Regina faces off with the Evil Queen, as Killian and Emma’s engagement is put to the test. Get a sneak peek of tonight’s Once Upon a Time!
Oncers, the OUaT writers have done the impossible… Rumple’s redemption arc is in full effect and I can’t believe I’m on board with it!
“Ill-boding Patterns” began in Fairy Tale Land with the First Ogres War. Beowulf was leading soldiers into battle, but just as all was lost, Rumple stepped in with his Dark One magic and savedd them all from the ogres. (It turns out Rumple first took the Dark One magic in order to stop the First Ogres War and save Baelfire, anyway!)
Later at the pub during a celebratory drink with the townsfolk, Rumple was joined by Bae. Everyone was in a good mood, except for Beowulf, who was jealous. He called Rumple a coward and then accused him of using dark magic, which was true. Bae then asked Rumple to give up the dagger and magic and just live a normal life at home. Rumple agreed. Unfortunately, Bae was still picked on by other boys who accused Rumple if being a monster.
Soon, the townsfolk came to Rumple to help save them and Beowulf from a monster called Grendel. With Bae’s encouragement, they set out to find Beowulf and prove they could be heroes without dark magic.
Rumple brought the dagger anyway, but gave it to Bae who promised to stop Rumple if he went to use the dark magic. They eventually found “Grendel” in a cave… butut it turned out there was no monster! Beowulf killed the villagers and planned to frame Rumple for it so that when he killed the Dark One, he could be the hero everyone celebrated.
Bae eventually got the Dark One dagger back and in a crazy turn of events, he ordered Rumple to kill Beowulf, despite Rumple’s hesitations. This darkened Bae’s heart. But to save his son from himself and his new lust for power, Rumple gave Bae a memory potion and took the blame for Beowulf’s murder himself, even though Bae now thought his father was a real monster.
In Storybrooke, Rumple, Belle, and Blue Fairy are looking for Gideon. Rumple promised Belle that he’ll do anything to save their son.
We saw Gideon break into the sheriff’s station and steal the remainder of the broken sword he tried to kill Emma with; however Rumple intercepted him. He warned Gideon about giving into the darkness, that doing so could only lead to heartbreak and not becoming a hero.
With encouragement, Gideon told Rumple about being with the Black Fairy… how he was locked away in a dungeon and being too afraid to save another boy who the Black Fairy was beating.
Then Rumple tried to give Gideon a memory potion to rid him of the bad memories of being with the Black Fairy. It didn’t work! Gideon now had the dagger and planned to make Rumple help him kill Emma and fulfill his destiny. They would repair the sword, but needed the blood of the person who forged it, the Blue Fairy. However (like with Baelfire), to protect Gideon from snuffing out the good in his heart, Rumple interceded and took Blue’s blood himself. It repaired the sword, but Blue was sapped of her magic and in a coma.
However, would there be enough time to stop Gideon again?
Elsewhere, Alt Robin stole a box of potions from Regina’s mausoleum. Regina genuinely wanted to help him settle down in Storybrooke, but Robin was still reluctant. Instead he turned to Zelena for help to escape the town protection spell and leave Regina’s attempts at reform. Zelena agreed to help, but before they could escape (with the Evil Queen snake in tow), Regina stopped them. Robin made it very clear that he resented being on Storybrooke where Robin Hood’s legacy loomed. Alt Robin tried the anti-magic potion anyway, but it exploded back on him. Regardless, Regina promised to help Alt Robin find his happiness, even if it meant leaving Storybrooke.
Later, while drinking his sorrows away in the forest, Alt Robin was bitten by a snake… who turned out to be the Evil Queen, back in full form. Since Robin still had remnants of the anti-magic potion on his hands, when EQ bit him, she was able to strip the magic from the spell that kept her as a snake. And a new doppelganger alliance was born…
Meanwhile Killian was also drinking his sorrows away. Yes, he had permission to marry Emma, but Killian knew he was keeping the truth about Davids father’s death. He knew he should keep the secret, but in truth he was desperate to tell Emma the truth. But wouldn’t he lose her? Killian confided in Cricket who gave the advice that he owed it to the relationship to be honest.
When Killian finally went home to Emma, he planned to confess. However, she stopped him before he could do so. Emma had found the engagement ring and thought Killian was proposing! So Killian got down on one knee and asked Emma to marry him. Yes there were secrets, but it still was the most beautiful moment when she said yes and he put the ring on her finger!
Do #CaptainSwan have a happy ending in sight? pic.twitter.com/l1WXYqSYAd
— Once Upon A Time (@OnceABC) March 20, 2017
Some other observations:
- Beowulf’s sword (Hrunting) is the same sword Gideon plans to use to kill Emma!
- Is Rumple seriously every iconic villain?! He’s the Beast (to Belle’s Beauty), he’s Captain Hook’s nemesis the Crocodile, and now it turns out that Rumple is really Grendel!
In tonight’s episode “Page 23” (written by David H. Goodman and Brigitte Hales, directed by Kate Woods):
REGINA FACES-OFF AGAINST THE EVIL QUEEN, AS HOOK’S AND EMMA’S ENGAGEMENT IS TESTED—Believing there isn’t room in Storybrooke for both her and Regina, the Evil Queen sets out to eliminate her other half using Robin to bait the trap. Hook, determined to make things work with Emma, turns to his old friend Capt. Nemo for advice, but Gideon torpedoes his plan before he’s able to set things right. In a flashback to the Enchanted Forest, the Evil Queen learns a surprising lesson about the true source of her misery. (via ABC)
Take a look at two clips from the upcoming show. In the first, Emma shares her good news about the recent engagement… but then we get the bad news that EQ has escaped. And in the second video, a flashback, the Evil Queen’s hunt for Snow White takes her to a small village. But her father tries to convince her to show mercy.
Regina's news about the Evil Queen puts everyone's happiness for Emma on pause. pic.twitter.com/czeRWgFFRZ
— Once Upon A Time (@OnceABC) March 25, 2017
The Evil Queen has malicious plans for Snow White except there's one problem… #OnceUponaTime pic.twitter.com/OnmdmYHk7J
— Once Upon A Time (@OnceABC) March 23, 2017
So… I’m all for a CaptainSwan wedding as soon as humanly possible, but until Killian tells Emma the truth, things feel so tenuous!
Check out 15 images from “Page 23” and live tweet Once Upon a Time with me at 8pm ET on ABC over at @WeSoNerdy!
