What is the history between Snow, Charming, and the Queens of Darkness? We find out in tonight’s Once Upon a Time “Unforgiven,” airing at 8:00pm ET|PT on ABC. Watch a sneak peek of the episode now!
Last week’s mid-season premiere of Once Upon a Time left me with several questions as the Queens of Darkness (Rumple included) descended upon Storybrooke.
“Darkness on the Edge of Town” began with a flashback to a forbidden fortress many years ago. Rumple (Robert Carlyle) had lured Ursula (Merrin Dungey) and Cruella (Victoria Smurfit) to Maleficent’s (Kristin Bauer van Straten) home to ask for their help. In exchange for assistance for help to acquire a dark curse, the Dark One would help the Queens of Darkness secure their happy endings. Rumple took the group to Bald Mountain, and the Queens were able to overcome the three obstacles to the spell’s location. After getting his hands on the orb holding the curse, Rumple absconded, leaving Ursula, Cruella, and Maleficent to deal with an ancient demon that devours the hearts of the most evil beings. However, with a little teamwork, the Queens were able to survive.
In present-day New York City, Rumple was living with Ursula and very resentful of having to live off ramen noodles in a cramped apartment. But he had a bigger plan to fix all their problems, starting with a trip to Long Island to collect Cruella (whose assets had been seized by the FBI, YIKES). After a brief stop at Mr. Cluck’s drive-thru, the three were off to Storybrooke in order to find the Author. As they arrived at the town border, Cruella and Ursula were mistrustful. Cruella even pulled a gun on Rumple! But he earnestly told the Queens the truth of the situation and asked for their trust.
Meanwhile in Storybrooke, six weeks had passed and life returned to normal—Henry (Jared Gilmore) went back to school, Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin) was teaching again, and Emma (Jennifer Morrison) was back to sheriff-ing. Operation Mongoose to find the Author was still in effect, and Regina (Lana Parrilla; now the Mayor) was meeting dead end after dead end. Killian (Colin O’Donoghue) and Belle (Emilie de Ravin) were trying to find a way to get the fairies out of the hat. After being contacted by a professor from Oxford, they translated a spell that would help release the fairies. Regina conjured it and the fairies were freed (YES!), but they weren’t the only things that emerged from the hat…
While at a celebration dinner, Regina, Emma, and Henry found out from the Blue Fairy (Keegan Connor Tracy) that the Sorcerer and Author were two different people (new information to us) and that it was possible to find him. In the midst of the discussion, that darkness from the sorceror’s hat made itself known—it was the evil-devouring demon and it was on the look out to eat some hearts. The SwanQueen team was able to hold off the demon for a little bit, but needed a more permanent solution.
Wasn’t it serendipitous that at that moment, Regina heard from Cruella and Ursula?! 😉 The two claimed they had reformed and used information on the demon-bat to bargain their way into town. Everyone assumed the demon was coming for Regina and with help from Emma (and her crazy driving skills), they were able to trick the hell-bat into crossing the town line into the world without magic. Cruella and Ursula, having earned their keep, were allowed into Storybrooke. Surprisingly, Snow and Charming (Josh Dallas) were very hesitant about letting the Queens into town…in a somewhat sinister night-time meeting, Snow threatened to rip out their hearts if Ursula or Cruella ever told anyone what ever happened between them in the Enchanted Forrest. OH MY.
The Queens also returned to allow Rumple into town…bold as brass, the Dark One strutted down the streets. Rumple revealed that he was really the Oxford professor who provided the translation to set everything in motion. But even more shocking, he told Ursula and Cruella that the heart with the darkest potential was EMMA’s! *gasp*
In tonight’s episode “Unforgiven,” written by Andrew Chambliss and Kalinda Vazquez, directed by Adam Horowitz, and guest-starring Tony Amendola as Marco/Geppetto, Jakob Davies as Pinocchio, Merrin Dungey as Ursula, Victoria Smurfit as Cruella De Vil, and Kristin Bauer van Straten as Maleficent:
THE CHARMINGS ARE PAWNS IN THE QUEENS’ PLANS—David and Mary Margaret suspect Cruella and Ursula have come to Storybrooke looking for something more than their own happy endings – something that threatens to reveal a secret they thought was long buried. Emma begins her own investigation of Cruella and Ursula, but she can’t shake the feeling that her friends and family are keeping something from her. Regina and Henry continue their search for the Author, turning to Pinocchio and Marco in the hope Pinocchio might remember a clue that will help them. Meanwhile, in a flashback to Fairy Tale Land, Snow and Charming cross paths with the Queens of Darkness as the threat of the Evil Queen’s Dark Curse hangs over all of them. (via ABC)
Watch these two clips from the upcoming show. In the first video, Emma is working at the station, investigating Ursula and Cruella, so Killian brings her dinner (*FEELINGS*). Interestingly, Killian has met Ursula in the past but seems to be keeping a secret about it. In the second clip, Maleficent is back, completing the Queens of Darkness trifecta. They’ve come to see Snow, but it really doesn’t seem like a friendly visit:
How do Snow and Charming know the Queens of Darkness and what in the world happened between them in the Enchanted Forrest??? I’m so curious!
Take a look at these images from “Unforgiven” which show Henry, Emma, and Regina working on Operation Mongoose and getting help from Geppetto and Pinocchio. Tune into ABC at 8:00pm ET|PT for the new Once Upon a Time and come live tweet with me while we watch!
