Ep 13. Darkness on the Edge of Town

The episode "Darkness on the Edge of Town" is the 13th episode of the fourth season of Once Upon a Time. In this episode, viewers see both present-day and past events unfold.

The episode opens with the character of Hook, who is imprisoned by Gold, also known as Rumplestiltskin. Gold wishes to obtain the Author's pen, which Hook had taken from him in a previous episode. Gold believes that the pen is the key to changing his fate and wants to use it to manipulate the story of the town of Storybrooke to his advantage. Meanwhile, Emma and Regina are busy trying to figure out how to save Hook and thwart Gold's plans.

The flashback portion of the episode takes place in the Enchanted Forest, prior to the events of the curse that brought the characters to Storybrooke. The main focus is on Regina, who is struggling with her dual identity as both a powerful sorceress and a caring mother. She is determined to seek out Maleficent, another iconic villain from the Disney animated canon, with whom she once shared a friendship. This is in the hopes of finding a way to stop Snow White and Prince Charming from leading a rebellion against her. Regina turned on Maleficent before they could enter into a plan that could have stopped Snow and Charming. Regina now seeks to make amends as she tries to gain the upper hand over the heroes.

The present-day events continue to focus on Hook's predicament. Gold's plans begin to come to fruition, with Gold convincing Belle to steal Hook's heart and surrender it to him. This will give Gold control over Hook's actions, which he can then use to get what he wants. Emma and Regina race against time to stop Gold, in the hopes of saving Hook and preventing him from becoming a tool in Gold's quest for ultimate power.

The episode builds to a climactic moment where Regina and Maleficent finally reconnect. Their scenes together are some of the episode's most intense, as they work through their strained past and try to overcome their trust issues. Despite their difficult history, they team up to help try to stop Snow and Charming's rebellion against Regina.

All in all, the episode "Darkness on the Edge of Town" is an exciting one that advances the plot of Once Upon a Time while also delving a bit deeper into the characters' pasts and motivations. The focus on Regina and Maleficent adds some interesting layers and backstory to the show's already-complicated mythology. Fans of the series will definitely not want to miss this episode.