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I was a coward, father, just like you. But we can show your mother that she was wrong about both of us.

Gideon to Mr. Gold

"Ill-Boding Patterns" is the thirteenth episode of Season Six of ABC's Once Upon a Time. It was written by Andrew Chambliss & Dana Horgan, and directed by Ron Underwood. It is the one hundred and twenty-fourth episode of the series overall, and premiered on March 19, 2017.

Synopsis

When Gideon resumes his mission to kill Emma and become the Savior, Mr. Gold steps in to ensure that the use of dark magic does not poison his son. Meanwhile, Robin proves willing to ally himself with anyone offering the possibility of escape from Regina and Storybrooke. Hook gathers the courage to come clean to Emma, but not before she discovers he’s been keeping a secret. And in a flashback to Fairy Tale Land, the legendary folk hero Beowulf sets his sights on Rumplestiltskin after the Dark One uses his powers to defeat the ogres and win the war for humanity.[2]

Recap

This section is a detailed recap of this episode. There are major spoilers. Click to expand.
In the Past

In the pre-first curse Enchanted Forest, the events of the first Ogre Wars are detailed. A young soldier is being encouraged by his leader, Beowulf, to keep fighting against the creatures. Beowulf then displays the sword, Hrunting, that Emma will take possession of in the future and leads his men into battle. However, despite killing some ogres, his men are all killed, and he is left as the only survivor. When Beowulf sees an ogre general and goes after it, it knocks his sword out of his hand and moves in to kill him, but then, Rumplestiltskin intervenes. He uses his dagger to genocide all of the creatures. His actions would cause a deeper rift between Rumplestiltskin and the teenage Baelfire. Later on at a village, the people ask Rumplestiltskin to defend them against a creature named Grendel. Baelfire, hoping that saving the village will restore Rumplestiltskin's good name, believes that he can do it without resorting to dark magic, so Rumplestiltskin gives him the dagger to keep him from using it.

When they arrived to the cave to draw out Grendel, Rumplestiltskin and Baelfire discover it was a setup by Beowulf, who wanted revenge on Rumplestiltskin for denying him victory during the Ogre Wars, by setting him up to frame the Dark One for the murder of the villagers. After Baelfire fails to stop Beowulf, Baelfire summons Rumplestiltskin, who defeats Beowulf. Baelfire wants him to stop Beowulf, but Rumplestiltskin refuses, opting to send them to a new village instead, but in the end, Baelfire killed Beowulf after he commanded his father to do so. Rumplestiltskin also collects the sword Hrunting after this. The events convinces Baelfire that they should use Dark Magic to protect themselves, but Rumplestiltskin feels otherwise, and secretly gives Baelfire a forgetting potion he slipped inside his drink to make him forget about what happened, to keep him from going dark. Unfortunately, Baelfire's memory would later come back when he saw Hrunting, and this time, he accused his father of killing Beowulf.

In Storybrooke

At Granny's, Archie finds Hook drinking, now that he realized that he killed Robert, who happens to be Emma's grandfather; however, he decides not to divulge details. When he later visited Emma at the house, he wants to tell Emma the truth, but Emma thinks he is keeping something from her and she shows him the engagement ring that he wanted to give her, and she tells him that she will marry him. Hook gets down on one knee and proposes, but decides not to tell Emma about Robert, by keeping that to himself.

Meanwhile, Belle and Mother Superior search for Gideon, believing that he is after the sword Hrunting that Emma had the night they first met, and as expected they were right, because at the Sheriff's Station, Gideon is caught by Gold while trying to obtain the sword fragment and his father uses his magic to knock Gideon out. At the Clock Tower, Gideon comes to and is tied up, with the magic-draining cuff on, as Gold tells him about what happened during the first Ogre Wars when he attempted to stop it. Gideon then told his father about what the Black Fairy did to him and why he wanted revenge. Gideon soon catches on to Gold's plan to erase his memory after he was given a tea that was laced with the forgetting potion, but his time with the Black Fairy has shown him how to counter it, and during a hug, he takes the dagger to control his father. Gideon then uses the dagger to force Gold to reveal the sword's origin and its forger, and Gold tells him that it was the Blue Fairy who created it. As Gideon keeps Gold from stopping him, he goes to take Mother Superior's powers after he freezes her, Gold arrives and drains her magic for him, so Gideon won't go dark. This ends up putting the Mother Superior into a coma-like state. After the sword Hrunting is newly forged, Gideon returns the dagger to Gold.

At the same time, Robin has shown up at Zelena's place, and the witch is stunned to find him there. He wants to leave Storybrooke, and she agrees to help him, since she also wants to leave for New York City. However, Regina is waiting for them at the city limits, having caught on to Robin stealing the heart from the vault, and the anti-magic potion. However, when Robin attempts to use the anti-magic potion, it fails to break the protection spell, and instead, the barrier blasts him backwards. Knowing that he is stuck in Storybrooke, Regina, now convinced that the Wish Realm Robin will never live up to the one she remembers, offers to help him leave if he wants to do so. Later on, Regina and Zelena finally come to an understanding as sisters, but suddenly become aware that the Regina's other half, The Evil Queen, is missing from her cage. Unfortunately, the "serum" Evil Queen (still in her form as a cobra) doesn't stay missing for long, because afterward, Robin is bitten by the aforementioned creature, and it turns out that the anti-magic potion really works, since the spilled anti-magic potion on Robin's hand restores The Evil Queen to her normal form. Then, the Evil Queen offers to take Robin on a tour of Storybrooke from her viewpoint.

This episode summary is adapted from Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).


Cast[2]

Starring

Guest Starring

Co-Starring

Uncredited

Trivia

Title

  • The title card features an ogre.[3]
  • The title of this episode was revealed by Adam Horowitz via his Twitter account on November 15, 2016.[4]
  • The episode's title appears in a 2001 translation of the poem Beowulf, by the Irish poet and translator Seamus Heaney. Heaney's translation of a passage in line 1459 to 1460 reads "The iron blade with its ill-boding patterns had been tempered in blood".[5] The passage is about the Hrunting, the sword given to Beowulf by Unferth.
    • Note that the original description of the blade in Old English, "ätertänum fäh", does not actually translate as "ill-boding patterns": It literally means "adorned with poison-twigs" or "patterned by twigs of venom".[6]

Production Notes

  • HIDDEN DETAILS: When the ogres are fighting the soldiers, sending them flying through the air one by one, a Wilhelm scream is heard. The Wilhelm scream is a stock sound effect of a man screaming that has been used in hundreds of movies and television episodes.
  • ABANDONED IDEAS: In the episode script, Regina visits Snow to talk with her. Snow is surprised to see her, and asks her what is wrong.[7]
  • REUSED FOOTAGE: The exterior shot of Granny's Diner in the evening, is a close-up version of stock footage from the Season Four episode "Heroes and Villains". This can be seen from the identical position of the pavement sign and leaves on the ground, and the identical foliage on the climbing plants.[8] Footage from this shot was also used in "A Bitter Draught".[9] Even though the people walking by the diner are different, the parked car and the leaves on the ground are exactly the same.

Event Chronology

Episode Connections

Disney

Fairytales and Folklore

Popular Culture

Props Notes

  • PAUSE AND READ: According to the label, the bottle that Hook is drinking from contains Hector's distilled and hand blended River Rum from Oracabessa, Jamaica.[10]
  • HIDDEN DETAILS: The ropes used by Mr. Gold to tie Gideon up are gold colored,[11] and the top and bottom of his thermos are golden.[12]
  • PAUSE AND READ: The first two pages in Mr. Gold's Mr. Gold's spell book[13] are adapted from The Book of Ceremonial Magic by the American-born, British poet and scholarly mystic A. E. Waite. The book was first published in 1889 and is an attempt to document many of the famous grimoires (textbooks of magic). The excerpt in Gideon's book is from the section "The Conjuration of the Book"[14] in Chapter VII,[15] which is about The Grimoire of Pope Honorius, an 18th to 19th-century grimoire, claiming to be written by Pope Honorius III. Note that in The Book of Ceremonial Magic, the text on page two of Mr. Gold's book actually appears before the information on page one, with the information on page one being a direct continuation of the text on page two. Also note that most of the information on page two is too blurred to read on-screen. It can be read in its entirety in an online prop auction from October 2019[16] (the illegible text is set in fuchsia):


SHOW VERSION[13]

ORIGINAL VERSION[14]
(differences are set in bold)
You shall obey, serve, instruct, impart
and perform all in your power for the
benefit of those who command you,
and the whole without illusion.
If perchance some of the invoked
spirits be unable to come or appear when
required, they shall be bound over to
send others vested with their power,
who also shall swear solemnly to execute
all that the reader may demand, and
ye are all hereby enjoined by the
You shall obey, serve, instruct, impart
and perform all in your power for the
benefit of those who command you,
and the whole without illusion.
If perchance some of the invoked
spirits be unable to come or appear when
required, they shall be bound over to
send others vested with their power,
who also shall swear solemnly to execute
all that the reader may demand, and
ye are all hereby enjoined by the
Names of the Omnipotent Ones,

Most Holy Names of the Omnipotent Living God,
ELOYM [sic], JAH, EL, ELOY, TETRAGRAMMATON,
to fulfil [sic] everything as it is set forth above.
If ye obey me not, I will force you to abide
in torments for a thousand years.



to fulfil [sic] everything as it is set forth above.
If ye obey me not, I will force you to abide
in torments for a thousand years,
as also if any one of you receive not this
Book with entire resignation to the will of
the reader.
I conjure and command you, O Spirits, all
and so many as ye are to accept this Book
with good grace so that whensoever we
may read it, the same being approved
and recognised [sic] as in proper form and
valid, you shall be constrained to appear
in comely human form when you
are called accordingly as the reader
shall judge. In no circumstances shall
you make any attempt upon the body, soul
I conjure and command you, O Spirits, all
and so many as ye aye, to accept this Book
with good grace, so that whensoever we
may read it, the same being approved
and recognised [sic] as in proper form and
valid, you shall be constrained to appear
in comely human form when you
are called, accordingly as the reader
shall judge. In no circumstances shall
you make any attempt upon the body, soul
or spirit of the reader, nor inflict any harm
on those who may accompany him, either
by mutterings, tempests, noise,
scandals, nor yet by lesion or by
hindrance in the execution of the
commands of this book. I conjure you
to appear immediately when the
conjuration is made, to execute without
dallying all that is written and
enumerated in its proper place in the
said book.
or spirit of the reader, nor inflict any harm
on those who may accompany him, either
by mutterings, tempests, noise,
scandals, nor yet by lesion or by
hindrance in the execution of the
commands of this Book. I conjure you
to appear immediately when the
conjuration is made, to execute without
dallying all that is written and
enumerated in its proper place in the
said book.


An enchanted blade may ebb and wane
in time with scores of differing hands on
the hilt. Like an oft blood letted vein, energy
escapes. To invigorate the instrument in
question, the practitioner should find the smith
who originally forged the blade. Some blood of
that might will needed [sic] to commence the great
work.
Make a magic circle with rope and estab-
lish the four quarters with a dedication to
the old ones. Mix the blood of the smith
with some wolfsbane and some juniper berries.
Pour this concoction into a cauldron and
stir it in a deasil motion on a clear evening
when the moon is waxing gibbous.
When the concoction has cooled, dip the blade
into the cauldron while willing the lost magic
to return.



North

Sanguinem et
ferrum*


South

*Latin for "blood and iron"[18]


  • REAL WORLD FACTS: According to magic lore, wolfsbane can be used to prevent shapeshifting, and has traditionally been used to protect homes from werewolves. Bundles of wolfsbane can be placed around barns and pastures to protect livestock from predators (this requires taking care that the livestock have no access to the plant, as wolfsbane is highly poisonous, and ingesting even a small amount can kill you). It can also be used to bring harm to another by creating "elf bolts" of sharpened flint dipped in wolfsbane juice and using it to pierce a poppet for the victim.[19]

Costume Notes

  • BRAND INFO: Belle is wearing[22] a J.Crew Sailor skirt in Double Serge Wool[23] (no longer available).
  • USE IT AGAIN: She wears the same sweater in "Page 23".[27]

Filming Locations

Goofs

International Titles


Videos

References

  1. Porter, Rick (March 21, 2017). ‘Little Big Shots’ adjusts up, ‘NCIS: LA’ adjusts down: Sunday final ratings. TV by the Numbers. “Once Upon a Time (ABC) (...) 2.71”
  2. 2.0 2.1 LISTINGS: ONCE UPON A TIME. The Futon Critic. “Air Date: Sunday, March 19, 2017. Time Slot: 8:00 PM-9:00 PM EST on ABC. Episode Title: (#613) "Ill-Boding Patterns".”
  3. File:613Title.png
  4. TwitterLogo Adam Horowitz (@AdamHorowitzLA) on X, formerly Twitter: Here's another #OnceUponATime #titlespoiler -- hope to see ya Sunday 11/27! (November 15, 2016). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  5. Beowulf (Bilingual Edition), Seamus Heaney, W. W. Norton & Company, 2001, pp. 100 – 101. "ecg wæs ïren, ätertänum fäh, ähyrded heaþoswäte;" / "The iron blade with its ill-boding patterns had been tempered in blood." Facsimile by Google Books.
  6. Cooke, William (fall 2003). Three notes on swords in Beowulf. Gale Academic OneFile. “'Beowulf', line 1459, 'ecg waes iren, atertanum fah'. On this description of the sword Hrunting Klaeber comments, 'ater is perhaps used figuratively with regard to the acid employed in the process of (false) damascening. Another possibility is that the serpentine ornamentation (cf. wyrmfah 1698, also waegsweord 1489) was supposed to have a miraculous poisoning effect (Stjerna), the figures of serpents suggesting their well-known attribute (cp. attorscea[eth]a 2839, also 2523). It is less likely that the edge was really meant to be poisoned.' (1) 'Atertanum fah' literally means 'adorned with poison-twigs' or (as Wrenn rendered it) 'patterned by twigs of venom', (2) and W. F. Bolton was nearer the mark in glossing the phrase 'adorned with twiglike patternings of deadly effect'. (3)”
  7. TwitterLogo Adam Horowitz (@url0status/842638764493090816) on X, formerly Twitter
  8. File:411GrannysDiner2.png
    File:613DinerInTheEvening.png
  9. File:602DinerInTheEvening.png
  10. File:613RumBottle.png
    File:613TheBottleDid.png
  11. File:613TiedUp.png
  12. File:613GoingToDoThat.png
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 File:613ThisBookFlipped.png (tilted screenshot)
    File:613ThisBook.png (original screenshot)
  14. 14.0 14.1 CONJURATION OF THE BOOK. Internet Sacred Texts Archive. Retrieved on February 8, 2019.
  15. The Book of Ceremonial Magic by Arthur Edward Waite [1913]. Internet Sacred Texts Archive. Retrieved on February 8, 2019.
    CHAPTER VII – The Method of Honorius. Internet Sacred Texts Archive. Retrieved on February 8, 2019. “THE Grimoire of Honorius is perhaps the most frankly diabolical of all the Rituals connected with Black Magic, and yet, as we have already seen, its enormities have been much exaggerated. (...)”
  16. Once Upon a Time - Rumplestiltskin's Spell Book (5018). iCollector (2019). (Photograph)
  17. File:613RepairASword.png
  18. sanguinem et ferrum. Google Translate. Retrieved on February 8, 2019.
  19. Wolfsbane. Witchipedia (October 16, 2019). “Wolfsbane has traditionally been used to protect homes from werewolves and can be used to prevent shape shifting. Bundles of wolfsbane could be placed around barns and pastures to protect livestock from predators (taking care that the livestock have no access to it lest they be killed themselves). Because of its baneful nature, it could be used in sympathetic magic to bring harm to another by creating "elf bolts" of sharpened flint dipped in wolfsbane juice and piercing a poppet for the victim with them.”
  20. Dark Waters:
    File:606GoldReading.png
    Changelings:
    File:609ThatAFact.png
    Ill-Boding Patterns:
    File:613BeMoreDifficult.png
    Notice the identical black binding/cover and the gold metal corner embellishments; it being the same book in all three episodes is confirmed in this online prop auction:
    Once Upon a Time - Rumplestiltskin's Spell Book (5018). iCollector (2019). (Page from "Dark Waters") (Page from "Changelings") (Page from "Ill-Boding Patterns")
  21. File:613ShesPracticallyFamily.png
  22. File:613FindingOurSon.png
  23. Sailor skirt in double-serge wool. J.Crew. Retrieved on February 8, 2019.
  24. Screenshot from the Mick: "The Country Club"
  25. File:613MarryMe.png
  26. Jenni Kayne Striped Cashmere Sweate. Shopbop. Retrieved on February 8, 2019.
  27. File:614SoHappyForYou.png
  28. File:613WhereTheHell.png
  29. Helmut Lang Supple Leather Jacket. Saks Fifth Avenue. Archived from the original on November 21, 2013.
  30. File:210GladToSee.png
  31. File:212GetThrough.png
  32. File:222NoThanksTo.png
  33. Screenshot from Arrow: "Suicide Squad"
  34. Screenshot from How I Met Your Mother: "The Stamp Tramp"
  35. TwitterLogo Ken 📸 (@pursuit23) on X, formerly Twitter: Once upon a time signs at deer lake and royal oak pointing towards the park (November 30, 2016). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  36. InstagramIcon Torstein Bjørklund (@torsteinbjorklund) on Instagram: "How tall are you, Torstein, 7 feet?" (Vancouver, British Columbia) (March 26, 2017) (backup link; original post has been deleted) (archive screenshot)
  37. InstagramIcon Craig Clarke (@vfxsup) on Instagram: Happy Friday! Here's a pic of Sean for everyone that has DM'd me asking 😂 (Vancouver, British Columbia) (June 23, 2018). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
    InstagramIcon Craig Clarke (@vfxsup) on Instagram: double post #tbt Happy birthday @iamseanmaguire (Vancouver, British Columbia) (April 18, 2019). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  38. File:610FasterThanIThought.png
  39. File:613HopeThatDidntSting.png

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