Once Upon a Time Season 5 Episode 14 Recap

Once again, we have a solid episode. This time around, we’re focusing on Rumple. As fans of the show will certainly know, Rumple’s always got some kind of ulterior motive, and this time around, it’s no exception. See, Rumple could care less about helping people with their unfinished business, he just wants to get Hook and get out of there and get home to Belle. To accomplish that goal, he gets the one person in the underworld who can accomplish that goal, his ex-wife and hook’s ex-lover, Mila. Rumple introduces Emma to Mila, and seeing as how Emma has been in a relationship with both Mila’s ex lover and her son, needless to say, it’s probably the most awkward moment in the history of the series, and given that this is a show in which Snow White and Prince Charming were caught having sex by their grown daughter, that’s saying something. The only way this could be more awkward is if somewhere down the line, Emma and Rumple hook up. (Please, for the love of all that is holy, do not make me regret saying that.) Anywho, Mila leads Emma and Rumple to Hook, and while Emma goes to rescue the man she loves, Rumple and Mila get reacquainted, prompting this week’s flashback. When Baelfire gets bitten by a snake, Rumple makes a shady deal with a witch doctor for the cure, at the cost of signing over his second born child. Mila is naturally pissed and storms off to a tavern where she eventually meets Hook. Later, as the Dark One, Rumple re-visits the witch doctor and kills him in cold blood. However, the real interesting part of the episode comes when Rumple and Hades meet for the first time. Hades will arrange safe passage for Rumple out of the Underworld, if he makes sure the others don’t escape. Rumple obliges, and burns their escape boat, and condemning Mila to the river of lost souls in the process. However, the whole thing turns out to be a double cross, as Hades has had an interesting conversation with the witch doctor from the flashback, meaning that not only does the contract stand, it’s now in the possession of Hades, and unless Rumple works for him, he will cash in. To make matters worse, Hades has also screwed over the others and our heroes original plan to escape the Underworld will no longer work.

This episode continues the momentum of the season. Most of our cast gets some great moments, including a nice subplot with Regina where she searches for her first love, Daniel. However, the real draw of the episode is the scenes between Rumple and Hades. Throughout most of the series, it’s been very rare that we’ve seen Rumple get outwitted by anyone, save for Peter Pan, but that was a special case. Since season 1, Rumplestiltskin has always been the guy manipulating events in his favor, playing both sides and making deals to suit his needs. However, when faced with Hades, the literal Devil for all intents and purposes, Rumple has finally found someone who can beat him at his own game.