Let’s face it, Once Upon a Time has a bit of a villain overload in season 4. Here are some of our favorite moments thus far from the doers of darkness.
The highly anticipated Queens of Darkness have now dwindled down to Maleficient. With Cruella lying over a cliff and Ursula kicking back with her dad under the sea, Maleficent’s story runs a tight race with Gold and Regina’s for a rewrite from the Author.
This week’s episode will focus on the hunt for Lily, Maleficent’s daughter, who is living in the world outside of Storybrooke. But before we move forward with another villain’s tale, let’s take a look at the best moments Cruella, Ursula, Maleficent, Ingrid, Gold, and the recently returned Zelena gave us in season 4.
Cruella and modern technology
An entirely new insight into the gin-soaked lady from London was given to viewers as “Sympathy for the de Vil” took a look at Cruella’s past. Tucked away in a parallel realm, not unlike the swinging 1920s, Cruella meets the Author, who willingly writes a way for her to escape her past and join him for a new future.
She may have been stuck in the ’20s for a while, but Cruella eventually made it to New York City and adapted to the modern technology that came with it. For further proof, see her strong selfie arm in action!
Source
Maleficent’s rocking past
Mal’s story is far from over as the pieces of her child’s story begin to come together this week. But a moment from her past proves to be one of the stern leader’s best this season. When Regina, still a novice in the art of magic, travels across the land to seek the guidance of the once all-powerful dragon lady, she is greeted with the shell of a woman who resembles a bit more Mick Jagger and Captain Jack Sparrow than all powerful sorceress.
Source
Ursula and the Captain
The sea-witch’s eight legs were not always a part of her world. As a young mermaid, Ursula’s father used her voice to lure ships to rocky passages. But destruction was not in her code of ethics and she traveled to the surface singing in taverns on shore. Captain Hook caught her eye and promised her passage aboard his ship.
When they reunited in Storybrooke, the pair made up for lost time with a few insults.
Source
Zelena’s return
Near the end of season 3 it seemed that Zelena was down for the count. But as we learned this season, that pile of dust took off with the wind and into the portal where a new phase of her plan to destroy her half sister’s life began. Sure, living in the body of Marian and playing the part of betrayed wife and loving mother was a drag, but she got the job done.
Source
Ingrid: The Ice Cream Queen
Remember Frozen? With so much going on in season 4’s second half, it may be hard to recall what happened way back in the fall of 2014. The banished sister from Arendelle made her way into Emma’s past and present as she kept track of the one person who could fulfill a prophecy that would restore the sisterly bond she lost many years prior.
A deleted scene illustrates Ingrid’s attempt to blend into her new surroundings as seamlessly as possible, making sure that no one catches on to her plans for Emma.
Source
Related: Watch the deleted scene here!
Gold’s tiny extension of humanity
There is little that Gold does that deserves the title “best” or “favorite.” In fact, most of his actions negate every little extension of kindness he is capable of offering. But one moment does stick out above the rest from earlier in season 4. After Henry starts to work in his shop, Gold catches on rather quickly that he has other intentions during his time there, but that does not bring out an evil side of Gold. Rather, he keeps a closer eye on his grandson, offering to teach him the value of hard work…before ultimately using Henry’s advances in the Author search for his own gain.
Source
Watch Once Upon a Time season 4, episode 20, “Lily,” Sunday, April 26 at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC.