Once Upon A Time extended episode recap: 4x09 "Fall"

"Fall"

The Snow Queen stands in the forest, watching her Spell of Shattered Sight approach, when she is joined by Mr. Gold. He congratulates her on her victory, and she thanks him while commenting that his words are a welcome change considering he’s usually so confrontational. Gold wants to make a deal, but the Snow Queen declines, as he has nothing that she wants. With a touch of subtlety he questions when the spell will hit (sundown) and reiterates the spell’s effect: it will bring out the darkness in every Storybrooke resident. The Snow Queen replies that it will do more: they will tear each other apart until they’re all dead. He says that not everyone will die: she will remain, along with her “sister” Elsa and Emma, but so will he, spending every waking moment of his immortal life trying to rip her heart out. She says he does have something she wants and asks what kind of deal he wants to make. Gold, ever looking out for his own interests, says he wants to leave. With a sardonic tone she half-asks/half-reminds him that they already made that deal, but Gold says he has an eye for a loophole and he’s spotted hers: Belle and Henry will be destroyed by her spell. He wants her to spare them, and in return he will spare her misery. She tells him to enjoy his trip.

Our fearless heroes watch the spell coming from the clock tower. Charming suggests they open the mines and the vault for shelter, but Regina reminds them that this is magic: it doesn’t care about ceilings. Regina estimates the spell will arrive by sundown and everyone will start tearing each other apart; Emma says they shouldn’t be in town anymore. They travel to the wall, where David tries to ascend using climbing equipment, but he is blasted back as a new pair of icy stalagmites appears. A crack appears in the ground and Elsa finds Anna’s necklace, declaring it a miracle and a sign they’re going to win. Regina asks if everyone is into this “hope” thing now. Emma instructs Charming, Snow and Leroy to warn everyone of what’s coming so they can separate from their loved ones so they don’t hurt each other, while Hook is to go to the docks and attempt to ferry people out on boat. Regina intends to warn Robin Hood and the Merry Men while Emma and Elsa take Henry with them to find Gold to mine him for ideas. Regina insists on taking Henry with her instead, and Elsa lets it go that the ribbons will make her and Emma immune to the curse; Emma wants to take Henry but Regina, viewing Emma as part of the nut job Snow Queen’s plan, insists he come with her. Henry agrees to go with Regina, hugging Emma as Regina looks back at the coming curse.

Emma and Elsa go to the pawn shop hoping Belle will give them information, but find that the spell is unstoppable; however there may be a way to undo the effects on anyone it touches: once someone has had their sight shattered, their hair can be used as a vaccinating counterspell. Elsa realizes that Anna was under the Shattered Sight spell when she put Elsa in the urn and they can use her hair to guard against the spell; Anna can be found using the locator spell on Anna’s necklace. Belle examines the necklace under a magnifying glass and finds mirror dust embedded in the metal. Belle says she will round up the fairies and gather them to make the counterspell, while Emma and Elsa try to find Anna. Emma reminds Elsa that she was brought here via time travel and 30 years have passed, but Elsa insists she doesn’t care how old Anna is, Anna can still save them. The two of them depart to find Anna.

In Arendelle, everything unfreezes from the Snow Queen’s spell. Anna and Kristoff look for the urn but it’s gone, as is Elsa and Ingrid. Anna wants to find Elsa and tell her she didn’t mean to put her in the urn. Anna finds a piece of gold straw on the floor and realizes Rumplestiltskin has the urn. Hans tells her that she is literally hanging a big assumption on a really thin straw, but Anna realizes Rumple followed her after she took the hat box. She insists on finding her aunt and freeing Elsa, saying only Elsa can rule Arendelle. Hans enters, saying her overheard that she attacked the reigning queen and lost her to another land, which is treason. Anna is incensed (“And I sang with you!”), and Hans proclaims himself the new king of Arendelle as they move to arrest Anna and Kristoff. The two of them surrender, but it is a ruse: they grab swords and overpower Hans and his brothers, then use the swords to lock the door before they flee the castle.

At the Storybrooke docks, Hook looks out to sea watching as the ice wall bursts through the water, blocking any escape. Gold is with him, saying the Snow Queen is good, and invites Hook to sit down, patting his briefcase as he reminds Hook where his heart lies. Gold tells him he has a job for him and conjures the hat box; Hook questions if it’s for Emma, but Gold says no. He goes on to say that Granny’s is being converted into a hive for the vilest of creatures: pious little fleas. Hook realizes he means the fairies, and Gold says that when needing to get rid of an infestation, it’s required to collect them all. Doing so will infuse the hat with enough power to separate Gold from the dagger and allow him to leave town, and he asks if Hook will assist him. Hook says Gold has his heart so he knows he can’t refuse, and Gold reveals that Belle intends to spend the day sequestered with the “fleas,” so he needs Hook to stay on stand-by while he gets Belle out of the way. Hook becomes angry, saying if he kills the fairies and their spell he’ll condemn the entire town to death, including Henry. Gold replies that he’s not leaving Henry or Belle; the three of them will leave the town to its fate. Hook asks about Emma and everyone else, and Gold says he doesn’t have time for everyone else: if he has to choose between everyone else and himself, he wins every time. He takes out the hat box and transforms it into the Sorcerer’s Hat. Gold tells Hook that he can flash his eyes and get angry all he wants but it doesn’t change the fact that they’re in this together.

Regina and Henry arrive at Robin Hood’s camp, watching as Robin teaches Roland the parts of an arrow. Regina warns Robin that the spell is coming and that they need to disperse before the spell hits. Robin calls Will to break the camp up and Regina sends Henry to help them. Regina looks at Robin and tells him she’s trying to memorize him with love in his eyes. She also says that the only two people who believe in her in Storybrooke are him and Henry, and she can’t bear the thought of him looking at her with hatred as everyone else does; it may kill her. He says they’re together, holds her face and says that this is true, and they kiss.

Outside the pawn shop Emma and Elsa use Anna’s necklace to start looking for Anna. It points them to the library. Elsa says she’s been in the library before and Anna wasn’t there, but Emma replies that there are tunnels underneath and that Regina kept a whole dragon down there for 28 years so they probably hid a small princess too. They enter the library.

 

In Arendelle, Anna and Kristoff run into the forest, breathless from their journey. Kristoff doesn’t want to face an evil wizard, but Anna says she has a plan: she read her mother’s diary before she left and her parents were looking for a wishing star. She doesn’t know what it is but they can wish on it, bringing Elsa to them. Anna reveals they traded the star to a pirate named Blackbeard, and Kristoff expresses disappointment at his choice between an evil wizard and a pirate. Anna retorts that pirates are better than wizards because they can pay off pirates; she intends to use the royal riches to pay off Blackbeard for the wishing star and save Arendelle.

In the tunnels, the necklace grows brighter as Elsa and Anna approach a wall. Elsa believes Anna is on the other side, but Emma says the wall is a new formation caused by the ice spiking and earth shaking. Elsa intends to breaks through, but Emma stops her before they cause another cave-in; they’ll find another way.

Anna and Kristoff arrive at the docks looking for Blackbeard, who appears from the depths of his ship and invites them onboard. Anna tells him she seeks her sister and wants to get the wishing star from him. Blackbeard acknowledges the star and offers it for the right price: his weight in gold. Anna asks how much he weighs and receives a dirty look in response, so she proclaims the star bought… no, sold! Anna tells Kristoff that as long as they keep the faith, everything will work out, while Kristoff says that dealing with pirates is easier than dealing with wizards. Hans arrives just in time to wreck the day (as ever; seriously Hans, go away dude).

Back in Storybrooke, Leroy examines a schematic of the tunnels in the library as Snow, Charming and Elsa look on; Emma and Regina are across the table from them. Charming’s phone rings and he answers while Regina tells Snow that things are a mess and a good mayor checks that these things are up to code. Snow replies that when the mayor only has to worry about one villain and it’s herself, it leaves a lot of time for infrastructure; Snow’s had other issues. Regina responds with a surprised look while Emma asks Leroy how long to clear the passage. He says a few hours, but Regina replies that they don’t have a few hours. Sundown will arrive before the “munchkins” finish (Leroy: “Dwarves, sister”) and Regina says she doesn’t care, just blast through the wall and take the risk. Charming comes back and says it was Belle on the phone: the fairies can make a counterspell. Even if they don’t find Anna, they can pull the dust from the necklace, but it will take longer…and it will destroy the necklace. Emma realizes the spell can save everyone or Anna, and Elsa insists it can save both, they still have time. Regina disagrees: searching the tunnels could take days. Leroy asks whether they save the town or find the sister.

Hook and Gold arrive at Granny’s, Gold telling Hook to take the hat and wait out back; he’ll know when he needs the hat. Hook complies as he heads inside. The fairies freeze in their tracks, Mother Blueperior asking what he wants. Gold wants Belle to leave, but Belle insists they’re close and to be patient. Gold says he’ll keep her company, causing Blueperior to come out of the kitchen and proclaim that “this is light magic, Dark One.” Gold replies that he might learn something. Blue gives a perfunctory smile which Gold returns, an air of menace about him.

At the meeting of heroes and villain, Regina insists that they need to get the necklace to the fairies or they and their loved ones will be hit by the spell. It’s one woman’s life versus the whole town, after all. Emma says they haven’t found an option; they don’t have to lose anyone. Snow says Emma is talking like a hero and Regina says “Yes, like all you Charmings always do.” But right now that’s not Emma’s job: they’re more than heroes, they’re leaders, which means making the tough choice where someone has to lose and they have to say who. Snow agrees with Regina. Regina looks at Emma in shock and Emma says “Yeah, I heard it too.” Snow says they have to do what’s best for the most people: giving the town its best chance. Charming agrees as well, saying they have to let the fairies destroy the necklace. Emma goes to Elsa to break the news, taking the bag with the necklace from Elsa, who goes into the elevator. She looks in her hands, revealing she still has the necklace, as the doors shut.

The group goes to Granny’s, where Mother Blueperior empties the bag to reveal pebbles from the mine. Regina realizes Elsa switched them for the necklace to keep tracking Anna and that she (referring to herself) should know better than to trust blondes by now. Emma wants to go back and get it, but Belle says it’s too late; without Anna there physically, there’s no way to make a counterspell. Regina looks at Snow, asking if it’s time for a hope speech about the virtues of blind faith, but Snow replies that Elsa’s blind faith is exactly what’s screwing them right now. Regina replies that coming from Snow, that’s terrifying. Emma refuses to give up and plans to help Elsa in the mines. Charming tells her to go because it’s their only shot. Gold watches on intently.

Elsa makes her way back to the caved-in wall as Emma arrives. Elsa uses her magic to blast through the wall, revealing the beach. Elsa is confused because Anna should be there, but she’s not. Elsa says the necklace is still glowing but because Anna isn’t there… her words trail off. Elsa asks if Emma thinks that something happened to Anna, but Emma says that they need to deal with the problem in front of them and apologizes.

At the docks, Anna asks Hans how he arrived so quickly, and Hans says they didn’t leave inconspicuously. He paid the Arendelle Navy to get them to the docks and Anna realizes it was all a trap and reminds Blackbeard of their deal. He laughs and tells her she looks like her mother when she gets angry, revealing that he met her mother and father when he sold them the wishing star. Anna is confused: if they had found the wishing star they would have used it to take Elsa’s magic. Blackbeard haughtily replies that they would have done so if they had known that the wishing star can only be used by pure hearts. Anna says they will pay him double what Hans has offered, but Hans denies it, saying he and his brothers rolled around on the money in the treasury already. (Anna: “You rolled around in gold bars? Weird! And ouch!”) Hans says it was a figure of speech and that they don’t need money where they’re going: death. Kristoff replies that he doesn’t think death is a place, but Hans says that they’re about to find out, as his brothers raise their swords to Anna and Kristoff’s necks.

Out on the ocean, Hans tells the captured duo that they’ve arrived at the place where Anna’s parents’ ship went down (Poseidon’s Boneyard) and that mother and daughter will die in the same place, both wishing they had never helped the “freak” Elsa. Hans wonders whether Anna’s bones will mingle with her mother’s at the bottom of the sea. Blackbeard orders a trunk brought forth, recalling an adversary who once made him walk the plank. Blackbeard was saved by a mermaid, so Anna and Kristoff will be placed inside to die without “finterference.” Anna insists Elsa will get out of the urn and kick Hans and his brothers back to the Southern Isles. Hans mocks her with the fact that he controls the Royal Navy, the Arendelle armies and even the ship they’re on, the Jolly Roger. (This may answer the question of who Hook traded the ship to in exchange for the magic bean in Season 3.) Hans goes on to say that if Elsa hasn’t found a way to escape the urn in 30 years, she probably won’t any time soon. Anna is confused, and Hans reveals that the Snow Queen’s spell kept them frozen for 30 years. Anna and Kristoff begin talking about what to do but the trunk lid is closed over them before getting tossed overboard and sinking.

Meanwhile in Storybrooke, Emma and Elsa walk on the beach as Elsa gazes at the necklace, unable to accept that Anna is gone.

At the bottom of the sea, the trunk is revealed to have sunk next to the bottle that Anna’s mother threw overboard in the season premiere.  Anna and Kristoff are inside, yelling for help as the trunk fills with water. 

Elsa reminisces about the necklace being her gift to Anna for Anna’s wedding, and that she found it among their mother’s belongings. Emma is sorry for her loss but it’s almost sundown and the Spell of Shattered Sight is nearly upon them; they need to go or the town will turn on each other, and though they’re immune, it won’t stop the townsfolk from attacking the two of them. Elsa says she failed and deserves to be attacked, crying as she realizes she’ll never know what happened to Anna.

The trunk continues to fill with water as Kristoff frees his hands from the rope. He unties Anna, who cries and begins reciting her wedding vows. Kristoff stops her, saying she’s not allowed to marry him unless they get out of the trunk.

Elsa holds the necklace to her heart, apologizing for not finding her sister, and wishes that Anna were with her. A blast of magic energy flies out of the necklace and Emma realizes something is happening, though she doesn’t know what.

 Anna and Kristoff proclaim their love for each other just as a magical light fills the trunk. Meanwhile a whirlpool appears in the water just off the beach, and as Emma and Elsa look on, a blinding light shines out of it and blasts them back onto the beach. They rise and see the trunk, which opens to reveal Anna: everything in Arendelle happened at the same time as the events of Storybrooke. Elsa runs to Anna and Kristoff and the two sisters begin speaking over each other in loving excitement. Emma realizes they arrived because Elsa wished it, and they’re all hit with the knowledge that Anna’s necklace is the wishing star. Emma insists they get Anna to the fairies to make the counterspell, Elsa and Anna hug, and the bottle floats to the surface, transported to Storybrooke with the wishing star’s magic.

At Granny’s, Belle goes for her Gold with the news that Anna is on her way and asks if he thinks they can make the counterspell. Gold replies that perhaps they can, but if there’s one thing he’s learned, it’s to never trust a fairy. He ushers Belle outside, telling her they need to get her someplace safe as he nods to Hook, waiting in the back of the diner to use the hat. 

Emma, Elsa, Anna and Kristoff make their way down Main Street towards Granny’s as the Spell of Shattered Sight appears in the sky above. Kristoff recaps that Anna won’t be affected since she was already under its influence once, while Anna inquires about Emma and Elsa; Emma says they’re immune and they’ll explain how later. (Anna, looking around town: “What a funny-looking world.” Elsa: “Right?”) 

As Mother Blueperior mixes a potion, she is startled by flashing light and the sound of the other fairies screaming and running. She watches a fairy disappear and hides behind the cabinet, crawling towards the door and her escape, but is found by Hook. He apologizes and brings the hat towards her, pulling her in as she screams.

 

 Emma and Co. arrive in Granny’s to find an empty diner, believing the fairies to be gone because of the Snow Queen. Elsa asks what to do now and Emma replies to prepare for the worst. Hook is hiding behind the counter with tears in his eyes, and listens as the group leaves.

Gold brings Belle to his shop, telling her he cannot keep the spell out but that they must be separated. Though he is immune to the spell, Belle can still hurt him. He instructs her to hide in the back room before he encases the shop in a protection spell so no one can hurt her, promising he’ll be back and they’ll be together. Hook arrives and notes that Belle truly loves him. He can have Belle or all the power in the world. It’s Gold’s choice. Gold replies that he doesn’t have to choose, he can and will have both. Hook asks if they’re done, but Gold says he won’t give up control over Hook until he has everything he needs. Hook asks what it is, but Gold stays mum, saying only that by morning everything will be complete… including Hook’s life, so he should run along and enjoy his last day in this (or any) land.

Emma arrives at the sheriff’s station, asking her mom and dad what their plan is. Charming and Kristoff greet each other (Charming: “You cut your hair!” Kristoff: “You cut yours too!”) and Charming acknowledges Anna as Joan, who tells him that she likes his hair shorter. Charming introduces Snow, Neal and Emma as his family, leading Anna to question how Emma can be his daughter. Emma interrupts that they’ll tell her after they survive the curse and asks Snow and Charming about their plan. Snow and Charming look at each other before moving into the jail cells. Snow offers Emma the keys and says this is the plan: Emma, Elsa and Anna are the only ones immune and the rest of them need to protect themselves. Charming tells Kristoff to handcuff himself to the desk. Emma refuses to lock her parents in the cells but Snow says she has to, and Charming says they won’t be able to hurt anyone from within. 

Snow insists Emma take the keys as Elsa cuffs Kristoff to the desk. Emma says she doesn’t know what’s going to happen, how long it’s going to last or what’s going to happen to her, but Snow interrupts and says that she’s going to fix things and come back and save them. Charming tells her they believe in her and Emma and Snow share a sad look as Emma takes the keys. Snow reminds Emma that Henry is in a safe place and the others can take care of themselves while Emma locks Charming’s cell door. She asks her father about the baby, and he tells her that baby Neal won’t be with them. Emma asks who will take him and Snow stifles her tears as she tells Emma, “You are.” Snow tells Emma that they don’t fear her magic. It’s what’s going to allow her to take on the Snow Queen and win. Her magic is what makes her special and she is going to use her specialness to save them; she and Neal both will. Elsa says that Emma has wonderful parents and a tearful Emma replies that she knows. 

 Hook appears and asks Emma for a quick word. Emma asks Elsa to hold her brother, who complies and takes baby Neal to Snow’s cell, where Snow puts her hand on her son’s head and cries. Emma goes to the pirate, who says he needed to see her one more time. She tells him that she’s not a terrible goodbye kiss person but kisses him, holding him close. He bids her goodbye and she puts her hand to her lips, a look on her face indicating she knows something is off. She takes baby Neal from Elsa as Kristoff asks how long they have. Anna goes to the window and says they have one more adventure together. Emma looks at her mother, who looks out the window and says “Here it comes.” She and Charming grasp hands.

Regina and Henry arrive at Regina’s office, apologizing for not staying focused on Operation Mongoose and allowing her heart to pull her to Robin Hood. Henry tells her it’s not over: they will find the author and Regina will be happy. Regina says that first they have to survive, and that she’s going to seal him in so no one else can get to him. She tells him not to be scared and he says he’s not: Emma and Elsa will fix this, she needs to have faith. Regina hugs him and wishes she could be as brave as he, and he tells her to go. They exchange “I love yous” and Regina casts a protection spell. Robin Hood arrives and she tells him she’s going to her vault, but it’s too dangerous for him to be around her. He offers to come with her but she refuses, saying she needs to seal herself in her vault, not to keep others out, but to keep herself in. He says he’s not afraid of her but she replies that he “really…really should be,” and leaves.

Regina arrives at her vault and seals herself in.

Snow and Charming hold hands and she begs him not to let go. He tells her not to be afraid, they share a heart and nothing can come between two halves of one heart; no spell can come between what they have.

We see Henry in Regina’s office, Belle in Gold’s shop, Robin in the forest, Hook on a roof, Gold in the street, Regina in her vault, and finally the Snow Queen in the forest, all waiting for the spell.

The Spell of Shattered Sight has filled the skies. Shattered pieces of mirror begin to fall like rain. Emma looks at the ceiling as bits of enchanted glass come through the air ducts, covering her brother from their spell. Anna and Elsa hug while Snow and Charming gaze at each other. The bits of mirror fill their eyes, causing Snow’s eye to crack like a mirror. They pull their hands apart, looking at each other, for the first time, with hate in their eyes.

Bookend Notes

• Snow handing baby Neal to Emma incorporates many layers of the overall story: Snow letting go of Emma, Emma letting go of Henry, Snow finally letting go of baby Neal as Archie suggested earlier in the season. It highlighted the same tragedy that has befallen this family so many times and played to the deepest, most long-standing theme of the show:  parents giving up their children for their best chance at survival. 

• Mother Blueperior will return, with the rest of the fairies (and likely some villains) before the season is out, as Rumple is forced to release the hat’s prisoners.

• The twist of concurrent storylines (Arendelle and Storybrooke) reminded me of the Season Two premiere “Broken.”

• Elizabeth Lail’s performance of Anna is a physical embodiment of an animated character that seemed impossible until now. She is Anna.

• Regina and Henry mentioning Operation Mongoose was no accident. Their mission to find the author of the book is directly tied to the Sorcerer’s Hat and the Sorcerer himself, since he is (likely) the one who wrote it. This story is far from over.

• Will Scarlett’s history in Wonderland, and the fate of his love Anastasia, looks destined to be revealed in the second half of the season. Make no mistake: his small appearances here and there are but breadcrumbs to a larger (and tragic) story.

• Rumple has succumbed to his darkness in a way never seen before. Though he has committed heinous acts in the past, nothing compares to his actions this season. The twisted little imp grows more twisted.