ONCE UPON A TIME Review: The Show Gives “Last Rites” to 3 Big Characters

The Comeback Captain

Much in the way Robin sacrificed himself for love in this episode, Killian Jones sacrificed his happy ending with Emma and said goodbye to her in “Firebird.” His final promise to her was to move on to a better place. However, he could not do that knowing that Hades was in Storybrooke threatening her and her family. When Arthur entered the Underworld with news from Storybrooke, Killian’s hope stirred with the possibility of helping defeat Hades once and for all. He recruits Arthur on a quest to find the missing pages from the storybook that includes a way stop Hades. Once they find the pages, they make the treacherous journey down the River of Souls to find the storybook and place the pages in for Emma and the others to find.

When retrieving the storybook, a soul from the River of Souls attacks Arthur and tries to drag him in the river. Arthur insists that Killian leave him behind to get the book. For Killian, it would have been really easy to just let Arthur fall in. Arthur mortally wounded Killian in Camelot, causing his death, resurrection as a Dark One, and death again. He would not be in the Underworld if it wasn’t for Arthur. But, his promise to Emma was to move on, free of guilt and unfinished business. Killian did not sit idly by and let Arthur fall in, but rather intervened and saved him. Arthur in turn destroyed a soul that was trying to steal the storybook and helped the heroes defeat Hades. Captain Hook and King Arthur have reconciled.

Killian places the missing pages in the storybook and leaves it up to his brave Swan to find the pages and stop Hades. He doesn’t need a visual form of affirmation; he just feels it, believing in his love for Emma. He has yet to see her fail. He is finally able to move on to a better place and enters Olympus where Zeus is waiting for him. His heroism and part to play in Hades’ demise is recognized by the King of the Olympians himself. Zeus guides him, saying that he will escort him to where he truly belongs. Killian is hesitant at first, but he honors his promise Emma, unaware that he was being lead straight to her.

While Killian was moving on and being brought back to Storybrooke, Emma is saying her goodbyes to Killian at his grave. Throughout the episode, she would not allow herself to grieve because she instinctually knew that Killian has not moved on and would not move on until Hades was defeated. With his help, Emma finds the pages, after giving herself a moment to look at the page with her and Killian dancing at King Midas’ ball, and helps take down Hades. Now that she has the chance to grieve, she breaks down at Killian’s grave, missing him and feeling the weight of his absence in her life. This makes their reunion all the more heartfelt as a flash of magic hits the graveyard, after everyone has left Robin’s grave, and there her pirate is. The weight of heartache is lifted and she runs into his arms, kissing him passionately in an effort to allow herself to feel and believe that he is actually here with her. Killian tries to explain how Zeus’ reward must have brought him back there to her, but she does not care about the explanation. What matters in that moment is that her true love is back and alive in her arms and she has no intention of letting him go ever again. Her journey to the Underworld was a success after all.

Worth Mentioning:

• One of the reasons this episode resonates with me is the way they handled Arthur’s wrap up. A king misguided by a prophesy, Arthur came to his bitter end after a run in with Hades on the toll bridge. Once he accepted his death, he joined Killian’s quest to defeat Hades, redeeming himself through acts of heroism along the way. When given the choice to move on to a better place, Arthur decides that his broken kingdom to restore was the Underworld all along. A beautiful tie-in to the first part of the season, as well as a great redemptive story for the legendary king of Camelot. Plus, I didn’t know how much I needed Arthur and Killian working together, but it was fantastic!
• Baby Hood has officially been named Robyn, after her late father, continuing the tradition of naming newborns after fallen heroes. I have no doubt that this little girl will grow up to be badass hero like the man she was named after.
• One of the promises of this arc was a showdown between Hades, God of the Underworld, and Rumple, the darkest of Dark Ones. In the Underworld, Hades had the upper hand with the contract over Rumple. Once Hades ripped up the contract and entered Storybrooke, Rumple managed to outlast the immortal. The phone call between the two baddies was a highlight, as the Dark One demonstrated his power in Storybrooke by knowing about the Olympian crystal. It would have been great to have had more between the two, but the menacing god of the Underworld had to go.
• Speaking of Rumple, he tried to get Maurice, Belle’s father, to wake his daughter up from the sleeping curse with True Love’s kiss. However, Maurice refused. I’m sorry, but a father not wanting to save his daughter from a curse? Not cool bro!
• Zelena had to choose between her sister and her love for Hades. Throughout the episodes, the true intentions of Hades began to rise to the surface, but she wanted to believe that her love changed him for the better. When she finally confronted him about the truth of the crystal and seeing Robin dead on the ground, she realized the truth. She tearfully ended Hades’ existence. It may have been the hardest thing Zelena had to do, but it reinforces that Zelena is worthy of a second chance.
• In a blink of an eye, we are approaching the season finale of Once Upon A Time. So much has happened, and yet a new story will begin next week. What do you think Rumple wants to use the Olympian crystal for? Why does Henry decide to go rogue? Will Merida stick around in Storybrooke? Where will Zelena live in Storybrooke? These questions may get answered next week during the two-hour season finale.