Once Upon A Time Episode 12 Recap: Flying Monkeys Make Bad Lovers

"New York Serenade" opens one year after Regina sent everyone (except Emma and Henry) back to FTL in order to avoid Pan's curse. Emma (who has no memory of Storeybrooke) is dating someone she doesnt seem particularly interested in. Walsh is more enthralled and proposes. She says she has think about it. Uh oh. Bad sign dude. Brace yourself cause you're about to be dumped.

Hook shows up and finally convinces Emma of who she really is (ie the Savior) after a stop at Neal's empty apartment (where some nice person has been paying the rent for the past year). Of course this is after she has Hook arrested. She tells Walsh she can't marry him. He gets pissed and instead of reacting in the usual fashion (and sending naked photos of her to all his friends), he turns into a flying monkey. I knew the guy was strange but I didnt have him pegged for a flying monkey. It's better that she knows now though (instead of waking up one morning and rolling over to a monkey face staring back at her).

Back in FTL the Storybrooke crew arrives (yes I know its one year earlier but I dont care) and is greeted by a preggo Aurora and Prince Philip. I demand to know where Mulan is!!! I think she's off with Robin Hood's gang (where she can sword fight and wear sensible shoes to her heart's content).

Snow and the Queen both fight over who will live in the castle. How do they know that hasnt been turned into condos? Both finally decide to work together for a change. How sweet (and I'm sure short lived). But no one will be hanging out in the castle because there is a protection spell around it. Meanwhile Aurora and Phil discuss telling "her". We all know who "her" is because... well did I mention there are flying monkeys in this episode?

Hook, Emma and Henry pack up and head back to Storeybrooke where they encounter David and a preggo Snow (who is prepared to pop out their replacement daughter). I dont understand the rationale behind moving them back to Storeybrooke AT ALL. Could someone please explain this to me? If you're going to bring someone back to reunite with Emma it should be Regina. Case closed.

And in the final scene, the flying monkey that attacked Regina brings a drop of her blood for a potent to... Wait for it... the Wicked Witch. She says "Now, now I shall get my revenge. The queen may be evil, but I’m wicked. And wicked always wins.” So it looks like Regina has managed to even piss off Fairytale characters in an entirely different universe.

Take Away From Tonight's Episode:

Where can flying monkeys go to meet nice girls? Is there a website? Single Flying Monkey Seeks Blonde Hottie for Quiet Conversations And Poo Flinging
A pirate with a hook doesnt garner any attention in New York.
Charming and Snow are really BAD parents
I will not give up on Swan Queen until they are both dead (and that wont stop me either).

Favorite Quotes:

"I've been in my fair share of brigs, but none as barbaric as that. They force fed me something called bologna."- Hook
"I don't run from monsters. They run from me."- Regina
"He smells like forest."- Regina about Robin Hood

Grade: 3 1/2 Monsters (out of 5). It may take a while to reestablish the story line. They have eight episodes left till the end of the season. I hope all hell breaks lose between the two queens.