Can a villain change his fate and become a hero? On this week’s OUAT, Rumple has to make that very decision.
The episode opens in Camelot where Merlin, Hook, Belle and Charming free Lancelot in the Dungeon. While down there Merida pleads with the group to let her go too, as payback from what Emma did to her earlier.
(ABC/Jack Rowand)
Once free, Merida and Belle bond on their walk together, when suddenly Merida knocks Belle out. When she comes to, Belle is being rowed away on a boat by Merida. She explains she needs Belle’s help with freeing her brothers back home, who are facing the severe consequences of Merida’s actions of not wanting to give her hand in marriage to just anyone.
The girls are off, and they come across a familiar cottage – the witch’s cottage. Here they conjure up a spell in the cauldron to see that her brothers are in grave danger, they are to be killed! Merida is convinced the only way to save them is to change the fate and turn into a bear. That will give her enough strength to take back her kingdom. Belle agrees to help make the potion, but when the time comes and they confront the clans, Belle admits she switched the potions. She tells Merida, her people will never follow her if she turns into a bear. The lead clansmen shoot their arrows to kill Merida’s three brothers, but the expert bow (wo)man has other plans. She aims her arrow and it takes out the three deadly arrows, saving her brothers. “You’ve seen what I can do with an arrow, you don’t want to see what I can do with a sword,” she tells them as they were about to draw their swords. Effected by her words and actions, they all kneel to her as she takes back the kingdom. She thanks Belle for all her help and waves goodbye as Belle rows back to Camelot.
Back in present day Storybrooke, the girls’ interactions aren’t so pleasant. Rumple escapes by breaking Chip and using the edges to cut the ropes Merida has tied him in. When Merida and the Dark Swan come across this ropes and broken cup, Emma orders Merida to find and kill Belle. That is the only way to make Rumple the hero she needs him to be to pull Excalibur from the stone. Meanwhile, Belle finds Rumple in the library hiding out, they make a plan to go to his magic shop for protection, but Merida finds them there. Through Belle’s quick thinking she literally pulls the rug out from Merida, knocking her out. Rumple grabs an item and they head to the car. He shares with Belle his plan is for them to leave Storybrooke and use the magic to be incognito. Belle said she doesn’t want to run, that not what a hero would do. Rumple confuses he’s never been a hero. He didn’t hurt himself in the Ogre Wars to go home to his son, he hurt himself cause he was afraid to fight. Belle is angry and tells him that his plan even now to run away isn’t to protect her, but only protect himself. She walks off and runs into Merida. Merida has been summoned by Emma to drink the bear potion and suddenly Belle is in great danger as Bear Merida is after her. Rumple comes to the rescue and stops Merida from hurting either of them by throwing the bag of magic into her mouth and it frees Merida from the bear form. The three of them go back to Emma’s house to strike a deal with the Dark One. Rumple will pull the sword IF she gives back Merida’s heart and tells them what happened to her brothers. She agrees and Rumple pulls out the sword. Now that Emma has the sword, Rumple warns her she did a terrible thing making him a hero because even though there is a town full of heroes, she’ll never win against him.
While all of this is going on, our other heroes are trying to figure out a way to contact Merlin. They know only someone Merlin has summoned in the past can talk to him through a potion and the toad stool. They ask Arthur for help, but being the villain that we know, he tries to burn the toad stool. The heroes come across this and wonder what his true motives are in doing that. Regina thinks of another way, ask Henry to help. He was appointed as Author (technically by Merlin). He reaches Merlin, but Merlin is in trouble (left a ‘voicemail’ in the potion). Merlin does have enough time to tell them the name of a girl who can help them defeat the Dark One: Nimue.
I love that Belle was a main character in this episode! She doesn’t get enough credit for all of her help, she reminds me of Hermione in Harry Potter. While Harry gets all the credit, Hermione is really the one steering him to success (much like Belle and Rumple). I loved at the beginning when she has a bit of information to help Merlin out and he acknowledges her being clever. For a half a second I was convinced that Rumple wasn’t going to be the one to pull out the sword but rather Belle. She allowed both Merida and Rumple to find the hero within.
One part that I surprised myself with is that I absolutely loved Zelena in this episode. I am not generally a fan of hers (umm getting pregnant by your sister’s true love just to get back at her?! Unforgiveable! And weird) but she was hilarious with her interaction with Emma. I loved her quick wit and snide remarks to the Dark One, not taking her offer but finishing the onion rings.
Also, let’s talks briefly about Nimue…who is this woman?! In ancient lore, she is one of the Ladies of Lake, according to Sir Thomas Malory’s text. She plays a huge part in Arthur’s court and swaying the opinions of the knights. I’m curious as to how OUAT will portray her. If Merlin is telling the heroes to seek her, one might think she is good but I think this season has proven it can be hard to tell who is good and who is evil.
What did you guys think of the episode? What happens now that Emma has both Excalibur and the dagger?! How can she put them together? Who is Nimue?! Sound off in the comments below and tweet me @kristincarole13
