Once Upon a Time: Scoop on Wedding’s Uninvited Guest, ‘Epic’ Final Battle
Talk about your wedding crasher.
This Sunday on ABC‘s Once Upon a Time, bride-to-be Emma used the power of the song that had been inside her since before birth to thwart The Black Fairy’s first attempt at staging The Final Battle. Rumple’s mom, though, was down but far from out.
Instead, just as Emma and Hook exchanged vows (punctuated by a joyous duet-turned-group sing-along), The Black Fairy used the massive stash of fairy dust she had mined to unleash a new Dark Curse, one that snaked out of the clock tower and enveloped the wedding party and guests, as the episode came to a close.
“We’re well aware that we’ve done a curse ‘occasionally in the past,'” Once co-creator Eddy Kitsis notes with a wink, “but this time we’re trying to do a little twist on it.”
That’s because this particular dark curse was born out the need for a Final Battle that lives up to its name, between the savior, Emma, and Great Evil aka The Black Fairy. As co-creator Adam Horowitz explains, “It was less about thinking of it as a curse and thinking about it as, ‘What is the Final Battle?’ We had a concept for what this Final Battle would be and we kind of worked backwards from that. That led to this curse that you saw hinted at.”
Given the none-more-black nature of this curse, “The usual tricks don’t work anymore” to undo it, Kitsis warns. As Ginnifer Goodwin shared after a press screening of the musical episode, “The breaking of the curse involves something far more dramatic than anything that’s ever broken a curse before. If it were to break! We could all just be blown into oblivion, and that’s just it.”
Elaborating a bit on what it might take to vanquish this threat, Goodwin said, “What broke the very first season’s curse was a kiss — very pure, unromantic true love expressed between mother and son. The love that it takes in the finale… I feel is categorically bigger.”
Setting the stage as it does for their TV daughter’s Final Battle, Josh Dallas avowed, “It’s going to be a showdown of epic proportions,” while Goodwin said that although the face-off geographically goes down in Storybrooke, “Emotionally, they are all over the map.”
In addition to bringing to life the darkest of curses and accommodating The Final Battle, next Sunday’s two-hour finale also has the burden of giving closure to the characters and journeys that viewers have spent six seasons with, yet leave the door open juuuust enough to unfold a new tale — if the series gets renewed by Tuesday, May 16 (when ABC announces its schedule for the 2017-18 TV season), and knowing that a chunk of original cast won’t be returning in the fall.
“[The writers] found a magical way to make it go either way,” said Goodwin. “I mean, in classic Once Upon a Time style, there is a twist… and it serves all of the characters very well.”
Dallas realistically acknowledged, “You can’t please everybody. I think that some people will be happy and some people will be angry and upset.” But given that “each character gets something that the fans should be happy with, that each character deserves,” he added, “I think most people will be [happy].”
Want more scoop on Once, or for any other show? Email InsideLine@tvline.com and your question may be answered via Matt’s Inside Line.
Sounds like they’re almost resigned to cancellation. I’ve hung in so long…just hope this ending will have mad it worth it all…or if they DO get a final season, I hope it’s back to the magic of S1. And why do I get the feeling that Riobert C is out, regardless of renewal? I hate that feeling…
You didn’t think that was magical?
Why is everyone talking about a cancellation? The American Idol news basically confermed that ABC doesn’t plan to air something different in that slot until March.
The scuttlebutt from Toronto this weekend was it is coming back, yay! :)
Toronto? The show films in Vancouver.
Some of the cast were at a con.
Hearing that gosh will probably not be back if they do get renewed has me pretty worried about the fate of their characters, now that they’ve seen their daughter accept who she is and has found love. I just hope there’s some happy closure. ABC needs to get on these renewal announcements.
I definitely have that last song currently as a earwig. You were not wrong, Matt!
It is an amazing show. it is positively timeless.
Agreed! full of magic, truly unique is this world of movie TV show spinoffs.
“and knowing that a chunk of cast won’t be returning in the fall”
Has this been confirmed? If we do get season 7, people are definitely out? Have they said who exactly?
Rumple Belle Snow and Charming and Jared gilmore are pretty much out. Don’t know about Hook Emma Regina or Zelena.
I thought they basically said Emma, Regina, Hook and Rumpel are the ones that need to be in if Season 7 happens. But everyone is unsure about Robert as he said he wants to spent more time with his family and stuff.
I also heard Ginny, Josh and Jared are out. No words about Zelena or Belle, but I think they are out too pretty likely.
Emma Swan is officially out.
If most of the cast leaves OUAT and ABC still keeps the show on, it will be their biggest mistake since they kept ‘Laverne & Shirley’ on the air after Cindy Williams left. :-p
I liked it ,it was different. Costumes were fantastic especially the Helen Rose knockoff wedding dress.
The husband says, “If something gets taken off the air that you like, you won’t be happy, no matter what.”
If Once Upon a Time does get renewed next season, I won’t watch it. There’s been too much talk of too much changing if it does get renewed and too much writing on the wall that it won’t. I’ve been going into every episode lately with the intention that it’s the end of the series.
I loved this musical episode, though. It’s right up there with Buffy in terms of musical episode quality.
Oh man, Buffy is what this episode kept reminding me of. I couldn’t figure out why it seemed so familar. They’ve taken A LOT of stuff from Buffy over the years, made it pretty obvious that some of their writers also wrote for Buffy.
They did. Jane Espenson wasn’t a writer for Buffy. She’s responsible for the Spike and Buffy relationship…
Was*
The whole episode reminded me of the movie Enchanted! Absolutely LOVED it!!
Me too! :)
An awesome episode. I’m so glad Emma got her happy ending.
Hook’s was my favourtie song.
Mine too :)
And mine, but I dig that pirate like, a lot ;)
I absolutely LOVE this show! Cancelling it would NOT be good move. So many people wait ALLLL week long for Sunday evening with great anticipation. They’ve come to expect it as a conclusion to the old week and a refreshing start for the week to come! Don’t make the same fatal mistake so many others have made and cancel the best shoe this network or any other has ever created!
I give it a standing ovation. I mean it was amazing!!!!!!!!! Josh Dalles ginnifer goodwin, Colin o’donoghue Rabecca Mader. Then the song in your heart Jennifer morrison so beautiful it made me cry .I’m off to buy soundtrack❤
I posted about the songs in the other thread, but I’ll post about the plot here. Overall I enjoyed the ep, but I think it should’ve had less Black Fairy and more wedding. I still don’t understand why Rumple is (allegedly) helping BF; his family was saved last week, so there’s really no need. Also, is having songs break spells going to be a thing now? Cuz apparently that’s the most powerful magic of all. Some plot holes, as usual (Where did Emma & Hook get those new wedding duds? How did the singing spell cross realms? Hook met his future in-laws while Emma was in utero?), and some conspicuously missing wedding guests, but the last 10 minutes were GLORIOUS. I desperately hope that Once gets renewed. *fingers and toes crossed*
I agree the wedding was more of a oh yeah, we need to get these two married before the end…
I’m hoping next week will be the series finale, I think with this being the finale battle it should also be the final episode come on if the charmings and others won’t be back then let’s just end the show. They all are a family so let’s get to the end together.
The musical episode was as good as any motion picture musical. It will be hard to top this episode in the finale. If everyone gets a happy ending, I’d like it to be the end.
Ok so I just watched the #OnceUponAMusical my dogs were particularly impressed that I was not only up at 4am but singing 😂 (the alarm was set but I was up before)
Things I loved, that it was a MUSICAL!! my day, everyday is soundtracked by at least one song from #lBroadway &/or The West End ~ I dig musicals, like a lot!
If you’re about my age, you will probably remember a similar hoopla over the #Buffy musical #OnceMoreWithFeeling & man was that done well! I have to say though, I think this was even bettter! probably due to the calibre of the musical talent already in the cast.
I knew the four songs I liked would be the ones I liked, though the others I enjoyed more within the context of the show.
Rumple’s line made me laugh, that’s how my Dad feels about musicals 😋
Did anyone else think it wasn’t really about the wedding at all? but I was ok with that.. I’m still not mad about the dress (sorry Emma!) Outstanding job from the composers on the music, it all just fit so well, I said I was getting serious We Will Rock You vibes from Colin’s song, turns out I got that right
I loved #Snowing ‘s song because it is just so quintessentially DISNEY! & #JoshDallas man, what a voice! Rusty! I mean whaaat?! every inch The West End performer
Loved how excited Colin O’Donoghue was about this project, even Tweeting a GIF of himself, that’s adorable!
As with most musicals the best thing about them is the music, which is fortuitous for me as I can rarely afford to go to them *sigh*
A really enjoyable episode though I love CaptainSwan I didn’t cry, I was too busy grinning like a Cheshire Cat.
One criticism, the wedding was a little rushed & I didn’t feel the vows were as special as Rumple & Belle’s, sorry!
I’m a Broadway geek too (just saw Hamilton today, in fact lol) and I agree with just about everything you wrote — except for the Buffy part. Once More With Feeling is the best musical episode in the history of television and all subsequent musical eps are judged by it AND borrow from it.
Buffy broke the mound for sure! & no one is more of a fan of Buffy then me, I’m wearing a Sunnydale High sweatshirt typing this (true story)
As I posted on the other page, Buffy was going through a very dark time & that was reflected in the music, I felt these songs were more upbeat & that’s why I place it higher.
You’ve seen Hamilton?! eugh! I’m jealous, I’ll never be able to afford that, even when it comes to The West End this winter, balls! at least I can play the cast album over & over (& over) ;)
I think a lot of shows borrow a lot from Buffy, period. lol.
Sorry for the hashtags & stuff, I copy & pasted from Instagram *oops!*
Yet, another curse! How many does this make now? But this one is the biggest, baddest curse ever! The show has gotten so lame. If there weren’t a few characters I still enjoy I wouldn’t have come back this season – and I didn’t until after the fall finale. I don’t feel I missed a single thing in those episodes tbh.
in a way, I would have preferred in this episode for the Black Fairy to be defeated properly. The Happy Beginnings song would have been a nice way to end the series especially with Jen Morrison confirming that she will not be renewing her contract.
1. I don’t know that Jen confirmed that.
2. I agree that this would’ve been a fitting ep to close the BF storyline. In fact, don’t Once’s main plots usually wrap up in the penultimate ep of the season & then the 2 hr finale is used to launch the next season? I know that’s how season 3 was structured because the finales of 3B is still my all-time favorite episode.
Mine too! the “CaptainSwan movie” as Jen dubbed it is brill!
Hello All, Once Upon a Time has been my main love as far as TV series go…But without Emma, I do not feel it will be worth watching. I hope I’m wrong, the Evil Queen is more powerful being a loner. But Hook without Emma just will not be. He has been reformed and I can not see him being a loner and how lone can you keep repeating that his wife if off saving someone in another realm. Rumple is also better being a loner. I think to save the vision I have of this series it should end after the finale. It has been a fabulous 6 years!! Not one of them can feel that it has left unanswered questions.
I’ve stopped watching the show about a month ago. I will watch the wedding episode and that’s it.
Season 7 or not, I’ve lost interest in the show.
I’ve skipped several episodes this season but just loved the musical for the most part. They should have used it as a series finale and with Jennifer M. and most of the current cast not coming back if there’s a season 7, this would have been a great send off with everybody in a good place.
Not sure if I’ll watch next week’s final battle, but glad I got to see this “Enchanted” like episode, except for the final few seconds.
I kinda agree, I love this show but without Jennifer…. I was so rooting for a season 7 just yesterday, what a difference a day makes. Now, I’m conflicted, the musical would’ve been a truly fitting end to a show so full of Disney magic!
I know, right? The highest of highs last night and the lowest of lows this morning. I, too, was praying for Once to be renewed… until Jen’s announcement, which absolutely overshadows all the happy feels from the musical and makes me wish for the series to end immediately.
I feel the same – I was all out rooting for season 7 and Sunday’s episode had me even more excited for the “happy beginning.” Then bam. Now I’m routing for cancellation just so everyone can have a happy ending.
Same! such a buzzkill, I was literally listening to the soundtrack of the musical when I read Jennifer’s post, I haven’t listened to the songs since.
Yes, the musical/wedding would have been a fitting series finale. It’s too bad they didn’t actually plan it that way. With Jen’s announced exit, I just might not watch next week and pretend last night’s ep *was* the series finale.
I feel the same :(
I don’t know why they could not have written the wedding in several episodes back so we could have seen them as a married couple.😧
Two words: May sweeps
Be nice if they would close the book on Once and bring back Forever. Both very good shows, but the story of Once is all but over.
Awesome series once upon a time! have been hooked from the beginning I am hopeful that the ending will be satisfying and if there’s a season 7 it’s going to have to be good as emma is leaving. The musical episode was fantastic thank you for creating this great series let’s hope the happy ending is good for everyone I’m he really in New Zealand and I loved every episode 👍
Kill it.
Resorting to a so-called “musical episode”…..just an attept at a ratings boost?
I love Lana Parilla…but her pipes leave something to be desired.
I absolutely loved the musical. They were all awesome. I would like to have seen more personal dialogue in the vows between Hook and Emma. Also, I was waiting for him to tell her how beautiful she looked. I was somewhat disappointed as to how rushed the wedding was. I think the writers should have spent more time on the wedding instead of such a long scene with the Evil Queen singing. I thought snow and Charming’s duet was amazing. I was quite surprised to hear how well Josh could sing. He outdid them all. He has a great voice, but Killian is still my favorite. He’s a sweetheart.
I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who took exception with the vows, I was expecting a bit more gravitas.
The wedding to me seemed almost like an afterthought & so rushed, I wasn’t moved at all.
The musical aspect of the episode I loved, the wedding meh!
I loved the Musical. I was really surprised to see how well Josh could sing. He was the best of all I think. I think they could have done less with the evil queen and put more of that time into the wedding. It seemed rushed to me. I would have liked to have seen more personal vows. I surely do not want the show to end as this is the only program I watch. I can’t imagine what will happen to Killian without his love. My heart breaks for this character. The reason I watch the show is for the romance between him and Emma. I was looking so forward to seeing them in the future as a married couple. He is so sexy and sweet watching him in a relationship. It surely won’t be the same. I wish they would get a look- alike and replace Emma’s character. With the magic in this show, would not be hard to change Emma’s appearance, and the viewers would get used to it eventually. Anyhow, this is my view on the issue. I am absolutely heartbroken over Jennifer leaving the show at this point in time. Poor Hook…