Some questions are answered in the new episode of ‘Once Upon A Time.’
After a disappointing episode two weeks ago, Once Upon A Time gets back on track.
The second half of the double episode “The Bear King,” was completely irrelevant because “Broken Heart” picks up right where episode eight left off.
In present day Storybrooke, Hook (Colin O'Donoghue) has just been told that Emma (Jennifer Morrison) made him the Dark One back in the six weeks no one can remember. Zelena (Rebecca Mader) and Hook are working together to keep Emma at bay. Zelena puts the bracelet that was once on her wrist on Emma’s. It prevents her from doing magic. Hook also takes Emma’s memories so that she doesn’t know his evil plan. This is crazy! Hook went weeks not knowing he was the Dark One! How did this change in a matter of minutes?
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In the enchanted forest, Hook emerges from the Dark One’s portal. The ghost of Rumpelstiltskin (Robert Carlyle), the same one that Emma has seen throughout the season, appears and says he’ll help him get the one thing he truly desires — revenge. Hook wants to kill Rumple. Confusing, I know. A long time ago, Rumple’s wife left him for Hook. Hook and his wife were in love, but once Rumple became the Dark One, he sought revenge. Rumple went to Hook’s ship to find his wife and kill Hook. When Rumple’s wife sided with Hook, he was unable to control the darkness within and killed his wife and Hook’s love.
Regina (Lana Parrilla), Mary Margaret (Ginnifer Goodwin) show up to Emma’s house. They want to help her, but the only way they can do that is by restoring their memories. David (Josh Dallas) arrives and says the dreamcatchers have been stolen. Of course they are! The only things that can help them have disappeared!
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Hook shows up at Rumpelstiltskin’s shop aiming to kill Rumple. Hook proposes they duel on Hook’s ship, where it all began.
Emma, Mary Margaret, Belle (Emilie de Ravin), David and Regina are looking for a way to save Rumple. They need to find Nimue (Caroline Ford), as Merlin suggested. Emma wants them to remove the bracelet so she can protect Rumple. Henry (Jared Gilmore) comes in and refuses to remove it. This is absolutely heartbreaking. Emma and Henry used to have such a strong relationship. Hopefully they’ll be able to move past this once they find a way to stop Hook.
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While Hook is walking through the Enchanted Forest, days before the memory loss, he is talking to the spirit of Rumpelstiltskin. Emma shows up. He is very angry with her. He says, “You threw me right back into the darkness.” Hook has struggled with being evil after he lost his greatest love. Emma is able to calm him down by talking about a future together. The ghost of Rumpelstiltskin disappears! There is still hope!
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Emma is left at Regina’s house while the others try to find out what Hook’s plans are. Hook arrives. Emma believes he still loves her. Emma obviously still has some light in her, but Dark Hook is vicious. He verbally attacks Emma by shouting rude comments at her. It is weird seeing Hook like this. For so long he has fought the evil inside of him only to return to the darkness. Emma was being selfish when she saved Hook and turned him into a Dark One. She should have known Hook would have rather died than become dark.
In the Enchanted Forest, Hook and Emma are working together to find a way back to the others. Hook hears the whispers the dagger emits when it’s close. Emma has the dagger! She says she hasn’t used it on Hook, but she doesn’t trust Hook to resist the darkness. In a fit of rage, Hook evaporates. Later on, Hook forgives Emma, and she believes that he is still good.
Emma goes to Rumpelstiltskin's shop and asks him to use the leftover squid ink to immobilize Hook long enough for Emma to steal back the dreamcatchers. Rumple says he won’t do it because he wants to fight Hook fair and square. Rumple is set on beating Hook. He is blinded by the need to be the hero.
Emma goes to the library where Mary Margaret, David, Belle and Henry are looking for a solution. Emma grabs the attention of Henry, and he agrees to help her get the dreamcatchers back! Henry and Emma are back together again!
The time has come for the duel. Hook restores Rumple’s leg to full mobility so he is a fair fight. How noble.
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Shortly into the duel, Rumple is cornered. He acts quickly and releases a rope on the boat that holds a heavy object. It strikes Hook on the head and knocks him over. Instead of killing him, Rumple lets him live, and Hook disappears. Why did he let him go?! That was so stupid! He should have at least tied him up or taken the excalibur so that Hook could be controlled! Come on!
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Back in the Enchanted Forest, Hook and Emma find their way back to the group. Hook walks in on Merlin (Elliot Knight) leaving his message. This is the same message that Regina, David, Mary Margaret, Henry and Robin (Sean Maguire) saw in Storybrooke when they used the Crimson Crown to talk to Merlin. Hook walks up to Merlin and rips his heart out. He wants to go back to Storybrooke in order to get his revenge. Emma comes in, and she realizes that Hook has played her. Hook sends the sword back into the stone and crushes Merlin’s heart into a potion. So it was Hook who cast the spell to get back to Storybrooke!
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During the duel, Henry and Emma sneak down into the ship to retrieve the dreamcatchers. Emma can only get them using magic, so Henry removes the cuff. It’s pretty amazing that despite the last few weeks, Henry can put it all behind them and trust his mother.
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In the Enchanted Forest, Emma takes Hook’s memories so he forgets why he cast the spell. Emma says, “When you wake up, you will be the man I love.” Emma takes everyone else’s memories so that no one remembers she turned Hook into the Dark One. She drops a dreamcatcher into the potion, and the dark magic sweeps over all of the magical realm and transports them back to Storybrooke.
Back in present day Storybrooke, Emma restores the memories, including her own. She remembers what Hook’s plans are.
The camera shifts to the lake in Storybrooke. Standing beside the lake are the spirit of Rumplestiltskin and Hook. They open a portal to the Underworld. A boat floats toward them and a hooded figure emerges. It’s Nimue, and she has brought all of the other Dark Ones with her. “We will do what Dark Ones do best — snuff out the light.” Did not see that coming.
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This was the best episode of the season, thus far. Emma isn’t really dark. She has a lot of light in her and wants to be a good character again. Hook, on the other hand, is completely evil. Being the Dark One was the biggest plot twist of all time. It adds yet another layer to this already complex show. It’s not too much though. It provides enough of a twist to keep the audience intrigued. Now we know that Hook plans on eliminating all of the light magic. At this point, Hook seems like a lost cause. Maybe next week’s midseason finale will provide some answers, but don’t get your hopes up.
Once Upon A Time airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on ABC.
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