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In the Enchanted Past, Regina presents post-sleeping curse Snow with a deal. If Snow and Charming willingly slink off into exile, Regina will let them live out their days in peace. Should they refuse, she'll kill off Snow's supporters one by one. Snow wants to accept Regina's terms but David thinks they should fight for what's right. When the Dwarfs accuse him of being a gold digger, he asks Rumpy for help but is refused. Left to his own devices, David sticks a sword in a stone and tells Snow the legend of Excalibur. When she's able to free the sword, Snow embraces her role of leader. In a confrontation with Regina, she manages to cut the Queen. Later, Rumpy reveals the fake out. Snow is angry at first, but after talking with David, she realizes that even without the real Excalibur, she was able to wound Regina and decides that while she would be happy living out her days as a shepherd's wife, she needs to fight for her people.
Neverland. Rumpy is off in his own so he conjures up Belle (or a vision thereof) to talk him into doing what is right. He tells Belle that the straw doll is the last thing his father, Coward Senior, gave him before abandoning him. He also reveals that if he abandons his quest to find Henry, the boy doesn't have to be his undoing. Belle talks Rumpy into doing the right thing, and as a sign of good faith, he drops the doll off a cliff. Later, it falls out of the sky and right on his head, so he magics up a fireball, like you do, sets the doll ablaze, and stomps on it for good measure, only to find it moments later in perfect condition. This time, Rumpy pockets the doll. Dun dun dun!
Meanwhile, Pan presents Emma with a map and says it will lead her to Henry. The only problem is, the map is blank (all right, so he presents her with a piece of paper). Pan says once Emma acknowledges who she is, the map part of the map will appear. Holding the still mapless map, Emma says all the different things she is -- a mother, a bail bonds person, a sheriff, the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, the savior -- all to no avail. Regina gets all, "Ain't nobody got time for that," and casts a locator spell on the mapless map. It floats through the jungle until it leads the crew to an empty camp. The Lost Boys surround them. Pan accuses Emma of cheating at the game, and a light battle ensues. Charming is wounded by a sword. Emma bests one of the Lost Boys, but when she looks at his face, she freezes. Pan calls off his minions and they allow our ragtag team of heroes to live to fight another day. Snow wants to look at Charming's wound, but he lies and says only his jacket was cut. Goober. Later we see it, and things do not look good for our fair prince.
Alone with Emma, Snow asks why she froze during battle. Emma admits that when she looked at the boy's face, she saw herself. Since Archie is presumably still back in Storybrooke, Snow plays therapist and gets Emma to speak the one identity she ignored in her earlier attempt to uncover the map: she is an orphan. After tears from both mother and daughter, the map appears. Later, Pan congratulates Emma on admitting she's a Lost Girl and says just as she has abandonment issues where her parents are concerned, Henry has issues with her; by the time she gets to him, he'll never want to go back to her. And? She'll lose her own parents in the process.
As a single episode, "Lost Girl" isn't Once Upon A Time's best. The scenes are fine on their own, but the whole hour feels a bit cobbled together. That said, in terms of the larger narrative, "Lost Girl" is excellent and builds on the promise evident in the season premiere. What better place than Neverland for Emma to work through her feelings about her family and her past, and for Henry to do the same.
I'll be back with the full recap, ASAP. In the meantime, please join us on the boards, where we're going to tend to Charming's wound, and then bop him over the head for being such a dunce.
Want more? The full recap starts right below!Previously, on Once Upon A Time, Felix throws a straw doll at Rumpy's feet and says, "Things we haven't thought about in years still have the ability to make us cry." Oh, right? Later, he tells Rumpy that if he's there "for the boy" he won't survive. Rumpy grabs Felix by the shirt and growls, "The question is how many of you I take with me." Nobody told me there was going to be math, never mind word problems.
Now, on Once Upon A Time, we open in Neverland, at night. Rumpy conjures up a fireball and casts it down on the firewood he's so carefully arranged. Seriously, I wish I could build a fire like that in the wild. I have trouble being that neat in a fireplace, even with a grate and everything. Anyhow, with his back to the fire, Rumpy faces a big rock admires his shadow for a moment. If he starts making shadow puppets, I am so not recapping them.
Now he's drawing out his Dark One Dagger. Imagine if you got a dagger when you got your job. All right, skip over the unpleasant idea of killing the person who previously held your job (unless it's not unpleasant). Well, you don't have a job dagger and neither do I, so we'd best let go of the dream. Strega did once send me a titanium spork though. I still have it in my desk. Even though these days, recapping doesn't necessitate sporking people, when I read something particularly awful on the boards, I like to take it out, wave it in front of my Mac and pretend I'm about to layeth down the smack. Then I just hit the report button, which is really anticlimactic. I wonder if, since I did get the spork from Strega, I'm grandfathered in somehow and can spork with impunity. Note to self: Ask Kim. Other note to self: You have a deadline, stop blabbing and cover the damn show.
With dagger in hand, Rumpy bends down, stabs it into the ground and traces the blade around his feet. Sparks of purple magic crackle around his boots. My oldest son and I at first both thought he stabbed his actually feet. I'm happy to report we were wrong and possibly need a bigger TV. Panting, he addresses his now independent shadow as he hands it the dagger. "You know what to do. Hide it where no one can find it. Not even me." As it takes the dagger from Rumpy, the shadow develops glowing eyes. It floats up in the air and into a title card bearing an image of a sword in a stone.
Elsewhere on Neverland, Charming, Hook, Regina, Emma and Snow trek through the jungle toward a ridge that will serve as their vantage point for locating both Pan and Henry. Regina whines about the gang refusing her offer to poof them up to their destination, but Hook says that would be too risky since they don't know what dangers would be lying in wait. At least when they're hiking, Hook can guide them past any threats.
When Emma refers to Snow as Mary Margaret, Snow suggests Mom as a less formal alternative. "You've done it before." Emma's voice is halting as she says, "That was...back when..." Snow finishes for her: "We were about to die." Uncomfortable, Emma walks off. Snow adds, "Oh no, I get it." Liar.
Charming is about to slash at a thorn bush blocking their path when Hook grabs his arm and cautions that it's Dreamshade. The camera closes in on venom dripping from the thorns. "It's not the thorns you have to worry about. It's the poison they inject you with. This plant is the source of the toxins I used on the Dark One. [...] I used a concentrated dose. In its natural form, death would be much slower and far more painful." Like my ability to stay focused today.
As the group moves forward, Hook hangs back to have a word with Emma about Charming's distrust. Emma explains that he's not used to working with the bad guys. Hook says, "I can assure you, on this island, I am not the bad guy." When Emma says Pan's not supposed to be a bad guy either, Hook asks what gives her that idea. Emma: "Every story I ever heard as a child." Hook: "Well, they got it wrong. Pan is the most treacherous villain I've ever faced. Tell me something, love. In these stories, what was I like, other than a villain -- handsome, I gather." Emma smirks. "If wax mustaches and perms are your thing." Hook is crestfallen. "I take it by your tone, perms are bad." Their conversation is interrupted Charming shouting that they've reached their lookout point.
Between the darkness and the overgrowth of the jungle, Hook has difficultly spotting Pan's lair. Charming assumes Hook has led them astray, but still thinks they're in a good position to comb the jungle. Hook says the best approach is to go around the jungle. Since they'll need their strength, he suggests they make camp. Regina rejects the idea of sleeping while Henry is somewhere out there. Hook reminds her they want to live long enough to save the boy. Snow and Emma share some quiet words about how Hook is right. Emma just hopes they're not too late to save Henry. Snow says, "After everything your father and I have been through, there is one thing we've learned. It is never too late." Remember those words for later. We flashback to the...
Enchanted Forest. Charming rides hell-for-leather on his trusty steed. At last he reaches a clearing in the woods, where the Seven Dwarfs surround Snow White's hand-crafted casket. Oh no, is he too late? Charming begs them to open the glass lid anyhow. Moved by his tears, they do as he asks. He bends over and kisses Snow White on the lips. Rainbows and sparkles shoot out of them and ripple all over the Enchanted Forest. We cut to...
Knifingham Palace. A guard runs through the palace carrying Queenie's Magic Mirror. Sidney warns the guard that if he drops him, he'll ensure he has 14 years bad luck. Regina is outside picking an apple from her beloved tree when the guard arrives with the mirror. She grumbles about how she doesn't like to be disturbed when she's out there. Sidney knows his news is time sensitive though. His face disappears into a swirl of color. When the picture in the mirror resolves, Regina sees Snow and Charming walking arm-in-arm. Regina cries, "They woke her?" Sidney says, "Indeed..." as the picture in the mirror shows Charming getting down on one knee to propose to Snow. Sidney: "True love's kiss apparently can break any curse." When Sidney starts to gush about the wedding, Regina orders him to keep quiet. She hears Charming propose, Snow accept, and then she hears Snow say, "Let's take back the kingdom." Regina sneers at the picture of her foe. "We'll see about that." We cut to an...
Enchanted Village. With Charming and the Dwarfs looking on, Snow tells the villagers how Regina murdered King Leopold and put Snow under a curse. She whips up the crowd by recalling Regina's reign of terror then asks who is willing to help them fight to take back the kingdom. No one volunteers. Regina appears at the back of the crowd. "Quite the courageous army you're building." The villagers scatter leaving only Charming and the Dwarfs to back up Snow.
Facing Regina, Snow says, "They may be afraid of you, but we are not." Regina says, "Why, because you and the shepherd broke my sleeping curse?" When Charming draws his sword, Regina magics a rope such that it wraps around him. Regina says she's not there to fight. She's come to offer them a deal. If Snow gives up her claim to the throne and declares Regina the rightful ruler of the land, she will let Snow, Charming and the Dwarfs spend their days in exile on Charming's sheep farm. "I've tried to kill you. I've tried to curse you and none of it has worked, but then I realized I was going about it all wrong. You need to be alive. You need to be awake, so you can spend all your days knowing that I have taken everything that was supposed to be yours." Charming struggles against his bonds, but Regina continues. "Now get down on your knees and swear on your father's grave that this kingdom belongs to me."
Snow asks what happens if she refuses. Regina says someone will pay the price. Raising her hand she magically lifts up a peasant girl who was hiding behind a cart and chokes her. Snow runs at Regina, sword held high, and yells, "Stop!" Regina disappears in a thick puff of dark purple smoke. Snow does a spectacular face plant on the ground. The peasant girl falls. Charming frees himself to see to her. Snow asks if the girl is okay. While Charming is nodding, Regina reappears and says, "time, she won't be. You have until sundown tomorrow to give up the throne. And for every day that you defy me, I will kill one of your loyal subjects. Stop denying who you are, Snow White. You may have been a princess, but you will never be a queen. We flash forward to...
Neverland. Emma and crew are sleeping. Well, no, Emma is tossing and turning while the rest of them are in dream land. Hearing cries in the jungle, Emma jumps to her feet, grabs the sword that was once Bae's, looks around and begs her companions to wake. When they don't respond, Emma ventures a bit away from her camp where she's startled by Peter Pan. He hears the crying too, and wonders why Emma's crew can't. Once Emma learns she's face to face with Pan, she pushes him up against a tree, holds her sword to his neck and demands to know where her son is. When Pan gives her non-answers about Henry being a special boy, Emma demands to know what Pan wants with him. Again, he deflects. "I came here to see who I was up against. The Savior. I've got to say I'm not disappointed." I think I have murder in my heart, because while watching this I felt like if I was in a mystical land with seemingly no laws and some eternal brat had my kid and was giving me the run around -- I'd slit the brat's throat. Now, I mean, I probably wouldn't, but for a moment, I really wanted Emma to just have at it.
Anyhow, Pan claims he's going to help Emma find Henry. He gives her a map that he claims will lead her straight to her son. Emma says it's a trap. Pan says that while he's not the best behaved boy, he always keeps his promises. The path to Henry is on the parchment. "It's not about finding Henry, it's about how you find him. And Emma, you're the only one who can." Emma takes the parchment, unfolds it and sees that it's blank. Pan says she'll only be able to read the map once she stops denying who she is. At that, he disappears. Commercial.
After the break, the whole gang is awake. Hook schools them in dealing with Pan. He likes his games, but if he says there's a map on the parchment, there is. Regina asks how they can know Pan won't use the map to lead them into a trap. Hook says, "Because he doesn't need to. This whole island's his bloody trap." Regina thinks the map is a waste of time and wants to use magic to find Pan and Henry. Hook says breaking Pan's rules is unwise. Charming: "Sadly, I agree with the pirate." Hook flashes Charming a cheeky grin. "I'm winning you over. I can feel it." Emma's not willing to risk the map to Regina's harsh brand of magic. She's going to try to do what Pan said. She looks discouraged though, which does not escape Snow's watchful eyes. She smiles at Emma. "Hey, don't give up. He's playing a game. You can win." We flashback to the...
Enchanted Forest. At their makeshift camp, Snow tells Charming and the Dwarfs that they can't win. Charming says they can't give up. Even if Snow slinks off into exile, Regina will continue to torment her subjects. Snow says she can't protect them. She couldn't even protect the peasant girl. That's not exactly true, Snow. When you charged at Regina, you scared her enough that she poofed away and her magical hold on the girl was gone. Nobody but me points that out though. The Dwarfs declare they'll stand by Snow, even if it means their death. Sneezy adds, "Which it probably will." Grumpy gives him a dirty look. Bambi ambles by in the background. He's probably looking for his poor, dead mother, who in this reality, was undoubtedly shot by Regina and Rumpy.
Snow thinks that the blustering Regina has a point. "I'm no queen. I'm no leader. I'm just a girl who lost her parents, ran away into the woods and became a bandit." When Charming says, "You're SNOW WHITE," Snow replies, "Yes, and I don't even know who that is. But I know what I don't want to be -- and that's alone." Charming swears that will never happen. Snow says they should take Regina's offer. They'll be in exile, but at least they'll be together. She decides they'll leave tomorrow and swans off.
Charming tries to stop Snow, but Grumpy tells him to let her go. Charming insists they can't let Snow walk away from her kingdom. Since they already have true love, Grumpy wonders why Charming cares about saving the kingdom. The implication is that Charming is a gold digger. Charming insists he only wants what's best for Snow. Grumpy says, "Look, handsome. She may love you, but that chiseled chin ain't fooling us. We've got our eyes on you." I'm not feeling very snarky this week, so I might as well go full-on sap and admit how much I love that the Dwarfs are suspicious of Charming. Charming is, of course, true blue, but they don't know that, and they love their dear Snow. Anyhow, apparently Charming has short term memory loss, because he asks, "Are you Dwarfs with me or against me?" Sneezy says, "I think Grumpy was pretty clear." Grumpy adds, "Sorry, brother. Snow's already made up her mind, so if you're looking to change it, you've gotta do it without our help." Once Charming is alone, a giant lightbulb appears over his head. He swears to find another way. We cut to...
Rumpy's Castle. Rumpy is spinning at his wheel when Charming enters. Rumpy greets him with a, "You again? Didn't I just help you wake your princess?" Charming replies, "Now I need your help once more. Long ago, you made Snow remember who she was, when a spell blinded her. I need you to do it again." We flash forward to...
Neverland. Rumpy is sitting by his fire, contemplating the straw doll, when he hears someone approaching. He lays the doll aside, rises, and asks who's there. A hooded figure sneaks behind him, steals the doll and runs off with it. Rumpy says, "That doesn't belong to you, dearie," and gives chase. When he finally catches up with the thief and pulls off the hood, he's nearly as surprised as I am to see it is Belle. Commercial.
When Rumpy asks how she got there, Belle says, "I thought you didn't dress like that, anymore. I thought that was your past." Rumpy says it's now his future. Becoming the Dark One is the only way he'll save his grandson. Belle strokes his cheek and says, "But you haven't completely become him, have you? There's still hope." They move in to kiss, but then Rumpy jumps back and says she's not really there. Belle laughs, "Of course not. I'm still in Storybrooke, right where you left me." He asks if she's okay, and if the protection spell worked. Belle says it did. Everyone is fine and the town in safe. Rumpy throttles her and asks how he knows these aren't lies and that Pan didn't conjure up a vision of her. Belle says, "He didn't. You did. The question is -- why." We flash back to the...
Enchanted Forest. Rumpy's Castle. Charming just wants something to change Snow's mind. Rumpy says if Snow doesn't want to fight the queen, he can't change that. Charming's further pleas fall on deaf ears. Rumpy explains that magic doesn't make people believe. "It works the other way around. Belief must come from within." He also says Regina's offer is a fair one. They should take her up on it. Charming refuses to take no for an answer, and asks Rumpy to name his price. We cut to...
Snow's Makeshift Camp. Day. Snow is taking target practice when Charming returns and tells her to save her arrows for the queen. Snow is determined to leave. Charming says that something Rumpy said will change her mind. Snow reminds him Rumpy's deals come with a price. Charming says sometimes the price is worth paying. "Without his help, you'd still be in that glass coffin." He explains that Rumpy told him of a magical weapon that can help Snow reclaim her kingdom. She's unwilling to try, unless there's a guarantee that more lives will not be lost. Charming convinces her to take the half day's ride to at least see the weapon. It will show Regina who Snow really is. We flash forward to...
Neverland. Emma is studying the mapless map, muttering, "My name is Emma Swan." Hook suggests she dig a little deeper if she wants to solve Pan's riddle. Snow agrees. Emma says, "I'm Henry's mother. I used to live in Boston and I was a bail bonds person. I'm now the Sheriff of Storybrooke." Regina interrupts: "That election was a sham... Are we really doing this?" Snow says Emma's leaving some things out. Emma tries again. "I am the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, which apparently makes me the product of true love. I was born in the Enchanted Forest and I was sent through a portal in a tree, so that I could break a curse."
Charming rises and prompts Emma to continue. "And you were able to break the curse, because you're the..." Snow tells Emma not to be embarrassed to say it. Hook: "Say what?" Regina: "The S word." Emma looks down at the map, again. After summoning her strength, she says, "I'm the Savior." Not a blessed thing appears on the map. Emma says, "I don't get it. I said I'm the Savior. There's nothing I've denied more than that." Snow tells Emma they'll figure it out, but Regina says, "No, you won't," and grabs the map. She casts a locator spell on the map, despite Charming and Hook's objections to the contrary. Since the parchment belongs to Pan, it will lead them to him. The map floats off into the jungle. Hook says, "So, it appears we will be venturing into the dark jungle after all." Emma: "You mean the place you told us never to set foot." Hook: "That's the one." Regina tells Emma that since she said she wanted to be the leader, it's time for her to lead. Oh Regina, do you really care if you're not the leader of the other four? I get not wanting to lose a kingdom or a town, but these four? C'mon. I know you're this petty, but I thought you were above admitting it to them. Commercial.
Rumpy and Belle make their way to a cliff. She asks if he knows why he brought her to the island. He thought she would show him the answer. Belle insists only Rumpy knows that. I thought only the Shadow knows, in which case Rumpy is screwed, because he sent his off on a secret dagger-hiding mission. And it looks like it hasn't come back, because while Belle and the various plants are casting shadows, Rumpy is not, which -- BRAVO, Show. What fantastic attention to detail. When Rumpy says he has no idea why he brought her there, Belle is just as insistent that he's holding back.
Belle finally asks Rumpy what it is that he's not saying. Rumpy says, "I'm a coward. I'm just like my father." Belle says, "You feel better, now, don't you? You know why I'm here." Rumpy answers, "You always saw the good in me." Belle says she still sees it, no matter his denials. "I think you see it, too. So why am I here? What are you wrestling with." Rumpy: "Pan offered me a deal. I let him keep Henry and he allows me to live. The boy needn't be my undoing." Oh Rumpy, you of all people should have learned that, (a) you can't thwart prophecy, and (b) the plainest rendering of a prophecy isn't always the truest. I'm a little disappointed in the shallowness of his current struggle. I don't want him to already be fully redeemed, or otherwise perfect, but he's been alive a hell of a long time to have been so blind.
Belle knows he's afraid of making the selfish choice. While he abandoned Bae and regretted it his whole life, he needn't do the same to Henry. She holds the doll between them. "Letting go of the past? That's the first step." Rumpy takes back the doll and says it's the last thing his father gave him. Belle asks what happened to him. Rumpy: "He left." Belle tells him if he wants to avoid repeating his father's mistakes then he needs to let go. Belle lets her hand trail down Rumpy's arm until it finds his hand. She clutches it for a moment, the lets it go, turns, and walks away into the night. Once she disappears, Rumpy considers the doll, as he approaches the edge of the cliff. With but a moment's hesitation, he drops the doll and we watch it fall. We cut to the...
Neverland Jungle. The parchment pauses. Regina says, "Wait, he's there. Pan. I can feel his smugness." Oh, isn't that just so true of some people? I can even detect them on Facebook. You know how you have Facebook "friends" who always want to piss on your parade. Sometimes, I can tell when they're active. I'll go to post something I thought was funny or interesting and I can nearly smell them lurking out there, waiting to pounce on my timeline. When I have my wits about me, I'll bide my time and just read through my feed. More often than not, they'll post something within a few minutes, making me so glad I didn't bother posting my thing. I have to learn to make better uses of filters. Anyhoodle, Charming draws his sword and says, "Shall we, while we still have the element of surprise on our side." Hanging back with Snow and Emma, Hook cautions them. "Careful, he may look like a boy, but he's a bloody demon." Snow encourages Emma, and we flash back to the...
Enchanted Forest. Snow and Charming dismount their horses. She smiles at him as she realizes it's the first time they've been alone since he proposed. Charming cracks that it's hard to find privacy, when she has seven big brothers looking out for her. She defends them as protective, but realizes they've been giving him a hard time. Charming admits they accused him of being a gold digging social climber. Snow is sure he'll eventually charm them as he charmed her. He leads her to the top of the hill and tells her the weapon they seek was forged by a benevolent mage named Merlin, of the realm of Camelot.
In a clearing they happen upon rock, with a sword sticking out of it. Charming says, "There it is. Excalibur." Charming tries to pull out the sword but cannot make it budge. He invites Snow to try. She laughs at the idea that she could free it when he couldn't. Charming says, "The legend states only the kingdom's true ruler possesses the strength to free the blade." Snow says she's never ruled anything, so Charming adds, "Not yet." After some tugging, no one is as surprised as Snow that she frees the blade, mostly because Charming has faked up this whole thing, and he knows it, as do we. He pronounces her the kingdom's true ruler and we flash forward to...
Neverland. Jungle. Night. Emma and crew find an empty camp. Across, on a hill, with his back turned toward them is a young boy in modern dress. Emma calls out Henry's name, but when the boy turns, it only Pan in Henry's clothes (although I think Pan has about a head on Henry, so the clothing shouldn't fit). I can't do frame-by-frame on my TiVo (or if I can, I don't know how) but I can slow down the video. I think they might have actually had Jared Gilmore there until "the boy's" head was turned about a quarter of the way toward the camera. Did anyone else see a quick edit on the face, or is it just my imagination? Emma demands to know where Henry is, but Pan says she broke the rules. "Bad form." Turning toward Hook he says, "I expect more from you, Captain." Hook: "Aye, and you'll get it." Emma wants Pan to give Henry back. Pan says he can't. "Didn't you know, cheaters never win?" At that, the Lost Boys appear, and armed with torches and bows they surround our ragtag heroes. Commercial.
After the break a battle ensues. Hook warns his teammates that the Lost Boys' arrows are laced with Dreamshade. When Charming tries to give "Mary Margaret" (smh) a heads up, an arrow glances his side. Snow sees him get hit, so Charming lies to his wife, "I'm good," and the battle rages on. Regina uses magic to ward off her attackers. Why she can't protect the whole team is beyond me, except for how she's Regina and is selfish like that, oh and except for how then we wouldn't have an action sequence. Sigh.
Hook squares off with Felix, who is armed with a sword, rather than a bow, and notes that it's been a while. Hook says it hasn't been long enough, then decides to rub salt in the wound. "Do you remember what I did to Rufio? Well, it's a far worse fate for you."
Emma takes down two or three boy then charges up the hill after another. When she gets him to the ground she screams, "Where is Henry? Where is he?" The boy remains silent, but something about him disturbs Emma so, that she hops off of him. Snow asks if she's all right. Emma looks back down at the boy. Pan whistles. All the boys run to his side, including Emma's erstwhile victim. Pan tells Emma to remember what he told her. "That map will show you where Henry is, only when you stop denying who you really are. I'll make sure to send Henry your regards." And with much whooping, Pan and the Lost Boys run off. We flash back to the...
Enchanted Village. Queen's Highway. Day. As her black carriage approaches the village, a watchman warns the villagers, who scatter. Charming asks Snow if she's ready and hands her "Excalibur." Grumpy grumbles, "What exactly were you two up to, today?" Snow says, "You'll see... I hope."
Regina alights from her carriage, dressed all in black leather gown. She looks fabulous, but I preferred her crimson gown from earlier. "Well, dear. Have you packed your bags?" Snow says she considered Regina's offer, and while everything she said was true, and she could have a wonderful life in exile, alongside Charming and the Dwarfs, "...I can't leave my people. Not. With. You."
Regina says, "Well, in that case..." then stretches out her arm and magics Grumpy (by the throat) up into the air. As he chokes, his brothers try to help him, so Regina magics them to the ground. Charming encourages Snow, who finds her strength, and screams, "Let him go," as she charges at her wicked stepmother. Regina poofs in a cloud of purple, but Snow is on her toes, so she turns around and slashes Regina in the cheek, before she's even sure the queen is behind her. Grumpy is free to fall to the ground. Charming and the other Dwarfs rush to his aid.
Snow, stunned by her own power, stares Regina right in the eye. Regina's hand travels to the wound on her face. She looks down at the blood on her fingertips. Snow says, "You told me to stop denying who I really am. Well, that's exactly what I'm doing. This is MY kingdom. And I WILL fight for it." Regina says, "Then I'll see you on the battlefield." Snow's voice is strong when she answers, "We'll be ready." Regina disappears in purple smoke. The Dwarfs celebrate. Charming comes to Snow. We flash forward to...
Neverland. Snow and Charming try to give Emma a pep talk to keep up her confidence as she stares at the map. She says, "Not now," and walks off. Charming starts to follow, but Snow pulls him back and goes to their daughter, alone. After a little arguing, Snow says, "Maybe who you think you are isn't who you really are. [...] Sometimes, we think we know ourselves, but we need a push to show us the reality. That boy with the knife -- you stopped fighting him. Why?" Emma says, "He was just a boy." Snow is sure she saw something else in Emma's eyes, and asks again why Emma stopped. Finally, Emma answers, "Because when I looked in his face, I saw me. [...] That look in his eyes... the despair. I had it back when I was in the foster system -- just a lost little girl who didn't matter, and didn't think she ever would. A little girl who cried herself to sleep at night because she wanted her parents so bad, and could never understand why they gave her up." Emma's tears flow down her cheek. Snow blinks back her own and says, "And then you found us. It was too late." Sometimes it is, Snow. Sometimes, it is. Emma says, "It's just... on this island, I don't feel like a hero or a savior. I just feel like what I've always been. An orphan."
Snow bows her head in what seems like a sign that she acknowledges her part in her girl's pain, and then spots something. "Emma, look." Emma turns her gaze toward the map. A picture appears. She picks it up. "What happened?" Snow says, "You accepted who you are." Emma winces and looks at Snow. "I'm sorry." Snow says, "It's okay. It's the truth. You were an orphan. It's my job to change that." Way to go, Show. I'm so proud of you. Commercial.
In the Enchanted Past, Snow walks through the forest and summons Rumpy. He appears and asks what she wants. She wants to discuss the deal he made with Charming, in exchange for Excalibur. Snow says, "Now, whatever it is he promised you in return, I am prepared to pay it, but I won't allow him to remain in your debt." Rumpy says, "How nauseatingly romantic." Snow wants to know what Charming promised Rumpy, but he just shakes his head, so she adds, "With you, everything comes with a cost." Rumpy says, "It's true. Your prince came to ask for aid fighting the queen. I told him I had nothing to give, and I didn't." If that's the case, Snow asks how Charming knew where to find Excalibur. Rumpy says, "Everyone knows it's in Camelot." Snow says it isn't, draws her sword and says she now possesses it. Rumpy says, "If that were true, I wouldn't be able to do this..." then he waves his hands and the blade disintegrates. Rumpy mocks the shepherd's shoddy craftsmanship. Snow yells, "I struck Regina. I drew blood." He closes in on her and rips the pearls off her neck. Snow begs him not to take the necklace. "No, please. That belonged to my mother." Rumpy: "And now it belongs to me. You're right about one thing, dearie. Everything comes with a cost, including wasting my time." He disappears, leaving Snow staring down at the bladeless hilt she's still clutching tight. We cut to...
Snow's Makeshift Camp. Charming is sitting near the water when the Dwarfs approach and Grumpy asks if they can join him. "We may owe you a slight apology." Charming says, "Slight?" Grumpy: "Don't get greedy. Take it." Charming smiles and does just that. Grumpy says they never should have doubted his intentions and offers Charming a drink. Before the men can drink to starting over, Snow marches down the beach and tells Charming they need to talk. From her tone, I don't think she wants to discuss wedding plans, or their chance at privacy. Charming follows her until she stops, and slams the bladeless sword hilt into his hands. She tells him about meeting with Rumpy. Charming readily admits to planting the sword in that stone. Snow wants to know why he took her on an adventure for a fake, magical sword. Charming says, "You needed to believe in something I already knew." When she stood up to Regina, she did so on her own. "You had it inside you the entire time. You just... needed some help to realize that." Snow says, "But you didn't?" Charming chuckles and shakes his head. Recognizing his faith in her exceeded her faith in herself, Snow grabs Charming and kisses him long and hard, until we flash forward to...
Neverland. Emma runs the map over to Hook and the gang, which is like Kool and the Gang, but with much less Celebration. Hook shows them where they are and says Pan's camp lies due north. Regina wants to get going like yesterday, already. Hook cautions that the terrain isn't easy, and they're sure to encounter "nasty impediments" on their way. Charming says they must prepare. They only got out alive last time because Pan allowed them to. They need a new plan. I think any plan at all, would be better than this meandering.
Emma says, "It's time we stop playing his game and he starts playing ours." Regina wonders what happens if she disagrees. Emma's voice is soft when she says, "Well, go ahead, but I think you know our best chance is together." Regina nods. "You'd better be right," then walks off. Charming and Snow head off to prepare, although since they're stuck on a magical island with to nothing, I don't know how much they can prepare. Alone with Emma, Hook commends her on her excellent show of patience. "And that is what defeats a nasty little boy." He pulls out his flask and offers it to Emma, who asks him if rum is his solution to everything. Hook smiles as he raises the bottle to his mouth. "It certainly doesn't hurt." He takes a swig and offers it to Emma, again. As she drinks, he asks her exactly how she unlocked the map. Emma says, "I did what Pan asked." Hook: "Just who are you, Swan?" Emma hands him back his rum. "Wouldn't you like to know?" Hooks expression and voice turn serious. "Perhaps I would." Emma averts her eyes and walks away. Hook watches her go. We cut to...
Rumpy. He's still on his lonely little quest on which seems to have accomplished nothing. I wonder if he feels like he's on Lost? As he walks through the jungle, he hears a noise that gives him pause. Once he starts walking, he hears it again. This time, he looks up, rather than around, and what should fall through the sky and to his feet, but that damned straw doll. He picks it up and looks at it for a moment before casting it back to the ground. He creates a fireball and throws it down on the doll, then lets it burn for a moment, before stomping out the flame. Smokey the Bear says, "Thanks." Rumpy starts out on his way, but only goes a few feet before he again stumbles upon the damned, totally unscathed doll. He bends over and picks it up, looks around to see if anyone is watching, then shoves it in his jacket's inside pocket. We cut back to...
Emma. She's picking berries when Pan arrives and warns her not to eat the blue ones, then says, "Congratulations. You did it, orphan. You don't mind if I call you Lost Girl, do you?" Emma whatevers him. She just wants to find Henry. Pan laughs and says he's counting on that. "There's a reason I tested you. [...] You haven't forgiven your parents for abandoning you." Emma doesn't answer or even look at him, but her face gives her away. Pan says, "Don't deny it. You haven't. That's good. Really good, 'cause when you find Henry, you'll understand him." Emma rises to face her taunter. "What's that supposed to mean?" Pan says Henry hasn't forgiven Emma, either. "By the time you get to him, he'll never want to leave this island." Emma says, "We'll see," and starts to leave. Pan calls after to her, "As for you, Emma, when we're finished, you won't just feel like an orphan. You'll be one." Emma takes a deep breath and keeps going. We cut to...
Charming. He heads off alone and once he has some privacy, he takes off his jacket and pulls up his shirt to reveal that the arrow cut through more than leather. The wound is deep, and clearly infected with poison. Dun dun dun.
I'll be back with full coverage of episode 3.3, "Quite A Common Fairy." In the meantime, please join us on the boards, where we're going to tend to Charming's wound, and then bop him over the head for being such a dunce.