TV RECAP: Once’s “Fall” Sets the Stage for the New Curse

By Meredith Loftus

After a two-week hiatus, Once Upon a Time returned to prepare the characters (and the audience) for the curse of Shattered Sight.

The curse formed a perfect backdrop for events, as we watched the ‘Arendelle of the past’ story thread move into the present day, Gold’s plan take a selfish new turn, and witnessed firsthand the heartfelt goodbyes of our Storybrooke residents.

The Preparations Begin

Emma and the rest of the Storybrooke group see the Shattered Sight curse coming and start to make preparations. When an attempt to break through the ice wall surrounding Storybrooke fails, Snow and the others prepare for the curse by separating from loved ones. Henry leaves with Regina to go warn Robin Hood and the Merry Men about the impending curse, while Emma and Elsa try to find a cure. Belle reveals to Emma and Elsa that she and the fairies have found a counter-curse that can act as a vaccine to protect the Storybrooke residents from undergoing the effects of Shattered Sight. The only thing is they need some of Anna’s hair to make it because Anna has already been cursed with Shattered Sight in the past and cannot be affected by it again. With Anna’s snowflake necklace and a locator spell, Emma and Elsa are on the trail to finally find the lost Anna. Rumple makes his own preparations by using Hook to retrieve more magic for the Sorcerer’s hat. His target? The fairies that are working with Belle to create the counter-curse for the town. Rumple makes it very clear that he will always choose to save himself over saving the town, but he does plan to take Belle and Henry with him. Still, I’m not convinced his hero wife would accept such selfishness in order to save themselves.

Back in Arendelle, Anna and Kristoff finally thaw from Ingrid’s frozen curse on Arendelle. Remembering what happened to Elsa, Anna is determined to find Rumple and demand he give the urn back to her. The only problem is that Hans still has his sights set on the Arendelle throne and promptly arrests Anna and Kristoff for treason. However, they manage to escape both Hans and his brothers. Wanting to avoid another encounter with Rumple, Anna plans to make a trade with the pirate, Blackbeard, to get a wishing star statue that he is rumored to possess. All she would have to do is use it to make a wish and her sister would come back to her.

(ABC/Jack Rowand)
LANA PARRILLA, SEAN MAGUIRE

Deals and Decisions

Hook and Rumple move in on Granny’s diner. Rumple plans to get Belle out of there so Hook can trap all the fairies in the Sorcerer’s hat. Belle, however, has no intention of leaving until they are able to create the counter-curse. Meanwhile, after hitting a wall, literally, in the mines, Emma and the other leaders of Storybrooke have to make an executive decision on whether or not they should proceed in their mission to find Anna. They originally choose to save the town by asking Elsa to surrender the snowflake necklace that can be used to create the counter-curse. Elsa appears to agree, but actually takes the necklace to go search for Anna herself. Emma goes after her and the two find themselves on the beach where the trail appears to end.

In Arendelle, Anna and Kristoff find Blackbeard and strike a deal to trade gold for the wishing star statue. He initially agrees, but it turns out to be a trap as Hans and his brothers board the ship and capture Anna and Kristoff once again. Blackbeard sails to the exact spot where Anna’s parents died. He also reveals that her parents had purchased the wishing star from him many years ago. Hans traps Anna and Kristoff in one of Blackbeard’s treasure chests and drops them in the water. Before they go down, they are informed that Arendelle was frozen for 30 years, which means these events are coinciding with the present Storybrooke events. This also means that Blackbeard did not die after Hook made him walk the plank during the missing year in Season 3. Since Blackbeard is sailing the Jolly Roger, we can safely assume that Hook traded the Jolly Roger to Blackbeard for a magic bean to get to Emma in NYC.

Reunions and Regrets

While Anna and Kristoff are sinking into the sea, Elsa and Emma run into another dead end when the snowflake necklace stops glowing, meaning the trail has become cold. Elsa, upset, holds the snowflake necklace close because it is the last thing she has of Anna’s. She simply wishes that Anna could be there with her, and out of the water, the treasure chest holding Anna and Kristoff prisoner washes up on shore. Anna and Kristoff arise from the chest and the sisters, for the first time in forever, are finally reunited. And yes, it was definitely the high point of the episode.

With Emma and the Frozen gang are on the way to Granny’s, it appears that all hope is lost. Rumple takes Belle away from the diner, in order to prepare for the curse to finally hit. Once Belle is safely away, Hook reluctantly begins to suck all the fairies into the Sorcerer’s hat. Hook keeps a tortured look on his face the entire time, and we can’t help but feel sorry for the man. To make matters worse, he is still hiding in the diner when Emma arrives to see what remains. Emma then leaves for the sheriff’s station to finish preparing for the inevitable curse.

(ABC/Jack Rowand)
JENNIFER MORRISON, GEORGINA HAIG

Saying Goodbye

While we are treated to the reunion of David, Kristoff, and Anna, we also see various characters begin to separate themselves from loved ones and say goodbye for the time being. Snow and Charming agree to be locked up in the sheriff’s station until the curse is over, leaving Emma in charge of Neal. Kristoff handcuffs himself to a desk in the sheriff’s station. Rumple places Belle inside his pawn shop that is surrounded by a protection spell. Henry is placed inside the mayor’s office by Regina, and she places a protection spell around the office as well. She then warns Robin to stay away from her in order to protect himself from her. She is fully aware of what she is capable of and does not want him anywhere near her. Regina then flees to her vault where she seals herself inside. Hook goes to the sheriff’s station to see Emma one more time, fearing that this will be his last time seeing her. Emma cries as she kisses him farewell, unaware of his current relationship with the Dark One. Ingrid, on the edge of town, watches the curse descend upon Storybrooke. The episode ends with Shattered Sight beginning to take effect as Snow and Charming, who originally were holding hands, let go of each other with hardened expressions. Shattered Sight is officially here and I can’t wait to see the damage it will cause next week.

Worth Mentioning

• After Hook collected the fairies, he asked Rumple if he was going to kill him yet. Rumple responds that he still needs one more ingredient before he is able to free himself from the dagger. Hook only has a limited number of days left.
• Although I’m happy that the snowflake necklace was actually the wishing star statue, I want to know how Elsa came to possess it if her parents were the ones who had it originally. Also, after Anna and Kristoff land on shore, the bottle with the message from Anna’s parents from the season premiere appears to float on shore as well. I’m willing to bet that whatever is in the bottle is the key to defeating Ingrid once and for all.
• Blackbeard told Anna and Kristoff that he was saved by a mermaid when he walked the plank many years ago. Is it safe to assume that the mermaid that saved him was Ariel, considering she was with Hook when he took back the Jolly Roger? I want to see Ariel again!
• I have accepted the fact that we will not find get an update on Will Scarlett’s story until the next part of the season. However, I still think we need more answers about the Sorcerer before this part of the season is wrapped up.