OUAT: Family Dynamics

Last time on “Once”: Red woke up and informed her friends that she came from Oz to find Zelena because she did something to Dorothy and Red wanted to know what it was. Hades warned Zelena about Red’s appearance and she tried to escape but Regina prevented her. Confronted, Zelena admitted to putting Dorothy under a sleeping curse and handed over her slippers so Red could get back. The only problem was finding someone to give Dorothy True Love’s Kiss.

It was decided to find Auntie Em, who ended up running a diner in the Underworld. She agreed to help but Hades trapped her in the River o’ Souls to prevent her from doing so. He then informed everyone that people who helped the heroes would also be thrown into the River o’ Souls. The heroines were not pleased.

Snow told Red that she should give Dorothy True Love’s Kiss because it was obvious to everyone that she loved Dorothy. So Red prepared to leave and take David with her so he could take care of Neal now that Cruella destroyed their one connection to him. But he got Hook to carve his name over Snow’s, allowing her to leave instead.

Back in Oz, Red and Mulan met Dorothy after Red accidentally scared off Toto. She and Dorothy didn’t get along but were forced to work together when Zelena kidnapped Toto. Red believed she scared Dorothy when she transformed into a wolf to take care of monkey but Dorothy ran off to confront Zelena. The witch used a sleeping curse on her, which Red ultimately broke with True Love’s Kiss as Mulan wondered what she was doing there.

Snow returned to Storybrooke and everyone else grew more resolute in their determination to get out of the Underworld.

A red car speeds along, Hades and Zelena inside of their way to a date. He takes her to a hill overlooking the Underworld’s version of Storybrooke and lays out a picnic for them. Hades asks her why she thought he brought here there and she says it’s her experience that men want one thing. He chuckles but tells her that he brought her up there to ask her something.

Hades reminds her that he made the Underworld to look like Storybrooke because he wanted to give her everything her sister had. But he knows it’s not the same. So if she restarts his heart, they can leave and take over Storybrooke for themselves. Zelena asks about the heroes and he reveals that after Snow’s switcheroo, he carved everyone’s name on the tombstones. So they’ll be trapped in the Underworld, leaving the two of them the freedom to cause chaos together.

Uh oh.


Zelena returns to her farmhouse and is greeted by Regina. She asks her sister why she’s there and Regina replies that she thought Zelena would be upset about her pair of slippers. But she then asks about Zelena’s date. She reveals she spied on them using her mirror and advises Zelena to not be around so much chrome next time. 

(Mirror, mirror...)

Zelena is indignant but Regina says she doesn’t have the right to be. Especially when her boyfriend is planning to trap them in the Underworld. Zelena asks if she gets credit for not saying yes but Regina points out she didn’t say no either. She tells Zelena it’s best if she breaks up with Hades but Zelena pretty much throws her out, after saying that Regina reformed Robin despite the fact that it was probably the other way around. (And Robin was only part of Regina’s redemption at that).

We are then introduced to Wee!Regina, who is dressed in a purple robe as she dances with her down, named Isabella. She’s in her mother’s study, but Cora doesn’t seem to mind when she comes in to get something from her desk. Regina asks her mother to play with her and Cora gives her a story instead. She talks about being the miller’s daughter and learning to rely on only herself. Wee!Regina tells Cora that she’s glad she doesn’t have to wear rags anymore and then asks if her mother can play with her later. Cora’s answer pretty much amounts to “No.”

(Look at Wee!Regina!)

When Cora leaves, Wee!Regina notices that her mother has left the key in the lock of her drawer. She opens it and finds a beautiful box. When her fingers brush it, it opens to reveal Cora’s wand. Regina plays with it and puts her doll down. She decides to make Isabella come alive so they can be sisters. But the magic is too powerful and it knocks Regina unconscious. Cora and Henry run in, tending to their daughter. Henry demands that his wife use her magic but Cora says she can’t use it when it’s her magic that hurt Regina. Henry says there’s no one else related to Regina who has magic but Cora knows that’s not true.

At the loft, Regina informs the others of Zelena’s plans. Hook wonders if there’s a way to convince her that Hades can’t be redeemed. Regina thinks there is only one person who can break Zelena and Hades up—their mother. So they come up with a plan to do so.

Down in the hellish mill, Cora looks close to tripping into the fires as she carts flour around. Some of Hades’ goons watch over her, ordering her to get more flour. Cora obeys, finding Hook’s…hook…amongst her bags. She uses it to take off the magic blocking cuff Hades put on her and then blasts the goons away. Cora races off, relieved to see Hook there and calling him her fairy godmother. He tells her to come with him.

("This better be what I think it is")

At the pawn shop, Rumple talks to his sleeping wife and promises her that he will get Hades to rip up the contract. He’s just going to do it his way rather than the way she’d want him to do it.

(Guess who hasn't learned anything?)

Sigh.

We flashback to Oz many years ago. Cora hides behind a tree as she watches young Zelena outside a cabin. The girl is stacking logs and decides to use her magic to make it go faster. Her father, though, catches her and threatens her about revealing her wickedness. He says that with her mother gone, he can finally beat it out of her like he’s always wanted.

(Young!Zelena is impressed)

Cora freezes Zelena’s father and introduces herself to her daughter. She explains that she’s a good witch and that Zelena’s magic is a good thing. And there’s a way for Zelena to prove it by helping someone who was very dear to Cora. Zelena agreed.

(Mother-daughter reunion)

David is coming back from the grocery store when he’s stopped by the Sheriff. At long last, David and James comes face to face. Meaning Josh Dallas had to act out this entire conversation. He plays both twins very well. There is clear differences between them and their mannerisms. Even his voice changes between the two.

James confronts his brother and David says he wants to talk. He mentions what Cruella told him but James says she got a few things wrong. James is pissed off that David is masquerading as him and getting all the glory James should’ve gotten. But that’s going to change. He tases David, knocking him out, before saying he’s going to play shepherd.

(Sibling rivalry)

Emma is looking at a picture of her parents when “David” returns home, remarking on the number of diapers he’s had to buy. So it seems they are getting supplies for Robin and Peanut, which explains how they are managing that in the woods. Emma shows him the picture and he says that was taken on Snow’s birthday. She frowns, saying she thinks it was their anniversary but given everything that happens to them, it’s okay to be confused. (Shout out to everyone confused by this show’s timeline?) “David” asks her not to tell Snow he forgot their anniversary and Emma agrees, saying they need to go meet Robin.

Cora and Regina are reunited in the vault, where Cora apologizes for trying to get her daughter to leave. She realizes her daughter is doing good now. Regina then explains the situation to her mother, who understands the dangers immediately. She tells Regina she knows how to stop Zelena and Hades.

(Regina needs Cora's help)

In the past, Cora brings young Zelena to young Regina’s room. Henry Sr. has been sitting with Regina and is curious about the girl Cora has with her. She dismisses her husband. Zelena is concerned about the unconscious girl on the bed and asks if she is the person very dear to Cora. Cora confirms this and starts to prattle off instructions to Zelena. But the girl just places her hands over Regina and is able to revive her. Cora is amazed as Regina introduces herself to Zelena and the two hit it off.

(Zelena is a natural)

Cora and Regina go to a spring Cora explains is from the river that allows souls to forget their past lives. She bottles some water and says they can give it to Zelena to make her forget Hades. Regina snaps that she knows how memory potions work. She has experience in them, after all. What does surprise her is when Cora reveals a spring filled with the water used to run by their house in the Enchanted Forest and she once used the water on someone. Regina wants to know who but Cora’s like “Moving on! Time to trick your sister! Chop chop!”

("Another secret?")

Robin meets with Emma and “David” out in the woods. And just as quickly, “David” turns on them and Emma realizes they are dealing with James as he slaps the cuff on her. Cruella drives up and acts all lovey-dovey with James while Emma looks like she wants to hurl. Robin is confused, which sadly seems to be his default setting since Season 4. Cruella demands Peanut, who is sitting in a carrier they’ve managed to find, so she can use her as leverage against Hades. Robin tries to rescue his daughter but James pulls a gun on him, reminding Robin that he can still die in the Underworld.

("This is seriously my first major appearance in a few episodes? Really?")

At the farmhouse, Zelena is less than thrilled to see Cora at her door. She tries to slam the door in her face but Cora convinces Zelena to let her in, saying she wants a mother-daughter chat. Zelena relents, so we’re getting our Cora-Zelena scene, y’all! 

(Zelena's wish is going to come true!)

Wee!Regina and Wee!Zelena play dress up and pretend to fight with magic, Regina already showing a preference for fireballs. And kudos to Ava Acres for mimicking Lana’s posture when she pulls a fireball. In the process, the girls find Cora’s wand again. Regina is surprised when Zelena can open the box as well as she knows it is sealed by blood magic. They wonder if it means they are related and go to find Cora. She’s been lurking outside the room and looks panic-stricken.

(Aww, look at them playing dress up)

As Regina waits outside Zelena’s farmhouse, Cora and Zelena talk inside. Cora says she knows about Zelena and Hades, which Zelena chalks up to Regina. Cora says she’s just trying to fill the hole Cora caused when she gave Zelena up. Zelena tried to refute it but everyone knows she’s lying. Cora tells her that she’s sorry she gave her up. She says she thought she was doing it for Zelena but she really did it for her. And she regrets it. Zelena hugs her mother tearfully as Cora meets Regina’s eyes.

(A hug of lies)

Zelena sits, overwhelmed, so Cora gets her water. Regina pours the water from the river in it and Cora carries it back out. Zelena says she’s always dreamed of this moment, of meeting Cora and hearing her apologize for giving her up. For saying that she loved her. She says though that it was always genuine in her dreams and that Cora never tried to poison her in them. Zelena chucks the water at the fire and tells Regina she can come out. Regina tries to explain while Cora protests that she meant everything she said but Zelena isn’t having any of it. She yells that Regina has never had her best intentions at heart.

Wee!Regina and Wee!Zelena race to ask their mother if their suspicions are correct. Cora confirms that they are sisters. Regina asks if Zelena can stay with them and they can be a family. Cora asks her if it will make her happy and Regina replies it will. That disappoints Cora, who orders guards to take Zelena away. She tells Regina that she is going to be queen and Zelena would ruin all those plans. Wee!Regina doesn’t want that, she just wants her sister. Cora won’t allow that. As Zelena is dragged away, Regina promises her that she will find her. But Cora promises that neither will remember the other.

(Wee!Regina is terribly upset)

Now, in the present, Cora watches the two monsters she created threaten to burn the farmhouse down. She uses her magic to douse their respective fireballs before saying that if they should be mad at anyone, it’s her. She confesses that she took something from both of them and its time she return it. Taking their hands, Cora unlocks their memories of the brief time they were sisters and loved each other.

(Talk about a sibling squabble)

Regina and Zelena stare at each other with new eyes. Cora apologizes to them, saying she separated them out of the mistaken belief that love was weakness. She has since learned that love is strength. She praises Regina for staying behind to help her father and her friends, learning how to love from them since Cora never showed her how. She then tells Zelena not to follow in her footsteps and to abandon revenge. Zelena wonders if it’s too late for her but Cora assures her it’s not. She says she’s learned that connections last until death…and beyond…and tells them to hold onto each other.

(Mills girls united!)

Cruella and James have brought Emma and Robin to the docks, threatening to throw the into the harbor and doom them to an eternity in the River o’ Souls. They stand there, waiting to see what will happen next when David and Hook swoop in. David lands a punch to his brother, telling him that of course he can break out of his own jail. Robin rescues Peanut while Hook takes the gun away from Cruella, reminding her she can’t use it anyway. She hides as James and David brawl. Hook removes the cuff from Emma’s wrist but David tells her not to use her magic. As James charges at his brother, David sends him into the harbor. Cruella curses them and flees. Emma comforts her father as Hook asks Robin how Peanut is. She’s fine, thankfully.

(Bye-bye, James)

Cora stands on the ledge that can lead to the Happy Place. She asks Regina how it worked for Henry Sr. and Regina says the Happy Place just opens up. Cora hugs her, saying that they never got a proper goodbye in Storybrooke. She bids her goodbye before turning to Zelena, saying they never got a chance to say hello. She tells her daughters to stay together and love each other before heading to see what her fate is. Fire first engulfs her and it appears Cora is doomed but it then dies down as the Happy Place opens up. She gives her daughters one last smile before crossing over.

(Barbara Hershey looks so beautiful here)

Regina turns to Zelena and tells her to go to Hades. She says that Zelena deserves the chance to see if she can change Hades. Zelena thanks her sister and hugs her.

Hades sets up a dinner for two inside Granny’s as Zelena approaches. But she’s stopped by Rumple, who demands to know why she gave Belle the sleeping curse. Zelena says she was trying to be helpful and says she doesn’t blame Belle for choosing the curse over Rumple. He then introduces her to Peter Pan and he says he’s worse than her before tossing a bag over Zelena’s head.

(Oh no...)

The episode ends with a dedication to writer and producer Scott Nimerfro, who lost his battle with cancer earlier that week.

It was a nice parallel to see James and David with Zelena and Regina. And I always love to see Cora. But I worry that reconciling Zelena and Regina will come at the cost of Outlaw Queen. How will the writers handle Robin seeing Regina accepting the woman who raped him by pretending to be the woman he once loved just to conceive a child to hurt the woman he now loves? I don’t trust them to handle it at all as they’ve handled nothing about this storyline well.

Next week: Hook and Emma face a test! 

Screen caps from here.