Once Upon A Time – Sisters

By: Stacy Miller

What makes “Once Upon a Time” more than a fantasy show that retells fairy tales is its strength in character development and relationships. In the episode Sisters, the show explored the intricate sibling relationships between sisters Regina and Zelena and brothers David and James.

Hades (Greg Germann) brings Zelena (Rebecca Mader) to a romantic spot and declares that once his heart is beating again he will leave the Underworld and wants to make a home with her. He tells Zelena that he’s arranged to trap all the so-called Storybrooke heroes in the Underworld. After Charming’s trick of removing Snow White’s name, he made sure all their names were on tombstones and can’t be removed this time. Hades then gets down on bended knee. “What do you say Zelena, do you want to make chaos with me?”

Zelena returns home to find Regina (Lana Parrilla) waiting. Regina has witnessed Zelena’s “date” with Hades via a magic mirror. She warns Zelena against getting involved with the King of the Underworld, but Zelena says her love can change him like Regina did with Robin Hood (Sean Maguire) who was a criminal before. Regina doesn’t think Robin’s stealing from the rich and giving to the poor is the same as being the King of the Underworld. Zelena doesn’t want to listen to Regina as she doesn’t need a mother, she already had one of those – a bad one at that.

In the past, we see Young Regina (Ava Acres) playing with her doll, but she wants to play with her mother instead. Cora (Barbara Hershey) doesn’t have time to play. After Cora leaves the room, Regina finds Cora’s magical wand. She tries to use it to turn her doll into a sister, but the magic of the wand zaps Regina unconscious. Cora and Regina’s father Henry enters the room and rushes to their daughter’s side. Cora can’t heal Regina because it was the magic of Cora’s wand that hurt her. Cora does know someone else with magic who can help.

Regina tells Emma, David and Killian (Jennifer Morrison, Josh Dallas and Colin O’Donoghue) that Zelena is in love with Hades. Killian offers to end the romance by killing Zelena, but Regina doesn’t want her sister killed. There is someone else who can help – “Our mother,” Regina says.

Rumple (Robert Carlyle) hovers over a sleeping Belle (Emilie De Ravin). Will he be able to get out of Hades’ contract so she can be awakened?

In the Underworld, Cora is doing the work of a miller’s daughter, delivering flour. She is told to get back to work, but she finds a hook which she uses as a weapon. Killian approaches and says to think of him “as her Fairy Godmother.” He tells Cora that her daughter Regina needs her.

In the past, Cora watches as Young Zelena uses magic and is about to be punished by her father. Cora uses her magic though to freeze Zelena’s father. She tells Zelena that the girl can prove to her father she can use good magic by saving the life of someone Cora cares about.

In the Underworld, David’s evil twin brother James (also Josh Dallas) attacks Charming. He is determined to have the life he should have had and felt his undeserving brother stole from him. James then pretends to be David, fooling Emma.

Regina tells Cora about Zelena being in love with Hades, who wants true love’s kiss to start his beating heart which will enable him to be able to leave the Underworld. Cora thinks it’s too late for Hades to love and that it is best for Zelena to forget Hades exists.

In the past at Cora’s castle, Young Zelena heals Regina. Later, the little girls play princesses. Regina is surprised when Zelena can open Cora’s box because it was sealed by blood magic. Regina wonders if that means they could somehow be related.

Emma and James meet Robin Hood in the woods where he reveals that he is not actually David. Cruella (Victoria Smurfit) arrives and praises James on a job well done.

Cora brings Regina to the Waters of Forgetfulness and tells Regina if Zelena drinks from it she’ll forget about Hades. In the past, Regina and Zelena ask Cora if they are related. Cora admits they are, but when Regina asks if they can be a family, Cora tells Regina that no one will understand Zelena’s power. She also explains it will ruin any chance for Regina to have a good marriage and be queen. Cora has the guards drag Zelena away. She then tells Regina that she’ll make sure that she never remembers any of the this.

In the Underworld during the present, Cora visits Zelena and professes how much she regrets giving her away. Zelena is choked up with emotion. Cora offers her a glass of water. Zelena says that Cora’s confession was as sincere as she always imagined, except for the part about her trying to poison her. “You can come out now Regina,” Zelena calls to her sister. Soon, Regina and Zelena are battling each other with magic fireballs. Cora extinguishes the flames and then shows them their long forgotten past as sisters.

Meanwhile, James and Cruella bring Emma and Hook to the River of Souls, hoping if they are tossed in that James and Cruela can escape the Underworld. A fight ensues. In the melee, David throws James into the River of Souls. He feels remorse for having killed his brother.

In another part of the Underworld, since Cora’s unfinished business is over, Regina and Zelena hope she can move on. Cora is willing to accept whatever fate is in store for her, but fortunately she is able to go into the light. Regina encourages Zelena to find Hades. Maybe her love can change him afterall.

Before Zelena has the chance to meet up with Hades, she runs into Rumple first. He has someone he’d like her to meet. “This is my father Peter Pan,” he says. “You’re evil, but I’m worse,” Peter Pan (Robbie A. Kay) sneers before throwing a sack over her head.

Has Zelena met her match? What plans do Rumple and Peter Pan have in store for her?