ONCE UPON A TIME – “Snow Drifts”

Previously on Once Upon a Time… Zelena was killed; however, in the wake of her death, the time portal was open creating an enormous amount of uncertainty in the future.  Also Snow White and Prince Charming’s son was returned to them, after he was nearly destroyed in Zelena’s drive for dominance. Tonight some pivotal questions were answered including how will time traveling impact the past series of events. First and foremost, will Emma race away from Storybrooke and go back to New York? In making her decision will Emma protect not only her heart, but the well being of her child,Henry? Lastly, with Zelena no longer a threat, what powerful foe will face Emma and her clan. Read ahead for our recap and review of the magical 2-hour season finale of episodes; “Snow Drifts” and  “There’s No Place Like Home”

The season finale got off to a dynamic start when Henry reveals that the time portal is opened. With that there is a race against time to close it; however, before Charming can stop Hook and Emma’s adventure from beginning, they are torn away to the time when Prince Charming and Snow White first met each other. Unfortunately, in the interchange Snow White didn’t steal Prince Charming’s wedding ring, which allowed for the wedding to continue to be in motion. Through a series of events Snow White was on the brink of death as she was held hostage by the Evil Queen. Fortunately in the nick of time there is a huge reveal that takes place thereafter. The reveal is that the dark magic that she had from the dark fairy allowed her to turn herself into a lady bug.

With their futures unforeseen, Hook protects Emma from undo consequences in the past.

Upon becoming herself again, it seemed as though they were successful as history had nearly reset itself. Yet as Snow departed to try and make her way onto the high seas she ran off with the wedding ring. In the nick of time, Snow White was rescued by Prince Charming, on one of the bridges that the trolls were defending as she attempted to make a safe passage. After Snow was rescued they shared in the experience, and Emma Swan came to some very stunning realizations after all this time of being with her parents. Emma reveals that thinking Snow was dead hurt her. Emma realizes how Snow has fallen in and out of her life, and she realizes Henry was the one that brought her home. Emma claims Neal was right that you don’t have a home until you miss it. Emma claims Storybrooke as her home. Finally, with that the wand glowing with power, Emma opens the time portal and Hook and the villager hop in. Rumpel appears and wants to know the truth about the future of his son. Emma says that Neal forgives him and realizes that he loves him but that he died. Emma says that she loved him, and that he died a hero, but that he has to drink potion to forget.

Emma must look in her parents to find the questions of the future.

With that they both go back to the future with the past having reset itself.  Emma bursts into Granny’s and announces that’s she’s home, and that she’s not going anywhere. Emma says that home is where family is. She comes home and asks the name of the baby, and David makes an announcement. Snow announces his name as Prince Neal, in honor of Rumpel’s fallen son, and Emma’s fallen lover. Emma and Hook spend time together, and Emma thanks Hook for going back to New York. Hook was able to get outside the curse and persuade Emma to join him and return to Storybrooke. He admits to trading his trip away for Emma, and they share in a warm passionate embrace.

With so many relationships left to be fully fleshed out, and the lingering conflict left to be realized, so much was to take place upon the arrival of Emma, Gillian, and Robin Hood’s wife Marian. Immediately Belle and Rumplestiltskin created a foundation for their love, and said some of the most powerful ideas since the show’s conception. Belle says that she spent her whole life trying to find him.  Rumpel says that Belle brought her home, and that she chased away all of the darkness. He admits that he owes more to her, than she does to him. Belle believes that the monster is gone, but the Dark One Dagger is revealed to be in his possession. Belle says the best tea cup is chipped, and they slowly come together, and then they kiss. Finally with everything ending nearly too good, Emma tries to calm the waters between Marian and Regina by showing that she’s a changed woman. What happened next was to the heart break of Regina.

Will Regina ever find her happy ending, or will she have to deal with Marian now that she’s back in Robin Hood’s life.

As the two parties approached each other, Marian reached out to Robin Hood as Marian ended up living past the point that she had in the previous timeline.  As Regina had finally found her true love, she had her hopes and wishes devastated as Robin Hood and Maid Marion sparked their true love. Regina was furious, as her heart was being broken again with Marian reuniting with her lover and child. With that Regina declared that Emma was just like her mother in that she disregarded the risk associated in changing the past. She proved that good intentions can come with severe consequences. At the conclusion of the season, the remnants of Zelena’s time portal, created a blue liquid that molded to form Elsa from Walt Disney Animation Studio’s FROZEN! Talk about an exciting event.

Overall this two part season finale, did justice in answering the leaps and bounds one must overcome to make love work. Also it demonstrated how we as individuals are not only defined by where we are from but by the people that have raised us. I couldn’t be any more excited to see where Adam and Eddy take us on an adventure this fall, and I wonder how they’ll approach the character of the Snow Queen.

AND THE TOWN OF STORYBROOKE LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER….

Having search for happiness, since her time who we reunite in Unite.