Board Thread:Spoilers!/@comment-26159109-20151007195419/@comment-6175354-20151120164706

Hmcooper4 wrote:

The episode is probably going to resolve how excalibur was returned to the stone (probably by Merlin), the capture of all the memories, and the casting of the curse (my guess is Emma/Nimue crushing Merlin's heart).

And did anyone notice in "Birth" that Emma transformed from her White Gown to the Black Leather the moment that she tethered Killian to Excalibur? If Dark Hook was out of control, why would Merlin want the sword back in the stone? There is nothing to suggest, that it would negate the effects of being a Dark One, as Hook has always struggled with darkness.

The tranformation was to symbolize, that Emma had fully embraced the Darkness. In that moment, she gave into weakness and temptation. While she did choose love, it was a very twisted version of it.