OUAT: Dark Hook May Be the Worse Villain Yet

Last time on “Once:” We took a side trip to Dun Broch for a little trip with Merida, Mulan and Red that really had no bearing on the current plot and killed the momentum.

Last time on the other episode of “Once:” Emma rescues Merlin from Arthur’s control when he and Zelena make the miscalculated step of threatening her loved ones. Hook’s belief in them and their future helps her light the Flame of Prometheus. But when a wound he suffered from Excalibur proves to be fatal, Emma sacrifices everything to save Hook.

In Storybrooke, Zelena’s pregnancy was accelerated and she gave birth to a daughter. It was feared Emma would use the baby to destroy the light but she actually wanted to capture Zelena. She planned to put the darkness in Zelena and kill her. Hook and Zelena escaped as the Nolans and Regina tried to stop Emma. Zelena revealed Emma’s deep dark secret—the way she saved Hook? She turned him into a Dark One too.

What a twist!

We open where we left off in Episode 8, with Emma frozen with squid ink and Dark!Hook ready to burn Storybrooke, it seems. He works with Zelena and she uses her cuff on Emma before they blow that popsicle stand, despite Emma begging Hook to listen to her and to let her help him. But Hook is having none of it. Not when she turned him into the one thing he detested most of all:

The Dark One

(Zelena is enjoying this)

The Third Wish: A Stronger Rewrite?

I may be obsessed with Sean Maguire right now. Okay, I may have been obsessed with him since he showed up on Once Upon a Time at the start of season 3. Anyway, I’ve been catching some of his past work. Including this movie that I guess was made for TV.

Lucky us, huh? 

Rub a lamp and wish for SPOILERS!

OUAT: A Scottish Adventure

Last time on “Once:” Hook pursued Emma to get some answers and she finally let him in. Unfortunately, his answers were that Emma was doing everything because she turned Hook into a Dark One while in Camelot in order to save his life. So she accelerated Zelena’s pregnancy, causing her to give birth. She then kidnapped the witch and was going to put all the darkness into her before killing her. But Zelena was freed and Hook was not pleased to be a Dark One.

Uh oh.

And now for something completely different…

We open in Camelot, where Zelena and Arthur return to the palace. He seems mad that Zelena poofed them out of there even though he asked her to. This guy is just crazy. Zelena pointed out that she saved him because he wasn’t going to make it against the heroes. They need to think of something else. Arthur has an idea.

(Aww, is someone sulking?)

OUAT: Twice the Darkness and a Pinch of Cute

Last time on “OUAT:” We learned about the origins of Merlin and the Dark One. Merlin drank from the Holy Grail, which gave him magic and immortality. He helped a village thrive when a young woman named Nimue asked him for help. She fell in love with him instead. He created a sword in order to get rid of his immortality but he needs one more thing. So he and Nimue go on a quest when she found the man who destroyed her village. She tried to get vengeance but it seemed she died. Except she didn’t—she had drank from the Holy Grail and became immortal. She killed the man by crushing his heart and became the Dark One.

Merlin and Emma went to get the flame but they have to summon Nimue, who has it inside of her. Nimue though encouraged Emma to give into the darkness but Emma proved stronger. She got the flame and was one step closer to being rid of the darkness. Merlin though disappeared, summoned because Arthur had Zelena bind him to Excalibur. She had betrayed the others after helping them into the palace.

In Storybrooke, Emma reforged Excalibur as the past Dark Ones celebrated.

Everyone is in trouble now.

OUAT: *Sobs. Uncontrollably*

Last time on “Once:” The heroes busted Lancelot and Merida out of prison. Impressed by Belle’s knowledge of magic, Merida kidnapped her and took her to Dun Broch with her. She told Belle that she refused to marry one of the clan leaders and so they took her brothers from her. But she was determined to get them back. She took Belle to the witch’s cottage and they used a spell to see that the clans were going to put her brothers to death to punish her. She asked Belle to make a spell, which turns out to be the one that turned Queen Elinor into a bear.

Merida then revealed that their land came under attack and she went to fight alongside her father. He was caught by a soldier and the only way to save him was to shoot an arrow at the soldier. But she missed and she believed that’s why the clans didn’t trust her to lead. She and Belle went to rescue her brothers, Belle switching the potion out. Merida had to rely on her own skills and managed to save her brothers, earning the clans’ respect. Yay, Merida!

In Storybrooke, Emma sicced Merida on Belle. She hoped putting his wife in danger would force Gold to be a hero. When he didn’t do so fast enough—and just as he tried to flee Storybrooke—Emma ordered Merida to take the potion to become a bear. She chased Belle into the woods and Gold saved her, turning Merida back into a person. He then went to Emma’s secret lair and pulled out Excalibur.

The heroes asked Arthur to talk to Merlin but he tried to destroy the toadstool. They realized he was shady but not too smart. The toadstool was safe and they got Henry to summon Merlin, only to get his voicemail. They were more confused than ever.

What now?

ANTM: Journey’s End

Last time on “ANTM:” The final four shot mock covers for Nylon magazine and let the public pick their favorite. Most people went for Nyle and only a few chose Mame. Tyra then dropped by to visit the models and introduced them to her mother, who was their photographer for the photoshoot. But there was more! They would be posing with their own mothers. There were tearful reunions all around and the models enjoyed being with their mothers. At panel, Mame ended up being the first one called safe while Nyle soon joined her. Mikey and Lacey ended up having a tied score, leaving their fate in the hands of the judges. They decided to put both through, but there’s only two spots in the finale—one boy, one girl. Who will make it?

Find out!

Mame admires her picture and feels glad to have been able to spend time with her mother. She goes up to the Tyra Suite for her TyTyTip. Tyra tells her to let it go like her mother and her pictures will be amazing.

Mikey talks about how he was psyched out last panel when he thought he was eliminated. Mame says she got a little choked up when he sunk to the floor in tears. He says he wants to change his family’s life. Mikey realizes his only competition now is Nyle because they are competing for the  same spot. He says he’s evil now.

Nyle talks about his mother and crying at panel. He says that he’s there to be a model and because he can win. Being deaf is just part of him. Lacey talks about her period of self-doubt and the confidence now. She says it’s now her and Nyle vs. Mikey and Mame. Lacey admits that she and Nyle have been growing closer and there’s attraction there. She says it’s just been the two of them while Mikey has been with Ashley, Hadassah and Mame, who has also been with Justin. Lacey says they are distracted.

Meanwhile, Mame and Mikey talk about what she’s going to tell Justin when it’s over. Especially the night in the cabin. She says she really wants Justin but she doesn’t want to hurt him. Mame worries that Devin will say something to Justin in the eliminated house. I’d be more worried about Hadassah.

Wanna be on top?

ANTM: Mother's Day

Last time on “ANTM:” The models were given a chance to create their own business ideas and pitch them to a panel of entrepreneurs. Including Tyra. Mame bombed it while Mikey won. Next, they then went to the woods to take pictures in the dark. Lacey struggled as did Nyle but Mame and Mikey hit their stride. At panel, Mikey got best photo while Devin and Lacey fell in the bottom two. In the end, Devin was cut. Four models remain. Who will be eliminated tonight?

Find out!

Mikey goes home to celebrate his first picture call out. He goes to see his TyTyTip. Tyra tells him to rock his brand—chilling on the beach—but to remember to be high fashion. Meanwhile, Mikey and Mame flirt but Mame insists that she wants Justin. Really? Because this doesn’t look like it. Mikey says he just wants to stay focused now.

Lacey, Nyle and Mame sit down in the living room to discuss being part of the FINAL four. We’re so close to the end of it all, you guys. Lacey says this is all her dreams coming true and Mame talks about her childhood again.

OUAT: Beauty and the Brave

Last time on “Once:” In Camelot, Emma used a dreamcatcher to figure out how to get Merlin out of the tree. Regina had to relive Daniel’s death to help the process but her lost love was not strong enough. Instead, Henry’s tear after Violet told him she just wanted to be friends worked and Merlin was freed. Arthur tried to stop them but Merlin gave him a smack down once freed. He undid the spell on Snowing before offering to get the darkness out of Emma.

In Storybrooke, everyone kept trusting Arthur and Guinevere because they don’t know about how shady the king is and the spell his poor queen is under. They had a fair to cheer everyone up while some of the heroes snuck into Emma’s house while she was out helping Henry rescue Violet’s horse. They discovered that Emma has Excalibur, that it was related to the dagger and that Gold had been tied up in the secret lair. Regina also discovered a dreamcatcher and brought it home with her. She and Robin watched the memory, learning that Emma took Violet’s heart in Camelot and ordered her to break Henry’s so they could get a tear. Henry overheard and was shattered. Regina let Emma have it.

Meanwhile, Merida was under Emma’s control and began trying to turn Gold into a hero.

Good luck with that.

ANTM: The Dark I Know Well

Last time on “ANTM:” The remaining six contestants got to visit Zappos and do a runway challenge for them. After that, they created Fierce-o-grams, where the close up looks all innocent but the full picture tells the real story. That comes complete with a rooster named Maverick. Meanwhile, Hadassah and Mame were flirting with Mikey, who had a falling out with Devin. Everyone returned to LA for judging, where Mame rose to the top while Hadassah and Devin fell into the bottom two. Finally, Hadassah was ousted. Five models remain. Who will be eliminated tonight?

Find out!

The final five return to their LA home and admire Mame’s picture. She heads up to the Tyra Suite for her TyTyTip. Tyra tells her that she often wants more from Mame and notes that she has a very commanding presence. Tyra wants her to use that in her next photoshoot.

The five are amazed to realize it’s just them and Mikey says that he was the first person in his family to graduate high school and the first man not to end up in prison. He says he feels like he’s the last one with the chance to do anything great and the fact he made it this far reinforces that. Mame says it feels like they are on some island and have to rely on each other.

We then cut back to last panel, or more accurately, what happened after it. Tyra tells the remaining five that she sees entrepreneurs when she looks at them. She says modeling can only pay the bills for so long. They have to come up with an idea that they can market. Good luck, models.

OUAT: Heartbreak

Last time on “Once:” We learned more about Camelot. Arthur was destined from childhood to be king and loved Guinevere that long. But when he retrieved a broken Excalibur, he became obsessed with trying to make it whole again. In the process, he neglected Guinevere and drove her into the arms of the more attentive Lancelot. The two go on a quest to find the Dark One dagger but end up making a deal with Rumpelstiltskin for dust that could make Excalibur whole.

Except that Arthur discovered them, banished Lancelot and used the dust on Guinevere to make her love him again. They then used the dust to create the Camelot we’ve been seeing.

Shady.

In the present, Emma tried to take the dagger and was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Henry and Hook took her to the stables owned by Violet’s family, letting Henry spend some time with his crush while Emma freaked out about her son having a girlfriend. Hook then took her out riding, allowing her to forget the Dark One in her head for a bit. It was also a great moment for Captain Swan fans.

Things though weren’t great for Snowing. They argued about trusting Arthur or Lancelot. Charming tried to give Arthur the dagger while Lancelot went with Snowing to hide the dagger. Arthur followed and revealed that he wants to destroy the Dark One and Merlin. Charming showed up and Snowing revealed it was a trap. But Arthur used the dust on them so now they are pro-Arthur. Thankfully, Outlaw Queen seemed to think something was up.

And in Storybrooke, Emma untied Merida from the front of her car and took her heart, commanding her to turn Gold into a hero.

Que?

ANTM: Work the Room

Last time on “ANTM”: It was forever ago, right? Well, the models made it to Vegas and settled into their new penthouse. Don from Cycle 20 showed up to judge a challenge, which Mame won. Hadassah wondered why Dustin was back and took delight when he botched the music video. But she didn’t do so hot either, landing in the bottom two with him. But she was spared once more and Dustin was sent packing. Again. Six models remain—who will be eliminated this week?

Find out!

The models return to their penthouse to see Mikey’s face on their screen. He announces that he’ll be sharing the Tyra Suite by himself and tells Lacey to get her (bleeped) out. Charming. His TyTyTip is that he does well with motion so to try to use it at his next photoshoot.

Mikey goes to the Tyra Suite and says Ashley would’ve liked it. But he confesses that Ashley is gone, they weren’t dating, so it seems Mikey is going to go find another girl. I hope Ashley hasn’t contacted him since the cycle ended.

Hadassah talks about her critique from the panel and talks about being really far away from the pageant world now. Mame doesn’t look convinced. She then tells Lacey that she looks the same in every shot and Devin says that they are sick of Lacey winning. He thinks there’s some favoritism going on and Lacey insists she works hard. We see her TyTyTip from forever ago where Tyra tells her not to let the others get to her.

Mame and Hadassah take over the Tyra Suite. He jumps in between them and assumes they are there for sex. Hadassah seems down with it.

Wanna be on top?

OUAT: In Which Someone Tries to Outshade Blue

Last time on “Once:” Charming and Arthur went on a quest to find a toadstool that could help them talk to Merlin while he’s stuck in the tree. Charming and Arthur bond over shared experiences and a near-death experience in a bog filled with undead warriors. Even though they lost the toadstool, Arthur invited Charming to join the Round Table and to take the Siege Perilous, a great honor. As he did that, Snow discovered Lancelot was still alive and he warned her to not trust Arthur.

Also, Regina threatened Zelena but promised to make sure her child with Robin is loved and cared for.

In Storybrooke, Arthur asks David for his help in finding a magic bean that will help everyone get back to Camelot. David manages to discover that Arthur’s squire Grif took it. Except he everything but swears there was no bean. In the process, David finds the toadstool again and gives it back to Regina.

But we then learned that Arthur was shady, just like Lancelot said. He had set everything up to earn David’s trust and then encouraged Grif to drink poison. He admitted to wanting to set up a new Camelot in Storybrooke and can’t risk anyone finding out he’s playing the heroes. Meanwhile, Hook and Emma had a talk wherein he broke her heart but it was also a trick so Emma could get the last ingredient needed to revive Gold, who she planned to turn into a hero. Hook asked Robin for help getting behind the NOT SUSPICIOUS AT ALL door and Belle tried to figure out where her husband went.

Take a deep breath and let it go. Ready? Let’s begin.

OUAT: Two Bros on an Adventure

Last time on “OUAT:” Everyone tried to figure out what happened in Camelot while they discovered Arthur and his subjects had landed in Storybrooke. Hook tried True Love’s Kiss on Emma but it didn’t work, indicating she doesn’t want to be free of the Dark One. Emma taunted Regina, saying she’ll never break Emma’s curse because there’s no Savior. Henry told Regina she will save them but Regina doubted herself, especially after a Fury takes off with Robin. She learned she hadn’t paid the price of magic so she sacrificed herself for Robin’s life. Mary Margaret, David, Arthur and Leroy joined her and the Fury disappears, leaving Robin alone. Regina finally believed she could be the Savior.

In Camelot, Arthur revealed that Merlin is trapped in a tree. He said that one of their visitors is the Savior foretold to get Merlin out. Regina kept Emma from stepping forward and claimed the title to make sure Arthur didn’t learn that Emma was the Dark One. Arthur threw a ball in their honor and so we got Snowing, Outlaw Queen and Captain Swan dances! Henry flirted with a girl named Violet and everything was going well until Sir Percival tried to kill Regina. Robin jumped in and was stabbed in the process. When Regina’s magic failed to heal him, she asked Emma to do it. Despite the risk, she saved Robin and said she would pay the price the Dark One apparently is required to set for using magic. She tried True Love’s kiss with Killian but it seemed she liked the magic a bit too much.

In the end, we learned that Emma has Excalibur hidden in the secret room in her house.

dun dun dun

OUAT: I Could’ve Danced All Night

Last time on “Once:” Our heroes went searching for Emma after she was taken away by the cloud of dark magic. The Apprentice gave them a wand to use but someone with dark magic needed to wield it. Regina has become good so they have to turn to Zelena. She continued to victimize Robin so Regina ix-nayed that idea but Hook wrangled Henry into going behind Regina’s back. Zelena busted out and tried to use the wand to go back to Oz. Regina tricked her and used Emma’s baby blanket to transport a bunch of them in Granny’s.

In the Enchanted Forest, Emma learned being the Dark One came with its own annoying tutorial. This one happened to take the form of Rumpelstiltskin, believing it to be the form most familiar to Emma. He spent the time encouraging her to use her magic and embrace the darkness. Emma, though, was determined to make it to Camelot. Along the way, she met up with Merida and the two journeyed together until Merida overheard Emma fighting the Dark One about killing Merida.

Granny’s arrived just in time so they could stop Emma from crushing Merida’s heart. The gang promised to help Emma and Merida goes off to solve her problem. As they returned to Granny’s, King Arthur showed up to take them to Camelot. They entered the kingdom…and then ended up back in Storybrooke with the last six weeks erased.

Emma has become the Dark One and they need to piece together what happened in Camelot to help her.

ANTM: Shake Ya Booty

Last time on “ANTM:” The models went on go-sees but were surprised when they were paired with the seven eliminated models. Kelly revealed that the eliminated models would remain with them for the week and that at panel, one of the remaining models would be eliminated…but an eliminated model would come back. After posing with dogs, everyone waited to find out their fate. Dustin was the one to come back into the competition. Devin and Justin fell into the bottom two as Tyra revealed everyone safe will be going to Vegas. So who is packing for Vegas and who is packing for home?

Find out!

We pick up where we left off. So who is going home instead of to Las Vegas?

Justin.

Tyra tells Justin that he started to lose his swagger and next to the other strong competitors, he began to fade away. Justin thanks her, says goodbye to Mame and tearfully tells the camera that he just hopes his parents are proud of him. Oh, and he wants to continue his relationship with Mame.

America’s Next Top Model:

Ashley
Ava
Bello
Courtney
Delanie
Devin
Dustin*
Hadassah
Justin
Lacey
Mame
Mikey
Nyle
Stefano

*Contestant came back

Nostalgia Nook: Halloweentown II

It’s October! You know what that means:

Pumpkin everything!
That chill in the air.
Ghosts, goblins and witches.
The skeleton war.
Ignoring the Christmas decorations already popping up in stores.

And of course…

HALLOWEEN!

Last year, I discussed the beloved Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) Halloweentown. This year, we’re going to discuss the sequel! Because of course there was a sequel. It was a popular movie. Disney couldn’t resist!

So grab your broomsticks and get ready for SPOILERS!

OUAT: I Wanna See You Be Brave

(I really hope I don’t regret using that one so early)

Last time on “OUAT:” It was a story all about how everyone’s life got twisted turned upside down…Don’t expect me to continue rhyming. I failed that in preschool. So Isaac and Rumpelstiltskin rewrote the book, leaving Henry alone to save everyone. He ended up in the new Enchanted Forest where Snow was evil, Charming her dark puppet, Regina a bandit on the run from the queen, Hook a coward who worked for Blackbeard, Rumple a hero, Belle his wife, Baby Neal their child, Emma locked up in a tower and Zelena as sweet as apple pie, engaged to Robin Hood…who was more or less the same.

Henry and Hook rescued Emma but he lost his life while protecting them from Evil!Snow and Puppet!Charming. They convinced Bandit!Regina to crash Good!Zelena and Robin’s wedding but Isaac had already convinced Hero!Rumple to stop them. Bandit!Regina opted to save Henry but Robin abandoned Good!Zelena seconds after marrying her to stay by Bandit!Regina’s side as she died. Henry became the new author and saved the day!

Back home in the right world, Isaac was apprehended as everyone celebrated surviving yet another…curse? Yeah, we’ll go with curse. But Belle declared that Rumple was about to become the Dark One completely so everyone went to help him. The Apprentice removed the darkness but it would not be contained. It escaped into the night and when it tried to take Regina, Emma sacrificed herself to it and became the new Dark One.

Hang on tight, y’all and listen to Bette Davis here:

ANTM: Going to the Dogs

Last time on "ANTM:" The models learned how to use Vine to film videos promoting girls going into STEM fields. Courtney continued to struggle with her self-confidence and Bello seemed incapable of accepting any responsibility for his shortcomings. They then posed as dolls before learning that two models would be eliminated at panel. Lacey once again rose to the top while Devin, Courtney and Bello fell into the bottom three. Devin was spared as Bello and Courtney were both sent home. Seven models remain, who is eliminated tonight? 

Find out! 

Everyone returns to the house to see Lacey’s best picture…again. She realizes everyone is getting sick of her winning. Devin points out that there’s only seven of them left and everyone is surprised that their numbers have dwindled so fast. Justin talks about how everyone is stepping it up and he talks about how his parents weren’t thrilled with his career choice but that they came around.

Hadassah talks about how she and Bello left things in a bad place and she wishes she would’ve known why he had acted like that toward. She also talks about how everyone underestimates her. Hadassah talks about having to deal with going down a socio-economic level when her parents left her with relatives and she says she worked so she could buy her siblings presents. So she wants the money for herself and for them.

In the Tyra Suite, Lacey’s TyTyTip is to not let her fellow contestants’ get to her because they are jealous and consider her a threat.

OUAT: Pulled Together

Last time on “OUAT:” Henry was busted for shoplifting but Regina and Emma both realize he was framed by his so-called friends Ava and Nicholas. Emma realizes they have no parents and are on their own. She goes on a search for their father but Regina tells her to take them to Boston to separate group homes. Emma does find their father but he doesn’t want them. So she reluctantly heads out of town when her car breaks down. When their father comes to fix the car and he sees his children, he realizes he needs to be in their lives and agrees to take them in.

In the Enchanted Forest, Nicholas and Ava were Hansel and Gretel. When their father goes missing, the twins are discovered by the Evil Queen. She sends them on a mission to retrieve something from Emma Caulfield’s House o’ Treats. Emma Caulfield tries to eat them after Hansel falls prey to the lure of her delicious cupcakes but the two outwit her. Regina offers to let them live in the palace with her and while Hansel seems all for it, Gretel says they’ll never live with someone as awful as her. So Regina sends them away and then releases their father, who she imprisoned, wishing him luck in finding his children again.

As Emma and Henry enjoy a late night slice of pie that no doubt would send Mayor Mills into a rage because Henry snuck out again, a stranger on a motorcycle pulls up. He asks for a place to stay as Emma and Henry stare in shock.

August has arrived.

Speaking of him, Henry finds August fixing his motorcycle outside Regina’s house. He asks the man questions and he really doesn’t give him any answers. Regina comes out of the house and is alarmed, like any mother would be, to find her son talking with a stranger. She hurries down the path but August drives away before she can question him. She asks Henry if he knows who that was and Henry shrugs.

(Concerned!Regina is concerned)

ANTM: Welcome to the Dollhouse

Last time on “ANTM:” The models had an acting challenge where Devin and Ashley failed to impress the CW executives. After a night trying to use ASL, the models felt they had a better understanding of Nyle. They then filmed a commercial on the beach. Lacey rose to the top again while Devin and Ashley fell into the bottom two. In the end, Ashley was eliminated. Nine models remain—who is eliminated tonight?

Find out!

Lacey goes into the Tyra Suite to get her TyTyTip. She warns her not to get too sleazy when getting too sexy. So she gives Lacey some tips as Lacey says she feels some jealous eyes on her now.
Mikey and Devin stare at a picture of Ashley. Mikey is heartbroken and Devin says DMA took a big hit. Now they’re just DM. Devin says he has to try and reign himself.

Meanwhile, Bello asks Courtney if she wants to go back to Mikey now that Ashley is gone. She starts laughing and she reveals that she has a crush on him. Don’t do it, Courtney! You’re better than him! She skips around the house in a dress she borrowed from Hadassah. Mikey says he only likes her as a friend and Devin says she would bring them down. They leave her alone.

Hadassah confides in Justin and Mame (shocker, I know) about Bello, saying that she feels he liked her better when she wasn’t doing well. And now that she’s doing better than him, she’s not sure where he stands with her. Bello meanwhile soaks in the hot tub and says he liked getting a 10 from Tyra. He focuses on that and says he’s going to win and he’s coming after everyone. As he walks while staring at himself in the mirror. He might be practicing his angles, but seriously, Narcissus?

Wanna be on top?