Ep 16. It's Not Easy Being Green

Zelena, the Wicked Witch of the West, takes center stage in this episode of Once Upon a Time. As the episode title suggests, we get a glimpse into why it's not easy being green. After being banished from Oz by her own father, Zelena sets her sights on making a new life for herself in Storybrooke.

The episode starts with a flashback to Zelena's childhood, where we see her being abandoned by her mother as a baby. This abandonment is the root of Zelena's pain and anger, and it continues to haunt her throughout her life. As a young woman, Zelena discovers her magical powers and sets out to find her birth mother, hoping to find some answers about her past. Instead, she finds out that her mother has another daughter, Regina, who was kept and loved by their mother while Zelena was cast aside.

The present-day storyline picks up with Zelena arriving in Storybrooke. She's determined to win over Regina's friends and take everything that she feels belongs to her including Regina's love interest, Robin Hood. Regina is understandably wary of Zelena's intentions, but the other residents of Storybrooke are more than willing to give her a chance.

As Zelena becomes more involved in Storybrooke's community, she starts to unravel the secrets of the town and her own past. She finds out that she's not the only person with magical powers in the town and that there's someone with the power to defeat her. Zelena becomes increasingly paranoid and begins to make dangerous deals to secure her power and protect herself.

As the episode progresses, we see Zelena's backstory and present-day storyline intersect. Her flashback storyline reveals how she became the Wicked Witch of the West and why she's so obsessed with finding her birth mother. Her present-day storyline shows how she's willing to do whatever it takes to keep her power and her newfound happiness in Storybrooke.

The episode ends with a cliffhanger that sets up the rest of the season. Zelena's actions have dire consequences for the other characters, and it's clear that things are going to get a lot worse before they get better.

Overall, "It's Not Easy Being Green" is an excellent episode that explores a character who has been on the periphery for much of the season. We get to see more of Zelena's backstory and motivations, and it's clear that this character is going to be a major player in the rest of the season. The episode also features some excellent performances from the cast, particularly Rebecca Mader as Zelena.