While Regina tries to help Alternate Robin settle down in Storybrooke, David and Killian embark on a new quest. Get a sneak peek of tonight’s new Once Upon a Time!

Oncers, how fantastic is it to be back in Storybrooke?! Last week’s midseason premiere was so good! We got some interesting answers to long-standing questions, at the same time, a lot if still up in the air. Alas, that’s how the Once Upon a Time cookie crumbles!
“Tougher than the Rest” began with a flashback to Baby Emma in Minneapolis after she’d run away from another foster home. She was in the process of burning up a book of fairy tales when she was interrupted by an older boy (who we later learned was August/Pinocchio!). While recounting the story of how the ugly duckling became a swan, the boy encouraged Emma to see her full potential and reach out for help. This is also when Emma adopts “Swan” as her last name (SO PERFECT!!!).
Back in Wish World, Robin of Locksley was every bit the rogue, as he pilfered Emma and Regina’s valuables. Still, Regina couldn’t believe her eyes… or that this Robin had no idea where they were. However, with Henry and his soldiers on the look-out to capture Regina/Evil Queen (for Alternate Charming and Snow’s murders), time was running out to escape back to Storybrooke? With the magic bean portal gone, who could help? Well, Emma turned to Wish World August, who was now a master carver. With his help, they would be able to build a magic wardrobe in an enchanted tree (similar to the one that transported Baby Emma and Young August from Fairy Tale Land when EQ cast the original spell). As Emma and August worked, Regina went to find Robin. It turned out that he wasn’t better off without her. Robin was a simple thief, who was unfulfilled without Marian (who he never married), Roland, or Regina. However, one of these this could change…
I don’t know about you, but all during the hiatus, I BEGGED for a Wish World CaptainSwan interlude. We got it and it was hilariously perfect! Alternate Killian was not a very adept pirate or swordsman. He was tubby and a covetous drunk, but Alternate Killian did seem interested in saving Emma from a perceived danger in August. And that was kinda swoony. Thank goodness Emma was able to intercede and send him back to the Jolly Roger!
Though there was a bit of a setback (i.e. Killian breaking August’s chisel), with encouragement from Emma (just like the way he encouraged her in the opening scene), August completed the wardrobe. Even more interesting? Robin came back to Storybrooke too! Could this be a new start for OutlawQueen?
Can we take a brief moment to talk about this? I adore OutlawQueen and I’m here for Regina getting her HEA with Robin, but can it be this simple? Why have Robin murdered in the first place? I’m very concerned… besides Wish World Robin is NOT our Robin Hood. There’s no guarantee he’ll fall in love with Regina. And wouldn’t it be agonizing if this Robin fell in love with someone else???
Meanwhile, in Storybrooke, Gideon revealed his plan to his parents. He had been kidnapped and raised by the Black Fairy, and there were several hints that this was a horrible experience for him. But now Gideon had escaped and meant to kill Emma. Why? If he killed Emma he could become a hero, vanquish the Black Fairy, and be Savior to this other realm. *SIDENOTE* This seems kind of backward to me. Yes, Gideon has good intentions (maybe), but murder is still murder!
Gideon’s interactions with Rumple were less than ideal… Rumple’s violence and manipulation seemed particularly outrageous, given the way Gideon had grown up. Can this relationship can be redeemed?
In the end, we had our showdown between Emma and Gideon, and Emma came out on top! Gideon was able to escape and he lived to see another day. So the threat may not yet be gone.
Still, Emma’s reunion with Killian, Charming, and Henry was fantastic… especially Emma’s promise to make Killian switch to water and lay off the rum (BWAHAHAHAHAH!)
In tonight’s episode “Murder Most Foul” (written by Jerome Schwartz and Jane Espenson, directed by Morgan Beggs);
DAVID ENLISTS HOOK’S EXPERT SERVICES WHEN HE SETS OUT TO DISCOVER THE TRUTH ABOUT HIS FATHER’S DEATH, AND REGINA HELPS ROBIN ADJUST TO LIFE IN STORYBROOKE—Before Hook takes the next step in his relationship with Emma, he wants to make sure David sees him as more than just a pirate. So when David asks Hook to help him uncover the truth about his father’s death, Hook agrees. Meanwhile, Regina works to acclimate Robin to life in Storybrooke, but soon discovers he has a dark side that makes the task much more complicated than she anticipated. (via ABC)
Ummmmm, can we talk about “Hook takes the next step in his relationship with Emma”??? *FLAILS* Please give us a CaptainSwan wedding, PLEASE!
Judging from the first video clip from the upcoming episode (via Yahoo! TV), David needs a lot of help, as he’s having visions of his father! And in the second clip, Snow is awake and expressing a lot of the concerns I had about Wish World Robin…
Robin is back in Storybrooke but is it the same Robin? #OnceUponATime pic.twitter.com/Y7wVrgjMlU
— Once Upon A Time (@OnceABC) March 11, 2017
OK, I need David NOT to lash out of Killian. Ugh… and second, what is going to happen when this Robin meets Zelena and Baby Girl Robin??? I’m nervous, but what do you think?
Take a look at 15 images from “Murder Most Foul”, then come live tweet with me at 8pm ET on ABC over at @WeSoNerdy!