Fan Forum
> General Discussion
> Spoilers
> OUAT S&S #303: "It doesn't matter what I do. It's like every decision I make seems right, but it's wrong." ~ Lily
Master storytellers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz ("Lost," "Tron: Legacy") invite everyone to join Emma Swan, Snow White, Prince Charming, The Evil Queen, Hook and all the other resident fairytale characters as they prepare to defend themselves against a magical force from the past that's too unpredictable even for Rumplestiltskin - Elsa, the Ice Queen from Arendelle.
Welcome to Storybrooke, Maine, a small town that probably won't show up on your GPS, but it's a magical place to visit. Reality and myth merged after Emma broke Regina's curse, which had deprived the fairy tale characters of their memories and trapped them in our modern world. When they finally regained their identities, our heroes were dismayed to discover that they weren't transported back to Fairy Tale Land. To make matters worse, Rumplestiltskin - aka Mr. Gold - decided to escalate his power struggle with Regina by introducing magic into the town. But this is our world, and magic always has a tendency to yield unfathomable consequences.
You never give up on the people you love...
The Storybrooke residents do not know what Elsa has in store for them. Back in the past, in Elsa's kingdom of Arendelle, we will discover what happened to her, her sister Anna and Kristoff, and how and why Elsa became a prisoner of Rumplestiltskin. And now that Emma has brought back Robin Hood's wife, Marian, and possibly sparked the end of Regina's relationship with him, will she return to her old, evil ways and do everything in her power to get even? And newlyweds Belle and Rumplestiltskin continue to be deeply in love with each other. But Rumple is hiding a secret from Belle -- one that, if found out, could destroy their happiness - he continues to be the master of the dagger that calls upon him to be the Dark One. Can Emma and Hook commit to one another, and can these two damaged people take their love to the next level? Mary Margaret and David have a new baby, Prince Neal, and are looking forward to raising him into a proud, brave and loving adult. But they are still sad that they were not able to do this with Emma, instead helping her escape the curse when she was first born and not meeting her again until she was 28 years old. Henry is very happy to have both of his mothers back in Storybrooke. But with biological mom Emma and paternal grandfather Rumplestiltskin's blood running through his veins, he will be tested by both the light and the darkness. Finally, Will Scarlet (Michael Socha, "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland"), a former member of Robin Hood's band of Merry Men, has traveled across many lands to make his way to Storybrooke. He finds himself intertwined in the goings-on in town for the first time as his mysterious past pushes him to an unknown future.
As the season continues, new fairy tale characters will be revealed and old acquaintances will be revisited. But not everyone can be trusted. ABC Lead 8/13/2014
REGINA CONFRONTS HER MOMMY ISSUES, ON ABC’S “ONCE UPON A TIME”
Barbara Hershey and Rebecca Mader Return
“Mother” –Emma returns to Storybrooke to reunite Lily with Maleficent while Regina and Robin struggle to cope with the implications of Zelena’s pregnancy. When Gold’s health takes a turn for the worse, Isaac looks to a new ally for help procuring the magic ink he needs to re-write history. In a Fairy Tale Land flashback, Cora returns from Wonderland to beg Regina’s forgiveness on the anniversary of Daniel’s murder. Cora vows to help her daughter find true love, but Regina remains suspicious of her mother’s intentions.
Guest stars include Barbara Hershey as Cora, Tony Perez as Valet/Nobleman, Beverley Elliott as Granny, Rebecca Mader as Zelena, Sean Maguire as Robin Hood, Wil Traval as the Sheriff of Nottingham, Raphael Alejandro as Roland, Ingrid Torrance as Severe Nurse, Agnes Bruckner as Lily, Patrick Fischler as Isaac, John Innes as Older Man, Jeremy Patrick Schuetze as Young Man, Kristin Bauer van Straten as Maleficent, Chad Cosgrove as Carriage Driver, Joe Dodds as Outrider #1 and Jim Finkbeiner as Outrider #2
”Mother” was written by Jane Espenson and directed by Ron Underwood.
4.20 - "Mother" written by Jane Espenson | Airdate: May 3, 2015
Can The Author grant the villains a happy ending? That question will be answered in what co-creator Edward Kitsis calls a "two-hour concept episode" that will include pretty much everybody in Storybrooke. Also, Emma and Hook's relationship will be explored further, and it will become clear where Regina and Robin Hood stand. But where is our horned friend Maleficent in all this? Hoping for a reunion with her long-lost daughter Lily, who will make an appearance as well. By the end of the two hours, one person will be gone forever (as much as they can be on this show), and everyone will be left this season with a big "change in condition" that will carry over into next season.
'Once Upon a Time' showrunners spill 'Frozen' secrets (no Olaf!) EW: I’ve avoided asking you specific plot questions because I know that’s the area you don’t want to get into. But is there anything you’re comfortable to tease overall about how the Frozen storyline works into the rest of the show? Kitsis: Thematically we can say the first half of the season is about how you never give up on the people you love.
Do you have any scoop on Once Upon a Time‘s Hook and Emma? That would be great! – Jillian
As one might wisely surmise, Emma’s increasing darkness won’t only damage her dynamic with the ‘rents, it could also throw cold water on her first real romance in a while. “It impacts everyone,” series co-creator Adam Horowitz previews. “It’s the kind of thing where it puts Emma in a situation where she could be feeling isolated from those she loves and who love her, and those people are fighting to break through walls that are starting to come up again.” Even more ominous, the EP notes, these new walls “are even stronger and more difficult to surmount than the ones she had up when the series first began.” Bonus teaser: In Sunday’s episode “Lily,” “Emma comes face to face with her childhood friend” — aka Mal’s long-lost daughter, played by Agnes Bruckner — “and sees what their divergent paths have wrought on both their futures. It’s puts them in pretty direct conflict.” - Matt's Inside Line
Will finding out about what her parents did cause Emma to go evil on Once Upon a Time? — Hunter
I feel comfortable in saying that I’m worried. “That’s what we’re going to explore for the next few episodes,” executive producer Edward Kitsis says. “From episode 17 to the end, you’re going to see it’s a lot about Emma—will she go dark—and it’s also about this Author and what he can or cannot do.” But there could be hope on the horizon. “She’s going to get an opportunity to alter her parents’ past mistakes and she’s going to have an unlikely ally, which is Regina,” Kitsis adds. Spoiler Room
We’ve not had many spoilers for Once Upon a Time‘s Rumbelle recently. Is there anything that Adam and Eddy are willing to spill? Will we see them in the Dark Castle again? Will we see the chipped cup again? –Betsy
As I do, I hand-delivered your question to the Once creators, and Adam Horowitz confirmed that while there will be no revisiting of the Dark Castle during this last stretch of episodes, “The chipped cup does come back.” TV Line
I’m worried that last night’s Once Upon a Time was the beginning of the end for “good” Emma. Will the Author being in Storybrooke distract her from hating on her parents, or is she guaranteed to go dark dark? –Jamie That, I reckon, is the million-dollar question as the final episodes play out. As Colin O’Donoghue reminds, “The second half of this season is about the struggles that heroes and villains each have. And what great about the show is it’s never cut and dry. It’s never as easy as a villain is a straight villain or the heroes are pure heroes. They’ve all done something that they regret, but learn from it in a positive way.” As for the Savior specifically, Hook’s portrayer says, “We’ve seen moments where you could see where Emma could maybe become darker. Whether or not she does is a whole other thing.” | TVLine 3/30
What will happen when Emma finds out about whatever secret Snow and Charming are hiding from her on Once Upon a Time? — Kyra Snow and Charming will struggle with whether to tell their daughter the truth during Sunday’s episode. “[Emma’s] done a lot of growing over the three and a half seasons, so what happens when you find out that the person that was helping you grow might actually be as bad as the people you were trying to get away from?” executive producer Edward Kitsis says. The secret could actually push Emma closer to Regina. “Given what Emma is starting to go through and what Regina has gone through, there’s a new common ground between the two characters that will help build on that friendship,” executive producer Adam Horowitz says. “In addition to Henry, they now have something else they can share and deal with.” |EW 3/06
Rumplestiltskin said something troubling during last week’s Once Upon a Time that made me think he’s going to die. Please say it isn’t so! — Linda
I cannot confirm nor deny the Dark One’s fate, but you won’t have to wait long to find out what he meant when he said something else is changing, so he has to change the rules as fast as possible. “Rumple also has a secret about what’s going on with him personally,” executive producer Edward Kitsis says. “In the very next episode we’re going to get the answer to that.” We’ll also find out exactly what Rumple is lording over Regina that will made her obey—and it doesn’t have to do with Henry. “It’s something entirely different and yet familiar at the same time,” Kitsis says. Spoiler Room
Is Once Upon a Time actually considering a Belle/Hook pairing or are they just keeping the two busy, while Rumple and Emma are busy with the Queens of Darkness? —Linda No, no, no. They’re not hinting at a Belle/Hook pairing. Belle and Will Scarlett, however, may be a different story, as you’ll see teased this Sunday. As series co-creator Eddy Kitsis notes, Belle and Will, after all, have “a lot in common,” in that “they both fell in love with villains (Rumple and Wonderland’s Red Queen, respectively), and they both hoped that these villains would be redeemed.” And they both were let down. With Rumple banished (as far as Belle knows!) and Anastasia MIA, “Anytime you have your heart broken,” Kitsis says, “you look for a way to smile again.”
Any Once Upon a Time scoop you can share about the infamous Cruella de Vil? –Mason If you’re wondering how Cruella wound up in Long Island, N.Y. while her previous associates Rumplestiltskin and the Charmings landed in Storybrooke, Maine, co-creator Adam Horowitz promises that in an upcoming episode “all the pieces on the chessboard are laid out,” explaining “who wound up where and why.TVLine 3/03
I need something on Robin and Regina before Once Upon a Time’s return. — Max When the show returns, Regina and Robin haven’t spoken since he left town. Suffice it to say, the Queens of Darkness coming to Storybrooke will test Regina’s resolve. “Regina has really shown a lot of decline this year by not killing Marian and doing the right thing,” executive producer Edward Kitsis says. “There’s a lot of her that feels like, ‘Why am I continually doing good things when I’m not getting good results?’ As far as Regina and Robin Hood goes, that and what happens is one of our favorite parts of the second half.”Spoiler Room: Regina/Robin| EW.com
I’m going to need some more Once Upon a Time scoop. — Tonya Ask and you shall receive: Robin Hood and Rumplestiltskin are not the only characters who will be leaving Storybrooke. “You’ll see some characters arriving in Storybrooke and you’ll see some characters departing as well,” executive producer Adam Horowitz tells me. “We think it’s fun to venture outside the confines of Storybrooke and see some of our characters in the real world.” Case in point: We’ll actually see an entire episode devoted to Robin Hood’s plight in New York City. - EW 2/20
Any chance I could get some scoop on my favorite Once Upon a Time character, Robin Hood? –Nicole As previously hinted (and despite how Season 4A ended), Sean Maguire will be back in some capacity this spring as Regina’s soul mate. “And for the uber-observant fans,” series cocreator Adam Horowitz hints, “we’re going to shed some light on just why he might have looked different and not had a tattoo in Season 2″ — that is, back when the role was was originally played by Tom Ellis. Do you know if we will see Emma’s childhood friend Lily on Once Upon a Time again this season? –Dee Horowitz was a bit less forthcoming on that topic, offering only the teasey, “We sure hope so!” TVLine 2/16
Can Belle ever forgive Rumple on Once Upon a Time? — Michelle If she ever will, it won’t happen overnight. “That’s one of the things in the second half that we’re exploring, which is forgiveness,” executive producer Edward Kitsis tells me. “Can good people make a bad decision? Can bad people make a good decision? Can you come back from the bad decisions you made and how? What he did to Belle is really atrocious and that is not going to be solved with a mixed tape and flowers.”EW - 2/13
"This back half is a lot about what makes a hero and what makes a villain and it's about trying to realize our happy endings," Kitsis revealed. "The [storylines] that we were teasing in the first half [of season four] with the book and the author is really going to be in this front and center of this second half. We are really going to be furthering with Regina on her pursuit of a happy ending."
We've learned that there's a fine line between good and evil, so we had to ask it: With the Queens of Darkness headed to town, is there a possibility that Emma could be swayed to use her powers as a villain? "I think that we are going to explore that very question in the second half," Kitsis answered.
"For Emma we are going to continue to explore her powers and what being a Savior and those powers mean and all facets of that," Horowitz said, "She's been very close to people who use magic for good, and with Regina it was people who used magic for evil. Even though Regina has been on a path of redemption, with Emma's it certainly has opened up the possibility of many different magical powers." ET-2/05
Anything on Once Upon a Time’s Regina?? — HeySomeOtherMe Finding the Author’s library was a big step towards achieving her happy ending, but there are still bumps in the road ahead. “This is a quest that has been quite difficult for Regina,” Lana Parrilla tells me. “With all the research she’s done thus far and Operation Mongoose, she keeps hitting dead end after dead end. She’s lost some faith in ever finding this author, but she’s still not going to give up. A lot of that positive reenforcement comes from Henry in being the heart of the truest believer, who keeps her afloat and keeps encouraging her to not give up. He plays a huge part in finding clues. They work together and start to find clues leading to the discovery of this author, so that will play out for the remainder of the season.”EW-1/30/2015
"Emma will continue to explore what her particular heritage really means," says cocreator Adam Horowitz, "as we learn that there are more secrets attached to who she was, is and will be." TVLine 1/05/2015
Is there any chance for Captain Swan scoop from Once Upon a Time? I miss them dearly! –Sarah Series cocreator Adam Horowitz tells me that when Season 4B arrives on March 1, “The tables are turned” for the Storybrooke lovebirds when “Hook, after having Emma return his heart, will now have to fight to protect Emma’s heart.” From what, I/we can only wonder….- TVLine 1/23/2015
What are three words/things that are mysterious now, but won’t be once Once Upon a Time returns this March? — OnceStorybrooke I took your ingenious question straight to the OUAT bosses and the answer is… interesting. “Voice, Feinberg and eggs” executive producer Edward Kitsis says. “Take that, Once people!”EW-12/19
THR: OUAT' Bosses Tease Queens of Darkness' Ties to the 'Core Characters' -12/15 As you're looking at the second half of the season, what theme are you most excited to play out?
Kitsis: I would say that right now, the thing we're excited about is what makes a hero and what makes a villain. And what is a happy ending.
Question: On Once Upon a Time, will we find out why Will Scarlett/the Knave left Wonderland? —JJAusiello: “Yes, we should be learning more about his post-Wonderland life as the season progresses,” Once cocreator Adam Horowitz answers. “We will also be exploring more of his past with Robin Hood.” TVLine
Question: On Once Upon a Time, is Emma going to help out Henry and Regina with Operation Mongoose? —Dee Probably not until the 12-episode Frozen arc is over, at earliest. As Jennifer Morrison shared during our set visit, “I’m sure we’ll get around to it eventually, but that storyline right now is separate from ours [and] there’s only so much overlap that can happen before there’s just too much going on. But I’m sure that in the second half of the season, we’ll all have some kind of participation in that.”
Any Once Upon a Time scoop about ‘Rumbelle’? —Serena Sunday’s reveal that Rumple is after the Sorcerer’s hat and all the magic it contains certainly doesn’t bode well for the couple’s future. “He definitely loves her and wants to be with her, but the hat existed long before she came along and will probably exist long after she’s gone,” muses Robert Carlyle. “This quest is so massive for him. This addiction is huge. [It] drives Rumplestiltskin more than love.” TVLine-Ausiello 10/21
Before the first half of Once Upon a Time‘s season ends, will we find out who wrote the storybook? —Tom Actually, no. As cocreator Eddy Kitsis revealed to Matt Mitovich at the New York Comic-Con panel this past weekend, Regina and Henry’s “Operation Mongoose is going to be a rather big story for the year. Whereas we are splitting seasons in half, this is a story that will transcend both halves.”
In the premiere, Emma reassured him, “Be patient.” But it’s been a while since the show has had anything close to a love scene. Might Emma and Hook eventually end that dry spell? JMO: I hope so. That’s about all I can say| MattM/TVLine 10/02
As excited as I am for Once Upon a Time‘s Frozen storyline, I’m curious as to how The Knave (played by Michael Socha) is going to fit in in Storybrooke. Know anything about that? – Sarah Do I! Just seconds before publishing this week’s Inside Line, I got off the horn with Once creators Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis, the former of which said that The Knave’s “background as Will Scarlett, who was one of the Merry Men and a thief, comes into play very early.” Kitsis then added that for Wonderland fans, “We will be explaining why he’s in town. I can also say that he fits rather nicely into Storybrooke, and his introduction is a really fun one.”
I am loving that Hook and Emma finally kissed in the Once Upon a Time finale! Any hints about how Emma now views him/their relationship? –Liz I can’t speak for the fictional character of Emma, but Jennifer Morrison, the actress tells TVLine. “They’ve both been through similar things, they’re both survivors and they’ve both had to fight in order to literally just live. There’s also something in them where they’ll both go to great lengths to protect the people they care about — and sometimes they’ll do really bad things to do that, but they both have really good hearts, so I think they see a lot of themselves in each other.” Emma is also seeing impressive changes in the pirate. “This season in particular, because Hook has really fought for Emma to be true to herself and be the most powerful version of herself, he’s earned a tremendous amount of trust from her, and that’s what really makes it organic for Emma to feel vulnerable with him,” Morrison notes. “I know that in my own life, I have a strong reaction to people who empower me and say, ‘You should be yourself, even if it means making some mistakes.’ So the fact that he does that, and isn’t at all put off by that, makes it a good place to start a relationship.” | MattM/TVLine
Adam Horowitz, executive producer and writer | twitter
Andrew Chambliss, writer | twitter
Jane Espenson, writer | twitter
David H. Goodman, writer
Robert Hull, writer
Daniel T. Thomsen, writer
Kalinda Vazquez, writer | twitter
Helga Ungurait, production | twitter
future thread titles
"A man unwilling to fight for what he wants...deserves what he gets."
"I thought you said you could outrun a storm. This isn't a storm. It's bloody damnation!"
"Conjuring magic is not an intellectual endeavor. It's emotion"
"Magic is about emotion. Summon up that moment that made you so angry you would've killed if you could."
"Magic is power. Until you take power, you're not learning anything."
"It's time for us to believe. Not in magic, but in each other."
"No death is the best option."
Emma: I wouldn't eat the apples in this house
Now we can focus on our impending lack of a future. - Regina
Hook: "We're in Storybrooke. Never heard of the telephone?"
"Never think you're ordinary just because you don't have magic."
What he did to Belle is really atrocious and that is not going to be solved with a mixed tape and flowers."Unfortunately savior magic doesn't go quietly"
"I should have listened to that stupid fairy."
"You always think that pulling away from people will fix your problems, but it never does." - Henry
"Just remember love is free but all magic comes with a price.
"The next time a happy ending knocks on my door I'm going to be ready. I'm not going to let this book stop me again.
"A hero always helps strangers.
I made you a promise I intend to keep. Everyone deserves their happy ending.
"It will be like old times. A prince and a princess on an adventure but without the evil queen on our trail. -David
"I don't want him to be with me out of obligation. I want to be chosen." - Marian
"Leave Emma and the rest of Storybrooke be. There's no need to harm them."
“It’s time the villains got their happy endings.”
“Your life is crap.”
“You were blinded by love.”
“You have a mark in the hero column.”
“I know it sounds crazy.”
“I will never go back to where I started.”
“This is not our first monster bash.”
“I’ve conquered realms in less time.”
“Rumpelstiltskin got the best of us.”
“A cripple, a coward with the real ability to die.”
“Beware of lurking pirates.”
“I’m leaving with my prize.”
"You know, you talk a good game, Dark One, but can you deliver in a world with no magic where apparently walking is a challenge"
What exactly are you offering short stuff?"
"I'm just trying not to think about being some demon's lunch."
"Mostly wondering how a piece of undercooked calamari ended up with the Dark One's cellphone."
Henry from 1.02: "In the book, things always look worse right before there's good news."
Snow and charming has made more then one bad choice this whole arc so i think it is a fair comparism i think all the characters have made bad choices based on what they need and to be fair the charmings have made many bad choices when pushed to the wall snow did kill cora yes rumple pushed her in that direction but the choice was still here's and every time that snow back is to the wall she does the same thing.
I disagree. This season, when David wanted to destroy the page so that Regina couldn't get to the author Snow made the right choice to tell Emma the truth, even though it was the hard choice. Snow also could have decided to save her mother's life at the expense of someone else's and ahe didn't.
She doesn't always chose the easy way out, even if she did it ocasionally, while Regina is always making the wrong decisions when she is desperate. As a Regina's fan, I need her to be written consistently and I need her redemption arc to show her going beyond making the wrong choice.
IMO, the writers should write her redemption arc without her backsliding when it's conveniently. It's not even shocking or surprising any more. It's a given: 'Regina is pushed, just wait to see her choosing wrong again'.
Snow and charming has made more then one bad choice this whole arc so i think it is a fair comparism i think all the characters have made bad choices based on what they need and to be fair the charmings have made many bad choices when pushed to the wall snow did kill cora yes rumple pushed her in that direction but the choice was still here's and every time that snow back is to the wall she does the same thing.
Why did you bring up Snow and Charming anyway? She was discussing Regina. The discussion had zero to do with them.
I'm sorry my disappointment over the inconsistent writing of my favorite character led to this.
You didn't bring them into the discussion. And you have every right to express disappointment over a character you love without someone brnging up other characters' mistakes.
Why did you bring up Snow and Charming anyway? She was discussing Regina. The discussion had zero to do with them.
I am sorry i didn't realize that all characters couldn't be discussed here my bad
we were discussing actions and i still think all characters have made bad choices some more then others but no one is above approach.
As for regina i think that if regina suddenly only made the right choice that would be a little off for me characters like regina and hook (hopefully it is ok to discuss hook) they tend to sometimes not make the right choice that is what makes them who they are but this all my opinion I think that this arc is a lot about showing that all characters can make bad choices but doesn't mean they are evil
All characters can be discussed but comparisons on who's made worse choices or defending one character by cutting down others serves no purpose other than to be divisive.
Yeah but it doesn't really sound like we can discuss all characters
There has been many conversations that start off about one character and we bring in another and i never said what regina did is worse or better then snow's choices all i said is all characters have made bad choices.
It just seems that we can compare regina's actions to rumples and that is ok, it just seems that it is ok to bash rumple, rumbelle,regina or OQ and nobody seems to question it but you make one small comparism to snow and that seems to be wrong to me that doesn't seem like we can discuss every character unless we agree with certain points.
I think the point Austenphile was rightfully trying to make is that all these characters stand on their own, and you can discuss Regina's merits without taking shots at Snow and Charming. That goes for all the characters.
And just to be fair, we're all guilty of this, but it's a terrible way to make an argument in a non-bias thread.
__________________
And then her heart changed, or at least she understood it; and the winter passed, and the sun shone upon her.
I don't quite understand why Issac needs to write, and needs an ally. This was all Rumple's idea. Issac doesn't approve of his methods. So what does he get out of it? Is he trying to get away by writing his own happy ending with the ink? And why did he make the apprentice transfer Emma's darkness into Lily?