Amazing flashbacks this week! When Snow White met her first crush Herc. We find out Hercules is the one who trained Snow with her bow and arrow. He saved her from a pit she fell in, after she ran away from the castle because she couldn’t take the pressure of stopping a gang of bandits.
ABC/Eike Schroter
Hercules has faith in Snow that she will be the leader she was born to be. Snow confronts the group of bandits but fails in her attempt to stop them, until Herc steps in to help. The bandits tell Snow they’ll be back for her. Snow is distressed that she’ll never be a good Queen and wants to run away. We learn that the bandits were being paid by Regina to show the kingdom Snow is a failure. But Hercules thinks otherwise, he convinces Snow to try again. He insists she learn from her mistakes, like he did in his first fight. She finds the courage to confront the bandits and the townspeople rally around her. Hercules explains now that she has the courage he was trying to instill in her, he must complete his final task and defeat Cerberus, Uncle Hades’ three headed dog. Snow and Hercules say their goodbyes but nto before he seals it with a kiss.
Back in the Underworld, we finally see Hook! Hades has trapped him in his underground liar and all of the prisoners are being guarded by the infamous beast, Cerberus. Hook teams with Meg, another prisoner, to get her past the hellhound and find Emma for him. Meg escapes leaving Hook to fight to distract the beast. She finds Regina and Emma, but Cerberus isn’t long behind. They meet up with Snow and Charming telling them Meg knows where to find Hook. Snow says they’ll need the help of Hercules to defeat Cerberus. She finds him in the Underworld and convinces him to join them in taking on the beast. They are about to take on Cerberus when Hades appears and warns the heroes of their actions. He gives Emma Killian’s hook to show he means business. He doesn’t want any more of his inhabitants leaving the Underworld.
Hercules feels defeated and confides in Snow that he died at the paws of Cerberus. He’s afraid he can’t help her and fight the dog on his own. Snow tells him he’s not alone. They head off together to attack, garnering Meg’s assistance. They take on the beast together and defeat Cerberus, who disappears in a puff of black smoke. And it turns out Hercules and Meg, aka Megara, have met before…he tried to save her from Cerberus years ago. They leave for Mount Olympus together.
Meanwhile, Henry and Robin head to Regina’s office to find maps. Because of the protection spell Cora had placed on the office, only Henry can enter through the vent while Robin stands watch. But who should Henry encounter when he enters the office, but Cruella! If she doesn’t scare him, no evil thing will. She explains that Henry will help her get out of the Underworld, in order to save Emma’s soul (since she’s a murderer). Cruella explains Henry, being the Author, has great power and the Quill was not just an object but a living thing…and it’s here in the Underworld. Cruella instructs Henry to find the quill and write her out of the Underworld, free to go back to earth and drink all the gin she wants. Henry leaves with his new mission but doesn’t say a peep to Robin about his meeting.
While the heroes are celebrating getting Herc and Meg out of the Underworld, Hades is not as pleased. He tells Hook that for every life his friends free from the Underworld, he gets to kill a hero. And Hook has to be the one to decide.
I love that Snow’s first kiss was with Hercules! Get is young Snow! It was also so cute that Charming was a little jelly when he saw Snow talking about Herc at his grave. Although we all knew the girl was going to be Megara, it was such a cute moment when it was revealed. True to the animated film, “I’m Megara, but my friends call me Meg.” Perfection!
And although I like Greg Germann and how he’s taken on this different version of Hades, I do miss the snarky James Woods’ Hades. He’s just so hilarious and kinda lovable. Germann’s Hades, I’m actually a bit frightened of, I wouldn’t mess with him. He’s not as cheeky with the characters. Personal preference though but I think James would’ve done it. He’s done all the VO for any Hades cameos in Kingdom Hearts, House of Mouse etc.
But for anyone who has kept up with my recaps of OUAT can guess my favorite moment of the night was seeing Cruella again! I just love her! Victoria Smurfit is fabulous! I always said Cruella was gone too soon, she needs to go back to the living and dance in her jewels while drinking gin! Henry needs to help a girl out!
What did you guys think of the episode? Do you love that Cruella is back?! Are you excited/scared that Hades and Mr. Gold are meeting up next episode?! Comment below and tweet me @kristincarole13!
