Once Upon a Time Recap: Dread Pirate — Hook's Very Dark Plan Is Revealed 

For all the loopiness of last episode’s Double Dark Ones (Extra Dark Ones?) twist, this Sunday’s

mined the fallout — as well as the Camelot events leading

IN CAMELOT…. | We saw “Rumple” tempt newly Dark Hook with the chance to “finally do what you never could do before — kill

, of course.” To do that back in Storybrooke, a Dark Curse would be required, and “Rumple” has a heart-crushing loophole in mind. But then newly Dark Emma shows up, only to be met by an angry Hook, who lambastes her for undoing his centuries spent quelling a bloodlust. Emma speaks of the future they were heading toward,

, which forces “Rumple” out of Hook’s mind. But later the apparition resurfaces to taunt Hook with the notion that Emma is hiding Excalibur  — which, it turns out, she

. Eventually, Emma hands over the sword to Hook, saying, “I

trust you to control your own fight” with the Darkness. “I love you, and I will never try to control you again,” she adds, prompting Hook to echo the ILY and pull her into a kiss.

They return to Granny’s to see Merlin (who’s busy recording his “voice message” warning) — except that once there, it becomes clear that Hook was puling a fast one on Emma, because once she lied about hiding Excalibur, “all bets were off.” Hook plucks out Merlin’s heart, then magics Excalibur back into the stone whence it came. But how will crushing Merlin’s heart enact the curse? Because “Rumple” transforms into “Nimue,” and since “all the Dark Ones” are inside Hook, his crushing the pumper is as good as Merlin’s ex-love doing it herself. Emma warns Hook that in doing so he’ll be crushing his happy ending with her, but he laughs off the sentiment as the musings of her “lovesick puppy dog.” When Hook crushes Merlin’s heart and triggers the curse, Emma acts quickly to erase Hook’s memory of being a Dark One and casting the curse, and then memory-wipes the others, so that back in Storybrooke she can make the best of a very bad situation — albeit on her own, without help.

to this Camelot adventure. Grumpy’s gotta be glad he tagged along.

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IN STORYBROOKE… | Regina and the Charmings find Emma in the wake of her confrontation with Hook and Zelena, who slapped the magic-sapping cuff on her. Regina and Snow chastise Emma for  not thinking of the consequences of turning Hook dark, even to save his life, as well as for the idea of killing Zelena as part of the grand plan. Snow then gets the idea to retrieve their memories to piece together Hook’s endgame — except the dreamcatchers are missing.

After Dark Hook challenges Rumplestiltskin to a duel at noon aboard the Jolly Roger, Rumple, Belle and the others convene to speculate about the pirate’s possible plan. Emma wants to help as well, but no one will remove the cuff for her — not even Henry, who sees through her desire to use dark magic to get things done all by her lonesome and not as part of a team, as in the old days.

Before heading off to the duel, Rumple acknowledges to Belle that “not wanting [him] to die” is not the same as wanting to be with him, so if he manages to survive, it is his vow to do “better by you, to love you the way I never could before,” to “be the man you deserve.” To that end, he invites her to meet him at the well, should he survive.

Hook meanwhile meets up with Emma, where he admits, “Of

I still have feelings for you: Anger. Hatred. Disappointment.” He says he now sees her for what she really is — “an anchor, nothing more than a pretty distraction.” When Emma warns that the Darkness is using him for its own purpose, he shrugs it off — as long as he gets what he wants in the end. For nasty measure, he chides Emma for pushing away the ones she loves, saying “that’s why you’ll always be an orphan,” destroying her happiness as she does quite well on her own.

Meanwhile, Regina reunites Zelena with Baby Hood, explaining that she and Robin have agreed — despite their better instincts — to let her be a part of the little one’s life, that maybe the unconditional love of a child can turn things around for her, as Henry did for Regina…. And Emma intercepts Henry at the library (where everyone has their noses buried in

), beseeching him to help her with “Operation Cobra, Part II” — and he agrees, going so far as to remove the cuff for her when they find the dreacatchers protected by magic.

At the Jolly Roger, before the duel gets underway, Hook kindly first “fixes” Rumple’s limp, and then the longtime adversaries get to swashbuckling. Rumple manages to run Hook through with his plain ol’ sword, to little effect. Hook then slashes Rumple and pins him down, but gloats just long enough for Rumple to (literally) sandbag him. Rumple grabs Excalibur, but rather than finish Hook off, he lets his foe live with the knowledge that he was in fact bested.

one this day, too, for upon reuniting with Belle at the well, she says that while “some part” of her will always love him, her heart has been broken too many times. When Rumple points out, “My heart is pure now, we have a chance to make this work,” she counters that she isn’t sure she wants to, that after so long a time mending

Meanwhile at the mayor’s office, when Emma restores everyone’s memories with the dreamcatchers, immediately realizes what Hook’s dark plan is. We then see Hook and “Rumple” at the pond where the Fury tried to drag Robin away. The apparition explains that with a drop of the blood of a man who died and came back — e.g. Rumplestiltskin, whose blood is on Hook’s… hook — they can open a portal to the Underworld. A boat then appears, and off it and across the water steps Nimue, who has all of the other Dark Ones with her, to do what they do best:

PHOTOSTV’s Most Polarizing Characters: Once‘s Hook and 26 Others

What did you think of this Season 5A’s penultimate episode?

I cannot wait for what I now see is the ultimate plan for next week! (Which I’ll keep to myself) Needless to say, I think Killian Jones will have a FANTASTIC hero arc.

Personally, I have a strong belief that things are NOT as they appear. I may be completely wrong, but something that was said stuck with me.

Glad this arc is coming to an end, as it’s been kind of boring. Don’t like the fact it was so easy to kill the oldest and most powerful sorcerer though, and I especially hate Belle not wating Rumple now he’s no longer so powerful. Kind of reverting to that fake Lacey personality in a way. And Hook is a kind of whiny Dark one. (Why he’s still Hook, when as a Dark One, he could easily magic up a brand new hand. Maube that old hand that Rumple has in his shop will come into play when it comes to “saving” Hook, something you know is coming.)

Why he’s still Hook, when as a Dark One, he could easily magic up a brand new hand. Maube

Should read Why he’s still Hook, when as a Dark One, he could easily magic up a brand new hand, is beyone me. Maybe…

the same reason why Rumple kept using his cane even after magic was bought to Storybrooke

He didn’t use his cane when he was Rumple; only when he was Mr. Gold.

I thought about the hand thing too, but I think since he’s been with it for hundreds of years that he has some sort of attachment to it. The hook also is a symbol I think of his darkness because that’s when his thirst for revenge started when Milah was murdered and Rumple cut off his hand. On the other hand though, it is a bit confusing considering he did want to have his hand back last season when he went on the date with Emma.

Maybe its because I’ve never been a fan of Rumbelle, but I was happy when that happened. I’ve just always found them to be more interesting individually. Belle’s shining moment of the show for me was when she pushed Rumple over the town line last season. It kind of makes sense to me though. She still loves him, but he’s put her through so much. His new pure heart doesn’t erase anything right away. She needs to time away from him to grow as a character herself and not have everything about her revolve around Rumple (absence makes the heart grow fonder I guess).

At first I was really really PO’ed at Belle for her reaction especially after how Rumple has changed and that this is how she always wanted him to be. That being said I absolutely understand that Belle would want to have some distance to reassess the whole situation now that he is really changed. After watching it again tonight I feel like she left the door open for them to get back together–it wasn’t a complete shutdown. I still strongly believe that Rumbelle is endgame. #Rumbellebeliever

It isn’t that Belle doesn’t want Rumple because he isn’t powerful anymore, it’s because she has been in such an abusive relationship where everything was about him and she was always second fiddle for his love of power that, wow, now because she’s thinking about what she should do for her own sake she’s the bad person?! Not Rumple when he lied many times to her? I still think they’ll end up together (personally, I wish they weren’t, but wth), but Rumple did all the things he did while he was the Dark One because he wanted – we have spent the last episodes watching Emma fighting the Darkness and Rumple, right from the start, embraced it, losing Baefire and mistreating Belle for years. His heart is pure now not because of his choice – he wanted power more than anything and that everyone else just let him have whatever (and whoever) he wanted. At least for now, she’s doing the right thing – if they are supposed to be a couple, they should be equals, not doing it as a favor to him.

What show are you watching? In what way does Belle not want Rumple back because he’s no longer powerful?

I just KNEW you’d be one of the first ones here. Yet again saying how you didn’t like this episode or this season for that matter. Why do yiu come back evert Sunday if you have such huge problems with it. It perplexes me to the fullest.

WTH Belle & Once!!!!! Rumple turns into a Hero and now you dump him? That makes NO SENSE!!!!

You know, I was thinking it was Zelena. masquerading as Belle or something. See my comment about acting like Lacey. That is SO out of character for Belle…unless she really DOES only want a bad boy.

I think it’s cause the actress is pregnant so they need to send her off, but yeah it was a bit weird. There probably could have been another way to do it.

Okay that episode was really fun. Pre-Dark One Hook was still one of my favourite characters on the show, but I love Dark Hook. He’s definitely entertaining to watch. Also Dark Hook is way better than Dark Swan. Kind of makes me wish that they just abandoned the Dark Swan arc altogether and swapped it with Dark Hook from the beginning. As much as I like JMo, she has struggled with this arc acting-wise I think and she is better as just Savior Emma. Colin and Robert make for much better Dark Ones.

Anyway, the episode was way better than the Mulan/Ruby/Merida snoozefest two weeks ago. Also, excited for the Underworld. The promo said that the finale is next week, but I remember there was scoop on this site a while back about a Regina/Hook adventure and an episode with Hook’s father. Anyone know when those episodes will air?

The episode with Hook’s father is next week. His father is going to have a past with Regina I believe.

So what was the Regina and Hook connection that predates Queen of Hearts flashback?

You know, I had actually completely forgotten about the dwarves! Where have they been this whole time? They were even MIA from the diner. Some fanfic writer has really got to get on top of that. Maybe they had a fun little side adventure that didn’t involve so much murder and shouting.

As for the episode, I really enjoyed it (as painful as it was). I’m still not sure I’m sold on the whiplash writing for Dark!Hook…and I’m still confused about how erasing memories somehow erases the darkness? But this is OUAT, where logic and follow-through often go to die. Still, all in all, it was entertainingly tragic. I’m curious to see how it all unfolds next week. I assume Hook dies, as everyone has speculated, but I’m interested if it’s a result of Emma killing him or him choosing to die (I vote for the latter).

I don’t think it erases the darkness, probably just suppresses it. If you have no recollection of becoming a Dark One, how are you supposed to act on it?

I’d say, erasing memories doesn’t erase the darkness. It just means Hook doesn’t know he has darkness in him. Emma wasn’t dark until she *decided* to give in to the darkness. She fought it. Hook doesn’t know there’s something he needs to fight against, there’s nothing tempting him because he doesn’t know it’s in him. If he doesn’t know, he can’t use it.

If you look at Regina, she was pretty dark and she was never possessed, so it’s not all about the possession; it’s more about knowing about the darkness and using it to its power/being tempted into using its power. And when you don’t know something you can’t be tempted.

You mean the dwarves who demanded to come along this time because they always get left behind on adventures? Once has always managed it’s large cast very poorly, it’s sad.

I think the theory about Hook sacrificing himself is very plausible and is in keeping with how they usually end the first part of the season. There’s always some big action that leads up to a conclusion of the current storyline and then they dive right into the cliffhanger. Can’t wait till next Sunday to see how this all pans out.

I keep thinking about what Merlin said. He told them that the only way to remove the darkness now is through Nimue. We know that Emma is fighting the darkness. Is it possible they both are putting on a ruse of sorts; to draw out Nimue?

“Entertainingly tragic” — great way to describe the episode! As for Hook sacrificing himself, I definitely got that vibe during his duel with Rumple, like in the end he wanted to be put out of his misery. Maybe there is more to Dark Hook than meets the eye.

I don’t understand why Hook didn’t look different.

get a new outfit, but he quickly got rid of the “monk” robe. And I feel like Rumple explained the skin thing many seasons ago…?

What was the skin explanation? Because it’s really bothering me that everyone except the two newbies have makeup on

He also parted his hair to the opposite side!!! I don’t know about you all, but when I do that, a totally different person comes out of me!!! 😄

Actually at first, Emma still looked like Emma even after she had the darkness in her and only looked different after she “saved” Hook. So maybe doing a certain something that makes full use of the darkness will then change the physical appearance? And maybe by both having and using the darkness for a long time will change the appearance even more(probably the skin), like how Zelena turned green due to her use of magic and jealousy.

Maybe he’s not DARK dark yet? Emma’s physical transformation didn’t happen immediately. It was only after she (selfishly?) turned Hook into the Dark One against his dying wishes that her appearance changed. Maybe he hasn’t gone full Dark One yet, though I don’t know how literally crushing Merlin’s heart and verbally crushing Emma’s wouldn’t qualify as evil enough.

I really like “dark” Hook better – always like the bad boy and Colin plays him well. I too think Hook will help “save the day” but not convinced he’ll survive it. Wasn’t there a blind item a few weeks ago about a drama killing off a male lead in the winter finale? The Bell/Rumple story is a complete bore at this point as this at some point will all end with him returning to his role as the dark one. Zelena and Robin need to go away together – she’s a one note character and I shutter at the thought of her being redeemed and defanged like all the other good villains on the show – i love the actor that plays Robin he’s little more than scenery at this point. Yay- for the GALAVANT promo!

The Blind Item was revealed two Thursdays ago, on a Fox show.

Thanks Matt – i missed it as silly me doesn’t even know what Fox airs on Thursdays!

Huh, for once I go on this site and 70% of the comments aren’t hating on Hook. I loved the episode,can’t wait for the midseason finale!

Well Colin’s acting was on point and Hook actually has a storyline, so it’s all good ;)

Wow, nice way to make the whole Camelot story meaningless. The greatest sorcerer in history gone in puff of smoke. Really? I will admit the arrival of all the Dark Ones was a nice twist, but they could have accomplished this without the entire Camelot storyline.

The real question is, will we get resolution on douche-Arthur next week?

Maybe, he’ll be made nice? Christmas is coming.

I can’t wait to see Hades come into this. Nice segway into the Hercules storyline.

To be honest, I’m more excited to see how he’ll LOOK in this. OUAT tends to be true to how the characters look to their cartoon counterparts(Frozen, Brave etc.) Which makes me excited for the blue fire hair XD

Dark Hook’s look reminds me of Tobey Maguire’s Dark strut from Spider-man 3.

Also, I realize if you are not a shipper, it is very hard to watch this show just for characters.

Emma’s plan to get rid of the darkness was great. She’s just surrounded by haters. Killing Zelena was a fantastic plan. I know they didn’t want Emma to go dark side by murder, but she is the dark one. Plus, Regina has done way way worse, and so has Snow. What she and David did to Maleficent’s daughter was awful.

HA I agree about Emna’s plan! Get rid of the Darkness AND Zelena — two birds with one stone, right? Sure, it IS murder like Snow said, but other “heroes” on the show have done things that are equally bad if not worse. I think Emma’s plan was pretty brilliant.

First, I hope the Hook haters and/or people who refer to the show as Once Upon A Hook were somewhat pacified by the poignant moments our recently underused characters had in this ep. There were great scenes for Regina, Snow and Charming, Rumple and Belle, Henry, and even Zelena. That’s what an ensemble show is all about. Everyone gets their moments.

Second and more importantly for me, seeing the evolution of Dark Hook is as fascinating as it is heartbreaking. The Camelot scenes were particularly moving in good and bad ways. I REALLY like the idea of two Dark Ones working together, but the nature of the DO doesn’t lend itself to partnership so I knew it was just a matter of time before that blew up. But for a few moments it was GREAT. I loved Emma getting Hook to focus on their future and (temporarily) banish the Rumple DO guide. But then when he realized she had Excalibur all along and apparently didn’t trust him or believe in him? OUCH. His line about encouraging her overcome her darkness by not crushing Merida’s heart, that HE was the one who never doubted HER, was spot on. He had some great in-your-face moments in Storybrooke too. When he called Emma an orphan, I felt like I’d been punched in the stomach. His whole speech about being a puppy dog to a pretty blonde was great too — it’s what many viewers have criticized about Hook in recent seasons. I hope those viewers are satisfied now! Colin O’Donoghue is doing s bang up job with this Dark Hook angle. The way he spits out his lines is absolutely venomous. I believe every malicious word! I bet he’s having fun being SO MEAN. Even though he’s only been menacing for one episode, I have a hard time envisioning redemption for Dark Hook, or at the very least repairing his relationship with Emma. He said some REALLY hurtful things to her. Even if they manage to rid him of the darkness, those wounds are gonna sting for a long time, especially since Emma took FOREVER to let him into her heart the first time. I don’t know how she’ll ever get over this, which breaks my CaptainSwan-loving heart. I’m still 110% invested in them and hang on their every word though.

Finally, this is just being nitpicky, but I really wish they wouldn’t use the terms Hell and Underworld interchangeably. The Judeo-Christian concept of Hell is quite different from the ancient notion of the Underworld, and I have a hard enough time explaining that to my students when we study mythology without OUAT muddling everything!

Hm, I don´t know what it was about the episode. I liked most of it, I think Dark Hook is fun, but somehow I was annoyed. It is just… erratic/disjointed. It doesn´t feel coherent.

Am I the only one who thinks this season is kind of a mess? I feel like the show spend way to much time on the whole Arthur thing (btw.: is the Camelot storyline gonna be resolved? I feel like this story isn´t finished but somehow I can´t pinpoint what exactly it is I´m missing). Same with the Merida thing. I didn´t care for her story at all and for me, it felt very out of place (of course that all comes down to personal preference). And they have to manage their cast better. SHIELD really managed it well this season. They have a huge main cast too and they got everyone screen time and something useful to do. Anyway: I´m looking forward to the midseason finale and to the second half of the season.

Fantastic episode, albeit painful and intense. All is not as it appears. I don’t believe Killian hates Emma.

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