Ep 12. New York City Serenade

In this episode of Once Upon a Time, titled "New York City Serenade," we see Emma Swan grappling with her newfound identity as the Savior of the fairytale realm. The episode starts with her living in New York City, completely unaware of her past and the epic battles she's fought in the Enchanted Forest.

Emma's life takes a dramatic turn when Hook, the pirate she met in Neverland, shows up on her doorstep. He's followed her to the real world, hoping to convince her to return to Storybrooke and help save her family from imminent danger.

But Emma is resistant, insisting that she's built a life in New York and doesn't want to go back to a past she can't remember. Hook, however, is relentless in his pursuit, even going so far as to glamorize Emma's memories so she'll be able to remember who she is.

Meanwhile, in Storybrooke, the other fairytale characters are dealing with their own struggles. Regina, the Evil Queen, is mourning the loss of her son Henry, who's gone to live with his birth mother in New York. Snow and Charming are trying to figure out how to defeat the Wicked Witch of the West, who's descended upon their small town and is wreaking havoc wherever she goes.

As the episode progresses, we see flashbacks to Emma's life in New York before Hook showed up. We learn that she's a bail bondsman who's been living a lonely and rootless existence ever since she was abandoned as a baby. She also meets a new character named Walsh, a charming man who sweeps her off her feet and offers her a new sense of purpose.

But as we've learned from past episodes of Once Upon a Time, nothing is ever as it seems. Walsh, it turns out, is not who he appears to be. He's actually a flying monkey sent by the Wicked Witch to keep tabs on Emma and make sure she doesn't regain her memory.

As the episode builds to its climax, Emma and Hook head back to Storybrooke, where they're reunited with the rest of the gang. Together, they start to piece together the mysterious circumstances surrounding the Wicked Witch and her arrival in their town.

As always, Once Upon a Time delivers on its signature blend of fairytale magic and real-world drama. This episode is a perfect example of the show's ability to seamlessly weave together multiple storylines while keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. With plenty of twists and turns, "New York City Serenade" is a standout episode that keeps fans hooked week after week.