That’s right folks! Last night Once Upon A Time was back from it’s one week break, and it… changed… everything! Entitled “Fall,” the episode shows that the Snow Queen has cast her spell, the Spell of Shattered Sight, and it’s going to cause Storybrooke to tear itself apart! Emma, Elsa, and our band of heroes (and villains) are all scrambling to find a way to survive. If you missed it, check out Hulu to watch the full episode.
Content Warning:
This episode consisted of a ton of witchcraft and sorcery, profanity (one d***), death, and attempted murder.
Recap
The Episode begins with the Snow Queen in the forest, admiring her work. The Spell of Shattered Sight has been cast and is forming like a cloud, much like the last few curses that have been cast in Storybrooke. Rumplestilskin approaches and informs her that her plan is flawed: because he is the dark one, he will be immune from the spell and unless the Snow Queen agrees to let him, Belle, and Henry leave then he will spend his life trying to thwart the Snow Queen’s happiness.
A bit of background: storybrooke is currently surrounded by an ice wall, so no one can leave, or enter. The Spell of Shattered Sight forces people to see the worst in others, and it will cause everyone in Storybrooke effected by it to destroy one another. The Snow Queen has cast this so that she, Emma, and Elsa may live happily ever after as a family.
Cut to the clock tower in the town atop the library. Emma, Elsa, David, Mary Margaret, Regina, Killian, Henry, and Leory all look through binoculars at the oncoming spell. Regina looks and realizes the spell will hit by sundown. Emma says that all they have to do is not be there at sundown and they should be safe. They go to a portion of the wall, and David is planning on climbing it. He gets close to hit the wall with his icepick, and once it connects, he’s blasted away and the wall climbs higher. Emma tells everyone to go and start warning the others in town; David, Mary Margaret, and Leory go to warn the civilians. Killian heads to the docks to see if they could possibly sail away. Regina goes to warn Robin Hood and his men. Emma wants Elsa and Henry to go to speak with Gold, but Regina protests and Henry accompanies him. Before they all scatter, Elsa sees something in the snow: her sister’s necklace. She takes it as a sign: they’re going to prevail.
Elsa and Emma enter Gold’s Shop, where they strategize with Belle. There’s no way of stopping the spell. but she has found a way of reversing the Spell. Elsa realizes that Anna was under the spell when she was put in the urn. They can now use the Necklace to find her sister. There’s mirror dust on the spell. Belle says that she’ll round up the fairies. Elsa and Emma start to embark on the quest for Anna when Emma warns her that it may not work, and that her sister may be very much older because of time traveling and whatnot. Elsa says it doesn’t matter: her sister can save everyone.
Flashback: Anna and Kristoff are thawing out after the Snow Queen froze them. They find that the urn, Elsa, and Ingrid are all gone, though Anna notices gold straw: Rumplestilskin. The plan is to find Rumplestilskin to save Elsa. Hans and his brothers come in, and they plan to rule the kingdom and throw Anna and Kristoff in jail, but, upon being captured, Kristoff and Anna fight their way out and run away.
Present Day: Killian is looking through his looking glass and sees that the ice wall is blocking a boating exit. Gold appears, sitting on a bench next to him. He reminds Killian that he still has heart and must obey his every command. Gold has a job for Killian: the fairies are all getting together to work on the cure for the effects of the spell. All of their magic is enough to separate Gold from control of the dagger. Killian must wait long enough for Gold to get Belle out of the vicinity, and then Killian must use the Sorcerer’s hat to kill the fairies and take their magic. Killian reluctantly agrees and heads that way.
Regina and Henry walk up to Robin Hood’s camp. Regina informs Robin that the spell is coming, and Robin orders Will Scarlet to break camp. Henry goes to help. Regina is staring at Robin; she wants to remember him with love in his eyes. She tells him that he and Henry are the only ones that believe in him and that the thought of the spell causing him to hate her may kill her. He assures her that they will get through this.
Emma and Elsa are leaving Gold’s Shop, and Emma pours the locator spell on the necklace. It begins glowing and the two women get excited; it’s picking up a trail. It leads them to the library. Elsa is confused because she’s been there before but has never seen Anna there. Emma informs her that the library is strange; there are lots of secret tunnels underneath, large enough to hide a dragon for twenty-eight years (throwback to Season 1, whoot whoot!).
Flashback: Anna and Kristof are running in the forest away from Hans and his brothers. They catch their breath and discuss their next move, which looks like it’s going to be confronting Rumplestilskin. Anna remembers that she read in her parents’ journal–that what they discovered was called a Wishing Star, and it was traced back to a pirate called Black Beard. Kristoff is wearisome, but Anna convinces him that they can pay off the pirate and get Elsa back.
Present Day: Emma and Elsa are down in the tunnels under the library. The necklace is shining even brighter. They find the spot along the walls and see that the barrier is keeping them from the other side (which is where Anna apparently is). Elsa begins to use her magic, but Emma stops her by warning her that it could cause a cave in, and that they shouldn’t risk it.
Flashback: Anna and Kristof get off of a ship in Misthaven–a.k.a. the Enchanted Forrest. They’re on a dock looking for Blackbeard, who hears them and tells them to join him on his boat. They board and ask about the Wishing Star. He seems amused, and says for the right price (his weight in gold) it’s theirs. Anna agrees, but then Hans and his brothers walk on board. Hans and Blackbeard are in cahoots.
Present Day: everyone is in the library is discussing how to get to Anna. David gets a call; it’s Belle. They can use the mirror dust on the necklace to save the town, but it will destroy the necklace. They have to choose: save the town or save Anna.
Gold and Killian walk to Granny’s, where the fairies are working on the cure. Gold instructs Killian to go in through the back and wait for the signal. Gold enters the diner, and everyone stares. Gold tries to get Belle to go to the shop, but she stresses the importance of staying and helping. Gold understands, and says’ he’ll just wait with Belle. The Mother Superior is uneasy, but Gold insists.
Regina argues with the group at the library, saying that there shouldn’t be any discussion; they have to give up the necklace. Emma wants to try and save both the town and Anna. Regina explains that there’s no time to be a hero: the town needs a leader and that means having to make tough decisions. Everyone is in agreement, and Emma goes to get the necklace from Elsa. She seemingly gives it up, but then leaves the library, revealing to the audience that she still has the necklace.
Regina, David, Mary Margaret, and Emma go to give Mother Superior the necklace, and then discover that Elsa kept it. Emma goes after her and finds that she’s in the tunnels. She uses her magic to find a beach, but no Anna. Emma explains that the necklace is needed, now.
Flashback: Anna asks how Hans keeps one-upping them. He explains that they were shouting their plans, and he managed to hitch a boat ride just in time to beat Anna and Kristof to Blackbeard. He had made a deal with Blackbeard, and circumstances turned out as is. Anna protests that she and Blackbeard had a deal. He makes the comment that she looks like her mother and tells her that he’d already sold her parents the Wishing Star, but that it could only be used by those with pure hearts. Hans tells them that they won’t need the money they would’ve used anyways: it’s his now, and Kristof and Anna are going to die. Hans tells them that they’re going overboard at the exact same spot as their parents. Blackbeard calls for a trunk and Hans asks why. Blackbeard explains that he once had a an adversary that threw him overboard, but he was saved by a mermaid, and that this trunk would make sure they would die without “fin-terference.” (No joke, that’s the actual line). As Anna and Kristof are being placed in the trunk, she proclaims that Elsa will get out of the urn and come and save them. Hans says that he controls Aerendale, and that if Elsa hasn’t found a way out in thirty years, then she isn’t coming back at all. He casts them overboard in the trunk.
This means that these flashback’s aren’t flashbacks at all–they’re of present-day in Arendale and Misthaven! Anna and Kristof have thawed because of the Snow Queen used so much of her magic to cast the Spell of Shattered Sight. (I totally geeked out when I realized that!)
Our World: Elsa refuses to give up hope that Anna is gone, but as she is stating this, the necklace stops glowing. Emma says that she’s gone, for good. They have to try and help save the town.
Misthaven: The trunk that Anna and Kristof are in is at the bottom of the ocean. Kristof feels a nail and is trying to untie himself. Water is steadily filling the trunk. Anna begins to scream for help.
Our World: Elsa looks affectionately at the necklace. It was her wedding present for Anna. It belonged to her mother, but they thought it was new, and Elsa made it the last thing she ever gave to Anna. Emma apologizes and tries to explain the urgency of the situation. Elsa seems not to care; she’s devastated that she’ll never know what happened to Anna.
Misthaven: Kristof is desperately trying to cut their hands free. They get free. Anna begins to share her vows, and explains that she wants to die married to him. Kristof says, “No, you can marry me when we get through this.”
Our World: Elsa apologizes to Anna’s necklace and wishes that she was there. All the sudden, something magical starts happening; a trunk lands on the beach and out pop Anna and Kristof! (The necklace was the Wishing Star!) Anna, Elsa, and Kristof start rambling in excitement and confusion. Elsa hugs Anna, and then they all head to town.
The fairies are hard at work to achieve the cure. Belle asks Gold if he thinks it can be done, and he says that he’s learned not to trust fairies, and escorts Belle away from Granny’s, nodding at Killian.
Elsa, Anna, Kristof, and Emma walk down main street as the Spell Cloud rages on.
Mother Superior is working on the cure, when all of the sudden she hears screams and a whooshing vortex. Killian is killing the fairies and taking their magic. He apologizes as he kills the Mother Superior. Emma and friends enter and see the wreckage and blame the Snow Queen. Killian is hiding behind the bar, and hangs his head in shame.
Gold instructs Belle to wait in the Shop just in case the Spell hits (because she can hurt him and others could hurt her). He promises that they will be together. He seals her in, and Killian approaches. The deed is done. Killian lectures him on his decisions, and Gold retorts that he should enjoy his last day alive. He won’t give up control of him just yet; he wants him to die.
Emma and friends enter the police station where David and Mary Margaret are there with the baby. A happy reunion is had by all. Emma asks what the plan is. Mary Margaret and David are going to lock themselves in the cells of the station. It’s the only way that they won’t hurt anyone. Emma, Anna, and Elsa are all immune, so everyone has to protect themselves. David says that Kristof can lock himself to one of the desks where they do interrogations. Emma is resistant and scared, but only she, Elsa, and Anna can stop the Snow Queen. Mary Margaret gives Emma Neal and says (crying) that they aren’t afraid of her magic. (It was a big ole tear fest.) Killian enters and asks for a word with Emma. He’s going to chain himself to the dock, but he wanted to see Emma before then. She cries and they kiss. Then he leaves. The Spell rages on, and they all wait.
Regina takes Henry to her manor and she apologizes about getting sidetracked. Henry says that they’ll get through this and find the author of the book. They hug, and she leaves and seals Henry in so no one else can get to him. Robin asks her, “Where to next?” Regina says she’s going to her vault. Robin asks if she wants him to go with her (Marion and his son are safely away). She says no; she has to seal herself in the vault, for everyone else’s sake.
The episode ends with everyone all sealed away; the spell finally hits. Shards of glass rain down on everyone and into their eyes.
The last thing you see is Mary Margaret’s face turn cold after the glass hits her eyes.
Review
This to me was a fantastic episode. It had all kinds of twists and answered a lot of my questions. My problem, though, is that this episode’s plot-line has been done on this show before. In just about every season there’s a huge spell or curse that affects everyone. It’ll change the characters in some way, making them all a bit different than before. It has the same impossible task and then a convenient resolution method. Don’t get me wrong, it works. I love it every time. But still, it’s been done before. This is the 6th time that a major spell/curse has changed the course of the show. No joke.
The special effects looked great, and the pacing was fast enough for me. The whole show, I was anxious and wondering how it would all work out (which to me is great). There were some tear-jerking moments, and I cried at every one of them (I know, I have problems). I thought the ending was the perfect cliff-hanger leading up to next weeks episode, which will be the winter finale.
Also, for the record, I said in the content warning that there was profanity. At one point in the show, Regina calls Anna, “Elsa’s d****ed sister.” I thought everyone should be warned. That’s the only time profanity is used in the episode. This show is usually very good at staying away from cursing.
My Thoughts
As I’ve stated, I loved this episode! One of the things I loved the most were the Anna and Kristof scenes. They are the most unique couple. Anna is very optimistic, but spastic. When confronting Blackbeard, she gets so worried: he says he wants his weight in gold, and she tries to figure out how mush he weighs. It was hilarious. Kristof on the other hand is very sarcastic and a little bit of a pessimist. When the two of them are trying to plan their next moves he says, “So my options are evil wizard or pirate, ” which I thought was very funny. It’s very amusing to see how these two react to certain things.
I also like seeing Regina become more of the leader-type. When she told Emma that she had to make the tough decisions, I believe that she was speaking from experience. She was the queen of the Enchanted Forest and the mayor of Storybrooke. Evil or not, she still had to make difficult decisions. Also, when they were looking at the plans for moving beneath the library, and she snaps at Mary Margaret for not keeping things up to code (because Mary Margaret is the new mayor), it was hilarious, but also true. Regina knows what it takes to get things done. The others may know how to lead and do the right thing, but Regina knows how to make necessary sacrifices.
Lastly, I wanted to comment on Gold’s behavior in this episode. I’ve stated before that he’s the primary reason I watch the show, and I love how he’s always conflicted within himself about being both the dark one and also just being happy. In this episode, Gold is only focusing on himself, but at the exact same time he’s solely focused on Belle and Henry as well. It’s confusing. His motives are selfish, but also very unclear. I can’t explain it. You can’t condemn the man for wanting to save his family, but he’s going about it all wrong. It’s one of those situations where you really just don’t know what to feel.
Be sure and tune in next week for the winter finale episode of Once Upon A Time at 7:00 p.m. on ABC (and then come to Geeks Under Grace for the coverage!)
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