Once Upon a Time S03E13: Witch Hunt (Full Reaction)

Witch Hunt- Yay!!! Thank you so much for another great episode reaction for Once Upon a Time, Reds!! I really enjoy this episode! For Rumplestiltskin being back, for Regina's and Robin Hood's storyline within the backstory, and of course for the Wicked Witch of the West as well. Zelena is marvelous! And kudos to you too, for being able to guess so many reveals to come within this episode! :) First, in answer to your questions regarding how people in Storybrooke know Robin Hood and his Merry Men, and why they're all here now too... When the dark curse is cast, it sweeps up everyone in the land and brings them all to wherever the curse is meant to take them. In this case... Storybrooke, just like before. You're right that Robin Hood and his Merry Men were never in Storybrooke before, because they were never cursed before. Which means that they must not have been anywhere near the Enchanted Forest back when Regina cast her dark curse and swept everyone off to Storybrooke twenty-eight years earlier. However, this time... Robin and his men were with our heroes when this new dark curse was cast, and therefore... Robin and his Merry Men were swept away in the curse along with everyone else. This is why he and his men are here in Storybrooke now, and just as cursed as everyone else. As for our heroes appearing to know, or rather remember who Robin and his Merry Men are... They only know Robin Hood by his reputation for stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. For being a notorious thief who lives in Sherwood Forest. Just like our heroes also know about the Wicked Witch of the West too, by her reputation only. Our heroes don't remember Robin Hood and his Merry Men in Storybrooke now that they've all been cursed again. They all only know that Robin and his men are new arrivals in Storybrooke, as are a number of other people yet to be known to them, or who are just in the background. Zelena is another person who has been swept away to Storybrooke for the first time thanks to this new dark curse too. And while Zelena is clearly working against our heroes as the new villain, Robin Hood and his Merry Men are good men, and are working with our heroes together to try to solve the big mystery behind everything that has happened to them all during the year none of them can remember. Other than Hook, who absolutely remembers the time he spent during missing year because he somehow managed to avoid getting swept away in the curse, thanks to him going off on his own shortly after their return to the Enchanted Forest. I hope this long explanation makes sense to you, and isn't too confusing for you, Reds. And second, regarding Rumplestiltskin being back and his death in the previous episode... Going Home... I really love that he's back because I love his character. And I absolutely love his death scene with Pan back in Going Home. However, with Rumple being revealed to be alive, and so soon after his death, it almost makes his death and sacrifice meaningless. Just like Neal's supposed death was back in season two's finale... And Straight on 'Til Morning. Neal's death is much more pointless, and kind of stupid for me, simply because he was supposedly killed off by Tamara, whom everyone hates including you and me, But regardless... Rumple being back makes his death a little meaningless, and it is kind of disappointing. And a small part of me does wish that Rumple would have either just stayed dead in order to make his death and sacrifice mean something more, or wish that the heroes perhaps found another way to defeat Pan without having to kill Rumple off. But with all of this being said... I do still enjoy Rumple's upcoming story arc for the rest of this season, and I am so, so happy that he's back!! Now... I absolutely love Zelena so far! She's a fun and deliciously wicked villain. She's not my favorite villain, but she's definitely fantastic because she's so entertaining, and very snarky, which I absolutely love about her. And yes... We learn in this episode that she's Regina's half sister, born from Cora and another man who is not Regina's father, until Cora gave Zelena up before she ever became a royal, then kept Regina. Zelena is definitely jealous. But not just of her sister. There's so much more to this Wicked Witch. She wants to make Regina suffer for her own reasons. But thankfully, she stops Regina from putting herself under a sleeping curse so she can continue on with her own dastardly plans. Little does Zelena know just what she has just awakened in Regina by taunting her. Because now... Regina has found a new reason to keep pushing forward and that's to take Zelena down. Zelena's now someone for Regina to destroy! I absolutely love Regina's face in the moment Lana Parrilla says this line!! Marvelous! :) Also... I love that Robin Hood follows after Regina to help her break into her castle, by way of showing her his gratitude for saving his son from one of Zelena's flying monkeys. Very sweet and I absolutely love the idea of Regina and Robin coming together to work together, as they are fated to become a new True Love couple if they're willing to accept one another. They're just amazing, as are Lana Parrilla and Sean Maguire together!! They both just have such chemistry, even though these two characters aren't quite in sync just yet. Regina and Robin aren't my favorite True Love couple throughout this show, but I really do love them very much! Now, in the present storyline... We also see Zelena has become a midwife for Mary Margaret while keeping up her sweet facade of innocence. Not good. And then, Zelena later falls for Regina's and Emma's ruse when they set her up to get caught inside Regina's office, hoping to find out who has cursed them. However, because Zelena is able to break through Regina's blood lock spell protecting her palace in the Enchanted Forest, as is seen within the backstory, of course she manages to escape from Regina's office in Storybrooke as well. Next... I really feel so bad for Regina, in both the Enchanted Forest storyline and in the Storybrooke storyline. Because she can't be with Henry. And now... In Henry's eyes, she is just the Mayor of their town and is merely a friend to Emma, Mary Margaret, and David. It's crushing, and you can see just how much so in her eyes. Especially in the moment when she leans in to hug Henry, only for him to reach out to shake her hand. But... At least they're back in the same town again. Now the heroes all just have to find a way to break the curse and to restore everyone's memories, including Henry's. In the meantime... I love how Emma believes right from the start that Regina is innocent of casting the curse, and how she assures Regina that she knows whenever Regina is lying, and that she isn't. Especially when Regina talks about how much she loves Henry. I love that Emma comforts Regina too. Their friendship really has come quite far. :) Also... I really love how Hook mocks Emma because she nearly married a flying monkey, then mocks David about it too when David questions Emma about her planning to marry someone, after which Hook utters, "Did you just miss the part where I said, monster?" Very funny. Hook always has the humorous lines and I love it!! :) I also love the ending, when Emma jokes about the Wicked Witch of the West being the one to attack them, then is shocked to realize she is right. And once again, Hook comes back with a great line... "Says the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming." Ha! Ha! Ha! I just love the looks on his face. :) You would definitely think they would all be used to the knowledge that there are so many more storybook characters who are real out there. And lastly... Rumple's back!!! :) Yay!!! Unfortunately, he's currently being held prisoner by Zelena, and we don't yet know how he has come back from the dead. He is also a bit crazy in the head, showing a bit more of his Rumplestiltskin side than his Mr. Gold side again, and without the gold scaley skin. And it's great! Rumplestiltskin is always so much fun! Overall... I really enjoy this episode, and I love your reaction to it as always! I wish Hook could have been in it more, as well as Ruby too. I know it has been a while since we've seen her. If there is really any disappointment about this episode, it's that Hook isn't in it as much as I would like. But at least Hook is in it, of course. I just always love him. However, most of the fans of this show are most excited to see Rumplestiltskin return, which I love too! Thank you again, Reds! Sincerely, Heidi

Heidi Elizabeth Marcum