Ep 6. The Bear and the Bow

In episode 6 of season 5 of Once Upon a Time, titled "The Bear and the Bow," we see an in-depth look into Merida's backstory and how she becomes the fierce warrior we know her to be.

The episode begins with Merida as a young girl, being taught archery by her father, King Fergus. As she grows older, her mother takes issue with Merida's tomboyish ways and tries to convince her that her worth is only measured by her ability to marry into a powerful clan. However, Merida is not interested in marriage and just wants to be a skilled archer like her father.

Her mother's disdain for Merida's love for archery causes tension between them, and eventually, after a heated argument, Merida runs away into the forest. There she stumbles upon a will-o'-the-wisp, which leads her to a witch's shop.

The witch, who is initially hostile towards Merida, agrees to help her become the best archer in the land in exchange for Merida's family ring. The witch then enchants Merida's bow, making it nearly impossible to miss a target. However, as soon as the enchantment takes place, the witch tells Merida that she must now fulfill a deal: to find and then return a magical helm to the witch before the second sunrise or be cursed.

Merida returns home with her newfound skills, ready to challenge legendary warriors for her hand in marriage. However, when she returns to the witch's shop to return the helmet, she is ambushed by the witch's castle guards.

Merida uses her bow skills to defeat the guards and ultimately the witch, proving to herself and her mother that her worth is more than just who she marries. As the episode comes to a close, Merida's mother embraces her love for archery and vows to support her daughter in all that she does.

In present-day Storybrooke, Merida finds herself in a tense standoff with Emma, who is under the control of the dark magic. Merida is tasked with teaching Emma how to control her powers to defeat the dark one, but Emma's hesitation to trust anyone causes complications.

Meanwhile, in flashback to Camelot, we see that Emma has stolen Merida's heart, making it difficult for Merida to follow through with her wishes. This complicates Emma's plan to take Excalibur from Arthur, as Merida was tasked with ensuring Arthur's survival.

Overall, episode 6 of season 5 of Once Upon a Time provides a deeper look into one of the show's more complex characters, Merida, and her past experiences with magic and familial obligations. It is also a crucial episode in terms of the season's overarching plot, as it sets up the stakes for Emma and her allies as they continue to fight against dark forces.