5x11 "Swan Song"

Just when it appeared that Wicked would finally win, Regina sent Zelena into her own Oz spin-off, but she vowed to return. Will Greenie come clicking her heels back to Storybrooke any time soon? And will the little green bean get a name?

Zach: She'll be back for sure. I'm a bit disappointed that she didn't go to Underbrooke with the rest of the group because I would have loved to see Zelena and Cora finally meet and find out what Cora thinks of her abandoned daughter. Putting that aside, I'm sure that whatever they have planned for Zelena will be Oz-some. I have no idea what they will end up naming the baby but I get the feeling Zelena won't be involved in that decision.

Ashley: I hope she does. As much as I liked the idea of Zelena causing problems on the family trip to the underworld, the idea of her returning to an unprotected Storybrooke and having to tangle with the fairies is a fun idea. I just wish that Zelena could have had a confrontation with Cora in the underworld. And that baby's name is Pistachio, I will tolerate nothing else, haha.

Joanne: I definitely think Zelena will be back for her little green bean. She wants to raise the baby herself, and won't be cheated out of her rights by Regina. It may take her a while, but wicked always wins. I don't think she'll call the baby Forest, Kelly or Pistachio, but maybe Elpahba or Ivy would be nice.

Sam: As much as I love Zelena as comic relief, I really wish the whole baby-not-love-triangle never happened.  I think sending her to Oz is only a temporary fix.  She'll be back.  Whatever name that baby gets, she'll always be Pistachio to me.

Laurie: It doesn’t seem as if this kid will ever get a name!  And I don’t think Zelena will stay away long - although I was happy she was gone, at least for awhile.  I think her plot line just muddies the waters, and her one-note take on evil was becoming predictable. Let her rest in Oz until the writers can figure out how to make her interesting again.  Maybe we’ll get some great Outlaw Queen family scenes again!

Emma made the heartbreaking decision to sacrifice Hook and save her family, thereby saving herself as well. What are your thoughts on the death of the Captain and return of the Savior?

Ashley: That was a hell of a scene. Emma had been fighting not to lose again and in the end she had to actual do the thing she had been fearing for so long. I'm glad to have savior Emma back and have her maybe a bit battered, a wiser but sadder person.

Joanne: Emma had to finally let go of Killian to save him as well as her family. It was the only way. I'm glad that she was no longer dark. I was getting tired of her moodiness. I was also getting tired of Hook being so angry. Emma will find a way to still save Killian, just like Belle and Neal brought Rumple back from the dead. Emma will do all in her power to save her true love even if it means going to the Underworld.

Sam: I'm glad Hook was able to break the hold of Darkness long enough for Emma to take control and, well, kill him. When Emma saved Hook and turned him into a Dark One in Camelot she was really cheating Fate. Hook was should have died back then. I feel badly for Emma having to watch yet another love die in her arms. I also found it interesting to watch Regina's reaction during this scene, as she would have been the one killing Emma, had their original plan worked out. 

Laurie: He won’t be dead long.  But it was very believable - Emma’s love for Hook warring against her love for her family. JMo played it perfectly. I’m sorry Hook didn’t get to stay evil longer - he was really scary. Colin did a great job too. I loved his transformation at the end.  ​

Zach: Well, it was quite sad to see Emma inconsolably devastated, and my heart broke watching her hold on to his body as they wheeled him away on the gurney. Jennifer Morrison did some of her best work of the series in this episode and I can't wait to see how she evolves Emma's character in the Underbrooke story. As far as Hook's death, well, I'm a Swanfire shipper so that part didn't phase me as much.

Gold found yet another loophole and used magic to receive the Darkness again, becoming the Super Ultimate Dark One Supreme. What do you make of his decision and how will this affect his rekindled marriage to Belle?

Joanne: ​Tricky, tricky, tricky Rumple.  He is a lawyer and has always looked for loopholes. I absolutely love Rumple being dark, and now he is supercharged dark. Gold taking back all the dark power made me giggle. Let's face it, he is flawed and weak. Even though his heart was pure, through Emma's actions, he was still addicted to power. I think he honestly wants the best for Belle. He loves her, and that's why he sent her away to fulfill her dream of seeing the world. He thought that everyone was going to die and he wanted to save her. At the last minute, before the dark ones were able to complete their plan, he was able to turn the tables and save himself. He is selfish and a survivor. But by saving himself and everyone else, he didn't foresee that Henry would call Belle. He never expected her to return to him, nor forgive him. Just last week, she was dead set against continuing the marriage. Next thing you know, she is falling into his arms again declaring her love for him. (Not that I blame her). The woman needs to make up her mind. She will be angry once she finds out what he actually did, but I'm sure she will ultimately forgive him (again).

Sam: I happened to LOVE this twist! I don't care that the explanation for how it happened was flimsy. I'm just happy to have devious, mysterious Mr.Gold back. When Gold's heart became a blank slate, I knew there was just as much a chance he could go Dark as a chance he could become Light. I totally believe that faced with Death, Rumple would do anything to save himself, again. It's what he does. Personally, I find the on-again, off-again nature of the Rumbelle relationship so tiring. Sometimes I wish Belle was still locked in the basement of the hospital. 

Laurie: I can barely comment on this, I am so disappointed in the direction of Rumple’s character and his relationship with Belle. The writers just did this same plot last season. Do they honestly enjoy recycling old plots? Yes, Rumple fooled Belle (again) that he had changed. It is testing my patience severely. ​

Zach: I'm torn on this development. On the one hand, I thoroughly enjoy Robert Carlyle's portrayal of Gold because he is far more menacing than the flourishing Rumple of the Enchanted Forest. Rumple will toy with you, make a deal with you, and delight in doing so with a near-childlike air about him, but Gold will beat your ass with his cane without hesitation, and watching him tow that line is always compelling to watch. On the other hand, Gold came so far this season to become a hero and was even granted the ability to pull Excalibur from the stone as reward for his efforts. The last-minute left turn in his choices is a bit confusing because he seemed to have let the darkness and desire for power go in favor of heroism and bravery. I sincerely hope that he will find Neal in Underbrooke and they will have a conversation which will set Rumple back on track, particularly if his night with Belle results in a new child. What better reason to let go of the Darkness than a baby, and who better to remind him of that than his departed son?

(Also: I find it very interesting that the colors of the new dagger have been inverted from the old one. The first dagger had the Dark One's name designed in black on a silver blade, and now it has reversed. Perhaps this means that Gold now controls the Darkness instead of the Darkness controlling him, and that he is the prophecized one who can hold both light and dark within.)

Ashley: He was doing so good. I'm disappointed that he gave in to temptation once more and I think that Belle has given him so many chances. If he lies to her about the magic then she should leave him. I know she is very understanding of his darkness and it's the deceit she doesn't like. This is going to get complicated and any additions to the family will make it even more so.

The Hero Brigade is on their way to the Underworld to save Hook, and the Souls of the Departed await them. How do you feel about the latest quest for Storybrooke's Finest?

Sam: I think the concept of the Underworld being a twisted version of Storybrooke is interesting.  I like that everyone will have to face up to people from their past.  I hope that this search for Hook brings opportunities for all the characters to grow through self examination. I just wonder if we will get any glimpses of what's happening in Storybrooke while they're gone.

Laurie: I’m really not interested in the Underworld. I’m interested in the core cast and the town of Storybrooke.  Obviously Hook needed to be saved,but it’s just another diversion (for me) from what the main point of the series is. 

Zach: I'm interested to see what Underbrooke holds for our heroes, but I'm also a bit hesitant because I really want there to be a focus on the relationships of the core characters without more storyline-specific characters showing up (I'm looking at you, Arthur/Guinivere). These people have enough story potential among themselves that they really don't need any further interaction with newcomers. Don't get me wrong, the introduction of all these dead villains in the 100th episode has me very excited, as well as the continued presence of Victoria Smurfit's Cruella de Vil along the way, but at this point I want more internally-grown stories than those resulting from outer conflicts.

Ashley: The promo for 5B got me really excited. The idea of a version of Storybrooke warped by each of our heroes demons and by the people they've lost, give it to me now.

Joanne: ​I'm very excited to see them going to the Underworld. I love the idea of them confronting all the villains that they sent there and maybe resolving some of their unfinished business. It also gives a chance to see some of our favorite guest actors/characters. I look forward to seeing Cruella, Cora, Peter Pan, and I hope that the Blind Witch is running Granny's in Underbrooke.

Favorite Moments

Laurie: I was going to say the Rumbelle reunion but that was spoiled by Rumple’s deception. :( I guess they couldn’t let us enjoy it for more than five minutes. 

Zach: Emma/Regina/Gold and Emma/Gold in Gold's shop. With all due respect to the rest of the cast, it's these three characters that make the show great for me. The Emma/Regina/Gold scene in particular reminded me of the scene with the three of them in the Season One finale "A Land Without Magic." The dynamics and history between these particular characters are rich, deep, and complicated, and Jennifer Morrison, Lana Parrilla and Robert Carlyle always play these type of scenes with such subtlety and power that it's impossible not to enjoy them.

Joanne: The Rumbelle bedroom scene. Not a word was spoken, but very meaningful on so many different levels. I was happy to see them together again, but he was deceiving her once again. I also enjoyed Regina sending Zelena to Oz. I was not expecting that.

Sam:  I loved the part where Emma confronts Gold and he admits that he's become the Dark One again. Those kind of Emma/Gold or Regina/Gold confrontations across the shop counter have always been some of my favorite moments in the history of Once.

Favorite Quotes

Zach: Snow's silent "I'm sorry, baby" to Emma. Oh my swan, that was something I didn't know I wanted until we got it.

Ashley: Snow White's silent "Im sorry, baby" to Emma. Killed me.

Joanne: Same as Ashley.  Snow's "I'm sorry, baby." was heartbreaking.

Sam:  Rumple's "It's what I do.  It's the man I am."

Anything Else?

Joanne:  ​Kudos to Adam Croasdell for his portrayal of Papa Hook. He was fantastic. I hope we get to see him in the Underworld as well. He and Killian have some deep, unresolved father/son issues.

Sam:  I'm looking forward to seeing some old familiar faces in the second half of this season.  I wonder if we'll see Stealthy. 

Laurie: Jared looks so old now!  

Zach: As much as I love the Dark Swan outfits and look, I am ecstatic that the red jacket has returned.