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Storybrooke. Henry wakes from his dream and tells Charming and Regina that he met Aurora in the Netherworld, but that's not even news to the boy. What is news to him, is that Snow and Emma are alive. While in the Netherworld, Henry learns that Team Princess is contending with Cora.
After a confab with Rumpy, Henry returns to the Netherworld to inform Team Princess that they need to get to the cell in which the Charmings once locked up our Dark One. In it, they'll find the enchanted ink that was used in the spell that once bound Rumpy. (More proof that, since Bae's disappearance, Rumpy has been working to move us to exactly where we are, today.) The ink is Team Princess's key to containing Cora, a.k.a. the Mother of All Evil. The only problem is, when Henry has his dream rendezvous with Aurora, she is ripped from the burning room, before he can fill her in.
L'enchantement. Aurora is ripped from her dream, because Cora has summoned the zombie remains of her Neverland victims I hope you'll notice I refrained from headlining this episode, "The Walking Dead." You're welcome. Anyhow, Cora does so only after she informs Hook that since he was ready to double-cross her with Team Princess, he will never get the chance to ride her magical coattails to Storybrooke.
When the zombies grab Aurora from Team Princess, they bring her to Cora. Snow, Emma and Mulan set out in search of poppies, so that they can make more sleeping powder. The plan is to put Snow under deeply enough, so that she lets down her defenses and returns to the Netherworld.
Cora sends a (Maleficent's?) raven to inform Team Princess that she has Aurora. If they don't give her the magical compass by sundown, Sleeping Beauty will sleep with the fishes. Because of her loyalty to Phillip, Mulan is ready to turn over the compass ASAP. Snow and Emma, however, want to find a way to defeat Cora, keep the compass, and rescue Aurora.
Because Henry is burnt during his last Netherworld voyage, Charming and Regina decide it's too dangerous for the boy to return. Instead, Charming asks to be put under the Sleeping Curse. He does meet up with his bride in the Netherworld, but because of the nether-ness of it all, Snow can't lay a restorative kiss on her groom, and return him to their grandson.
L'enchantement. Snow wakes in a panic and tells Emma all that's happened. Mother and daughter vow to get back to Storybrooke, but then realize Mulan has gone AWOL, and taken with her the magical compass. They make like Kate Austen and track down the treacherous Mulan.
Back in Neverland, Hook arrives and frees Aurora. Along with her marching orders, he gives the princess some vague words meant to make Emma feel like ass for failing to trust him. In the Enchanted Forest, Aurora finds Emma and Snow, just after they catch Mulan. Aurora passes along Hook's message to Emma, and adds that she thinks the swashbuckler has feelings for our savior.
Neverland. Hook gives Cora a make-up gift. It's Aurora's heart. With it, the Mother of All Evil is able to control Aurora like the perfect magical robot. And in Storybrooke, when Charming doesn't awaken from the Sleeping Curse, Henry frets, while Regina and Rumpy share a knowing (but probably, or at least possibly) concerned look.
On first blush, there were too many moments in this episode that felt far too facile for me to give it an A grade. Chief among these are the fact that even though Henry continues to wear the magical amulet Rumpy gave him last time, he doesn't even seem to try to control his dream. To add insult to injury, when Henry passes the amulet to his gramps, he tells him what it's for, but there's no acknowledgment that the boy failed to use it, himself. Also, since when is Captain Hook a student of the Dark Arts?
Look, I know the story takes place in a world with magic. I know that a big part of the premise is that we only think we know the stories; this show is going to give us the real deal. Still, in just one viewing, I feel like there were a lot of shortcuts or cheats. Sometimes this show improves for me with subsequent viewings. I'm crossing my fingers that this is the case with "Into The Deep." Don't get me wrong. It's more than an acceptable way to spend a lazy Sunday evening. That said, there are moments that are just far too easy and/or convenient.
I'll be back with the whole story, in the full recap. In the meantime, please grade the episode at the top of the page and then come on over to the forum, where we're always ready to go to sleep for the cause.
Want more? The full recap starts right below!Previously on Once Upon A Time, Team Princess arrives in Neverland to find all the Neverlanders' hearts have been ripped from their chests. Rumpy explains the consequences of surviving the Sleeping Curse. Aurora tells Team Princess she met Henry in her dreams. Hook and Emma travel up the beanstalk in search of a magical compass. To give Team Princess a head start, Emma chains up Hook.
Currently on Once Upon A Time... L'enchantement. Night. When Hook reaches the bottom of the beanstalk, he finds Cora waiting for him. Why does she have a parasol at night? Isn't the "sol" in parasol for a reason? These are the things that keep me up at night.
When Cora demands the compass from Hook, she is furious to learn that he doesn't have it. She exposits that he stole the enchanted cuffs which allowed him (and Emma) to climb the beanstalk, which answers my question in a way I hadn't expected, so well done, Show. Cora hisses about betrayal, so Hook assures her he was only ever going to bring the compass to her.
Cora says something about having "crossed through too many worlds" to risk dealing with him again, which to me seems to further shore up fan speculation that she may be the Queen of Hearts (or the Red Queen, darn you pop culture for conflating the two). She wonders who bested Hook and laughs when he confesses that it was Emma. She's displeased that he chose Emma, but now must suffer the consequences.
Hook tells her if she's going to kill him, she should just have at it. Please don't kill him, Cora. He's pretty. Ooh, she listens and decides she'll leave him in L'enchantement with his thirst for vengeance unquenched, while she completes the journey to Storybrooke on her own.
Hook turns up his not inconsiderable charm and insists there's no need to be rash. Perhaps not, but if you two keep flirting like that, I'm pretty sure one of you will end up with a rash. I mean, have we seen any Enchanted doctors, other than Doc? I'm thinking the medical arts are not so highly developed in their universe.
Cora is amused by Hook's swagger, but laughs off his proposal that they continue working together and tells him it's her turn to "do this, the right way." Taking a page out of Charming's book, Hook lunges at the Mother of All Evil, but she disappears in a puff of midnight blue smoke, as evil is wont to do. Hook face-plants on the ground and I laugh and laugh.
Back in Neverland, Cora is down in her portable heart vault, a necessity for the worlds-traveling witch. She selects a box from the top row, opens it and takes out a candy apple red heart. Once in her hands, it begins to glow. When she blows on the heart, several of the other boxes start glowing and slide out from the -- man I don't know what anything is called any more. You know what I'm talking about, I hope. These heart boxes are like Post Office boxes or safety deposit boxes, but slide out from the larger structure like drawers. So yeah. Like that, then. Cora walks off with the original heart.
Out on the steps of her Neverland hut, Cora holds the heart aloft and says, "Rise." Below, all her victims rise and lumber off zombie-style, and while I'll continue to refer to them as zombies, this is about the only time they move as such.
Enchanted Forest. Emma shows Aurora a school picture of Henry and is freaked when Aurora confirms that's the little boy she saw. When Emma wonders how it's possible that Aurora could dream about Henry, Snow explains that it's probably not a dream. As a victim of the Sleeping Curse, Snow has been in that room herself.
Aurora is a little miffed that Snow didn't come clean with her about her dreams not being dreams, but Snow insists she was protecting Aurora. Snow is heartened by the fact that Aurora and Henry contacted one another. It means they have a way home now. Emma disagrees. They have a compass. The wardrobe ashes are still with Cora, and it would be suicide to steal from her. Snow doesn't know how to stop Cora, but she knows someone who will know how: Rumpy. Emma puts the pieces together. Aurora must go back to sleep and contact Henry.
Fiery Room of Dreams. Dodging the flames, Aurora screams out Henry's name. Finally, he appears in the other corner, but makes no effort to control the flames with his magical necklace. Aurora tells him who she is and that she's with Emma and Snow. They're fine, but they want to come home and need his help.
Storybrooke. Morning. Mary Margaret's Hovel. Regina and Charming are both sleeping nearby (but not together, which I only specify, because, you know... David Nolan) when Henry wakes yelling that Snow and Emma are alive. Henry explains they need Mr. Gold's help in defeating the person who is keeping them from returning. Regina: "Who?" Henry: "Your mother." Commercial.
Granny's Diner. Belle and Rumpy's long-awaited hamburger date is interrupted when Regina barges in, and demands to speak to the Dark One. Rumpy is understandably prickly, not just because Regina is cock blocking him now, but because she locked up Belle for the past 28 years. Granny realizes the powder keg that is Regina and Rumpy, so, not wanting her paying customers to be turned into newts or the like, she tells everyone she's closing immediately and that they must leave. Regina assures her there won't be trouble, but Granny keeps her eyes open anyhow. The better to see her, my dear.
Rumpy isn't in the mood to talk to Regina, but she explains she is there to talk about Cora. She's trying to get to Storybrooke from their land, and they need to stop her. I'll do a little quoting here, mostly because I'm not sure what Rumpy is saying here: "But she was dead. You told me you saw the body." Regina: "Apparently, you taught her well. She's not, and she's on her way, and I don't think I need to remind you how unpleasant that would be for both of us."
Rumpy insists while it might be unpleasant for Regina, he can handle Cora. Regina: "That's not how she tells the story." Rumpy: "I won, in the end." Regina: "Maybe, but there's a big difference this time." She looks from Rumpy to Belle and back again. "This time you have someone you care about. This time, you have a weakness." Belle's all, Who is this, now? Rumpy assures her it's someone she'll never meet. Run Belle, run! He asks Regina where Cora is. Regina's answer is a pointed, "With them."
Enchanted Forest. Okay, as a Once Upon A Time fan, I'm already way tired of watching Team Princess travel back and forth through the forest. As a Lost fan, I'm cackling, because this is exactly how I used to feel about the Lost trekking back and forth across Craphole Island. Wait. So my current fatigue is mitigated by laughing at my fatigue. I think I just duped myself! Let's start a new paragraph.
Team Princess finds a place to settle down, so that Aurora can take another trip to Dreamland. As Emma and Snow climb to higher ground to set up camp, Mulan notices that Aurora's arm is burnt. Mulan vowed to help Phillip protect Aurora, so she's in no way enamored with the idea of the princess risking life and limb to help some strangers. Aurora thankfully has some backbone and points out that since she escaped the Sleeping Curse, every day of her life is a gift. She wants to do something with her life. It's her turn to help someone, so she's going back in to find Henry.
Gold's shop. As Henry lies on a makeshift bed, Regina covers him with his blanket from back home. When Henry asks about how powerful Cora is, Rumpy pooh-poohs the Mother of All Evil. He's more powerful. Regina pooh-poohs Rumpy's pooh-poohing. Charming ignores them both and takes a seat on the bed to his grandson. He wonders if Henry is okay to do this. Henry: "I was born to do this. I'm done reading about heroes. I want to be one." Charming: "Sometimes being one means knowing when not to run into the fire." Henry: "I'll be okay." Rumpy points out that whatever Henry faces in Dreamland is less dangerous than what he'll face if they fail.
Since Henry's resolve is unshakable, Charming backs up to give the kid room to drift off. Rumpy takes Charming's place and tells Henry a bedtime story that also seems to both hypnotize Henry into falling asleep faster and give him the information he needs to convey to Aurora: "Once Upon A Time, Snow White and Prince charming needed to stun a very powerful magician long enough to lock him up in a dark dungeon." Henry: "That was you. They used Cinderella to trap you with a magic quill."
Rumpy, holding his hand above Henry's eyes, slowly draws his hand down the length of the boy's face. Henry's eyes close. Rumpy says, "Yes, indeed. A quill. And yet, it wasn't the quill itself, but the ink that captured the Dark One -- harvested from the rarest species of squid -- from the bottom of a bottomless ocean. Impossible to find, unless you're a mermaid, or me. I happen to have a private supply. In my jail cell, that is where they will find it."
Enchanted Forest. As Aurora sleeps, Mary assures Emma that they'll see Henry again. This will work. When they hear a noise, all the waking members of Team Princess stand at the ready. And we cut to the...
Fiery Room of Dreams. Aurora and Henry struggle toward each other through the flames. Although he's holding onto his magical necklace, Henry once again doesn't seem to be making any effort to control the flames, which he just did last episode, and I'm completely taken out of the moment because it's in this scene that I realize exactly how the rest of the episode will play out, even though 3/4s of it is yet to air. Phooey.
Aurora can't hear Henry over the flames. She can hear some disembodied voice yelling her name, though. Eventually, she is yanked up out of the Fiery Room of Dreams, leaving Henry cowering below. Trust me, I have things to say about that, just not yet.
Forest. Mulan wakes Aurora. It seems Team Princess is under attack from zombie pirates, who are way more piratical and way less zombified. They're limber and handy with swords, and I can't even figure out their point, since The Walking Dead is an AMC series, not an ABC series. I'm not your action recapper. You all know that by now. Suffice it to say that in the struggle, a zombie grabs the compass. Snow could compete against Legolas in an archery event, so she shoots him (er...the zombie, not Legolas) and Emma grabs the compass. Eventually, they realize they've lost Aurora and Mulan. Emma and Snow decide to run for it. The spry zombie pirates inexplicably slow back down, but they're still not lumbering. They're moving at something between a brisk pace and a power walk.
Further in the woods, as Aurora and Mulan try to make their escape, they are overtaken by zombie pirates. And while Snow and Emma seemed, for a while, to stave off a good handful of the critters, famous warrior Mulan can't even deal with two or three. By the time she fights off one, the others have absconded with Aurora. Wow. Were I a Mulan fan, I'd be pissed. Anyhow, Mulan finds Emma and Snow and reports that Aurora is gone, so we flash sideways to...
Gold's Shop. Henry gasps back to consciousness and explains he didn't get the chance to give Aurora the needed information before she was sucked out of the Fiery Room of Dreams. The boy is badly burnt. So we squinch up our faces in concern all through the commercials.
Neverland. Cora holds Aurora captive in that sort of underground (although like the hatch in Lost, there's also a convenient ground level entrance) makeshift cell. When she brings the princess some food, Aurora is wise enough not to eat it. She informs Cora she won't be telling her anything. Cora says Aurora isn't her target, she's just bait. Aurora laughs at the idea Emma and Snow would risk their chance to return to their family, just to save her. Cora smirks at this. "Your new-found companions? You may not know them, but I do. Snow and her daughter just can't help themselves. No matter the personal stakes, they won't let an innocent die."
With some more probing, even though Aurora doesn't answer her at first, Cora figures out that Aurora has designs on journeying to Storybrooke, and mocks the girl for having already forgotten Phillip. Aurora protests. She would do anything to bring back Phillip. Cora: "Is that so? What if I told you that when a wraith consumes a soul, it merely travels to another realm -- that that soul could be brought back to this world. Show me a little courtesy and I may explain how." Some people think Cora is lying here. I guess she is, but I think she's lying with the truth. Since we could hear the cries of the Chintz Monster's victims (back in whatever episode that was) and since Aurora laid Phillip on the slab where she once had been lain, I never figured him for completely dead. This makes me happy, because Phillip and Aurora are my OTP.
Aurora listens for but a moment, and kicks her food tray at Cora. Aurora is neither stupid nor easily bought. I'm so proud of her, I could cry. She's been my lifelong favorite. I know the Disney version doesn't have all that much agency, but she's so sheltered and does try to break free from her godmothers' control and follow her heart. Plus, she is really pretty, has awesome princess hair, and her gown changes from pink to blue (I prefer the blue). So there. Oh dear, where was I?
Aurora screams that she will never help Cora, so Cora magics her against the wall, and knocks out our fair princess. Standing over Aurora's unconscious form, Cora spits that the girl is, "Plucky." I wait for a Mary Tyler Moore/Lou Grant "I hate spunk" moment -- you know the one -- but it never comes. Instead, she makes her way over to her raven (her raven -- will this show never do right by Maleficent), pets the bird and orders it to, "Tell them."
The raven flies straight to Team Princess and lands on Snow's shoulder. Is that real? I think so, because as the raven caws and moves its wings, it ruffles Snow's hair. Snow speaks fluent bird, so she informs Emma and Mulan of its message. "Cora. We have until sundown to bring her the compass. If we don't, she'll kill Aurora."
Mulan demands the compass. Emma tells her to slow down. Mulan won't risk Aurora's life for the compass, but Emma and Snow want to find a way to save Aurora and keep the compass. Snow begs for a few hours. If they haven't defeated Cora by then, Mulan can take the compass to Cora.
To Mulan, this is a fool's errand, since they can no longer enter the Fiery Room of Dreams and wait for instructions from the Dark One. Snow sets a sister straight. She too has been under a Sleeping Curse and can return to the Netherworld. Snow needs to go into a deep enough sleep that her mind will stop protecting her from entering the Fiery Room of Dreams. She asks Mulan for some sleeping powder. Mulan is fresh out, but she does know of a place where the rare poppy may still grow. If they hurry, perhaps they can make it by sundown. Oh great, time to go back across the island, Jack forest, Emma.
Storybrooke. After Rumpy uses his magic to heal Henry's arm, Regina asks what caused this. Rumpy: "When you venture deeper into the Netherworld, instead of away, there are risks. Someone woke Aurora before her soul was ready to return. The violence of that act tore her away and injured Henry. We're lucky it wasn't worse. He'll need some time to recover, before he can be sent back." While both Regina and Charming nix the idea of once again putting Henry in harm's way, I get ready for a rant...
Sidebar. Look. I don't care that Henry got burnt even though he was wearing the magical bling. I understand Rumpy's explanation above. What I do care about is during both of Henry's trips to the Fiery Room of Dreams (in this episode), he didn't appear to try to ward off the flames. He didn't appear to try to use the necklace, nor did he, after waking, saying anything along the lines of, "I tried to use the necklace, but it didn't work." That's what has put a bee in my bonnet. They needed a reason for it to be too dangerous to allow Henry to return, so that Charming and Snow could make contact. I'm fine with that, just give me a good reason.
Sidebar, Part II: According to TWoP Member, Makenna, Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz explain this in the Podcast. Makenna writes: "About the necklace, in the podcast Eddy and Adam mention that by the time Henry travels to the Netherworld the second time the necklace has already been cracked/damaged due to the unforeseen power/danger of the world. So supposedly the necklace was already beginning to crap out when it officially "broke" when Charming crashed thru the floor?"
Sidebar, Part III: I haven't listened to the podcast, so I'm just taking Makenna at her word, but it does nothing to mitigate the situation for me. If the necklace cracked when Henry was wearing it, it was never called to our attention. We never saw him try to use it or acknowledge that he tried, so the whole time I'm watching Henry in the Fiery Room of Dreams, I'm disgusted that he's wearing this ostentatious magical bling and that he had the presence of mind to use it last week, but doesn't seem to try this week. Meta explanations don't cut it, kids. I want to learn the story in the story. Besides which, Charming does manage to leap through the flames, get some space from them and talk to Snow, so I'm just not buying it. Blah.
Sidebar, Part IV: Before she disappeared, Aurora couldn't hear Henry over the flames, but Henry didn't even try to control them. Because they couldn't let Aurora hear him (so that Snow would have to go into the Room of Dreams) and couldn't let Henry return, it would have worked better for me if Henry calmed the flames, Aurora came over to him and then got ripped away (the violence of which could then certainly account for his burn). Or, if back in Storybrooke, instead of "What caused this?" Regina's question to Rumpy had been "Why didn't the necklace protect him?" Rumpy could have said, "It appears cracked, also when you venture into the Netherworld blah blah blah burnt cakes." Okay, I think I've got that off my chest. I don't want to tear down this show. I love it. My point is, make what I am watching matter while I am watching it, please. Thank you. Carry on.
So, Regina and Charming nix putting Henry again in harm's way. Rumpy takes issue with Charming's tone, then informs him that since they're facing Cora, if the Storybrookers don't help, Snow and Emma will soon be dead. "Then, a true monster will be on her way to Storybrooke." Regina points out that with Aurora gone, there's no sense in sending Henry back, since there's no one to receive their message. Charming knows his bride, though. He knows she can reach the Fiery Room of Dreams and he knows she will. He asks Rumpy to put him under the Sleeping Curse. Rumpy explains there's a danger Charming may never wake. Charming assumes that once he's under, Snow can kiss him and free him from the curse. Regina's side-eyed look makes me think she knows that's not going to work, but the camera doesn't dwell on her, so I could be reading into it. Anyhow, Charming insists. He's spent far too long apart from his family. Put him under. He wants to bring his girls home. Commercial.
Neverland. For the record, I'm having a hell of a time keeping my typing straight where Neverland versus the Netherworld is concerned. If, perchance, I've typed Netherland or Netherlands in this recap, rest assured I'm not talking about Holland. I either mean Peter Pan's place, or the Fiery Room of Dreams. Please substitute whatever makes the most sense. Thank you. So...
Neverland. Hook wakes Aurora, who is naturally frightened. When he frees her from her shackles, Aurora accuses him of perpetrating a pirate's ruse. Hook explains that Cora has denied him passage to Storybrooke and his vengeance, so he's firing a warning shot across the Mother Of All Evil's bow by denying her the compass. He doesn't like being double-crossed. When he encourages Aurora to leave, she thanks him. As she's on her way out, Hook grabs Aurora's arms and asks her to deliver a message to Emma. "Tell her that the deal still stands. If she provides me passage back to her realm, I swear I will help her find that dust that opens the portal." When Aurora is all, "Really?" Hook says if it hurts Cora, of course that's what he wants to do. I believe him despite knowing better, as does Aurora.
Forest. Team Princess slashes their way through heavy brush on yet another interminable trek. When Snow tells Emma bout the Netherworld, Emma is disturbed to hear that while under the curse, her little boy was lost and drifting in this dark world in which one is doomed to think of loved ones who will never again be seen. Emma blames herself for Henry ever falling victim to it because the poisoned apple tart was meant for her. Henry only ate it in an effort to make Emma believe she's the savior. Snow says there's no sense playing the blame game. If she hadn't told Cora about Regina's true love, and Cora hadn't killed him, Regina never would have cast the curse. Emma decides to keep playing the blame game, but now she'll blame Regina. We flash sideways to...
Gold's shop. As Regina cooks the Sleeping Curse potion, Henry looks on and asks questions. Chief among them, he wants to know if she's been using magic. Regina says she hasn't, except for when Daniel was resurrected and right now. Henry says it's okay, since right now she's using it to help people. Regina says, "After this, I won't." Henry smiles. "I know." As Regina watches the curse smoke its way to completion Henry wants to know if Charming will be okay. Regina gives one of those technically truthful answers parents ply on their children, when they don't want to either lie or tell the truth. "He'll be... asleep. And in there, he won't die. Gold's explaining everything to him right now." Hmmm.
Potion cooked, Regina decants the aqua colored liquid into a beaker. Henry insists on being the one to return to the Fiery Room of Dreams, but Regina points out that even she and Charming agree on this. It's not worth his safety. Henry says, "It is to me. He won't wake up." Regina: "Unless he succeeds. And if there's one thing I know about your grandparents -- they always find each other."
Enchanted Forest. Mulan finds the poppy and says she'll use her dagger to crush the seeds. "We'll do this the old-fashioned way." We flash sideways to...
Storybrooke. Charming asks Rumpy, "What do you mean the old-fashioned way?" Cute cut. Rumpy explains that before poisoned apples were all the rage, the usual curse infliction came through the blood stream. He hands the spindle of his spinning wheel to Regina (even that's being taken from Maleficent!) who dips it in the curse potion. Rumpy reinstalls the spindle as Henry hugs his grandpa and wishes him good luck. Charming assures the boy that everything will be okay and recounts a few examples of the strong faith that runs in their family.
Then Henry hands the necklace to Charming and says, "This helps control the flames in the room. It'll keep you safe." Then why didn't you even try to use it, kid? Charming says, "I will guard it with my life." I have to stop dwelling on one plot point, so let's flash sideways to...
The Land of One Pathetic Poppy. As she prepares to be knocked out by Mulan's sleeping powder, Snow acknowledges that it shouldn't take her too long, provided Henry is waiting for her on the other side. I think that's a pretty big if, or would, in most stories, but this is a magical story, so while stupid things like failure to employ flame retardant bling really brass me off, this bothers me not at all. Emma takes her mother's hand and says, "I'm right here. Say hi to my son, for me." When Snow nods at Mulan, the warrior blows the sleeping powder in her face. We flash sideways to...
Storybrooke. Charming asks if he'll wake in the Fiery Room of Dreams. Rumpy says, "Not exactly." That room is generally visited by people who have previously survived the curse. Charming wonders how he's supposed to find it. Rumpy: "And that, Dearie, is the conundrum we're all depending on you solving. Now I say this with the utmost sincerity: good luck." Charming scoffs at that. Rumpy spins his wheel. Charming stretches out his finger. In my head, I hear Maleficent cajoling, "Touch it. Touch it I say!" Charming pricks his finger and passes out and into commercial.
Charming arrives in a world full of mirrors. Grabbing a torch, he begins his confused and confusing journey. I guess Storybrooke doesn't have a funhouse because PRO TIP: When you're trapped in a hall of mirrors, look at the floor. Instead, Charming just calls out Henry's name. Below, Snow hollers out for Henry. Back above, Charming keeps catching site of his pretty self in the mirror. Talk about distracting! It's then that he notices the necklace is glowing blue, like Sting (Bilbo and Frodo's sword, not the singer, who -- as far as I know -- doesn't glow blue, except maybe when he's doing that tantric stuff).
Ripping off the necklace, Charming holds it in his outstretched palm as if it too is a compass of sorts. When it glows even brighter, it becomes a little too hot to handle, and Charming drops it to the floor. When he bends to retrieve it, he feels heat rising from the floor and realizes the Fiery Room of Dreams must be below. Using the handle of the torch, he pounds away at the floor until he falls through.
Now in the Fiery Room of Dreams, Charming retrieves the now-cracked (sorry) necklace and rise to his feet. It's then that Snow comes into view. Hearing her call his name, Charming rushes to her, but they're separated by flames. He explains about this being too dangerous for Henry and they have their usual exchange about finding one another, then Charming gets down to business and explains it was actually the ink that allowed them to ensnare Rumpy, all those years ago. Rumpy keeps some in his cell. Snow can use it to stun Cora. "Get it. Get it, stop her, and come home." The flames flare. The lovers jump further apart, and Snow asks Charming how he's there. He confesses to entering the Sleeping Curse. He had to see her. "It was worth it." When Snow frets that he's now cursed, he says, "A curse you're going to break with true love's kiss." Looking down at the necklace, Charming jumps the flames between him and his beloved. Once he's on her side of the fire the flames fall away from them, as if the necklace still works. I throw my hands up in the air and resolve to move on.
Charming and Snow lean into each other, but rather than kiss, they pass through each other as if they're ghosts. Since it's a "netherworld" they're not really there. Okay, but the flames are there and can burn Aurora and Henry? Ugh. Panicked, Snow realizes she's waking up. Charming: "It's okay. You'll get back, and then you'll wake me as I woke you. You will always find me, and I will always find you." Snow is having a harder time summoning that famous Charming family faith. "Yes. Will we always lose each other, too? Is that our fate?" Charming: "No. I refuse to believe that. You need to have faith... in us." As she fades away, Snow cries that she's waking up. He encourages her to believe she can do this and says, "I love you." Snow replies, "I love y..." and then disappears. Commercial.
Oh, cute. It's a little holiday spot. In all their royal finery, Charming dances with Snow and says, "Let it Snow. Let it Snow. Let it Snow." She smiles up at him and says, "Charming." And as cavity inducing as that is, it's still a million times more watchable than that stupid Brad Pitt/Chanel No. 5 commercial. Am I right?
Storybrooke. Henry tries to encourage Charming to wake and asks Regina if he should be under so long. She tells Henry she's sure it's fine and that they're just catching up, but when the boy turns his back, she gives Rumpy a knowing yet concerned look. We flash sideways to...
The Land of One Pathetic Poppy. Snow wakes in a panic, frantically searching for more sleeping powder. As Emma tries to talk her mother down, Snow explains the situation with Charming. Finally, it is Emma's faith that calms Snow enough so that she tells Emma the key to stopping Rumpy is in his jail cell. As the ladies start off, Emma realizes her compass is gone, as is Mulan.
Running through the forest, compass in hand, we see Mulan, the treacherous.
Neverland. Cora is surprised to see Hook in Aurora's prison. They sneer at each other Cora magics him up against a wall, muttering about his death wish. Grabbing his hook, she rubs it against his hairy chest, and thank goodness our rogue isn't waxed as smooth as a baby's bottom because that would just be wrong. Cora says she has to kill him now, but Hook suggests she thank him instead, and tells her he's brought her a gift. It's in his satchel. When Cora opens the bag, she gasps and looks up at Hook. "Is that?" Hook: "Indeed it is, and with it, you'll get everything you want."
Emma and Snow finally catch up with Mulan. Armed with her trusty bow and arrow, Snow makes it clear she'll use it if need be. Emma reminds Mulan that all they want is the compass. Mulan makes like she's going to comply, but then draws her sword. Fisticuffs ensue. Snow gets on top of Mulan and, holding an arrow to her neck, explains that they've found what they've needed to best Cora. Mulan says something disparaging about, "Another journey," so she must have watched Lost, too, which is a pretty good idea when you're stuck in time for 28 years. Just as Snow is about to use the arrow on Mulan, Aurora finds them and orders them to free Mulan.
When she's asked if she was followed, Aurora says she doesn't think so. While Cora probably knows she's gone by now, she escaped undetected. Emma asks how she did escape. Aurora: "It was Hook, het let me go. [...] Because of you. He said he wanted to prove to you that you should have trusted him. That if you had trusted him, you could have..." We cut to...
Neverland. Holding Aurora's heart in her hand, Cora feeds her new Puppet Princess the rest of her lines. "...defeated Cora, together. That the two of you could have gotten..." We cut back to the...
Forest. Aurora: "...the remains of the wardrobe. Without him, you'll have to go up against her, all by yourself." Cut to...
Neverland. Cora: "...He only wants to help, I..." Cut to...
Forest. Aurora: "I think he may care for you." At that, Emma raises her eyebrows and we cut back to...
Neverland. Hooks smiles at the Mother of All Evil. "Nice touch, that." When Cora says Emma won't trust him still, Hook says she doesn't have to. "All I need is for her to believe I was genuine in letting the girl go, which I wager she does, now." He waits a beat, then adds, "You're welcome." Cora: "Impressive. You took a heart." I wouldn't have bothered quoting that, but it seems some people are still confused as to what went down, which I get because I'm still not sure how I feel about Hook taking a heart, but from Cora's words, it seems he did. Anyhow, now that Cora has her Puppet Princess, Hook asks if they can go about the business of returning to Storybrooke together. Cora agrees and says now all they need is the compass. Hook assures her it will soon be delivered, and walks away.
Forest. When Aurora asks if they found a way to stop Cora, Emma confirms they did and says they're headed to Rumpy's cell. Nodding, Aurora tells them to lead the way.
Neverland. Cora, still holding Aurora's heart, smiles. Dun dun dun.
I find it interesting to learn all of the steps Rumpy took to ensure that the Dark Curse would one day be cast, from turning both Cora and Regina into evil witches, to ensuring his own capture with the magical ink. Still, I'm tired of the separation of the Charming family. I feel like we've been in a holding pattern for much of this first third (or so) of the season. All the treks back and forth across the island forest tonight, only further heightens that feeling. Still, as I said in the recaplet, this was a pleasant way to spend a lazy Sunday evening. I don't know about you, but a week later, I still have a bit of a turkey hangover. Let's keep our fingers crossed that week brings some real forward motion.
I'll be back Monday morning with coverage of "Queen of Hearts." In the meantime, please grade the episode at the top of the page and then come on over to the forum, where we're always ready to go to sleep for the cause.