Once Upon A Time Season 4 Episodes 16 Thru 17 Reviews: We Are Not Heroes Anymore

Episode 16 "Poor Unfortunate Soul" was mostly about Ursula's back story. That and Pinocchio/August (the older one, not the younger one) almost had his nose burned off in the fireplace by Rumple. Meanwhile Regina is still busy playing double agent with the Queens.

Cant Ya Learn To Control That Thing?

Before we begin I want to clear up one point. This "Ursula" is different from the "Ursula" we saw earlier in the Ariel story line. Remember Lana Parrilla portrayed her previously. How this all works, I have no idea.

There Are Two Ursulas And There Is A Young & Old Version Of The Newest One. Got That?

Moving right along. This Ursula begins life as a happy singing mermaid. Her beautiful voice lures pirates to their deaths against the craggy rocks. Hmm this story sounds familiar. But it wasnt Ursula's fault. Her daddy (Poseidon/Neptune/Ernie Hudson) hates pirates because one killed Ursula's mother. Side Note: Everyone on this show either has a dead parent or has been abandoned by their parents so Ursula is in good company.

Ursula gets tired of living under the sea and wants to try out for "The Voice". Somewhere along the line she grows tentacles. No, I dont know how that happened. Just roll with it. Fish Daddy wants Hook to steal Ursula's voice so she'll come back home. In exchange Hook will get squid ink (which he needs to kill the Dark One). Eventually Ursula is betrayed. Let's pause for a moment to reflect on the fact that Ursula can still talk. She just cant sing. Again this makes no sense. What ev.

Quick, How Do I Get Off This Show?

Hook gets his ship back from Ursula. The shell that holds her voice is on it. He had also sent Ariel to get Poseidon. Ursula finally gets her happy ending and is reunited with Papa Calamari. I assume that means she's off the show. If so, one Queen of Darkness down, two to go.

Who's Your Daddy?

In other news after having a dream, Regina wants Emma to track down Robin's address. Hook tells Emma she is his happy ending. She cries and kisses him. But I dont care cause I'm Team Swan Queen all the way. Regina speaks through Snow's body. That was bizarre and fun. More please!

In episode 17 "Best Laid Plans" we learn about Maleficent's past history with Snow and David. In present day, Mal enacts a sleeping curse so all of Storeybrooke is passed out except the Charmings and Henry (who are immune because they previously had been cursed).

Regina is still trying to throw off Rumple, Mal and Cruella from finding the Author and getting their own happy endings. Rumple figures out Regina is a double agent and puts her to sleep inside her vault. Uh oh.

I Wish I Had A Unicorn

Flashback time: back in FTL both Charming and Snow got a glimpse of what Emma could be like after rubbing a unicorn's horn. One saw a good Emma and one saw a bad Emma. So which is it? The idiots dont want to take any chances so they do what any good parents would. They steal a dragon baby from Maleficent so they can transfer all the darkness into it. Remember we saw the dark spot on Snow's heart last season. Now we know why.

When I Get Outta Here There's Going To Be Hell To Pay

Anyway other stuff happens but eventually everyone in the same location. A portal opens and the dragon baby egg, Ursula and Cruella get sucked inside. It turns out Maleficent's child is... wait for it... her child is Lilly (Emma's teenage friend). Many of you guessed it correctly. Since no magic exists in the real world, Lilly cant turn into a dragon. This means Lilly will be back and reunited with Emma at some point. What an interesting twist to the story.

This Is Worse Than When I Caught You Guys Having Sex

Hook tells Emma Rumple's plan. Its to turn her heart dark so the Villains can get their own happy endings. Charming and Snow come clean about what they're done in the past (and why they try so hard to be the best people they can now). Emma is royally pissed. I cant wait for her to turn full on evil.

Psst I'm In Here

We also finally meet the author. August relays that there is not one author but many. Their jobs are to document the stories. They are selected by the Sorcerer (whom we still havent met) and the apprentice (the bearded wizard looking dude). This author (named Walt after Walt Disney) took it upon himself to change the stories to make them more interesting. He forced the apprentice to put all of the darkness inside the dragon baby egg. As punishment, he was locked inside the book. The author was also the peddler Snow and Charming saw on the road back in FTL. After being liberated from the book he takes off running and disappears.

How Sad. Give Maleficent Back Her Dragon Baby!

Grade: 4 3/4 Monsters (out of 5). Ursula's episode was mostly a filler but "Best Laid Plans" was one of the best episodes to date. It propelled the story forward in a number of ways. No wonder Maleficent hates the Charmings. Kristin Bauren Van Straten really sold it. I felt sorry for her. This also explains why Snow and David try so hard to be good. They made a really bad decision many years ago. What I love most about OUAT is that there are no definite good guys or bad guys. There are just people in bad circumstances who had to pick one of the options available to them. On a somewhat related note, do you think Henry will eventually become the author of the story book? That would be a happy ending for him since he is the "Truest Believer".

No "Once Upon A Time" this Sunday but Zelena (yeah!) and Robin return the following week. We're off to the Emerald City.