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For the character also known as Kansas, see Dorothy Gale. For the world, see Kansas. |
"Kansas" is the twentieth episode of Season Three of ABC's Once Upon a Time. It was written by Andrew Chambliss & Kalinda Vazquez and directed by Gwyneth Horder-Payton. It is the sixty-fourth episode of the series overall, and premiered on May 4, 2014.
Synopsis
With Mary Margaret in labor and due to give birth at any moment, the residents of Storybrooke go on high alert in an attempt to ensure that Zelena doesn't try to steal her newborn baby for use in her ultimate game plan to turn back time and change her destiny—while obliterating Regina's existence. Meanwhile, in the land of Oz of the past, Glinda tries to convince Zelena to fight her evil tendencies and join her and her sister witches as a protector of Oz. But the appearance of a young girl from Kansas could turn out to be her undoing.[2]
Recap
David Nolan, Mary Margaret Blanchard, Emma Swan, and Henry Mills meet up with Dr. Whale at the Storybrooke General Hospital for the delivery of the baby.
Over at Zelena’s farmhouse, an imprisoned Mr. Gold spins straw into gold, while Zelena watches. Zelena transforms the gold thread into a solid gold brain. Since she already has Charming’s sword hilt and Regina Mills’ heart, she just needs the final ingredient.
Back at the Hospital, David stays by Mary Margaret’s side as she goes into labor.
In the past, the Wicked Witch sits in her new home and watches Rumplestiltskin teach Regina magic. Glinda arrives and thanks Zelena for exposing the Wizard’s true nature to Oz. The Good Witch of the South arrives to introduce Zelena to her “real sisters”.
Back in Storybrooke, Zelena makes Mr. Gold dig. She explains with the “right ingredients” she can change her past so that her mother will keep her and Regina will never be born. Gold dismisses her beliefs, reminding Zelena that she cannot escape fate. Zelena says, “We shall see.”
Over at the Hospital, David tries to comfort his wife who feels like history is repeating itself. Meanwhile, Emma and Regina set up a protection spell around the room. Hook arrives to help. The Savior reminds him that he could have helped by exposing Zelena’s curse on his lips. Killian reminds her that he was blackmailed with Henry’s safety. Emma wants to take the fight to Zelena. David insists that Hook go with her for protection or at least to draw fire. Emma leaves Henry under Regina’s protection and exits with Hook.
While they wait, Henry scans the classifieds for an apartment for Emma. Archie Hopper keeps Henry company and asks if he’s mentioned this to Emma. Henry denies that there needs to be a discussion since they are home.
Back at Zelena’s Farm, Emma and Hook debate whether she was really happy in New York or if she and Henry should stay in Storybrooke. Zelena and Mr. Gold find them. Under the dagger’s influence, Gold telekinetically throws Hook into a nearby well. Zelena gives Emma the choice to save Hook or her magic.
In the past, Zelena and Glinda join the Witches of the North and the East in the Heart of Oz. Zelena hopes that they will help her change her past but Glinda wants to help Zelena change her future. Since the west is represented by innocence, Zelena denies that she can shape her own destiny. The Witch of the North explains that Glinda is the keeper of the Book of Records, which “chronicles the past, present and future of Oz.” Glinda reveals a prophecy that states that a powerful sorceress from the West will come to Oz by cyclone as a protector. Believing that sorceress to be Zelena, Glinda encourages the witch to let go of her past.
Back in Storybrooke, Emma revives Hook with mouth-to-mouth. When their lips touch, a wave of magic is released from Emma and with it Hook's curse. Hook is stunned that Emma would make a sacrifice of giving up her magic to save him, asking her, "What did you do?"
Back in the Emerald City, Zelena turns away from watching Rumple teach Regina magic. Impressed, Glinda gives Zelena a pendant and welcomes her into the sisterhood. The Witch of the South tells Zelena that the pendant will amplify her magic but warns that without it she will be powerless. Zelena’s green skin fades back to it’s natural tone. She thanks Glinda who reminds Zelena that it was her releasing her envy that caused the transformation.
At the Storybrooke General Hospital, Mary Margaret gives birth to a baby boy, which comes just in time for Zelena and Gold to arrive and take the baby. Since Emma’s protection spell faded, Zelena takes out anyone that stands in her way, including Leroy, Robin Hood and the Merry Men and including Belle, which angers Gold. Henry and Archie escape right before Zelena also knocks out Regina.
Back in Oz, Glinda shows Zelena her new land: the West. The two witches turn to see a green cyclone approaching with something inside. Upon investigating the debris, Zelena and Glinda find Dorothy Gale, a young girl from Kansas. When Glinda suggests that they take Dorothy to meet the sisters, Zelena becomes jealous.
In Storybrooke, Mary Margaret gives birth to a boy. Zelena freezes Mary Margaret and David, disappearing with the newborn.
Back in the Heart of Oz, the Witches welcome Dorothy into their home. Zelena, jealous, escapes outside to a well. Glinda approaches and finds that Zelena’s green skin is returning. Zelena admits to Glinda that she is jealous of Dorothy. Glinda reassures Zelena that Dorothy is not taking her seat at the table. Zelena confronts Glinda about the prophecy that states that the new sorceress will live in Oz until she “unseats the greatest evil the realm has ever seen.” Zelena, believing Dorothy is the sorceress, assumes that she is the evil. Glinda reminds Zelena that she can shape her own destiny.
Back at the hospital, Emma and Hook to David explain what happened. Emma soon discovers that Regina has the power of light magic to defeat her half-sister. Henry believes that Regina can save the baby, since her kiss helped to break the curse, and because she still has some good in her.
In Oz, the Wicked Witch surprises Dorothy at the well and threatens her with a fireball. Dorothy, confused, takes a bucket of water from the well and throw it at the witch, melting Zelena. Dorothy then runs and tells Glinda what had happened. Glinda tells Dorothy that what she did to Zelena was the right thing to do; it turns out that Zelena was the evil threat all along. Glinda offers Dorothy a chance to join the council of witches. Dorothy turns her down and says she's sorry and wants to go home. Glinda tells her that the Wizard (who she believes has returned to his normal form) will return her to Kansas. Once they leave, Zelena rights herself.
In Storybrooke, Zelena places Baby Nolan at the edge of the circle and starts her spell. Emma, David, Hook, Robin Hood and Regina arrive and battle her off. Gold and the flying monkeys are made to help Zelena keep them at bay. Robin Hood steals Regina’s heart. Zelena, believing that she has an advantage, tells Regina that only light magic can defeat her, but Regina's magic is as dark as they come. Regina, however, tells Zelena that she's wrong. Regina conjures light magic that knocks Zelena away from the dagger, allowing Regina to take away Zelena's pendant, rendering Zelena powerless. As a result, the flying monkeys (including Little John) return to their human form. Gold goes to attack Zelena, but Regina takes his dagger, preventing him from enacting revenge.
In the Emerald City, Glinda and Dorothy arrive in the palace to see the Wizard, who gives the girl a pair of silver slippers to use to return home. After Dorothy disappears, Glinda tells the person behind the curtain they can reveal themselves. To Glinda’s surprise, the person behind the curtain was Zelena who survived “melting”.
Now that she knows about her being the true threat and revealing her as the greatest evil, Zelena banishes Glinda to a pocket dimension within the northern region of the Enchanted Forest, where she can never tell the others. Zelena's pendant then turns green, indicating her new power.
Later on at the jail, Regina tries to reason with Zelena in an effort to redeem herself. Regina says that evil isn't born, it's made and so is being good. Regina leaves her with an offer to change her ways. Regina then takes the green pendant and places it in her vault.
Meanwhile, Mr. Gold returns to Belle at the pawn shop. She returns the dagger on the condition that he promises not to use it to kill Zelena. Using the dagger as a ring substitute, Gold proposes to Belle and insists that she keep the dagger because he loves her too much.
Over at the hospital, David returns the baby to Mary Margaret’s arms. Hook thanks Emma for saving him and apologizes for the fact that her powers have not returned. Emma, however, is relieved that she and Henry can return to New York City without magic. Emma introduces Henry to his “new uncle”. Hook watches, disappointed.
Back at the jail, Mr. Gold reveals to Zelena that the dagger he gave Belle was a fake. Gold informs her of his intent to kill her, despite her protests that she is now powerless. He stabs her with the dagger, which turns Zelena into a porcelain statue that shatters when he removes the dagger. After he leaves, the porcelain fragments vaporize into a green cloud and vanish.
Over in the Regina’s vault, Zelena's pendant releases her remaining magic. The green essence of magic, escapes back to the barn, and re-opens the portal.
Cast[2]
Starring
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Guest Starring
Co-Starring
Uncredited
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Trivia
Title
- The title card features the Emerald City.[3]
- The title of this episode was announced by Adam Horowitz via his Twitter account on February 28, 2014.[4]
Production Notes
- HIDDEN DETAILS: When Mr. Gold is about to stab Zelena with the dagger, as he begins to say, "Rumplestiltskin never breaks a deal," you can see Zelena smile slightly; a subtle clue that everything is not what it seems.
- PRESS RELEASE: Christopher Gorham is credited as a guest star and his voice is heard in the episode but his name is missing from the press release.[2]
Event Chronology
- The Oz flashbacks occur after "It's Not Easy Being Green," concurrently with The Doctor," and before "Heart of Gold," "Our Decay" and "Where Bluebirds Fly." (For more details, see the Oz timeline)
- The quick Enchanted Forest scene take place right before and during "The Doctor." (For more details, see the Enchanted Forest timeline)
- The Storybrooke events take place after "A Curious Thing" and before "Snow Drifts." (For more details, see the Land Without Magic timeline)
Episode Connections
- Zelena states that spinning straw into gold helps Mr. Gold clear his mind, which is a claim he made in "Skin Deep."
- Zelena came into possession of David's sword and Regina's heart in "The Tower" and "Bleeding Through."
- Mary Margaret's fears about losing her infant son are due to events she experienced in "Pilot."
- Emma references David's Dreamshade poisoning and how he kept it a secret from his loved ones, which occurred in "Lost Girl."
- Henry has selected what he feels is the right apartment in "Snow Drifts."
- When Zelena is spying on Regina, she sees a scene from "The Doctor."
- Glinda mentions Zelena turning the Wizard of Oz into a monkey, which happened in "It's Not Easy Being Green."
- Throughout the episode, Emma mentions her desire to return to life in New York City, which was first seen in "Going Home" and "New York City Serenade."
- Hook's lips were cursed by Zelena in "The Jolly Roger."
- When Emma Swan saves Hook, she whispers, "Come back to me" before then performing mouth-to-mouth/kissing him. He soon wakes up, as she cradles his head, looking relieved. In "Snow Falls," Snow White saves Prince Charming in a similar way.
- Emma gets her magic back in "There's No Place Like Home."
- David recalls his visit to Glinda, which occurred in "A Curious Thing."
- Regina mentions how she lost her true love, Daniel, in "The Stable Boy."
- Mr. Gold blames Zelena for his son's death, which was explored in "Quiet Minds."
- The lights flicker when Mary Margaret gives birth to her child as they did when her daughter Emma gave birth to Henry in "The Heart of the Truest Believer."
- Dorothy comes back to Oz in "Our Decay."
- Little John first became a flying monkey in "Witch Hunt."
- Belle and Mr. Gold get married in "There's No Place Like Home."
- Mr. Gold replaces the fake dagger that he gives to Belle, with the real version, in "A Tale of Two Sisters." However, he then changes his mind during the same episode.
- Belle finds out about Mr. Gold's deception, and gets hold of the real dagger, in "Heroes and Villains." This episode also explores the consequences of Mr. Gold's actions.
- Mr. Gold recalls the "follow-the-lady" game he learned from his father in "Think Lovely Thoughts."
- Mr. Gold "kills" Zelena in the same manner he killed Henry in his dream in "Lacey."
- Zelena's "death" and the greenish smoke that activates the time spell is explained in "Heart of Gold."
Religious
- Two cross-shaped headstones can be seen in the Storybrooke graveyard as the green smoke goes out of the heart vault.[5]
Disney
- The Wizard's figure looks like James Franco's from Oz the Great and Powerful.
Lost
- When David is talking to Emma at the hospital, the sign on the wall says "suite 4."[6] 4 is the first Lost number.
- This episode contains a number of other references to ABC's Lost. See the list of Lost references for more.
Fairytales and Folklore
- This episode is a rendition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz story, focusing on Dorothy being transported to Oz via cyclone, her relationship with the Wicked Witch of the West and the return back to Kansas via sliver slippers.
- Also included are the Good Witch of the South, Witch of the North, Witch of the East, the Wizard of Oz and the Winged Monkeys from the same story.
- The episode also features the ugly duckling from the fairytale of the same name, Captain Hook from the Peter Pan story and Robin Hood and Little John from the ballads of Robin Hood.
- The Book of Records is based on the Great Book of Records introduced in L. Frank Baum's sixth Land of Oz novel, The Emerald City of Oz.
- Zelena becomes the witch of the West of Oz, the position that she fills in the novel.
- Dorothy introduces herself as Dorothy Gale. Dorothy's last name is not mentioned in L. Frank Baum's novel, but was created by Baum for the 1902 musical version of the story.[7] It made its debut in the books in the third novel in Baum's series, Ozma of Oz.
- Zelena's ingredients for a time travel spell include a golden brain, a heart and a symbol of courage, a reference to the Scarecrow's, Tin Man's and Cowardly Lion's quest for a brain, heart and courage, respectively, in the novel. The ingredients are placed according to the cardinal directions, a reference to the novel, where the four witches are linked to the four sides of Oz: North, East, South and West.
- Dorothy (seemingly) kills the Wicked Witch of the West by throwing a bucket of water at her, a reference to the iconic scene from the novel. Similarly, Hook is nearly drowned by Zelena, a macabre spin on the same scene.
- Mr. Gold, the cursed counterpart of Rumplestiltskin (aka Beast), proposes to Belle, similar to how Beast asks Beauty to marry him in the fairytale of "Beauty and the Beast."
Popular Culture
- Dorothy's checkered dress is a reference to the original checkered dress worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz.
- ♫ MUSIC: When Zelena is carrying the baby to her house, she hums the lullaby, "Hush, Little Baby."
- Mr. Gold mentions that his father taught him a sleight of hand called "Follow the Lady"; a gambling card game of Spanish origin.
Props Notes
- HIDDEN DETAILS: The design on Zelena's compass[8] is the same as the witches' table[9] in Oz except that the colors are different. The back on the chairs around the table[10] and the illustration on the cover of the Book of Records have the same design.[11]
- STORYBROOKE DAILY MIRROR: When Henry is looking at apartments, one of the classified ads says:
- One of the apartments is described as "charming newly renovated." The ad says, "For enquiries please call Jeanne 604.264.1001 ext. 418."[12] This is a real phone number, which belongs to Noble & Associates Realty Ltd,[13] a property management company in Vancouver, British Columbia, where Once Upon a Time is filmed.
- There is also an ad for a company called the "Royal Carpet Cleaning."[14]
- One ad mentions a Storybrooke location called Hunter's Grove,[12] which also appears on a map of Storybrooke in "Manhattan,"[15] "The Queen Is Dead"[16] and "Lacey."[17]
- Another ad says:
- MYSTERIOUS SYMBOLS: Alchemical signs for the four elements[18] are carved into the witches' table[9] and the stone pillars.[19] Each element represent one of the four witches:
- Air, upward-pointing triangle, bisected by an horizontal line (🜁): The Witch of the North
- Earth, downward-pointing triangle, bisected by a horizontal line (🜃): The Witch of the East
- Fire, upward-pointing triangle (🜂): The Good Witch of the South
- Water, downward-pointing triangle (🜄): Fittingly enough, the Wicked Witch of the West, and the seat that Dorothy Gale was offered.
- In magic lore, the element of fire is associated with the south, and water is related to the west.[20] Curiously, earth is connected to the north, and air is the element of the east[20] — the exact opposite of what the two other witches represent. This may have been a mistake on the show-creators' part.
- REUSED PROPS: The Storybrooke wishing well[21] doubles as the well in Oz.[22] The roof over the wishing well was removed and a different supporting structure for the pulley was added for the episode, while protruding stone carvings were added to the bottom of the well.
- Before becoming the wishing well, the same well prop[21] was used for the well where Prince Thomas disappears in the Season One episode "The Price of Gold"[23] and the well in Rumplestiltskin's Frontlands village in the Season One episode "Desperate Souls."[24] The supporting structure for the pulley, and the pulley itself, were replaced for the wishing well prop, and a roof was added to the top.
- The wishing well prop also doubles as many other wells throughout the series:
- It was used for the well outside Granny's cottage, the one where Red Riding Hood goes to collect water with Snow White and sees that the water is full of blood, in the Season One episode "Red-Handed."[25]
- It appears outside the Mad Hatter's cottage in the Season One episode "Hat Trick."[26]
- It is seen outside Ruth's cabin in the Season Two episode "Lady of the Lake."[27]
- It appears in Arthur's village in the Season Five episodes "The Broken Kingdom"[28] and "Nimue."[29]
- It appears in the village that was attacked by the Evil Queen in the Season Six episode "A Bitter Draught.[30] The roof over the wishing well was removed for this episode.
- The main section of the well with the roof and supports removed was used as the Community Gardens wishing well in Seattle in Season Seven.[31]
- A duplicate of the wishing well appears on Mount Olympus in the series finale "Leaving Storybrooke."[32]
- BRAND INFO: Belle's red handbag[33] is a Mini Perry Tote from Rebecca Minkoff[34] (no longer available).
- USE IT AGAIN: Belle also has it in the next episode, "Snow Drifts."[35]
Set Dressing
- ARTWORKS: The painting in Mary Margaret's hospital room[36] is Morning Creekside by American artist Megan Lightell.[37]
- There is another copy of the painting in a waiting room in "In the Name of the Brother,"[38] in the common room in "Tiny,"[39] Belle's hospital room in "Lacey"[40] and the hospital's waiting area in "Dark Waters."[41]
- REUSED PROPS: This painting can also be seen in the Portland motel room where Emma and Neal stay in "Tallahassee."[42]
- MYSTERIOUS WRITINGS: The inscriptions on the pillars behind the witches[43] contain letters from the Theban alphabet, which is also known as the Witches' Alphabet. There are four sections, each with two pillars. The text translates as:
- GUARDIAN OF THE SOUTHERN LANDS (🜂)
- KEEPER OF THE WESTERN REALM (🜄)
- PROTECTOR OF THE [image ends]
- DEFE[obscured] OF THE [obscured]THERN [obscured]DS (presumably "defender of the northern lands")
- HIDDEN DETAILS: When Zelena reveals herself to Glinda, the text "Wales" is inscribed on one of the artifacts in Walsh's workshop.[44] Interestingly, the surname "Walsh" means "Welshman."[45]
Costume Notes
- BRAND INFO: Belle is wearing[46] a Gingham Cardigan[47] and a Poplin Short Sleeve Ruffle Blouse[48] from RED Valentino, and a 'Joyeuse' Gathered Skirt by Sandro (all three are no longer available).
- USE IT AGAIN: Belle wears the same blouse in the Season Four episodes "Fall" (under a different garment),[49] "Shattered Sight"[50] and "Heroes and Villains,"[51] and the Season Five episode "Siege Perilous."[52]
- The same blouse was worn by the character Caroline Channing on two episodes of the fourth season of the television sitcom 2 Broke Girls.[53]
- USE IT AGAIN: The dress Zelena is wearing when she meets Dorothy Gale[54] is the same dress worn by her Seattle counterpart in the Season Seven finale "Leaving Storybrooke."[55]
- BRAND INFO: Regina is wearing[56] a Gucci Raspberry Viscose Jersey Open Front Dress[57] (no longer available).
- The same dress was worn by Blake Lively in the 2015 romantic fantasy film The Age of Adaline[58] and by the character Emily Locke in the Powerless episode "Win, Luthor, Draw."[59]
Filming Locations
- A barn on 104 Street in Delta, British Columbia[60] doubles the barn at Zelena's farm.[61][62] The barn is situated close to a railway and filming there was a challenge due to all the noise.[61]
- The barn also doubles as the location of a demonic cult in the Charmed episode "Surrender" (an episode which features Once Upon a Time guest star Rya Kihlstedt).[63]
International Titles
| International Titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Language | Title | Translation |
| Finnish | "Kansas" | "Kansas" |
| French | "Nous ne Sommes Plus au Kansas..." | "We're Not in Kansas Anymore..." |
| German | "Sei mit uns, sprach die gute Hexe von Oz" | "Be With Us, Said the Good Witch of Oz" |
| Italian | "Kansas" | "Kansas" |
| Polish | "Kansas" | "Kansas" |
| Portuguese | "Um Só Coração" | "Just One Heart" |
| Spanish | "Kansas" | "Kansas" |
Videos
