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.


In Storybrooke, Hook holds the shearers. He puts them in a toolbox and then stashes it under a workstation in the shed. Because that’s an excellent hiding spot.

(Seriously?)

Regina approaches Zelena’s farmhouse and demands to speak with the Evil Queen. She appears and chides Regina for not being more flashy in her entrances. Zelena joins them and Regina says it’s true that she’s harboring the Queen. Zelena says it is because she’s her sister and cares about her, unlike Regina. She doubts Regina is there to check up on her and I’m disappointed Regina doesn’t lay into her for leaving Peanut unattended. Seriously, writers, you chose to kill Robin and give his beautiful baby girl to this neglectful witch?

(Double the Lana!)

As Regina tells the Queen that her plan to expose Emma’s lies didn’t work, David and Mary Margaret liberate Archie from his cage. He flies off and I have to assume someone turns him back into a human off screen. They then lean over Peanut, no doubt checking on her as she starts to cry.

Outside, the Queen wonders if Regina really came to gloat or if she’s up to something. Regina just smirks back at her when they hear Peanut crying. (It does sound like Zelena might have a spell to let her hear her daughter’s cries, but still…) Zelena heads back inside and yells at the Charmings to stay away from her daughter. They assure her that they aren’t going to hurt her but she’s not going to trust them. They should say they should take Peanut but for her own safety. Peanut can chill with Neal at Ashley’s, which is where I assume he is.

("Come on. We have plenty to call Child Services on you.")

The Queen comes in and is delighted to see Snow and Charming there. She conjures a fireball but Regina magics herself inside. Snow tells the Queen that nothing she does will tear the family apart and the Queen says she’s only just begun. Regina uses her magic to get herself and the Charmings out as the Queen smirks.

At Granny’s, Aladdin tells Jasmine that Storybrooke is fine despite its lack of magic carpet. She asks him about Agrabah but he shuts it down, reminding her that he’s not the Savior anymore. Jasmine, though, thinks he can still help them and says he doesn’t even know what happened. He says it doesn’t matter before saying “this” was a bad idea, which I guess was reuniting with Jasmine. He leaves and she calls after him.

(Jasmine doesn't know how to reach him)

Hook enters the kitchen and Emma asks what he was doing out in the shed. He lies and says he was doing gardening. She makes a joke about him having a green hook. Henry bounds into the room for breakfast but Emma gets a message from Jasmine, telling her Aladdin’s run off. Emma says she has to go find him and Hooks says he and Henry will be fine. She leaves.

Henry tells Hook that he doesn’t have to mind him but Hook wants to spend time with him. He says Henry can teach him how to play his video games. Though it seems to be the last thing Henry wants to do, he agrees—once he throws out the trash. Hook says that’s a good idea and he adds Henry’s poptart to the bag, saying he’ll make Henry a good breakfast that’ll keep off scurvy. Henry looks ready to kill him and while I understand that Hook was trying to take care of Henry, throwing out the breakfast Emma made for him probably wasn’t the best way to do it.

(Henry is counting to ten in his mind right now)

Angry, Henry stews all the way to the garbage cans. The Queen appears and asks if Hook is ruining everything. Henry asks her what she’s doing there and she assures him it’s to check up on him. She asks how things are with his new father and Henry snaps that Hook isn’t his father. The Queen sees an opening but Henry runs.

She stops him and says she knows how difficult it can be when someone new joins the family. He asks how and she reminds him that she was once the person joining the family. Henry says that Hook would never hurt their family like she hurt hers. She uses her magic to open the shed and knock over the toolbox.

(Evil Mommy just wants to help. Kinda)

Henry looks inside and finds the shearers, realizing Hook lied about destroying them. He says the Queen won’t get them but she says she doesn’t want them. She just wants him to see that Hook doesn’t care about him or Emma. She then says that Henry has to answer one question: What is he going to do about it?

Aladdin approaches a Miata and pops the lock, breaking in to get what’s no doubt’s Doc’s wallet. When he turns around, Emma is there. He tries to convince her that it’s his car but she’s not buying it. She takes the wallet and says she’s there to talk him. Emma tells him to come with her but he refuses, knowing Jasmine sent her. She tells him it wasn’t a request.

(That look means business)

Hook comes out, saying the controller really wasn’t made for someone with one hand. He stops short when he notices Henry is not in the yard and the shed door is open. Going inside, he realizes the toolbox is open and the shearers are gone.

Captain Floor is reunited until Hook is poked by a harpoon. He wakes up to find a few sailors standing over him. One welcomes him aboard and he starts fighting them, since they were armed and looked threatening. Hook tries to make a break for it, but the button he hits only opens a window. Fish swim by and he asks where he is as the camera pulls out to reveal the full submarine, a school of Blue Tangs swimming by. (Shout out to Finding Dory?). Hook asks what type of dark magic is it.

(Hook found Dory!)

He assured that it’s not dark magic. The stowaway comes down the stairs, now in a uniform, and says that it is his ship, the Nautilus. He says “Call me Ishmael Nemo.” He closes the window and says he needs to talk with Hook. Hook just wants off the ship. Nemo throws down a small harpoon that spins before pointing right at Hook. He explains that the harpoon was enchanted to seek out people with darkness in their hearts and he offers Hook a chance to replace it with something he is lacking—a family.

Hook says he can’t replace what the Dark One took from him and he won’t be swayed from getting his revenge. Nemo explains that he once sought revenge after his family was killed while he was at sea. He found the men who did it and killed them, but all he was left with was an empty heart and a bloody harpoon. Hook demands to be let out but Nemo says he needs to come on a mission with them—a very important one.

("I'm essentially holding you captive and praying Stockholm kicks in")

Hook finds Henry at the docks, preparing to take a rowboat out. Henry tells him he’s going to do what Hook told Emma he did—got rid of the shearers. Hook asks to explain but Henry’s not having it. He says he doesn’t get to make the decisions for Henry or Emma. Hook, though, has a scared look in his eyes as something off screen catches his attention.

As Henry climbs into the row boat, Hook stops him and says it’s not about the shearers. Henry then notices something rising out of the water and stops fighting. They try to run but two sailor stop them, saying the captain wants to see them.

(Is there a defunct Disney ride behind me?)

They are thrown into the room from the flashback as Hook pleads with them to let Henry go. Henry asks what’s going and then if they are underwater. Hook answers they are and as he opens the window, he welcomes Henry to the Nautilus. Henry marvels as the submarine glides through the water and fish swim around them.

EMTs rush a person into the hospital and Snow rushes to meet with David. He explains the person was found by the mines and he believes the man came over with the people from the Land of Untold Stories. However, he doesn’t recognize the person and judging from his wounds, David believes he’s been out in the woods for a few days. He thinks he never went to Granny’s. Snow agrees to stay for news while David goes back to the sheriff station to see if anyone has reported the person missing.

(Concerned royals are concerned)

Snow then spots Belle in the waiting room and goes over to talk to her. Belle reveals she’s there for her first ultrasound and Snow congratulates her. She thanks her but then says she feels conflicted because she didn’t tell Rumple about it. Belle wonders how she’ll figure out what kind of role he plays in their son’s life if she can’t even let him know about the ultrasound. Snow tells her that her apprehension is understandable given everything Rumple has done to her and that she has two more trimesters to answer her questions.

(Why don't these two interact more?)

Hook admits that they are there because of him and that he has a history with the captain. Henry is not surprised. He lays into Hook, saying that they wouldn’t be there if he had done what Emma had wanted him to do. Henry asks if he was just going to cut her from her magic without telling her. He says that being the special makes Emma Emma and what brought her to him. Hook says it won’t change Henry’s relationship with her and Henry says it’s not his business. He’s not part of their family.

Ouch, Henry.

Henry then says that it doesn’t matter since they’ll be fish food soon. Hook says they’ve gotten out of worse and recalls their prisoner gag from the Season 4 finale. Though he can’t say “Wookie” and Henry gives up trying to explain it. He says it won’t work since the other time they were in an alternate universe. But Hook isn’t going to give up and he says the captain is one they don’t want to meet.

Three diving-suit clad figures splash onto a strange shore that seems to be an underwater cave. One removes his helmet to reveal Hook; the other two are Captain Nemo and the officer who welcomed Hook to the Nautilus. Nemo warns them that they are in dangerous waters and need to watch their step. He leads them along and Hook asks what they are looking for. Nemo’s answer is pretty much “You’ll see” and the officer reminds Hook to mind the captain’s words.

(Hook doesn't know why he's even here)

Hook pretty much thinks the entire crew has drunk the Kool-Aid but the officer says he owes his life to Nemo. He explains his entire family was taken from him when he was a boy and he had to fight to survive on the docks, looking for revenge. Nemo found him and he gave up looking for revenge. Hook tells him to come talk to him when he has his revenge in his hands.

Nemo spots his quarry—a chest. Hook is disgusted that they were just searching for buried treasure but Nemo assures him that what lies inside is greater than gold. As he approaches the chest, Hook decides to make a run for it. However, a kraken stops his escape. The officer comes to his rescue and as he fights the tentacles, Hook calls out for Nemo. Nemo picks up a harpoon and throws it, injuring the kraken. The beast backs off as the officer and Nemo pull Hook to safety. As the officer chides him for not staying close, Nemo tells Hook that he won’t give up on him and that he’s family.

Hook looks less than pleased with that.

We return to Zelena’s farmhouse. The Evil Queen preens in a mirror before adopting a ridiculous Southern accent to recognize Rumple’s presence in the house. He asks if she’s gloating and she says she just shoved a pirate-sized obstacle into the Charming family. Rumple asks if she recalls her lessons and she sits down, asking if he has something to teach her. It’s delivered in a manner that creeps me out, suggesting the Evil Queen might be trying to seduce him.

(WTF?)

Rumple, though, isn’t having any of it. He says that she forgot a very important lesson—don’t take anything of his. She’s confused and he says he went to retrieve the golden shearers but found them gone—and her magical signature was all over the place. She asks why he wants to remove the Savior’s magic and he says that they don’t just work on Saviors.

The Evil Queen realizes he wants to use them on Belle and her unborn baby in an attempt to have a relationship with them. She says that the shearers, though, are long gone. Rumple says she shouldn’t cross him as she doesn’t have many allies. She says she doesn’t need them since she’s winning. He says they’ll see about that before leaving.

Emma’s bug comes to a stop and she leads Aladdin to the Welcome to Storybrooke sign. She has him examine it and he notes it was repaired, as if someone had hit it. He hypothesizes it was a drunk driver and Emma insists that while Regina did spike her cider, she was not drunk. She says she was trying to get the hell out of dodge after Henry told her she was the Savior and Aladdin is surprised to learn she ran. She admits she ran a lot of times, including when she got the shearers. He notes that she got rid of them and she says she did. Not just because someone could use them against her, but because she was afraid she would use them on herself. She says when she gets her visions and thinks about her loved ones having to watch her die, she wishes she wasn’t the savior. So she didn’t want the shearers there to tempt her.

(Behold! A sign)

Aladdin asks what he does now. Emma says he does what she always did—return, ask forgiveness and work to fix things. He says he can’t fix Agrabah. She replies that he doesn’t know what happened and that finding out might be a first good step. He seems to agree.

In the Nautilus, Hook tells Henry he killed his father and that he’s focused on taking care of the Charmings because he doesn’t want to lose another chance at having a family. Henry’s like “I know this.” Hook then says he never told anyone about the little brother he left an orphan, a brother named Liam—after his older brother. Hook says that it pushed him over the edge and he killed his father, leaving his brother alone to fend for himself.

(Guy time?)

Nemo opens the chest and reveals a key inside. Hook can’t believe he almost became kraken food for a key. Nemo explains that the Nautilus isn’t a proper home. But the key will open up the way to the Mysterious Island. He says they can all start over there, including Hook. But Hook says he’s come so far to get his vengeance. Nemo says Hook has lost many people but no one is lost on the Mysterious Island. It looks like it almost sways Hook.

Then Hook sees a knife and asks where Nemo got it. Nemo replies that it belongs to the officer who has been with them the entire time. Hook recalls that the officer lost his family as a boy and Nemo confirms that his name is Liam.

(It's...just a key)

dun dun DUN!

Henry asks if he’s trying to make up for what he did to Liam and Hook says he is. But he’s failed, since they are trapped onboard the Nautilus and he can’t pick the lock. Henry stands and says that he can. He pulls out the shearers as he says that the first rule of a kidnapping is that they never search the kid.

They make it to the room where they can dive into the waters below and swim away. But only Henry is suited up. He realizes there is only one helmet, so Hook is sacrificing himself to let him get away. Hook says he’s sending Henry back to Emma. Henry asks what he did to Nemo but Hook says they don’t have time for that. He puts the helmet on and sends Henry into the water.

(And here we have the shift in Henry and Hook's relationship this episode)

Liam then shows up and says he’s glad Hook is still there. Hook says he doesn’t have to do anything but Liam pulls a gun on him, determined to make him pay.

(Well, that escalated quickly)

Nemo pleads with Hook to stay as he suits up. Hook, though, believes he needs to leave. Nemo says Liam doesn’t want revenge anymore and Liam shows up with his knife to prove him wrong. So Nemo starts pleading with Liam, telling him that he is strong and doesn’t need revenge. Liam says that Nemo got to kill everyone who murdered his family and Nemo says that he’s regretted it. He wants Liam to be stronger than him, that they are so close to finding a home of their own. Liam says he’s not stronger than Nemo and lunges for Hook. Nemo gets in the way and is stabbed. Liam holds him as he tells Hook it’s all his fault but Hook says he wanted Nemo to let him go. He leaves his brother behind as Liam shouts that it’s all his fault.

(Nemo does care for him)

Hook pleads with his brother, telling him he doesn’t want to hurt him. Liam says Hook took everything away from him—their father and then Nemo. He says they managed to get to the Mysterious Island but Hyde took Nemo, so he knows that Nemo is dead from his wounds. Hook realizes that the Mysterious Island was the Land of Untold Stories and tells Liam that Nemo must be in Storybrooke. However, Liam insists that Nemo couldn’t survive his wounds. He punches Hook, who still refuses to fight back and is knocked to the floor. Liam pulls a knife but Henry begs him to stop, distracting him.

(Please. He's a hero. Of course he came back)

Taking advantage, Hook knocks his brother unconscious. He asks why Henry came back and Henry said he couldn’t break up a family either. Hook starts to ask if it means he sees him as family but Henry stops him, telling him not push it. So Hook starts talking about why he kept the shearers but Henry says he knows that Hook loves his mother. Hook says he wouldn’t have used them on her unless it was their only choice but they decide to get rid of the shearers anyway, sending them to the bottom of the ocean for real.

(This really is the safest place you can think of? Really?)

Aladdin gives Jasmine a peace offering of tea. He says he was wrong and that even if he’s not the Savior anymore, he can still help Agrabah. Jasmine tells him that she went to a neighboring kingdom to make an alliance. On the way back, her caravan was caught in a monstrous sandstorm. They made it out okay but when they got over the great sand dunes, nothing was there.

Agrabah was gone.

(Good luck solving that, you two)

Snow spots Belle coming out from her appointment. Belle asks how the other patient is doing and Snow says he’s still in the operating room but that Dr. Whale gives him good odds. Snow then asks her how her appointment went. Belle says everything looks fine but that they gave her two sonograms. Snow asks if she’s going to give one to Rumple but Belle doesn’t know if they can repair their relationship after everything he’s done. And after seeing how their son looked at him in the dream world, she doesn’t know if it’s worth letting him into the baby’s life either.

(Poor Belle)

Liam comes to in the hospital and asks if he’s in a brig. Hook tells him where he is and apologizes. He notes that Liam hesitated when he saw Henry and his brother replies that he couldn’t destroy another family. He and Hook make up and Hook reveals that Nemo is alive. He was the patient rushed in early and he is rolled in, reunited with a relieved Liam.

(Aww?)

Hook meets up with Emma and Henry in the waiting room. Emma is confused, saying she gets that his brother is the captain of a submarine but not what they were doing by the docks. Henry asks Hook if he wants to explain and he accepts. So Henry says goodbye to them and says he’ll see them at home.

Alone, Hook confesses that he didn’t toss the shearers like she had asked. He says he loves her and he couldn’t just get rid of something that could save her. Emma forgives him and says that she would’ve done the same thing in his place. He promises her that they really are on the bottom of the ocean now and they hug it out.

(A hug solves everything)

Gold is in his shop when he hears someone enters. He says the person must be desperate since the pirate and “his son” have made up. The Evil Queen says her plan has hit a snag and she says it’s because she forgot the most important lesson Rumple taught her—know what you want and get it. He asks what she wants and she kisses him.

For those disgusted, I’m going to distract you with my favorite Evil Queen outfit:

(Look at it)

Meanwhile, Belle walks up with the sonogram. It seems like she’s about to walk in on the Evil Queen and her husband kissing but instead, she just sticks a copy of the picture under the door and walks away. She’s safe.

(Does he even deserve this?)

The Evil Queen breaks the kiss and Rumple asks if he’s what she wants. She says there is one more thing and she needs his help for. He asks why he would help her and she produces the gold shearers, explaining she had some underwater creatures who owed her favors. The Queen says she wants what she’s always wanted.

Snow White’s heart.

Well, we had to know Liam II would pop back up and this might be the best use of a new story so far this season. Not too thrilled with Golden Queen.

Next time: Does the Evil Queen finally get her revenge on Snow White? 

Screen caps from here.