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In Neverland's past Hook is young Lieutenant Killian Jones. His brother Liam (Bernard Curry) is Captain of H.M.S. Jewel of the Realm. Along with their crew, they fly to Neverland. Yes, I said fly. The JR sports a sail made of the Pegasus wings. Liam is in search of Dreamshade. His Majesty alleges he needs it for its "healing" properties.
Killian and Liam meet Peter Pan, who warns them that Dreamshade is poisonous, and while Killian thinks the boy might be telling the truth, Liam will not be dissuaded from his quest. To prove his point, Liam scratches his arm with a thorn from the Dreamshade bush and is immediately stricken. Pan shows Killian the water that is the source of Neverland's power. I have a flashback to what was probably the worst ever episode of Lost and have to collect myself.
The water heals Liam for the nonce, but once the brothers Jones (is their father Davy?) sail (or soar) out of Neverland, Liam dies. The water only works while you're in Neverland, which is of course, what Pan wants them to believe. I think belief is what fuels Dreamshade poison, and the "nobody leaves without Pan's permission" rule, and every other damned thing. Stop believing in all this crap, Team Henry, and you'll get your boy and get home.
Anyhow, once Liam dies, the upstanding and honorable Killian is all, "Yo ho yo ho, a pirate's life for me," and it's just about that abrupt. I mean, I get that he no longer wants to serve a king who dispatched his brother on a mission to find poison to use in some genocidal plot, and lied that it was some miraculous, curative plant -- but so the step is piracy and the whole crew is on board? Whatever. He burns the pegasus wing sail, which seems like a hasty choice, and rechristens the ship as the Jolly Roger.
Now, on Neverland, Hook takes a cue from his former king and brings Charming along on a false mission. The swashbuckler knows our fair prince is about to bite it due to his own Dreamshade poisoning, so he lies that they're looking for his brother's old sextant which will help guide them out of Neverland, once Operation Henry is complete.
However, Hook is really just trying to get Charming to the magical water. While briefly separated from Charming, Pan presents our pirate with a deal: kill Charming, and Pan will grant Hook passage off of Neverland -- with Emma. Hook doesn't accept the deal, but he doesn't refuse it, either. Charming overhears the whole thing and makes sure Hook knows so, but that happens before the water heals him, and I think it later slips his mind. When Charming returns to the women, he's very frisky with Snow, even in front of Regina and Emma, who make no secret of being grossed out. Charming truths that Hook saved his life, but lies that the threat was a Lost Boys ambush.
Emma must have left her lie detection super power back in Storybrooke, because she buys her father's less than credible story. She buys it so much that when she's alone with Hook and he gets flirtatious, she grabs him roughly and gives him such a kiss that I'm pretty sure his knees buckle. She makes sure to tell him that was a singular event, but Hook isn't convinced, and neither am I. Pan finds Hook later and tells him he should have accepted his earlier deal, then lets him know that Neal is alive and on Neverland. Do our privateer's less than private feelings for Emma spring from a heart of gold, or do they only run skin deep. Time, of course, will tell, but it's not telling yet.
While the guys are off on the magical water quest, Emma, Regina, and Snow have a mission of their own. They trap a Lost Boy, in hopes of using him to get a message to Henry. The thing is, it's the same Lost Boy whom Henry just cut in a sword fight. The boy is less than agreeable, even when Regina magics up an Apollo chocolate bar, so against Snow's wishes, but with Emma's permission, Regina rips out the boys heart. She doesn't crush it. Instead, she uses it much like Cora used Aurora's heart, last season -- as a remote control over the boy. He takes half of a compact mirror back to Henry. Emma, Regina and Snow use it to Skype with their boy. Henry seems off, though. At first the "truest believer" doesn't believe his moms and grandmother are really talking to him. Then, he says Pan's coming (which he is) but Henry doesn't just pocket the mirror or drop it, he throws it to the ground, where it smashes. Your seven years are going to be rough, kiddo. Adolescence sucks.
Highlights
Before Charming sets out with Hook, he already knows he might die before he returning, so he gives Emma a big hug (from which she shrinks) and tells her to tell Henry his grandpa loves him. He also bids Snow a touching farewell, because Neverland's a dangerous place, and all. Snow is confident he will be fine. And if these people listen to me, he will be fine, because Snow believes it. Also impressive is the scene in which Regina pulls out the boy's heart. That's not the striking part (okay, except maybe to the boy). The striking part is Emma agreeing to this plan. Her agreement harkens back to the season premiere, in which Emma tells the team that to succeed in this land which runs on belief, they need to be who they are: a hero (or 2 or 3), a villain, and a pirate. She holds Snow tight, and cringes, herself, but she believes in Regina at that moment, and that is so important. Emma knew it in the premiere, but she and her whole team have been so caught up in the chaos, that none of them have been remembering that it is belief which will save them. Look, belief turned Henry's stick into a sword. In that moment, the writers gave us a spoiler to this plot's resolution. They will get Henry (and Neal, and whomever else Pan is holding in that other cage, right now I'm believing it's Sawyer and Kate) and get home, once they believe they can. Similarly, once Rumpy believes he can do the right thing, he will do the right thing, and that will be his so-called "undoing." Show's over, everyone.
I'll be back with the full recap, ASAP. In the meantime, please grade the episode up top, and then join us on the boards, where we're making out with Hook.
Want more? The full recap starts right below!Congrats to the 2013 Boston Red Sox! Sorry. I just had to get that off my chest. I'll go straight to the show now. We open in Neverland at night. It's always night. A torch bearing Felix leads a band of Lost Boys through the jungle. When they get to their destination, they throw a still unconscious Neal into a cage. We cut to...
Pan's camp. Henry watches some Lost Boys whoop it up, until Devin (Skyler Gisondo) pokes him in the back to get his attention. Devin has a case of new-kid envy, so he scoffs in disbelief that Henry is the one Pan's been waiting for all this time, then bullies Henry into sparring with him. Henry picks up a nearby stick to defend himself. He holds his own. Looks like those toy sword fencing sessions with Grandpa Charming, and later Dad, taught him a little something.
Pan arrives on scene and goads Henry into harnessing his belief such that he turns his stick into a real sword. The boys are wowed, except for Devin who is too busy trying not to soil his britches. Henry faces off with Devin and soon cuts his still-wooden weapon down to the hilt. And Son of a Savior! Doesn't Henry take one last swing and slash Devin's cheek. Being Henry, he is immediately all, "Sorry, it was an accident." Pan says that the Best Thing about being a Lost Boy is that there is no apologizing. Henry faces the cheering horde, shouts, "Yeah," and raises his sword, victorious. We cut to...
Baelfire's Cave. Emma and Hook find where young Bae had marked his days trapped on Neverland. Emma realizes at some point he stopped marking the days because he lost hope. Regina snarks, "You got that from scribbles?" The flicker in her eyes when Emma tells her she recognizes what happened, because she'd do the same in each foster home is -- well, it's priceless. We all know Lana Parrilla is great at playing the big, campy villain, but man, her subtle work is even more impressive. In just that little glance, she manages to convey sympathy for Emma's childhood, respect for her acumen, and a ripple of guilt when she realizes her fault in the matter. Even better, Regina just as quickly she shuts it off.
Emma's afraid the same thing is happening to Henry, since he doesn't know they're there to rescue him. She tells the team Pan told her Henry would lose faith. She wants to get him a sign. There's more snark from Regina, but it gives Snow an idea. She leads the way out of the cave. Regina and Emma start to follow, but Hook detains Emma for a moment. He's trying to get close, to bond, to feel her pain. It's a move, sure, but it seems born of feelings, even some that radiate from above the belt. Emma doesn't do this, though. She doesn't bond. She makes that pretty clear to Hook and leaves him hanging. Once she's gone, Charming tells Hook, "She's never going to like you. [...] How could she? You're nothing but a pirate." The faraway look in Hook's eyes carries us into a flashback to a...
Sidebar. There's been great debate on our forums about whether or not the show is messing up the timeline, ignorant of the differences between styles of dress, etc. of different ages. Here's what I think. Thus far, on the show, Our World comprises the Darling's London, Neal's Manhattan, August's Asian Adventures, and -- once it is plopped into being -- Storybrooke. The other worlds and the realms which compose them, don't have to track to Our World's past. In the other worlds we might have Regency era sailors, in front of Tudor Revival buildings, existing contemporaneously with Medieval looking soldiers in another kingdom or realm, or world. The fictional worlds don't share our history, so their history's progression doesn't have to match ours. Now let's get back to the action.
We open on a harbor in the Enchanted Past. Young Lieutenant Killian Jones orders all hands on deck. No pirates are these, no. They're a proper Navy. Killian tells the men they're waiting on orders from the king. When he notices a flask of rum sticking out of a sailor's pocket, he confiscates it -- not to drink, but as an object lesson. He preaches that sailors who drink get drunk, "...and that leads to bad form. If there's one thing that won't be tolerated aboard this ship, it's bad form." He tosses the flask overboard, then their captain arrives. He is Captain Liam Jones, Killian's big brother. Liam presents Killian with a beautiful sextant to commemorate their latest order. The markings are foreign to Killian, but Liam says he's under orders not to reveal their destination until they get there. Liam promises, though, that, "...this is the mission of our dreams. A mission that will bring peace to the kingdom and glory to the Jones brothers." Killian's eyes are dreamy as he smiles. "A hero's journey. That is indeed good form, brother." He orders the crew to prepare to set sail. We flash forward to...
Neverland. Team Henry prepares a trap. Snow is intent on catching herself a Lost Boy. When Hook sneers at the idea that a Lost Boy would betray Pan, Snow's voice is cool, low and dismissive in response. "Thanks for the advice." She asks David to get them more vines. David sets off and tells Hook to come with him. Hook asks, "Why's that?" Emma deadpans, "Because we need more rope." Hook smiles, inclines his head toward her and says, "If the lady insists." Snow tries to give Emma a look like you give your friend, when some guy is into her, and it's all a bit comical, because he'll never have a chance. The thing is, Emma never sees that look, because her eyes are burning a hole in the seat of Hook's departing pants.
Once the men are alone in the jungle, Charming tells Hook, "Stay away from my daughter." Hook points out how Emma's a grown woman and doesn't need his parenting, which is good, because he'll be dead in a day or so. Charming snits that if he does die, it will be in service of helping his family. "And that's something someone like you cannot understand." Hook says there might be a way to save David. David says veering off the Operation Henry course would be selfish, and of course gets in a dig at Hook in the process. Hook points out how he's risking his life for all of them. Charming more or less says Hook is there to get into Emma's pants, but he's a fairy tale prince, so he's a bit more subtle. He's not subtle though, in saying Hook will never get her, and he'll see to that. Hook says, "Well, it's a good thing you're going to die then." Charming takes a swing at Hook, but he's so weak from the Dreamshade that he ends up collapsing in the pirate's arms. Hook catches him and lays him down, gingerly, and tries to revive the now unconscious Charming. Commercial.
After the break, Hook revives Charming with some rum. Charming sputters and insists he's okay now. Hook demands to look at his wound. The black lines have spread across his flesh and are approaching his heart. He only has hours left. Hook tells Charming he must warn his family, but Charming isn't only a stroppy baggage, but a stubborn one. He won't slow down Operation Henry. He notices a military insignia lying in the dirt. Brushing it off, he sees it reads, "Jones," so he tosses it to Hook, who says it belongs to Captain Brother, who lost it long ago in a duel with Pan. "It must have washed down with the rains from the storm that wrecked the Jolly Roger." Of course Liam's ship was the Jewel of the Realm. I can't remember if that was already mentioned or not, but I figure I'd highlight Hook's mendacity, here.
The pirate directs the prince's attention upward and points out what he calls Deadman's Peak. I'm going to skip Hook's manipulation of Charming, because I'm pressed for time, but trust me when I say he knows how to work Charming. He says the insignia came from Captain Brother's satchel. If the insignia survived all these years, maybe the satchel did too, as well as the sextant inside of it -- a sextant that can help them decode Neal's star map and get them off the island. Charming decides finding it is how he'll spend his last hours. He asks Hook to come with him, to make sure the sextant gets back to Emma. "Are you ready to be a hero?" Hey Charming, you don't realize yet that you're being manipulated, so kudos to you for being unashamed to manipulate Hook, anyhow. We flash back to...
Whenever. Aboard the HMS Jewel of the Realm, Killian reveals unfamiliar star charts and notes he's never seen them, before. Liam says no one has. "We're going to a new land, brother." Riddle me this, Liam: if no one has seen them, who drew them up? Their conversation is interrupted, when they see three ships headed straight for them. The lead ship fires a cannon ball at them. Liam orders his men to deploy the "Pegasus." It's a massive sail made from, "...the last remaining feathers of the great creature, Pegasus." Yeah, that's right, baby. A flying ship. Whoo hoo.
The Jewel of the Realm takes to the skies. It seems to me flying is, just like portals and magic hats, another way to travel between the worlds. That's all the thought I'm putting into it right now. The ship does fly through a massive cloud, and to me, it feels like there was a portal in there, but we never see a swirling vortex and I'm okay with that. Liam claps his arm around Killian's shoulder and says, "Set a course, Lieutenant. Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning." We flash forward to...
Neverland. At Camp Operation Henry, Hook has already told the ladies about the sextant. Regina asks how they know he's not lying. Hook says they don't, "...but I'm not." It's their best hope for finding away off Neverland. Emma must be too emotional to employ her super power. What a damnable waste. Hook has something up his sleeve, so he needs to separate himself and Charming from the women, so he works Emma. He tells her she must take the time to get a message to Henry. Every day he doesn't hear from them, he is that much closer to becoming a Lost Boy. It's bad form and good form, all at the same time. They men and women will split to fulfill their missions.
Because Charming knows he might die en route, he gives Emma a big hug she doesn't know how to receive. He also asks her to tell Henry his grandpa loves him. He then takes true love Snow a heartfelt embrace, which he rationalizes by reminding her Neverland's a dangerous place. Snow is confident he will be fine. And as I said in the recaplet, if these people listen to me, he will be fine, because Snow believes it so deeply, and this land operates on belief, which they all already know. He kisses her goodbye like it's the last time, memorizes her face and tells her he loves her. Commercial.
The women hide out in the jungle, where we spy a boar. Snow's bow is at the ready, but she's not taking a page from John Locke's book. She's hunting Lost Boy and they soon snag none other than Devin, who actually is hunting boar. The women snare him in their net. Devin asks if they're trying to start a war with Pan. Emma says Pan started one with them when he kidnapped her son. Regina smiles and smarms, "But that doesn't make you our enemy." She then magics up an Apollo Bar. Emma asks him to help them get a message to Henry, and reminds Devin that he too once had a home and a family, but stopped believing he could get back home. She says they can help all the Lost Boys get home. Regina offers the bar to Devin. He takes it, sniffs it and chucks it into the bushes. He says he's there because he doesn't want to go home. "None of us do." Noting the cut on Devin's face, Emma says, "Pan's a monster. Look what he did to you." Devin chuckles. "Oh, Pan didn't do that. Henry did." While Emma looks shocked, Regina looks downright alarmed.
Making their way to Deadman's Peak gives Hook and Charming time to talk. Charming tells Hook that if he dies on this mission, Hook is to tell Snow and Emma that Charming died a hero, fighting to find a way home. "What you're not going to tell them is that I left already a dead man." Hook: "The truth, you mean?" Charming: "Their last memories of me won't be of a liar." Well yeah they will, Charming. They just won't know it.
Hook wonders why he should help Charming. Charming's laugh is bitter. "Well, because if you didn't steal that bean, they wouldn't have had a chance to take Henry. We wouldn't be on this island, and I wouldn't be dying of Dreamshade." Hook says that's a fair point. "At least you got a chance to say goodbye. Most people don't get that much." Charming asks who Hook lost. Hook deflects, and says this is where they ascend the peak. He'll go first and throw down the rope for Charming. Charming recognizes the deflection and realizes Hook lost his brother. Charming tells Hook he had a twin, who died before they could meet. Hook: "There were two of you? I can barely stomach one." Charming: "Ah, well you would have liked him. He was a thief and a liar." Hook: "You would have liked my brother. He could be a stubborn ass." Oh just shut up and kiss, you two. We flash back to...
Neverland. And may I just say it's finally daytime in Neverland. I wonder if it's always dark in the present timeframe, because the magic is leaving. Anyhow, Liam and Killian are ashore. Liam shows Killian a sketch of the plant they're there to retrieve. "Our sources say it's magical -- potent enough to heal any injury." The brother are aglow over the importance of their mission, when Pan appears behind them and asks if they're lost. When they show him their plant sketch, we can see it's Dreamshade, as if we didn't already know. Pan tells them their king is a ruthless tyrant who'll use it to wipe out entire armies. Killian knows the boy might be telling the truth. Liam tells Killian not to be so gullible as to fall for a boy who's playing games with them. Pan says, "Don't say I didn't warn you. We flash forward to the...
Present. Atop Deadman's Peak, Hook is about to throw the rope down to Charming, when Pan appears. He wants to talk to Hook alone. He offers him a deal. If Hook will come back and work for him like the old days, Pan will offer Hook and Emma free passage off Neverland. Hook says Emma would never leave her son. Pan says, "She did once before. And you can be there to pick up the pieces." Pan says it's the perfect time to resume their business relationship; he needs the pirate to do his dirty work. Hook: "What if I'm not interested?" Pan: "Of course you are, because that's what I've always liked about you. You're good at surviving." Hook asks what dirty work Pan would have him do. Pan says he'll tell him when it's the right time, but for now, as a show of good faith, he wants Hook to kill Charming and put his body on the top of the peak. Hook says that's overkill, since Charming will soon be dead of Dreamshade poisoning. That's not good enough for Pan. He wants to see Hook's hook in Charming's body. Hooks asks what happens if he doesn't take Pan's offer. Pan tells him, "Remember the last time you didn't listen to me?" then he grabs Hook's flask and tells him to have a drink, as it always helps him think. Yes, booze is known to up the intellectual prowess. I think it's important to take note that Peter (who is shown in the scene to have the ability to magically move from behind Hook to in front of him, etc.) has brief possession of the flask. Hook grabs it back.
After the break, Snow stands, staring off into nothing. Emma is seated nearby her and says, "Mary Margaret, I'm sorry." Snow says she doesn't have to apologize. She's just worried about Henry. Emma says she is too, which is why she'll let Regina do what it takes. Snow says, "When we get to Henry I just want to make sure the line is still there." Emma asks what line she means. Snow says, "Between what Regina is willing to do and what you are." Emma says she's willing to do whatever it takes to get the kid home. Snow: "The cost can't be this family." Emma says it won't.
Regina and a now untied Devin approach. Regina asks if Emma is having second thoughts. Emma: "Let's get him that message." Smiling, Regina takes a compact mirror out of her pocket. She opens it and snaps it in two. "Oh, we're going to do more than that." Handing one half to Devin, she holds up the other to Snow and Emma. "We're going to see him." We cut to...
Deadman's Peak. Charming and Hook have finally reached the Dreamshade plant we saw, long ago and far away. Hook mumbles about letting Charming go first, since he's already dying of the stuff. Charming nods and takes the lead, but then draws his sword, pivots, and holds the tip to Hook's neck. He overheard Pan making the deal with Hook. Hook says if he heard it, Charming should know he didn't agree to it. Charming allows that, but points out he didn't disagree. Hook says Pan wanted to turn them against each other. Charming says it worked, and demands that Hook take him to the sextant, so they can get it back to his family. Hook comes clean. "My brother didn't lose his satchel up here. I made that up." He also planted the military insignia on the path. He had to lure Charming there under false pretenses, so that he could save his life. Although weakened, Charming tries to lunge at Hook, who easily knocks him down and out. We flash back to...
Neverland's past. Killian is fretting over an unconscious Liam when Pan appears and says, "I tried to warn you. He'll die as soon as the poison reaches his heart." Hook pleads with Pan to help him. Pan magically pushes back the Dreamshade to reveal a magical spring "...rich with the powers of Neverland." It's what keeps the inhabitants young. "If one was to drink directly from it, its powers could cure any ill." When Killian passes Pan to get the to spring, Pan lays a hand on his shoulder to stop him. "I must warn you, all magic comes with a price, and that spring is no exception. Don't leave the island, unless you're willing to pay it." Impetuous Killian says whatever Pan wants is his. He fills his canteen with water, and pours it down Liam's throat. The healing is instantaneous. Liam asks what happened. Killian says it doesn't matter. "Now let's pay the boy and go." He calls out, "Boy, what do you want? Boy?" But Peter is gone. We cut to...
Pan's camp. Henry is using his sword to draw a picture in the earth. I think it's the outline of a house. Devin approaches and nudges him with the point of his weapon. Henry springs to his feet and blurts out that he doesn't want to fight. Devin tells Henry he's there to deliver a message and the shoves the boy back into the brush, for privacy's sake. Henry's footsteps scrape through his drawing. Devin tells him his family is there. His voice echoes as we cut to Regina who is speaking into Devin's heart. "...on the island, trying to find you." A smile plays at the corner of Henry's lips, but he says, "You're making this up, because I cut your cheek. You're trying to get back at me." Regina and Devin say, "I'm not making it up."
We cut from Regina and the heart to Devin, who grabs the mirror from his pocket and shows it to Henry. "Look." Once Henry takes it, Devin leaves. Regina, Emma and Snow look into their half of the compact, call out Henry's name and ask if he's okay, and if he can hear them. Henry says, "Mom?" Snow says, "I'm here too, Henry." Henry looks from the mirror to Devin who is standing a bit off, now. He thinks it's a trick. His moms and grandmother assure him it isn't. Emma promises it's real and says, "Kid, it's Operation Cobra Rescue. It's us." Henry: "You're--you're here?" Emma smiles. "Yes. We're coming to get you."
Through the mirror, the women watch Henry look around. He tells them there's someone coming. When we cut back to Henry's location, we can see Pan pass by in the background. Henry says, "It's Pan. I--I gotta go." Regina says, "We love you!" No one gives him Grandpa Charming's message. Henry casts down the mirror with enough force that it breaks. Did he do it out of nerves, anger or pretense of same? What do you think? Regina, Emma and Snow force smiles as they look down at their half of the mirror, where they've just seen the face of their beloved boy. Commercial.
HMS Jewel of the Realm soars above the clouds. Inside the Captain's quarters, Liam makes himself presentable, and assures Killian he feels "ship shape." He admits he should have listened to his little brother. Killian say he's just glad Liam survived and asks what's . Liam says, "We reveal our king's cowardice." Killian hopes the realm sides with them. Liam is sure they will. "To fight battles using unholy weapons is, as you say, bad form." Killian straightens Captain Brother's jacket. "Hey, I will follow you to the ends of the earth, brother." A voice up on deck orders, "All hands, brace for landing." HMS Jewel of the Realm splashes down on the sea. The voice hollers, "Land, ho!" The brothers smile. Killian looks out the window, chuckles and asks, "What do you say, Liam? Do you want some company when you report to the admiralty?" Liam grunts and collapses. Killian rushes to his brother's aid. He cradles Liam and calls for help, but it's too late. Killian sobs. We flash forward to...
Neverland. Deadman's Peak. Since Charming is still unconscious, Hook has to slash through the Dreamshade bush, to get to the spring. He covers as much skin as he can, before approaching the pernicious plant. At the spring, he fills a waterskin (which is distinct from his rum flask), rushes back to Charming, and slaps him awake. He tells Charming, "In this canteen is the water that will stop the Dreamshade, that will save your life." Charming laughs. "That's why you brought me up here." Hook says it is. Charming: "You knew I wouldn't come on my own, that I wouldn't leave my family."
Hook warns that because the water's power, "...comes from the island, once you drink this water, you can never leave Neverland." Charming: "That's a small price to pay for what I get in return -- the chance to save my grandson, and to help my family get home." The water works, immediately. Charming and Hook marvel at the results. Once he's on his feet again, Charming asks, "Why risk your life for me, when there wasn't anything for you, in return?" Hook smirks. "Oh, I didn't do it for you, mate." He winks and we cut to the...
Jungle. Regina wonders why Emma is so sure Henry is fine. Emma says, "Because he's our son, and he's a survivor, and now he knows he has something to survive for. He knows we're coming, and we're not going to let him down." Snow apologizes for doubting Emma. "I just -- I know how easy it is to give in to the darkness. I didn't want you to..." Regina interrupts. "She didn't. I did. That's what I'm here for. One happy family." When the women hear something approaching, Emma grabs her sword, Snow readies her bow, and Regina magics up a fireball. It's a great shot of three differently fierce women. Too bad it's only a now healthy Charming and Hook, returning to camp.
Charming rushes to Snow, grabs her, picks her up, and gives the sort of kiss that is best bestowed in private. Regina shudders and averts her eyes. She asks Hook where the sextant is. Hook lies that Pan got to it first. Snow finally pulls her lips off Charming's. "I'm not complaining, but what was tha--" Charming kisses her again, before she can finish her question. Emma mutters, "Okay, I'm complaining." Regina says, "What I wouldn't give for another sleeping curse." Ha.
Once he peels his lips off Snow's, Charming says Hook saved his life. Hook asks, "Are you sure you want to tell them that, mate?" Charming nods. "On our trek, we were ambushed by Lost Boys." Yeah, a few episodes ago. Charming ignores my prodding to be truthful and continues weaving a fairytale all his own. "Pinned down. Outnumbered. But Hook, he risked his life to stop me from getting hit by a poisoned arrow. If it wasn't for Hook, I wouldn't be alive." Charming approaches Hook and asks him for his flask. Hook obliges. Charming holds it up and says, "I thought he deserved a little credit." Hook seems uncomfortable as he thanks Charming. Charming takes a swig of the rum, chokes a bit, then hands it to Snow. With her smile bright, Snow raises it and toasts, "To Hook," then drinks. Spirits don't choke our kickass princess. Snow offers it to Regina who says, "I don't do rum," and walks off. Hmm.
Emma takes the flask, toasts to Hook, and also drinks. As her parents walk one way, Emma heads toward the brush. Stopping, she turns back to Hook and asks if he really saved David's life, since they're not exactly mates and all. Hook says, "It doesn't mean I'd leave your father to perish on this island." When Emma thanks him, Hook dials up the flirtation, touches a finger to his lower lip and says, "Perhaps gratitude is in order, now." Emma smiles, knowingly. "Yeah. That's what the thank you was for." Hook wonders if that's all her father's life is worth to her. Emma: "Please. You couldn't handle it." Hook: "Perhaps you're the one who couldn't handle it." Their faces are inches apart, now." Emma grabs Hook by his jacket, pulls him to her and kisses his face off for a good ten seconds. Yes, I counted.
When their lips part, they're still nose to nose for a moment. Is Hook blushing? I believe he's blushing -- probably at how much of a woobie "Bad Form" has made him. He whispers, "That was uh..." Emma releases her hold on his jacket, stumbles back a pace or two and finishes the thought. "A one-time thing." It's always a one-time thing 'til the time, Emma. I hear.
Turning her back, Emma starts off and tells Hook not to follow her. "Wait five minutes. Go get some firewood or something." Our Dread Pirate Roberts who's pining to be Westley to Emma's Buttercup, bows and says, "As you wish." Going by Emma's grin, I think she gets the Princess Bride reference too, although it's most probable Hook is ignorant of it. Once Emma is out of sight, Hook raises his finger to his mouth, probably to make sure he still has lips. He exhales so hard, it blows us into a commercial break.
In the Enchanted Past, we're aboard the deck of HMS Jewel of the Real. Lieutenant Killian Jones presides, as a stricken crew prepares to bury Captain Liam. Once his brother's corpse is committed to the deep, the crew looks to Killian as their leader. Chin up, Kill. Liam will wind up in Davy Jones' locker -- a relative of yours, surely.
A sailor hands over Liam's satchel. "This belongs to you, now... Captain." Killian hesitates for a moment, but then takes it, and rubs his fingers over the crown imprinted on the insignia. After whispering, "You'll never leave my side, brother," Killian addresses his crew. "We are sworn to serve the king and the realm. They sent us to retrieve an unthinkable poison -- one that killed our dear captain."
Having handed off the satchel, Killian, with torch in hand bounds to the bow of the ship and grabs the rigging. "Never again shall anyone set sail to that cursed land." He raises the torch and lights the Pegasus sail afire, which seems awfully risky. I mean, it's hasty to dispose of such a magical object, but beyond that, I can't think setting a sail afire, especially while you're still at sea, is the best idea. The men are stirred, so he continues. "Never again shall we take such orders -- serving the king, fighting his wars. That is the way of dishonor. And all you who disagree, flee now, or walk the bloody plank." Um, Killian, I know this is your big moment honey, but since you're at sea, I'm pretty sure fleeing amounts to walking the bloody plank.
Killian says, "Those who stay will be free men. And I will be your captain." The men cheer. Killian: "We'll sail under the crimson flag, and we'll give our enemies no quarter. We'll take what we please, and we'll live by our own rules. And that is the best form of all. Our kingdom is corrupt and immoral." And you my dear, are a wind bag. If you were facing the sails, you'd be halfway to wherever you're headed. "They took my brother from me, and now I'm going to take everything they've got -- starting with this ship."
The men cheer. Killian orders someone to bring the paint from below. "It's time we rename this ship. We no longer sail as the Jewel of the Realm. We now sail as the Jolly Roger." My only question is whether or not Hook's present ship is the same one. When Hook was fibbing to Charming about the sextant, was the part about the Jolly Roger wrecking on Neverland a fib as well?
Hook takes off his coat and throws it overboard. "And when they come for us, I want them to know exactly what we are -- pirates. For at least among thieves, there is honor." The men are all whipped up, now. They too strip off their coats and throw them overboard. I hope you only sail to warm climes, men. They can't hear me. They're too busy chanting, "Captain Jones," over and over. We flash forward to...
Neverland. Hook is drinking some rum, when Pan finds him and tells him he should have taken his deal. Hook says he doesn't need his help with Emma. Pan reveals himself to be quite the Peeping Tom when he asks Hook if he thinks the kiss meant anything. Hook's been drinking his thinking juice, and says he thinks Emma is finally seeing him for the man he is. Pan laughs. "What? A one-handed pirate with a drinking problem?" Ooh, burn. Pan says, "I'm no grown up, but I'm pretty sure that's less than appealing." Hook quietly corrects Pan. "A man of honor."
Pan squats before Hook and asks what a man of honor would do with a big secret. Hook says that depends on the secret. Pan says, "Baelfire. Neal. Whatever name he goes by these days. The guy Emma loves. Henry's father. [...] He's alive. That's not even the best part. He's in Neverland. [...] Can you believe it. I'm sure Emma would love to know that Henry's father is still alive, but I'd hate for that to get in the way of a budding romance, so I'll leave it up to you -- to tell her or not. Let's see what kind of man you really are." Pan leaves Hook standing there, mouth agape. We cut to another part of the...
Jungle. The Lost Boys set down the cage which holds Neal. Pan finds them and asks how it's going. Felix says they drugged Neal and he should be out for a while, then asks, "Where do you want him?" Pan says, "Hang him up. Over there. to the other one." The Lost Boys hoist the cage, 'til it's side by side with the other one. Argh! What's in the box -- or rather -- who. That's it for me. I offered more commentary in the recaplet, if that's what you're after. Before I leave, I just have one question for you. Do you think Pan magically slipped something in Hook's flask? It seems rather pointed that Charming, Snow, Emma, and Hook all drank from it later, while Regina refused.
I'll be back with coverage of "Ariel." In the meantime, please grade the episode up top, and then join us on the boards, where we're making out with Hook.