- Title: Once Upon a Time – Mother’s Little Helper
- wiki: link
There are four storylines at work in “Mother’s Little Helper.” While Hook‘s (Colin O’Donoghue) attempt to return to Storybrooke by making a deal with Black Beard (Charles Mesure) leads him even farther astray, two parts of the episode center on Gideon (Giles Matthey) and the Black Fairy (Jaime Murray). Making peace with the Savior, or appearing to do so, Gideon sends his pet after Emma (Jennifer Morrison) hoping to gain the power to kill the Black Fairy before she can break into this world. Sadly, his efforts only confirm that the Savior’s final battle is about to begin. Meanwhile, the episode gives us a few flashback scenes into Gideon’s childhood explaining his relationship with the Black Fairy and delivering a twist concerning his current motives. Turning Gideon into a pawn certainly changes things, especially as tensions rise between the Savior and Gideon’s parents.
While the other three storylines continue the build-up to the season finale, it’s the other story that begins to look beyond this season to what might lay ahead for these characters should the show return another year. Picking up the underutilized plot thread of Henry‘s (Jared Gilmore) role of the author we learn not only that the town has reached its final chapter, but as the end gets closer and closer Henry is likely to lose himself to his destined role as the story takes hold. The storyline allows for the return of Isaac (Patrick Fischler). Does this mean the show will get some kind of reboot? And if this is indeed the end of Emma’s storyline, what is life in Storybrooke without its Savior?