‘Once Upon A Time’ Recap: Darkness Takes Over Storybrooke

The Nov. 30 episode of 'Once Upon A Time' was the season's best yet. Elsa made one last desperate attempt to find Anna, while the Spell of Shattered Sight loomed over everyone's head. Once Upon A Time's Nov. 30 episode was one epic hour of fine television. Emma (Jennifer Morrison) and Elsa (Georgina Haig) attempted to save the town from ruin, Rumple (Robert Carlyle) made a startling confession about Hook (Colin O'Donoghue) and Anna (Elizabeth Lail) and Kristoff (Scott Michael Foster) were freed!

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Once Upon A Time Elsa Anna Reunited
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC

‘Once Upon A Time’ Recap: Winter Is Going Down

The Spell of Shattered Sight was taking over and would completely overshadow Storybrooke at sundown. It would bring out the worst in everyone. Ruh roh.

Rumple wanted Henry and Belle to be able to leave with him and be safe from the spell. 

Emma, Regina and Hook were working on borrowed time. Emma had the bright idea of breaking the ice wall and getting the heck out of Storybrooke before the spell settled in. When David tried to break through the wall, he only made it worse. 

Elsa found Anna’s necklace amidst the icy fortress. Emma wanted Henry with her and Elsa, but Regina was not going to go for that. Regina openly admitted that she was his best chance, and she’s probably right.

Belle believed there was a way to counteract the spell. All they needed was one person who had been cursed before. Elsa knew that Anna had been afflicted, since she was the one to put her in the urn. Even though it had been 30 years (!), Elsa was confident that she could find Anna in time.

Back in Arendelle, Anna and Kristoff’s ice figures melted and they were back to normal. Hooray! Anna was immediately on alert to find Elsa and prove to her that she didn’t mean to put her in the urn. Anna found one of Rumple’s straws and realized he had followed her. This was all going a little too fast for Kristoff, who wanted Anna to slowwwww down.

Unfortunately, Anna’s quest hit a bit of a snag fairly quickly. Hans was back and ready to take over Arendelle. (Ugh, he’s the worst.) Anna and Kristoff made a quick and stealth getaway. Take that, Hans!

Hook headed to the docks and Rumple had arrived to taunt him. He brought the box and wanted Hook to capture the fairies. If Hook did his doing, Rumple would have enough power to relieve himself of the dagger and be able leave town with Belle and Henry. But Hook’s task wasn’t that easy. He had to save Belle, who was already amongst the fairies trying to save Storybrooke.

Rumple’s plan would leave everyone in Storybrooke to ruin. Only he, Belle and Henry would be safe from the spell’s wrath.

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Regina warned Robin Hood about the spell. The Queen took a moment to remember Robin Hood with love in his eyes. So sweet!

Elsa and Emma used Anna’s necklace and a locator spell to trace Anna. They had started to make some headway! In the tunnels under the library, Elsa found a wall she believed Anna was on the other side of.

Anna and Kristoff weren’t exactly right on the other side. Anna and Kristoff were in the Arendelle forest running away from Hans. Despite being on the run, Anna still wanted to find Elsa at all costs. She knew of a guy named Blackbeard who could maybe help them with a “wishing star.” Why not Jack Sparrow?!

Anna found Blackbeard and his ship. He knew of the wishing star, and all they had to do was pay up his weight in gold. Being the worst person ever, Hans was there to ruin the fun.

Emma, Regina, Snow, Elsa and Grumpy were all discussing ways to get through the wall. Regina wanted to go ahead and blast through it, and told the dwarves to take a hike. However, David said the counterspell could be done without Anna.

They had a choice to make: Save the town, or find Anna.

Regina wholeheartedly believed that they should save the town and leave Anna behind. Emma, trying to be the savior, was considering other options. Regina does have a point. Snow, Emma and Charming decided to allow the fairies destroy Anna’s necklace and let her go. However, Elsa wasn’t going to give up. She kept the necklace and gave Emma a decoy!

Rumple and Hook were on the move among the fairies. Rumple tried to get Belle to leave, but she wasn’t budging. Rumple agreed to sit with them and wait for his moment to strike.

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When Emma handed over the necklace to the Blue Fairy, that’s when they realized Elsa had the one-up. At this point, it was too late. By the time they found Elsa and the necklace, the counterspell would be for naught.

Emma was determined to help Elsa find Anna in the mines. Elsa blasted the mine wall and broke through it! On the other side was a beach, and Anna was nowhere to be found. Elsa wanted the spell to take over so she could be attacked. She thought she deserved it for being unable to rescue Anna.

Meanwhile, Anna and Kristoff were arrested on the docks. However, Blackbeard had some key information for Anna. Her parents had bought the wishing star, but couldn’t use it because they didn’t have pure hearts. Anna and Kristoff’s hearts were about to be non-existent because Hans sentenced them to death!

The Frozen couple was put in a box and pushed overboard!

The water was slowly rising, but Kristoff was relentless to find an escape. He managed to untie them both. Anna began saying their vows because she thought they were going to die together. Cue ALL THE TEARS.

Elsa wished that Anna was with her in this final moment before the Spell of Shattered Sight sentenced Storybrooke to doom.

And hey, that worked!

Anna and Kristoff turned up on the beach! The sisters ran to each other and started adorably yapping. Despite this joyous reunion, they didn’t have any time to lose.

Rumple and Belle finally left the diner, which meant Hook’s moment had arrived. He started picking off the fairies in the hat, including the Blue Fairy!

This will ruin EVERYTHING!

‘Once Upon A Time’ Recap: Darkness Consumes Everyone & Everything

Rumple was ready to make a move. He only needed a few more things for his plan to be complete. He also dropped the bombshell that Hook only had ONE DAY LEFT TO LIVE.

COMMENCE FREAK OUT RIGHT NOW.

Emma & Co.’s next plan of attack was to lock up those that would be affected by the spell. This meant Emma had to put her parents behind bars so they couldn’t hurt anyone. They believed in her and knew they would find a way to save them. Emma had to take baby Neal with her, too.

Before his possible death, Hook just had to see his Swan one last time. They kissed in the romantic way that true loves only kiss. (I refuse to believe that Hook will die. If he does, I might just boycott.)

Regina locked Henry in her house before the spell settled in. Everyone would be locked out, but Henry would be safe.

Regina did this just in the knick of time because the Spell of Shattered Sight actually took over Storybrooke. Everyone, including Snow, Charming, Anna and Kristoff, were consumed by the spell. Their eyes were taken over by broken glass, and revealed their sinister sides.

This is not good. Not good at all.

HollywoodLifers, what did you think of tonight’s Once Upon A Time? Are you glad Elsa and Anna were finally reunited? What’s going to happen to Storybrooke? Let us know!

— Avery Thompson

More ‘Once Upon A Time’ News:

  1. ‘Once Upon A Time’ Recap: Rumple Gains A Shocking Hold On Hook
  2. ‘Once Upon A Time’ Recap: Regina & Robin Kiss While Emma Loses Control
  3. ‘Once Upon A Time’: Season 4 To Introduce Classic Villain Cruella De Vil