What seemed like a never-ending mid-season break, “Once Upon A Time” returned tonight in spectacular fashion!
(ABC/Jack Rowand)
Emma awakens in a version of her Volkswagen Bug to Neil. The reunion is bitter sweet as he tells her that he is in a better place and not in the Underworld like her newly beloved Hook. Neil came to warn Emma about her journey to the Underworld. “This won’t end how you think it will” he cautions her. The Underworld is a place for souls with unfinished business and it’s all not positive. Emma wakes from this dream state to discover they have arrived in the Underworld.
“I don’t think we’re in Maine anymore” Regina states as they walk through a demented version of their beloved Storybrooke. We see Cruella’s car in the distance…a signal of things to come. Every one of our heroes meets their foe in the Underworld. Regina reunites with her mother, only to have mommy dearest threaten the “life” of her father if Regina doesn’t leave on a boat in one hour. Snow mistakes David’s brother James in Granny’s Diner (now the Witch’s Diner) and he plants an awkward kiss on Snow. And Gold heads to his shop where his dad aka Peter Pan now works and gives Gold a potion to help in the heroes’ quest to find Hook.
The potion is given to Emma and the gang, who must go to Killian’s grave and pour the potion on it. The potion brings about an image of Hook in his current state, dazed and severely beaten. Emma tries to speak to him, but the signal is not strong and he disappears. The group will now have to find him another way. Regina uses the remaining potion to speak to her father Henry at his grave. He appears and is delighted to see his daughter. He explains he is there because of his many regrets and warns Regina to not listen to Cora and stay in the underworld with her friends until she finds Hook.
Regina has many regrets when it comes to her actions towards her father as well, as we see in the many flashbacks. It’s Evil Queen Regina’s birthday and all she wants is Snow White’s heart on a platter. Her father says it’s Cora whom she should hate not Snow. Cora was after all the one who killed Daniel. But Regina only sees red when it comes to Snow. Henry summons the Magic Mirror to bring about Cora so they can speak and Cora uses this opportunity to escape from Wonderland and give her daughter the gift she’s always wanted, Snow White’s heart. But Henry manages to take the heart before it’s in Regina’s hand and give it back to Snow. A furious Regina confronts her father and shrinks him so that he fits into a box. She’s still angered with her mother and sends her back to Wonderland, but not before Cora grabs the box and takes Henry with her.
This takes us back to present time where Regina goes to stop Cora, but she’s too late. Henry is being taken it the worse version of the Underworld, being surrounded by fire…that is until a bright light stops the flames. Henry says he no longer has any unfinished business now that Regina has stood up to Cora and he can leave the Underworld for a better place. The tearful moment is followed by Regina meeting up with the group and she glances to see the clock move. But not all are happy about Henry’s departure. Cora meets up with a man, who is so unhappy with her work that he turns her back into the Miller’s daughter as his hair lights up to reveal he is indeed Hades, ruler of the Underworld.
What a great way to come back from the longest break EVER! The gang’s all back together, with old favorites and new villains! And bravo to the writers who have made Regina into this powerhouse over the years. Her evolution is inspiring and man can she look fierce in that red and black birthday dress! Seriously, who else had dress envy?! And I will admit, I choked up watching her say goodbye to her father. It was such a bittersweet moment. He had always stood by her, even at her worst, and all he wanted was to see her happy and free. And it was so touching to see that moment.
I’m so excited for what’s to come! I don’t know which villain I’m the most excited to see in the Underworld! Scratch that, I do: It’s Cruella. She was gone too soon. I love that she’s one of the few villains that really had no reason to turn to evil, she was just born a psychopath. I thought that was an interesting route for the show to go and it makes her even more dangerous. I also like the fact that Gold may get his…anyone else still ticked off that he lied to Belle AGAIN and went back to being the Dark One?! I couldn’t believe he abused her trust once again. Not to mention she has to be pregnant…doesn’t she?!
What do you Oncers think? Is Belle pregnant? Can the group save Hook? Who are you looking forward to reuniting with in the Underworld? Comment below and tweet me @kristincarole13 ! And don’t forget to watch next week when HERCULES arrives!!
