Ep 16. Poor Unfortunate Soul

As the name suggests, Once Upon a Time season 4 episode 16 titled "Poor Unfortunate Soul" delves into the story of one of the most tragic and heart-wrenching tales - the story of the Little Mermaid. Ariel (played by JoAnna Garcia Swisher), who is in love with Prince Eric (Gil McKinney), turns to the only person she thinks can help her win his love - the villainous sea witch, Ursula (Merrin Dungey).

The episode starts with Rumplestiltskin (Robert Carlyle) blackmailing Ursula into helping him get what he wants. In return, he will help her reclaim her singing voice, which was taken from her after she was banished to the Land Without Magic by King Triton. He instructs Ursula to help him separate Regina (Lana Parrilla) from the sorcerer's hat. But before Ursula can help him, she has to deal with her past and why she turned evil.

The audience is taken back in time, where Ursula is shown as a mermaid who is extremely talented and has a beautiful voice. King Poseidon (Ernie Hudson), Ursula's father, has high expectations of her and wants her to rule the seas after him. But when Ursula falls in love with a human named Prince Albert, Poseidon forbids her from seeing him, telling her that humans are the enemy. But Ursula is stubborn and determined, and she continues to meet Albert in secret. When Poseidon finds out, he is furious and banishes her to the Land Without Magic. The episode beautifully portrays Ursula's story, which is truly heartbreaking and shows how her pain and betrayal led her to become the villain she is.

Meanwhile, Regina and her sister, Zelena (Rebecca Mader), are trying to bond as half-sisters. Zelena is still struggling with her past and her envy towards Regina, but Regina is trying her best to make amends. She decides to help Zelena control her magic by taking her to the vault where the sorcerer's hat is kept. But before they can do so, Ursula intercepts them and strikes a deal with Regina - she will help her if Regina helps her get her singing voice back. Regina and Zelena are hesitant, but they agree to help Ursula, hoping that she will help them in return.

The episode also shows an emotional reunion between Hook (Colin O'Donoghue) and Ursula. The two have a complicated past, and Hook reveals that he once loved Ursula. But Ursula is still angry and hurt, and she refuses to let him back into her life. However, as the episode progresses, it becomes clear that there is more to their story than meets the eye.

As the episode comes to a close, Ursula finally helps Rumplestiltskin, but in doing so, she also helps Regina and Zelena. The episode ends with a touching scene between Regina and Robin Hood (Sean Maguire), where Robin tells Regina that he doesn't care about her past - he only wants to be with her. The episode expertly weaves different storylines together and ties up loose ends, while also setting the stage for what's to come in the upcoming episodes.

Once Upon a Time season 4 episode 16 is a must-watch for fans of the series. It beautifully portrays Ursula's story, which is a deviation from the usual focus on the main characters. This episode provides a glimpse into how the villains of the show became who they are and shows that even the villains have a story to tell. The episode is emotional, heartbreaking, and heartwarming, all at the same time, and it does an excellent job of moving the story forward while also providing a satisfying conclusion to some storylines.