The past weighs heavy on the Once Upon a Time fan’s soul. A glimpse into the future may be just the cure for hiatus melancholy.

Once Upon a Time season 5 is now in the annual three month hiatus that all fans dread. While you scroll through Tumblr staring at gifs of Emma and Hook saying their goodbyes, Mr. Gold cutting his hand and opening the Underworld, and Regina casting her sister back to Oz, know that you are actually preparing for season 5’s return quite well. Looking into the past, though painful as it may be for some fans, is exactly what the creators want to focus on in the series’ second arc.

Why do you think the Underworld is populated with such a colorful array of faces from seasons past? In looking toward the future of Once Upon a Time it is hard to ignore what from the past will influence actions of the future. One tale, of Hook and his father, drove the narrative point home in the winter finale. Though not as pronounced as past clues for impending stories (for example the Queens of Darkness rallying or a wicked witch making her debut), Once Upon a Time continued their more mature storytelling in season 5 layering it into what was perhaps the best half season of the show since its premiere.

Trust and solidarity are two major factors that are going to carry the heroes through their journey in the Underworld. As Edward Kitsis told ET, “But you know, the best part about breaking your heart is repairing it and putting it back together.” In anticipation of the healing to come we break down what challenges await them in their journey as we head into the remaining 87 days of the hiatus!

Hypable’s recap: Once Upon a Time 5×11 recap: Hell and back again

‘Souls of the Departed’

Congratulations! You stuck with Once Upon a Time long enough to see the series achieve the 100 episode milestone! Though some two-hour episodes ruffled the feathers of the recappers’ ability to distinguish episodes from specials, it still calls for some celebration, and Once Upon a Time knows just how to do that — bring back everyone who died and have them dwell in the Underworld.

Will this include Neal? While it may seem that everyone in the Underworld played a huge role in the visitors lives, the world belongs to those who have some unfinished business to attend to. The major players ready to cast their grievances on the heroes will include Peter Pan, Cruella, the Blind Witch, Prince Henry, and, of course, Cora.

Cora will serve as a tour guide of sorts when the group arrives in the Underworld. Speaking to THR, Adam Horowitz and Eddie Kitsis explain that the entire setup of the new world, including why it looks so much like Storybrooke, will be explained in the opening act. You can also expect to see Sidney Glass in the special episode.

‘Who puts the ‘glad’ in gladiator?’

Though only confirmed for a single episode, Hercules and Megara are heading to Once Upon a Time in the episode following the premiere. Their appearance will take place in an episode titled, “Labor of Love.” Not much is known about their role in the heroes’ narrative, but we expect that it will have something to do with the appearance of The Distinguished Gentleman, aka Hades. No one in the creative team at ABC has officially confirmed that the two are one in the same, but from our perspective it is a pretty safe bet that a trip to the Underworld and a Hercules plug must include the keeper of the souls himself. Our fingers are crossed for some CGI blue hair.

Hook’s past continues to haunt him

Hook slyly pulled the focus of the latter half of season 5 when it was revealed that Emma tied his soul to Excalibur and ultimately fed him to the darkness he worked extremely hard to put behind him. In the finale, Hook’s backstory got a bit more complicated as his relationship with his father Brennan offered him the chance to change from the ruthless captain of the high seas. But betrayal runs deep in his father’s blood and Hook cannot bring himself to let go of the past that easily.

The second half of season 5 will bring back the pirate who has just escaped his second brush with Darkness. Expect to see Milah return to Once Upon a Time but not as a member of the Underworld ensemble in episode 100. Liam, not the orphaned boy Hook left to find his father’s dead body, but the brother who died at the hands of Neverland magic, will return later in season 5 as well.

Gone and kind of forgotten?

Some interesting characters saw an unsettling by the close of the winter finale. Zelena twisted away in a cyclone, Ruby and Mulan popped by for a split second in the middle of the fall, and Belle once again slept through the chaos. So where will we see these characters again in season 5?

Zelena is certainly not down for the count. In fact, TV Line reports that she will be facing Dorothy once again in the merry old land of Oz. We’ll have to wait until mid-season to see the two reunite when Dorothy catches wind that the Wicked Witch has returned to Oz and taken over the emerald world she loves. With a click of her heels, Dorothy will return all grown up and ready to fight for the magical land.

Ruby and Mulan will also return (!!) for an arc in season 5B.

This is perhaps the first time that the extensive return and promotion of lost characters feels warranted for the advancement of the story. As Once Upon a Time steps away from the duality of mega-Disney movie plugs, we hope that the deeper, more painful stories of these characters continue to surface.

Once Upon a Time season 5, episode 12, “Souls of the Departed,” returns to ABC on March 6, 2016 at 8:00 p.m. ET.