Ep 11. Tougher Than the Rest

In Once Upon a Time season 6 episode 11, titled "Tougher Than the Rest," we find Emma and Regina attempting to track down the evil forces in Storybrooke that have been threatening their happy endings. A mysterious young man appears in town and quickly catches Emma's attention, causing her to struggle with her feelings for Hook. Meanwhile, Snow and Charming try to give their daughter a magical new birthday gift, but things don't go as planned.

As the episode begins, we see Emma (Jennifer Morrison) and Regina (Lana Parrilla) on the hunt for the mysterious hooded figure that has been lurking around Storybrooke and causing trouble for the residents. Their investigation leads them to a young man named Gideon (Giles Matthey), who claims to be seeking their help in defeating the Black Fairy - the ultimate villain they've been trying to take down all season.

Emma is immediately drawn to Gideon, much to Hook's (Colin O'Donoghue) dismay. As Emma spends more time with Gideon, she begins to question her feelings for Hook and wonders if she might have a connection with this new stranger. Meanwhile, Hook grows increasingly jealous and worried that he might lose Emma to this new arrival.

As Emma and Gideon work together to try and stop the Black Fairy, they discover that they share a common enemy - Rumpelstiltskin (Robert Carlyle), who has his own hidden agenda for Storybrooke. Gideon reveals that he is Rumpelstiltskin's son and seeks to defeat his father and take his place as the dark one. This revelation changes everything and Emma is left with a difficult decision to make about whom to trust and whom to believe.

On Snow and Charming's front, they try to give their daughter a special birthday present - a magic bean that will take her to a new world and show her what else is out there beyond Storybrooke. However, things quickly take a turn for the worse when they accidentally send her to a dangerous and unfamiliar land. The parents are forced to come together and work quickly to try and find their daughter and bring her back safely to Storybrooke.

As the episode comes to a close, we see Emma facing one of her toughest challenges yet - deciding whom she can trust in her quest to stop the Black Fairy and save the people of Storybrooke. With Rumpelstiltskin and Gideon both vying for power and control, Emma must rely on her own instincts and the help of her family and friends to uncover the truth and save the day.

Overall, "Tougher Than the Rest" is a thrilling and action-packed episode that delivers on both the emotional and magical fronts. With a new, mysterious character in the mix, the stakes are higher than ever before, and viewers are left on the edge of their seats as they watch Emma and her team try to overcome the formidable challenges that lie before them.