‘Once Upon A Time’ Season 7, Episode 17 ‘Chosen’ Recap: Bad Witches Can Become Good [SPOILERS]

With all the stories and characters “Once Upon A Time” has mashed up, it’s quite the puzzle to keep track of everybody. A few episodes ago, we just found out that Lady Tremaine was actually Rapunzel. Now we’re clear with another character. Nick (Nathan Parsons) is Jack. And Jack is Hansel, brother to the late Gretel. Henry (Andrew J. West) has laid out all the breadcrumbs to that one in the last episode. However, Hansel has Henry now. There’s no one else to stop him from striking his next victim who happens to be the newest witch in town: Kelly AKA Zelena (Rebecca Mader).

In tonight’s episode “Chosen,” gingerbread boy Hansel zeroes in on his prime target. Zelena’s history takes the spotlight. And now, we’re going to know what happened to Hansel after the gingerbread house.

The Wicked Witch Of Oz Meets Hansel And Gretel

“Chosen” kicks off with a plate of gingerbread cookies being fed to the twins Hansel and Gretel. Zelena arrives to banish Hilda the witch (Chilton Crane). The siblings beg for Zelena to free them but, she cruelly refuses. Hilda kicks her out of the gingerbread house, and Zelena ends up fainting in the woods.

Back to the present in Hyperion Heights, Kelly longingly listens to the voicemails left by her fiance, Chad. Roni soon arrives, and Kelly reveals the lovely candy box she received from the witch killer. She then goes on a tirade about Kelly’s very organic but happy life. Kelly admits that unlike for the other characters, the curse was more of a vacation to her.

Speaking of other characters, Jacinda almost burns breakfast pancakes over Henry’s lack of reply to her messages. She’s distraught. After all, Jacinda confessed to him and didn’t get a reply back. But, her mood brightens considerably when she hears that distinct ping. Henry texted, promising to catch up later. On the other end of that text, Hansel prepares to take out a witch in front of a tied up Henry.

An Evil Witch Receives Kindness

In the precinct, an officer alerts Rogers (Colin O’Donoghue) about Henry’s car found by the side of the road with a flat tire. Kelly arrives with her box of chocolates. Rogers offers to help. But, Kelly goes to Weaver/Rumple (Robert Carlyle) who tells her about Hansel. Kelly plays the Belle card to get Weaver’s help.

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Meanwhile, Hansel takes Henry down a one-sided trip to memory lane. He tells Henry about giving Henry his first drink at 19. He also credits Henry for giving him a second chance in life when Henry gave him the title Jack the Giant Slayer. Henry asks what changed. Hansel points to the arrival of Henry’s family, namely his mother and his aunt. “All witches are bad.” he insists. He also tells Henry that it was Zelena who burned him. Unfortunately, Henry thinks that Hansel is a loony who’s not getting what he wants. So, he offers to change the story of Hansel and Gretel in his book to Hansel’s wishes. But, Hansel knows Henry’s tactics. He instead asks Henry to remember that he’s not a villain and that he just wants to rid the world of evil.

The Present Starts To Make Amends With The Past

Elsewhere in Hyperion Heights, Drew/Prince Naveen (Jeff Pierre) is helping out at Sabine’s (Mekia Cox) beignet food truck. Facilier (Daniel Francis) greets Drew pretending to be a customer and reminds him of his mysterious task. Drew tries to protect Sabine but, Facilier is insistent on collecting his debt. (Man, Facilier is the creepiest and worst debt collector ever. Why Roni, why him?)

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In the precinct, Weaver takes Kelly to the evidence room which he seemed to have made a storage room for artifacts from the other realms. He hands over her emerald green necklace. And to Kelly’s regrets, he tells her to make amends. Weaver tells Kelly that they shouldn’t get rid of the remaining nasty little piece of themselves. Because it’s that piece that shows them how far they’ve come and how much they have to lose. (Weaver’s killing the advice game folks.)

Back in fairytale land, Ivo and Zelena spend some quality time together by the hearth. Ivo tells Zelena how he pictures her: a woman with a passionate smile, feisty eyes, and a fierce beautiful heart. She admits that no one’s ever said those about her before which leads him to a blind man joke. But, Ivo tells her that his blindness was a blessing in disguise. Because of it, he saw his children in a different light, a more precious light. This urges Zelena to leave. But, she promises to come back.

Meanwhile back in the present, Rogers asks Jacinda about Henry. Jacinda tells him about the text message, and Rogers asks her to recheck it. Jacinda finds that Henry called her “J” which was odd because the only people who call her that are Sabine and Nick. Rogers realizes it too and asks if Nick has any scars. Jacinda confirms that he has burn marks. It was enough to send Rogers running.

Henry Comes Face To Face With The Truth

Hansel comes back home and shows Henry the lab results from Lucy’s coma days. Science has said it–Henry is Lucy’s father. This apparently snaps Henry’s patience. He is done trying to play along with Hansel. But, it does nothing as Hansel knocks him out again. Later on, Rogers breaks into the apartment and sets Henry free.

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Back in Hyperion Heights, Kelly receives a call from Chad only to find out that Hansel currently has a knife to his throat. Bowing to Hansel’s wishes, Kelly sends Roni out in the pretense of meeting Chad in the airport and taking him somewhere safe.

Zelena is just as upset as Kelly back in fairytale land. She comes back to Ivo with bad news. But, it turns out, the twins had beat her to it. Ivo calls her out, and she tries to prove her good intentions by offering him the eyesight from the witch. But, Ivo rejects it. In a rage, he calls her a monster and banishes her out of his house. Hurt, Zelena grows angry and throws the bottle into the fire. Hansel, harboring his rage, goes after her brandishing a knife. The old evil witch comes back out and burns his arms in return.

Zelena and Kelly Finally Come Together

Hansel successfully lures Kelly down into the bar’s basement. Once again, Hansel brandishes a knife against Zelena/Kelly. And once again, he loses the fight. (Have you ever seen defense maneuvers against muggers or any attackers? Well, Zelena has them all, and she sure showed us how to use them right in this brawl. You show him, girl!) Hansel ends up tied up in the basement.

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In another part of town, Henry rushes straight to Jacinda. They (freaking) almost share the kiss but Lucy bounds into the picture and latches onto Henry. Henry indirectly tells them he’s staying and the family shares a big old hug.

Facilier Brings the Witch Game to “Once Upon A Time”

Facilier once again visits Sabine’s food truck to find Drew. The nonmagical version of Prince Naveen gives Facilier a bag of beignets. Instead of eating them and appreciating the beignet goodness like a rational human being, Facilier sprinkles the powdered sugar onto a voodoo doll. (Facilier is officially the definition of infuriating and creepy) Drew tries to end the deal but, Facilier shuts it down with a big fat no.

Back in the bar, Roni and Kelly have a sister heart to heart moment. Kelly wants to stay and help but, Roni encourages her to go back to Chad. In Roni’s words to Kelly, “You get on that bike and fly.” Margot arrives just in time to see the goodbye hug.

Kelly tries to tell Margot the truth next but, Margot already knows on a Chad level kind of know. And, she’s chill with it. Kelly invites her to go back to San Francisco with them but, Margot says she likes Hyperion Heights now. She’s found a certain oddball that she wants to stay close to. So, Kelly gives Margot her necklace and tells her to wear it at the wedding as her maid of honor. Then, the mother and daughter envelop each other in another tear-filled goodbye hug.

As to what happens to Hansel, he is visited by none other than Facilier. The old croon reveals that he’s the one who woke up Hansel. He was hoping that Hansel’s witch agenda could take care of the one witch in competition with Facilier for the Dark One’s Power, Gothel. Hansel offers to work for Facilier in exchange for his freedom. But, Facilier brings out the voodoo doll. With a prick of a needle, Hansel loses his life.

“Once Upon A Time” continues next Friday, April 20th, with “The Guardian” at 8/7c on ABC.