Recap
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And Then There Were Three
We begin at the Dark Fortress, home of Maleficent. Enter Ursula, who slaps Mal's guard silly with her tentacles demands to know why she was sent for. Enter Cruella de Vil with the same question, followed by two large dogs and breathing disdain about Maleficent's décor. While Maleficent demands that these unwanted visitors leave her home, the person responsible appears - Rumplestiltskin, of course! He explains that just like them, he's tired of villains getting the short end; it's time for them to take back their happy endings. Knowing just what to say to get under the ladies' skin, they agree to help him in the hopes that their always turning up the loser will end.
They head to Bald Mountain, where each one has a special talent needed to break down the booby traps set for invaders. Cruella's power is breathing green smoke (love the movie reference!) that stuns her prey into paralysis. Maleficent is next, using her dragon power to put the flames out. And next is Ursula, who is pretty awesome with her tentacles. And the prize? The Dark Curse! But Rumple is no novice- he failed to mention the final trap- the Chernabog, a huge bat with glowing eyes, who seeks out the person's heart with the most potential for darkness and devours it. With his prize in hand, he leaves his helpers in the company of the monster and exits.
There's nothing for it; all three women advance, promising to help the one that the Chernabog chooses. He goes right to Maleficent, who keeps him at bay but is having no success killing him, while Cruella and Ursula climb up a sheer rock face to the top of the cliff. Cruella appears to be just as agile in her furs and stilettos as Ursula is with her tentacles. Just in the nick of time, Ursula grabs Maleficent and pulls her to safety. It seems that teamwork really does pay off.
We begin at the Dark Fortress, home of Maleficent. Enter Ursula, who slaps Mal's guard silly with her tentacles demands to know why she was sent for. Enter Cruella de Vil with the same question, followed by two large dogs and breathing disdain about Maleficent's décor. While Maleficent demands that these unwanted visitors leave her home, the person responsible appears - Rumplestiltskin, of course! He explains that just like them, he's tired of villains getting the short end; it's time for them to take back their happy endings. Knowing just what to say to get under the ladies' skin, they agree to help him in the hopes that their always turning up the loser will end.
They head to Bald Mountain, where each one has a special talent needed to break down the booby traps set for invaders. Cruella's power is breathing green smoke (love the movie reference!) that stuns her prey into paralysis. Maleficent is next, using her dragon power to put the flames out. And next is Ursula, who is pretty awesome with her tentacles. And the prize? The Dark Curse! But Rumple is no novice- he failed to mention the final trap- the Chernabog, a huge bat with glowing eyes, who seeks out the person's heart with the most potential for darkness and devours it. With his prize in hand, he leaves his helpers in the company of the monster and exits.
There's nothing for it; all three women advance, promising to help the one that the Chernabog chooses. He goes right to Maleficent, who keeps him at bay but is having no success killing him, while Cruella and Ursula climb up a sheer rock face to the top of the cliff. Cruella appears to be just as agile in her furs and stilettos as Ursula is with her tentacles. Just in the nick of time, Ursula grabs Maleficent and pulls her to safety. It seems that teamwork really does pay off.
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A Normal Day in Storybrooke
We then head to Storybrooke, six weeks after the Snow Queen's death. Mary Margaret is back teaching, Regina is mayor again, Emma dons a leather jacket and her sheriff's badge and meets Hook for coffee on the way to work, Belle resumes her library duties, and Granny watches little Neal. It was nice to see everybody back in their rightful jobs again.
While Emma and Regina team up to discuss the author, Hook and Belle join forces to find a solution for freeing the fairies. The two have a nice moment, where when commiserating about Rumple's departure, Hook assures Belle that the Dark One, despite all his faults, truly did love her. Aww. Please get those two back together again soon! As Hook researches spells to reverse the hat's effects, Belle works tirelessly, emailing professors from the most elite schools to see if any of them have a solution. Not having attended school in the regular world, Belle is seemingly unaware that most those professors have no clue what's she's talking about - except one. She finally receives a reply from one, who gives her the solution. She and Hook race off in the direction of the mayor's office.
It seems that this Oxford professor knows his stuff, because the fairies are released, scared and extremely ruffled. What went on in that hat, anyway? While welcoming the fairies back, no one notices that black smoke is emanating from the box, which materializes into the Chernabog and flies away. Told you peace in Storybrooke is short-lived. During a party to celebrate the fairies return, Blue strangely sits alone in a booth. Regina and Henry join her and pick her brain about the storybook author. Blue isn't much help, except to tell them that the sorcerer and author are two different people, but no one is sure whether the author is a man or woman. I only hope the apprentice was also let out of the hat, as he may have some answers.
We then head to Storybrooke, six weeks after the Snow Queen's death. Mary Margaret is back teaching, Regina is mayor again, Emma dons a leather jacket and her sheriff's badge and meets Hook for coffee on the way to work, Belle resumes her library duties, and Granny watches little Neal. It was nice to see everybody back in their rightful jobs again.
While Emma and Regina team up to discuss the author, Hook and Belle join forces to find a solution for freeing the fairies. The two have a nice moment, where when commiserating about Rumple's departure, Hook assures Belle that the Dark One, despite all his faults, truly did love her. Aww. Please get those two back together again soon! As Hook researches spells to reverse the hat's effects, Belle works tirelessly, emailing professors from the most elite schools to see if any of them have a solution. Not having attended school in the regular world, Belle is seemingly unaware that most those professors have no clue what's she's talking about - except one. She finally receives a reply from one, who gives her the solution. She and Hook race off in the direction of the mayor's office.
It seems that this Oxford professor knows his stuff, because the fairies are released, scared and extremely ruffled. What went on in that hat, anyway? While welcoming the fairies back, no one notices that black smoke is emanating from the box, which materializes into the Chernabog and flies away. Told you peace in Storybrooke is short-lived. During a party to celebrate the fairies return, Blue strangely sits alone in a booth. Regina and Henry join her and pick her brain about the storybook author. Blue isn't much help, except to tell them that the sorcerer and author are two different people, but no one is sure whether the author is a man or woman. I only hope the apprentice was also let out of the hat, as he may have some answers.
![Picture](/uploads/2/7/3/8/27383753/5939269.jpg?457)
Road Trip!
Back in NYC, Ursula returns to her dumpy apartment and her new roommate Rumple, who has been crashing on her couch for six weeks. Understandably he's getting fed up with Ramen noodles and watching her tanks of fish swim around. Just as cabin fever is starting to take over, he gets an email, the beginning of the end of their misery. Having set the first step of the plan in motion, the two head toward Cruella de Vil's house. Things aren't going any better for the Fur Freak, as her elderly rich husband is being arrested and all their belongings being repossessed. Even in his worst condition, Rumple is a fantastic persuader, and manages to convince Cruella to join their cause. The three hop in Cruella's fantastic black and white car and hit the road for Storybrooke with a quick fast-food stop, while Rumple complains about wasting time in the backseat. I have to admit, the NYC section was the best in the episode. I love when the writers play with the possibilities, and it was complete gold.
Even with the crazy woman driver at the wheel, they miraculously arrive in one piece. The car squeals to a stop when Rumple's tie comes into view, a marker he made for himself after being banished exactly one hundred yards from the town line. Although the ladies are wary of this strange plan, Rumple's a genius, and again knows just what to say to persuade them to his side, even when held at gunpoint. Satisfied, the two decide to believe him, and make a quickie phone call to Regina from Gold's phone. They inform her that they saw Gold in NYC, who told them that this is a town where one can change. Although Regina is about to hang up, they inform her that they can help her with the Chernabog, who is squealing in the background. Regina agrees to let them in if their info proves correct, which of course it does. Although Emma's poor bug gets another beating from the monster, the duo are able to send the monster over the town line, turning it into dust. Despite sensible misgivings from Snow, Regina tosses Ingrid's scroll over the town line, giving Ursula and Cruella the magic to come into Storybrooke. They assure the queen that they just want a second chance, another clever line that Rumple knew would resonate with Regina.
Rumple waits at the town line until night fall, hoping against hope that Ursula and Cruella will come back for him. As darkness descends, his shoulders slump and he begins to slowly hobble away. But just in time, a scroll is thrown at his feet. The ladies realize that without Rumple they have no chance. He bounds across the town line, tossing his cane and heading into town. It was good to see him back, even though we knew he'd get back in some way. And it's a good thing that Blue's party was attended by the entire town, because Rumple walks blatantly down the middle of main street in between his two allies, prepping them about the plan: to make friends and blend in while he continues his work behind the scenes. Just when Ursula starts to gripe Gold points out that he has been controlling the circumstances all along. It was Rumple who posed as the Oxford professor, translating the spell to release not just the fairies, but also the Chernabog, giving them an entrance into town. I love when we find out that what looks like a bad situation is actually part of Gold's plan. As they head toward the library to get their fourth member, Maleficent, he dismisses Ursula's fear about Regina: the monster was actually after Emma. It seems that darkness potential exists in everyone.
Back in NYC, Ursula returns to her dumpy apartment and her new roommate Rumple, who has been crashing on her couch for six weeks. Understandably he's getting fed up with Ramen noodles and watching her tanks of fish swim around. Just as cabin fever is starting to take over, he gets an email, the beginning of the end of their misery. Having set the first step of the plan in motion, the two head toward Cruella de Vil's house. Things aren't going any better for the Fur Freak, as her elderly rich husband is being arrested and all their belongings being repossessed. Even in his worst condition, Rumple is a fantastic persuader, and manages to convince Cruella to join their cause. The three hop in Cruella's fantastic black and white car and hit the road for Storybrooke with a quick fast-food stop, while Rumple complains about wasting time in the backseat. I have to admit, the NYC section was the best in the episode. I love when the writers play with the possibilities, and it was complete gold.
Even with the crazy woman driver at the wheel, they miraculously arrive in one piece. The car squeals to a stop when Rumple's tie comes into view, a marker he made for himself after being banished exactly one hundred yards from the town line. Although the ladies are wary of this strange plan, Rumple's a genius, and again knows just what to say to persuade them to his side, even when held at gunpoint. Satisfied, the two decide to believe him, and make a quickie phone call to Regina from Gold's phone. They inform her that they saw Gold in NYC, who told them that this is a town where one can change. Although Regina is about to hang up, they inform her that they can help her with the Chernabog, who is squealing in the background. Regina agrees to let them in if their info proves correct, which of course it does. Although Emma's poor bug gets another beating from the monster, the duo are able to send the monster over the town line, turning it into dust. Despite sensible misgivings from Snow, Regina tosses Ingrid's scroll over the town line, giving Ursula and Cruella the magic to come into Storybrooke. They assure the queen that they just want a second chance, another clever line that Rumple knew would resonate with Regina.
Rumple waits at the town line until night fall, hoping against hope that Ursula and Cruella will come back for him. As darkness descends, his shoulders slump and he begins to slowly hobble away. But just in time, a scroll is thrown at his feet. The ladies realize that without Rumple they have no chance. He bounds across the town line, tossing his cane and heading into town. It was good to see him back, even though we knew he'd get back in some way. And it's a good thing that Blue's party was attended by the entire town, because Rumple walks blatantly down the middle of main street in between his two allies, prepping them about the plan: to make friends and blend in while he continues his work behind the scenes. Just when Ursula starts to gripe Gold points out that he has been controlling the circumstances all along. It was Rumple who posed as the Oxford professor, translating the spell to release not just the fairies, but also the Chernabog, giving them an entrance into town. I love when we find out that what looks like a bad situation is actually part of Gold's plan. As they head toward the library to get their fourth member, Maleficent, he dismisses Ursula's fear about Regina: the monster was actually after Emma. It seems that darkness potential exists in everyone.
Best Episode Quotes
1. Rumple: "Love how you underestimate me. Adorable."
2. Regina: "I suppose we should go out and see what's killing property values this time."
3. Maleficent: "Lovely. Now I'll never get the smell of fish out of this dress."
4. Cruella: "What exactly are you offering, Short Stuff?"
Rumple: "Only the answer to all your prayers."
Cruella: "I'm not exactly the religious sort."
Rumple: "Shocked."
5. Maleficent: "I hope you choke on my bones."
6. Regina: "Whatever made you choose yellow?"
Emma: "What?"
Regina: "Your bug. Yellow? Bold choice."
Emma: "I like yellow. I stole it. Is this really the time to question my taste?"
7. Rumple: "Our collective frustrations are because of his will, not our missteps."
Cruella: "Well I suppose that's better than blaming bad judgment and gin."
8. Regina: "I am not going to let both of us die in this metal coffin on wheels."
9. Rumple: "I ask you to consider what I was able to do on the outside, at my lowest point, without magic. And then consider what I'm able to do in here."
10. Hook: "What do you suppose the boy's up to now?"
Emma: "Being Henry. If anyone's going to get the author out of that book, it's him."
2. Regina: "I suppose we should go out and see what's killing property values this time."
3. Maleficent: "Lovely. Now I'll never get the smell of fish out of this dress."
4. Cruella: "What exactly are you offering, Short Stuff?"
Rumple: "Only the answer to all your prayers."
Cruella: "I'm not exactly the religious sort."
Rumple: "Shocked."
5. Maleficent: "I hope you choke on my bones."
6. Regina: "Whatever made you choose yellow?"
Emma: "What?"
Regina: "Your bug. Yellow? Bold choice."
Emma: "I like yellow. I stole it. Is this really the time to question my taste?"
7. Rumple: "Our collective frustrations are because of his will, not our missteps."
Cruella: "Well I suppose that's better than blaming bad judgment and gin."
8. Regina: "I am not going to let both of us die in this metal coffin on wheels."
9. Rumple: "I ask you to consider what I was able to do on the outside, at my lowest point, without magic. And then consider what I'm able to do in here."
10. Hook: "What do you suppose the boy's up to now?"
Emma: "Being Henry. If anyone's going to get the author out of that book, it's him."