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Previously on Once Upon a Time: Red Handed

This week on Once Upon a Time, we pick the thread of Snow and Charming’s tale, while the cards are stacked against Ms. Blanchard. In the Enchanted Forest, Snow has forgotten her love for Charming and is determined to kill the Evil Queen, and Charming is determined to make her remember him, while avoiding King George’s guards. They’re happy for a record five seconds before they’re torn apart again. In Storybrooke, more damning evidence is discovered points to Ms. Blanchard as the killer. Emma thinks she’s being set up, but David starts to doubt her.

In Storybrooke, Emma is forced to book Ms. Blanchard. Even though the sheriff doesn’t believe she’s a killer, she must pursue the evidence. Emma interrogates Ms. Blanchard, with Regina present to ensure objectivity, and it’s uncovered that box is actually Ms. Blanchard’s jewelry box. She claims someone broke in and stole it, but Regina points out to Emma that there was no break in, and a woman scorned in love will do anything. Emma goes back to their apartment to search, and Henry shows up to help (hi, Henry! I miss you!), claiming Regina is framing Ms. Blanchard because she hates Snow White. Unfortunately for all of them, Emma finds a knife in the heating vent. Henry drowns his sorrows in hot chocolate at Granny’s, and August tells him he should look for answers in his book – the book that just happens to contain stories that really happened.

Henry is ecstatic that someone believes, but August tells him Emma is the sort of person that needs proof. Emma starts to think that Ms. Blanchard needs a lawyer, and Mr. Gold appears to offer his services. Henry’s proof is the ring of skeleton keys from Regina’s office, and when Emma tries them in the door to her apartment it opens. David starts to think his blackouts are the key to Ms. Blanchard’s innocence, and visits Dr. Hopper to retrieve his memories – unfortunately he goes so deep in his hypnosis he remembers Snow talking about killing the Evil Queen. He confronts Ms. Blanchard with his doubts, and she’s crushed he would think her capable of such evil.

The next morning, Ms. Blanchard also finds a skeleton key – one that opens her cell. Emma brings her breakfast and bad news: the heart was Kathryn’s, and Regina appears to be framing her. She promises to clear Ms. Blanchard’s name if she has faith. Emma is taking no chances on this one. She goes to Mr. Gold and is willing to play dirty if it frees her friend. Ms. Blanchard, however, is not willing to sit around and find out.

In the Enchanted forest, we pick up where we left off at the end of What Happened to Frederick– Red and Charming on are the run from King George’s army. Red goes wolf-like to hold them off, and they split up. Meanwhile, forgetting her love has given Snow the personality of a sullen, bitchy teenager. The dwarves are so concerned they call on Jiminy Cricket to hold an intervention. Snow decides to spare the dwarves her bitchiness and take it out on the Evil Queen – by murdering her. Before she can put her plan into action, Grumpy wants to take her to Rumpelstiltskin, the man who can do anything. But Rumpelstiltskin can’t cure Snow – even he doesn’t have the potion to restore true love – and instead offers Snow a magic bow to kill the Queen, at no cost. Charming learns of Snow’s intentions and visits Rumpelstiltskin.

In exchange for his cloak, he gets information on how to find her, and a warning that if she succeeds with her plan she’ll become as evil as the Queen. Charming finds Snow’s hiding spot and forces a kiss on her. It doesn’t work, and she leaves him tied up while she continues on with murdering. Luckily, Jiminy frees him, and he shows up just in time to take Snow’s arrow. He tells her he would die for her, and its enough to make her see past her anger. This time she kisses him and remembers. Of course, King George’s men show up at that moment to tear them apart – again. She goes back to the dwarves to apologize, and they promise to help her free Charming. Just in case we’re thinking Rumpelstiltskin let everyone off easy, he combines a hair from Charming’s cloak with the hair he got from Snow, finally creating a potion that gives him power over love.

Next week, Sebastian Stan (aka Carter Baizen from Gossip Girl) plays the Mad Hatter. Our fairy tales have already included murder and adultery, so why not throw in some insanity too?

Thoughts/Theories
o After disappearing for a few weeks, everything seems to have fallen into place for Mr. Gold. Though I’m not exactly happy that he’s using Emma and Ms. Blanchard as his pawns, I’m hoping Kathryn’s murder trial will be the battleground where he takes some wind out of Regina’s sails.
o August claims he’s here to help Emma believe in the curse. I’m going to be hopeful here and think that’s actually the case. It’s about time Henry had an ally, and I hope this means good will start winning a few battles against Regina.

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