Happy 2021 everyone! I have no idea when the rest of the plans are going to come out, but here were the plans I had for the season 8 finale and the first half of season 9!
Season 8
The primary focus of the final two episodes was to set Dorian up as the series’ new Big Bad, to change the status quo forever, and to bid farewell to Hook and Tiana, whose arcs would come to a close as Colin O’Donoghue and Mekia Cox departed from the series.
8x13 – The Reckoning
In flashbacks, the Evil Queen's fate could be forever changed when she receives information concerning Snow White which could render all of her plans useless. Meanwhile in the present day, Regina must find a way to defeat Dorian while trapped in Oz, while the rest of the heroes recruit allies and race against time to stop the demons descending.
Major guest stars in the episode included Barbara Hershey as Cora, Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas as Snow White and Prince Charming, Jared S. Gilmore as Wish Henry, Rebecca Mader as Zelena, Andrew J. West as Henry, Alison Fernandez as Lucy, and Dania Ramirez as Jacinda. Giancarlo Esposito was also to return as the Magic Mirror.
The flashbacks were set back in the Evil Queen era, with Regina once again on the hunt for Snow White. She would later find out from Cora that she was destined to never succeed in her endeavour, but she would later decide not to let destiny interfere. Something along those lines; the focus was on Regina’s determination.
This would manifest itself in the finale; the heroes split up to take care of Dorian and his demons. Romeo and Julian headed to Oz to help Regina and Zelena out, but Dorian’s plan worked long enough; they were stalled. Sabine, Henry, Jacinda, and Lucy reunited with Snow and Charming to get the people to rally together, while Hook, Tilly, Margot, and Gideon were in charge of taking care of the demons.
Pain and Panic from Hercules were involved.
Most of it was a bunch of filler scenes until the end.
Dorian finds Excalibur and unites it with the DO Dagger and the Raven Painting and consolidates all the magic in the realms
The big cliffhanger saw the demons kill Tilly, and the episode ended there.
8x14 – Into the Unknown
The heroes have fallen. With Dorian possessing almost all of the magic in the United Realms, they must find a way to stop him from completely taking what is left without magic. Meanwhile, as the heroes recover from their losses, Margot rushes to save her family –– and her unborn child –– while Romeo and Julian make a stand against their former master, and Hester discovers a fatal flaw in Dorian's plan and makes a pivotal decision.
Major guest stars included Snow, Charming, Zelena, W!Henry, as well as the returns of Lord Montague, Lady Capulet, Pearl, and Chillingworth (to conclude the Romeo & Juliet and Scarlet Letter storylines)
The episode opens on the car, with a song playing on the radio. We don’t see exactly who’s in the car nor do we hear them (it’s nighttime), but we do see them entering Storybrooke. We finally find out who they are when the heroes reconvene on Main Street (sans Nook, Tilly, and Margot), and a familiar yellow bug parks in front of Granny’s. Captain Hook and Emma Swan are back from vacation, and just in time.
But not even the combined powers of Emma, Regina, Zelena, and Gideon are enough to stop Dorian; he’s ready to resurrect his brother. But we do see that his magic is unstable.
The four of them lose their powers as Dorian absorbs them.
There is also a sub-storyline to conclude Tiana’s journey as she unites the kingdoms together and proves to herself that she is a queen, both as Tiana and Sabine
Here’s the most tragic part: After a conversation with Margot, Nook makes a deal with the demons and trades his memories for Tilly’s life. The demons bring Tilly back so she and Margot can be a happy family, but they are now strangers in Nook’s eyes – there’s not even enough time for Tilly to properly say goodbye. Tilly and Margot help Nook get home with tears in their eyes, and that’s the last we see of them this season. It hits us home when Nook tells Tilly about a daughter he seems to have lost, and is confident that “I would know her the moment I saw her.” That’s the last we see of them this season.
Hester also moves to NYC with Pearl.
We get a prophecy foretelling a very unfortunate ending for the Queen.
The Capulets and Chillingworth aren’t really relevant, but they do cause enough conflict to resolve Romeo, Julian, and Hester’s arcs; they have overcome their fears (which is really the main idea of the finale, tbh)
The end of the episode sees Dorian lose control of the magic right as he prepares to resurrect his brother with the element shards from Frozen 2 (right at the moment of Into the Unknown) appearing in the sky all around them.
Cut to black.
Season 9
Expanded from 14 episodes to 18, Season 9 was split into two arcs, with the overarching theme of “Winter is coming”. The first half (episodes 1-9) saw Frozen 2 play out on the series as a sequel to the season 4 arc; while the second half (episodes 10-18) saw the introduction of Narnia and the Pevensies, most notably Edmund Pevensie, who would later become a pivotal character and Gideon’s love interest (iirc).
Lana Parrilla, Anthony Turpel, Lucas Jade Zurmann, Rose Reynolds, Tiera Skovbye, and Zach Roerig returned in their starring capacity as Regina, Romeo, Julian, Tilly, Margot, and Dorian; the season would also be the last for Parrilla, Reynolds, and Skovbye. Rebecca Mader and Giles Matthey were both promoted to the regular cast, and the series saw the return of Georgina Haig as Elsa; Haig was also promoted, and would be relevant beyond the Frozen 2 arc. The series also introduced Brann, an original character based on Bruni the Fire Spirit from Frozen 2. Along with Gideon, who represented the earth, two new characters would join as guest stars – Moana and Gale (based on the Wind Spirit). Gideon, Brann, Moana, and Gale would form the four elementals (who would be relevant until the end of the series), with Elsa as a fifth member. Auli’i Cravalho, who voiced Moana, also played her in the show. Elizabeth Lail and Scott Michael Foster also returned in a recurring (and almost regular, to be quite honest) capacity as Anna and Kristoff, while Elizabeth Mitchell played the White Witch/Wish Ingrid. Sean Bean also made an appearance, but a major notable return was Adelaide Kane as Ivy; she would become more important. Wish Henry also returned, and would become more important as well. Emma Swan appeared in a couple of episodes, and Snow and David returned for a few as well. Belle and Hook did not return at all this season.
Despite featuring Frozen 2 and Narnia, the season was largely focused on Regina (and to a lesser extent in the second half, Zelena), with the recurring themes of self-acceptance and forgiveness.
9A - Acceptance/Frozen 2
The first half saw Regina’s arc parallel Elsa’s arc in Frozen 2, with her and Elsa both undergoing the same character journey for the most part. Unlike the original Frozen arc, Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff’s storyline did not end when the arc ended.
Some Things Never Change
Six people. One voice. When Elsa reports at a council meeting that a mysterious voice has called to her, Regina decides to investigate the source of the voice, but when she fails, she turns to Zelena for help. The two sisters travel into the Enchanted Forest to search for answers, but even when Anna and Elsa join them, the search is fruitless. What’s out there? In flashbacks to Arendelle, not long after Anna and Kristoff’s wedding, Elsa seeks answers about her powers, and how she got them in the first place. Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff venture into Misthaven, where the answers they find will only open up more questions...
The episode kicked off the Frozen 2 plotline, with the OG Frozen cast returning + CGI Olaf.
The charades scene from Frozen 2 was here
In the present day, Dorian explains that the release of all the magic in Excalibur, the DO Dagger, and the Raven Painting resulted in the unleashing of ambient magic throughout the United Realms. Now, magic and spirits that hadn’t been seen for ages was back.
We would see that Elsa, Regina, Gideon, Moana, Brann, and Gale would all hear the voice from Frozen 2 singing to them. Regina thinks it’s only her (since no one else can hear it) until Elsa says she’s heard it too.
The flashbacks see Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff going to the Enchanted Forest in search of answers about why Elsa had powers; I’m not really sure what happens, but it’s fruitless, and it only leaves them wondering if everything they know is true.
Anna and Elsa go back to the EF alongside Regina and Zelena, and they set out to figure out what’s happening. Meanwhile, Dorian begins to plot to resurrect his dead brother.
This is just the first of many episodes with titles referencing Frozen 2 songs; episodes 7-9 are all named after lines in The Next Right Thing, Show Yourself, and All is Found, respectively.
Kaunaz
Reports of strange fires pop up around the realms, alarming Elsa. Meanwhile, Romeo and Julian encounter a strange man, who poses an unexpected danger, while Dorian attempts to capture the Water Dweller. In Arendelle flashbacks, Elsa meets an exiled fire elemental who quickly loses control of his powers.
This episode properly introduced the Elementals storyline, with Romeo and Julian meeting Brann, and Elsa realizing that he was there (this was Brann and Elsa’s shared centric).
The flashbacks mostly focus on Elsa meeting Brann and helping him try to control his fire powers.
Dorian goes after Moana, though we don’t find out why just yet.
Unearthed
Gideon’s magic goes haywire, accidentally unleashing a devastating earthquake. While Elsa and Regina continue locating the source of the call, Romeo and Julian attempt to pacify Brann. Meanwhile, Dorian and Moana face off, prompting Zelena and Margot to try and calm the situation down. In a flashback to Elphame Academy, a young Gideon struggles with his newfound power over the earth, and the strange voice that calls to him.
The episode was heavily Gideon-centric, and we would see Gideon at Elphame Academy discover that he was connected to the earth. He pretty much panics. We probably also would’ve met some random people to make it more intense for him. We would also get explicit confirmation that Gideon does, in fact, like guys.
In the present day, we would see Elsa and Regina keep on keeping on, while Kristoff, Anna, and Zelena would go back to Storybrooke; Zelena would later team up with Margot to try and figure out why Dorian’s after Moana.
This episode would also see Romeo and Julian begin to befriend Brann.
The Kulning
Moana befriends Gideon, and the two set out to answer the call; however, when they encounter malevolent spirits of their past, Moana makes a decision which could change everything for the worse. Meanwhile, Anna tries to stop Elsa from going too far, leading to a betrayal that runs deep. Dorian reclaims the Raven Painting in a bid to take Regina’s magic. In flashbacks to a distant realm, Moana sets off on a voyage to recover a magical artifact to save her home from a demon.
Despite the Scandinavian title, the episode would focus on Moana (whose backstory and homeworld would be explored more in depth in the spinoff during the Yggdrasil arc), with Moana coming to terms with her affinity to the element of water as she fought Te Ka.
Moana and Gideon would team up in the present to confront their inner demons, with Jaime Murray returning as the Black Fairy. I don’t remember what decision Moana makes, but it does tip the scales in Dorian’s favor.
The episode also sees Elsa leaving Anna behind in her quest to figure out why she’s being called (just like in Frozen 2), which sets up more conflict.
Melting Point
Brann confronts the true nature of darkness when Dorian tries to tempt him into joining him; Elsa and Regina search for a mystical relic which could help them harness some of the wild magic, while Tilly and Gideon have a heart-to-heart which answers some of Gideon’s concerns. In flashbacks, Brann’s fire powers go haywire, sending him on a collision course for disaster.
Another Brann-centric episode. The flashbacks see Brann lose control of his powers and nearly destroy Arendelle with fire. It gets fixed magicaly somehow.
Tilly and Gideon bond over their shared love for Rumple (there’s a sibling dynamic of sorts). Tilly and Margot get more relevant from here on out.
Dorian tries to manipulate Brann into losing control, intending to harness him a source of power (I think Dorian lost his magic in the finale)
Elsa and Regina look for a magic MacGuffin that I’m pretty sure was from a Disney movie, but I can’t remember what it was, so it may well have been a magic thermometer. It doesn’t matter, because it doesn’t end up helping them and it never shows up again.
The Land of the Lost
Anna and Kristoff meet Romeo and Julian and get pulled into the action as the four confront a confused and volatile Brann. While Tilly and Margot search for the Raven Painting, Zelena and Regina scour through Storybrooke for the DO Dagger. Moana, Elsa, Gale, and Gideon attempt to answer the call once again, leading to a surprising success. In flashbacks, Gale escapes their home after it is ravaged by a hurricane and meets Drizella, who attempts to use their as part of her plot.
The episode would see the heroes trying to tame all the wild magic by reuniting all the pieces of Dorian’s plan; Regina comes back to Storybooke to look for the DO Dagger with Zelena, while CuriousArcher goes after the Painting.
Anna, Kristoff, Romeo, and Julian meet and become a proper team as they face Brann, who’s connected to all four of them and in need of their help. They manage to calm him down, and the five form a new group.
The episode’s flashbacks see Gale’s past in the NEF, where Drizella tries to use them as a power grab to pull one over Tremaine. I don’t think Tremaine actually appears. Regina does, though, and though she doesn’t recognize them in the future, she tells Drizella to stop harassing innocents. I don’t think Gale’s homeworld was particularly relevant.
The elementals follow the call, but we don’t see where they go quite yet.
Through This Night
Anna confides her inner turmoil in Romeo, striking up an unexpected friendship. While journeying through Misthaven in search of a way to help, they encounter Tilly and Margot, who share similar sentiments. Regina and Zelena try to convince Dorian not to try and harness the wild magic. In flashbacks, Anna and Elsa are separated in Misthaven, setting the stage for an unexpected betrayal.
It’s a filler, but it’s an Anna-centric filler. The episode focuses on the split between Anna and Elsa in the past and present, with Anna coming to terms with the realization that she and Elsa can’t be together forever.
She, like Romeo, Tilly, and Margot, feels useless, and that’s pretty much it for them.
Also Regina and Zelena try and fail to appeal to reason.
One Moment More
Elsa and the elementals arrive at the source of the elements, the Wood Between the Worlds, where they learn the truth about their abilities. Regina and her allies confront Dorian, who sends them down an unexpected path. In flashbacks, Elsa travels into a place without a story, where she meets a troubled young boy on the run.
The “Show Yourself” of the season – the Elementals discover that their powers are intimately connected to the magic of the world, and their connection was strengthened when the magic was released. Something like that.
Regina and company encounter Dorian and end up in Narnia.
Elsa ends up in the Wood Between the Worlds after leaving Anna in the previous episode, and encounters Edmund, who’s on the run from the White Witch. This pretty much segways into the Narnia arc.
All is Found
With Regina and the others out of the way, Dorian unites the Dagger and Painting to harness the wild magic, posing a threat to the United Realms. Teaming up with the Charmings, Elsa, Gideon, Moana, Gale, and Brann must find the others AND save Storybrooke. Meanwhile in another realm, Regina and her allies split up into two groups as they attempt to find their way home. In a flashback, Regina, overwhelmed by the burdens of queenhood, visits a wise shaman for answers.
The flashbacks see pre-EQ Regina go to Grand Pabbie for advice. It’s not terribly important besides reinforcing Regina’s arc in the episode.
The episode sees the Elementals pretty much left in charge of Storybrooke.
Regina, Zelena, Tilly, Margot, Romeo, Julian, Anna, and Kristoff go to Narnia, with Regina and Zelena going with Tilly and Margot, and Romeo and Julian going with Anna and Kristoff.
Also, apparently this episode ends with the United Realms plunged into an eternal winter.