In a gamechanging midseason finale, Once wraps up Peter Pan’s plot –then hits the reset button.
and a preview promising the imminent introduction of the Wicked Witch of the West.
(Just whatOnceneeded: Another villain whos more compelling than any of the shows heroes.)
Credit: Jack Rowand/ABC
Luckily, that sprint largely worked shoehorned-in Tinker Bell redemption plot and all.
As our story begins, Felix and Panry have made it to the Wishing Well with Reginas old curse.
Or, in this case, the heart of the one who loveshimmost.
Except by members of the Gross Hair Club for Teens.
(What,Dumbledores gravewas too much of a schlep?)
Good thing Nealfire thought to bring along his coconut shade-catcher!
Dumb question interlude: The coconut thing works because the shadow is drawn to fire, right?
So why isnt it also drawn to the bowls of open flames in the fairy chapel?
The answer, Im sure, is something along the lines of Yknow…magic!
Oh, and also, Blue comes back to life.
Why?Because magic, thats why!
Regina can then destroy the scroll, undoing Pans curse… as well as her own.
But theres no time to worry about the consequences of that last bit.
and slaps it on Pans body as a precaution.
Then he uses the Black Wand to un-Freaky Fridayhis grandson and his father.
Not even halfway through the episode, and everything is going just according to plan?
You know that means something crazy is about to happen.
Ahh, there we go.
And hey, hes got a sword!
(You idiots weve all got swords!)
NEXT: Sins of the father
Yeah, not so much.
He then slaps the spell-blocking snap bracelet onto Rumpels wrist and saunters out of the shop.
Oh Pan, I think Ill miss you most of all!
NO NO NO NO NO!
I didnotsign up to watch127 Hours: The Desolation of Pantonight!
Luckily, Rump ends up electing to keep his hand.
But thats apparently the case and Rumpel has grown strong enough to accept his fate.
But Rumpels mind is made up: Im a villain.
And villains dont get happy endings.
Bae is stoically devastated.
Evidently, they dont remember that anotherOncecharacterjustcame back to life like, ten minutes ago.
NEXT: Say goodnight, Storybrooke
There will be time to speculate about Rumpels inevitable reintroduction.
Which means that if she undoes the curse, shell never be able to see Henry again.
Itll also make Storybrooke itself disappear.
Thats a lot of information to get in 30 seconds.
And so were back to that emotional goodbye sequence I mentioned at the top of the recap.
Funny how a mind-altering curse in one context can be a kindness in another.
Who else expected him to follow that with a cheekywhere were going, we dont needroads?
(Short answer: Mary Margarets closet.
Long answer: Magic magic Blue Fairy magic magic.)
How well does bail bondspersonship pay?
Emma and Henrys New York apartment isswank.
So how did Rumpel call his shadow back to him if he didnt have the use of magic?
Im hoping the answer is one episode, max.
(We already had a whole season of that.)
Oncereturns… in three months.
However will we while the time away?
Thats Rebecca Mader ofLostand, er,Work Itas the Wicked Witch.
Idina Menzel must be green with envy.
And finally: Rumpel cant be dead.
