Once Upon a Time
Season 6 Episode 2: “A Bitter Draught”
Directed by Ron Underwood
Written by Andrew Chambliss, Dana Horgan
Created by Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz
Starring Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, Lana Parrilla, Josh Dallas, Emilie de Ravin, Colin O’Donoghue, Jared Gilmore, Robert Carlyle, Rebecca Mader
ABC
Air Date: Sunday, October 2nd, 2016, 8:00pm

Last week’s Once Upon A Time rolled 37 stories into one. This fast-paced fairy tale had adventure minute to minute. Gold (Robert Carlyle) entered Belle’s (Emilie de Ravin) dreams in an effort to wake her with true love. Her dream setting was the castle where she first served him. Although the love part didn’t work (turns out even her fetus is against reconciliation), we got a “sigh” moment as they danced to the Beauty and the Beast theme song. Belle did get woken up, but left Gold. A flashback revealed that Aladdin (Deniz Akdeniz) used to be a savior, but Jafar (Oded Fehr – who definitely had to be a Dark One) broke him. The symptoms he had were ones that Emma (Jennifer Morrison) is experiencing now, but hiding from everyone except Mr. Hyde (Sam Witwer). These symptoms include the shakes, and visions of her unavoidable, and really soon future death. Refugees from The Land of Untold Stories crashed in Storybrooke, and they are coaxed out of hiding and welcomed. Regina (Lana Parilla) just cannot get past the role Zelena (Rebecca Mader) played in Robin’s death, however unintentional. This made her ripe for the Evil Queen’s picking.

Spoilers below.

Once Upon A Time 6.2 “A Bitter Draught” review: Evil Regina convinces Zelena to open the vault.

Zelena: “And what do I get out of it?”

Evil Queen: “A sister who appreciates all of our delightful qualities.”

Regina welcomes all the refugees who were afraid that their stories in the book would come true. She manages a rousing speech. Belle walks in and needs a place to stay, but Emma has to go to therapy.

A mystery man comes in and tells Henry he is unimportant, then disappears, leaving an invitation with a seal. A flashback reveals that he is the Count of Monte Cristo (Craig Horner), where he killed a man in cold blood for revenge. That is where he first met the Evil Queen. The present invite is for Snow White and Prince Charming (Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Dallas), to finally fulfill his promise to the Evil Queen to kill them.

Emma really does tell Archie (Raphael Sbarge) about her visions. She doesn’t want her family to worry and save her. “If I’m not the savior, then who am I?” She storms out. Classic Emma.

Snow, David, and Regina go and look for the Count. Regina decides to meet him alone, but before she does, she tells of a time the Count almost got them. He pretended to be part of a village that got attacked. Snow and David took him in as their wine steward. In the present, the Count cannot be talked out of his path. And there is another force field around Storybrooke, keeping hem in. Regina summons Zelena to find out if she put the protection spell on the town. Zelena is guilty but defaults to angry sister to have them stop it.

Hook brings Belle to the Jolly Roger, where there’s a vacancy. She is reluctant at first, but he explains that it is a step towards forgiving himself.

The Evil Queen goes to Gold. She promises not to hurt Belle and his unborn son in her plans. In return he gives her a “bauble” that looks suspiciously like a subway token. She gives him the “come hither” look.

Regina is frantic to stop Edmund. She finds a poisoned Charlotte, and the Evil Queen appears. She has Edmund’s heart, and that is why he cannot be stopped. He confronts Snow snd Charming and knocks them out.

Back in the past, it was Rumplestiltskin is the one who sent the Count and Charlotte to the Land of Untold Stories because he needed Snow and Charming to live. In the present, Regina saves them from the Count by killing him, all according to the Evil Queen’s plan. And the ultimate plan? To have Regina tear everyone’s happy ending apart. Regina is distraught of course. Henry (Jared Gilmore) is too. Very cool about the Star Wars reference. Do you think they will do Star Wars? It is all Disney.

The Evil Queen is a very busy evil bee. She sends David the token and then makes him question his father’s death. She then gifts her baby niece with a family heirloom – a rattle. She is very happy with Zelena’s secret-keeping abilities. “I’m the sister you want Zelena.” I do believe that.

So what do I think? I do like the idea of untold stories, both for strangers and for our regulars. I hope that Emma doesn’t die, but if the series ends that way, it would be fitting. However, it is a Disney show on a Sunday night (early), and I don’t think that’s how this will all end. I think everyone will get their happy ending. So far, my Hook is back to side boyfriend which is a place I do not like him to be, but perhaps this Belle/Gold thing will bring his arc to the forefront. Cinderella is next week, and there isn’t a Cinderella story I haven’t like yet.

And Lana Parilla is getting to have a lot of fun this season already.

Once Upon A Time airs Sunday nights at 8:00pm ET on ABC.

Synopsis:

When a mysterious man from the Land of Untold Stories, who has a past with the Evil Queen, arrives in Storybrooke, David and Snow work together with Regina to neutralize the threat. Belle seeks Hook’s help finding a safe place to hide away from her husband, Mr. Gold. The Evil Queen continues to try to win Zelena over to her side, while Emma resumes her therapy sessions with Archie and shares her terrifying vision of the future.

Image Gallery

Video

The Evil Queen Recruits Zelena – Once Upon A Time

The Evil Queen (Lana Parrilla) breaks into Regina’s vault to steal more magic while trying to persuade Zelena (Rebecca Mader) to join her revenge plan.