This is the last episode of Once Upon a Time and I don’t think anyone is ready since this show has been with many for so many years and tonight we get everything we could ever want.
The episode begins with Alice and Robin arriving in Storybrooke expecting a warm welcome, but instead they almost run over Leroy with the food truck, marked as intruders and chased into hiding. No one knows who they are because they are from a whole different time.
Meanwhile, Henry is able to get Lucy and Ella into a warm house, but they still can’t escape their fate. Hook refuses to give up. Although Gold has been stripped of his powers and immortality, they can still fight their way out of this death sentence.
The other Henry Mills is also trapped. He is so upset with the Evil Queen and can’t see any humanity or redemption in Regina. Despite a plea for her forgiveness and that she’s a changed person, he gives her a warning and a preview of what he plans to do with her the next day in front of the whole kingdom.
While Regina is in the cave awaiting her execution, she gets a dream visit from Robin Hood. She fills him in on her plight and he reminds her that he saw the good in her when it was very out of focus. They lament on how short their story was and kiss before she wakes up.
Hook and Gold’s attempt to break free of the snow globe is a mess as they’re more likely to freeze to death. But there’s hope because Robin ran into her mother (and herself) and asked for her help. Zelena is very freaked out at first, but accepts the story and helps them access a magic bean to help Hook break the snow globe. But not before he and Gold have a quick talk about how they’re really the two best friends that anyone could have in this circumstance.
Upon making their escape, the work is not done. Henry’s still intent on making an example of the Evil Queen and Rumple has other plans for Regina and her pals. Thanks to Henry’s observation that the queen’s blood can substitute for magic ink, all Henry needs to do is to kill her and use her blood to sign off on the pages he’s written to isolate and torture everyone. He brings in a fairy to make an example of her, and using Regina’s blood from his dagger and casts her off to who knows where.
On the other side of this coin is a man who’s just as determined to do right by the world. Rumple looks in a dreamcatcher and remembers a moment from his history with Belle and makes peace with the idea that he may never get to see her again and he accepts it.
First they have to spring Regina from her cage. Hook and Robin distract the guards at the castle gates, and as Hook prepares to storm the group, he gets a question from Robin: “Can I have your blessing to marry Alice?” The timing is strange but she wants to secure this in case something happens. He is approving of their relationship and wants to make it through this so he can walk his daughter down the aisle. Henry sneaks into Regina’s cell below grounds to sneak her out. He doesn’t manage to get the keys however, but Snow and Charming hear and arrive just in time to help their grandson and get Regina out.
Snow and Charming then lead a roundtable discussion about how to defeat Rumple. They say that they’ve done it before, even though allies and enemies are all mixed up. They get the job of keeping the kingdom in the know while Gold finds a real solution to their issue: hidden magic. He sprinkles his hand with it and decides to get close enough to Rumple to rip out his heart. Yes, this is all very confusing, stay with me!
Regina also has to convince the young fairytale version of Henry that she loves him and is capable of love and goodness, but he doesn’t want to hear or believe it and challenges her to a duel to the death. While this is going on, Rumple arrives to open portals that aim to take all the heroes to an isolated story realm just for them. Alice’s nearly takes her, but Hook jeopardises himself to save his daughter despite the immense pain it is causing him.
Regina arms and defends herself once Henry starts swinging his sword and Rumple is just watching on the side. Henry manages to disarm Regina and get her into the death stance so she surrenders and says she’s willing to die if it means he’ll know he’s loved by someone and doesn’t need Rumple to give him a different life. Suddenly, Henry drops his blade and accepts her hug.
The heroes’ portals disappear and everyone is saved except Hook. His sacrifice has brought him almost to death and Rumple is delighted. Gold’s hand is still filled with magic and since he can’t get close enough to Rumple, he has a backup plan. Instead of ripping out Rumple’s heart, he rips out his own and gives it to Hook, who can now embrace his daughter without killing himself. Gold knows that this won’t bring him back to Belle but he says, “you don’t do the right thing for a reward; you do it because it’s right.” Cue the tears. Then his body falls limp and his body disappears. Regina arrives just in time to give Gold a sappy send off wishing him the peace no one knows he can have now. The Dark One is done.
Turns out Rumple/Gold finds himself in a foggy place, greeted by Belle who is delighted to see him. She’s wearing her iconic yellow dress and the two kiss. Gold has proven himself so many times since her passing and giving up his chance at eternal happiness for Hook’s was the icing on the cake. I am not going to lie, I started sobbing at this point.
Regina is treated to a surprise by both versions of Henry who accompany her to a secret party that turns out to be her coronation. Regina’s good deed after Gold’s sacrifice was to unite all the storybook kingdoms into one peaceful unit of people and creatures so everyone can be together. These realms once had their own monarchs, but they want to unite under one crown and they’ve decided to elect Regina as the Good Queen.
She accepts this. Her coronation is interrupted as Emma, the OG Hook and her new baby, Hope arrive late and of course, Emma is in her leather jacket. Regina embraces everyone and it’s a great send-off, gooey and cute. Regina tells the crowd, “I thought my story came to an end a long time ago, and then you people came into my life, people who gave me a second chance. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for me next, or for everyone,” and throughout her speech we view a montage of many moments we’ve experienced on this show and needless to say there was probably not a dry eye for anyone watching. She continues with, “I refuse to believe there won’t be more adventures, more love, more family, and yes, there will be more loss. Because that’s just a part of life. And in the end, we can get past it all. With hope.”
The End.
Final Thoughts?
I am very satisfied with the last episode of Once Upon a Time, ever. I am so glad that we got to see everyone come together even if it was just for a quick cameo (like with Emma). Basically, I was sobbing at the end of this and I still haven’t recovered as it was so bittersweet.
