The Apprentice

This article focuses on the Wish Realm version of the Apprentice.
For the episode with the same name, see The Apprentice (Episode).

Do not be fooled. I am blind, but my sword is still sharp.

—The Apprentice to Henry Mills^src

The Apprentice is a character on ABC's Once Upon a Time. He débuts, with his only appearance, in the twenty-first episode of the seventh season and is portrayed by guest star Timothy Webber. He is the Wish Realm version of the Apprentice.

History

After Fifth Curse

The Apprentice of the Wish Realm is blind, and unlike the main reality, there has not been an Author for a very long time. He has fought many battles to protect the Author's pen, with some of them costing him a great deal although he strives to not give up the pen to anyone except the true Author. When Henry claims to be just that, the Apprentice looks into Henry's memories in order to see how he first became the Author in the other realm. Before Henry leaves with the pen, the Apprentice makes mention of how Henry has not written much in recent times and reminds him an Author's true job is to record them instead of creating them. Additionally, he advises that no matter how many stories he writes, he must choose wisely each time how he uses the pen. ("Homecoming")

Magical Abilities

Witchcraft - Ability to cast spells and/or curses.

Teleportation - Ability to magically teleport oneself and/or others from one location to another.

Trivia

Production Notes

Production Notes

Timothy Webber was originally going to wear contacts for his portrayal of the blind Apprentice, to make his eyes look foggy, but the plan was scrapped when the actor said that the contacts would make him unable to see and move. He told them that he could play blind without the contacts and then he could move wherever they wanted, so they went for that instead.^[1]
The Apprentice's quote to Henry, which is "That is indeed a complicated story. The timelines alone would make one's head spin. Only a true author could weave such a tale. [...] Every story an Author has ever written lives in his heart. You have done good work — could use a little more romance, perhaps, but maybe in your next book." is a reference to the showrunners Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis, and other writers of Once Upon a Time.^[2]

Appearances

Once Upon a Time: Season Seven
"Hyperion Heights":	"A Pirate's Life":	"The Garden of Forking Paths":	"Beauty":	"Greenbacks":	"Wake Up Call":	"Eloise Gardener":	"Pretty in Blue":	"One Little Tear":	"The Eighth Witch":	"Secret Garden":
Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent
"A Taste of the Heights":	"Knightfall":	"The Girl in the Tower":	"Sisterhood":	"Breadcrumbs":	"Chosen":	"The Guardian":	"Flower Child":	"Is This Henry Mills?":	"Homecoming":	"Leaving Storybrooke":
Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Appears	Absent

References

↑ Steve Pearlman and David H. Goodman on the Season Seven Blu-ray-exclusive Audio Commentary for "Homecoming"
↑ Abrams, Natalie (May 11, 2018). Once Upon a Time just mocked its own complicated story lines. Entertainment Weekly. "Placing his hand on Henry's chest, the Apprentice can see the story Henry had penned in full, a.k.a. the tale of Once Upon a Time. "That is indeed a complicated story," the Apprentice quips. "The timelines alone would make one’s head spin." (...) "One of the consequences of the show having had such a long run — seven seasons and more than 150 episodes — is that our characters' lives, and the stories we've told with them, have become, well, complicated," says executive producer David H. Goodman, who penned Friday's hour. "We talk about the show’s timeline in the writers' room constantly. So as we closed out the series, it seemed like a good opportunity to poke some fun at ourselves and tip our hats to the audience. We're incredibly thankful that they've come along with us for such a wild ride.""

[1] Steve Pearlman and David H. Goodman on the Season Seven Blu-ray-exclusive Audio Commentary for "Homecoming"

[2] Abrams, Natalie (May 11, 2018). Once Upon a Time just mocked its own complicated story lines. Entertainment Weekly. "Placing his hand on Henry's chest, the Apprentice can see the story Henry had penned in full, a.k.a. the tale of Once Upon a Time. "That is indeed a complicated story," the Apprentice quips. "The timelines alone would make one’s head spin." (...) "One of the consequences of the show having had such a long run — seven seasons and more than 150 episodes — is that our characters' lives, and the stories we've told with them, have become, well, complicated," says executive producer David H. Goodman, who penned Friday's hour. "We talk about the show’s timeline in the writers' room constantly. So as we closed out the series, it seemed like a good opportunity to poke some fun at ourselves and tip our hats to the audience. We're incredibly thankful that they've come along with us for such a wild ride.""

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