OUAT: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

Another episode featuring Zelena and Oz and since neither new song added to Wicked For Good seem to fit this episode, I’m using lyrics instead of song titles.

My Once Upon a Time recaps return, resuming with Season 6 since I never finished those recaps! Here we go!

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Last time on “Once”: Hook encountered Tiger Lily, who helped him stay away from angry and vengeful Lost Boys. They managed to evade them as he tried to get his way back to Storybrooke.

In Storybrooke, Regina tried to find a way to break the curse on Snow and Charming. She got an idea as they drifted off into a presumably permanent sleep and had everyone in Storybrooke share the curse. This weakened it and allowed Charming and Snow to finally wake up.

Flashbacks revealed that Charming and Snow woke up during the first curse and were briefly reunited. They found a way to get to little Emma but Rumple convinced them not to go to her, to let fate play out so they could stop Regina – who was still in full Evil Queen mode. So they left Emma in foster care and allowed themselves to be cursed again.

Parents of the Year.

Anyway, Fiona and Gideon are still threats and Rumple and Belle are still determined to stop her and save him.

No wonder my “Last time” recaps were almost as long as the regular recaps! Because that was me trying to condense it into one paragraph and failing!

We open in the merry old land of Oz as young Zelena walks down the yellow brick road. She encounters a boy about her age with an axe who is cutting wood. She warns him to be careful before they find a nest that’s fallen with a broken egg. He reveals someone knocked it out of the tree and Zelena uses her magic to fix it.

The yellow brick road needs a new paint job. 

Other kids come out of the woods to mock Zelena and warn the other boy to stay away from her. But they were the kids who knocked the nest out of the tree before the tree fell. So the boy threatens them with his axe and they run off. He introduces himself as Stanum and it seems Zelena has herself a friend!

We flash out of Oz and to Zelena’s farmhouse as Baby Robin cries. Zelena quickly makes a bottle for her and when she races into the next room, she stops short. The Black Fairy stands there with Peanut in her arms, taunting Zelena. She pretty much demands that Zelena help her or she would hurt Peanut.

Poor Peanut.

And now Zelena is pissed off, which can never end well for anybody.

Cue the credits!

OUAT: Exeunt Emma Swan

Last time on “Once:” A strange sense of deja vu.

Henry decided to leave home after graduating high school in order to find his own story since he was in any of the storybooks he found in the Sorcerer’s mansion. Regina had her concerns but let him go, watching as he used a magic bean to drive his motorcycle off into another realm. We next saw him all grown up and now played by Andrew J. West as he caused a carriage on the road to crash. He ran over to check on the rider, surprised to find it was a new version of Cinderella.

He roused her and she was rightly pissed off that he destroyed her carriage and made her horse run off. She said she was late for the ball and Henry offered to give her a ride on his motorcycle. She had some doubts but she got in, letting him show her how it worked. Henry then told her about her story at her request, about how she falls in love with the prince but has to leave him a sign to find her—her shoe. Cinderella laughed, saying that was ridiculous. And she didn’t believe in signs anyway. She did believe in punching Henry and stealing his motorcycle, though.

He was clearly in love with her before he even hit the ground.

Henry pursued Cinderella to the ball, dancing with her as he tried to get his knife back from her. She confessed that she was really there to kill the prince because he killed her father. Henry tried to convince her to come with him to his land, to get a second chance. But she chose to get her revenge, running off with the prince. Henry tried to stop her but he ended up tripping and meeting Alice, who said she was asked to watch over him by his grandfather. She warned him that bad things happen when someone interferes in a story that isn’t their own and told him to go home. Henry said he helps people and stormed back to the ballroom.

Cinderella was about to kill the prince but had a change of heart. Unfortunately for him, Lady Tremaine killed him because he rejected Drizella while his own brother seemed to favor her. She then framed Cinderella and Henry helped her escape, telling her to take his motorcycle and meet him where they first met so they could go to his realm together. An epic fight scene ensued as Cinderella made a break for it.

Henry returned to the spot where het met Cinderella but she wasn’t there. He figured she took the bike and went somewhere else just as his portal home opened. But when Henry spotted her shoe, he knew she wanted her to find her. So he allowed the portal to close up and announced that Operation Glass Slipper was a go.

All of this was intercut with scenes in our world, focused on a town in Seattle called Hyperion Heights. Unsuccessful but published author Henry was drawn there after a young girl name Lucy knocked on his door and told him that she was his daughter. She told him his family was trapped in a curse and they needed to break it. Henry told her curses weren’t real and he just made up everything in his book.

Lucy stole his laptop to force him to journey out to her neighborhood and it worked. There, he met Roni—Regina’s cursed identity who owns a bar—and Jacinda, Lucy’s mother and Cinderella’s cursed identity. She had a bad day, getting fired from her minimum wage job and then losing Lucy. Her stepmother, Victoria Belfrey—Lady Tremaine—then ordered that Lucy live with her full time and Jacinda ran off as Roni glared at Victoria.

Meanwhile, Henry’s presence was reported by Alice’s cursed self to Rumple’s cursed self, Weaver. He seemed to be a shady character in the neighborhood. Keep that in mind.

Henry discovered his car was stolen and he reported it missing, meeting Hook’s cursed self, Officer Rogers. Afterward, he had a tense confrontation with Lucy where he told her that she wasn’t his daughter because he lost his real wife and daughter in a fire. She couldn’t convince him that was just part of the curse and he left as Jacinda pulled up and told Lucy they needed to go.

Victoria enlisted Officer Rogers’ and Henry’s help to find Jacinda and Lucy. Henry told her of an island Jacinda confessed she wanted to live on and Officer Rogers picked up Lucy. Ivy—Drizella’s cursed counterpart—took the book away from her and gave it to Rogers. He spotted something inside it but pushed it aside. Afterwards, Jacinda gave it to Henry and walked away as he got his car back.

Officer Rogers got a promotion to detective and was partnered with Weaver—who was doing shady things earlier if you remember. Roni decided not to sell her bar to Victoria, deciding to stand up to the town bully. Jacinda got her job back and then went to toss a quarter into the well. As she did so, Rogers continued to stare at the page in the book that enticed him earlier—a picture of Emma—and Henry discovered that there is no cemetery where he thought his family was buried. He then went home and started writing as a flower bloomed in the garden.

We open in Storybrooke, years ago…according to the title card. Hook fights young Henry on the Jolly Roger, the two clashing swords all over its deck until Henry gets the upperhand. Emma praises him, saying he fights as well as his grandfather. Henry starts to reply and Hook is able to introduce him to floor. He gives Henry some advice but Henry just goes off to sulk, saying he’ll never be good enough.

(Teen angst ahoy!)

Emma asks what’s going on with him and Hook tells her that Henry is growing. She realizes he’s going to leave and Hook agrees, saying it’s time. Emma, though, is worried. She says she missed so much and doesn’t know if she’ll get a second chance. Hook assures her she will have the time. He then pulls out a little bottle from a chest and she asks if it’s rum. He says it’s something he picked up during his troubles, explaining you speak a message into it, say the name of whoever you want it to go to and then drop it in the water. It’s then taken to that person. Emma realizes he’s going to give to Henry so he can stay in touch and she thanks him. Hook assures her that Henry will be fine, that he was lucky to have a mother like her. And she says Henry is lucky to have a pirate like Hook. They hug as they watch a brooding Henry continue to brood.

(Ridiculously happy)

OUAT: A Brand New Beginning…

I’m not going to do a “Last time on Once” here. The season 6 finale wrapped up several storylines. That story is over. In many ways, Once Upon a Time is over and this is a brand new reiteration…that just so happens to be season 7. So we’re going to start fresh.

(Actually text from the start of the episode. Sounds familiar, no?)


We open in the familiar sight of Storybrooke before returning to 108 Mifflin Street (AKA the Mills’ household). Regina and Henry (still Jared Gilmore, in a guest starring role) leave. He has a backpack on as well as a leather jacket and appears to have finally caught up with Jared’s real age. Regina asks if he really has to go and says she always thought he’d go to college after graduating high school. Henry says that college is always going to be there but he needs to do this. He says that Operation Cobra is over—everyone has their happy endings—and Regina says that it’s all the more reason to stay. Henry replies that he’s the author and he’s written everyone’s stories, returning the book to the Sorcerer’s mansion. He says he discovered hundreds of other books (though that’s been discovered a few times since Season 4) and there are different versions of all the fairy tale characters, like a French Snow White. But he’s not in any of them. He wants to find his story and to do that, he needs to leave. Regina nods, hugging him.

(My Regal Believer heart!)

Henry pulls away and heads to a motorcycle, getting on it. I guess August gave him lessons? He puts on his helmet before pulling out a magic bean, tossing it ahead of him. A portal opens as Regina watches, concerned. She points out that it’s his only bean which means getting back…”Will be an adventure,” he finishes. He tells her he loves her and she echoes the sentiments. With one more smile, Henry takes off and drives his motorcycle into the portal.

(Bye, Henry!)

We then open in “Another Realm Some Years” later. The motorcycle roars down a road and we focus on Henry, now played by Andrew J. West and no longer wearing a helmet. As he continues down, he spots a small carriage coming toward him. The woman inside seems to be having trouble with her horse even before he gets spooked as Henry swerves to avoid hitting them. The carriage is overturned, throwing the woman to the ground amongst several flowers, and the horse runs off. Henry hops off his motorcycle to check on the woman. She is wearing a beautiful blue-purple ballgown but what draws Henry’s attention are her shoes. They are glass slippers and he gasps out: “Cinderella?”

(The shoes are pretty much a dead giveaway)

(I saw this episode at New York Comic Con and afterwards, the moderator asked Adam and Eddy what Henry’s motorcycle is running on. Their answer: Magic. Best guess is that Regina enchanted it). 

Once Upon a Cast Shake Up

Once Upon a Time has officially been renewed for Season 7. As I said in this blog post, Season 7 will feature a "reboot" of the series. What that looks like will only start to be known after tonight's finale. But we do know it will be moving forward without a significant number of current cast members.

Actress Jennifer Morrison, who has played Emma Swan since the pilot, announced Monday morning that she will not be returning for Season 7. She made this in advance of the show's official renewal notice on Thursday, but it seemed that someone was going to announce her departure anyway. She said she wanted to spend more time with her friends and family as well as pursue other projects, all of which are perfectly valid. Morrison did confirm she'll return for one episode of Season 7, though she doesn't know if it will be the premiere or some other episode.

After it was announced that Once would come back for a seventh season, Rebecca Mader (Zelena) posted a message to her Instagram announcing that she was leaving after season six. In it, Mader stated that her departure was not her choice but rather a "creative" decision. The same was the true later when Emile de Ravin (Belle) confirmed that she was leaving as well.

Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis, the co-creators, also confirmed that Josh Dallas (Prince Charming), Ginnifer Goodwin (Snow White), and Jared Gilmore (Henry Mills) will also not be regulars anymore either. Nothing has been said about whether they chose to leave or if it was a creative decision on the show's part. Based on everything I've heard from within the fandom, I believe Dallas and Goodwin opted not to renew their contracts. And if the speculation that Andrew J. West is playing an older Henry is correct, then Gilmore was mostly not asked back.

So is anyone coming back? Yes, the show has confirmed that Lana Parrilla (Regina Mills), Colin O'Donoghue (Captain Hook) and Robert Carlyle (Rumpelstiltskin) will be returning for Season 7. What that means and how the show will now appear is yet to be seen. I know many fans are not happy over this development and I'm not sure how much the General Audience knows yet. I do believe ABC is taking a gamble on the reboot but it could pay out for all we know, bringing new life to the show and new fans. Or it could alienate an already dwindling audience while displeasing a very passionate fanbase.

As I said, everything waits to be seen.

In the meantime, vote for which character you will miss the most.

OUAT: Wake Up Call

Last time on “Once:” Hook made it from Agrabah to a little village by the sea, finding Blackbeard there. He played him for a magic bean so Hook could get back to Emma, betting the Jolly Roger. He lost because Blackbeard cheated but Hook had an ace up his sleeve (not literally, though). Since he didn’t have the Roger, Blackbeard had to give him the bean so they could get it.


In Storybrooke, Regina worked to try to undo the sleeping curse but was having no luck. Henry offered to help her but they were sidetracked when he went into a trance, writing some strange things down. They had to go to Isaac to get help and he agreed to do it provided Regina freed him so he could get out of town. He said that Henry’s author powers were taking over and they were going to get worse.


Meanwhile, Emma agreed to help Gideon stop the Black Fairy if he brought back Hook. He took her to the Sorcerer’s mansion so that they could open a portal but instead of a pirate, a giant spider came through. It chased after them and they ran, trying to find a place to hide. However, the spider soon found them and Gideon betrayed Emma, leaving her to the spider so that he could drain her powers and open the portal so the Black Fairy could enter that dimension.


We got a glimpse of Gideon’s childhood with the Black Fairy. He stole back the book Belle left for him, reading from it to his friend Roger until the Black Fairy caught them. She decided to show Gideon he wasn’t a hero by giving him the option of saving Roger when she tortured him. But Gideon was a scared child and so he hid instead.


Gideon grew up and the Black Fairy tested him again. He was reunited with Roger, who told him of a Savior who could defeat the Black Fairy and her nefarious plans. The two of them tried to summon the Savior but the Black Fairy interrupted them, disappointed that Gideon failed. She turned Roger into a bug and then squashed him before taking Gideon’s heart, controlling him.


Emma almost died but Rumple saved her, helping her defeat the spider. Snow and Belle joined them as Emma told Rumple that his son was no good, that she couldn’t save him. He told her that she was making a mistake and Emma reminded him that she didn’t start this. Snow and Emma left as Belle wondered if Gideon was really a lost cause. Rumple believed he wasn’t especially as he was far away from the Black Fairy’s influence.


Except he wasn’t as even Emma’s brief brush with death was enough to open a bit enough hole for the Black Fairy to come through. She’s in Storybrooke and she has plans.


Hook and Blackbeard ended up in Neverland and the Lost Boys were not happy to see them. They chased the two pirates to a beach, where Blackbeard knocked out Hook and stole the only rowboat. Hook came to in time to see his frenemy row away without him. With the Lost Boys closing in, he ran off again.


Regina gave in to Isaac’s demands, though not completely. He was allowed to leave Storybrooke but in a minivan rather than a sports car and sans tickets to Hamilton. (Which apparently was a thing because the writers no doubt forgot their own timeline and the fact the show is still currently in 2015 at best). Before he left, Isaac told her and Henry that his powers were acting up because they were nearing the end of the book and the final battle was near. He warned them to leave the town too.


Can things get any worse?


Let’s find out!


Hook is still running from the Lost Boys as the episode opens. He takes a tumble down a hill that allows the Boys to surround him. Realizing he was cornered, he offered to tell them where he had hidden his treasures and rum but they just want him to suffer for what happened to Pan. Hook sighs and pulls his sword, ready to fight them. He tells them that he has someone waiting for him and so they need to make this quick.

(Hook is reunited with his first love, Floor)

OUAT: There's Always a Giant Spider

Last time on “Once:” Hook was desperate to find his way back to Storybrooke after Gideon sent the Nautilus into another realm. However, they needed kraken blood. Their quest for it brought Hook back to Jasmine and Aladdin, who were still searching for Agrabah. Jasmine finally confessed that Jafar took Agrabah so they hope finding him will help all of them.

When the Nautilus started to sink, Jasmine wished them to where Jafar was. They landed by a Tiki shack that turned out to be owned by Ariel, who had an adventure with Jasmine years ago!

The Sultan tried to marry off Jasmine in order to secure a neighboring kingdom’s army to help fight Jafar. Jafar, though, showed up and turned one prince into a fancy walking stick. He then revealed that Aladdin was a broken hero and that Jasmine’s only chance to save her people was to marry him. Jasmine refused but he gave her to sundown to either accept his offer or defeat him. Otherwise, Agrabah would be destroyed.

While wandering through Agrabah, Jasmine encountered a merchant who chased after a street rat. Hoping it was Aladdin, she gave chase and saved Ariel when the merchant roughed her up. Ariel revealed she was there to find Prince Eric and Jasmine wanted to make a deal with him to use his navy. In the middle of the desert. Just go with it.

Jasmine introduced Ariel to the flying carpet and Ariel discovered she had a fear of heights as they fly out to a caravan outside the city. They found Eric…but it was really Jafar in disguise. Time had run out so Jasmine had to choose—her city or marriage to him. Tick tock. Ariel tried to convince Jasmine to use some magic she took from Jafar against him but she decided to marry him instead. She gave him a ring containing the prized jewel of the kingdom. Jafar revealed he just wanted the ring because it contained magic that protected Agrabah. With it, he made the city disappear.

Ariel revealed she had a lamp and they realized that Jafar became a genie. They planned to use their wishes to make him do what they wanted but once Jasmine freed him, he broke the curse. He put Aladdin, Ariel and Hook under a sleeping spell and taunted Jasmine. She got him to reveal that Agrabah was in her ring, though, before she got the upper hand and turned him into a fancy walking stick. Jasmine and Aladdin released Agrabah using True Love’s Kiss and Ariel let Hook use her shellphone in order to contract Emma.

Emma, meanwhile, was doing her best to avoid feeling anything about Hook leaving. So Regina of all people had to plot to do so by tricking Emma to having a girls’ night out at Storybrooke’s newest bar. Drunk!Snow stole the show while Aesop got Emma to finally talk about her feelings. She had a good cry, had some alcohol and then went home to put Hook’s things in storage. She received his call and learned the truth.

Aesop showed up and revealed that he was really Gideon in disguise. He said that since he now had Emma’s tears, he could make sure Hook could never return home to Storybrooke. In order to save Hook, Emma needed to help him destroy the Black Fairy. Reluctantly, she agreed.

We open with a shot of the Black Fairy flying through some clouds. She carries a sleeping baby in a carrier and it’s pretty obvious that it’s baby Gideon. She soars through some mines as people look at her in fear and surprise. When she lands, a young woman asks if the baby is another child to work in the mines. The Black Fairy says the baby is different and calls him precious. The young woman, who kinda looks like Drew Barrymore in Ever After, says she’ll take care of him like he was her own. The Black Fairy isn’t pleased and tells her to take care of him like he was her (the Black Fairy’s) own. Drew Barrymore lookalike takes out a book and we see Belle’s message to Gideon. The Black Fairy takes it and tells the baby that he won’t need the book before calling him Gideon, in case we had any doubts by now.

(Aww. He's adorable)

OUAT: A Million Miles Away

Last time on “Once:” The Evil Queen and Regina had their final showdown. Queenie recruited Robin to help her with her plan, having him dig up the golden shearers and then using her as bait to lure Regina to her office. Regina went and Queenie used the shears to separate each other for good. They battled in the mayor’s office until Regina got the upper hand. Before she could crush Queenie’s heart, she was reminded of an episode from her past.

After failing once again to capture Snow White, Regina came face to face with Tinkerbell. The former fairy told Regina that she was scared to love and that’s why she hadn’t gone to find the Man with the Lion Tattoo. Regina laid into her and then spared her life as some sort act of mercy to impress the villagers, to turn them from supporting Snow White.

Her father, though, was paying attention. Wanting to find happiness for Regina, he told her that he knew of a way for her to get revenge on Snow White. He brought her to a grove enchanted by Cupid before admitting he really wanted to help her find the person she loved the most. Regina, though, created a potion that made the arrow find the person she hated the most instead. That person?

Herself.

So Regina decided to end the cycle of self-hatred and embraced Queenie’s darkness. Pressing their hearts together, she took on some of it while giving Queenie some of her light. She put the hearts back in their respective chests, giving Queenie a new lease on life. Queenie apologized and gave up on vengeance, realizing she needed a some place where she could start over. Regina recruited Henry, who sent her to the wish realm. Queenie reunited with Robin and the two shared a drink.

Outlaw Queen lives on.

Elsewhere, Emma showed off her engagement to everyone and gushed over being engaged. Snow wanted to plan the wedding but Emma said she and Hook were waiting until they defeated Gideon and the threat of Emma dying wasn’t hanging over them. Meanwhile, Hook was agonizing over not telling Emma about killing her grandfather and got some excellent advice from Captain Nemo.

He didn’t take it.

Instead, he put his memories into a dreamcatcher and tried to burn it. Emma caught him and was more upset that he didn’t talk to her about it than the fact he killed her grandfather. She told him she thought he was ready for marriage, ready to rely on her but she guessed he wasn’t. Emma gave him back the ring. Heartbroken, Hook asked to join Nemo on his next voyage so he could become the man Emma deserved. Nemo welcomed him aboard.

Before they could shove off, Snow told Hook about Regina redeeming Queenie and told him that sometimes even villains can be redeemed through love. It struck a chord with Hook, who told Nemo he was going to stay and try to repair things with Emma. Nemo wished him luck as the Nautilus began to dive. Gideon revealed he was sending the vessel—and Hook—far away because he needed Emma to be alone for his plan. He magicked himself out and watched from the shore as Hook disappeared beneath the water.

Meanwhile, Emma went home and realized that Hook had left her. She turned off her porch light and went to nurse her broken heart.

Emma watches her father pace the loft as he tries to process the fact that Hook killed his father. She apologizes for having to tell him this way and he asks why Hook didn’t have the guts to tell him himself. Emma tells David about her fight with Hook and says that Leroy spotted him boarding the Nautilus. She says he watched it go out to sea, taking Hook with it. David hugs her, comforting his brokenhearted daughter.

OUAT: Regina Embraces Herself

Last time on “Once:” Rumple captured Gideon and promised to help him, not wanting to see him turn to darkness. They discovered that the sword could only be reforged using the magic of the one who made it—the Blue Fairy. Gideon caught his fairy godmother but Rumple drained her magic, saving his son from the darkness. He kept the Blue Fairy in a catatonic state, hoping to restore her magic once he and Belle save Gideon.

In flashbacks, we met Beowulf, from one of the first Anglo-Saxon epics. He led an army against the ogres but were soundly defeated. Beowulf was about to be killed when Rumple showed up, using his powers as the Dark One to destroy all the ogres and end the First Ogres’ War. He was hailed as a hero by all—especially Bae—but Beowulf warned he was really a monster.

As villagers gave Bae a hard time due to his father, they came to ask Rumple for his help. They told of a monster called Grendel terrorizing nearby villages and that it killed all the warriors they sent to fight it. So they hoped Rumple would be able to do so. He and Bae set out to find him and Rumple admitted to feeling tempted to use his magic. He entrusted his dagger to Bae and promised to prove to everyone he wasn’t a monster.

Father and son discovered Grendel was really Beowulf. He was going to pin everything on Rumple, turning the villagers against him and letting Beowulf to be a hero again. Rumple tried to reason with him, tried to bring him to the village to prove he was the real Grendel, but Beowulf kept taunting him. Finally, Bae grew so angry, he ordered his father to kill the man and he did.

The darkness started to claim Bae so Rumple made him forget about what happened. Bae then believed his father had given in and ran away, repulsed by the monster he thought Rumple had become.

Meanwhile, Robin made an alliance with Zelena to break out of Storybrooke. They tried to use magic he stole from Regina to break the protection spell on the town line but it didn’t work. Regina caught them and she had it out with Robin. She then agreed to help him get out of dodge, as it were, and he thanked her. Later, she and Zelena had a conversation where she took responsibility for her actions as the Evil Queen. They then discovered Snake!Queen had escaped. The snake found Robin, bit him and turned back into Queenie. She immediately began flirting with him and he seemed intrigued.

Hook spent his day drinking at Granny’s, telling Archie that he was debating telling Emma he killed her grandfather or not. He said he wasn’t the man she deserved but Archie disagreed. Finally, Hook went home to discover Emma had found the ring. She told him yes but he still asked…without revealing his big secret.

Uh oh.

We open in the Enchanted Forest. Two children run into a cabin and then the black guards surround it. The Queen’s carriage pulls up and she asks where Snow White is. One guard tells her that Snow was spotted going into the cabin early that morning and there’s been no movement since. She orders him to gather the villagers so they can see what happens to their princess. Her father pleads with her, saying that killing Snow won’t endear the people to her. She doesn’t want that—she wants Snow’s heart.

Regina enters the cabin and approaches the bed where she thinks Snow is sleeping. She sticks her hand in…and comes out with a handful of straw. Regina storms out, killing a guard as she declares that Snow isn’t there. She tells the gathered villagers that they shouldn’t protect Snow because she doesn’t care for them or love them. But Regina does care and love them.

A familiar voice says that she’s lying. Everyone turns to find Tinkerbell emerging from the woods. Welcome back, Rose. Congrats on the success of iZombie! You rock as Liv! Anyway, she says that Regina doesn’t know anything about love and says she knows it because she was there when Regina threw away her chance at love. Regina asks if she should be living in a tulip somewhere. Tink ignores the dig and tells her that she’s there because it started with her. Because she showed her a future full of love with the Man with the Lion Tattoo. Tink tells Regina that he’s still out there and she should be with him. Regina replies that nobody and nothing dictates her future—especially pixie dust. Tink tells her that pixie dust only shows possibilities and it’s up to us to act on them.

So no, Regina wasn’t obligated to be with Robin. She chose to be.

Anyway, Tink’s not done. She says Regina doesn’t go after love because she feels she doesn’t deserve it. That hits a bit too close to home for Regina and she snaps at Tink. She then tells the villagers she’s going to spare Tink to prove that the pixie is wrong, that she is able to love and that she loves her people. She tells Tink to appreciate her gift.

(It's the Captain of our Ship! Hi, Tink!)

The Fate of Once Upon a Time

There’s a lot of talk about whether or not Once Upon a Time will get a seventh season and if it does, it would most certainly be different and probably not have the full cast.

Most of this started a month or so ago. Channing Dungey, the current head of ABC programming, spoke about ideas Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis were talking about for the upcoming season, including rebooting the show. She said they were still thinking about it but confirmed that the storyline that began on October 23, 2011 will be coming to a close this May. There was also talk that not everyone in the current cast would be returning, which was further fueled when Jennifer Morrison (Emma Swan) went on a podcast and confirmed that her contract was up at the end of the season. She was in the middle of negotiations, though, she noted. A few weeks later, Robert Carlyle (Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold) noted he was still not sure what his status for Season 7 was and that he too was in contract negotiations while he was doing press for T2 (the Trainspotting sequel).

As we are now in the back 11 episodes of season 6, speculation is now running rampant. It grows more likely that if we get a season 7, it will be revamped and not everyone currently in the cast will be returning. Most rumors seem to agree that there are negotiations with Colin O’Donohue (Captain Hook) and Lana Parrilla (Regina/the Evil Queen). Morrison and Carlyle are also rumored to be in consideration for season 7. Rumors also say that Ginnifer Goodwin (Snow White) and Josh Dallas (David Nolan/Prince Charming) aren’t going to return. There are also rumors that Jared Gilmore (Henry Mills) also won’t be asked back. Nothing has been said of Emilie de Ravin (Belle) or Rebecca Mader (Zelena/The Wicked Witch of the West).

There are two potential new cast members for season 7. First is Andrew J. West, who has been cast as a character who the casting call said is a cynical recluse who still has a spark of hope waiting for the right to person to rekindle it. Second is Alison Rodriguez, who has been cast as a young ten-year-old who is precocious and mischievous, who has had a tough life so far. Right now, they are confirmed for the season finale but if the show is picked up for another season, they are slotted to join the main cast. Naturally, there has been lots of speculation about them just like there was when Hank Harris (Dr. Jekyll) and Sam Witwer (Mr. Hyde) were cast for the season 5 finale. But this does seem to be setting up something similar to the pilot, when ten-years-old Henry found a cynical and jaded Emma.

What do I think? I think Season 7 is pretty certain and I’m growing more and more convinced the reboot is inevitable. However, I’m not thrilled with the prospect. I can understand why the writers are doing it—they probably want a fresh canvas to tell new stories, go in new directions, jumpstart their creative juices. The executives at ABC are probably hoping a new start will stop the hemorrhaging ratings and hopefully bring in new audiences (as well as bring some back).  However, I fear it might backfire on them. When I talk to people who love Once Upon a Time, most of them focus on the characters, not the storyline. So losing a good portion of the cast and rebooting the characters of the remaining ones can alienate the remaining audience.

My personal opinion is that Once Upon a Time should get a Season 7 but it should be a proper final season. There are quite a few stories that need a proper ending. More importantly, though, is that Emma was brought to Storybrooke to return the happy endings. So give us those happy endings. Give us closure. (Which is a bitter word for me right now, given that they spoke of “closure” for Outlaw Queen with the current Robin Hood arc and it’s anything but). (I still hope Regina’s happy ending features Robin Hood. I feel like I’m just asking for disappointment). Don’t introduce new people. Bring back old, familiar faces. Ruby. Archie. Granny. The Dwarves. Marco. Really wrap them up. Give them their happy endings.

So what do you think? I’m resurrecting my poll after like three years, so please vote. 

OUAT: Let's Escape

Last time on “Once:” After an encounter with Queenie at Robin’s grave, Emma learned that the sword she found could hurt Queenie without hurting Regina. It sent Queenie spinning too and Rumple vowing to get revenge on her for what she did to Belle just added to her less-than-stellar night.

So Queenie got revenge. She stole Aladdin’s lamp and used him to send Emma to a world where she never became the Savior. Tensions rose amongst the family before Regina went to confront her other half. She realized that she and Queenie were the same, so she was Aladdin’s mistress as well. She wished herself to the dream world and he granted it.

With Regina gone as well, David decided to take matters into his own hands. He confronted Queenie and got the lamp, controlling Aladdin. He wished for Queenie to get exactly what she deserved but nothing happened. Queenie gloated that she got what she wanted—his family was falling apart. She tried to kill him but Hook and Jasmine intervened.

Later, the hooded figure emerged from Granny’s and turned her into a snake.

Meanwhile, Rumple and Belle had a talk and were horrified to learn that Blue had been attacked. She revealed that the Black Fairy had taken their son and they panicked, wondering what she was doing to him.

In the Wish Realm, Princess Emma celebrated her birthday with her loving parents and the entire court. The Enchanted Forest was prosperous and peaceful, thanks to Snow and Charming banishing the Evil Queen years ago. However, Princess Emma had been having strange dreams and found a sword under her bed. Snow waved it off and Henry figured it was for his knighting ceremony. It seemed even this wish realm, Neal was around…and died. Emma decided to put everything out of her mind and focus on Henry’s big day.

Regina arrived in the Wish Realm and freaked out the dwarves when they thought the Evil Queen returned. She then came across Emma in the woods, surprised at how docile she was as Snow and Charming threatened Regina. Regina poofed back to her castle where she found Rumpelstiltskin. He gave her some advice before making a deal with her for his freedom. As he went to find her a magic bean, she went to remind Emma that she was the Savior.

Henry was knighted and Regina burst in, much like she did at the Snowing wedding. She demanded that Emma find a hero who could fight her before kidnapping the Charmings. Emma then showed up at the Winter Palace, surrendering the kingdom to Regina. Frustrated, Regina crushed Snowing’s hearts in an attempt to get through to Emma. Nothing worked until Henry promised to avenge his grandparents, almost killing a docile Regina. Emma used her magic to stop him, jolted from her wish realm.

In Storybrooke, Rumple and Belle learned the figure under the hood—the one destined to kill Emma—was their son, all grown up.

In the Wish Realm, Rumple came through with a magic bean. Regina and Emma threw it down and a portal opened. But they are then waylaid by Robin Hood—very much alive and very much trying to rob them. Regina was shocked to see her soulmate again and as Emma tried to get her to leave, she refused to move. The portal closed, leaving them trapped.

We open in Minneapolis in 1990. Little Emma sits around a fire in an alley. She tears pages out of a book and throws them in, trying to stay warm in the harsh weather.

A male voice tells her not to tear out the story of “The Ugly Duckling.” She says she’s trying to stay warm and he asks her what she’s doing out there. Little Emma replies that she ran away from a lousy group home. She goes to rip the story again but he tells her again not to. We then see a dark-haired teenage boy who tells her that fairy tales are about transformations and belief. He says the duckling believed he was a swan so much, he became one. Emma points out that that’s not what the story is about—the duckling was always a swan. (She’s right). But he says he likes his interpretation between because it means we can become whoever we believe we are. He asks her if this what she believes is her destiny and says that she’ll find her home one day.

We next see little Emma sipping hot chocolate (with cinnamon!) at Child Services. A woman asks her how long she’s been on the streets and Emma replies a few nights. She’s then asked her name and she gives it as “Emma Swan.” Thus we now know where Emma got her last name.

(I thought it had been established that it was the name of the foster family who originally adopted her but gave her up when they had a child of their own. Or was that fanon I mistook for canon?)

(Look at baby Emma!)

OUAT: Come Back

Last time on “Once:” Gold sent a message to Belle by aging a fairy. She realized he was going to use the dust on her to accelerate her pregnancy and force her to give birth so he could cut their son from his fate. Because, you know, the accelerated pregnancy plot worked so well last season with Zelena.

Emma and Hook promised to help Belle. After talking with her son in the dream world, she showed them a book that had squid ink. Hook and Emma used it to freeze Gold and they tried to get the shearers. But Emma was knocked back by her vision. While Hook was helping her, Gold got free and went to find Belle.

Belle pleaded with Gold not to use the dust on her and then stood her ground, telling him that if he used it, he would lose her forever. She asked him if he was willing to chance that. He left without dosing her with the dust.

Later, though, Belle has some tea and soon finds her pregnancy accelerated until she is in labor. Emma and Hook take her to the fairies, who put up a forcefield that manages to keep Gold away from her until she gives birth. In the dream world, her son told Belle that she knew what she had to do to keep him safe and Belle gave the boy, named Gideon, to Blue for safekeeping. She made Blue his fairy godmother and Blue took Gideon far away. Belle told Gold she would never forgive him and he vowed to find their son.

In flashbacks, Rumpelstiltskin stole a baby and had Belle take care of him. He revealed he was going to use the baby for something and that it was no doubt dangerous. Belle worked to figure out what it was, falling into Rumple’s trap when she deciphered an incantation to summon the Black Fairy for him. He took the incantation, took the baby and locked her up so she couldn’t stop him. Blue rescued her and revealed that the Black Fairy used to protect children but now she kidnaps and tortures them. She sent Belle to stop Rumple.

Rumple summoned the Black Fairy and stunned her with squid ink. He revealed that she was his mother but she abandoned him. She said she had to make choices for power and then flew off when the ink wore off. Belle rescued the baby and returned him to his parents.

In other news, Jasmine decided to use the Genie lamp but there was no genie. Aladdin put on the shackles and became the new genie of the lamp in order to help her. Queenie was sent to kill Zelena but Regina intervened. She and Rumple then fought, leading Queenie to be the one to dose Belle. So now she’s on Rumple’s hit list.

Uh oh.

It’s late at night but Hook, Emma and Regina walk toward the vault. Hooks asks if she has something that can destroy the sword and Regina replies they don’t want to destroy the sword. They want to analyze it. He doesn’t understand since it’s supposed to kill Emma. Emma reminds him that the person wielding it is supposed to kill her. So if they can figure out anything from the sword, they want to do that first. Then they can worry about destroying things, Regina tells him.

(Excuse me while my Outlaw Queen heart explodes)

OUAT: Bye, Bye Baby

Last time on “Once:” Snow and David adjusted to life under the new sleeping curse. They took turns under it and it seemed Baby Neal didn’t get any sleep with his parents doing split shifts. It eventually took its toll on them and they grew weary of living apart while still sharing the same space.

Belle teamed up with Zelena in order to protect her unborn son, asking her to send her to another realm to get away from her husband. Zelena was willing but needed the Apprentice’s wand to do so. So they asked Aladdin to get it for them. He agreed.

Emma and Regina tried to trap Queenie in the land behind the mirror but she flipped the script and captured them instead. Hook caught onto it early but Queenie knocked him out and continued masquerading as Regina around Henry.

Henry was already nervous because Snow was throwing a dance at school and Violet had been distant lately. It didn’t help that he realized Queenie was masquerading as his mom and he had to go help her at the same time. Violet helped him escape as he went to the vault. Queenie met him there, revealing Emma and Regina were trapped with the Dragon. She turned him into a real dragon and told Henry he had to crush the Dragon’s heart to save him. He broke the mirror instead and a shot of flames helped free Regina and Emma. Hook showed up to help and Queenie left, defeated for now.

Aladdin got the wand for Zelena and stole the genie’s lamp to see if he and Jasmine could get help from it to save Agrabah.

Zelena almost sent Belle away but Gold interfered, putting a tracking device on his wife and insisting it was out of love. Zelena scoffed at that and when he tried to choke her, Gold suffered a heart attack. It seemed that thanks to what she did for him in New York back in Season 4, if he tried to kill her, he’ll die. He left, angrier than before.

So when Queenie showed up to commiserate with him, he asked her to kill Zelena.

One of the sisters runs through a basement of some sort before she is stopped by Gold. She tells him that the Mother Superior will stop him but he insists none of them can stop him now. With a flick of his hand, he ties her to a pole.

Queenie shows up, asking him what his deal is with the fairies. He doesn’t really answer, instead asking her what she’s doing there. She says she thought they were a team and he reminds her if that was so, she would’ve killed Zelena already. Queenie doesn’t think he really expects her to kill her flesh and blood but he does. He says it’s the only thing standing between them and a fresh start together. Queenie still looks torn and asks about Belle. He says he realizes she’ll never accept him for who he really is and that it’s over between them.

He then turns back to the fairy and says he’s going to use her to send a message. Gold tosses some dust on her and she ages before our eyes. Queenie pretends to be shocked while Gold just stands there and smugs.

(Sr. Granny)

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)

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)

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.

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)

OUAT: Facade

 Last time on “Once”: We revisited Cinderella and learned more about Ashley and her stepsisters. Well, mostly her stepsister Clorinda. Clorinda was awful to pretty much everybody, but especially Ella. She was even the one to dub her “Cinderella” after burning a dress that once belonged to Ella’s mother. It led Ella to discover a key to the Land of Untold Stories but she chose not to use it to escape her sad life.

At the ball, she met Snow and danced with the prince. But her stepmother taunted her, making her misinterpret a moment between Thomas and Clorinda. Heartbroken, Ella fled the ball and was ready to go to the Land of Untold Stories when Clorinda stopped her. She told Ella the prince loved her and Clorinda loved his footman, Jacob. She was running off with him. Knowing her stepmother, Ella gave Clorinda the key to use.

Lady Tremaine continued to use her mind tricks and manipulation on Ella, getting her to reveal where Clorinda went before breaking Ella’s shoe. But Thomas and Snow tracked her down. He knew it was her and proposed. She accepted before going to stop her stepmother but it was not to be. Lady Tremaine used the key, dragging Clorinda into the Land of Untold Stories in order to keep her from marrying Jacob.

In Storybrooke, Ashley asked to see the list of refugees in order to see if she could help. Later, Thomas reported her missing to Emma and explained she found Clorinda’s name on the list. He believed she was going after her stepsister. Emma, Hook and Henry tracked her down and she explained she was trying to right a wrong. She ran off as the Evil Queen came out to taunt Emma for her trembling hand and failing magic. She then sent the trio to the town line.

Ashley found Clorinda at a farm and it seemed she was going to get her revenge on Ashley for ruining her life. Lady Tremaine too, until she revealed Jacob owned the farm. Clorinda turned on her mother, who tried to shoot Jacob. Ashley took the bullet as Emma, Hook and Henry showed up. With Henry’s encouragement, she was able to heal Ashley.

As Emma decided to keep living and not worry so much about her visions, she asked Hook to move in and he agreed. Snow and Charming decided to find out what normal in post-curse Storybrooke is, with Snow deciding to go back to teaching. Regina worked with Jekyll to find a way to destroy their other halves while Rumple tried to connect with Belle.

dun dun dun!

Rumple works on a watch in his shop but grows frustrated. He stares at the scissors in his hand before disappearing behind the curtain. When he emerges, he has short hair! Yes, Rumple decided to give himself a makeover.

(Robert Carlyle was filming Trainspotting 2 over the summer so the show decided to accommodate his new do).

(He looks so dejected)

OUAT: Sympathy, Tenderness

Last time on “Once:” Snow and David found themselves the target of the famous Count of Monte Cristo when he arrived from the Land of Untold Stories. Turned out Regina hired him to kill them back in the Enchanted Forest and he was determined to follow through. She tried to call him off but he refused to back down, saying he had to see it through to the end.

She asked Emma to take her parents somewhere safe and the Charmings were alarmed to see her taking them to the town line. But the barrier was still up and Emma’s car crashed into it. Regina realized it was the same spell she had on the town line back during Curse #1 and said the only way to cast it was to use ingredients from her vault, sealed with blood magic. She asked Zelena about it but she denied having anything to do with it. Pissed off at the accusation, Zelena peaced out.

In the Enchanted Forest, Regina hired the Count to kill Snow and Charming for her because Rumple put a protection spell on them, preventing her from killing them directly. He agreed in order to get the names of everyone who wronged him but had a change of heart after meeting them…and their handmaiden, Charlotte. When it seemed Charlotte was going to be a victim, he decided not to go through with it. Rumple, though, poisoned her anyway and sent the Count into the Land of Untold Stories with her.

Now, though, the Evil Queen taunted Regina and then revealed she had the Count’s heart, controlling him, after Regina was forced to kill him to save the Charmings. The Evil Queen told them that everyone has an untold story—even them—and soon they will tear themselves apart while she sits back and watches. This unnerved Regina but Snow and Emma assured her that they will defeat the Queen.

Meanwhile, the Queen aligned herself with Zelena, got something off Rumple, who was still stinging over the fact Belle left him and was rooming with Hook, and then the Queen used what she took off Rumple to torment Charming about his father.

Deep breaths!

Regina leads Snow and Charming down the hospital hallway where she meets up with Nurse Ratchet. The nurse hands Regina a tray and she says they are going to bribe Hyde with her lasagna for some information. But when she opens the door, she’s shocked to find out that someone redecorated it and gave Hyde a steak dinner with wine. She realizes the queen beat them to it and he says that the price of his information has gone up. He holds out his handcuffs but no one moves to remove them. Hyde sighs and taunts the queen, saying she was going to have to stay one step ahead of herself now.

(Fancy digs. The Evil Queen is snazzy interior decorator)