“So did you enjoy it? The first taste of the darkness?” – Rumple
The Dark Swan has arrived! After months and months of waiting and what seems like 100 teases later, “Once Upon a Time” is back in its fifth season with the appropriately titled first episode ‘The Dark Swan’. No this isn’t a sequel to the film starring Natalie Portman, it’s the episode we’ve all been anxiously awaiting – Emma’s transition to the Dark One.
But like most episodes of OUAT, it left the audience with more questions than answers. Which is why we beg for more!
ONCE UPON A TIME – ABC’s “Once Upon a Time” stars Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan. (ABC/Tyler Shields)
The season opener begins with Arthur and his men coming across the legendary Sword in the Stone. After the unworthy turns to dust, Arthur pulls the sword to proclaim himself King of Camelot, but half of the sword of missing. Never the less, Arthur tells Lancelot that they will not speak of the missing half since the people need a King.
Meanwhile our heroes are back in Storybrooke trying to put the pieces together of what happened to Emma when the dark magic whisked her away. As Hook tries to summon her back, Regina reminds him that it will only work if she is still in this world. Craving answers, the group heads over to meet with the Apprentice, who doesn’t have very long to live. He gives them a wand that can access a portal to Emma’s world but it needs dark magic to work. Regina’s darkness has dwindled so the only one who can help them is the wicked Zelena. Regina is against using her sister’s magic so Hook and Henry concoct a plan to get Zelena’s help, against Regina’s wishes. As Hook and Henry think they’ve managed to have the situation under control, Zelena turns the table and takes Hook’s knife, cutting her arm off to be free of the wristlet controlling her powers. The Wicked Witch goes off to get Robin and uses him in a trade with the heroes. All she wants is to go back to Oz with her baby and the wand can take her there. Regina agrees to the trade and as Zelena summons the portal, it weakens her momentarily. It gives just enough time for Regina and Robin to get the wristlet back on Zelena. Now the whole group (adding Granny and the dwarves) are off to save Emma!
Now where did our Dark One go? We discover her in a new land where Rumple is her guide to darkness. She’s learning to control her new powers which isn’t easy when Rumple is whispering in her ear to kill people and use magical transportation spells. Rumple informs her that the only way to find Merlin is to capture a Whisp (basically a blue ball of light) and it will lead her to him. As Emma tries to capture a whisp, she runs into Merida the Pixar Princess! Merida and Emma both need the whisp but ultimately Emma allows Merida to have it as all the Heroes arrive to stop her from crushing Merida’s heart. Hook tells Emma that she helped them fight their demons so they will help her against the darkness. As the reunion begins, it’s interrupted by King Arthur and his men. Merlin had prophesied their arrival and that Emma would be the one to reunite Arthur with Merlin after the many years of his disappearance. As the joyous arrival to Camelot begins, suddenly it fast forwards to nine weeks later and everyone is back in Storybrooke with no memory of what happened in Camelot. Emma has made her complete transformation into the Dark Swan.
One of the best things about OUAT is the ability to keep the story moving. There was no waiting around several episodes to find out what happened to Emma after the season four finale. There has been a lot of chatter about what to expect from Emma as the Dark One and if the audience will enjoy this turn. Personally, I loved her struggle during the episode and that even though Mr. Gold is in a coma in Storybrooke, they were able to use Robert Carlyle’s talents in another way. Their dynamic was enjoyable to watch. Did that scene where she was talking to herself while Merida was ‘sleeping’ remind anyone else of Lord of the Rings?
Jury is still out about Emma as the Dark Swan. The ending when she addresses all the heroes about seeking revenge on them after they turned her didn’t scare me enough. I kept having flashbacks of Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Spike given her new look – although if she ends up to be as cool of a character as Spike I’m totally on board.
Regina was fierce this episode…although when isn’t she? You can tell how much she has come to care about Emma. The baby blanket moment and Emma giving Regina the dagger was touching. I usually love Hook but this episode I wanted him to calm down a bit, I understand his motives and appreciate them but him and Henry were not giving Regina enough credit about her passion towards the mission.
It was great to finally meet Merida! I am always excited when they announce a familiar face to the show and Amy Madison did a wonderful job embodying the part. I chuckled at the quip about “just be glad you’re not a bear” reference. And the moments where Emma summons Merida towards her after catching all the arrows were very intense, I loved it. A few other throwbacks that were fun were Belle getting the rose which would let her know how her Beast was holding up, the Green Tornado that picks up Granny’s diner and who else noticed the fantastic resemblance of Camelot to the Walt Disneyworld Castle?!
What did you all think of the first episode? Are you excited about Emma as the Dark One? Let us know in the comments below or on Instagram or Twitter. Chat with me @KristinCarole13!
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