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Previously on Once Upon a Time: Skin Deep

This week on Once Upon a Time: people vanish, objects reappear, and the Mysterious Stranger finally has a name, but is no less mysterious in either deed or motive. In Storybrooke, David fails yet again to tell his wife the truth, but Regina has no problem revealing the affair, leaving Ms. Blanchard and Kathryn as collateral damage. In the Enchanted Forest, Charming proves to be the more honorable of the two by restoring Abigail’s lost love before setting out in pursuit of Snow.

We start in the Enchanted forest. The timing is a little tricky here, picking up towards the end of 7:15 A.M. – Snow has left, Charming thinks she doesn’t love him, and the wedding is not officially called off yet. Charming is on the run from King George’s men, and they seem to have every intent of killing him. We cut awkwardly to a bound Charming, but it’s Abigail who’s found him. She knows the truth about Snow, and she wants to help him escape because she has no desire to marry him either. Charming is suspicious of her motives, and she reveals that she loves another – her betrothed, Frederick, who was accidentally turned to gold protecting King Midas. There is a magical lake that could restore him and Charming agrees to get what she needs, despite the deadly creature that guards it. That creature just happens to be a siren, who transforms herself to look like Snow to lure him into the water, and he almost drowns before escaping at the last second. He restores Frederick to Abigail, and sets out to find Snow. We’re now where 7:15 A.M ended, when Charming meets Red Riding Hood at the woods. She tells him Snow truly does love him, and they set off with King George on their tail.

In Storybrooke, Kathryn has been accepted been into law school, and she wants David to come with her to Boston. He later meets with Ms. Blanchard, and she argues that he needs to tell Kathryn the truth. The next day, Emma runs into the Mysterious Stranger outside of Granny’s, and he gives his name – August W. Booth – to secure a date with her. Inside, Ms. Blanchard reveals that she been seeing David, to which Emma is like “duh,” noting the “plunging necklines” were a giveaway. Ms. Blanchard is convinced David will tell the truth – and we cut to him doing just the opposite, telling Kathryn he can’t go to Boston because of some bs story about not connecting. Meanwhile, August appears to be restoring the Book or adding pages. Kathryn runs to Regina, who reveals David’s infidelity. Kathryn then runs to Ms. Blanchard, bitch slapping her in hall at school and telling her to enjoy her liar boyfriend. August takes Emma for that drink, which just happens to be from a well fed by a “magical” underground lake that will return something lost to her. He waxes poetic about having faith, while Emma only believes what she can see. Everyone in town is calling Ms. Blanchard a tramp, and she’s fed up with David and his lack of backbone. Their relationship is destructive, and she tells him it’s over. Emma finds the Book in the gutter by her car and returns it to Henry; Kathryn tells Regina her marriage was like “an illusion,” that she’s left a note giving David and Ms. Blanchard her blessing, and she still intends to go to Boston. The Mayor takes her skeleton keys (complete with skulls) to get the note from Kathryn’s home, which she burns. Kathryn, meanwhile, has left for Boston. The curse does its thing, however, and Frederick/Gym Teacher finds her car abandoned on the side of the road.

Thoughts/Theories
o August W. Booth, who are you, really? What have you done to the Book, and how long will it be before we find out?
o For those keeping score: Graham is dead (sniffle), and now Kathryn is missing. Mr. Gold knows truth but seems outside of Regina’s influence – for now.
o If Storybrooke is connected to the Enchanted Forest, as evidenced by Snow’s coffin hidden deep in a mine shaft underground, does that mean this “magical” underground lake is the same one Charming visited? The way August was going on about the mystical powers of water, I believe it has some significance, but you can’t trust anything with this show. We shall (hopefully) see.

Quotes
August – If you need evidence for everything, Emma, you’re going to find yourself stuck in one place for a long time.

Nicole N. decided to justify the countless hours she spends watching television by writing about it here. She enjoys a challenge and is currently re-watching all 15 seasons of ER. Follow her @nicolemnelson