OUAT: Weighing Your Heart

Last time on “Once:” Hades proposed to Zelena, offering to leave the heroes in the Underworld while the two of them took over Storybrooke. She didn’t say yes or no, but Regina was concerned. After talking to Zelena did nothing, she called in the big guns—Cora.

Hook helped Regina bust Cora out of her Underworld prison while David ran errands. Along the way, he ran into his twin brother James—who tased him and then pretended to be him. He went with Emma to drop supplies off for Robin Hood, taking Robin and Peanut with Cruella. They wanted to give Hades Peanut for a chance to be alive again.

Cora decided that they needed to give Zelena some water from one of the rivers of the Underworld that would make her forget about her feelings for Hades. So she went to the farmhouse and had a talk with her eldest while Regina waited for the moment to give her the water. But Zelena saw through it and the sisters fought again. Cora stopped them and revealed memories she had stolen from them years ago.

As a child, a lonely Regina used her mother’s wand in an attempt to turn her doll into a sister. She was knocked unconscious, forcing Cora to retrieve Zelena from Oz so she could heal Regina. Regina and Zelena bonded, becoming the best of friends. But when they realized they were sisters, Cora sent Zelena back to Oz and made both girls forget about their bond.

Their memories now restored, Regina and Zelena seemed to have a fresh start. Cora was able to go to the happy place and Regina agreed to let Zelena try to change Hades. Meanwhile, David and Hook came to Emma’s and Robin’s rescue. While Cruella got away, David ended up struggling with James and threw him into the harbor, trapping his twin in the River o’ Souls.

In the end, Regina agreed to let Zelena meet with Hades to try and change him. But Rumple and Peter Pan intercepted and kidnapped her instead.

Out on Main Street, most of the main cast argues about Regina’s choice to let Zelena go to Hades. Hook in particular thinks that the queen has gone mad. Regina insists they give Zelena a chance. They are then surprised and alarmed when Hades shows up. He tells them he is there for their help as Zelena never showed up for their date. Instead, he got a ransom note from Rumple and Peter Pan. While Regina looks ready to strangle the two, Emma asks why they should help Hades. He tells her if she does, he’ll take their names off the graves and let them go home.

(Hades looks as surprised as the heroes)

In 2009, Emma returns to Maine with a copy of the article about August finding her as a baby. She walks up to some grease trap on the side of the road and asks if anyone remembers anything about what happened. But the owner says she’s lucky to keep someone short term and apologizes. Emma takes her food and goes to sit down.

(Return of the glasses)

An older woman sits with her and makes some small talk about her search. She then says that Emma looks like someone who got busted for robbing a few stores back in Phoenix and jumped bail. Emma realizes the woman is a bails bond person and takes off running. The woman is like “Not again” before following her at a slower pace. Emma jumps in her bug as the woman crosses traffic, barely missing a car without a blink. As Emma tries to drive off, she realizes the woman has booted her car and she has no choice but to surrender.

It’s such a nice callback to how we met Emma in the first episode.

(Introducing Cleo!)

Hades enters Granny’s diner, where Peter Pan and Rumple have Zelena. She apologizes and reveals they put the cuff on her so she couldn’t use her magic. Rumple says he’ll give Hades Zelena back if he tears up the contract for Rumple’s baby. Hades does so, surprising Zelena. She is amazed he would do that for her and he promises he would do anything for her. Zelena’s like “Great. Get the cuff off and let’s go.” But Peter isn’t done with her, saying he’s going to take her heart so he can return to the land of the living. She’s like “I have a protection spell on it” but Peter seems confident he can get through it. Emma knocks him with her magic though, chasing father and son away.

(Surprise attack!)

Reunited, Hades removes Zelena’s cuff. They exchange some cutesy words of love before she kisses him. And guess what? They are True Love! Meanwhile, my ship has barely had ANY screen time let alone a TLK. Ugh. Anyway, Hades’ heart starts again and he says he can finally leave the Underworld. Emma is just disgusted and wants him to hold up his end of their bargain.

(Ugh)

At the cemetery, Hades removes their names off the tombstones. So Emma says there’s just one more thing to do. Regina takes out her heart and splits it. But Emma collapses in pain, forcing Regina to put her heart together and return it. 

(Still thinking about that Hades/Zelena kiss, Emma?)

Emma wonders why it didn’t work like it did for Charming and Snow. Hades asks Charming how long he was dead and Charming was like “Seconds?” That makes sense since Hades didn’t see him and says that his soul hadn’t left his body. Hook, though, has been dead longer and so his body is decomposing. Hades doubts Emma wants to spend the rest of her life with that. Emma wonders if there’s any way for Hook to leave the Underworld and Hades recalls a legend that might apply.

The bails bonds person is Cleo Fox and she cuffs Emma to the hotel bed before going to take a shower. Emma picks her way out before rifling through Cleo’s wallet. She takes some money and a credit card, finding a picture of a little girl tucked inside. Emma returns that and is almost out the door when Cleo’s open laptop catches her eye.

(Cute kid)

Cleo comes out of the shower and panics when she notices Emma is no longer shackled to the bed. She is ready to run out the door when she spots Emma at her laptop. Emma asks about the database she uses, saying she found a record for herself at the local courthouse. She wants to go check it out but Cleo wants to take her back to Phoenix. Emma asks just to check out the courthouse and then she’ll go back peacefully. Cleo agrees.

(Foiled by the internet)

Orestes and Euripides, two lovers who managed to escape the Underworld thanks to some ambrosia. Hades tells Emma how she and Hook can get some but they are going to have to pass a test to prove they are True Love. He removes Emma’s heart, saying she’ll need it for the test. But they have a time limit for the portal back to Storybrooke will open in a few hours and then stay open for only a few minutes. Emma hugs everyone and makes Regina promise to get everyone back to Storybrooke no matter what. Hades opens the elevator and Emma gets on with Hook, heading deep into the Underworld.

(Now, don't go trading this for potato chips)

In the pawnshop, Rumple and Pan conspire to find another way to get Pan out of the Underworld. He instructs his son to bring him something and Rumple agrees.

(This looks very ominous)

As they wait by the elevators, Henry asks about Operation Firebird—helping everyone trapped in the Underworld. Regina reminds him that they were trapped by Hades, who is about to leave anyway. Hades confirms that the Underworld will continue to operate and now the souls won’t have anyone standing in their way to resolve their unfinished business. Henry says that most of the souls don’t know why they are down there in the first place. He wants to help them as the Author.

Robin walks in and is surprised to see Hades and Zelena there. No one really gives him an answer and Regina asks him to trust her as she vouches for Zelena. He’s wary, naturally, but goes along with Regina. Especially when she reveals they are so close to going home. It’s suggested that Robin take Peanut and go wait to head back to Storybrooke, but he doesn’t want to leave Regina. So Zelena asks him to give Peanut to her to keep safe until then. Regina vouches for her again and Robin gives Peanut over.

(In which Robin channels the audience)

Zelena hugs Regina before leaving with Hades and Peanut. Regina asks Robin if he’s okay and he says he needs a moment. As he walks off, Sean Maguire throws his all in conveying EVERY emotion Robin is feeling at that moment: anger, betrayal, sadness, disbelief, etc. As he collects himself, Robin is surprised to find Rumple there. Rumple tells him he won’t remember any of this and THEN REMOVES ROBIN’S HEART.

YOU PUT THAT BACK. THAT BELONGS TO REGINA!

The elevator reaches the bottom of the Underworld, letting Emma and Hook out. They head out, exploring the path ahead of them.

Back in 2009, Emma grows impatient waiting for the clerk to retrieve her file. Cleo tries to calm her down but nothing works. Not until she starts talking about her jacket and that it’s her armor. It’s her way to keep her emotions at bay and to focus on the task at hand. The clerk returns and hands Emma the file. It just has a copy of the article as well as the intake sheet from when she arrived at the orphanage. Nothing she doesn’t already know. Emma looks so disappointed.

(A dead end)

Cleo tells her it’s time to go but Emma wants to keep digging. So the older woman reminds Emma of their deal. She then advises Emma to give up the search. That there’s no hope in her past. The best she can do is go back to Phoenix, serve her time and then try to make a decent living for herself. Emma gets dragged out of there.

Henry fills out a story and hands the page to Stealthy. He reads it and says he didn’t know he had so much resentment toward Bashful. Stealthy thanks Henry and asks him to tell his brothers that he’s sorry.

(Hi, Stealthy!)

Speaking of which—is Dopey still a tree?

Cruella pushes her way to the front of the line and demands that Henry stop. It’s pointed out that Hades isn’t in control anymore and Cruella knows that. She’s hoping to take the lead and make sure no one gets to move on if she can’t get to be alive again. Regina says she doesn’t have any magic powers except to make a dog roll over. But Cruella has an ally—the Blind Witch, who uses her magic to throw them back into the library and lock the doors. Regina tries to escape it with her magic but she can’t. The Blind Witch yells that she shouldn’t have tricked Hansel and Gretel into pushing her into her oven and then using a fireball to kill her.

(What an unlikely alliance)

The tunnel has led Captain Swan to a door that has scales outside it. There’s an inscription in Greek, which Hook reads—only those with true love can pass. At Emma’s look, he explains he learned in the Royal Navy. Makes sense, actually. She takes out her heart and…nothing happens.

(Crap)

Disappointed, Captain Swan wonders what they should do next. Emma starts to feel pain in her chest and she realizes she needs her heart back. She collapses as Hook goes for it. He is surrounded by fire, yelling at Emma to get her heart and leave him. But she tackles him instead, ending the pain and the fire. A door opens and they realized it was a test. And they passed.

They are True Love.

(Oh. Wow.)

As Cleo sleeps, Emma picks the lock on her cuffs and leaves the hotel. She breaks into the courthouse and goes through the records. As she finds hers, she realizes she is not alone. Grabbing something to use as a weapon, she creeps toward the hall and nearly clobbers Cleo. Emma says she needed to know and Cleo says she needs to stop looking. When Emma asks if she needs the money that and if she called security, Cleo whacks her upside the head and points out that they are both trespassing. She tells Emma that her parents probably had good reasons to give her up and wouldn’t want her to focus so much on her past, but to look toward her future. Emma asks how Cleo knows this and Cleo tells her she knows things. She says Emma should start listening to her.

(She means business)

Cleo seems to get through to Emma but as they try to leave, the police show up. She tells Emma to run. They find a window and Cleo breaks the glass out. She then climbs through it and lands hard on the glass-covered ground below. Emma follows suit. Together, they take off.

Emma and Hook arrive in the room where the ambrosia tree should be…and they find that it’s been cut down. They stare at the stump in disbelief. Hook wonders why Hades would send them down there despite having to know the tree was gone. They realize that he tricked them.

(We should've seen this coming)

Up in the library, Regina can’t believe the Blind Witch put together such an elaborate plan. Everyone realizes that Hades must’ve had a role in it and that he’s trapped them in the library on purpose.

At the clocktower, the portal to Storybrooke opens. Hades tells Zelena they should go but she’s wondering what’s taking everyone so long. He says they’ll make it but she has the baby to worry about. So with one last concerned look, Zelena follows Hades through the portal.

(He's up to something)

Down below, the tunnels begin to shake and so Hook convinces Emma to leave. He tells her that they’ll find another way to get him out of the Underworld, but they can’t if they’re both trapped down there. She takes his hand and runs with him.

Back in 2009, Cleo and Emma make it to an alley as sirens go off around them. Cleo collapses and Emma goes to check on her. She gets blood on her hand but is confused as she didn’t hear a shot. Cleo says it isn’t a gunshot, moving her jacket to reveal a large jagged piece of glass in her side. Ouch. Emma tries to apologize but Cleo tells her to go. Emma says an ambulance is coming but Cleo knows its not.

Emma tries to get Cleo to continue on, bringing up the picture of the girl in the wallet. But Cleo reveals that the girl is the daughter she gave up years ago for the girl’s own good. She reveals she took the picture from across the street with a high powered camera. Cleo tells Emma to move on and make something of her life. But first she has to run. So as the police close in, Emma leaves Cleo and runs.

(Poor Cleo)

Hook and Emma return to the elevator but Hook pauses. Emma asks what’s wrong and he reveals that he’s no going back up with her. He says he’s accepted that there’s no way to bring him back, having told Emma they’d find another way just to get her out of the room. So he’s sending her back to Storybrooke and her family without him. Emma tries to plead with him but in the end agrees with him, sharing one last goodbye.

(The end of Captain Swan?)

As she boards the elevator, she tells him to not let her be his unfinished business. She tells him to move on. Hook tells her not to put her walls back up, to let people in and pretty much to love again. The elevator starts up and they hold hands until they can’t any more.

Back in the past, Emma talks to someone on the phone while she sits in the yellow bug. She has a file and she enters a store, following the shop girl in. Emma has found Cleo’s daughter and she gives her information about her mother. 

(Hi, Tasha!)

Tasha is thrilled, having been curious about her birth mother. She asks about her mother but Emma’s face tells her everything she needs to know—Cleo is dead. But at least she has this. She thanks Emma. Emma starts to leave, spotting her red leather jacket. She asks Tasha to ring it up as she puts it on, saying she needs to get to work. Emma from Episode 1 is born!

(Hello, Emma!)

Up in the library, Emma is reunited with her trapped family. She reveals that Hook can’t leave and that it was a trap. Regina says they figured it out and reveals they are stuck in the library. She and Emma throw their magic at it and bust the door open. Henry leaves the book down there, hoping everyone finds their pages, before they make for the clock tower.

(Go, Team Moms!)

In the pawnshop, Rumple places Robin’s heart in Pan. But something goes wrong as Pan clutches his chest. Rumple reveals he put Robin’s heart back (yay!) and that what was in his father’s chest was filled with water from the River o’ Souls. As Pan glares at his son, Rumple dispatches his father for good.

Aww, bye-bye, Pan.

Rumple then uses Pandora’s Box to transport Belle back home with him. He walks through the portal as it starts to get smaller. I hope our heroes make it on time!

The heroes race through the cemetery and start to jump into the portal back to Storybrooke. Emma pauses, though, wondering if she did everything to rescue Hook. David convinces her she did and they go through right before the portal closes.

(One last look)

Poor Hook! I know there were probably a lot of Captain Swan fans crying and hyperventilating after this episode. But they had some beautiful moments in this. And letting each other go was the top, because sometimes love means letting go.

I also enjoyed the peek at Emma’s backstory, to see how she became a bails bond person. Too bad Cleo died because it would’ve been nice to see her again, possibly.

Next time: PAIN! LOTS AND LOTS OF PAIN! 

Screen caps from here.