Review: Once Upon a Time, “Darkness on the Edge of Town” ONCE UPON A TIME - "Darkness on the Edge of Town" - With Gold banished from town, the residents of Storybrooke attempt to resume their normal lives. Hook and Belle search for a way to release the fairies from the Sorcerer's hat, while Emma, Henry and Regina continue to look for clues that could lead them to the Author. But when a terrifying darkness descends on the town, Emma and Regina are forced to confront the true nature of evil. Meanwhile, in New York, Gold and Ursula enlist Cruella De Vil to join their cause, on "Once Upon a Time," SUNDAY, MARCH 1 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/Jack Rowand) LANA PARRILLA, JARED S. GILMORE

Review: Once Upon a Time, “Darkness on the Edge of Town”

Lindsay MacDonald Once Upon a Time, Reviews

Did anyone else recognize that gargoyle from Fantasia? The mountaintop demon piece always gave me nightmares as a kid.

In a stellar return, Once Upon a Time delivered a pretty compelling episode that set up many mysteries for the future.

The first shocking turn of events has to be that Emma and Regina have apparently become off screen besties. Bringing each other lunch, fighting off demon creatures, investigating mysterious authors, etc. I always wondered what their relationship would look like if it didn’t have Regina’s crazy, overblown hatred laced through it, and it’s kind of fun. Root beer for everyone!

Regina herself seems to be seriously working on becoming the less-evil-queen. She freed]s the fairies from the hat and saves the town without even having to be asked.

Regina: “Can we drop the E-word already?”

She might not deserve to have the Evil dropped from her Queen title just yet, but we can at least demote her to a lower-case ‘evil’ right?

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Cruella’s magical control over animals is another twist. I suppose they had to give her some magical ability in order to hang out in such nefarious company. Killing puppies might be monstrous, but it doesn’t pack the same magical wallop that turning into a fire-breathing dragon does.

Victoria Smurfitt as Cruella De Vil (ABC / Jack Rowand)

Finally, we get to Rumple’s revelation that Emma has the greatest potential for evil.

I have to say… I’m not totally buying it. She’s been nothing but heroic for four straight seasons. But I guess for the purpose of this darker arc, she can have the potential for evil. Something tells me Jennifer Morrison will rock Evil Emma.

At the end of it all, Rumple has returned to Storybrooke, with our heroes none-the-wiser. This can’t mean good things for the recent peace that everyone has settled into. And with Cruella and Ursula acting as wolves in sheep’s clothing, this little town is about to get way more interesting.

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Other Thoughts:

  • It took 40 minutes for Charming to make an appearance? Really?
  • No hating on the yellow bug, Regina!
  • Belle and Hook are buddies now, and I’m not sure I’m cool with that. He attacked her several times, guys.
  • What on earth did Snow and David get up to with Cruella and Ursula?

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Once Upon a Time airs at 8/7c on ABC.

Lindsay is an associate editor for Tell-Tale TV. She is a writer, viewer, and internet addict. Her obsession with TV started with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and has been going strong ever since; current favorites include Scandal, The 100, The Walking Dead, and Arrow. She considers a perfect Friday night to be a joint-cuddle-session between an adorable puppy dog and her Netflix queue. Follow @lindsayjoane