Spoilers Ahead “Tougher Than the Rest” was a solid season premiere that finally addressed something we’ve all been wanting to know. Episode Summary: In flashbacks, we learn that a little last-name-less Emma was about to burn away pages of The Ugly Duckling story in order to keep warm after running away, but a kind stranger talks her out of it by telling her she’s capable of changing her fate. Back in the Evil Queen’s wish realm, Emma seeks August’s help to rebuild the wardrobe that sent her into our world while Regina seeks out Robin to learn if he’s happy in
Tag: once upon a time
Best of 2016: Little Gems
Best of 2016 little gems features some of our favorite scenes of the year that we can’t stop thinking about.
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 6×10 “Wish You Were Here” Recap
Spoilers Ahead Episode Summary: When the Evil Queen uses Aladdin, she wishes that Emma’s wish to have never been the savior be granted sending her into an alternate universe where she grew up as a princess in the Enchanted Forest. In order to bring her back, Regina wishes to be sent there as well. And just as the two are about to return home, a fan-favorite thief stops them. The hooded figure is revealed and new twists await. Review | Analysis: Once Upon A Time is generally masterful at creating heartwarming alternate universes with their characters, but in “Wish You
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 6×09 “The Changelings” Recap
Spoilers Ahead Episode Summary: In flashbacks, we learn about Rumple’s mother after he steals a baby and summons the Black Fairy. And in present-day Storybrooke, Aladdin becomes the Genie, Emma finds a weapon from her visions, and Belle gives birth to her son and then sends him away for a better life. Review | Analysis: Once Upon A Time is often great at maintaining an engaging speed with its storylines, but sometimes, there is such a thing as slowing things down, and pregnancies are one of them. Frankly, it’s disturbing and this should be the final time it’s ever done.
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 6×08 “I’ll Be Your Mirror” Recap
Spoilers Ahead Awkward — tonight’s episode was awkward, but nonetheless fascinating. Episode Summary: It’s rare that an episode of Once Upon A Time doesn’t feature flashbacks, but “I’ll Be Your Mirror” needed its platform to tell a new story. When Regina and Emma’s plan backfires, and they’re sent behind the mirror, they meet the dragon there who’s controlled by the Evil Queen. But as she attempts to turn Henry’s heart dark, he makes the wiser choice and breaks the mirror instead freeing his mothers and setting the Evil Queen’s plans back. Review | Analysis: At its core Once Upon A
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 6×07 “Heartless” Recap
Spoilers Ahead One heart, one curse, and perpetual weeping by all fans until these are resolved. Episode Summary: In flashbacks, we’re taken back to a time when Charming and Snow met without ever knowing who the other was. In present-day Storybrooke, the Evil Queen finds a new way to torture the couple when she comes and accepts that they’re willing to lay down their lives for the sake of the town. Review | Analysis: Belief has often been an incredibly powerful theme in the world of Once Upon A Time and in “Heartless” it serves as a gorgeous reminder of
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 6×04 “Strange Case” Recap
Spoilers Ahead It’s a strange case indeed. Episode Summary: In flashbacks, we’re taken back to the origin of Mr. Hyde and during our journey, we come to find that there was a bigger villain than him. In present-day Storybrooke, Snow’s first day of teaching doesn’t go as planned, but Jasmine (Karen David) is there to help. Charming deals with Killian and Emma’s move. Rumple imprisons Belle on the Jolly Roger. And the demise of two souls reveals how the Evil Queen could be defeated. Review | Analysis: “Strange Case” was yet another great example of how well Once Upon A
Read moreOnce 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
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 6×02 “A Bitter Draught” Recap
Spoilers Ahead It’s definitely time for a movie night; in fact, it’s long overdue. Episode Summary: Regina and the Evil Queen come face to face when the Count of Monte Cristo attempts to kill off the Charmings as he was once convinced to. Emma goes to a session with Archie. Killian offers Belle a space on his ship. And the Evil Queen shares her plot to turn everyone against each other. Review | Analysis: Once Upon A Time’s “A Bitter Draught” wasn’t my favorite episode, but it opened up a lot of great issues. And most importantly, it reminded viewers
Read moreOnce 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
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 5×21 “Last Rites” Recap
Spoilers Ahead “Keep your chin up, there will be happiness again.” Episode Summary: When our heroes return to Storybrooke, Zelena is hesitant to believe Hades has actually teamed up against them, and after replacing the Olympian Crystal, Hades attempts to use it to kill everyone in order to create a new kingdom with Zelena. Back in the underworld, a newly deceased Arthur teams up with Killian in order to help the heroes defeat Hades. One soul dies, while another returns. Review | Analysis: Once Upon A Time is a show about hope — a reflection of the real world, only
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 5×19 “Sisters” Recap
Spoilers Ahead “Sisters” is one of Once Upon A Time’s most beautiful and thematically powerful episodes. Episode Summary: Flashbacks reveal that there was a time when little Regina and Zelena got along incredibly well only to have their bond broken by Cora and their memories of one another completely wiped. In the present day, once Regina overhears Hades’ plans to leave the underworld and make a living with Zelena in Storybrooke, she seeks out her mother in order to stop Zelena from giving Hades “True Love’s” kiss. James switches places with Charming and attempts to kill those closest to him.
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 5×18 “Ruby Slippers” Recap
Spoilers Ahead A little courage could do wonders. Episode Summary: Flashbacks to a specific time none of us really know reveal Dorothy’s first meeting with Ruby and Mulan. And when Dorothy escapes to find Zelena, she’s put under a sleeping curse forcing Ruby to use the slippers in order to get revenge. When she ends up in the underworld and tells the heroes what she’s there for, they set out on a quest to find Aunt Em — who’ll be able to give Dorothy true love’s kiss. However, when Hades interferes, Snow comes to the realization that Ruby should be the
Read moreOnce 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
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
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