The Sea Shanty of Captain Hook!! Once Upon a Time S3 Ep.17 Recap!!

WATCH FOR SPOILERS, ME HARTIES!!

Hook and his crew scare off soldiers transporting gold and jewels. Afterward, they head to a local pub where Hook encounters Ariel. In Storybrooke, Emma asks Regina to help her with magic and Hook is confronted by Smee about joining up with the crew and resuming their pirate life. Emma asks Hook to watch over Henry. Mary Margaret and David find Ariel on the beach. She tells them that she has been searching for Erik without success. In the Enchanted World, Ariel asks Hook where Erik is, blaming him for kidnapping Erik. However, Hook says he hasn’t taken the prince and he is handed a knife with the initials of Black Beard carved into the hilt. Suspecting that Hook may still have his memories, David and Mary Margaret introduce him to Ariel. Regina takes Emma to her family mausoleum where she tries to show her how to use magic. Meanwhile, David and Mary Margaret determine that there might something of Erik’s in Gold’s shop. Hook and Ariel head to Gold’s shop where they find Erik’s cloak. Belle places a tracking spell on the cloak and it flies off to find its owner. They follow the cloak to the dock where it dives into the water. Ariel fears that Hook is right and Erik is indeed dead.

It’s a pirate’s life for Killian Jones aka Captain Hook which means it hasn’t been easy for him. Now if you have been keeping track, Jones started out serving in the king’s navy until his brother died from the night shade root after they leave Neverland. From then on, he has been sailing the high seas living a life of piracy and built up a reputation for himself as a ruthless pirate. However, that life has been put into jeopardy when words of his actions in Neverland spread. Smee is faithful to his captain but he does question Hook’s current judgment regarding his time with the Charming family and Henry. Hook is likely struggling with his humanity. Deep down he knows he is not as ruthless as the tag he has placed on himself. He tries hard to escape the pain of losing his brother and the love he has for Emma. Hook finds he cannot deny the fact that he is not the man others perceive him to be. He helps Ariel search for Erik both in the Enchanted World and in Storybrooke which he is reluctant to do in both situations. In the Storybrooke, he wants to keep watch over Henry to get closer to Emma whom he still has the hots for. In the Enchanted World, his men fear the pirate who has taken Erik—Black Beard. If you didn’t know, Black Beard was a notorious English pirate who operated around the West Indies and the eastern coast of the American colonies. His reputation is no less frightening to Hook’s crew. His look is clearly inspired by the depiction of Captain Hook from Disney’s “Peter Pan” film. Black Beard has also heard about Hook and Neverland and that he has gone soft. Hook proves Black Beard wrong by defeating him in a duel and making him walk the plank afterward. In the end, Hook has regrets for choosing his ship over helping Ariel after falling in love with Emma. He tells this to Ariel along with the fact that he has crossed paths with her before. Yup, Hook is the only one who has retained his memories of the past year. Ariel turns out to be Zelena the Wicked Witch in disguise. She exploits Hook’s love for Emma by cursing him so that when he kisses her, Emma would lose her powers. Zelena tacks on that she will harm Henry if he does not comply and kiss Emma. Torn by the worse ultimatum anyone can have, Hook is forced to choose between his own self-preservation and his love for Emma.

Well, guess who seems to have turned over a new leaf. Regina has been spending time with her one time archrivals Snow White and Prince Charming. She places a protection spell on their apartment to keep Zelena from getting Snow White/Mary Margaret’s baby. It’s odd because before she was hell-bent on destroying Snow White and Prince Charming and their love. Now she is helping them keep their baby safe. Whether she is doing this because she truly wants to change or she hates Zelena even more is anyone’s guess. Her kindness continues when she gives Emma some Jedi training in wielding her magic powers. She uses an unconventional method to teach her, such as dropping a wooden bridge out from under her. Regina expresses great concern and worry for Emma when the bridge completely gives way and Emma is sent plummeting into the chasm. Had this happen over a year ago, Regina would have relished in the moment. But like Gold, she is slowly changing for the better. Regina proves to be a good coach, walking Emma through casting a spell on a mirror to see Ariel and Erik together again. Later at Granny’s diner, she sits down with the Charmings for a meal and appears to having a good time. If this keeps up, not only will Emma learn how to wield her powers but perhaps Regina can be seen as the Not-so-Evil Queen.