Recap
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A Dangerous Song
We begin with Hook and Smee on their way back to Neverland to deliver some good to Pan, along with some iced cakes for the Lost Boys, as apparently they're just sick and tired of eggs in a basket. Suddenly a hauntingly beautiful woman's voice fills the air, having a hypnotizing effect on the crew. But just before the ship crashes into some rocks, the singing stops, and Hook is able to save the Jolly Roger just in time. Dive below the depths, and we find the singer responsible - a teenage Ursula, and her father Poseidon, who is none too pleased that she dropped out of the last chorus to save the ship. Because Ursula's mother was killed by pirates, Poseidon's bitterness has created a hatred of humans and a desire for vengeance. It is he who has turned mermaids into the most dangerous creatures in the seas, using their beautiful voices as weapons to lure sailors to their deaths. But Ursula has had enough of her father's thirst for revenge, wanting to use her voice to help people rather than hurt them. With a flick of her tail, she swipes a bracelet from her father's trove to give herself legs and heads toward the nearest tavern to get a job.
One evening while singing to the men in the tavern, she meets Hook, who recognizes her voice and offers her a drink in thanks for sparing his ship. She tells him the whole story about her mother, confessing that she's trying to earn enough money to get to the place that her mother loved to sing the most. Hook agrees to give her free passage in payment for her saving his life, and the two agree to meet the next morning aboard the Jolly Roger. But as soon as Hook steps outside the tavern, a burlap sack is thrown over is head and he is forced onto his own deck, where he would have gone anyway, but oh well. Poseidon awaits him, armed with a seashell and a deal. The task is simple: to take away Ursula's reason for leaving (aka her singing voice) in exchange for a vial of squid ink to defeat the Dark One. But Hook is a wily type, and instead spills the plan to Ursula. He promises never to take her voice if she will swipe the vial from her father.
Ursula pulls through on her thievery, and as just as she's handing the squid ink to Hook, Daddy dearest arrives and takes the ink back, warning Hook against defying a deity. In his rage, Hook does exactly what he promised not to and steals Ursula's voice, robbing Poseidon of not only his daughter but also his greatest asset in destroying ships. Ursula decides she's had enough of both of them and dives back below the waves, transforming herself into a squid, a being even more powerful than Poseidon himself. From now on the seas will be ruled by her fury, truly transforming her into a sea witch.
We begin with Hook and Smee on their way back to Neverland to deliver some good to Pan, along with some iced cakes for the Lost Boys, as apparently they're just sick and tired of eggs in a basket. Suddenly a hauntingly beautiful woman's voice fills the air, having a hypnotizing effect on the crew. But just before the ship crashes into some rocks, the singing stops, and Hook is able to save the Jolly Roger just in time. Dive below the depths, and we find the singer responsible - a teenage Ursula, and her father Poseidon, who is none too pleased that she dropped out of the last chorus to save the ship. Because Ursula's mother was killed by pirates, Poseidon's bitterness has created a hatred of humans and a desire for vengeance. It is he who has turned mermaids into the most dangerous creatures in the seas, using their beautiful voices as weapons to lure sailors to their deaths. But Ursula has had enough of her father's thirst for revenge, wanting to use her voice to help people rather than hurt them. With a flick of her tail, she swipes a bracelet from her father's trove to give herself legs and heads toward the nearest tavern to get a job.
One evening while singing to the men in the tavern, she meets Hook, who recognizes her voice and offers her a drink in thanks for sparing his ship. She tells him the whole story about her mother, confessing that she's trying to earn enough money to get to the place that her mother loved to sing the most. Hook agrees to give her free passage in payment for her saving his life, and the two agree to meet the next morning aboard the Jolly Roger. But as soon as Hook steps outside the tavern, a burlap sack is thrown over is head and he is forced onto his own deck, where he would have gone anyway, but oh well. Poseidon awaits him, armed with a seashell and a deal. The task is simple: to take away Ursula's reason for leaving (aka her singing voice) in exchange for a vial of squid ink to defeat the Dark One. But Hook is a wily type, and instead spills the plan to Ursula. He promises never to take her voice if she will swipe the vial from her father.
Ursula pulls through on her thievery, and as just as she's handing the squid ink to Hook, Daddy dearest arrives and takes the ink back, warning Hook against defying a deity. In his rage, Hook does exactly what he promised not to and steals Ursula's voice, robbing Poseidon of not only his daughter but also his greatest asset in destroying ships. Ursula decides she's had enough of both of them and dives back below the waves, transforming herself into a squid, a being even more powerful than Poseidon himself. From now on the seas will be ruled by her fury, truly transforming her into a sea witch.
![Picture](/uploads/2/7/3/8/27383753/5622239.jpg?465)
The Magic Lie Detector
Back to Gold's cabin, where a newly human puppet August awaits torture from Gold. He swears that he knows nothing about the author, other than the research he stole from the dragon. (Remember the long-puzzling mystery of the nose-flaming man waaaaay back in season two? Unfortunately August did nothing to enlighten us about him.) Gold doesn't believe a word of the story, having been burned by August's lying tongue before, and instead takes a potion from the fairies that will turn the puppet into Honest Abe whether he likes it or not. It's the Storybrooke form of the lie detector - with every lie, August's nose begins to grow. This scene was so fantastic - and judging from Robert Carlyle's exuberant face, he was as happy as we were to have August back. Finally, after the puppet's nose was long enough to be the world's longest cigar, he relents, saying that the author is trapped behind a door somewhere in Storybrooke, pictured in Henry's book. Gold, Maleficent, and Regina leave August in Cruella's care, and go to the sorcerer's mansion to search for it.
Meanwhile, as the Charmings, Emma, and Hook search the woods for poor Pinocchio, a black cloud message from Regina goes into Snow, who starts saying the message in Regina's voice. She warns them that August is back, and that they need to hurry and get him before Gold tortures his into a permanently charred beak. As they listen, Hook's conscience finally takes over, and he realizes that the only way to save everyone is to find out what Gold's end game is. So he summons Ursula via conch shell, and after nearly being suffocated by the sea witch's tentacles, Hook offers her a deal, since she's just not into forgiveness. In exchange for the information about Gold's plan, Hook agrees to give her back her stolen singing voice.
The two head toward the docks, where Ursula uses her tentacles to reach into the Enchanted Forest and bring back the Captain's ship containing the seashell. Unfortunately, Elsa has been wreaking havoc again, and has made the ship fun sized in a hissy fit against Blackbeard. Sigh. Has Elsa ever done anything helpful, other than leave the show? But moving on. After a bit of size-changing potion from Wonderland compliments of Will Scarlett, the Jolly Roger is restored to its former glory. As Hook walks along stroking its woodwork and kissing the floorboards, Ursula demands the seashell. Her voice begins to travel back into Ursula's mouth . . . but stops short. Thoroughly disgusted with the captain, Ursula gives the fantastic line, "Don't ever go up against a woman with eight hands. Especially when you only have one," and throws Hook into the ocean.
Back to Gold's cabin, where a newly human puppet August awaits torture from Gold. He swears that he knows nothing about the author, other than the research he stole from the dragon. (Remember the long-puzzling mystery of the nose-flaming man waaaaay back in season two? Unfortunately August did nothing to enlighten us about him.) Gold doesn't believe a word of the story, having been burned by August's lying tongue before, and instead takes a potion from the fairies that will turn the puppet into Honest Abe whether he likes it or not. It's the Storybrooke form of the lie detector - with every lie, August's nose begins to grow. This scene was so fantastic - and judging from Robert Carlyle's exuberant face, he was as happy as we were to have August back. Finally, after the puppet's nose was long enough to be the world's longest cigar, he relents, saying that the author is trapped behind a door somewhere in Storybrooke, pictured in Henry's book. Gold, Maleficent, and Regina leave August in Cruella's care, and go to the sorcerer's mansion to search for it.
Meanwhile, as the Charmings, Emma, and Hook search the woods for poor Pinocchio, a black cloud message from Regina goes into Snow, who starts saying the message in Regina's voice. She warns them that August is back, and that they need to hurry and get him before Gold tortures his into a permanently charred beak. As they listen, Hook's conscience finally takes over, and he realizes that the only way to save everyone is to find out what Gold's end game is. So he summons Ursula via conch shell, and after nearly being suffocated by the sea witch's tentacles, Hook offers her a deal, since she's just not into forgiveness. In exchange for the information about Gold's plan, Hook agrees to give her back her stolen singing voice.
The two head toward the docks, where Ursula uses her tentacles to reach into the Enchanted Forest and bring back the Captain's ship containing the seashell. Unfortunately, Elsa has been wreaking havoc again, and has made the ship fun sized in a hissy fit against Blackbeard. Sigh. Has Elsa ever done anything helpful, other than leave the show? But moving on. After a bit of size-changing potion from Wonderland compliments of Will Scarlett, the Jolly Roger is restored to its former glory. As Hook walks along stroking its woodwork and kissing the floorboards, Ursula demands the seashell. Her voice begins to travel back into Ursula's mouth . . . but stops short. Thoroughly disgusted with the captain, Ursula gives the fantastic line, "Don't ever go up against a woman with eight hands. Especially when you only have one," and throws Hook into the ocean.
![Picture](/uploads/2/7/3/8/27383753/959656.jpg?523)
Fishy Family Reunion
As the furious squid storms away, Hook finds himself waterlogged but alive on his ship, being slapped awake by Ariel. Apparently obnoxious Elsa also swept up poor Ariel in her tantrum, literally making her the little mermaid until Hook let her out. She makes an interesting observation: villains never get happy endings simply because they go about getting them the wrong way. Hook realizes that Ursula can have her happy ending, but only if the person who imprisoned her voice in the first place gets it out. Being the good sport that she is, Ariel dives under the sea in search of Poseidon, while the Charmings rush Gold's cabin and free August.
Just as I was settling into watching the fantastic chemistry between Emma and August, a bad-tempered Ursula enters and grabs Snow in a tentacle hug, threatening to squeeze her into jelly unless they let August go. But just in time, Hook enters followed by Poseidon, who begs Ursula's forgiveness and frees her voice. But as Ursula's voice is returned and the sea god turns to leave, she realizes that she doesn't want to deprive him of the only reminder of her mother, so the two decide to go back under the sea. But before she leaves, she keeps her end of the bargain and tells Hook Gold's plan: to turn Emma's heart dark. No happy endings can exist for villains as long as there's a savior around. And just to continue the cuteness of the end of this episode, Hook admits to Emma that she's his happy ending.
Back at the loft, August has taken up residence on the Charming's couch, where he can stay forever, for all I care. I can't even describe how good it was to see some season one characters back! He confesses that he was telling Gold the truth about the author, since he didn't know where Henry had the book. But the door isn't in the sorcerer's mansion; it's on the page. The author is actually trapped inside the book!
As the furious squid storms away, Hook finds himself waterlogged but alive on his ship, being slapped awake by Ariel. Apparently obnoxious Elsa also swept up poor Ariel in her tantrum, literally making her the little mermaid until Hook let her out. She makes an interesting observation: villains never get happy endings simply because they go about getting them the wrong way. Hook realizes that Ursula can have her happy ending, but only if the person who imprisoned her voice in the first place gets it out. Being the good sport that she is, Ariel dives under the sea in search of Poseidon, while the Charmings rush Gold's cabin and free August.
Just as I was settling into watching the fantastic chemistry between Emma and August, a bad-tempered Ursula enters and grabs Snow in a tentacle hug, threatening to squeeze her into jelly unless they let August go. But just in time, Hook enters followed by Poseidon, who begs Ursula's forgiveness and frees her voice. But as Ursula's voice is returned and the sea god turns to leave, she realizes that she doesn't want to deprive him of the only reminder of her mother, so the two decide to go back under the sea. But before she leaves, she keeps her end of the bargain and tells Hook Gold's plan: to turn Emma's heart dark. No happy endings can exist for villains as long as there's a savior around. And just to continue the cuteness of the end of this episode, Hook admits to Emma that she's his happy ending.
Back at the loft, August has taken up residence on the Charming's couch, where he can stay forever, for all I care. I can't even describe how good it was to see some season one characters back! He confesses that he was telling Gold the truth about the author, since he didn't know where Henry had the book. But the door isn't in the sorcerer's mansion; it's on the page. The author is actually trapped inside the book!
Best Episode Quotes
1. Hook: "I never thought I'd walk this sweet vessel again."
Ursula: "Well you can ogle your ship after you return my singing voice."
2. August: "Just because the boy doesn't remember being me doesn't mean I don't remember being the boy."
3. Regina: "I was torturing people back when you were still playing with puppies."
4. Hook: "For more than a century, my every waking moment has been consumed by one thought: making an evil man pay for what he did to the woman I
loved. Listening to your voice took away that pain, if even just for a brief moment."
5. Cruella: "Thank heavens that potion is only temporary. The scruff is so much more attractive than the timber."
6. Hook: "All I have to do is steal your daughter's singing voice?"
Poseidon: "It's simple, Pirate. Just show her how awful humans really can be."
7. Ursula: "Never go up against a woman with eight hands. Especially when you only have one."
8. Hook: "Maybe she was right. Maybe villains can't get their happy endings."
Ariel: "Maybe that's because villains always go about getting them the wrong way."
9. Ursula: "Now I'm even more powerful than you. And the whole sea will be at the mercy of my every whim. You don't need to protect me, Father. You need
to fear me."
10. Ursula: "How are you still breathing?"
Hook: "I'm good at surviving. Or you're bad at killing."
Ursula: "Well you can ogle your ship after you return my singing voice."
2. August: "Just because the boy doesn't remember being me doesn't mean I don't remember being the boy."
3. Regina: "I was torturing people back when you were still playing with puppies."
4. Hook: "For more than a century, my every waking moment has been consumed by one thought: making an evil man pay for what he did to the woman I
loved. Listening to your voice took away that pain, if even just for a brief moment."
5. Cruella: "Thank heavens that potion is only temporary. The scruff is so much more attractive than the timber."
6. Hook: "All I have to do is steal your daughter's singing voice?"
Poseidon: "It's simple, Pirate. Just show her how awful humans really can be."
7. Ursula: "Never go up against a woman with eight hands. Especially when you only have one."
8. Hook: "Maybe she was right. Maybe villains can't get their happy endings."
Ariel: "Maybe that's because villains always go about getting them the wrong way."
9. Ursula: "Now I'm even more powerful than you. And the whole sea will be at the mercy of my every whim. You don't need to protect me, Father. You need
to fear me."
10. Ursula: "How are you still breathing?"
Hook: "I'm good at surviving. Or you're bad at killing."