Out with the Frozen and in with the Queens of Darkness. Meet the new ladies in town with our Once Upon a Time season 4, episode 11 recap.
Once Upon a Time bid farewell to Anna and Elsa on tonight’s winter finale, but welcomed in a new set of obstacles to keep the residents of Storybrooke busy when the show returns this March.
Rumpel is frustrated that his plan to escape under the Snow Queen’s spell failed and even more frustrated that Anna is out running about the town. A flashback reveals that Belle’s curious mind leads her to explore his collection while he is storming Camelot. The Knights of the Round Table are one gauntlet short now that Rumpel holds the artifact that will locate a person’s greatest weakness. Hearing of his latest pillage, Belle asks what we’ve been thinking the entire series, with the power to control anyone he pleases, why does he keep searching for more power? Rumpel may have great power, but even that has limits.
Belle doesn’t want just the stories behind the objects, she wants the adventure. And in the present Rumpel wakes her to grant that wish. First stop, New York City.
Marian is finally alive and well! But this causes Regina to take up a stool at Granny’s to lament her lost love. But Marian knows that her husband’s heart belongs to another and that is no life to live, Regina is free to be with him should he choose her. Robin’s choice is clear, but Marian’s ailments show a little late. Magic illness is running deep in her heart and there is only one course of treatment, a new life over the line in a world without magic. But someone needs to go with her.
Back in the past, Belle continues her chores, but a dalmatian lures her away from the clothesline and into the grips of a cloaked figure. As a crow circles overhead, Rumpel uncovers the captor. Heading to the cliff where she is held, each mistress of darkness makes her debut. Maleficent in full Jolie garb, Cruella emoting desperation and smelling of gin, and Ursela using her tentacles to hold the prisoner still. Trading the goblet for Belle’s life, the maid wonders why he would choose to care for her. Rumpel hides his feelings by saying that if anyone is going to crush her heart, it will be him. More on that later…
Hook and Rumpel follow the enchanted broom up to the lake house and find the portal to Arendelle. Using Hook’s heart as a microphone, Rumpel feeds an unconvincing speech to Emma instructing her to send the Frozen crew on their way. Hook’s grip may be rather tight on her arm as he fights to free himself from Rumpel’s hold, but Emma has to let him go.
Will Scarlett bids farewell to Robin on the town line as Regina looks on from the car. Rumpel intrudes upon her final moments looking at Robin with a message for Henry. As he prepares to depart for the real world, he wants Henry to know that his charming attempts to snoop around the shop will be missed. Regina admits that he was hoping to discover a key to the author of the storybook. While he may not have a clue about the author, he does know a thing or two about taking what you want. Sure, Regina could let Marian die and take what she wants, but that is not who she is. She makes sure Marian and Roland get across the line before sharing one last kiss with Robin and seeing him on his way.
Rumpel’s final hour is approaching and he heads with Hook to the clock tower to await the stars aligning. At the same time, Elsa and Kristoff take the step through to Arendelle. Anna, who cannot seem to leave without getting her final words in, exposes one major secret, her association with Rumpelstiltskin.
As the realization hits the town heroes, time runs out for Hook’s heart. Rumpel takes great pleasure crushing his heart, giving enough time for Emma and David to storm in.
The words, “because I commanded you not to,” shut Rumpel right up and allowed the Once Upon a Time fans shaking their heads for the entire season to rejoice! Belle’s demands are not done quite yet. Once the town is free, it is their turn to have a little chat.
While cleaning up with Henry in the shop, Belle finds the gauntlet that Rumpel traded for her life all those years ago. In the moment of her rescue from the Queens of Darkness, Belle’s feelings towards Rumpel began to turn, but with the resurgence of the same traded gauntlet that made her see another more dominant side of him. The gauntlet led her to the dagger, Rumpel’s only weakness, which is his connection to power. His pleas that they can still have happiness with the power fall flat to Belle’s stone heart. She just wanted to be chosen, but that will never happen in his possession. She may have lost her way trying to help him, but it is too late for him. She no longer sees the man, only the beast.
The Frozen storyline goes out with a wedding, and one last reference to a line from the movie.
At Granny’s, Emma holds Hook’s heart in her hands and shoves it back into his chest. The couple can fully feel each other’s love once again. (Huzzah!) But someone at the bar is in need of a good drink, free of hope speeches. Emma pulls up a stool next to Regina, but it is Henry who offers her the swift kick she needs. Back in the mansion, Henry found a room full of books identical to his storybook. The only difference? They are all blank and ready to be filled with happy endings. Operation Mongoose continues the search for the Sorcerer, who is also the author.
But in New York City, another plan is hatching six seeks later. In a montage of the past and present, Rumpel delivers a message to the Queens of Darkness that villains need their turn to win and the time is now. The first stop on his journey is an aquarium where Ursula is feeding the sharks their daily chum. With two more stops to make, the story is about to change and two sides are after the author.
The race is on. Will the nice guys finish last?
Once Upon a Time returns March 1, 2015 with season 4, episode 12, “The Darkness on the Edge of Town.”