OUAT: Through the Looking Glass

Last time on “Once:” The Evil Queen threatened to destroy Storybrooke with water from the River of Lost Souls if Snow and David didn’t give her their shared heart so she could finally crush it. Blue discovered a magical sapling that could stop the Queen, so Regina and the Charmings went to locate it.

Meanwhile, Regina sent Zelena to discover the Queenie and Gold making out. She then told Belle about it and the golden shearers, so Belle rightly laid into her estranged husband. It put Zelena on Gold’s bad side.

In the Enchanted Forest, David had the cutest dog ever. He was a sheep dog who was an excellent tracker and name Wilby. Nothing happened to him except for the fact he was never seen again. Boo.
David was going to sell his farm when he met up with a guy called the Woodcutter. Woodcutter knocked David out to use Wilby to sniff out Snow, who was trying to flee. David tried to save her from the Woodcutter’s rolling shed and the two managed to take down the Woodcutter. She then gave David her money to save his farm and decided to become a bandit. When they touched, they created the magical sapling.

In Storybrooke, they found the sapling but Queenie destroyed it. Realizing the sapling was theirs, they surrendered to her with the belief that they always find their way back to each other. Queenie took their hearts but decided not to crush them. Instead, she returned them and Snow immediately fell under a sleeping curse. Queenie sent her away but David found her easily. He kissed her but once she awoke, he fell under the curse. Regina revealed that Queenie cursed their hearts, so that when one was awake, the other would be asleep.

Poor Snowing.

(Kind of a sweet gig right now for Josh Dallas)

A Wish for Christmas

This week we look at one of this year’s new offerings. Once again, it stars Lacey Chabert, who is easily turning into Hallmark’s darling. I’m not complaining though because Gretchen Weiners deserves all the work.

So grab a cup of hot chocolate, don your gay apparel and beware of SPOILERS!

Sara (Lacey Chabert) works at a marketing firm as a junior web designer. When we meet her, she is bringing coffee in for some coworkers and is ignored by everyone around her as she holds open the door and then is pushed away from the elevator. She is forced to wait for the next one but is able to meet up with her friend Molly (Andrea Brooks, who was Charlotte in Once Upon a Time’s second episode this season). Molly asks Sara if she can help her with a project and though Sara protests that she has a lot of work, Molly gets her to agree.

One of their coworkers, Brian (Eduard Witzke) joins them and thanks Sara for bringing in coffee. As the elevator opens again, their boss Peter (Paul Greene) enters. He is on his phone and talks about Christmas not happening. The other three pretend not to listen in but all three fail. Peter gets off the phone and asks Brian to work Christmas. Brian agrees and then Paul asks Sara about the present she’s holding. She says it’s for the Secret Santa at the office party later before blathering on about how much she loves Christmas. It gets awkward fast and everyone looks happy to get off when the doors open.

OUAT: How I Met Your Mother Before I Met Your Mother

Last time on “Once:” The Evil Queen decided to turn Henry against Hook, playing on her son’s teenage annoyance with the pirate’s attempts at bonding with him. She revealed that he didn’t get rid of the shearers like Emma asked and he confronted Hook at the harbor. At that point, a submarine appeared and sailors took the two hostage. Onboard, Hook revealed it was the Nautilus and he had a connection to its captain.

Of course, it wasn’t good.

Captain Nemo once abducted Hook and offered him a chance to change his life, to join his crew and finally have a family. Hook resisted but was dragged by Nemo onto a mission to retrieve a treasure chest. Inside was a key to what Nemo called “the Mysterious Island,” a place where they could make a home and no one would ever die again. Hook was tempted until he recognized a knife that belonged to Nemo’s first mate. It turned out he was Hook’s long lost brother, Liam II, who Hook had left an orphan when he killed their father. And Liam II wanted revenge. Nemo tried to stop him and Liam II accidentally stabbed him, vowing more revenge on Hook when he bailed.

So now Liam II wanted to kill Hook but Henry was able to save him. Together, they got rid of the golden shearers and then took Liam II to the hospital. Turned out Captain Nemo wasn’t dead and the hospital staff was able to save him. He was reunited with Liam II and things looked up for the Jones brothers. Things were better between Henry and Hook and Emma forgave Hook for not destroying the shearers.

Meanwhile, Emma spent time with Aladdin and convinced him to stop running. So he went to Jasmine and asked her to tell him about Agrabah. She told him that it just disappeared while she was on a diplomatic mission.

Belle also had her first ultrasound and a heart-to-heart with Snow about how she was going to handle Rumple’s role in their child’s life going forward. She decided to drop off a picture of the ultrasound, thankfully not going inside. She was spared watching Rumple and the Evil Queen making out after she got him the shearers so he could potentially use them on his son.

Father of the year, right there.

It is night in Storybrooke and all is quiet in the loft. Snow and Charming are sound asleep and Snow rolls closer to her husband as a shadow passes over her. She then opens her eyes to find she is a forest. Sitting up, she looks around until she spots the Queen. Queenie approaches, saying a sleeping Snow was always her favorite Snow.

(Some quality face time)

A Boyfriend for Christmas

Our Christmas celebration continues with another Hallmark gem. Santa makes a promise and, though it takes some time, he keeps it. But will romance really blossom or is it doomed?

All I want for Christmas is SPOILERS!

Timeless: The Alamo, 1836

Last time on “Timeless:” Concerned that Flynn and Anthony stole the core of a nuclear bomb, the team tracked them down to a warehouse. However, they jumped before Wyatt and his fellow soldiers could capture them. Everyone is concerned to learn Flynn went to Nazi Germany, afraid he would sell them the nuclear bomb before the Americans developed theirs.

After killing a Nazi soldier who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, our heroes spotted a rocket and feared it would be nuclear powered. They hoped to find help at a place that may have been a place for Allied spies to meet. It appeared to be a dead end until Sean Maguire ordered them outside. He revealed himself to be Ian Fleming and Wyatt totally fanboyed out as they accepted his help. Ian helped them figure out where the bomb might be and agreed to help them look over the bomb, all the while flirting with Lucy. Despite being a Bond fan, Wyatt seemed to draw the line at his idol flirting with her.

The bomb did not have nuclear capabilities but they found Flynn working with the Nazis. Wyatt tried to shoot him but Lucy and Rufus stopped him because Werner von Braun, the father of the American rocket program, could get caught in the crossfire. They explained his importance to Wyatt and Lucy told Ian that there are orders to bring Werner to the Allies. He was not thrilled due to the Blitz but agreed to sneak them into a party where they could snatch Werner.

Wyatt talked Lucy through a panic attack, where they got more personal with each other. He assured her that she was just facing the hump and he knew she would get over it. At the party, she also got to know Ian a bit better and he continued to flirt with her—much to Wyatt’s annoyance.

While trying to get to Werner, Lucy and Ian were intercepted by Flynn and the Nazis. They took the two in as spies while Flynn tried to Werner to the Soviets. Wyatt and Rufus set off the bomb as a distraction before going to save Lucy. Together with Ian and Werner, they escaped the Nazis.

After seeing Werner delivered to the Allies and saying goodbye to Ian, the heroes returned to the present to learn they were now characters in a Bond book and movie that didn’t exist before. Lucy gave Agent Christopher demands in exchange for her to continue working and Rufus refused to keep recording the missions. But Rittenhouse scared him right good.

We open on March 5, 1836. A man writes a stirring letter, full of patriotic ideals and yet begging for support. He signs it William Barret Travis and says he is at the Alamo. The cold open ends with him standing on the fort’s wall, looking out at Santa Anna’s forces.

Once Upon a Holiday

This one is a bit of a twist on the “A Princess for Christmas” formula. The woman is already a princess and the man is a regular American. So it’s already a step up then some of the others, but is that all it has going for it? Let’s find out.

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in SPOILERS!

OUAT: Many Fathoms Below

Last time on “Once:” We entered a whole new world…except not really because Agrabah and Aladdin were touched on in Once Upon a Time in Wonderland. But the producers like to pretend that didn’t happen, apparently, so it’s a whole new world!

Anyway, Aladdin was recruited by Jasmine in order to find the Diamond in the Rough. She said it would allow her to defeat Jafar and save the kingdom. They journeyed to the Cave of Wonders and when they were caught in a cave in, Aladdin discovered he had magical powers. Jasmine then revealed he was the real Diamond in the Rough, the Savior predicted to save Agrabah. He was upset she tricked him and she gave him some time to think about it.

Jafar showed up and showed him that only death awaited Saviors. He offered Aladdin a chance to avoid it—golden shearers that would sever him from his magic. Leaving them with Aladdin, Jafar assumed he would use them.

Except he didn’t. Aladdin flew in on a magic carpet, saved Jasmine and destroyed Jafar’s staff. It freed the Sultan and stopped Jafar…for now. He wasn’t completely defeated and so Aladdin made it his mission to stop him. He asked Jasmine to come with him but despite the fact they cared greatly for each other, she knew her place was in the palace so she could help their people. They parted and as he walked away, a satchel appeared on Aladdin’s shoulder. In it were the golden shearers and a note for Jafar that basically said: “Just in case.”

In Storybrooke, Emma and Archie found the Oracle dead and Shirin nearby. At the station, she revealed she was Jasmine and she found the Oracle, who was helping her find Aladdin. When Jasmine revealed he was a Savior too, they got very intrigued. Emma made it her mission to find Aladdin, just to prove not all Saviors died.

Meanwhile, the Evil Queen kidnapped Archie and impersonated him to find out about Emma’s vision since the Oracle wouldn’t tell her. She then tricked Emma into telling her family and then took Zelena out for a spa day to celebrate.

Her family rallied around Emma and they found a way to track Aladdin. When it appeared he was dead, she and Henry had an emotional scene. Aladdin then revealed himself as well as the fact he used the shearers. He gave them to Emma and then reunited with Jasmine.

Emma chose to not use the shearers and asked Hook to toss them to the bottom of the sea. Except he didn’t.

And that’s what you missed on Glee.

Hook storms around the deck of the Jolly Roger as it sails through a foggy night and a timestamp that tells us this is during the First Curse. He yells that Mr. Smee wouldn’t have stood for how they were working and yells that for being the fastest ship, the Jolly Roger has the slowest crew. One man yells back that they are tired and Hook demands he step forward. A man of Middle Eastern descent does so and Hook realizes he is a stowaway. He demands to know who the man is and he just replies that he is no one.

(He's a rather bold No One)

Someone yells that there’s a narwhale and of course everyone rushes to see it because narwhale. However, Hook realizes it’s bigger than a narwhale and glowing. He yells that it’s a sea monster and starts shouting orders. The stowaway says that it’s not a narwhale or a monster but a ship…his ship. He says he’s trying to save Hook’s life and then knocks him out.

Timeless: Nazi Germany, 1944

Last time on “Timeless:” Jiya was able to track the Giant Eye to Las Vegas in 1962. Our heroes traveled in the Baby Eye, afraid Flynn might try to assassinate Kennedy a year earlier.

Instead, Flynn kidnapped Kennedy’s lover, Judith Campbell. Lucy explained that she was an important player in Camelot, serving as a go-between for the president and the head of the mob family he was working with to take down Fidel Castro. She, Wyatt and Rufus rescued her from Flynn, who was blackmailing Judith, but she escaped when serving as bait for the team so they could capture Flynn.

Wyatt tried to send a telegram to be delivered to his wife, hoping to keep her alive, having a heart-to-heart with Lucy. Rufus discovered his friend Anthony isn’t Flynn’s prisoner but he still doesn’t think he’s a willing participant. Anthony gave him the clue as to why Flynn was in Las Vegas—the atomic bombs being tested miles outside of town.

Indeed, Judith paid a visit to a general and stole his keys to a bunker on the test site. Flynn and Anthony stole the radioactive core of the atom bomb, heading back to the Giant Eye. The heroes pursued them and it resulted in a shootout. Judith ran to safety with Lucy while Rufus tried to reason with Anthony. When he gave him the briefcase, Wyatt stopped firing, allowing Flynn and Anthony to get away. However, Rufus discovered he had been tricked and that the bad guys still had the core of the atom bomb.

Back in the present, Wyatt’s wife was still dead and Lucy decided to leave her really understanding fiancé.

And, of course, they all wondered what Flynn wanted with a nuclear weapon.

We open in Germany in 1944. People gather at a party in a castle as a Nazi talks about Hitler, winning the war, the Third Reich…you know, what you’d expect Nazis to talk about. He motions for everyone to look out a window and they watch as a rocket soars into the sky. They applaud and continue partying.

OUAT: High Adventure

Last time on “Once:” The Evil Queen and Mr. Hyde teamed up, making an enemy of Rumpelstiltskin, who cut his hair following Belle’s rejection. Fearing for Belle and his unborn child, he trapped her on the Jolly Roger and insisted it was for her own good.

Suuuure.

Meanwhile, Hyde and the Evil Queen crashed Jekyll and Frankenstein’s lab to destroy the serum that could defeat them. They thought they had saved some but Rumple forced Regina to use it on his dagger. He then tried to defeat Hyde but it turns out it was a harmless potion. Hyde used the dagger to control Rumple.

We also learned more about Jekyll and Hyde. Jekyll wanted to separate the “evil” parts from his patients, to help them with their maladies. His friend Mary tried to get him into the Academy of Sciences but her father rejected Jekyll. So Rumple helped him with his potion and thus Hyde was born.

So was a strange love triangle. For Jekyll loved Mary but she only saw him as a friend. But she did love Hyde, who reciprocated. When Jekyll learned of this, he grew angry and ended up backing a frightened Mary out of a window, where she fell to her death. He changed into Hyde and fled. Rumple found him and angry that Hyde still felt love, banished him to the Land of Untold Stories.

Why did Rumple care? Because he had hoped to use the serum to remove the weakness inside him—AKA his emotions and ability to feel love. Yet now Jekyll and Hyde want revenge against him, with Jekyll going after Belle. She fights him off and Hook finishes him, which also kills Hyde. Regina is horrified to learn she’ll have to die to kill the Evil Queen.

Belle, meanwhile, was rightfully pissed at Rumple and she insisted they were through. Rumple insisted she would need to come back to him one day to keep her and their son safe. It was just plain wrong.

I’m so sorry, Rumbelle fans. You all deserve so much better.

Oh! And Snow got a new TA who is really Princess Jasmine.

We open in Agrabah. Or rather, the capital of Agrabah. But let’s just call it Agrabah, okay? Anyway, we zoom through a bazaar as guards gather up several people accused of stealing. Aladdin slinks through the crowd, stealing as Jafar delivers a speech about how bad things have gotten. He then uses his magic to turn the thieves into rats. You know, street rats. Everyone gasps in horror.

(Agrabah)

Snow Bride

Our Christmas in July celebration continues with another Hallmark classic. And this one starring Jill Taylor!

So, grab your wedding dress and watch out for SPOILERS!