OUAT: The Hunter and the Haunted

Last time on “Once:” David returned home from the hospital but still couldn’t remember anything. He was still drawn to Mary Margaret so he made the decision to leave Kathryn and try a relationship with her. Mary Margaret wasn’t too sure but Emma convinced her to go. On the way, David was misdirected by Regina and ended up in Gold’s shop. Using a windmill that had once been on the Nolans’ lawn, Gold brought back David’s cursed memories. David let Mary Margaret down and returned home to Kathryn while Mary Margaret had a one night stand with Whale.

In the Enchanted Forest, we met Prince James, a noted monster slayer. He agreed to slay a dragon for King Midas but got killed seconds later. King George, desperate to save his kingdom, called upon Rumple—who had given James to the king when he and his wife couldn’t have a child. Rumple agreed to bring the king James’ twin brother, David. David only agreed to it to save his family farm. He slayed the dragon and ended up engaged to Princess Whatever. David said goodbye to his mother and then went off to live happily ever after with Princess Don’t Care.

Until Snow White intervened.

Meanwhile, Emma did Graham a favor and worked a night shift. As she patrolled the area, she discovered someone sneaking out of the mayor’s house. When she confronted the person, she learned it was Graham and that he had a sexual relationship with Regina. She stormed off, no doubt looking for some brain bleach to get those mental pictures out of her mind.

OUAT: David and Goliath

Last time on “Once:” Emma became the deputy sheriff as an old mine shaft collapsed. Regina looked ready to kill Graham but had to focus on assuring the people of Storybrooke that something will be done with the mine…and then assuring her son that she wasn’t hiding anything. Except she totally was, but he didn’t realize that. Regina demanded that Archie step up his therapy and squash all the fairy tale notions from her son. He was reluctant but she threatened to destroy his life.

So Archie did so and an upset Henry decided to explore the mine by himself. Archie went in after him as Emma searched around the mine. Another collapse trapped Archie and Henry in the mine, forcing Regina and Emma to work together to save their son. Emma did so and Archie confronted Regina, threatening her so he could continue treating Henry the way he saw fit.

In the Enchanted Forest, we learned more about Jiminy Cricket. He wasn’t always a cricket and was a human man trapped by his conmen of parents. He met a young boy who shows him some kindness but he ruined everything when he accidentally gave the boy’s parents a potion meant for his parents. The parents are turned into demonic marionettes and Blue turned a guilty Jiminy into a cricket so he could protect the young boy, Gepetto.

All the while, David and Mary Margaret were undeniably attracted to each other. But he still has a wife.

That, my friends, is a conundrum.

OUAT: I’ve Got No Strings

Last time on “Once”: Emma met a pregnant teenager named Ashley who wanted to keep her baby despite everyone telling her she wasn’t suited for it. Emma tells her she can, no doubt also working through some of her issues about giving up Henry. Ashley assaults Gold and he asks Emma to track her down. Along the way, Emma meets Ashley’s ex-boyfriend/baby daddy and learns his father has arranged for Gold to give the baby away. Furious, she’s even more determined to make sure Ashley gets to keep her baby. She makes a deal with Gold to ensure it happens and Ashley gets to keep her little Alexandra as she reunites with her boyfriend.

In the Enchanted Forest, Ashley is apparently Cinderella. After Rumpelstiltskin kills her fairy godmother for her wand, Ella makes a deal with him to go to the ball. She fails to read the fine print and is horrified to learn he wants her firstborn child. That’s…kinda his thing, though. Anyway, when she gets pregnant she tells her prince the truth and they work with Charming to capture Rumple. Ella tricks him into using a magical pen and in revenge, he takes away her prince.

Harsh.

We open on…a puppet show. Or rather a marionette. As a couple entertains a crowd, a redheaded child makes his way through the people and picks their pockets. No one catches him and…wait…doesn’t that look like Pinocchio? Is this when he’s running with the wrong crowd?

(I'm not crazy, right?)

OUAT: Are You Sure That What You Wish is What You Want?

Last time on “Once”: Henry convinces Mary Margaret to read to John Doe, the hospital’s coma patient. When she does, he wakes up and ends up running off. Mary Margaret helps Emma and Graham find John Doe in the woods. She gives him mouth-to-mouth, saving him, and they return him to the hospital. There, Regina reveals that they’ve discovered John Doe is really David Nolan and she introduces his wife, Kathryn. Mary Margaret’s heart breaks as Emma grows suspicious over how convenient this all is. Regina manages to convince her otherwise, no doubt laughing all the way home about how she’s fooling the Savior.

In the enchanted forest, Snow and Charming meet when she robs the carriage he’s riding in with his fiancée, Prince Abigail (still hereafter known as Princess Can’t Be Bothered and the like). Snow makes off with some jewels, including a ring later revealed to have belonged to Charming’s mother. He chases after her and captures her, forcing her to bring him back to whoever she sold his jewels too. After a brief skirmish with the Black Guard, Snow brings him to the Troll Bridge. Things go south quickly and they have to defeat the trolls together. Though they part ways after, it’s clear the two are already starting to fall in love.

And judging by the longing look David gives Mary Margaret, those feelings still exist despite the curse. As a forlorn Mary Margaret considers this, Emma shows up to ask if the spare room is still available. It is and the two become roommates.

All together now: Aww!

OUAT: I Will Always Find You

Last time on “Once”: Emma decided to stay in Storybrooke, much to Regina’s consternation. So Regina does everything she can to make Emma’s life miserable—including having her arrested and evicted. But Henry keeps coming to her rescue—with Mary Margaret in tow. Emma decides she needs to stay to help her son and decides to go along with Operation Cobra—AKA Henry’s plan to defeat the Evil Queen and break her curse.

In the Enchanted Forest, Regina decides to cast the Dark Curse to take away Snow’s happy ending. She goes to Maleficent and pretty much assaults her only friend to get the Dark Curse back (she exchanged it for the sleeping curse) and then attempts to cast it. When it doesn’t work out, her servant suggests she go talk to the Dark One. She does so and he tells her that she has to crush the heart of the person she loves most. In exchange for this information, Regina owes Rumpelstiltskin a favor. Well, that can only end well, right? Anyway, turns out Regina’s servant is really her father and she crushes his heart, casting the curse.

This is supposed to be a family show, right?

OUAT: Crushing Hearts Since 2011

So, way back in 2011 I first watched Once Upon a Time. And I really, really meant to recap it since the first season. But life got in the way then and I didn’t start recapping until last year with season 3B.

My sister put me on her Netflix account (thanks KB!) and so I’ve been able to go back to watch Season 1 Once Upon a Time again. Since season 5 doesn’t start until September 27th, I’m going to recap an episode until it comes back. (Yes, I realize I probably should’ve started earlier. But oh well). Maybe I can catch up soon.

So, let’s all go back to the eh year of 2011 and recall how we started the strange yet incredible journey that is Once Upon a Time.

Way, way back in the pilot: Prince Charming awakens Snow White and they get married. The Evil Queen shows up to threaten their happily ever afters and destroy the couple. Snow becomes pregnant and as she gives birth, the Queen casts her spell. Purple clouds devour everything as Charming gets their daughter to a magical escape hatch, being fatally wounded in the process.

That daughter may or may not be Emma Swan, who on her 28th birthday is found by the son she gave up for adoption. He says he’s been adopted by the Evil Queen and he lives in a town where everyone is a fairy tale character but they don’t know it. Emma takes him home and she gets the feeling that something is wrong. Henry asks her to say, his mother (the Mayor) practically bullies Emma to leave and some guy named Gold is creepy.

As she goes to bed, the town clock that’s been broke forever starts to move.

dun dun DUN!