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Your voice can soothe even the most haunted soul.

Hook to Ursula

"Poor Unfortunate Soul" is the fifteenth episode of Season Four of ABC's Once Upon a Time. It was written by Andrew Chambliss & Dana Horgan, and directed by Steve Pearlman. It is the eighty-first episode of the series overall, and premiered on March 22, 2015.

Synopsis

Hook leverages his complicated history with Ursula to find out what she knows about Gold’s endgame. Gold and the Queens of Darkness torture August for information about the Author as Emma, Mary Margaret and David race to find them. Regina grows concerned for Robin Hood’s safety while she struggles to maintain her cover with the villains. In a Fairy Tale Land flashback, when a restless young Ursula enlists Hook's help to run away from home, she soon learns it isn’t wise to trust a pirate.[2]

Recap

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

In the Neverland realm, Hook and his crew hear a mermaid’s song, which distracts them until they almost strike a series of rocks. Around the same time, the father of the Seas, Poseidon, scolds his daughter, revealed to be Ursula in her youth, for ending the song just in time for the Jolly Roger to escape. Later on at a tavern during a port stop, Hook recognizes the same tune being sung by Ursula, and offers her a drink. She explains to Hook that her father kicked her out of his kingdom for disobeying him, so she stole a magical bracelet that allowed her to walk on land. Ursula also reveals that her mother was killed by a pirate, which is why Poseidon demands Ursula use her voice - the only thing that reminds her of her mother - to steer the ships awry. Hook tells Ursula that listening to her voice was the only thing that has ever taken away his lifelong pain. She shares her plan to sing in Glowerhaven, and he offers to take her there on his ship. Poseidon learns of this and instructs Hook to remove Ursula's ability to sing by using a seashell, in order to ensure that she will never leave the ocean, in exchange for giving Hook a vial of squid ink, which Hook can use to paralyze his enemy Rumplestiltskin.

Later, Hook returns and tells Ursula about her father’s plan. Although he refuses to break his personal code, Hook asks Ursula to steal the squid ink from her father’s storage. Ursula agrees, only to have Poseidon catch her, and in return for Hook betraying him, takes away his only chance to seek revenge on Rumplestiltskin. Hook then counters by stealing Ursula’s singing voice to hurt Poseidon. After Hook leaves with Ursula's singing voice, the rift between father and daughter continues, prompting an enraged Ursula to snap and use Poseidon’s trident to transform herself into the powerful sea goddess for which Ursula was named after, only stronger and more powerful than her father.

In Storybrooke

At Gold's remote cabin, Regina, Maleficent, Cruella, and Ursula start interrogating adult August Booth about the Author. He explains that he stole the research of a man in Hong Kong named The Dragon, and that the research is still currently in Storybrooke. Gold heads to August's trailer to get the research, and Regina uses her magic to briefly take over Mary Margaret’s body to tell Emma Swan, Captain Hook, and David Nolan that August is safe, Gold is back, and the Queens have something big planned. They later relay this to Belle, who tells them that she gave the Dagger to Hook, only to learn that Gold transformed himself into Hook to retrieve it, leading them to discover that Gold has restored his powers once again with the dagger. This information gives Hook an idea as he reveals his past encounter with Ursula, saying that the time has now come to take advantage of the Sea Goddess and to restore her happy ending.

Later, Hook uses a conch shell to summon Ursula and he offers her a deal: in exchange for finding out Gold's plan involving the Author, Hook will return her voice. When Ursula asks Hook where the magical shell is, he responds that it is located inside the Jolly Roger back in the Enchanted Forest. Ursula opens a portal into the Jolly Roger, which has been turned into a model ship in a bottle. Hook and Ursula, with help from Will Scarlet, restore the Jolly Roger. Hook gathers the shell with Ursula’s voice and returns it to her, but the magic does not work and her voice does not return. A furious Ursula then takes her revenge out on Hook by saying that the deal is over, and uses her tentacles to send Hook overboard. He is rescued by Ariel, who explains that Blackbeard used the Jolly Roger to terrorize many people, including Anna and Kristoff from Arendelle, (as seen in "Fall"), so Queen Elsa contained the ship in a bottle in anger for Blackbeard hurting her family, accidentally trapping Ariel as well in the process, and thanks to Hook, Ariel is now free and repays him with a favor.

Regina is still trying to control her feelings for Robin Hood, and has a nightmare in which she fights the "Evil Queen" version of herself over the affections of her former love. Gold suddenly returns from August's trailer to inform her that August lied about The Dragon. He feeds August a temporary, painful potion that turns August back into wood and causes his nose to grow every time he lies, and holds August's nose to the fire. August says that the Sorcerer trapped the Author behind a door but he does not know where the door is, except that it is in Storybrooke and that Regina has seen it before in one of the pages. Gold, Regina, and Maleficent head to the Sorcerer's mansion to look for the door. Moments later, Emma, Mary Margaret, and David break into Gold’s cabin and knock out Cruella. They are then surprised by Ursula, who briefly uses her tentacles to strangle Mary Margaret before being surprised by Hook, who tells Ursula that only the person who enchanted the shell can reverse it. Poseidon appears, having been brought through a portal by Ariel. Poseidon apologizes to his daughter for everything, and returns her singing voice so that he can hear the voice of his wife one last time. After Ursula and Poseidon are reunited and leave, Hook tells Emma that his happy ending is to be with her, but he fears he will lose her because he is a villain. August is rescued but Cruella has escaped, and later meets up with Gold, Regina, and Maleficent, saying that Ursula was a mole, much to Regina’s relief.

Hook learns from Ursula about Gold's plans, revealing that as long as Emma is in Storybrooke to give everyone their happy endings, the Author will be unable to give villains theirs, and the only way to change that is for Gold to fill Emma’s heart with darkness. At the same time, Regina meets with Emma to ask her if she can help track down Robin Hood and later asks August about the door; August says that the picture of the door is not just an illustration, but is the door itself. The Author is actually trapped inside the "Once Upon a Time" book.

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


Deleted Scenes

This scene is included on Once Upon a Time: The Complete Fourth Season.

"A Cow Named Nan"

While Regina is interrogating August, he tells her about an old story he heard in Phuket, about a cow named Nan. The farmer who owned Nan, whipped her, and when the farmer's wife saw the lashes across Nan's back, her husband's cruelty chilled her soul and she left the farmer. August warns Regina that if she keeps working with Mr. Gold and the witches, by the time she is reunited with Robin Hood, she will no longer be the woman he wants to be with.

Cast[2]

Starring

Guest Starring

Uncredited

  • Unknown as Ursula’s Singing Voice


Trivia

Title

Production Notes

Event Chronology

Episode Connections

Disney

  • Ursula's backstory is largely based on Ariel's backstory from the Disney film, The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning. They are both mermaids who love singing/music due to their mothers' influence. Both have lost their mothers during a pirate attack and have fathers who have a problem with singing/music because it reminds them of their wives' death. Ultimately, their fathers both realize they were wrong and decide to accept singing/music in their lives. In addition, both decide to go against their fathers' orders because they love singing/music.
  • Ursula vocalizes the reprise of "Part of Your World" and sings "Fathoms Below" during the episode. Both are from the Disney film The Little Mermaid.

Fairytales and Folklore

Popular Culture

  • The aria "Soave sia il vento" (meaning "may the winds the gentle") from Mozart's opera "Così fan tutte" is playing on Ursula's radio as she's enjoying a quiet moment outside Mr. Gold's cabin in the morning.

Props Notes

  • According to a prop photograph by an online auction from 2018, the complete inscription reads "LIVERPOOL · W.M. SOPARLO & SONS LTD."[19] However, excerpt for the "Liverpool" part, the entire text is obscured by Hook's hand.
  • CREW NAMES ON PROPS: "W.M. Soparlo" is a reference to Mark Soparlo, a member of the production staff on the show.

Set Dressing

Costume Notes

  • ABANDONED IDEAS: Poseidon's costume was originally different, and included a big purple feathery boa around his neck. However, it didn't look quite right, and they ended up with a more metallic version of the original costume.[9]
  • BRAND INFO: Emma is wearing[24] an Aran Short-Sleeved Sweater from Ralph Lauren[25] (no longer available).

Filming Locations

  • The opening scene with the Jolly Roger, was filmed over eight hours on a sound stage with lots of theatrical smoke. The crew members were wearing masks so they wouldn't have to breathe in smoke all day.[9]
  • The scenes with Ursula and Poseidon at the cliffs, were filmed in hot tubs built with fake rocks.[26]
  • The scenes at the Storybrooke harbor was filmed on a real floating dock in Steveston Village. The crew had to move their cameras according to the tide.[9]

International Titles


Videos

References

  1. Baron, Steve (March 24, 2015). Sunday Final Ratings: 'The Last Man on Earth' & 'Once Upon a Time' Adjusted Up; '60 Minutes' Adjusted Down. TV by the Numbers. “ONCE UPON A TIME (...) 5.79”
  2. 2.0 2.1 LISTINGS: ONCE UPON A TIME. The Futon Critic. “Air Date: Sunday, March 22, 2015. Time Slot: 8:00 PM-9:00 PM EST on ABC. Episode Title: (#415) "Poor Unfortunate Soul".”
  3. File:415Title.png
  4. TwitterLogo Adam Horowitz (@AdamHorowitzLA) on X, formerly Twitter: Here's a holiday #OnceUponATime #titlespoiler! Happy holidays! Hope to see y'all on March 1! (December 24, 2014). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  5. File:415JollyRogerAtSea.png
  6. File:606JollyRoger.png
  7. TwitterLogo Tiffany Boone (@Tiffboone) on X, formerly Twitter: To clarify for all who are wondering, that was not my singing voice. 🙈 sorry to disappoint lol #OUAT (March 22, 2015). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  8. TwitterLogo Merrin Dungey (@RealMerrinD) on X, formerly Twitter: @Tiffboone not mine as well. (March 22, 2015). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 Steve Pearlman on the Blu-ray Audio Commentary for "Poor Unfortunate Soul"
  10. Steve Pearlman and Colin O'Donoghue on the Blu-ray Audio Commentary for "Poor Unfortunate Soul"
  11. Triton. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved on November 28, 2021. “Triton, in Greek mythology, a merman, demigod of the sea; he was the son of the sea god, Poseidon, and his wife, Amphitrite.”
  12. POSEIDON FAMILY. Theoi Project. Retrieved on November 28, 2021. “BENTHESIKYME (Benthesicyme) A sea-nymph queen of Aithopia (Ethiopia). She was a daughter of Poseidon and Amphitrite. (...) KYMOPOLEIA (Cymopoleia) A sea-nymph or giantess daughter of Poseidon.”
  13. Colin O'Donoghue on the Blu-ray Audio Commentary for "Poor Unfortunate Soul"
  14. File:415MakeMeRemember.png
    File:415Wait.png
  15. File:421YourHappyEnding.png
  16. Once Upon a Time - Regina / Ursula Hero Knife (0338). iCollector. Archived from the original on June 25, 2020. Retrieved on June 25, 2020. “Regina uses this style of knife in the 'Heroes and Villains' storyline. S04E16, S04E21.”
  17. "Captain Hook" Jolly Roger in a bottle from Once Upon a Time Season 4, Episode 16.. iCollector. Archived from the original on February 22, 2019.
  18. File:415Safe.png
  19. "Captain Hook" safe from Jolly Roger from Once Upon a Time Season 4, Episodes 16.. iCollector (2018). Archived from the original on November 29, 2018. (Photograph)
  20. File:415YourMotherWanted.png
  21. "Poseidon" trident from Once Upon a Time Season 4, Episode 16.. iCollector. Archived from the original on Feburary 22, 2019. Retrieved on November 30, 2018.
    File:721HoldingTrident.png
  22. File:112QueenAboutToLeave.png
    File:112ConceptArt9.jpg
  23. File:415ISuppose.png
  24. File:415HaveMuchTime.png
  25. Emma Swan's Aran Short-Sleeved Sweater on Once Upon A Time. Pradux. Retrieved on January 23, 2019.
    Ralph Lauren ARAN SHORT-SLEEVED SWEATER. Pradux. Retrieved on January 23, 2019.
  26. Murphy, Shaunna (March 24, 2015). HERE'S WHAT IT'S LIKE TO PLAY A DISNEY VILLAIN IRL. MTV. “"That ship [the Jolly Roger] they really built, but it's on this whole green screen thing. Then when we were doing the scenes with my father and I, we're in hot tubs that they built with fake rocks, and a puddle of water in the middle of nowhere."”

Notes

  1. Hook: "For almost a century, my every waking moment has been consumed by one thought... making an evil man pay for what he did to the woman I loved."

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