Tag Archives: Prince Charming

Dec 03 2012
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ABC, Once Upon a Time

once upon a time recapping: queen of hearts

Previously on Once Upon a Time: Into the Deep.

This week on Once Upon a Time, it’s the winter finale!

Once Upon a Time, Regina and Hook

In pre-curse Enchanted Forest, Hook stages a rescue in order to learn how to kill Rumpelstiltskin from Belle, which ends about as well as you’d expect. Regina (rocking an AWESOME dress) finds him in the cell and cuts him a deal. She intends to transport Rumpelstiltskin to land without magic, where he will be easily defeated. In order to do that, however, he needs to kill Cora for her first. With the aid of Jefferson’s hat, Regina sends Hook to Wonderland with a now enchanted hook to rip out her heart. The Queen of Hearts is none other than Cora (who else?), but Hook’s murderous attempt fails since she isn’t foolish enough to keep her heart where everyone else does. She uses him to bring her back, where she intends to steal Regina’s heart. However, as Cora feigns death, Regina admits she killed her mother because she loves her, and love is weakness. This prompts Cora to wait out the curse instead, so she can return to aid her daughter once it’s broken.

Once Upon a Time, Emma

In present day Enchanted Forest, Emma and Co. reach the cell, where they find an empty ink bottle and a parchment with Emma’s name written over and over. To add to the bad news, the heart-controlled Aurora lowers the gate and traps them in the cell. Cora and Hook arrive to steal the compass and gloat. They then go to Lake Nostos where Cora restores the waters – the final element they need to create a portal. Snow has an epiphany and realizes the parchment contains a spell written in the ink, and uses it to destroy the bars of the cell. Aurora asks to be left behind; Mulan promises to restore her heart. The heroes arrive at the lake just in time. In the heat of the fight, Hook saves Aurora’s heart just before it falls through the portal and gives it to Mulan, who rushes off to aid the princess. Emma and Hook have the most innuendo-filled fight ever until she gets the compass and clocks him in the face with it. Cora tries to steal Snow’s heart but Emma gets in the way. Emma’s special brand of magic – love – keeps her heart intact and knocks Cora down. They go through the portal. Mulan returns Aurora’s heart, and they vow to save Philip. Hook and Cora use plan B – a magic bean.

Once Upon a Time, Regina

In Storybrooke, with David under a sleeping curse, Mr. Gold and Regina have no way of knowing if their message got through. The only way to ensure that Cora doesn’t reach Storybrooke is to destroy the portal. Regina argues they could be preventing Emma and Snow from coming home, but Gold calls it a win-win: they either stop Cora or Regina becomes the only parent in Henry’s life. It’s enough to tempt her, so she lies to get Henry out of the way and then the two steal the fairy dust from the mine. Ruby and Leroy discover this and break the bad news to Henry. Gold and Regina go to the well that “restores that which was lost” and use the dust to create a barrier. In a heart-wrenching scene, Henry arrives and begs Regina to reconsider, asking her to have faith in him. She destroys the barrier just in time for Emma and Snow to return. Henry thanks Regina for choosing good, Snow revives Charming, and everyone goes off for a celebratory dinner at Granny’s – without inviting Regina, of course. Just when I’m starting to think this way too much of a happy ending (for everyone but the mayor), we zoom over to a pirate ship in the harbor, bringing Cora and Hook to poor Storybrooke.

Once Upon a Time, Cora and Hook

See you all in the new year!

Thoughts/Theories
• Hats off to Lana Parrilla, because she is killing it this season. Regina has grown so much, and deserved so much better than what she got this episode. C’mon Emma, SHOW SOME RESPECT, PLEASE.
• How much does influence does Rumpelstiltskin really have over Emma’s destiny? She may have her own special brand of magic, but I want to believe his power over her name will have some meaning in this plotline.
• I am so excited for all the havoc Hook and Cora are going to unleash!

Nicole N. decided to justify the countless hours she spends watching television by writing about it here. She is currently indulging her addiction to medical dramas by rewatching all of Grey’s Anatomy. Follow her on twitter @nicolemnelson and check out her tumblr.

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Nov 26 2012
1 Comment
ABC, Once Upon a Time

once upon a time recapping: into the deep

Previously on Once Upon a Time: Child of the Moon.

My fellow OUaTers, I’ve missed you! A big thank you to the lovely TVDM Editor Nicole for covering my recaps when life pulled me into a land without magic. This week on Once Upon a Time, with Jefferson’s hat destroyed, Henry and Aurora’s netherworld connection may be the only way Snow and Emma can get home. In Storybrooke, Charming makes a sacrifice for a chance to see Snow again. In the Enchanted Forest, Cora remains one step ahead of our heroes.

Once Upon a Time, Captain Hook

In present day Enchanted Forest, we catch up with Hook as he escapes the beanstalk. Cora catches up with him also, and is none too pleased he is missing the compass. Her plan is to use heart-controlled “zombies” to get it back. Meanwhile, Snow and Emma realize they can use Aurora’s dreams to communicate with Henry, and through him, that master of all things magic: Rumpelstiltskin. When Aurora goes back under, she is unable to learn anything more – especially since the zombies attack mid-dream, and she gets captured. Aurora refuses to bargain with Cora and gets knocked out for her trouble. Our heroes only have until sundown to save her, but Emma won’t give up the compass. Since Snow has been under a sleeping curse before, she offers to go back to get the information they need. However, she requires a sleeping potion, and the poppies they need to make it are hard to find (of course). In the meantime, Hook rouses Aurora and frees her, since what hurts Cora helps him. In the netherworld, Snow is surprised to meet Charming. He tells her what she needs to know but her kiss won’t revive him. Snow wakes up in a panic about Charming, and Mulan is missing with the amulet too. Cora is not pleased to find Hook instead of Aurora, but he offers a gift. Emma and Snow catch up with Mulan, but Aurora appears before the encounter gets too violent. She sings Hook’s praises, explaining how he rescued her and only wants to help. We cut to Cora using Aurora’s heart, stolen by Hook, to spin these lies and get the pirate back into Emma’s good graces, and closer to the compass.

Once Upon a Time, Emma and Snow

In Storybrooke, Henry connects to Aurora through his dreams and brings Charming and Regina the unfortunate news that Cora plans to visit Storybrooke. The threat of Cora is enough to get Gold on their side. Henry is eager for his chance to be a hero and return to the netherworld. Gold informs him that a supply of the ink used in the magic quill that defeated him remains in his old cell, and should be enough to stop Cora. Unfortunately Henry is unable to get this across before Aurora disappears, and his encounter with the netherworld leaves him badly burned. Neither Regina nor Charming are willing to send him back to try again. With Aurora gone, Charming believes Snow will be there in the netherworld to meet him, and offers to undergo a sleeping curse to reach her. The only catch is he may never wake up (though he believes Snow’s kiss will revive him) and that as first-time curse sufferer, he will have to navigate the netherworld to find the burning room himself. As Regina prepares the curse, Henry remarks he is proud she’s using her magic for good, and they share a moment. Charming goes under, and finds the burning room, but breaks the amulet in the process. He tells Snow what she needs to know but her kiss won’t revive him. Henry frets over the still-sleeping Charming, but the outcome doesn’t look good.

Once Upon a Time, Snow and Charming

Next week, mid-season finale!

Thoughts/Theories
• Point of interest: Philip may not be dead (yay!). According to Cora, the wraith merely transported his soul to another realm.
• Just when we thought Hook was a rogue with a heart of gold, he turns out to be a rogue that steals hearts. I still love him though.
• I am really into Regina’s redemption arc. Her drive to prove herself to Henry just kills me. Love when they have those mother/son moments.

Nicole N. decided to justify the countless hours she spends watching television by writing about it here. She is currently indulging her addiction to medical dramas by rewatching all of Grey’s Anatomy. Follow her on twitter @nicolemnelson and check out her tumblr.

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Oct 14 2012
1 Comment
ABC, Once Upon a Time

once upon a time recapping: lady of the lake

Previously on Once Upon a Time: We Are Both.

This week on Once Upon a Time, Charming continues to look for a way to find Snow and Emma, while Henry starts an “operation” of his own. Meanwhile, Snow and Emma navigate through the dangers of the Enchanted Forest and some difficult emotions. In the pre-curse Enchanted Forest, Snow and Charming learn that the road to saving the kingdom requires some sacrifice.

In pre-curse Enchanted Forest, Snow and Charming have their hands full with fending off King George’s men. During an attack, they split up. Charming heads to his mother’s cabin, but Snow is captured by the disgraced Sir Lancelot (played by Sinqua Walls, who fans of teen shows will know from Teen Wolf, Secret Life of the American Teenager and Friday Night Lights) and brought to King George, who curses her with infertility. His men dump her in the woods. She comes across Lancelot, who left the King’s service after his treatment of Snow, and warns her that men are on the way to Charming and the cabin. They arrive too late – Charming defeats the soldiers but his mother Ruth (played by Gabrielle Rose) is mortally wounded. The only thing that could help her are the magical waters of Lake Nostros. On the journey to the lake, Ruth tries to give Snow an amulet that indicates the gender of her future child, but she admits to Ruth that she’s been cursed. The lake is dry save for one sip – and Snow insists Ruth drink it. Her health doesn’t improve so Snow and Charming grant her dying wish of a wedding, with Lancelot officiating. As they lay Ruth to rest, Snow attempts to break the news of her infertility  to Charming, but the amulet indicates she will have a child, and Snow realizes that Lancelot put the enchanted water in the wedding chalice.

Once Upon a Time, Jefferson and Henry

In Storybrooke, Henry wants his grandfather’s help on “Operation Scorpion,” but Charming insists that Jefferson was a dead end and would rather Henry stay far away from magic as possible. Henry seeks out Jefferson on his own, but he has nothing to offer and instead suggests there might be something in Regina’s vault. When Henry notices Jefferson holding a flyer drawn by his daughter, he insists that they should be reunited so she’s not left wondering. Afterwards, Henry tricks Regina into leaving her office so he can steal her skeleton keys and break into her vault. The magical objects down there prove to be dangerous, but Charming arrives just in time to prevent Henry from being hurt. Charming promises Henry that they’ll get Emma and Snow back together. Later, Jefferson tearfully reunites with Grace. Charming offers to train Henry with a wooden practice sword as D.A. Albert Spencer (aka King George) watches ominously from a parked car.

Once Upon a Time, Lancelot and Mulan

In the Enchanted Forest/Haven, the minute Snow regains consciousness and sees Cora she freaks the hell out. Emma lets slip that she and Regina “share” Henry before Emma and Snow are taken to meet the leader of the camp, Lancelot. Snow asks for permission to go in search of a possible portal, but refuses to elaborate. He sends them off with Mulan, but Aurora is not happy that Philip’s “killers” are walking free. When they stop to make camp Aurora unsuccessfully tries to kill Snow and Emma accidentally draws out an ogre, which Snow defeats. The four women soon arrive at the old palace in hopes of finding the wardrobe that sent Emma to Storybrooke. The wardrobe is intact but powerless, so they decide to take it back to Haven – and Lancelot suspiciously appears to help them to do just that. Turns out that Cora killed the real Lancelot and has been posing as him. They fight, but after Emma torches the wardrobe and Mulan joins the fight, Cora makes a hasty retreat. With Lancelot gone, Mulan dubs Snow the leader of Haven. Emma apologies for destroying the wardrobe to protect Henry, and finally realizes how much Snow gave up to send her away, tearfully admitting, “I’m not used to anyone putting me first.” They hug, and cry, and I cry too (3 for 3 so far this season, damn!). After they leave, Cora reappears to collect some ashes from the wardrobe, which appear to retain some power.

Next episode, Captian Hook appears!

Thoughts/Theories
• I wonder if Cora is the reason that Haven and the surrounding land were spared from the curse? Did her magic nullify Regina’s?
• Once again, I continue to be perplexed by the heart vault and its connection to magic. Did it go dormant when Regina lost her powers? Is back now that she has magic? I’m hoping more will come of it this season.

Nicole N. decided to justify the countless hours she spends watching television by writing about it here. She is currently indulging her addiction to medical dramas by rewatching all of Grey’s Anatomy. Follow her on twitter @nicolemnelson and check our her tumblr.

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Oct 07 2012
1 Comment
ABC, Once Upon a Time

once upon a time recapping: we are both

Previously on Once Upon a Time: Broken.

This week on Once Upon a Time, the citizens of Storybrooke are reeling from the wraith attack, regaining their memories, and new information about the curse, so it falls on Charming to lead them. Regina will do anything to get Henry back, even if it means becoming someone she hates. Meanwhile in the Enchanted Forest, Regina’s path to magic and the fate of her mother are revealed.

(Henceforth for clarity and my own sanity, all Storybrooke characters will be referred to by the names they are known by or identify with.)

Once Upon a Time

In Storybrooke, things are chaotic in the wake of the wraith’s destruction and everyone wants to get back to their families: Charming is desperate for a way to get to Emma and Snow, Regina plans to use magic to get Henry back, and Gepetto is searching for his son (August appears to be wooden but conscious back at the inn). The dwarves discover (at the expense of Sneezy) that crossing the city limits will cause them to lose their true memories. The town turns to Charming to come up with a plan, and he promises to regroup in two hours. He becomes distracted by the possibility of getting the Mad Hatter to reopen the portal, and goes to Mr. Gold for a way to find him. When Gold learns of the problems at the city limits he flies into a rage. Regina also goes to Gold to retrieve her mother’s book, and with it, her magic. While Charming confronts Jefferson (who claims to be unable to connect to the Enchanted Forest with a broken portal), Regina crashes the town meeting and takes Henry. Back at home, she promises to teach him magic, but he doesn’t want to be like her. Charming must let Jefferson escape to prevent the citizens of Storybrooke from leaving en masse and forgetting who they are. He argues that they are both people of Storybrooke and the Enchanted forest, and vows to protect them. Crisis averted, Charming goes to rescue Henry from Regina, but she lets him go with the hope of redeeming herself (and I’m reaching for the tissues again). Regina confirms to Charming that the Enchanted Forest still exists, but she can’t get there. Henry points Gepetto towards August, but he’s no longer at the inn.

Once Upon a Time, Cora

In the Enchanted Forest, we start back in the past. Regina wants to escape her impending marriage to Snow’s father, but her overbearing mother Cora has other plans. Regina cries to her father that her mother is torturing her (complete with visions of murdering the young snow), and he reveals that a long time ago “a man” gave her a book of spells that made her what she is. Regina sneaks her mother’s book and summons Rumpelstiltskin, who claims to have met her when she was very small. Regina doesn’t want to use magic to rid of her mother, so he offers her a portal that will do it for her and send her “someplace else.” All Regina has to do is push her through. It seems like she won’t go through with it, but as Regina prepares for her wedding she can’t take her mother’s controlling attitude any longer. She overcomes Cora’s power to push her through the mirror, which then shatters. Regina prepares to the leave the kingdom, but when Rumpelstiltskin offers to teach her in exchange for a favor, the seduction of magic is too strong.

In present day Enchanted Forest, Aurora and Mulan have taken Snow and Emma prisoner. They bring them back to a small encampment, but after a botched escape attempt Snow is injured and they are thrown in “the pit,” where Cora appears to offer them aid.

Thoughts/Theories
• Judging from what was hinted at this episode, I’m guessing Cora made some sort of deal with Rumpelstiltskin in order to get her book, and Regina was in some way offered up in exchange. Does Rumpelstiltskin have some sort of power over Regina we haven’t seen yet? Or was setting her on the path to being the “Evil Queen” his price?
• Where does Mr. Gold want to go so badly? Belle didn’t make an appearance this episode so my thought is he’s trying to reunite with the man who may or may not be Baelfire in New York. Did Mr. Gold send the postcard?

Nicole N. decided to justify the countless hours she spends watching television by writing about it here. She is currently indulging her addiction to medical dramas by rewatching all of Grey’s Anatomy. Follow her on twitter @nicolemnelson and check our her tumblr.

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May 14 2012
4 Comments
ABC, Recaps

once upon a time recapping: a land without magic

Previously on Once Upon a Time: An Apple as Red as Blood .

This week on Once Upon a Time, it’s the SEASON FINALE! In Storybrooke, Emma finally believes. She and Regina must put aside their differences to save Henry, and they turn to Mr. Gold for help. In the Enchanted Forest, Snow and Charming are reunited, taking us back to where the series began, leaving the door open for the story of how they took back the kingdom in season two.

Once Upon a Time, Rumpelstiltskin

In the Enchanted Forest, Charming makes a daring escape on the way to his execution, with the help of the Huntsman (!). The Evil Queen uses her magic mirror to drop Charming in the forest. He runs into Rumpelstiltskin, who after a brief battle offers to enchant Charming’s ring so that will lead him to Snow, if he stashes a true love potion (the one made from Charming and Snow’s hair) in a safe place. That safe place happens to be within Maleficent, or rather, Maleficent in her dragon form. He succeeds, and Rumpelstiltskin gives him the ring (and his fancy outfit) and sends him after Snow. Just as in the pilot, he revives her. Afterwards, he proposes to her, and they vow to take back their kingdom.

Once Upon a Time, Snow White and Prince Charming

In Storybrooke, Henry is taken to the hospital but Dr. Whale has no explanation for his symptoms, leading Emma to conclude it’s “like magic.” When Regina appears, Emma snaps and drags her to the supply closet, confronting her about the curse and poisoned turnover that is killing Henry. With no magic, Regina concludes that only Mr. Gold can help. Mr. Gold tells them that true love is the only thing that can transcend realms and break any curse. He bottled some (a drop of which he wove into the curse, thus creating Emma as the Savior), and offers Emma her father’s sword so she can retrieve it from “her.” Regina visits Henry at the hospital, where Jefferson tries to collect on their deal with no success; Emma goes to August for help, only to watch him completely turn into wood before her eyes. They go to the abandoned library (with the stopped clock tower), and Regina lowers Emma down into a cavern to face the dragon Maleficent. Emma eventually succeeds in retrieving the potion, but Mr. Gold betrays her and takes it for himself. Henry takes a turn for the worse, while Jefferson releases the Storybrooke Belle from her cell in the basement of the hospital and tells her to find Mr. Gold. By the time Regina and Emma make it back to the hospital, Henry is gone. Emma kisses him on the forehead, Henry wakes up, and the curse breaks. The Mother Superior warns “her majesty” she should find a place to hide, so Regina tells Henry she loves him, and flees. David and Ms. Blanchard find each other, kiss, and I cry. Belle finds Mr. Gold’s shop, and he is amazed to see her alive. He takes the true love, and Belle (who remembers him mid-journey) to the well that “returns that which one has lost.” He drops the true love inside, and a purple smoke emerges – bringing magic (and power, Mr. Gold gleefully notes) to Storybrooke. As the smoke engulfs the town, the clock tower ticks forward once again, and Regina grins from her window.

Once Upon a Time, Emma and Henry

That’s it until next season!

Thoughts/Theories
o So, the curse is broken, but everyone remains trapped in the real world. Why? I have to wonder: Did Rumpelstiltskin want to break the curse, or just use Emma to obtain the means to bring magic to the real world? And how does this help him find his son?
o What happened to August? How did the combination of the lifting the curse and the unleashing of magic affect his wooden body?
o Side point: Who is Dr. Whale supposed to be? Seeing him after the curse was lifted reawakened my curiosity about him. He’s the only recurring character we have no fairy tale equivalent for.

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

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