves with Henry.

("You're insisting I take the 13 years old? Really?")

Emma finds the young woman from the opening scene and helps her up. The woman…it’s Megara, so I’m just going to keep calling her Meg, okay? Anyway, Meg tells Emma she knows where Hook is but that they have to get out of there. She says something is coming after her. As Regina shows up, everything begins to shake and they realize Meg is telling the truth. Emma poofs them out of there.

They land in the Underworld’s equivalent of Mary Margaret’s loft. Everything is covered in sheets, so they realize that whoever lives there won’t be coming back. As Megara rests on the bed, Emma picks up a picture of her parents. It looks like the loft is just waiting for her parents to die and to go live there. Regina is a little creeped out and then makes a quip about living with the Charmings.

(Weird)

Emma asks Meg about where she saw Hook and Meg also explains about the creature chasing after her, the one Hook had faced in their escape. When she says it’s a three-headed dog, Mary Margaret says that it’s Cerberus. Somehow, she and David figured out where Emma and Regina went. Anyway, Mary Margaret says she knows someone who can help.

Snow confides in Hercules about her problems with the bandits and how she struggles to lead. He tells her that he’s on a quest to join Mt. Olympus and he just has to do one more task—kill Cerberus. He admits he’s scared but that he’ll do it anyway. He then offers to teach her archery so she can defend her people. Hercules guides her and she fires her first arrow, pleased with herself and grateful to him.

Do I sense a moment?

(No one tell David)

Regina and Mary Margaret enter Granny’s and the Blind Witch sniffs her out. She’s still a little bitter over her death, which Regina says was caused by Hansel and Gretel. The Blind Witch, though, correctly reminds Regina that it was her fireball that burnt the woman alive. Regina counters that she stole Regina’s apple so what did she expect? The Blind Witch considers this and agrees to let the matter go.

Mary Margaret asks the Blind Witch if she knows Hercules. She does and says he’s a regular. And when pressed, she does know where to find him—his job here in the Underworld. Because of course you would still have to work in this place.

She finds him on the docks and he doesn’t recognize her right away. But after she talks for a bit, he realizes she’s Snow White. He’s so happy to see her all grown up but concerned that she’s dead. Mary Margaret tells him that she’s not, that she’s down there looking for someone for her daughter. He’s surprised but happy to learn she has a daughter. She explains she has a son as well as a grandson. Hercules doesn’t believe that and Mary Margaret explains that it’s complicated…but yes, she does have a grandson.

(Happy reunions!)

Mary Margaret then asks Hercules for his help, saying that they need to get past Cerberus to rescue the person they are looking for. Hercules’ face falls and he looks upset but he agrees to help her.

Down in Hades’ domain, Hook is tossed before the God of Death. Hades taunts him and Hook threatens to kill him. When Hades points out he can’t die, Hook counters that he’ll just find out what’s worse and do that to him. He’s not going down without a fight.

(Ouch)

In Cora’s office, Henry goes to open the door but Robin stops him. He reaches out instead, retracting his hand as he realizes there’s a protection spell. Look at the writers remembering that Robin is familiar with magical bobby traps from breaking into Dark One Manor a few times! Henry guess that his grandmother looked up well but Robin says there’s still a way inside. He opens a vent and prepares to crawl through. Henry stops him and says it’s better if he goes alone. He knows where the maps are and Robin would be better to stand guard since he’s, you know, armed. Robin agrees, warning the boy to be very careful. Henry crawls through and when he comes out, he is greeted by Cruella De Vil.

Welcome back, you crazy gin-swilling psychopath!

Emma, Mary Margaret and Hercules go through the mines in their search for the entrance to where Hook is being kept. As Herc hears something, we flashback to the Enchanted Forest…

The bandits seem to just target one village over and over. Everyone is cowering in fear as an arrow flies past Chief Bandit. Snow stands there, demanding him to leave her people alone. Chief Bandit is like “You and what army?” She says she doesn’t need an army. She’ll just put another arrow in his good eye. But when she tried to pull out an arrow, everything falls apart and she loses her footing. The bandits aren’t threatened at all and the villagers are starting to despair. Snow flees with Hercules back into the woods.

(Poor Snow)

Chief Bandit returns to the palace to report that the villagers are losing faith in Snow White. Regina pays him and tells him to keep up the good work. Soon, the peasants will only trust to her—and let her be the ruler she should be.

(All hail the queen)

Back in the mines, Hercules stands frozen in fear as it seems Cerberus approaches. Except that it’s just Hades. He taunts his nephew before revealing that Hercules died trying to kill Cerberus. Snow looks at him with sympathy as Herc hangs his head in shame. Regina wants to know why the Underworld looks like Storybrooke and Hades pretty much responds with “Because.” Emma tells him that they are going to get Hook and there’s nothing Hades can do to stop him.

This doesn’t faze Hades. He holds up a bloodied Hook and pretty much threatens to do horrible things to him.

(Clearly, he means business)

Back in the Mayor’s office, Cruella asks Henry how his mother is doing. She then clarifies that she meant Emma, the one who killed her and sent her to this awful place. Cruella explains that everyone in the Underworld has unfinished business and they can move onto one of two places—the happy place or the not-so-happy place. Henry says that he knows which one she’ll go to and Cruella calls him charming, like the rest of his family.

(Get it?)

Also, it seems the Underworld is comparable to the Catholic concept of purgatory. The idea of purgatory is that you still have some sins to repent for, so you’re not necessarily condemned but you’re not ready for heaven. So you have to wait until you’re ready, which is why we pray for the dead and have Masses said for them.

Anyway, Cruella says that Henry is the key because he’s the Author. Henry tells her he snapped the pen but she tells him that it’s sentient, so it’s down there. If he finds the quill, he can change her story and finish her business so she can pass on. And she says it’ll greatly help his family.

(Henry needs an adult)

Back at the loft, Regina finds Mary Margaret sulking on her bed. She says she doesn’t know how they’ll defeat the Cerberus if even Hercules couldn’t. All she has is hope speeches and she doesn’t think she can believe in them now. Regina tells her not to give up and that they need Snow White, the girl who managed to evade her for years and who finally turned an enemy into a friend. She never gave up.

(This is a change)

In the woods, Hercules discovers Snow in her first set of bandit garb. She explains that she can’t be the leader her people need so she’s just going to run away. They’ll be better with Regina. Hercules tells her not to give up and explains that he struggled to complete his first task. He says he tripped over himself but it allowed him to see his invisible foe, allowing him to defeat it. All they need to do is look at their problem in a different way.

Mary Margaret finds Hercules again and reminds him of what he told her. She asks him to trust her and says they’ll work together to defeat the Cerberus.

(This seems like something out of a sports movie)

At the loft, everything begins to shake and so David gets everyone to evacuate. They race down the stairs as Emma says: “Let me guess. The Cerberus?”

She would be correct.

(Step out to your left, please. Step out to your left)

Young Snow goes back to the one village in Mist Haven and challenges the Bandits again. This time, she is able to fire several arrows and managed to knock some of the treasures they were stealing out of their hands. She orders them to leave her land or they will have to answer to her. The villagers take courage and arm themselves. Chief Bandit orders his men to return the things they’ve stolen and they leave.

Snow and Hercules celebrate her victory with a hug. He tells her that she’s going to be a great queen one day. She realizes that he needs to move on and complete his final task. She says he’ll be a great god and then they share a kiss.

(No one tell David).

Mary Margaret and Hercules meet up with the others on Main Street. They flee from Cerberus, Megara taking refuge in Granny’s with Mary Margaret and Hercules. Mary Margaret says they’ll each take a head and they should be able to defeat Cerberus. Megara doesn’t think she can do it but Hercules gives her a pep talk as he hands her his knife. He picks up a pipe and Mary Margaret nocks her arrow, waiting for the demon dog to attack.

(It's here!)

Cerberus breaks through the window and they each take a head. Within seconds, Hades’ dog is defeated and they are safe from it. Hercules has completed his last task and Meg is surprised she did. She then passes out into his arms.

When Megara comes to, she and Hercules sit at a table while the others watch on. Hercules thinks she looks familiar and Megara reveals that they have met before, when she was running from the Cerberus. She says that it got her right after it got him but she thanks him for trying to save her. They have a moment.

Meanwhile, Mary Margaret tells Emma that she’s never seen what her mother was like in the Enchanted Forest. I don’t know. I think the first part of the second season might’ve given her a clue. Anyway, Mary Margaret wants to be the take charge person she once was, not the one who spews platitudes. David asks her what she’s saying and she declares that she’s no longer Mary Margaret Blanchard. She’s Snow White again. Regina says it’s about time.

(Welcome back, Snow White!)

Robin calls after Henry, concerned. The boy crawls out of the ventilation system and says the maps weren’t there. Robin asks if there was anything else they should know about in there but Henry lies, saying no.

Henry Daniel Mills, do not align yourself with Cruella! No matter how fun she is!

Hercules and Megara go to the chasms and say their final goodbyes. As most of the heroes watch on, they take each other’s hand and walk into the light. This time, they end up on Olympus. I’m not sure why Meg’s allowed to come but who cares? They get a happy ending!

(Look at those excited cuties!)

Throughout the Underworld, the clocks all move ahead one minute. Hades is pissed off and turns to Hook. He says that his friends are dangerous because they’ve brought hope, releasing souls Hades has worked hard to hold onto. So now they have to be punished. He creates three headstones, one for each soul already gone, and tells Hook to pick three friends who will remain in the Underworld in their place.

dun dun DUN!

It was nice to see Bailee Madison again and to fill in some holes of Snow’s childhood. There had been some theories that Robin had taught her archery but I like that she learned to fight from Hercules. Even if it would’ve given Robin some more backstory.

I loved having a Snow-centric episode and she had a great relationship with Hercules. I also like that she decided to just be Snow again. Her keeping her cursed name didn’t really make any sense. At least David’s is also his real name. It was like she was the last of the mains to go back to it, though. So welcome back, Snow.

Next time: Rumple! Hook in danger! 

Screen caps from here.