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Addison

Auror
I want to start this post by voicing my favorite part of this episode. When Regina wielded the power of self-belief she used the apprentice's wand to save Robin's baby from a dark path. Ding! Dong! The witch is gone! About friggin time, thank you!

We'll start in the flashbacks, where we learn a lot about Killian. First off, he was clearly born with good looks. Also he seems to be born with a father who could give Pan a run for "Worst father in history". Pan gave Rumple up for eternal youth, Brennan (Hook's dad) basically sold both his sons for a rowboat so he could save his own butt. Seeing as Pan went down a darker path I say he wins.

We then cut to grown up Killian having to prove himself to Regina that he can in fact do what she needs. My prediction in the last post did not come true, no magical mickey. But Hook does get a surprise when he must face his father, who is alive and just as young as the day he abandoned Hook and Liam. The bond-mending only lasts so long. Hook reconnects, gets a letter that would save his father...and his son. Hook's half-brother. Naturally Killian is pissed, burns the letter, "decides the kind of man I want to be" and kills his dad. Which is his ticket to revenge.

The real actions is in Storybrooke. Everyone splits up to find Killian and talk him out of the plan or, if it comes to it, kill him. All while finding a way to stop the past Dark Ones from destroying them. Too late, one by one the heroes are found by Dark Ones and stepped through. Like ghosts the Dark Ones step through them, leaving a mark. So David, Snow, Regina, Robin, Henry and Rumple all have marks. (Given the sheer number of Dark Ones I think most, if not all, of Storybrooke were tagged) Emma talks to Gold and gets Excalibur, with no deal, no strings attached. Emma finds Hook but, after some dirty fighting from Hook, loses Excalibur.

They meet and figure out that they're to take the Dark Ones' spots in the underworld so the Dark Ones can stay top side. Rumple says they should live their last moments with the people they love. Emma's not giving up, even getting support from Regina. Her family goes to the diner for one last dinner, with Emma promising to come over. She does, just not seen, leaving a letter about how she's going to undo what she did by sacrificing herself.

She hunts for Hook while Nimue and others arrive at the diner and have the Marks burn, sending them all to the pond. Emma shows up and is ready to fight but Nimue chokes her. True Nimue can't kill her, but she can stop her. In that moment OUR Hook comes around and stops Nimue. Using Excalibur he absorbs the Darkness into the blade and has Emma finish what they all set out to do. Emma can't, she can't bear to lose another loved one. Hook begs her to let him die a hero. They kiss, say I love you, and she runs him through and Excalibur disintegrates. In that act the darkness leaves her and she's back to her human blonde self (somehow with her red jacket) as Hook falls with the excalibur wound again taking his life.

Emma's laying on the sofa in her house and hears a whispering. For a brief moment I thought it was Hook's spirit saying thank you. Uh, no. It's something bad and confusing. She storms to Gold's and knows he has it. He reveals he does, the dagger with his name on it. Now he has all the power of the Dark Ones combined. (So I guess while each Dark Spirit hung around to nag and poke the new guys they kept their own individual power. Hm.) Rumple somehow, in his mortal state, tweaked Excalibur to act as a conduit, transferring the power to Rumple. Emma blackmails him to help her or she'll tell a returned, loving Belle what he did. Here we get to see the set up for 5B. Emma plans to go to the underworld and save Hook by splitting her heart with him...or his with her, I didn't catch which. But she won't be alone, she's going with her parents, Henry, Robin and Regina. Rumple uses his blood to bring the boat, which everyone gets to by walking on water. The last thing of dialogue was a classic, said by Emma "I will always find you."
 

Addison

Auror
Some things I didn't want to clutter up the last post:

1. Is the underworld a different dimension, like a layer of a world? (Think Tarturus and Hel.) Or a different realm entirely like Neverland and Oz? Can't wait to see how they'll spin that.

2. You'd think that after everything he's been through Rumple would know that nothing stays secret for long and the stunt he pulled could lose him Belle FOREVER. Here I thought having no Darkness in him would allow the return of common sense.

3. While I do not and will not miss Zelena, I am curious if this will open a door for the heroes to go to Oz. If you remember, when Zelena lost her powers in season 3 her magic was undone. So Glinda would be back in Oz. So if they do go then they may find the three god witches in different forms. Glinda could be the Tin Man,the other two would be the scarecrow and the lion. Whether the villain would be Zelena or someone else form Frank L. Baum's world, who knows.

4. In the episode Regina, upon being Marked, was told that everyone she killed would be waiting for her down there. Now she's going by choice. Also there will be villains beaten by the heroes down there. Pan, Cora, and James, David's brother. So 5B's theme could be facing demons of the past.

5. I heard that Milah will be making an appearance. I know she abandoned her family, and we don't know what she did as a pirate, but she didn't strike me as Hell-material. Hm? Maybe we'll be seeing what she and Hook did in their time together.

6. Finally, a confusion about what happened at the end of Swan Song. Emma could hear the whispers in the blade. First of all, the spirits are dead and only the power is in the blade, Rumple is the only one tied to it. Emma is no longer the Dark One so how could she hear it at all? Plot Hole anyone?
 

Addison

Auror
To add to and clarify number 5 in above post I learned that there's a great distinction between Hell and the Underworld. As the heroes are going to the Underworld they're not really going to where evil souls of the dead have been sent to rot. The Underworld is the residence of those passed who have unfinished business. Seeing as we saw formidable villains, that's pretty chilling. Let's not forget that it's life for life, as Rumple said. So with seven people suddenly in the Underworld they could have very well opened a window for seven people to go topside and seal the heroes fate in the Underworld.

That still doesn't explain some of the people we saw, and heard will be, in the Underworld. It's been established we'll be seeing old faces. (I saw the Gingerbread Witch in the episode 12 promo), something doesn't make sense.

As it's Storybrooke, and the Underworld they reached is a post-apocalyptic Storybrooke- it figures that only those who died in Storybrooke would be there. So why's the Gingerbread Witch there? Shouldn't she be in Enchanted Forest Underworld? Also I saw Henry, Regina's father. Either what we saw was a villain in disguise or, as his death/murder resulted in the first curse he was bound to the product so that's why he's there. His unfinished business is obvious, helping his daughter back to the light. Yet we only see Killian's headstone. So maybe he has no unfinished deeds and headstones are an official testament of passing on. That or they're like name tags to show who is in Under-Storybrooke.

There's no telling what the heroes will face, who will be in the Underworld, but I think, with everything that's happened in the past four and a half seasons, we could see: Milah, Pan, Cora, Merlin, The Apprentice, Marian, James (David's brother), Jack/Jaqueline, Queen Eva, King Leopold, David's Mother and Father, Cruella, Graham, Felix...those are just ones with names and officially dead. I mean come on the 5B is about past demons and such so it makes sense that we'd see a lot of flashbacks and see old familiar faces.
 

Addison

Auror
I can't believe I missed this for so long. Nor can I believe that Kitsis and Horowitz not only didn't realize it but, if they did, offered no explanation. There's a HUGE plot hole in the Zelena arcs.

Okay, we all know Zelena's the elder sister of Regina. She maybe 2...4 years older, tops. But she wasn't hit by the first curse! While everyone was in Storybrooke for 28 cursed years she was in Oz, torturing the land and scheming and figuring out the time travel spell. So when everyone went back to the Enchanted Forest and we saw Zelena she could still pass as Regina's older sister. She should be able to pass as her aunt, or mother. So what the heck? If I missed the obvious explanation please tell me cause this...oh my god if Horowitz and Kitsis missed that....
 

Addison

Auror
Please no, no, no, no.

I read an article on Entertainment Weekly about the premier. The Underworld Dictator is Hades, that's good, they said the character is drawn from mythology, good. He's also inspired by the Disney version, bad. True I like the flames for hair thing but please, please back to your own imagination and originality! So many myths on Hades and mythology, so many sources to draw from. Disney is not a must.

Another interesting piece in the article, Hades is connected to one of the heroes. Not related, thank you Muses for stopping that tree from growing, but connected to a character. A surprising connection. So if the reveal is that he's connected to Gold, that's not surprising. So somehow the lord of the underworld is connected to someone else. Snow?...well she did use that evil candle so maybe that, maybe Hades made it. Regina... possible. Robin, I doubt...unless he stole something of Hades in his Prince of Thieves days. Henry...he was in Limbo while in the sleeping curse. Emma, she was the Dark One after a long run as a Savior, maybe there's something there. David, he did take his brother's place, or maybe he's connected to Hades via his father. We don't know a lot about him, maybe we'll learn more about him. Or it could be what Snow and Charming did with Lucy. That's was a big magic trick which would have an equally big price. They didn't just transfer potential for darkness, doing so they altered and changed fate, they tweaked it for Emma's favor.

Lots of possibilities. Also, as he's the Underworld's King, we may be seeing a showdown tween evil minds. True there's plenty of villains down there. Yet of all the villains from past seasons who will be down there aren't even in Rumple's ball game. Except Hades, so those two may have some kind of face off. As we've seen, evil's greatest desire is for power. More and more power. Rumple now has the combined power of all Dark Ones, sure Hades is Lord of the Underworld but, as Rumple has shown us, there's no such thing as enough power.

So long as they keep Disney out of it I'll be happy and excited.
 

Addison

Auror
I read that Gaston is coming back. Although, in season 1 he was a charming, brave suitor. According to the new article he's a villain. Then again Belle isn't joining them so I guess he's only a villain to Rumple. I wonder who has the most "villains" in the underworld: Regina or Rumple?
 

Addison

Auror
I'm happy the show is back and making great promises. This episode did answer a question I've had since season 1, how did Henry, as in Regina's father, wind up in a box in Wonderland?

The answer takes us to the Enchanted Forest pre-curse. Happy Birthday Regina, and she starts by terrifying a village and nearly killing two people. But apparently her birthday makes her benevolent so, when confronted by Snow, Charming and the Dwarves she poofs away. Her father implores her to stop her path of darkness and revenge, to not let her mother control her. He even asks the mirror to contact Cora hoping she'll kick Regina off the path. No luck as Cora, when he's not looking, comes to the Enchanted forest. She disguised herself as Henry and went to see Snow to ask for some peace, when real Henry arrives. Cora takes Snow's heart, makes her forget, and puts it in a nice box as a gift. At the palace she shows Regina, who at first doesn't believe it until mirror shows Snow in agony as Regina squeezes. Luckily it was just Jimmy in her shirt, and a guard falls dead. Real Henry had switched hearts, knowing that Regina could only find redemption if Snow lives. Regina, in anger, shrank him and put him in a box. She confronts her mother about her dark controlling ways. Mirror pulls Cora back through the mirror to Wonderland, not before Cora summons the box wit Henry inside.

So that was the past. In the present the team is in the Underworld. Emma got a nice dream-chat with Neal, who tries to talk her out of her journey but understands why she's going and figured she'd go no matter what he said. He's glad that Henry's doing great, and tells Emma he has and will always love her.

In the Underworld, yikes. The second everyone was in focus and saw the townspeople I saw targets appear on everyone's back. Oh man they're in for a rough ride. The atmosphere alone is creepy and intimidating. Then of course we got to see the kind of people who could, and possibly will, become severe obstacles. Like Pan, who makes it clear he wants and will fight for a passage out of the underworld. Basically he's not picky which of the group stays in the Underworld so long as he gets their place. I really hate that kid.

Granny's diner is especially creepy. The cook looks like a member of Leather Face's family, and if I remember right he was chopping up meat. And when the gingerbread witch, who also works there, offered Snow a plate of Children I gagged. Luckily it was a joke, I hope. Then in came James, who played as if he were David to kiss Snow. He left with a message for David that there's a new sheriff in town. So a possible obstacle between brothers, I doubt James is as big a threat as Pan, or even in that ball park.

Regina gets one hell of a surprise though. Escorted to the Mayor's office by Blacktooth she sees her mother is mayor. My alarms went up thinking Cora would be just like Pan, wanting out and up to her old ways. But Cora instead urged her daughter to leave. To get out, take Henry and Robin and leave as Cora secured passage. She takes Regina to a fiery pit and tosses Blacktooth into the fire and says that if Regina doesn't leave then the same fate will meet Henry, her father.

Then there's the graveyard. Apparently, as everyone who's in the Underworld has a grave, the graveyard kinda acts like a roll call chart of sorts. As Rumple got the magic ale Merida used from Pan, the group finds Hook's grave and uses it. Hook appears, but not wholly. The spell's not holding, bad reception and the guy looks terrible. Bleeding, dirty, like a tortured zombie. Regina then uses the ale on her father's grave and they have a tender heart-to-heart chat. Her father isn't angry, holds no grudges, he's proud of the hero she's become. They hug and he disappears, but Regina's not done. She and Henry 2 go to the pit where Cora has Henry senior ad the edge. Cora urges Regina to leave, Regina refuses and Cora sicks the fires on Henry senior before poofing out. But the fires disappear. A path appears before Henry Sr, leading to a beautiful light. HE again says he's proud, and now that his unfinished business is done (freeing Regina of Cora's control) he can move on. He meets his Grandson and thanks him for being there, then leaves. Back at the street everyone regroups, but Rumple says he's striking out on his own, not leaving (I hope, but wouldn't be surprised) and doesn't say why. As the group heads down the street Regina spots the clock as it moves for the first time since they arrived.

Cora goes to the library and goes down the elevator. Makes sense, underworld, hell, the deeper you go the worse it gets and the more powerful forces you'll find. We get an interesting shot of the quarters down there. Several rivers, one red, blue, yellow and green, converging to a big circle. (Or spewing out, I couldn't tell, the shot didn't last long). There's violin music and Cora walks to the circle where a blonde is giving a well-dressed man a pedicure. Not what you'd expect Hades would enjoy. He asks Cora if he heard it. She says she's never really liked the violin. He remarks he's not surprised as it seems above a miller's daughter (ouch), but he was referring to the tick. A tick to him is a signal that someone has moved on, for better or worse, and he doesn't like that. Apparently he and Cora had a deal, that Cora would get her daughter out of his realm. Hades doesn't go into detail, or hints, why Regina is a threat. But as Cora failed, after promising she'd succeed, Hades turns her back into a miller for eternity and sends her on her way to deliver flour. As she leaves, sobbing, his hair goes up in blue flames. :/ brother.
 

Addison

Auror
Really? I get Hades, greek mythology is big but there's more than one underworld, more than one mythology, all of which could have been done in a way that wouldn't involve pulling from Disney! Seriously guys, just make him look demonic, Disney not required. Hell maybe his eyes could flame, go white, something which would allow him to look though the eyes of his prisoners. Or heck, go to a different mythology. We saw the celtic magic so why not celtic hell? That could open one heck of an obstacle at the end. For those who don't know, in celtic mythology a similar quest was done. A man went to hell to bring back the woman he loved and lost. HE found her, but to get her back he had to walk her up to the earth and NOT look back and see her. Well he did and she was then forever trapped in hell. Or go Norse, the lord- or lady- of the Norse Underworld is Hel, daughter of Loki. I'm not saying her dad had to make an appearance but still.

I wish Hades' hair was the only Disney thing that would happen. But after seeing the Promo for "Love's Labor", that's not gonna happen. They find Hercules' grave, so he's down there. If they stopped at Hercules I'd be happy, but he says Megara. That's Disney! Oh my friggin god. I triple checked the myths and legends of Hercules, Megara was a Disney creation. Now if he was trapped in the underworld due to yet another act of his brainless, rage-fueled actions as occurred in mythology, then YAY! But it's not so boo. Although I am excited as it looks like we'll get to see Mary Margaret in full Snow mode. Against Cerberus of all obstacles. Wow.
 

Addison

Auror
I need to correct something on my last post. Megara is in fact part of Greek mythology, of Hercules. In mythology she was given to Hercules as a wife by her father, a king, for his heroic acts. Megara had a son and daughter, and they died when Hera struck Hercules with temporary madness, causing him to slay them. So, Megara is not Disney, I just hope the writers link any other mythological parts to actual myth and have the Disney stop at Hades' hair.
 

Addison

Auror
So the sneak peeks are good. We see that Hook is in the underworld, a prisoner underground. He's back to his old self, the self we love that is, as he help another prisoner escape. Despite her objections they take off as they hear the sounds of their approaching warden, a monster. I'm guessing Cerberus.

Then we see Snow and Charming at the graveyard and the tombstone says Hercules, in greek lettering. Snow says she knew Hercules when they were kids. Wow. Like David said, "It's not every day your wife tells you she was friends with a god.". So they start on a quest to help Hercules finish his business, figuring they'll be able to help each other.

So the episode will hopefully answer, who (if anyone) will escape the underworld? Will this be the only episode we'll se Hercules? Will we find out even a bit more of Hades' plan? Or why he's so anxious about Regina and company?
 

Addison

Auror
"Labor of Love".

It was a good episode, kinda brought back the feel from seasons 1 and 2.

In a flash back we saw Snow (played by a new actress) who is just starting as a fugitive from the queen and protector of her people. She encounters bandits harassing and robbing her people, and it doesn't go so well. Luckily Hercules is nearby and not only helps her out but trains her. Arriving again at the village and encountering the bandits she shows she, and her people, are not to be messed with. We see the birth of Snow White the bandit. After the little celebration Hercules and Snow say good bye, and Snow gets her first kiss. XD

In the underworld we start with the sneak peek scene with Killian in the underworld tunnels. He and fellow prisoner run, Killian stays behind to distract the monster while Meg runs off to find Emma. Emma and Regina, in the woods looking for any signs of Hook, find a blood trail. They follow it and find Meg just as they hear a monstrous roar. Emma teleports them to her parents' place. I don't know which is weirder, the fact that her parents' place exists in Under-brooke, or that it's apparently all set up for when her parents die. Meg tells them about cerberus, saying that no one can defeat it. In comes Mary Margaret who says there is such a person. Her old friend Hercules who is down there with them.

Emma, Snow, Regina and Herc go into the tunnels, Hercules in the lead to fight Cerberus. He hears and sees the monster and runs back to the ladies. They brace for battle only to hear a whistle and the dog goes away. In comes Hades, they finally meet. Hades seems to know a lot about them. He knows about Snow mostly from Hercules, his nephew (thank you for sticking with the mythology), and Emma from Hook. He says he's there to deliver Hook's next message personally, and shows his bloody hook. Hades says they shouldn't be worried about what he HAS done to Hook, rather what he WILL do.

Up topside the group gathers in the apartment and Regina says they, Herc and her family, don't need Mary Margaret as that person is a school teacher. They need the hero who defeated a villain no one thought could be defeated in the most incredible way: Regina, who is now Snow's friend. With a great pep talk Snow makes a plan, using Meg as bait for Cerberus. It kinda works, only the first party, Emma and her dad, lose track of the dog. How the hell two people can't see a giant three headed dog I don't know. But they split up again. Snow and Herc find Meg curled up by the clock tower. Cerberus comes and they hide in the library. Snow says all three of them are fighting it together, each of them attacking a head. Cerberus busts through the door and they strike. It works! The power of teamwork. After that Herc's unfinished business, his labor of defeating cerberus (who killed him), is done. He and Meg are shown the glowing path. Here gives Snow a hug, saying she's an amazing hero. They leave. Snow says she is back, as in no more calling her Mary Margaret.

As two souls have moved on the clock ticks twice. We see a little clock in Hades' chamber, with Hook beaten underneath. In comes Hades, who tells Hook what happened. Hook is ready to take whatever Hades' will throw at him, but he gives him a metal rod. Hades summons three blank head stones and tasks Hook with an assignment. For every soul the group helps move on, one of them will have to stay. Apparently Hades doesn't like his smooth, death operation getting gummed up by people finding actual rest. Hook must choose who stays.

If you're wondering about Robin and Henry, they're on their own little mission. They're looking for a map of the underworld, which will hopefully show how to get into the tunnels and out. Henry decides to climb through the heating vents. He doesn't find a map, at least I don't remember, but he does find Cruella. Crap! She asks Henry, as the author, to write her out of the Underworld. Write her back to surface life as she misses it, mostly the gin. Henry says the magic pen is destroyed but as the pen is a living thing in its own way, and thus has unfinished business, then it too is in the Underworld. She then hits him with a little motivation, if he does use the pen to help her, he'll clear his mother of murder. I gotta hand it to her, she's psychotic but clever.
 

Addison

Auror
Ooh, and I heard Emilie DeRavin is a first time mommy. She has a baby girl. Congratulations!
 

Addison

Auror
"Devil's Due".

Milah's episode at last.

The smallest, and by small I mean less prominent, of the plots this episode was Regina's magic. It works differently in the underworld and she's having trouble with it. So she first goes to the blind witch, but instead gets help from Cruella, who also gives her a map of the cemetery. The tombstone tells where the person is. Upright means they're in the underworld, toppled over means they moved on, cracked means they're in serious hell. So Regina and Mary Margaret go to the courtyard and find Daniel's tombstone, toppled over. Regina has a tender, loving good bye. As the two walk back through town they find a horse, which is hurt. Regina instinctively uses her magic and voila!, it works. The horse gets up, nickers a thank you and gallops away.

In the Enchanted Forest of the past we see Milah and Rumple still married and little Bae. The adults are in a tentative relationship, the only glue is Bae. They're talking when Bae screams. They run over and see he's been bit by a poisonous snake. He only has twenty four hours, as they learn from a healer. The healer says the antidote will cost 100 gold. Youch. As the adults leave Milah says they don't have to pay if the healer is dead. She goes to a tavern to get a drink, gets spilled on my a jerk and saved by everyone's favorite captain. He says he's in port for a while and if her marriage falls apart, to come find him. Rumple, not having the money and not wanting to lose his son, goes to the healer and hunts for the antidote. Then the healer comes in and they fight, Rumple is ready to kill him, but doesn't. The healer asks what his son is worth. That's never good. Rumple returns home with the antidote and no blood on his hand. The cost? His second child. Milan is pissed as he's basically decided her future. She goes to the tavern.

In "Underbrooke", as Regina calls it, Rumple goes to the shop which Pan has left to him. Makes you nauseous thinking about where Pan is and what he's plotting. Rumple uses what's in the shop to empower a crystal ball. He asks to see who he desires. He sees Belle in storbrooke, at Granny's, eating with Leroy. Rumple is shocked, even horrified, and drops the crystal ball. He goes to the others who are gearing up in the apartment. Says he knows a way to get into the tunnels without Hades' protection killing any of them. He knows Milah is there, who has a job as a crossing guard, which he chides her on. "Your job is protecting children.". He tells her Killian is being held by Hades, and she agrees to help.

Cue a very awkward meeting of Milah and Emma. Via the basement in Emma's house they enter the tunnels. Emma tells Milah her son is in a good place, he's happy. Milan joins them on their quest to save Hook. They find, or get, a boat on the green river, the river of lost souls. Milan stays with the boat to keep an eye on Rumple as Emma runs to save Hook, who is dangling over the river, slowly lowering toward it. Emma gets to him in time, telling him he loves her 'cause she doesn't listen.

Back at the river Milah and Rumple have a nice talk. She says her unfinished business was Bae, being a mother. Rumple, knowing when he dies he's not going up, asks her to say hello for him. In comes Hades! Milah is frozen as the two men talk. Hades has Rumple destroy the boat, doing what he does best/likes doing. (The guy's messed up). He leaves and Milah is back. She saw Hades, and Hades knew she'd have to go. Rumple says she should be happy as he's the man she's wanted, a man who takes what he wants. Milan screams for Emma, Rumple screams for Milah as he blasts the boat and sends Milah into the river. When Hook and Emma arrive he says Hades did it. Emma tells Hook Milah helped them find him, Hook swears that Hades has much to answer for.

At the house Hook says that, due to Rumple's using Hook's sacrifice and yet saving him, he's post poned killing him. Regina is ready to do the heart split but can't get in Emma's chest. Hook takes them to the cemetery and they see three head stones. Emma name is on one, Regina's on another and Snow's on the third. He tells them what Hades wanted him to do, looks like Hades did it himself.

Speaking of the jerk, he's in his basement suite when Rumple arrives. He says, as he held up his end of the deal, Hades must send him up. Hades says he will, but not yet. He says he knows Rumple, a precise, clean man of thought and composure, dropped the crystal ball he worked so hard to fix. Hades fixed it and saw what Rumple saw. He figured it out, Belle's pregnant. Hades brings in the healer, who is in the underworld. He says that death doesn't destroy or nullify a contract. The healer just signed it over to Hades. Now Hades can cash in the debt, the baby, any time, unless Rumple works for him. It's like Milah said earlier, "You may be dark but you're still an idiot.".
 

Addison

Auror
"The Brothers Jones".

Sorry it took so long to write, I was fuming for a while courtesy of the ending scene. GAAAH!! Zero imagination IMO. The writers were doing so well basing Hades off of mythology, why'd they stop!?

In this episode Henry had a nice part. He and Cruella cruise around trying to find where the magic pen is and Henry bumps into the Apprentice. He is stuck in the underworld because his unfinished business is Henry. Particularly stopping him from abusing his author powers as he is supposed to write down the stories as they happen, not write his own version of what should happen. But Henry tells him why he's looking for the pen so the apprentice tells him where it, and the ink apparently, is at.

Meanwhile Emma tends to Killian, who is healed in time to reunite with his brother. Putting their heads together the group determines that if the pen and so much more in Storybrooke has an Underworld twin then so does the Story book. Only problem is they don't know where it is. But they find out that it's locked in a house, the key to which James has. Snow and James go the the sheriff's office and find the key. Only Snow hurries out when Cruella shows up. Apparently she and James are a thing. David poses as James but he can't do it, hand cuffing her to get away. But she knew he wasn't James, he lacked a glow of damage or some twisted turn on. She promises Dave that James will be meeting him. Can't wait for that episode.

Liam is at the bar, which he tends, when Hades shows up. Hades tells Liam to find the story book first and destroy the pages about Hades, or he'll tell Killian his secret. Hades flames out and by the sickened look on Liam's face, he'll do what Hades wants.

In a flashback we see the Jones brothers on a ship, captained by Captain Silver. Killian is his favorite punching bag, and Killian seems to give him plenty of reason as he's pretty rebellious. Liam gets a letter, saying he got the job in the royal navy. But he doesn't take it as Killian needs him. When a storm hits the brothers lead a mutiny, with Liam at the helm. Liam ducks downstairs for a moment and finds Hades there. That took me a back, I mentally rewound to see when Liam died, but Hades was actually in the world of the living. He told Liam that if he sailed into the eye of the storm Hades will make sure he and his brother live. He also throws in a gem called the Eye of the Storm which would guarantee Liam his navy job. Liam does as he's told, and Killian rallies the crew to listen and follow his brother. The ship sinks, obviously, but the brothers survive. They're rescued by a navy ship and, upon seeing the gem, Liam gets the job.

In the Underworld the heroes find the house and split up to find the book. Liam finds it and, again, does as he's told. Emma's superpower kicks on and she knows he's hiding something. She tells Hook about it but he refuses to accept that his brother would do such a thing. He even claims that she's just angry because Liam doesn't think she's good enough for him, even a bad influence. (Then again she did embrace the darkness and turn Killian into a dark one against his wishes so...) Anyway Killian's about ready to leave Emma and go with Liam when the crew of the sunken ship arrives. Captain Silver had seen Liam with Hades at the bar and rallied his crew. Liam confesses, then Hades arrives and whisks them to the fiery pit. Liam gets thrown in but Killian, brother to the end, grabs him, refusing to let go. Then the bright light comes and Liam moves on, as he amended his unfinished business, his brother. Hook tells Emma he's staying, as they have to take down Hades. (A rag-tag band of mortals- some magical- against a God who happens to have the Dark One on the payroll, that will be epic).

Back at the apartment the group goes through the book looking for Hades' weakness, but Liam took the pages. Hook apologizes for his brother while David goes up to talk to a gloomy Henry. He tells Henry about his brother and that Henry has what James never had and apparently hates David for, having a loving family. Henry tells David about the pen. Telling the others Henry realizes what the apprentice meant. He says that with the pen and his untapped power he can recreate Hades' story, revealing what could make a God act in such fear.

The end scene. Oh boy. When I first saw Hades in his underground suite I thought it would be a mythological cameo of Persephone. He reached into a steaming pool and pulled out the pages. Then we see an illustration of him, and ZELENA!! I was yelling at the screen. He told the illustration that their secret is safe. Are. You. Kidding? What, was greek mythology too stale? First of all Zelena isn't dead so she's not in the Underworld. She's not powerful enough to poof between worlds. Last I checked Dorothy still has the slippers and Zelena doesn't have the blood of someone who's been to hell and back.

So the next episode, which will be answering all the WTFs, will enlighten us to those answers. I gotta say, it better be good not just on its own but good enough to explain why they threw Greek Mythology out the window. So the episode was great up until the end. That's just me though. Thoughts?
 

Addison

Auror
I read some small articles and saw some promo photos that are of interest.

First, Robbie Kay will be returning as Pan in episode 19. Not sure what it's about yet, only that's is supposedly titled "Sisters". I'm really hoping it's about different characters, Henry's family tree is big and twisted enough.

Second I saw promo photos for the twentieth episode "Fire Bird". It shows a young Emma. I'm guessing it's how she became a bail bondsman. That or her first days on the street prior to meeting Neal.

Finally I read that there may be a great secondary antagonist as the head doctor or such of the mental hospital. According to the article it could be the brothers Grimm. So that, if it's still in the works, will be interesting. I mean they did write the fairy tales that Emma grew up with, and now they're in the underworld. So they'd be authors, or possibly citizens of the Enchanted Forest, in the normal world until they died. So what's their unfinished business, and why is one of them a doctor and the other a mental patient?
 

Addison

Auror
"Our Decay"

Sorry this post is late guys. Bad stomach bug.

The recent episode made em do something I never dreamed I'd do. I cried FOR Zelena. No joke. First she didn't give herself a chance at happiness in OZ, then she had to do what's apparently a trend in the story, giving up their child for their best chance.

In OZ we see a bad ass, grown up Dorothy stride into Zelena's palace and save the scarecrow, who was about to lose his brain to Zelena. He, Dorothy and Toto escape and Zelena is pissed. In a munchkin village she demands to know where the scarecrow is and who called Dorothy when Hades arrives. "Who the hell are you?" Zelena asks, to which Hades replies, "You have no idea how appropriate that question is." Zelena refuses his aid and goes to her palace, only to find him there. She reluctantly teams up. I was happy to hear that Hades' backstory is rooted in mythology. Zeus stopped his heart so all he felt was anger, vengeance and hate. The only thing that can make it beat is true love's kiss. Hades' trip to Oz, originally to have part in the time travel spell, has brought him that true love: Zelena, go figure. But Zelena, even after he tells her he loves her and she clearly realizes she loves him, pushes him away. She thinks he's just using her for her spell, as that's what she would do. Hades leaves in flames, saying she'll regret it.

Which takes us to the present. The tender sub-plots are Henry's author power: Apparently he kinda falls asleep and he writes, and apparently illustrates. But he's getting frustrated with himself and feels the pressure of being a hero so he cops a teenage attitude. His powers intersect with Snow's and Charming's sub plot, which is to get a message to Neal. Using a magic phone booth, with a line down the block, they get inside and dial Neal so they can "haunt" him, letting him hopefully hear their voices. They're unsure if it worked when Henry says he wrote again, about Neal. The phone worked as Neal heard his parents sing the lullaby as if they were right there. It also acts as a fire under their feet, motivating Snow to take Hades down NOW. At that particular scene she could have shot an arrow outside as Hades was right there.

The episode was centered on Zelena as she wound up in the underworld after somehow getting to storbrooke. I don't know how she did that, I saw no tornado and she wasn't wearing silver slippers. She tried to get her baby by posing as Blue, but it didn't work. She, Blue, and Belle (who was there checking on both babies) are in a stand off when the house starts shaking and a portal opens in the floor.

The portal is courtesy of your local Dark One. To destroy the contract over his unborn child he must make a portal to Storybrooke, even though Hades won't say why.

Belle is able to get the baby and leaps into the portal with Zelena right behind her. The portal closes, in both worlds, and Hades is pissed. "Where's the baby?" Why would the lord of the dead want a living baby?

Well the new arrivals find themselves outside the sorcerer's mansion and Zelena realizes where she is and she is terrified, less for herself and more for her baby. She's hurt and her magic isn't working, giving Belle the chance to run off. She figures Rumple somehow did the portal because he needs her. She runs to the library where she's reunited with her husband. In a few short minutes she gets a lot dropped on her. She learns she's pregnant with a child Rumple sold YEARS ago and Rumple is working for Hades to break the contract by using his Dark One powers, which he regained. Rumple says she didn't fall in love with a man behind the monster, she fell in love with both. That while he can't change, he can be a better man which he has and will prove. I don't know if he was expecting her to understand and choose/condone his behavior right there, or if Belle assumed that, but she was strong enough to leave instead of passing out.

At the apartment the group discovers Zelena. A bit of hope in Regina that her sister was dead. Sorry, no. She's looking for their help to find her daughter. So the sisters and Robin go off in search of Belle. Selena asks if Robin's named the baby, "god you haven't named her Marian did you?". Robin says he hasn't named her because he has to get to know her. And he hasn't gotten to know her because he's setting an example of heroism. Selena's all...well Zelena at that. Regina tells her sister that she used to be just like her, to which Zelena says, "Don't flatter yourself." Regina says that she once thought her vengeance was all she needed, that because no one cared about her, she didn't care about anyone else. But when she did care, and others cared back, she's never been happier. Her words hit home, Zelena says the person she cares about is her daughter.

They find Belle in the woods. Selena has a bottle of formula and gets to feed her daughter. Selena, feeling a bit of magic, believes she can protect her child. She flees, knocking them back. A short distance away she's horror struck as her one act of magic gave her daughter a rash. She hides in her house, which the trio find. Zelena hobbles out with her child and gives her to Robin, begging that they protect her. They promise they'll do everything they can. Zelena tells them everything about Hades, how he wants a time-travel spell to get revenge on his brother. She goes inside crying, the trio slowly leaves. Robin says he can't name his child yet, seeing as what Hades can do with names. He says he'll take her into the woods in case Zelena accidentally tells Hades something.

Zelena goes into town and calls Hades out. He arrives and she tells him if he hurts her daughter she'll kill him. He says he'd never hurt her child. We finally learn why the underworld looks like Storybrooke. Hades made it that way for Zelena, her own kingdom. A kingdom of decay, "but it's our decay". He did everything for her, to give her what she wanted of Regina's. Hades says his feelings for her are true. While Zelena still doesn't know if she can trust him, he says he understand and when she's ready he'll be waiting. He flames out and Zelena is left in tears.

A few notes. One, we've seen what happens when those of dark power are hurt in some way. They lash out and it's never good or pretty. Seeing as the hurt dark magic is Hades, who knows everyone in his kingdom (one that our heroes can't escape from), his "tantrum" can't be good. From the promo of "Her Handsome Hero", he lashes out at Rumple through one of his citizens. And he could be collecting on the contract. Poor Belle.
 

Addison

Auror
Before I forget I've read some articles and Q&A's and have found the following elements that will come to light this season.

1. We'll be exploring Regina's child hood.
2. There will be death.
3. Henry will use his author powers and could be targeted.
4. All five rivers will come into play.

I don't know how the heroes will get around three of them being trapped in the underworld. Maybe, as Zeus has already been mentioned, there could be a reunion/stand off between them. That would be an awesome battle.
 

Addison

Auror
Wow, huge apology guys. Here we go:

"Her Handsome Hero". This was a very Belle centered episode. I was happy with this episode. There wasn't a lot with Regina, Emma and co. Although their little experience did come into play toward the end. It starts with the group at the library and Emma having a nightmare, which we saw, in which a tornado touches down, delivering a monster which kills Mary Margaret. She wakes up just when she and Hook get the signal that they're ready inside the library. Once inside we see Regina has covered the elevator in "squiggly lines", as Hook calls the runes and glyphs, and she and Emma combine powers to open the elevator. Only it's blocked by a brick wall. Emma goes to the graveyard to use a spell to get everyone's name off the tombstone, joined by Hook and Snow. Only reality starts to mimic her nightmare and Emma freaks, rushing them out of the graveyard after the tornado touches down and a monstrous roar spooks them. They hide in Regina's vault, soon joined by said sorceress, and Emma tells them about her nightmare and she feels guilty as everyone's there and stuck because of her. Snow says they wanted to come, no one was forced. I'll save the end part for the end of the post.

In flashbacks we see Belle with her father in their ravaged kingdom. He says he's arranged a marriage between her and a kingdom which can help them in the ogre war. She's irritated, then she meets Gaston and a little "doesn't look so bad" spark flies between them. They take a little walk, getting to know each other and they discover an adolescent ogre in a trap. Belle convinces Gaston not to kill it as they could get information. They go back to the castle and Belle shows him a book, one she treasures and points her toward a mirror which would reveal inner evil. (So they crossed Belle's story with the real Ice Queen story, interesting) Belle goes on a quest to find the mirror, and succeeds. When she returns she discovers the ogre has escaped and the hunt is on. Belle races after them and uses the mirror. The ogre is nice, but she sees Gaston's evil. She knows he tortured the ogre. At the end of the flashback she's approached by her father for her actions but she says it was their mistreatment of the ogre that sparked the newest ogre attack. Yet she and Gaston, for the sake of the kingdoms, agree to marry.

Present Underbrooke: Belle goes into the pawn shop and confronts Gold. She doesn't want to lose her baby, at the same time she doesn't want her family to be dug into a deeper hole thanks to Rumple's dark magic so she says, if he's serious about protecting their child, "no one will fight for their child as hard as you", she said, but he can't use dark magic. So they hit the books looking for light magic. Which proves in vain. They step outside, Belle in a rage and Rumple seeking her forgiveness, when he's nearly hit with an arrow. Look who's in the underworld! Gaston!. Hades, upon seeing a flower bloom in his realm, went to the pissed hunter and told him who had taken a residence. Belle tries to stop them but Gaston fires again, Rumple gets them out. Belle confronts him about killing Gaston, which Rumple says was a favor to her on account of their arranged marriage. He shows her the arrow, the head made of the stone from the river of tortured souls. If he's so much as scratched, he's finished.

They go to GAston's work place, the pet shop, as Belel believes if they just find Gaston's unfinished business then Rumple will be safe. She finds the book she gave her and realizes she's his unfinished business. Rumple gives her time alone, only for Hades to show up. He says that he'll rip up the contract on her child if either Gaston pushes Rumple into the river or vice versa. Belle finds Rumple and tells him, but pleads not to. She ever more fervent after meeting with Gaston and realizing that she isn't his unfinished business. Rumple poofs off and finds Gaston. He's about to throw him into the river, when Belle arrives. She kisses Rumple and slips the dagger from his jacket, commanding him not to condemn Gaston. But Gaston is a jerk so he tries to take a cheap shot. Belle, in that moment, chooses Rumple as she pushes Gaston into the river. In comes Hades as Rumple tries to reassure Belle that there wasn't any other way. Hades will not rip up the contract as Belle pushed Gaston into the river, not Rumple. So Hades plucks the flower, which has now wilted and flames off. He sends it to Zelena at the diner, some kind of darkly-romantics collage.

Which takes us back to the hero-brigade. They're in the forest hunting the monster. They see it in the distance and both Emma and Regina hit it with magic. Snow is the first to the creature and sees Emma's vision/nightmare wasn't about saving Snow, but finding her. Snow finds a red cloak next to the monster, a big wolf, throws it on the wolf and it turns into Red. Which sets up the next episode.
 

Addison

Auror
"Ruby Slippers"

I have to admit, this episode kinda burst my bubble. I was hoping that we'd see Oz and Zelena's reign there as a season, half season, on its own. Well maybe we still will.

In Oz flashbacks, which don't take us that far in the past, we see Red and Mulan in Oz, with Red making comments about the book and movie versions of the land. Then Toto appears, with Dorothy right behind to defend her doggy from the confessed werewolf. Red gets the scent of Toto and leads them in the right direction, only for Dorothy to steer them away as Zelena's coming. They go to where the tornado touched down with a house (seriously?) and tells Red that her friends banished her to Oz to keep her away from her newborn child, whom she loves. Selena snatched Toto and says she will kill Toto if Dorothy doesn't give her the slippers and she has until sundown to decide. Mulan plans to make a sleeping powder to put Zelena to sleep to save the dog, but she needs poppies. Red and Dorothy go to the poppy field. Dorothy gets the nick name "Kansas" from Red, as she got the nickname "Wolfy". They bond as they've been prosecuted for their differences. Dorothy's family wanted her to be committed after all her stories. except Em, who loves and believe her, giving her Toto before she died. Red tells how she was chased from her village after she accidentally killed her boyfriend.

They get the poppies and are spotted by a flying monkey. Red, upon Dorothy's trust, changes into a wolf and Dorothy rides her back to Mulan. Dorothy leaves abruptly. Red realizes what she's been looking for has been someone like Red, but is shaken as Dorothy took off. Mulan says not to give up, or wait until it's too late. Red goes to the house and discovers Dorothy is missing, leaving only a scrap of gingham behind. Dorothy is at Zelena's castle with the sleeping powder. Zelena freezes Dorothy and hits her with the sleeping curse.

In Underbrooke:
In the apartment they have Ruby safe on the bed and wonder if she's alive or dead. If alive, why's she's there. Ruby wakes up and says she's looking for Zelena, as she can't find Dorothy and knows Zelena did something. They say Zelena is there. Regina goes to confront her sister while David goes to the phone booth to talk to Neal.

Hades arrives at Zelena's house and tells her that Red is here. Selena worries what the heroes will do, that she may act in a way that will over her her child or they'll find out what she did and take her child away completely forever. She won't let Hades help or interfere, he flames out. Regina arrives and confronts Zelena about what she did. Selena shows, via mirror, Dorothy in a sleeping curse, a basically unbreakable as she has no true love. But she offers the silver slippers in exchange for her daughter. Regina says she can't be redeemed by this path, only by doing good. Selena hands the slippers over,s saying neither of them will change.

David, Hook and Henry arrive at the phone booth only to find Cruella watching as it's ripped up, on Hades orders as it's inspiring hope. Cruel offers a deal, that she'll look the other way while he calls. He refuses, good bye phone booth.

Upon Regina's report Ruby knows only one person who can wake Dorothy, her auntie Em. Going to the graveyard they see Em is there, and she's the Blind Witch's competition. They arrive, only to be joined by Hades. He turns Em to water as "Gods don't like when others play with their things". He bottles Em-water and leaves, and her tombstone is cracked.

At the graveyard, joined by the men and learning what Hades is doing, Emma says it's time for her parents to go home. A little problem as Snow's name is on the tombstone. But Hook can apparently change it, thanks to Hades giving him that power. He switches Snow's name for David's, so she can return to their son. Snow and Ruby use the slippers, stopping at Oz. Ruby, after finally realizing she loves Dorothy and Dorothy loves her, wakes her with true love's kiss. Yep, Dorothy and Red. Back at the apartment Henry's author powers show Dorothy's wakening, then Snow returning to Storybrooke and reuniting with Neal, which inspires hope in the remaining group.

Yet there's a little Rumple/Belle Drama. Belle hasn't gotten over what she did, as she says she tainted her soul. Rumple reminds her she did it to protect her child. She leaves, having to figure it out herself. She goes to Zelena and asks for help, mother-to-mother. Selena has a way to stall the contract, which we find out when Belle returns to the shop. A sleeping curse. After seeing what Emma did to Zelena to get her baby she knows Hades could do the same thing. She also knows that Rumple can't wake her, ouch, and tells her that when it's safe to take her home she rather will wake her. Belle pricks herself and Rumple catches her, laying her on the bed and spurring him to action. Which we'll see next episode.
Snow, Emma and Red go the graveyard looking for Auntie Em.
 

Addison

Auror
"Sisters"

Little Regina is adorable. She had hope for what would really make her happy. Too bad she had Cora as a mother. We saw that all Regina wanted was a sister, a family. Cora made her usually petty intimidating reason for "no". Then Regina unwittingly used dark magic, or just magic (I couldn't really tell). Only to hurt herself. Cora realized there was only one person who could help Regina. Somehow, without a tornado or slippers, she got to OZ. How did she even know where Zelena was? How did Cora get there? Plot hole anybody? Anyway she sees Zelena has the gift and saves her from getting beaten by her father. She takes Zelena to her castle, not telling Henry who Zelena is. She's ready to teach Zelena what to do only to witness Zelena's desire to do good tapped her magic and presto she's doing what needs to be done. Regina wakes up and the sister meet. It's a happy meeting! The girls play dress-up and Queen, or witch battles. Selena sees the box which Regina opened, and it opens at her touch. The girls know and run to find Cora to ask if they're related, only for Cora to be spying from the hall. They find her and Cora sees how happy Regina is, then takes it away. The guards haul Zelena away, both girls screaming for each other, and Cora uses a potion to make both girls forget.

Flash forward to Underbrooke, Regina tries to stop Zelena from her Hades relationship. It looks like Regina is really trying to reach her but Zelena thinks she's only wanting to save herself. (Not an entire lie). Regina realizes there's only one person who can get through to her, Cora. So Hook helps bust Cora out of the lower hell. Cora, as a miller, finds his hook and uses it to get the anti-magic cuff off. She gets away from the guards, who were laughing at her misfortune, and finds Hook, who takes her topside to Regina. Regina fills her in on everything that happened. Cora believes the only way to save Regina and the others, and Zelena, is to make Zelena forget about Hades. She takes Regina to a river, one of the many rivers of the underworld, the waters would make a person forget everything/anything whether they drank or got wet. She says a small pool of the river water was on their estate.

They go to the farmhouse, Regina hidden, and Cora meets with Zelena. They have a good talk, both women voicing troubles they've held for a LONG time. Cora goes to get Zelena water and gets the potion from Regina. Cora underestimates Zelena, as she was aware that her sister was there and their plan. Regina and Cora say they're trying to help her as Hades can't be trusted or changed. The girls are ready to torch the house down in a fight. Cora puts out the fire and undoes her magic, letting them remember their first meeting and how much they loved each other. Cora knows her unfinished business was her daughters, so they go to the cave with the fire and such. The fires race up when Cora reaches the end of the rock, then a light appears and she moves on. Zelena's sad that she lost her mother soon after getting her. Regina hugs her and supports her in dating Hades.

Meanwhile the heroes have an adventure. It's time for a supply run to Robin. David got the supplies when the sheriff's car pulls up. Out steps his brother on a seriously high horse. David calls him James and his brother has a fit, "That's price James". James is pissed, saying his unfinished business is killing David, that David took his glory and the life that should have been his. David defends himself with a board only for James to knock him out with a taser. James plays shepherd, locking David in the jail and James takes his place. He goes to the apartment and sees Emma, who's looking at a photo of David and Snow. James almost blows it as it "remembers" the photo from a birthday, only for Emma to say anniversary. He manages to blow it off as being confused form all the curses and jumping around. They leave to get to Robin and find him in the woods, James showing his personality "How do we find him? Rob some poor people?". Robin appears, the baby with him, and James slaps the anti-magic cuff on Emma and pointing a gun at Robin. Cruella arrives and slaps Emma. They say they want the baby as leverage to get out of the Underworld. Robin refuses, putting an arrow in James. Only it doesn't hurt him. So they go to the docks and Robin and Emma are about to be sent into the water when David and Hook arrive in time to save them. Cruella, unable to kill anyone, finds a place to watch as James and David fight it out. In the end James goes into the water, which David was hoping and trying to avoid.

A scene from the beginning comes full circle at the end. Rumple was at Belle's side, telling her he will save their child. In the end we see Zelena at the diner, Hades has a romantic date set up, lighting a candle with his breath and cuing the jukebox. He dances, getting more things prepared. Zelena is just steps away when Rumple appears. He believes she gave Belle the sleeping curse not to help her but hurt him. He gets two birds with one stone, hurt her and Hades and save his child? How? Introduce her to his father. Pan is there and greets Zelena. "I hear you're wicked. I'm worse". He throws a bag over her head and end episode. Yikes. Rumple declared war on the god of the underworld. There's a fine line between confidence and arrogance, which I think Rumple will learn the hard way tonight.
 
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