Operation Mongoose Part 1

"Operation Mongoose Part 1" is the twenty-first episode of Season Four of ABC's Once Upon a Time. It was written by Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz, and directed by Romeo Tirone. It is the eighty-seventh episode of the series overall, and premiered on May 10, 2015.

This episode is the first part of the season four finale.

Synopsis
The Author proves to be a formidable wild card and forges an alliance with Gold. Emma, her parents, Hook and Regina scramble to stop them, but when Gold and the Author turn the tables on heroes and villains alike, the prospect of any happy outcome appears worlds away. Henry discovers he has big shoes to fill as he steps up to save his family before the story's final page is turned. It's a race to the finish, and everything culminates with a shocking twist that will leave the residents of Storybrooke reeling.

Recap
On a December day in 1966, a couple is in a shopping for a television set. As the husband begins to ponder whether or not to purchase a color television, a salesman answering to the name of Isaac Heller appears and proclaims that the color television is nothing short of a wonder and it brings the complex nature of the universe directly into their living room. The couple is less than satisfied with the salesman's spiel and simply ask if it comes with a clicker. Isaac's boss wins the day by showing off the remote control and informing them that the clicker is included in the price. The higher-up salesman's charisma wins over the customers. After they have made their purchase, Isaac's boss takes him into a corner of the store and tells Isaac that his anecdotes about the merchandise bore the shoppers. The higher-up salesman explains to Isaac that he hired Isaac in the first place because Isaac had always hoped to be a writer, but coldly tells the younger man that he is not a real writer because he does not tell stories that people want to hear. As his boss heads back to work, an offended Isaac takes a seat and reads his mail. To his surprise, there is a letter from Star Publishing Company, who would like to meet him as soon as possible.

At the Star Publishing Building, an old man whom Isaac believes to be the publisher is waiting for him. Much to Isaac's confusion, as opposed to signing a contract or getting to know what Isaac hopes to write about, the old man sets out an array of fountain pens and simply asks Isaac to choose one. While puzzled, Isaac follows through and picks up a slender black pen. No sooner is the writing utensil in his hand, however, does the pen give off a strange blue glow that prompts Isaac to drop it. The mysterious "publisher" identifies it as a sign and declares that it is time for the young man to stop selling televisions. He traces a rectangle in the air. Isaac turns around to find that there is now a door. The old man opens the door to reveal a lush forest. Isaac tells the old man that he doesn't believe his eyes, only for the other man to explain that the sheer fact that Isaac can see the door and the land behind it is proof enough--Isaac believes in magic, and is invited to find his destiny.

Starring

 * Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White/Mary Margaret Blanchard
 * Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan
 * Lana Parrilla as Evil Queen/Regina Mills
 * Josh Dallas as Prince Charming/David Nolan
 * Emilie de Ravin (Credit only)
 * Colin O'Donoghue as Hook
 * Jared S. Gilmore as Henry Mills
 * Michael Socha (Credit only)
 * Robert Carlyle as Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold

Guest Starring

 * Lee Arenberg as Grumpy
 * Eion Bailey as August Booth
 * Patrick Fischler as Isaac
 * Rebecca Mader as Wicked Witch of the West
 * Sean Maguire as Robin Hood
 * Keegan Connor Tracy as Mother Superior
 * Timothy Webber as the Apprentice

Co-Starring

 * Sean Campbell as Middle Aged Man
 * Michael Coleman as Happy
 * Paralee Cook as Middle Aged Woman
 * Faustino Di Bauda as Sleepy
 * David-Paul Grove as Doc
 * Sarah Ann Hayward as Villager
 * Jeffrey Kaiser as Dopey
 * Gabe Khouth as Sneezy
 * Mig Macario as Bashful
 * Mandie Vredegoor as Fan
 * Alison Wandzura as Hostess
 * Benjamin Wilkinson as Hank

Trivia
Production Notes=

Production Notes

 * The title card features Emma's tower.
 * Isaac's address is 968 East 14th Street, Brooklyn NY, 11230.


 * -|Episode Connections=

Event Chronology

 * The past events of the Land Without Magic take place in December 1966, many decades after "Second Star to the Right", and 16 years before "Smash the Mirror".
 * The Storybrooke events take place after "Mother" and before "Operation Mongoose Part 2".
 * -|Cultural References=

Fairytales and Folklore

 * This episode features Snow White, Prince Charming, the Evil Queen, and the Seven Dwarves from the Snow White fairytale, Captain Hook from the Peter Pan story, Rumplestiltskin from the Rumpelstiltskin fairytale, Robin Hood from the Robin Hood ballad, the Apprentice from The Sorcerer's Apprentice and the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wonderful Wizard of Oz story.

Disney

 * One of the TVs in the electronics shops briefly airs the ABC logo.
 * August Booth mentions that Walt Disney was a previous Author back in "Best Laid Plans". Walt Disney died on December 15th, 1966, the same date on the letter the Apprentice sent to Isaac. The Apprentice mentions how the last Author just passed away.
 * As Henry Mills walks the empty main street of Storybrooke, a Tinker Bell lawn ornament flutters in the breeze.

Popular Culture

 * Isaac's boss at the beginning of the episodes mentions Gimbels, which was a New York Department store until 1981.
 * One of the TVs in the electronics shop advertises "Vibracolor", a parody of Technicolor, an early color motion picture process.