Once Upon A Time Season 5 Episode 5 - Dreamcatchers

We almost find out what happened to Emma to turn against everyone in this episode. Almost. We do however finally meet the much talked about sorcerer, Merlin.

This episode starts off before Merlin was trapped in a tree in Camelot many years ago. Merlin has the Dark One's dagger, and he calls upon the Dark One (nobody we are familiar with). Here he attempts to murder him with the Dark One's dagger, but Merlin is too much of a good man, and can't kill the Dark One. The Dark One takes this opportunity to grab his dagger back, and uses his powers to trap Merlin in a tree. Back in the Enchanted forest, Emma sees this entire event through a spelled dream catcher. Dream catchers are used a lot in this episode. Using someone's tears combined with a  dream catcher will show that person's memories.  

Back in the enchanted forest, Regina is leading Snow and Charming to where she hid the Dark One's dagger. In Episode 4, Snow and Charming were put under a spell by the conniving King Arthur. The spell makes them do everything to help Arthur, even if it puts their daughter at risk. Luckily Emma saw everything with all of her dream catchers and stops Regina from giving them the dagger. She freezes Snow and Charming with her magic and explains to Regina why they suddenly have had a change of heart.

With Snow and Charming frozen and out of the picture, Regina and Emma attempt to rescue Merlin from the tree. That way he can take away all of Emma's darkness. To do this they have to use a tear from someone who is heartbroken. They at first use Regina's memory of Daniel being murdered by her mother. Which was so sad seeing her experience that pain all over again. But they get her heartbroken tear and use it in a spell to release Merlin from the tree. But it doesn't work, because although watching her first love's death was painful, Regina's heart has healed over time with Robin. 

So when Regina's tears don't work, Emma takes it into her own hands, and does something terrible. Henry is getting close to Violet, a girl that lives in Camelot. A nervous Henry run into his mothers while they are attempting to free Merlin. They tell him to be himself, and that she'll love him more for it. But their advice, although was true and heartfelt, doesn't help him. He plans this special date for Violet but she ruins it by friend zoning him! Poor Henry. We find out later that Emma was behind it all. She ripped out Violet's heart earlier so she could control what Violet said to Henry. Yep, Emma planned Henry's entire heartbreak for her own benefit. She uses the tears of his heartbreak for the spell to free Merlin.

The spell works, and we finally meet Merlin. Everyone is surprised how young this famous sorcerer is, but are convinced how powerful he is with his beautiful dialogue (Oh wait, maybe that was just me!). He agrees to take away Emma's darkness, but has one stipulation. She must want to get rid of the darkness completely in her heart.

Back in our normal time period, everyone still has no idea what happened back in Camelot. But Regina is on the right track to discovering all of Emma's secrets. She, along with Hook, Belle, and Robin break into her house to get some answers, They find dream catchers and find out everything that happened with Merlin. We still are lost on what made Emma turn against everyone, but we are getting closer to the reveal!

While everyone is sneaking around to find out what Emma's up to, Emma is trying to turn Rumpelstiltskin into a hero. She needs him to become a hero so he can pull the powerful sword from the stone. To make him into a hero she forces Merida (by ripping her heart out as well) to train him. Merida is the perfect girl for the job, and after several unsuccessful attempts she finally gets him to fight back. She gives Rumpel something to fight over, his Belle. She tells him to be brave you have to have something to fight for. It's a really sweet moment for Rumpel, and we see the beloved chipped teacup once more!

Henry finds out what Emma did to him back in Camelot when he walks in on Regina watching the memory from a dream catcher. It's incredibly sad when he finds out because he's heartbroken all over again. Even though Emma made it up to him by bringing Violet and Henry together in the modern world. But this doesn't make up all her lies in Camelot. The show ends with a sad Dark One walking away from her betrayed son who won't even talk to her. So incredibly sad!

I can not believe what is happening to Emma. Out beloved hero is becoming manipulative, dishonest, and evil. I hope Emma finds her way like Regina did. If the Evil Queen can become good, surely the savior can.