Once Upon a Time Review: Mother’s Little Helper (Season 6 Episode 16)

It’s certainly starting to feel like Once Upon a Time is heading into its home stretch. Talk of the “final chapter” in our heroes’ story makes it seem as though Season 6 being the show’s last is a foregone conclusion.

Once Upon a Time Season 6 Episode 16, “Mother’s Little Helper,” brings the show’s greatest foe to Storybrooke for a face-off with our beloved characters — the Black Fairy successfully enacts her plan to escape from her “prison” to wreak havoc on the world. And as it turns out, the situation with Gideon is not at all as it appears.

“Mother’s Little Helper” focuses heavily on Belle and Gold’s son, with flashbacks to him growing up with the Black Fairy as his “mother” and a present-day storyline where we see Gideon and Emma work together in order to defeat her.

The scenes from Gideon’s past, where his “mother” psychologically tortures him and works the children she’s kidnapped in her mines, are tough to watch. Jaime Murray is doing a great job as the Black Fairy — she’s incredibly menacing and shows just hints of the same (apparently inherited) creepiness that makes Rumple such a great, weird villain.

The twist that this episode reveals — that Gideon has been working for the Black Fairy all along, but only because she’s got control of his heart — is simultaneously expected and surprising.

In retrospect, I’m not really sure why the first thing Rumple didn’t do was check his son’s heart to see whether he had it intact. How did it not cross anyone’s minds to see whether Gideon is being controlled? Regina, too, should have thought of that — it’s a classic Regina move.

It certainly works to explain why Gideon’s decisions and behavior have been so erratic and quick-changing — everything he’s done has been part of a long con, one that’s being played using him against his will.

Last week, in my review of Once Upon a Time Season 6 Episode 15, I complained that Gideon’s change of heart about killing Emma was shown off-screen, when it seemed like a major character development. Now, knowing that Gideon isn’t in control and that the decision not to kill her was fake, that switch makes a lot more sense.

Gideon tricks Emma into coming with him to defeat the Black Fairy, under the guise of working together and promising to allow Hook to return to this realm if Emma helps him. (Side note: If this is really the show’s last season, I’m 100% not thrilled that Emma and Hook have been kept apart all this time. There are just a handful of episodes left!!)

Gideon turning on Emma isn’t entirely unexpected, and as a character, it also makes sense that he’d do his best not to be the one to kill her directly.

In a way, that demonstrates the glimmer of a hero that still lives on in Gideon’s soul — by leaving Emma to his terrifying gigantic spider-pet’s mercy, he still gives her a chance to survive. And survive she does, thanks to Rumple’s timely rescue.

Speaking of which — anyone else cheer out loud when Rumple shows up to save Emma from that spider web cocoon? It’s high time Rumple chooses a side.

He could have let Emma die, but he chooses not to. He wants to do the right thing, for his son. It certainly doesn’t erase all of the nonsense he’s pulled in the past, but it’s absolutely satisfying to see nonetheless. Belle is clearly happy about Rumple’s change of heart.

Unfortunately, Emma dies just enough (or comes close enough to it) to allow the Black Fairy to slip through the portal that Gideon opens by channeling Emma’s powers through the sword.

Despite being under her control, Gideon is clearly none too pleased to see his “Mother,” who, in the flashbacks, is seen giving her stolen son a “test” to prove his loyalty — one which he fails, leading to the death of his friend Roderick and the theft of Gideon’s own heart.

I’m looking forward to someone — hopefully Belle! — realizing that Gideon isn’t in control of his own actions. Gideon should end the season firmly on the side of good, working with his parents to fight the Black Fairy. Lord knows the heroes will need all hands on deck to battle her.

In the meantime, Belle/Gold and Emma/Snow are at odds.

As far as Emma and her mother are concerned, they’ve already given Gideon too many chances and at every turn, he’s attempted to kill Emma and/or manipulate her.

Belle and Gold still hold out hope that their son can be saved. Of course, as the viewers know, Belle and Gold are correct — Gideon can be saved quite easily, if they retrieve his heart from the Black Fairy’s clutches — but Emma and Snow are in the right to be over giving Gideon the benefit of the doubt.

Elsewhere, Hook spends his time attempting to return to Emma. To do this, he tracks down his old frenemy, Blackbeard. Charles Mesure is, as usual, amazing as Blackbeard. I absolutely love the dynamic between Blackbeard and Hook — it’s such a bitchy frenemy vibe and the sniping between the two of them is hilarious.

Hook winds up stranded in Neverland after the bean he wins (or, technically, I guess, loses?) off of Blackbeard isn’t able to transport him home, thanks to the magic whammy Gideon put on Emma’s Savior tears (still not totally clear how that spell works, but whatever).

When we last see Hook, he’s about to be at the mercy of Pan’s remaining Lost Boys, thanks to an ill-timed clonk on the head by Blackbeard. From the legion of Captain Swan fans hoping for a swift reunion: Thanks a lot, Blackbeard, ya big jerk. Fingers crossed Hook makes his way out of Neverland quickly enough.

Rounding out this episode’s plots is the Henry/Regina story, as Henry begins exhibiting creepy signs of his author powers taking over when Regina attempts to figure out a way to break the sleeping curse the Evil Queen put on Snow and Charming.

I love that Isaac turns up as part of this story. Patrick Fischler is so entertaining in this role. The fact that he asks for a sports car, a move to New York City, and Hamilton tickets (of all things!) in exchange for information is hilarious and very in-character.

Isaac winds up not being much of a help at all — he only points out that Henry’s powers are malfunctioning thanks to the arrival of the Black Fairy, which signals the commencement of the final battle and the final chapter of the heroes’ story.

I’ve heard talk of a Season 7 reboot if the show is renewed. I’m not sure what that will look like, but by the looks of “Mother’s Little Helper,” Season 6 will bring the characters’ arcs to some form of a definitive end.

Stray thoughts:

• Surprise! As it turns out, the Black Fairy is the one who created the Dark Curse to begin with. That’s a great way to bring everything full circle, back to the start of the show.
• Also a fun tidbit: that the Black Fairy has a penchant for saying “dearie,” just like her son.
• We’re all but guaranteed a Rumbelle reunion before this season ends, don’t you guys think? Certainly seems headed in that direction.
• Will there be a Captain Swan wedding this season? Will they have time for a Black Fairy Battle Royale and a wedding?

What did you think of this episode of Once Upon a Time? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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Once Upon a Time airs Sundays at 9/8c on ABC.

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