Jack

This article focuses on the second iteration of Jack and Hansel.
For his Seattle persona, see Nick Branson.
For the first iteration of Jack, see Jack (Tallahassee).
For the other Enchanted Forest character, see Jack (Changelings).
For the first iteration of Hansel, see Hansel (True North)
For the folktale, see "Jack and the Beanstalk".

I was so tired of being Hansel. You know, carrying his scars. So I picked a new name. Jack was simple. Jack had no past. And then when we slayed all those giants and you decided I was Jack the Giant Killer. And suddenly I... I was a hero.

—Nick Branson to Henry Mills^src

Hansel, later known as Jack, is a character on ABC's Once Upon a Time. He débuts in the eighth episode of the seventh season. He is portrayed by guest stars Nathan Parsons and Seth Isaac Johnson. He is the original counterpart of Nick Branson.

Jack is based on the character of the same name from the folktale "Jack and the Beanstalk" and the fairytale and legend "Jack the Giant Killer". He is also based on Hansel from the fairytale "Hansel and Gretel".

History

Before First Curse

In Oz, Hansel lives with his sister, Gretel, and his father, Ivo, a woodcutter. Their relationship is at first strained, but after Ivo gets into an accident that results in him losing his sight, they become much closer. Unfortunately, Hansel and Gretel are kidnapped by a witch who keeps them in cages in her gingerbread house, planning to eat them after fattening them up with sweets. The witch is attacked by Zelena, who wants no competition from other witches in Oz, but when Gretel ask her to free her and Hansel, she refuses. Their captor then uses her magic to knock Zelena out of the cottage. Hansel and Gretel eventually escape and return home, discovering that Ivo has met and become close to Zelena, and they warn him about how wicked she is. When Zelena returns, having stolen the witch's sight and offering it in powder form to Ivo, the family refuses to welcome her despite her pleas for them to give her a second chance. Enraged, Zelena throws the powder into the fire. When Hansel threatens her with a knife, declaring she doesn't deserve to walk away from the situation alive, she then enchants the fire to surround his arms, burning him until Gretel extinguishes them with a blanket. This encounter traumatizes both Hansel and Gretel in different ways: Gretel swears to teach herself magic so she can better defend herself and never be as helpless ever again, while Hansel becomes mentally unhinged and changes his name to Jack in order to distance himself from his painful past. ("Chosen," "Sisterhood")

After Fourth Curse

At some point, Jack comes to the New Enchanted Forest. One day, he encounters Henry, becoming his first friend in this realm. Together, they escape some giants by defeating them together, causing Henry to give him the heroic nickname "Jack the Giant Killer". For Jack, this provides him with the second chance he has wanted in life, with his past as Hansel no longer haunting him when he can be someone else. For Henry's 19th birthday, Jack takes him to a tavern, The Crimson Crow, where he buys him the first of many drinks that he has that day. Afterward, they part ways as Henry plans to return to his home of Storybrooke and Jack plans to go to Agrabah. However, they are reunited when Jack arrives at the Resistance Camp, informing Tiana, the leader of the Resistance, that he is looking for Henry. They briefly pretend to quarrel by recreating a scene from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back before breaking the facade to hug each other, and Henry introduces Jack to his new companion, Ella. ("Pretty in Blue," "Chosen")

After Henry and Ella's daughter Lucy is born, Jack congratulates his friend for becoming a new father, however, Drizella arrives to forewarn the heroes about a Dark Curse she will cast on the child's eighth birthday. As Jack and his allies arm themselves against Drizella, who moves to attack them with her magic, she finds herself turning into a statue because of a trap the heroes created with Lady Tremaine's help. ("The Eighth Witch")

Eight years later during Lucy's birthday, Jack is present as the girl prepares to blow out her cake candles. The celebration is interrupted by Gothel, who frees Drizella and makes it known she intends to aid her in casting the curse. Later when Lucy reports that Henry was taken by Gothel's coven of witches, Jack prepares to go with Hook and Tiger Lily to rescue him, but Ella stops them because she is aware this is part of Drizella's plan to distract them from the curse. As Regina and Zelena confront Drizella to stop her from casting the curse, the others surprise the other coven witches, with Jack holding one of the cloaked women as a hostage. Drizella, not to be intimidated, blackmails Regina into enacting the curse to save Henry, whose heart is now poisoned, by bringing him to a Land Without Magic. After the curse is cast, Jack is swept away to Hyperion Heights along with everyone else. ("The Eighth Witch")

For events occurring after the casting of the fifth curse, see Nick Branson.

Trivia

Character Notes

Jack is the only character whose first iteration was a different gender. He is also only one of two second iterations to have two first iterations, the other being Rapunzel Tremaine.

Production Notes

Jack was the name given to Neal Cassidy during his casting.^[1]

Set Dressing

Among the numerous fairy tale illustrations and cut-outs pinned to the wall in Henry's room is "Jack and the Fairy Harp, Escaping From the Giant"^[2] by the British caricaturist and book illustrator George Cruikshank, from his book Fairy Library (c. 1853-1854), later re-published as The Cruikshank Fairy-Book in 1911. It depicts a scene from "Jack and the Beanstalk", where Jack escapes from the giant. ("The Thing You Love Most," "The Price of Gold," "The New Neverland")

Costume Notes

The vest Jack is wearing when he reunites with Henry^[3] is the same vest Robin Hood wears in "Heart of Gold".^[4] Jack wears the vest again when Henry introduces Lucy to the group^[5] and during the casting of the Dark Curse.^[6] ("Pretty in Blue," "The Eighth Witch")
The vest Jack is wearing during Lucy's birthday celebration^[7] is the same vest Robin Hood wears in "Lacey",^[8] "The Heart of the Truest Believer",^[9] "Quite a Common Fairy",^[10] "New York City Serenade",^[11] "Witch Hunt",^[12] "The Tower",^[13] "A Curious Thing",^[14] "Operation Mongoose Part 1"^[15] and the Once Upon a Time in Wonderland episode "Forget Me Not".^[16] ("The Eighth Witch")
- The vest is also worn by Robin Hood's Wish Realm counterpart, Robin of Locksley, in "Wish You Were Here",^[17] "Tougher Than the Rest"^[18] and "Page 23".^[19]

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	Appears	Absent	Appears	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	Mentioned	Mentioned	Appears	Mentioned	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent

Other Appearances
Hansel is mentioned in Henry's storybook novel in "Breadcrumbs".^[20] Hansel is mentioned on Henry's bulletin board in "Flower Child".^[21]

References

[1] ttp://www.spoilertv.com/2012/07/once-upon-time-season-2-role-of-jack.html

[2] File:310LightsOut.png

[3] File:708Promo32.jpg

[4] File:417WellThenConsider.png
File:417FactThereIs.png

[5] File:710ToDeliverAMessage.png

[6] File:710Jack.png

[7] File:710HowLuckyWeAre.png

[8] File:219DontYouKnow.png

[9] File:301WhatsWrong.png

[10] File:303AChance.png

[11] File:312LousyWithThem.png

[12] File:313Promo2.jpg

[13] File:314IWouldIf.png

[14] File:319SheWontHide.png

[15] File:421Handgrip.png

[16] File:W103Promo14.jpg

[17] File:610ThisIsARobbery.png

[18] File:611Promo18.jpg

[19] File:614SorryAboutThat.png

[20] File:716RememberGretel.png
File:716TheyUnderlinedTwins.png

[21] File:719YeahIWas.png

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