Posted by Dustin on 11.04.2013 at 8:03 pm

So last week’s “Once Episode” was the sad story of Captain Hook’s origins and how he ended up Pan’s rival. It was not as exciting as I hoped it would be. Hook at least was able to cure David/Charming of his nightshade poisoning. Oh but there is a catch, he can’t leave Neverland as he will die if he does. Uh Oh! Please don’t keep this show tied to this island any longer than it has to be! Please!

Pan devilishly told Hook about Neil being alive and on the island, because he knew Hook and Emma were becoming a thing and that this would throw a wrench into that thing. This week Hook told David and Mary, and while the men wanted to make sure Pan wasn’t saying this to be cruel and to keep it from Emma until confirmation, Mary refused and told her that Neil may be alive. They later set out to find him, he was supposed to be hidden in some cave. However just like with everything on this island, there is a price to pay, a secret fear or truth has to be revealed to gain entrance. Mary admitted that as much joy that she has from finding Emma again, they missed her life, she didn’t get to be a mother. She wants another baby. Charming then had to admit he could never leave Neverland, and told her about the poison.

This week’s big draw was of course the entrance of Ariel the Little Mermaid. She rescued long haired snow in the past as she was on the run from Regina’s men. Ariel was of course in love with Eric, but he didn’t know she was a mermaid, as they only met once when she rescued him from a ship wreck. Snow was determined to help her, and then in stepped Regina with a plot to get Snow. Regina disguised herself as Ursula, who was only a myth to Ariel’s people, but did so and appeared to grant Ariel’s wish. She would allow Ariel to stay on land forever, and in exchange Snow would become a mermaid and could get away from the evil queen. Ariel thought it was a great idea, but Snow didn’t and saw it for the trap it was. When Regina did manifest and reveal her trickery, Ariel saved Snow, but at the price of losing her legs and voice forever. Meanwhile back at her castle, the real Ursula, well a weird CGI version of her, appeared in Regina’s mirror. She warned her that she is no myth, she is very real, and Regina better never impersonate her again! I think it’s a clue that we will eventually see Ursula. Whether that will be this season or next, who knows. I hope they land someone excellent to play her.

Meanwhile in the present Neverland, Rumple keeps talking to Belle’s image, who Regina sees and realizes is a trick of Pan’s, one of his shadows. So apparently he hasn’t been talking to himself all along. We got another clue as to the relationship between Pan and Rumple. Rumple knows how to kill pan, but to do so would be killing himself? Is Pan some weird fractured piece of Rumple’s childhood? I’m so confused! Regina and Rumple set out to get rid of Pan once and for all. She summoned Ariel who can travel between dimensions, apparently that’s a gift of the mermaids. Ariel of course wasn’t about to help Regina, but Regina said she could actually give her what she’s always wanted . . . Eric. Regina gave Ariel her voice back, and offered her legs forever . . . she just needs her to go to Storybrooke and deliver a message as to where they are and that they are trying to save Henry. Oh and as temptation for Ariel to do this, Eric just happens to be there of course!

At LEAST we are going to see Storybrooke again. That’s an improvement. I’ll post official spoilers when they are out. For some reason they’ve been keeping things under wraps. My guess is the network was waiting until the Ariel episode aired.