SPOILERS AHEAD!! WATCH IT DEARIE!!
August tells everyone about the Apprentice who may be able to help deal with Isaac. Hook takes everyone to the Apprentice’s home where the Blue Fairy frees him. Isaac finished the story requested of him by Gold and a bright light envelops the town. Henry awakens in Storybrooke to find that the town is completely deserted. Isaac is in New York attending a book singing for his novel when Henry, who drove to the city, approaches him, demanding to know where his family is. Isaac tells him that they are living alternate lives in the storybook. Henry takes the storybook and uses the key to enter the magical world. Isaac, who followed him, knocks Henry out and ties him up just as an ogre attacks and then leaves. Henry is saved by the Ogre Slayer—Rumplestiltskin. Henry is found by Regina in the forest and he tells her about Stroybrooke but she doesn’t remember. Isaac, while searching for Henry, is captured by the Seven Dwarves and taken before the Evil Queen Snow White. Isaac negotiates with Snow White to hunt down Henry in order to keep the world he created intact. Regina attacks Snow White’s carriage only to discover her inside. Regina is about to be killed by Snow White when she is rescued by Robin Hood. He takes her to a tavern when he offers her a job to lead his Merry Men since Robin is about to be wed to his fiancée Zelena. Disappointed, Regina leaves. Henry finds her and attempts to once more time to convince her, Regina recalls Henry mentioning Emma who, according to Regina, is locked away in a tower.
Isaac finds Rumplestiltskin and tells him about Henry’s efforts to undo his happy ending. Rumplestiltskin does not believe him, forcing Isaac to leave. Henry finds Hook aboard the Jolly Roger with Blackbeard as captain. They take down Blackbeard sail to the island where Emma is being held and rescue Emma who still remembers him. They arrive on shore where they are found by Snow White. Hook tells Emma to leave with Henry. Hook duels with Prince Charming but he is killed. Emma and Henry find Regina again where Emma succeeds in getting Regina to follow her heart. They arrive at the wedding where they are greeted by Rumplestiltskin. Emma fights Rumplestiltskin, giving Regina a chance to stop the wedding. Emma is bested by the Light One as is Henry who stands up to him. Rumplestiltskin is about to strike Henry down but Regina throws herself between him and Henry. Thinking the deed is done, Rumplestiltskin leaves. Robin and Zelena walk out the church newly married when Robin sees Regina lying on the ground and rushes over to her. Isaac arrives to see this until he is punched by Emma for gloating. Henry takes up the quill which reveals him to be the new Author. He uses his newfound power to undo all that Isaac has done, returning everything to normal. At his shop, Gold is slowly dying with Belle at his side. Belle gathers everyone and the Apprentice attempts to use the Magic Hat to remove the darkness from Gold’s heart. However the dark power escapes until it is contained by Emma who vanishes.
Well another exciting season of Once Upon a Time comes to a close. There have been many twists along the way and new stories written for beloved characters. This two-hour finale takes a page from Cinderella III: A Twist in Time. In that story, the wicked Stepmother finds the Fairy Godmother’s magic wand and uses it to undo the story set by the first film. Isaac the Author does the same, rewriting everyone’s story. I never knew who scary Snow White can be as the Evil Queen. Ginnifer Goodwin must have gotten lessons from Lana Parrilla to draw out her dark side. She plays up a dark Snow White nicely. Regina is given to role of bandit but she still gets the short end of the stick because she is denied ever having a happy ending. Gold planned that one. Oh and speaking of the Dark One, Rumplestiltskin is now the Ogre Slayer or Light One. He is written as the hero he never could be and in some ways still isn’t. He still chickened out during the Ogre Wars which resulted in Baelfire’s death and now goes around saving people to make amends. This was a nice break from the norm of the series as it serves to illustrate what a lot of us wonder. How would the story turn out if villains won?
Henry stepped up in a big way, taking over the role of Savior since his mother Emma is written out. Ever the believer, he manages to gather Emma, Regina, and Hook together to help undo what Isaac has done. It was a big responsibility but Henry pulled through. Heck, he even learned how to drive a car. I was impressed with Henry taking charge. Guess he was tired of being this series’ Princess Toadstool. At the end of the finale, the Apprentice reveals the identity of the sorcerer. Now we all had suspicions of who the sorcerer is. I was excited that Merlin is THE sorcerer. Who else could be better? When Lancelot was introduced in the start of the second season, I had a feeling that the series was going to tackle the legendary tale of King Arthur. As the series has done with most of the Disney films, the theme for next season will be “The Sword and the Stone.” With Merlin now retold as being the Sorcerer, the fifth season (the series was renewed in May) could also tap into “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” with a retelling of the classic “Fantasia” segment. With these two amazing stories set to be modernized and Emma Swan now being the Dark One, the next season of Once Upon a Time surely will be an excellent story.
