Spoilers Ahead It’s like Ellen’s 12 Days of Christmas only with saviors. Episode Summary: In flashbacks, we learn that Rumple was destined to be the savior, but learning that another would be his undoing, Fiona did everything in her power to stop it only to become the person that was prophesied against her son. She was then banished by Tiger Lily and the Blue Fairy, forcing Rumple’s father to grow resentful of him. In present-day Storybrooke, Rumple pulls an inception on himself, Emma, and Gideon where he learns the truth about why his mother gave him up. Zelena learns how
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Once Upon A Time 6×17 “Awake” Recap
Spoilers Ahead The hills are alive with the sound of True Love! Episode Summary: In flashbacks, we learn that Charming woke up long before Emma came into Storybrooke breaking the curse between him and Snow, but the two were forced to give up a life with Emma in order to free everyone from the curse. In present-day Storybrooke, while Regina, Zelena, and Emma try to break the sleeping curse, Killian’s trying to get away from angry lost boys. But with the help of a magical flower and Tiger Lily, Killian and Emma reunite then the entire town decides they’ll share
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 6×06 “Dark Waters” Recap
Spoilers Ahead Where there is hope, there is forgiveness. Where there is love, there is strength. Episode Summary: In flashbacks, we learn that a submarine Captain named Nemo tries to convince Killian to join his crew, and as it turns out his first mate is Liam, Killian’s father’s second son. In Storybrooke, when the two return Liam attempts to avenge his father’s death. Emma and Aladdin go off on an adventure to the town line. Belle visits the hospital for her first ultrasound. And the Evil Queen continues to gross us out with her crush on Gold. Review | Analysis:
Read moreOnce 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
Read moreOnce 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
Read moreOnce 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:
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 5×16 “Our Decay” Recap
Spoilers Ahead Love is enough … or at least for some. Episode Summary: In flashbacks, we learn that at the time when Zelena was first concocting her time travel spell, Hades was there to help her; only instead, he fell in love, but Zelena chose to carry on with her plans. In the present day, Belle, “baby green bean,” and Zelena are teleported to the underworld where Hades and Zelena unite and Henry’s time as the author isn’t as peachy as imagined. Review | Analysis: Once Upon A Time is always here to remind us that love is not only
Read moreOnce 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
Read moreOnce 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
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 5×12 “Souls of the Departed” Recap
Spoilers Ahead 100 episodes. 100 beautiful stories told. Episode Summary: In flashbacks, we learn about the time Cora took Snow White’s heart only to have Henry Mills Sr. return it, which then sends Regina into a fury, and she shrinks her father. In the underworld, we learn that the souls of the departed found each has unfinished business. Cora tells Regina to leave or she’ll send her father to the worst part, but when Henry Mills Sr. convinces Regina to do the right thing by helping her friends, he finds himself finally free to rest peacefully in the best place.
Read moreOnce 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
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 5×05 “Dreamcatcher” Recap
Spoilers Ahead You can’t just end an episode there! Episode Summary: In Camelot, Emma resorts to the drastic decision of taking Violet’s heart in order to use Henry’s heartbreak as a way to free Merlin. Killian, Robin, Belle, and Regina break into the Dark Swan’s house and find Excalibur there. In Storybrooke Emma also makes amends with Henry and Violet, but it’s too late when Henry’s learned the truth by listening in on Regina and Robin as they watch a flashback through a dream catcher. Review | Analysis: Tonight’s episode wasn’t exactly our favorite, but then again, who wants to watch
Read moreOnce 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
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 5×01 “The Dark Swan” Recap
Spoilers Ahead Here we go again with glitches in our memories, new places, and the fight to make sure good always wins. In other words: the recipe which makes Once Upon A Time, well, Once Upon A Time. Due to the fact that the episode wasn’t shown in its usual flashback/present-day form, we’ll just dive straight into covering matters we feel are most important. First things first, we’d be lying if we said we were excited for Emma Swan to turn dark, in fact, what we’re most excited about is Jennifer Morrison’s inimitable performances. We like savior/sheriff Emma a lot
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 4×21-22 “Operation Mongoose” Recap
Spoilers Ahead And just like that Once Upon A Time reminds us of the fact that Emma Swan is one of the greatest fictional characters in history — “Operation Mongoose” Parts I and II were a solid two hours of fantastic television. Between the gorgeous costumes, exceptional performances, and nerve-wracking storylines, it’s been an epic ride leading us into a torturous three-month-long hiatus. Episode Summary: Isaac rewrites everyone’s stories into a best-selling novel called Heroes and Villains. However, the stories in the book will only ever become a permanent reality if things aren’t made right before the loud tolling of bells
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 4×16 “Best Laid Plans” Recap
Spoilers Ahead Even the seemingly best-laid plans can end terribly. Enchanted Forest Flashbacks: Snow and Charming have different visions of how Emma will grow up, so they turn to the sorcerer to ask for help. The sorcerer states that there’s no way of knowing because choices play a part in the outcome; however, there is a way to take the darkness if it’s placed in someone else with a similar faith (ie: a child who’s to be born at the same time). After they’re told that Maleficent’s having a child as well, believing that it’ll be a dragon just like her,
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 3×12 “New York City Serenade” Recap
Spoilers Ahead If there’s one episode that’s been worth the awfully long three-month hiatus, New York City Serenade is definitely it. When we parted ways with our most favorite characters, everyone but Emma and Henry were sent back to the Enchanted Forest, and it was up to Captain Hook to jog Emma’s memories one year later. There were quite a few noteworthy, tear-jerker scenes in this episode that certainly set up the rest of the season gloriously. For starters, even though it was temporary, it was incredibly refreshing to see Emma Swan live a normal life where she got to
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 3×11 “Going Home” Recap
Spoilers Ahead Once Upon A Time has rightfully set the bar insanely high for any fairytale adaptations. Surely we aren’t the only ones this mid-season finale caused copious amounts of pain too. Additionally, there were far too many exceptional scenes in this episode to pick favorites and leave things out, that being said, this is long, and a bit different from our usual recaps considering the fact that there was more than one flashback.
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 3×09 “Save Henry” Recap
Spoilers Ahead Just when you think the family tree cannot get any more complicated, it does. Flashback: As the curse is about to strike, Regina visits Rumpelstiltskin one last time and he reveals that the happiness she seeks to attain with the curse will eventually leave a void in her heart. As we learned back in Season 2, Regina not only felt lonely, but she got tired of not living the same day over and over again. Back in Storybrooke after Greg Mendell disappears, she requests Mr. Gold’s assistance in finding a child to adopt, and he suggests an adoption agency
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 3×08 “Think Lovely Thoughts” Recap
Spoilers ahead: We’re genuinely unsure whether or not we could ever look at Peter Pan the same way again, who’s with us? Flashbacks: Viewers are at last given Rumple’s family backstory and it’s definitely worse than Cora’s/Regina’s. After Rumple’s father leaves him with two ladies and claims he’s gone off to get a job, they give him a magic bean in order for him to escape from the father who cares very little about him. Rumple finds him back at the pub gambling again and shows him the bean persuading him to run off with him to a place where
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