*WARNING: Spoilers Ahead*
What’s a pirate to do with so many beautiful women wanting him for his services? Hook is given the spotlight in tonight’s episode as he has double dealings with both Regina and Cora. First, Regina wants him to kill her mother Cora for killing her lover not too long ago. She discovers her in Wonderland and sends him there using the Mad Hatter’s hat. Once there, he is captured by the Queen of Hearts who turns out to be Cora (who better to be on the throne than her). Hook shown just how Cora got her new title by attempting to take the captain’s heart; then, he is compelled to tell her about the deal struck with Regina that involved her assassination. Hook accepts a new deal given to him by Cora once she tells him the truth about the curse her daughter plans to invoke. I don’t believe Hook is committed to Cora considering the only thing he wants is to kill Rumplestitskin/Mr. Gold. Pirates have been known to be out for themselves and Hook is a pirate.
Gold’s obsession with Emma is also revealed when she, Snow/Mary Margaret, Mulan and Aurora arrive at his cell where he was once held and find a note written with the very ink they need to stop Cora and Hook from traveling Storybrooke. On the scroll is Emma’s name written repeatedly. It is later revealed that Gold had anticipated everything that has happened since Season 1. He orchestrated nearly all of Emma’s actions (and the actions of all those he has dealt with) to this point in the series. Gold was depicted as someone who possesses strong manipulative capabilities, but I never would’ve guessed they’d be strong enough to traverse worlds.
More insight is given into Hook and his arrangement with Cora. They travel back from Wonderland where Cora is presented to appear dead before Regina, who issues seemingly remorseful words laced with resentment toward her mother. Once Regina leaves, Cora changes her plan, for she knows her daughter’s curse is already in motion. She surrounds the land they are on with a spell that will spare them from the curse. Hook sticks with her mostly because she is the only one who will help in achieving his goal. He has no reason to trust her and will continue provide assistance so long as she proves useful. This is evident when Cora tosses Aurora’s heart (given to her by Hook) into the portal. However, Hook snags it just before it falls in and tosses it to Mulan. The reasoning behind this action is a mystery. Again, Hook seems to have other plans.
Henry is still trying to change Regina for the better, getting her to give up her Evil Queen role in exchange for her love for him. He has come along during this season and is being given a take-charge role. Henry got his shining moment in the two previous episodes where he was given a hero’s role. In tonight’s episode, he comes through again as he convinces Regina to remove the spell set by Gold intended for Cora and Hook. He even gives his adoptive mother a lecture about trust that strikes a chord with Regina. Guess this shows that in many ways, Regina is not like her mother. She destroyed everyone else’s happiness because she was unhappy. Cora destroys happiness because she simply doesn’t care. However, that may all change. After Emma and Snow White/Mary Margaret return home and go off to celebrate with their family and friends, Regina is left out of the picture as her happiness with Henry has come to an end and she is left contemplating whether she did the right thing by saving the very people she set out the ruin. I don’t see Henry trying to change her after this and we may be greeted by the Regina from last season.
This season has put focus on a lot of the secondary characters as well as introduce new ones, taking the spotlight the off of Emma/Regina duel and putting it on Rumplestitskin and his past dealings with some of the other characters. I would like see more about Wonderland and how Cora became the Queen of Hearts along with who will be Alice. You can’t have a Wonderland tale without Alice. I’m curious as to how she’ll be written in (this has to happen, it simply cannot). Well, we’ll see when Once Upon A Time returns on January 6.
