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Resurrection

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Magic can do much, but not [resurrection]; dead is dead.

—Rumplestiltskin to the Evil Queen src


Resurrection[1] is a magical ability featured on ABC's Once Upon a Time. It first appears in the fifth episode of the second season.

Description[]

Resurrection is one of the spells that are against the laws of magic. It is one of the three restrictions even the most powerful magic is said to be unable to break. However, this law has been broken many times through various spells or loopholes.

Rumplestiltskin states "Magic can do much, but not [resurrection]; dead is dead" when it is considered as an option by a young Regina. However, in most cases, a successful resurrection is possible, but only for another life in exchange, which reflects the basic rule of resurrection: a life for a life. The only exceptions to this rule are the resurrections of Hook and Emma Swan. ("We Are Both," "Quiet Minds," "Last Rites," "The Final Battle Part 2")

Acts that look like resurrection but are still in question[]

  • After Prince Charming's heart is sacrificed to enact the second Dark Curse by Snow White, Regina splits Snow White's heart in half by her request and put the half heart in Prince Charming's body, thus, reviving him. Howevever, according to Hades, because the act was conducted "in a minute or maybe less," his soul never left his body and travelled to the Underworld. ("A Curious Thing," "Firebird")
  • In one instance of a proper resurrection, Maleficent is revived after combining the blood of those who greatly wronged her with her ashes. In this case however, Maleficent was undead, allowing for a restoration to human form that did not break the laws. However, Maleficent later explains that she would turn back to ashes if she left Storybrooke, since there was no magic beyond the town border. ("Unforgiven," "Mother")
  • After Pan's Shadow removed Mother Superior's own shadow, she was seemingly dead and showed no sign of life. She regains her consciousness and shadow once Pan's Shadow is defeated, which shows the notion that people who are separated from their shadows are not entirely dead until their shadow is also dead. ("The New Neverland," "Going Home")

The unsuccessful resurrections[]

  • Dr. Frankenstein attempted to use science to override the laws of magic and bring back his brother with a heart that had been strengthened against lightning surges by magic. Unfortunately, the result was a violent, amnesiac shell of the former person Gerhardt had been. ("The Doctor," "In the Name of the Brother")
  • Daniel Colter, Regina's first true love, was also resurrected by Dr. Whale, Dr. Frankenstein's Storybrooke counterpart. However, the result is not differentiated from the previous attempt, with Daniel becoming a violent, lifeless body. It should be noted that both Gerhardt and Daniel regained consciousness for a brief time, before succumbing into the lifelessness again. ("The Doctor")

The successful resurrections with exchange for another life[]

  • The enchanted candle can be used for cursing another individual's heart in exchange for another's life. Mary Margaret used the candle to curse Cora's heart and killer her in order for Mr. Gold to be saved from the dreamshade poison. However, it should be noted that similar to Resurrection Amulet, the person must not have been dead yet. ("The Miller's Daughter")
  • The Dark One is able to be resurrected from the vault if they die via some other way than the Dark One Dagger. However, the price of this magic is another's life. ("Quiet Minds")
  • Jafar was also resurrected by the mist emitted by Ulima's body after she died. It is unknown how this occurred, but as Ulima's death was necessary to create the mist, it did not come without a price. ("Bad Blood")
  • The blood of a person that has died and come back to life can be used in conjunction with a portal to the Underworld to summon one or more dead people from the Underworld. However, their stay would only be temporary, unless a living soul takes their place thanks to the Mark of Charon, or if they are somehow able to take the heart of a living soul. ("Swan Song," "Firebird")
  • The Resurrection Amulet can also "resurrect" a person in exchange for the life of another person but only if the soul of the person being revived has not entered the afterlife. Gothel could revive Lucy in exchange for Victoria's life only because Lucy has not fully died yet. She also planned using it on Madame Leota to make her regain her original form. ("Secret Garden")

The successful resurrections without any apparent price[]

History[]

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Appearances[]

Note: "Archive" denotes archive footage.

References[]

  1. ↑ "The Shepherd," Once Upon a Time, ABC
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