Once Upon a Time in Wonderland brings back two fathers and follows their paths to redemption in their children’s lives. But can they ever do enough? Read our full recap to find out!
This week, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland episode 8, “Bad Blood,” examines the bloodlines between father and kin. Jafar’s tortured past is filled in with a few more pieces from his past. In a similar storyline, Alice confronts her own demons lurking in her past through contacting her father. But is he really who he says he is? Read on to find out!
Father of the Year: Jafar’s mother, a healer in Agrahbah, dies while Jafar is a young boy. Before she passes, Jafar’s mother informs him that his father is the Sultan, and he should go to him to be taken care of. In order to get inside the palace walls, Jafar steals a knife from the guards. Rewarded not for his blood relation, but for his cunning scheme to gain entry to the palace, the Sultan appoints him to be a serving boy. But he must never speak of his relation to the family.
Working in the palace, Jafar easily proves that he is more skilled than his biological half-brother in a meeting of foreign leaders. Speaking out of turn costs Jafar, and he is punished by the miniature prince. What seems like a lax punishment is soon outdone by the Sultan who drowns the boy in his washing bowl. Sometimes you have to teach kids a lesson, right?
Tossed from the palace in a carpet, a mystical aura finds him and brings him back to life. Jafar looks upon the palace with disgust and anger in his eyes.
How do you know Alice? In England, Jafar brings the White Rabbit as leverage to bring Alice’s father to Wonderland. Once they make it through the rabbit hole, Jafar informs him that Alice is in danger and refuses to listen to Jafar’s many warnings to leave. Unfortunately for Jafar, Alice’s dad is the last person she will run to for help. Back at square one, Jafar decides to try a way to give Alice the father she always wanted. He whips up a potion that will transform him into the likeness of Alice’s father.
Dragons and Impostors: Alice makes it to the shores of Wonderland, where the Knave and Alice discuss how they will make it to the floating island. Alice spies a birdbark tree, out of which she will fashion a basket to fly to the genie. From the woods, Jafar stumbles out onto the beach and begins his attempt to transform Alice. Only, it is a bit harder than he anticipates. It is going to take more than muttering, “I believe you, Alice!” to win her back into his good graces. He decides to try and win over the Knave. He asks him for advice to help the aid the process of healing between them. The Knave says that Alice is not likely to give up on people, especially those who need help. (But it would not hurt if he can help her find Cyrus.)
Still in disguise, Jafar summons a dragon to attack the party on the shore. After Alice rescues him from the dragon’s advance she concedes to his efforts to win her over. That is, until he makes one grave mistake. Upon taking food from the Knave, Alice’s father does not say grace on a night which he claims to be most grateful. Alice calls the Knave to the shore and informs him that they need to make a break for it, before the impostor does an harm to them.
The Best Gift: Jafar takes the bait of Alice’s distrust and brings her real father to her. Hanging him over a cliff, Jafar makes the man beg for his life. An emotionally convincing plea, where he does not ask for forgiveness, or to take another thing away from her. With her hope restored with her father’s information regarding Cyrus’ escape, Jafar drops Alice’s father to his death. He heads towards the cliffs until Alice, wishes her father’s safe return home. Two wishes down, one to go.
The Knave is alarmed that the wish may not be all that she desires in the end. Alice is sure that by granting her father his life, his understanding will pay back later on. With her faith renewed, Alice and the Knave continue to search for Cyrus.
Jafar takes his oldest prisoner down to have a chat. In one final flashback, Jafar storms into the palace, fully grown and trained in magic, takes his father under the hold of a knife. When his half brother shows up and tries to flee rather than fight Jafar, his life is taken. Jafar takes his father into custody where he remains an old prisoner in a cage until he can muster up the ability to claim him as his son. Which does not appear to be anytime soon.
The Sultan only regrets that he did not hold Jafar under the water long enough as a boy. When Jafar demands he call him his son once more, he declares that he will never give him what he wants as long as he lives. He tries to back up off the cliff, but Jafar is one step ahead of him and he lands on the carpet. The real fun can begin now.
Watch Once Upon a Time in Wonderland season 1, episode 8 “Home” Thursday, December 12 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC