Once Upon a Time’s second half of season six started off on the right foot. Battles, romance and help from some past characters made the episode successful and memorable. Here are the main takeaways from Sunday’s episode.
Gideon reveals why he wants to kill Emma
In the season six midseason finale, it was revealed that Belle (Emilie De Ravin) and Rumplestiltskin’s (Robert Carlyle) son, Gideon (Giles Matthey), is the one fated to kill Emma (Jennifer Morrison). Belle gave birth to Gideon the episode before, so how did he grow up so fast? Well, he said he was raised by the Black Fairy — Rumplestiltskin’s mother, who is notorious for stealing babies — for 28 years in a realm where time moves differently. Gideon said the fairy was not able to turn Gideon completely evil, but I refuse to believe he is not evil. “Once (Emma is) dead, I will gain her power — I will become the Savior,” Gideon says. “When I kill Emma Swan, I will finally become a hero.”
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Emma gets help from Pinocchio
Also in the midseason finale, Emma and Regina (Lana Parrilla) were trapped in an alternate universe where everyone lives out a different life from the one in Storybrooke. Because every character in Storybrooke is also in the universe, Emma seeks help from her friend Pinocchio (Eion Bailey). Before the first curse, Emma was transported with Pinocchio to the real world through a magic wardrobe carved into a tree. Emma believes Pinocchio can recreate the same wardrobe. Even though they experienced a few speed bumps along the way, Pinocchio is able to create a portal back to Storybrooke.
Robin Hood and Regina are reunited
While Emma and Pinocchio work on the wardrobe, Regina goes off to talk to the alternate-universe Robin Hood (Sean Maguire). Regina wants to know if he is happy where he is. Robin does not remember being in a relationship with Regina. After getting captured by two different people — and escaping both times — Robin tells her he is not happy, so Regina tells him about Storybrooke. “It sounds like it was a good life, even if it was too short,” Robin says when Regina tells him he is dead in the real world. Bring on the waterworks.
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They return to Storybrooke
As soon as the wardrobe is finished, Regina shows up with Robin. They prepare to part ways, but Emma encourages her to bring Robin along, even if it doesn’t work. “We make our own fate. I did it, and now it’s your turn,” Emma says. The three go through the portal and two of them make it out immediately. It seems like Robin won’t be returning, so Regina asks for a moment alone. All of a sudden, a loud crash and blast of light come from the tree behind her. Robin is back. Shippers rejoice because there is hope for Robin and Regina.
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Gideon and Emma duke it out
Toward the end of the episode, Emma walks through Storybrooke and has one of her visions of fighting Gideon and he pops up behind her. The two of them starting fighting. It seems like a pretty even match until Gideon manages to knock the sword out of Emma’s hand. All hope appears to be lost until Emma is able to muster up some of her magic. “I am fated to die, and I will die, but not today,” she says. She sends him flying through the air, breaking the sword. By this point, a crowd of people have gathered to watch. Emma takes a piece of the knife and holds it to Gideon’s throat, but Rumplestiltskin tells her not to kill him. In that split second, Gideon disappears and the likely villain is at-large again.
