Once Upon a Time
Season 5 Episodes 22 & 23: “Only You” & “An Untold Story”
Directed by Romeo Tirone (5.22) & Dean White (5.23)
Written by Andrew Chambliss, David H. Goodman (5.22) & Adam Horowitz, Edward Kitsis (5.23)
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, May 15th, 2016, 8:00pm

This season, Once Upon A Time went from Camelot to the Greek Underworld, from King Arthur to Hades with a bunch of Dark Ones thrown in. Half the characters were dead with unfinished business, and the show explored how darkness can overcome the best of heroes. The season was filled with the usual-yet-oh-so-successful formula of bad magic + bad deals + bad love… hmmm… these fairy tales don’t ever really have happy endings.

But that’s what makes it so entertaining, right? There are no limits – any realm, any time, any character, any story, any creature… can pop up to challenge our heroes.

Last week, we lost Robin Hood (Sean Maguire – nooo!!!!) and Hades (Greg Germann – meh), but Zelena and Regina (Rebecca Mader and Lana Parilla) were finally and completely united in sisterhood, and Hook and Emma (Colin O’Donoghue and Jennifer Morrison) were reunited in love.

Spoilers below.

Once Upon a Time
Season 5 Episodes 21: “Last Rites”
Directed by Craig Powell
Written by Jerome Schwartz
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, Sean Maguire, Rebecca Mader
ABC
Air Date: Sunday, May 8th, 2016, 8:00pm

Last week, Once Upon A Time was full of betrayal and heartbreak. We got to see an Emma (Jennifer Morrison) origin story about how she became a bail bondsman, and acquired her signature red leather jacket. She also helped Hades (Greg Germann) get Zelena (Rebecca Mader) from Gold and Pan (Robert Carlyle and Robbie Kay), after they predictably tried to double-cross them. Since that didn’t work, Gold stole Robin Hood’s heart to give to his youthful father. That was a sham, as Gold double-crossed him and gave him a skin filled with water instead from the River of Souls. Hades took the names off of the tombstones, but the heroes couldn’t follow yet. That shared heart thing did not work because Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) was dead for too long. Hades told them how they could get their shot, but that was a dead end. Although it did prove their true love, there was no magic ambrosia left to help, and Emma had to leave him. It was all a setup. Also setup were the rest of them, trapped by Cruella and the blind witch. Emma was able to save the others and they all left the Underworld through the portal. Goodbye Hook.

Spoilers below.

Once Upon a Time
Season 5 Episodes 20: “Firebird”
Directed by Ron Underwood
Written by Jane Espenson
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, Sean Maguire, Rebecca Mader
ABC
Air Date: Sunday, May 1st, 2016, 8:00pm

Last week on Once Upon A Time, Hades and Zelena (Greg Germann and Rebecca Mader) made promises to stay together and live in the real Storybrooke, while the rest of the heroes stay stuck. Regina (Lana Parilla) turned to Cora (Barbara Hershey) for help. Cora made the girls remember that they once knew and cared for one another, and was then able to move on. Zelena went to go talk to Hades, but got intercepted and kidnapped by Gold and Peter Pan (Robert Carlyle and Robbie Kay).

Spoilers below.

Once Upon a Time
Season 5 Episodes 19: “Sisters”
Directed by Romeo Tirone
Written by David H. Goodman, Brigitte Hales
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, Sean Maguire, Rebecca Mader
ABC
Air Date: Sunday, April 24th, 2015, 8:00pm

Last week on Once Upon A Time, Dorothy was saved from Zelena’s (Rebecca Mader) sleeping curse with true love’s kiss from Ruby (Meghan Ory), and it was beautiful. I was really proud of the show from not shying away from a possible controversial storyline, where traditional fairy tales do not normally tread. The romantic tension between the two were apparent, as was their obvious struggle with their feelings. We saw Zelena really start to change by giving up the ruby slippers to Regina (Lana Parilla), and agreeing to help Belle (Emilie de Ravin). The help was the sleeping curse.

Spoilers below.

Once Upon a Time
Season 5 Episodes 18: “Ruby Slippers”
Directed by Eriq La Salle
Written by Andrew Chambliss, Bill Wolkoff
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, Sean Maguire, Rebecca Mader
ABC
Air Date: Sunday, April 17th, 2015, 8:00pm

Last week on Once Upon A Time, it was all about Belle and Gold (Emilie de Ravin, Robert Carlyle), as Hades throws Gaston in the mix. Gold killed Gaston, but forgot to mention that to Belle. Now he is a vengeful, yet handsome ex-boyfriend. She does not want anyone to get hurt, and pleads with Rumple to let her try to reach Gaston. Belle really doesn’t want Rumple to use dark magic. She ends up accidentally throwing Gaston into the River of Souls to save Rumple’s life. Emma (Jennifer Morrison) has a vision of Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin) dying at the hands of a beast. When it starts to seem to come true, they change course and get the beast – Ruby (Meghan Ory).

Spoilers below.