Sorry I missed last week, but my son developed a case of being possessed by the devil and nothing got done. Seriously, my house is a disaster and we have had a lot of delivery pizza.
But holy crap are amazing things happening on Once. Things are so epic they had to make this weeks episode TWO HOURS! So many great things happened included Emma losing it, Elsa stepping up, the answers to what happened to Anna being answered and finally what is the deal with the Snow Queen and Rumple.
Quick Recap
“Smash the Mirror” Part 1
A long time ago in Arendelle, the Snow Queen/Ingrid buries the container that holds the magic hat. In the Enchanted Forest, she approaches the Sorcerer’s Apprentice. She wants to speak with his boss. She desires happiness. She wants a new perfect sister to join her and her niece, Elsa, as her new family.
In present day Storybrooke, Emma can’t control her powers. This becomes evident when she accidentally hurts Henry. The Snow Queen says the only way this can end for her is if she embraces who she is. Emma turns to Mr. Gold, who claims an ancient spell would take away her magic forever. Plans are made to meet at an abandoned manor. Later, Gold traps the Snow Queen using remnants from the urn. It’s a temporary thing, but it’ll give him enough time to execute his plan of betraying Emma.
Regina and Robin Hood are happy after having spent the night together, but they must keep their coupling a secret. The subject of the storybook comes up. Robin Hood wants to help in her search for the author. Will tells him that there’s a library underneath the clock tower.
In the past, Ingrid tells Elsa that Anna was planning to use the magic hat on her. That’s why she locked her away in the dungeon. Elsa is devastated to hear this—or so it seems. She puts on an act to fool the guards into believing that she’s siding with Ingrid in order to break Anna out of her cell. Next on their agenda is finding the magic urn to trap their scary aunt inside it.
While sneaking away, Elsa sees a painting of her parents. She knows they were looking for a way to take her powers away. Anna assures her sister that what matters is that her powers make her special. She wouldn’t want her any other way.
In present day Storybrooke, Henry feels as though he can’t do anything because he’s ordinary. Regina assures him that’s not true at all. He has the heart of the truest believer. He’s the one who brought everyone together. Regina also assures him that Emma will be okay. After all, she’s a hero, and heroes always win.
Everyone is worried about Emma. Elsa swipes the locator spell that Regina provided to find her. As for Hook, he knows that Gold is lying to Emma. He leaves several desperate phone messages to warn her. He reveals how he has been lying to her as well. Hook sees a map indicating where Emma is to meet Gold. The Snow Queen also knows where they are headed. She causes Emma to crash on the way.
Recap found here.
“Smash the Mirror” Part 2
In Arendelle past, Anna returns to her cell with the urn in her hands to spring a trap. Too bad Aunty Ingrid is one step ahead of them. She shackles Anna. She had to be prepared in case Elsa didn’t believe her lies. Ingrid forces Anna to tell her the story of a Norse legend involving a mirror. A spell made people see only the worst in the ones they love. Ingrid casts this spell on Anna.
Anna approaches her sister with the urn in her hands. She’s different now. Ingrid admits she’s under a spell, but says it’s one that simply brings her darkest thoughts into the light. She orders Elsa to use her powers on Anna. This doesn’t happen. Anna ends up trapping Elsa in the urn.
She snaps out of her spell as a furious Ingrid decides to embrace the monster everyone believes her to be. She freezes everything and promises the urn-bound Elsa that they will find their third sister no matter how long it takes. Later, Rumplestiltskin approaches Ingrid. He wants the magic hat back. He swipes the urn for leverage. He’ll trade it back for the hat.
In Storybrooke, Regina is stunned when she hears that Emma is trying to ditch her magic. Her words convince Mary Margaret and Davidthat they need to embrace what makes their daughter special. They want to search for Emma, but the locator spell is gone. So is Elsa. Elsewhere, while in the library, Robin Hood finds something Regina needs to see right away. Mary Margaret, David and Henry continue their search for Emma without her.
Emma comes around after her car crash. She realizes the Snow Queen she sees in the road is just a vision. She doesn’t buy into her claim that Rumplestiltskin is going to double-cross her. Emma arrives at the abandoned manor. Gold is already there. He uses the dagger to summon the hat. He tells Emma to step through the door where her magic will be taken away. He admits that he wouldn’t step into that room, as he’s a person who always chooses power. He’s not like her. She always does the right thing.
Emma thanks Gold. She turns toward the door as sparks fly everywhere. Outside, Gold traps Hook against a fence before he can rush inside. He doesn’t know someone else has already made her way to Emma. Elsa knows how scared she is, but giving up her magic is not the answer. Elsa says that the only way to ever be in control of your powers is to embrace them. She offers her hand to Emma. Once they both join hands, the sparks that were flying throughout the manor cease to exist.
Gold is disappointed when he realizes that he didn’t get the savior’s power. He admits that he still needs a heart from someone who knew him before he was the Dark One. He takes Hook’s heart in his hand. He orders him to find a way to fill the hat with the power it needs. After that, he’ll kill him. Hook rushes inside to hug and kiss Emma. He sends her outside to see the others so he can collect the hat on the sly.
Robin Hood shows Regina a page from the storybook. It’s a picture of the two of them kissing in the pub. It proves that Regina’s fate could have gone in another direction. The page appeared in Robin Hood’s satchel. It’s a sign of hope.
The Snow Queen escapes from her Gold-produced prison. She magically places a ribbon on her wrist. In Arendelle past, Ingrid digs the magic hat out of its hiding spot. She’s about to contact Rumplestiltskin when the apprentice appears. He tells her that the sorcerer has found a match for the perfect sister she seeks. This person hasn’t been born yet. If she hands over the box, she can enter through a door that’ll lead her to her happy ending. Ingrid hands over the hat and steps through the door into our world. The year is 1982.
In present day Storybrooke, Emma is reunited with her family. She proves that she has control over her magic again by producing a fantastic fireworks show in the night sky. The good times don’t last long. Both Emma and Elsa realize they are now wearing ribbons on their wrists. They feel their powers being harnessed.
The Snow Queen tells Gold that the ribbons bond the three sisters. She now holds the power to cast a spell all over Storybrooke. Gold warns her not to overestimate her power. The Snow Queen warns him to not underestimate it. Magic shoots out of her ribboned hand. It smashes the mirror. The Snow Queen smiles as her reflection explodes and dissolves into a billowing cloud of glittering dust. It’s likely an ominous sign of what’s to come.
Recap found here.
What did I think?
I am so glad to see Emma finally accepting who she is and owning/using her powers. While we are not 100% sure what kind of magic she has, because it obviously isn’t snow magic, it is still incredibly powerful. I really think between her and Elsa they will give the Snow Queen a run for her money.
Mary-Margaret and David are still mostly pointless and little disappointing. I little perturbed that they were so willing to let Emma give up her magic, just because they didn’t understand it.
But can we say poor Killian. I love Hook and I love Hook and Emma, so it breaks my heart to know that he has a rough road ahead with not having a heart and all now. When you see all the love and goodness that is finally happening for Regina, it really makes you wonder when his villainous self will get a happy ending. I really think he and Emma deserve so happiness, not all this chasing and saving and scheming.
But oh Regina and Hook. While your love is true, what about a frozen Marian? Is she really out-of-sight out-of-mind? And while you were canoodling in Regina crypt (creppy) where was Robin’s son? Anyway, I think the discovery of the missing/duplicate page was rather convenient, but I think that they are getting closer and closer to discovering who the writer of the storybook really is.
What is going on with Rumple? I mean seriously, can’t he just let go of a grudge? Why can’t he just be happy with what he has versus chasing all this power and what would Belle think? He really needs to sort out his priorities, but then I guess we wouldn’t love him so. He is just so dang complex and I really want to know what he is going to do to get all the power he needs for his spell.
And the curse and the Snow Queen. Our overly-dressed vixen finally has her way and we are into see some true colors in Storybrooke. I doubt seriously the Elsa and Emma will stand for long, but man is it going to be one good fight. I sure hope their special effect budget is ready to live up to the hype.
So now what?
Now we wait for the town to rip itself to shreds. This curse is going to be a doozy and the magic that will be required to save it will be intense and not without a heavy price I am sure. I really hope Hook can come out on top and that we finally figure out what Rumple is playing at. I do have to say, as we reach the mid-season finale, I wonder what the next storyline will be. What story would you like to see?
Checkout what will happen on November 30th
smash teh
Also check out 13 Magical Must See Moments from OUaT ‘Smash the Mirror’
