Once Upon A Time 6×05 “Street Rats” Recap

Spoilers Ahead A whole new world, a new fantastic point of view. (You all saw that coming.) Episode Summary: In flashbacks, Aladdin (Deniz Akdeniz) accompanies Jasmine portrayed by Galavant’s Karen David on an adventure to find a weapon, and in doing so he learns that he’s actually the weapon — the savior. In present-day Storybrooke, the Evil Queen pretends to be Archie in order to learn Emma’s secret and then “he” ends up revealing the fact that she’s hiding something in front of her family prompting her to tell them about her visions. Review | Analysis: “Street Rats” was yet

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Once Upon A Time 6×03 “The Other Shoe” Recap

Spoilers Ahead We are in this world to right our wrongs, love with all our hearts, and give with all our might. Episode Summary: When Ashley realizes she has a second chance to save her stepsister Clorinda (Mekenna Melvin), she chooses to do it all on her own, but is later in need of healing touch. Emma battles with the desire to give Killian his happy ending, but fears and the savior shakes continue to overpower her. Snow decides she wants to go back into teaching. Charming searches for the truth about his father’s accident. The Evil Queen teams up with

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Once Upon A Time 6×01 “The Savior” Recap

Spoilers Ahead Welcome back to season one. Oh, wait no season six. Episode Summary: Resuming right where we left off in the season five finale, our heroes are disturbed with a dirigible from the Land of Untold Stories, but when they finally capture Mr. Hyde, it turns out he’s actually going to be usual to Emma, leading her on a journey where she learns what her visions mean. Gold wakes up Belle and in her sleeping curse, the two meet their son, Morpheus (Giles Matthey). And while Regina’s made the decision to make proper amends, the Evil Queen has a plot

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Once Upon A Time 5×22 “Only You” and 5×23 “An Untold Story” Recap

Spoilers Ahead Episode Summary: Gold uses the Olympian Crystal to save Belle and tethers all of Storybrooke’s magic to it, but when Henry runs off to New York in order to destroy magic, Gold, Regina, and Emma must change course in order to stop him. After they send the Camelot folks back home, Snow, Charming, Killian, and Zelena are taken through the portal to the Land of Untold Stories. Review | Analysis: Once Upon A Time from the very beginning has emphasized the importance of choice. There’s great power in all of us and it is the ability to decide

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Once Upon A Time 5×20 “Firebird” Recap

Spoilers Ahead To quote the 80s classic, The Princess Bride: “death cannot stop true love, it can only delay it for a while.” Episode Summary: In Flashbacks, while Emma’s searching for her birth parents, a Bail Bonds woman, Cleo, manages to convince her to let go and after her death, Emma pursues the same career. In the underworld, True Love’s kiss restarts Hades’ heart and the quest Killian and Emma are sent on doesn’t go as planned forcing the heroes to once again say goodbye as they return home without the man they set out to rescue. Review | Analysis:

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Once Upon A Time 5×17 “Her Handsome Hero” Recap

Spoilers Ahead Once again, do not make the deals with the devil, kids — there’s always a trick with him. Episode Summary: Flashbacks reveal Belle and Gaston’s first meeting followed by an adventure that showcased what a powerful team they could’ve been if their story evolved further. However, when they’re reunited in the underworld, Gaston reveals she was a weakness and his quest to kill Rumple is the unfinished business he’s doomed with. And unfortunately, when Rumple’s involved, souls don’t move forward to eternal bliss, instead, they decay in the “River of Lost Souls”. In an attempt to stop the

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Once Upon A Time 5×15 “The Brothers Jones” Recap

Spoilers Ahead It’s not enough to have others forgive you, you have to forgive yourself, too. Episode Summary: Flashbacks reveal the terrible deal Liam took with Hades to ensure his and Killian’s place in the King’s Navy. And when Liam doesn’t choose to see the best in Emma, she needs to put her heartache aside to fight and make sure Killian forgives himself. The heroes go on a quest to find the underworld’s version of the storybook, but in order to keep his secret hidden, Liam does Hades another favor by tearing his story from the book. However, when he’s

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Once Upon A Time 5×14 “Devil’s Due” Recap

Spoilers Ahead Don’t make deals. Don’t ever make deals. Don’t make deals with Rumplestiltskin. Don’t make deals with Hades. Don’t make deals with Cruella. Just don’t make deals okay? Episode Summary: When a rare snake in flashbacks threatens Bae’s life, Milah and Rumple seek a man who can magically help him, but they cannot afford his asking price. Milah asks Rumple to kill him in order to steal the elixir, but instead, his naiveté inspires another decision instead: their second-born child will be given away. We also see Milah and Killian’s first meeting after he defended her from a drunken man

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Once Upon A Time 5×13 “Labor of Love” Recap

Spoilers Ahead  Snow White is back and all’s well in the world again. Episode Summary: Bailee Madison reprised her role as young Snow as she became a better warrior due to the help she received from her demigod friend, Hercules (Jonathan Whitesell). In the underworld, Killian helps Megara (Kacey Rohl) escape in order to give Emma a message, but the three-headed beast Cerberus goes after them forcing Mary Margaret to retire her Storybrooke alias because, in order to win, she needs to channel bandit Snow. Hercules, Snow, and Megara slay the beast and the two dead souls are finally given

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Once Upon A Time 5×11 “Swan Song” Recap

Oh, we’re off to see the … Hades?! Episode Summary: In flashbacks, we learned that when Regina chose to test Killian, she had him confront his father after he’d abandoned him and Liam. In Storybrooke, we learned that in order for a soul from the underworld to be brought back, someone living must die. And a hero’s sacrifice saves the day, but because our town savior isn’t okay with losing her love, she’s on a journey to the underworld in order to split her heart. Neverland 2.0 here we come. Review | Analysis: There’s a reason we don’t often theorize

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Once Upon A Time 5×10 “Broken Heart” Recap

Spoilers Ahead It’s a dark, dark world out there. Episode Summary: In Camelot, we see an upset Killian enact the curse through Nimue which then forces Emma to wipe everyone’s memories in order to take care of everything on her own. In Storybrooke Killian takes away Emma’s memories and resumes his revenge while the heroes attempt to figure out his plot. Review | Analysis: The episode left a good majority of viewers puzzled, but in a way, that’s a good thing — a “penultimate” episode is supposed to be a massive conundrum. And while we’re on the edge of our

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Once Upon A Time 5×08 “Birth” and 5×09 “The Bear King” Recap

Spoilers Ahead Still haven’t caught our breaths enough to write something creative here. Episode Summary: In “Birth” we learn the truth about what transformed Emma into the Dark One, but we also learn that she’s not the only one in Storybrooke. Because Emma refuses to lose Killian, she tethers his soul onto Excalibur making him the Dark One as well. After she speeds up Zelena’s pregnancy in order to keep the baby away from her plot to give Zelena all the darkness, Killian learns the truth about what’s happened to him through the dream catcher meant for him. In “The Bear

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Once Upon A Time 5×07 “Nimue” Recap

Spoilers Ahead Once Upon A Time writers always know how to give viewers a fantastic episode, and we’d say this has been the best one all season. Although we’re sure it’ll probably, definitely be topped next week. Episode Summary: In flashbacks, we learn about how Merlin came to all his powers and the choice he made to only use them for good. We also got a glimpse into his relationship with Nimue and how anger fueled her more than the promise of a great and honorable future. In Camelot, Emma and Merlin seek out Nimue in order to retrieve the spark

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Once Upon A Time 5×04 “The Broken Kingdom” Recap

Spoilers Ahead Darkness is getting stronger and alliances are being tested. Episode Summary: In flashbacks, we watch Arthur’s obsession with becoming King overrule his rightful thinking while in present-day Snow and Charming showcase what it truly means to be in a partnership with your spouse. Killian tries to take Emma’s mind away from the voices inside her head. Sands of Avalon is used for all the wrong reasons. And the Dark Swan’s got a new puppet. Review | Analysis: Tonight’s episode did a wonderful job of contrasting real love and forced. It reminded viewers of the fact that selfishness ultimately leads

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Once Upon A Time 5×03 “Siege Perilous” Recap

Spoilers Ahead Bromances, darkness, and more mysteries. Episode Summary: In Camelot, Charming and Arthur bond while in Storybrooke Robin and Hook plot a mission of their own. Dark Swan tries to find the hero that’ll pull Excalibur from the stone, but things go south when Hook refuses to give in to the darkness. Gold awakens and Arthur is the worst. Review | Analysis: Tonight’s episode was yet another reminder that we stand where we do because of the choices we make. While evil forces have power, at the end of the day so does light, and when we find ourselves

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Once Upon A Time 4×15 “Poor Unfortunate Soul”

Spoilers Ahead “Poor Unfortunate Soul” served as yet another reminder that our conscious choices are what have the greatest effect on our happy endings. Enchanted Forest Flashbacks: While searching for ways to get his revenge on Rumple, Hook and his crew hear a mermaid’s gorgeously haunting voice while sailing away from massive rocks and learn that she has no intentions of harming them. However, while having drinks with his crew, Killian sees the same mermaid singing and recognizes her voice. The two share drinks and confide in one another and he plans to help her leave from father. Poseidon finds

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Once Upon A Time 4×12 “Darkness on the Edge of Town” Recap

Spoilers Ahead As always Once Upon A Time resumed with a strong premiere reminding its viewers that this is a series filled with an insanely talented cast and fiercely badass women. Enchanted Forest Flashbacks: Rumplestilskin lies (shocking) and the Queens of Darkness manage to escape from the Chernabog. Present-Day Storybrooke: Things are finally calm in Storybrooke and it sadly doesn’t stay this way for long. Killian helps Belle search for a way to free the fairies from the hat. Emma continues to help Regina find the author of the book. Snow’s teaching again. And the lovebirds manage to have a quick moment

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Once Upon A Time 4×04 “The Apprentice” Recap

Spoilers Ahead For an episode that reminded us of the emotional roller coasters Once Upon A Time is able to take us through, the Disney gems throughout the episode were exceptional additions — starting from the couple reenacting Lady and the Tramp to Mickey Mouse being the Apprentice, and the broom from Fantasia guiding Rumple and Hook to their destination. Enchanted Forest Flashbacks: Determined to learn the truth about why her parents voyaged to the Enchanted Forest, Anna makes a deal with Rumple unlike any of the ones he’s made before. In order for him to uncover the power inside the box which holds the Sorcerer’s

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Once Upon A Time 4×02 “White Out” Recap

Spoilers Ahead This week’s episode fortified and built strong relationships while once again reminding us how vital it is to fight for the things we want most without ever giving up. Enchanted Forest Flashbacks: Kristoff had given Anna, Charming’s name as the one person he’s known in the Enchanted Forest and Anna ends up playing a vital role in his life. When Bo Peep (Robin Weigert) comes to collect her debt, Anna inspires Charming to actually fight for what’s rightfully theirs. Not exactly as sweet and friendly as the one in Toy Story is she? However, it’s not until after

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