Once Upon a Time Recap: Hell to Pay — Plus, Get Scoop on Hades' Endgame 

‘s heroes braved the Underworld in the Season 5B premiere, and what they found there was a bloody Hook and a larger purpose.

IN THE UNDERWORLD…. | Setting the stage for the otherworldly journey, Emma receives a “long-distance call from an old friend,” in the form of Neal Cassidy (almost-secret guest star Michael Raymond-James) hopping into her Bug with her. He strongly advised her not to set foot in the Underworld, since it’s “not an easy place to leave” — besides, her mission to find Hook and split/share her heart won’t end the way she thinks it will. Invited to help, Neal explains that he is not among those “in limbo” in the Underworld, seeing as he has no “unfinished business.” Rather, “I’m someplace where I’m happy,” he reports, before planting a warm kiss on his true love’s forehead. “I love you, Emma. I always have, and I always will,” he reminds before leaving, at which point Emma awakens on the boat ride to the Underworld.

Upon arriving in the screwy Storybrooke — as Regina wonders, Did the Dark Curse takes its cue from the Underworld or vice versa? — the gang splits up. Snow White scouts out Granny’s diner, where she meets up with the Blind Witch and unwittingly fields a liplock from Charming’s twin, James. When Henry shows up with the key to what used to be his father’s room above Granny’s, Emma assures him that Neal is not in the Underworld but “a better place.” Over at the mayor’s office, Regina reunites with Cora, who urges her daughter to get Henry and her “thief” on the first boat out of Dodge. “You must do what’s best for you,” Cora asserts, saying that the mission to find Hook is simply “too dangerous.” And if Regina

go? Cora poofs them down to a fiery cavern, where she dispatches with some rando dude, warning that Regina’s father will be the next to perish if she loiters.

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Rumple meanwhile visits his shop, where the sight of Chip sparks a flashback to him bidding Belle adieu, saying he’d only be “gone a day.” When he then goes to his wall safe, Dad aka Peter Pan appears. Pan says that he misses “the world above” and that he could return, were one of Rumple’s friends not to survive the Underworld — a soul for a soul and all that. As a gesture of good will, Pan gives his son the potion he was looking for, which allows communication with the dead.

Alas, when Emma sprinkles the potion on the grave of one Killian Jones, the bloodied, beaten-to-a-pulp pirate only appears as a flicker, the spell unsteady. Emma comes away from the harrowing encounter more resolved than ever to find her love ASAP, but urges Regina to catch that boat back home, with Henry and Robin. Regina then summons her father with the potion, and in a warm moment she apologizes for killing him and he readily forgives. Henry Sr. then warns that Cora is playing Regina, that his daughter’s friends need her as part of this mission. Regina frets about causing him further pain as a result, but as he explains, “If you stay, you spread hope… I won’t have died in vain.” On that note, Henry Sr. is transported to the fiery pit, where Regina follows to beg her mother not to dispatch with him. “I came back to help not just friends but

,” Regina states to little effect, as Cora conjures the funnel of flame to consume her husband. But after Cora leaves, the inferno dissipates and Henry Sr. emerges unscathed. Rather, a walkway to a bright, glowy, Heaven-ly place appears.

,” Henry Sr. realizes. “Now you are free of [Cora] and I’ve never been more proud.” Regina’s father then meets his namesake, who thanks Grandpa “for believing in her like i do.” Henry Sr. in turn thanks the lad “for being there when I couldn’t,” before leaving for his final destination.

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As the heroes reconvene by the wrecked clock tower, Henry announced “Operation Firebird,” through which they will set out to not only find Hook but help others in the Underworld with “unfinished business.” Rumple, though, wants no part of the “asinine pursuit” and washes his hands of it. After Regina notices the clock hand tick, we see Cora sneak into the library and take the elevator down… down… down, to Hades’ lair. There, the Underworld overlord enjoys a pedicure as he berates Cora for failing him. After all, a ticked clock equals a soul exiting his domain. As punishment, Hades notes that Cora forsake her daughter Zelena in the course of escaping the life of a miller’s daughter — and as such, that is what she shall be again “for eternity,” he cackles, as his hair erupts in blue flame.

IN FLASHBACK…. | It’s the Evil Queen Regina’s birthday, and there is nothing she wants more than Snow White’s heart to crush. When Henry Sr. makes the mistake of Skyping with his Wonderland-banished wife via the Magic Mirror, Cora ultimately escapes back to the Enchanted Forest realm, where she poses as Regina’s father to pluck Snow’s heart right out of her. But when Regina unwraps the unexpected gift from her mother and goes to end Snow’s life, we see that all the bandit suffers is a case of “Jiminy Cricket in her blouse.” Turns out, Henry switched out Snow’s heart with that of a guard. Regina then shrinks Daddy into a heart box, only to see him get yanked to Wonderland along with Cora when Regina has the mirror take Mother back to whence she came.

suggested by his swift action against Cora, Hades (played by

‘s Greg Germann) “is a control freak, a manipulator — and he’s deliciously evil, too,” purrs Lana Parrilla. “He’s very powerful, so it becomes a question of, ‘How are we going to take this guy down?\'” Adds Josh Dallas, “Oh man, Hades is

, and the gang has to figure out how to topple this guy somehow. He definitely wants

, let’s just say that.” As for Hades’ end game with regards to Emma, Regina et al, “Like most of the characters in the show, he has a very specific agenda. He has a very specific goal,” says series co-creator Eddy Kitsis. So, is it to have the Storybrooke heroes leave ASAP… or to never,

Ditto that. 5A was a convoluted mess. And, this time around, at least there was no memory wipe.

Also enjoyed seeing Robbie Kay back as Peter Pan. As creepy and psychotic as ever.

Did anyone else tear up a bit?… I loved this episode! Totally worth the 3 month wait!

3. Henry and Henry Sr. thanking each other :*-)

I hope you ask Adam & Eddy if we’re going to see Neal again later in the arc. I want a scene with Neal/Rumple/Henry :)

Yes, that’s something that’s much needed too. I’d love to have Neal back permanently, but somehow I doubt that will happen, even though IMO he was the one death that seemed to have a potential loophole. He was traded for the Dark One.

I thought the episode was mostly a let-down up until the final scene with the introduction of Hades. That was better than I thought it would be. Though I hope they don’t do the blue flame hair anymore. Distractingly bad CGI.

Yeah, it was unnecessary and badly done. How is it that a Disney-related show has such terrible special effects?

Probably because they’re expensive and better effects are not in the budget.

Different question – why didn’t Regina have the power to push her mother back to Wonderland? She was able to break through her mother’s restraints and push her before she ever had any training and now that she has, she isn’t powerful enough? They lost me on that logic.

This episode was more interesting than the entire first half of season 5.

Best episode in season 5 so far. The opening scene with Neal, Cora and Regina’s reunion, and Henry meeting his grandfather actually had me tear up a little – hasn’t happened while watching OUAT in quite some time. Barbara Hershey and Robbie Kay continue to impress and I’m glad to have them back at least for a while, Greg Germann also delivered a great first performance. Not a huge fan of the flaming hair, though, and I’m worried the red filter they use for the Underworld might get annoying soon. Kudos to Lana Parrilla for what was quite an emotional tour de force for her to work through in this episode, and to Josh Dallas who is always even more fun when he’s playing both David and James.

I had forgotten what a great, smarmy, smug little villain Robbie Kay made for!

Wow, what a letdown of an ep! I found it so disappointing after waiting months for it. The Regina flashbacks were sooooo repetitive, and there was way too much focus on one character for it being the 100th ep. I thought it was going to be about everybody. And I could have happily lived the rest of my life without seeing that jerk Neal again. Why did they try to present it like he & Emma were tender true loves? They were together a few weeks when she was a minor, he knocked her up then betrayed her & treated her like crap when they saw each other again, and they were never romantically involved again. I found the episode unpleasant from start to finish.

I don’t get how Hook can get forgiveness from people for doing worse things but Neal can’t. Neal is treated by some people like he was worse than any of the villains it’s sickening

Its because of what he did to EMMA specifically. We seen Emma from season1 and know how she is and her walls and so on. What he did to her as a teen and prison etc. Hence why some ppl dont like it.

Don’t really get it. Neal left Emma so she could become who she was supposed to become. He let her go and be able to reach her full potential, find out who she was (which was very important to her) because he loved her. If you love someone you need to be able to let them go for whatever reason that may be.

I agree, BM. What I think anti-Neal people seem to forget is that Neal was insanely in love with her too. He made a heroic decision (as seems to be a theme with him) and selflessly let her go. He could have kept her to himself (I use this phrase loosely, as Emma is obviously her own woman and no one has a claim on her) but, instead, he realized the the “lives of the many” outweigh the good of one single person and decided to let her have this opportunity to save the lives of hundreds of people instead of living a half-life with him. He’s the one who always believed in her, who never doubted that she absolutely could fulfill the destiny she was made for. Ugh, this is making me so sad about Neal’s death again.

I, for one, absolutely LOVE Neal, and thoroughly enjoyed having him back on the show even if it was only for a short stint.

People who don’t like Neal are Emma fans. It’s what he did to her that shaped her that some people don’t like and I don’t actively hate him, but I get it. Hook has mainly done things against Rumple. Unlike Rumple (and Regina and other villains), he didn’t really do anything to Charmings and you can’t really count that one day he spent threatening them in Storybrooke when he was made a dark one against his will. So yes, he has done bad things, but not to the people that know him well now.

I’m an Emma fan (or at least I was) and I like Neal. I wish he was still on the show. She was my favorite character aside from Rumple until recent seasons when they’ve changed her for the worse. IMO.

I’m glad Regina finally got to apologize to her dad. She really did love him and genuinely regrets killing him.

Since Friday I thought I would not watch this. I watch “The 100” too and I can’t get past what they did and I thought a trip to the Underworld and more death and sadness wasn’t what I needed at all. But then I had nothing else to do and tuned in anyway and I’m glad I did because it was a wonderful beginning of this new arc of theirs and they showed with Regina’s Story with her father that even in a place as dark as the Underworld there can be hope. I shed a tear when Henry sr. was saved, was allowed to say his goodbye to Regina and meet Henry, and then walked into the light into the better world where we know Neal must be, too. I had wished Henry and Neal could meet too, but I’m happier now to know that he was spared the Underworld and Emma and Henry know he loves them still and he is happy and safe.

Neal had me in tears I miss his character so much. Great episode. I love where they are going already.

this episode was 100% prefect for the 100th episode.

I miss Neal even more but glad he’s n a happy place

I’m watching the episode right now, and I completely agree with everybody here that’s saying that this episode alone was better than season 5A. Personally, I thought the first half of season 5 was a convoluted mess, and I was really starting to lose interest in the show because of it. If the show had just had Hook become the Dark One from the get go in the season 4 finale, I might have enjoyed season 5A a lot more, since I did love Dark Hook. That being said, tonight’s episode is really making me love Once Upon a Time again. Ever since the show started the format of having one storyline for the first half of the season, and another storyline for the second half of the season, the storylines for the second half of the season has always been my least favorite of the two storylines for each season. If this episode is any indication, it could end up being the opposite of the way it has been for me in the past this season.

Too much Regina. Should of been an ensemble episode.

Do not care for Neal. But the way they write dead Neal is NOTHING like how he was alive. Its beyond silly. and presenting him as he was some saint and what he and emma had was some real love, no it wasnt when we saw what it did to emma and letting her go prison.

And honestly, the constant Neal bashing while you’re stanning for Emma to be with an actual murderer who has hurt Emma and those she loves repeatedly is beyond childish. Emma has been consistent in how she’s been reacting to and interacting with Neal. Fact that some of you don’t like that part of her character because you think she should literally only care about Hook isn’t her or the writers’ problem. It’s yours.

Firstly what the hell. It was a Regina centric mostly. As i am looking at it from a 100th episode angle.

Whats childish is coming with silly comments, when i didnt mention anyone else.

Yeah i do like Hook. And Emma and Hook. But i also dislike Neal as a character on its own… my reason i mentioned above.

Thank god this was so good, 5A was seriously disappointing. I’ve always been a SwanXHook shipper but even I was kinda over it. This is an episode true to form, focusing on family and growth and heroism and I loved it. Most grounded considering it took place in the Underworld.

I know it’s an unpopular opinion but that pic at the top of the article perfectly articulates with no words whatsoever why I was and always will be team Emma/Neal.

Suuuuch a good episode. I really didn’t see how the episode was supposedly all about Regina. I felt like Emma had just as strong a part. And it was nice to see a relevant Snow again. And seeing Neal, oh wow. I’ve missed him so much. Popping up in the back seat, warning Emma about the Underworld. He and Emma have such lovely chemistry, and Jennifer Morrison really showcased Emma’s sense of loss. They obviously loved each other so much. And when they talked about Henry, there were definite tears in my eyes.

I loved the Neal thing to. That and the scenes of Regina dealing with what she did to her dad were great. I did like see Pan and I think Hades has potential ( I’ve thought that before and TPTB mess it up so I am cautiously hopeful). I might give this story a try after giving up on 5a.

Having said that, why does Emma never listen. She is warn in the beginning that this isn’t a good idea and she is like all well lets go for it anyway. I get the writers want their CS show back but why do they have to make Emma an idiot to do it. I’m sorry but if true love is endangering others on suicide plans that you have foreknowledge will not work and/or will go wrong somehow, I don’t want it. Also never suggest to your dead ex that he should help you save your other dead ex who you are risking your life and your family’s and (Neal’s family) to save when you didn’t try to save him. It is just bad form. I would have preferred that the scene with Neal been with Henry because honestly Emma could wait to forget about him an be with Hook. I also hope that since Hades know everything about the dead, he will spill the beans on everything that Hook has done. I think a lot more people could stomach CS if Emma knew all the dirt and still want to be with him

Right? Like, even to this day, Emma is unaware that Hook did *not* reconcile Ariel and Eric (the way he took credit for doing). but, rather, worked to keep them apart because he was being a brat.

THANK YOU!!! I thought I was the only person who remembers that Hook didn’t reconcile Aerial and Eric!

You should watch the scene again. Emma explained that she WOULD have gone looking for Neil in the underworld when he died. But when he died she didn’t know about the underworld or of a way to get to the underworld. And as Neil explained he was never in the underworld.

Also Hook isn’t just some random guy to Neil.

I’m sorry but pretty sure Emma told them all several time this episode to go back and encouraged it…she told Regina to get on the boat with Robin and Henry? Or was I dreaming that? Was I also dreaming the part where Regina’s father encouraged Regina to stay and help too? Plus they were already on the boat and there when Emma had her meet and greet with Neal…and I’m not a Neal fan at all btw I thought he was written terrible while he was alive but I appreciated that scene it was lovely (and the acting was lovely) and I think it’s adorable that Mitovich is such a Neal/Emma fanboy.

I think Hook and Emma have talked a lot of screen as characters tend to do which was made pretty clear in 5A when they were talking on the ship about the incident with Rumple and Emma recounted it and Hook said he was the villain in that tale..I mean I don’t know if she knows ever detail but I’m sure Hood doesn’t know every thing Regina did either but he still loves her.

Anyway I liked the episode…I think it set up the arc nicely and I’m looking forward to seeing were it goes

It looks to me that Regina’s father found the Stairway to Heaven.

I liked the present day Regina stuff OK, and I’m usually pretty harsh on her, but the flashbacks just left me cold. Once has had a problem for awhile now, of having way too many episodes where the flashback isn’t really needed, is a retread, and/or doesn’t tell us anything we didn’t already know. The flashbacks are their formula and they stick with it with rare exception and it’s not really working the way it used to. The flashback this episode did nothing for me. It didn’t give me any new information about any of the players involved. Yeah, it tied into the present day storyline, in a really heavy handed way, but it wasn’t *necessary* for the present storyline to work. The could have chucked the flashback formula and given more emotional weight to the present by actually getting to spend some time lingering with beats instead of rushing from plot to plot to plot. It was a good Regina episode, but it could have been better, and for the 100th celebration episode that’s disappointing.

I thought the 100th episode was actually awesome. As far as the flashbacks, it helped us to see more about the relationship Regina had with her father. Seeing more about his character (moral qualities) helped us to learn more about the things that have led Regina to be more than just the “evil queen”. It may not have propelled the storyline itself, but it did provide progress by showing the impact her father HAS had in Regina’s life and (later) choices that have made her the person she is now. Which by extension, does add flavor to the storyline. At least in my opinion.

What I really liked about the flashback was we finally learned how Henry Sr got to Wonderland. I remember when Regina went to rescue him with the Mad Hatter and that was a great episode.

Flashbacks have always been more about giving us background on the characters and what motivates them than being necessary for the current storyline and I think the flashbacks in that episode did so perfectly. Sure we didn’t learn more about Regina (I loved her wardrobe though; best to date, I think) other than that she *really* was obsessed. But we learned some more about her relationship with her father, about her father, and with her mother, too.

Loved the episode, Hades agenda sounded intriguing and I’m hoping that the rest of S5 will live up to what this episode promises it will be.

i love mrj & jen, i think they have good chemistry but my p

roblem with neal x emma is what he did to her and how it continued to effect her. my other issue is how, yes i’m sure a part of him did love her/always will but he only showed an interest in her when tamara was outed as a traitor. i did think the neal x emma scene was an important one storytelling wise, despite what my fellow cs shippers think. i love barbara hershey and robbie kay! they are amazing. any regina flashback is repetitive and boring, this one was no different. not exactly what i wanted for the 100th episode, but it was an ok intro into the underworld arc. i might have screamed at seeing killian all bruised and bloody :( really keen for more charming family though!(Hopefully)

Greg Germannas hades made me grade the show 100th a b grade.

still believe they could found a better actor.

Greg Germann as hade made me grade show 100th a b.

Matt, I don’t think it was a random potion that Gold took from his (Pan’s) shop. Part of the “mouthful of a name” (as Regina put it) sounded like “DuBroc”, which would make it the magical ale that Merida used to talk to her father in ” The Bear King”.

They should have cast James Woods as Hades

Great episode. Easily my favorite of the season. It was fun seeing so many returning characters. The Regina/Henry Sr. storyline was really well done I’m so glad Regina got the opportunity to sincerely apologize to her father and receive his forgiveness. It was a lovely resolution to their story, and Lana Parilla showed yet again what a wonderful actress she is. Kudos to episode 100!

It was great that they finally explained how Henry Sr. ended up in Wonderland and had to be saved by the Mad Hatter from Season 1 . I thought it was a great episode . I wonder if Rumple is really going back to Storybrooke as I would like the plot with Peter Pan trying to return to the land of the living to continue with Rumple being a part of the story. Also we have been told Rumple’s wife will be returning. I hope it will not just in flashbacks. While she could be with Hook in the present, I want Rumple also to be involved in the present. Cora’s punishment to be the Miller’s daughter for all Eternity seemed appropriate. Too bad there wasn’t anything about Regina confronting her Cora about Zelena .

I loved this episode. A nice example of what happens when the writers remember their core cast and family relationships rather than troubling love interests…Much better than anything in 5A.

Henyr Jr meeting Henry Sr was fantastic. Lana brought her A game and I’m really pleased she (and Regina obvs) got closure with the Henry Sr storyline.

From the teases: “a character whom we first met in the series pilot and who has not been seen in a while resurfaces when you last expect — to great comedic effect.”

So I watched the episode and I’m wondering who that was…

Well Neal returned with minimal damage. Poor Henry got sidelined again but at least he met Henry Sr. I think the best part of the episode was Grannys diner. I wonder if Charming will get left in the underworld somehow and be replaced by his brother. What would happen to Snow at that point? Would she able to live?

being that it’s “not an easy place to leave”, really “Being that???? I can understand the typos since (not being that) you all have to turn these recaps around quickly, however the use of being that is totally unacceptable

I’m not even a Regina fan, but damn, that was good. Finally I can like her. Her chat with Henry Senior was amazing, so heartfelt, so sad, Parilla nailed it.

That man is a true father where Cora and Pan are always the same, like Rumple (and I love them no less for that).

Just the flashbacks bored me to death, but all considered it’s been a strong episode.

Lana is carrying this show and this episode proved it. More of this.

I am completely losing my interest in OUAT… They are all whining all the time, and it’s getting really tiring. And why bother with special effects and CGI if it’s going to be so bad. Like Hades’ flaming hair. Or the lava pit. Lana Parrilla is the only thing that keeps me coming back every week.

it was a stupid episode. Seriously neal has no unfinished business. How about saying goodbye to his son something he never got to do because his son did not remember him when he died.

That was a really underwhelming 100th episode. If you’re a Regina fan, I suppose you’ll love it.

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