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For the group of characters, see Guardians. |
"The Guardian" is the eighteenth episode of Season Seven of ABC's Once Upon a Time. It was written by David H. Goodman & Brigitte Hales, and directed by Geofrey Hildrew. It is the one hundred and fifty-first episode of the series overall, and premiered on April 20, 2018.
Synopsis
Following Nick's death, Weaver discovers the Dark One Dagger has been taken and sets out to get it back, even if it means betraying Roni's trust. Meanwhile, Margot takes Tilly on a date, but their time together takes an unexpected twist. In a flashback, Rumple, desperate to be reunited with Belle, pays Alice a visit.[2]
Recap
In the Characters' Past
It has been an eternity for Rumplestiltskin since Belle's passing while enduring his life in the new Enchanted Forest realm. As he deals with the loss of his wife, Facilier shows up and offers a chance to communicate with Belle by having Rumplestiltskin give up his dagger in exchange. Knowing Rumple, he doesn't want to make a deal involving the dagger and it leads to a battle that Rumplestiltskin wins. Facilier however does tell Rumplestiltskin that Belle wants him to find the Guardian, a person who is ready to take possession of the dagger and lead Rumplestiltskin out of the darkness, but if he fails the dagger will become the sole possession of Facilier.
Later on in the Forest, Rumplestiltskin watched Alice and Robin while staying hidden, but (Wish) Hook catches him and warns him to stay away, despite claiming that Alice might be the Guardian he was looking for. Hours later and with the Darkness ready to consume him, Rumplestiltskin got the opportunity to see Alice and tells her that he has a way to break the curse put on her father's heart and that Facilier has the magic they need, but he won't give it up without a fight. Alice says she'll do whatever it takes to reunite with her father, but is horrified when she learns what it will take.
When Facilier arrives, Rumplestiltskin tests out Alice's proof of being the Guardian by having her rip Facilier's heart out, but despite being desperate to save Hook, she refused to crush it and runs off. However, Rumplestiltskin did tell Alice that she was indeed the Guardian that will take possession of the dagger. As they start the transfer, Rumplestiltskin hears Belle's voice coming from the dagger. Realizing that this would become a burden on Alice, Rumplestiltskin holds off on giving up the dagger until he found the perfect way to rid himself of the darkness, and wants Alice to be happy with Robin so she won't have to deal with the burden of the dagger.
Later on, Alice convinced Hook that Rumplestiltskin was a changed person, a decision that would change the outcome in which the Wish Realm Hook and the Enchanted Forest Rumplestiltskin became friends.
In The Present Day
At the police station, Weaver and Rogers are about to question Nick about the murders, only to discover him dead. Weaver realizes that Samdi is responsible for Hansel's death, and he leaves Rogers to lock down the building to stop Samdi, only to discover that it's too late as Weaver finds the dagger missing and believes it is in Samdi's possession. Later on, Weaver visits Regina for help and tells her why he wants the dagger back, and to acquire some of the magic she's using to save Henry, but Regina turns him down. However, she agreed to confront Samdi about the dagger. When Regina went to visit Samdi, he admitted to killing Hansel but it wasn't him who took the dagger. Weaver doesn't buy Samdi's claim when he later confronted him and is ready to shoot Samdi, who reminded Weaver that he can't kill him without risking a permanent separation from Belle. Knowing the implications, Weaver is determined to find the dagger, no matter the cost.
Margot meets up with Tilly (during the time she began hearing the “buzzing” coming from the dagger she was unaware of), and the two plan for their first date together. The women visit a book shop, where Margot shows Tilly travel books on places she has seen upon learning about Tilly's desire to travel one day, only to be interrupted by the dagger's voices again and the date abruptly ends. Later on at Roni's, Tilly catches up with Margot to apologize for ending the date, but Margot isn't worried about this, saying she understands and still wants to be there regardless.
Weaver later resorted to desperate measures by stealing the magic ingredients from Regina without her knowing in order to create a tracker spell, which eventually leads him to Tilly. The voices Tilly was hearing were coming from the dagger itself, in her backpack, thus revealing her to Weaver as the Guardian, but at the same time he believes that she didn't take the weapon. After the dagger is back in his possession, Regina visits Weaver and discovers the identity of the Guardian. She then confronts him on stealing the magic from her, thus ending any chance of her saving Henry. Feeling betrayed, Regina tells Weaver it's over between the two.
In between the events, Henry is still confused over why Nick tried to kill him and as he explains what happened to Jacinda, he is more concerned about the test results that Nick showed him. He later asks Rogers (who was checking surveillance to see who last visited Hansel but Samdi had it altered) to return to the apartment to find the evidence. Rogers also notices another surveillance camera of Drew near the police station, thus giving Rogers suspicions about him. As the two return to the apartment, Henry finds the paperwork, but then he and Rogers hear sounds and chase down the intruder, who they discover is Drew. It turns out that Drew was trying to find a way to protect himself from Samdi, and tells the two that Samdi was responsible for Nick's death, but Drew was afraid to go to authorities in fear of how powerful Samdi is, and Drew hints at how Nick actually died. When they see the autopsy results, they discover Nick died from a stab, but from within instead of outside the body, Rogers begins to suspect something isn't right in this town, as Drew alluded earlier.
Henry later shares the results of the blood test with Jacinda after having it confirmed at the hospital. The discovery has Henry and Jacinda realizing that Lucy was telling the truth, about everything, all along.
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Deleted Scenes
"A Promise"
This scene is included on the Blu-ray edition of "Once Upon a Time: The Complete Seventh and Final Season," but not the DVD.
After going to the back room of Roni's, Lucy asks Roni where they are there for the antidote for her father's poisoning. Roni explains that she's working on it and he's her son too. After Lucy apologizes and hugs her, Roni, in tears, assures her granddaughter that she will cure Henry. However, Lucy tells her adoptive grandmother that she has a feeling that something bad happens soon if they don't break the curse. Roni tells her to not worry and gives her the cherries that she wanted.
Cast[2]
Starring
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Guest Starring
Co-StarringUncredited
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Note:
*: Only in archive footage
Trivia
Title
- The title card features the word "Once" formed by the orange flowers in the Cave of the Departed.[3]
- It is also the first Season Seven title card to not feature the Seattle skyline. The two other are from "Homecoming" and "Leaving Storybrooke."
- The title of this episode was revealed by Adam Horowitz via his Twitter account on January 28, 2018.[4]
Production Notes
- Rose Reynolds confirmed that she did not make Tilly's Troll drawing herself.[5]
- CAST NOTES: As of this episode, Robert Carlyle overtook Jennifer Morrison's position as the cast member with the second largest number of appearances throughout the show.
- HIDDEN DETAILS: The bookstore that Tilly and Margot visit is called Dodgson's Books,[6] a reference to Lewis Carroll's real name, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson.
- During the scene where Rumplestiltskin and Hook put aside their differences, Rose Reynolds and Tiera Skovbye. who were still in the background of the shot, were given a tea-spread and biscuits. According to Rose, she was constantly trying to feed Tiera biscuits.[7]
Event Chronology
- The Seattle events take place after "Chosen" and before "Flower Child." (For more details, see the Land Without Magic timeline)
- The New Enchanted Forest flashbacks take place after the main flashback events of "The Girl in the Tower" and before Lucy's eighth birthday in "The Eighth Witch."
Episode Connection
- Mr. Gold laments Belle's death in this episode. Belle passed away in "Beauty."
- Mr. Gold says that he received a letter from Gideon, saying he is doing well in his studies, referring to how Gideon was accepted into the Elphame Academy in "Beauty."
- Mr. Gold first met Alice in "Beauty" when he came to the New Enchanted Forest.
- Nick is found dead in this episode after he was killed by Mr. Samdi in "Chosen."
- Mr. Gold has had the Dark One Dagger in the police station evidence room since "Eloise Gardener."
- Margot first met Tilly in "The Girl in the Tower," and they got to know each other in "Breadcrumbs."
- Henry was held hostage by Nick in "Chosen."
- Wish Hook met the other Hook in "A Pirate's Life."
- Hook asks if Mr. Gold can cure his poisoned heart, referring to how Wish Hook's heart was cursed in "Knightfall."
- The budding romance between Alice and Robin was first seen in flashbacks during "The Girl in the Tower."
- Henry talks about how he was kidnapped by Nick, referring to events in "Breadcrumbs."
- Roni is using magic to save Henry, and she was given this magic by Mr. Samdi in "Sisterhood."
- Alice's habit of talking to her stuffed toys was first seen in "The Girl in the Tower."
- Samdi told Roni during "The Girl in the Tower" of his intentions to get the dagger.
- Alice's magic abilities were seen in "The Girl in the Tower."
- This is not the first time Mr. Gold/Rumplestiltskin has tried to goad someone into crushing another person's heart. As Rumplestiltskin, he urged Regina to crush a horse's heart in "The Doctor." When the Darkness took on Rumplestiltskin's form inside Emma's head during "The Dark Swan," he persuaded her to begin crushing Merida's heart.
- The last time Samdi warned Weaver against trying to kill him and spoil his chances of reuniting with Belle was in "Sisterhood."
- Henry finds the results of the blood test he took to help Lucy in "Secret Garden." Nick first showed him the test results in "Chosen."
- Rogers points out that Drew is helping Samdi, but Drew explains that he didn't have a choice, referring to events in "A Taste of the Heights" and "Chosen."
- The bubbling cauldron in the bar's backroom was last used by Kelly in "Breadcrumbs" to help Roni make the potion for curing Henry.
- The origin story of how Rumplestiltskin's name got on the dagger was shown in "Desperate Souls." The last time his name reappeared on the dagger to replace the Dark One before him was in "Swan Song."
- This is the second time Weaver endangers Henry's life by stealing magic meant to cure the latter. The first time was in "A Land Without Magic," where he stole the true love potion from Emma.
- Mr. Gold had the Darkness taken out of him was in "Operation Mongoose Part 1" when the Apprentice absorbed it into the Sorcerer's Hat, though he consequentially sought out a way to regain the Darkness in "Swan Song."
- Mr. Gold hears Belle's last words to him, which she told him in "Beauty."
- Alice keeps her promise to stay with Mr. Gold and help him to remember the good person he is, which was implied in "The Eighth Witch."
- Mr. Gold's habit of spinning was seen in "The Eighth Witch."
- Roni says that she Anastasia left with Ivy, which took place in "Sisterhood."
Disney
- Dr. Facilier from The Princess and the Frog appears.
- The skulls and orange flowers in the Cave of the Departed are a reference to the sugar skulls and orange marigold flowers from Coco.[8]
- The masks in the room are also similar to the ones worn by Dr. Facilier's friends on the other side in The Princess and the Frog.[9]
- This episode contains a number of other references to Disney works. See the list of Disney references for more.
Fairy Tales and Folklore
- This episode features Rumplestiltskin from the "Rumplestiltskin" fairy tale, Captain Hook from the Peter Pan story, Alice from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and Robin Hood from the ballads.
- Alice has a white rabbit plushie in her cottage,[10] which she refers to as Mr. Rabbit; a reference to the White Rabbit from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
- HIDDEN DETAILS: Alice has a tea set in her home,[10] and two teacups are decorating Alice's mantelpiece.[11] This is a reference to the Hatter's tea party from the novel.
- HIDDEN DETAILS: A chess set is sitting on the table in Alice's cottage and a basket of yarn sits on the floor.[11] Chess is an important theme in the story's sequel Through the Looking-Glass, and the yarn is a reference to the ball of worsted that Alice is trying to wind up while her kittens are playing in the sequel's opening scene.
- Alice gives Robin a pocket watch from New Wonderland, a reference to the White Rabbit's pocket watch from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
Popular Culture
- After catching Tilly sketching, Margot compares Tilly to Vincent van Gogh.
- ♫ MUSIC: The song playing in the background when Tilly arrives at the bar with a candy treat and an apology for Margot is "I've Gotta Go Home" by Johnny Copeland.
Props Notes
- COPIED FROM PHOTO: The framed photograph of Belle which Mr. Gold conjures[12] is taken from a behind the scenes photograph of Emilie de Ravin from the filming of the Season Six episode "Changelings."[13]
- HIDDEN DETAILS: The golden photo frame around the picture is a reference to Mr. Gold's name.
- HIDDEN DETAILS: The name London is printed on Alice's pocket watch.[14] In addition, one of the travel books behind Tilly at Dodgson's Books is about "Royal London."[15]
- CREW NAMES ON PROPS: The chief medical examiner mentioned on Nick's medical examiner report is S. Laflamme,[16] a reference to production staff member Sierra Laflamme. The director of public health is S. Thompson,[16] a reference to art department coordinator Sharon Thompson.
- PAUSE AND READ: While visiting the bookstore, Margot takes out the travel books The Traveler's Key to Ancient Egypt: A Guide to Sacred Places by John Anthony West, Insight Guides Bali & Lombok, Fodor's Big Island of Hawaii, The Rough Guide to India, Journey to Machu Picchu: Spiritual Wisdom from the Andes, and Trekking in the Himalaya by Hashmat Singh and Pallas Das.[17]
- PAUSE AND READ: According to Weaver's map of Seattle, Hyperion Heights is located close to Gas Works Park,[18] a public park located on the north shore of Lake Union at the south end of the Wallingford neighborhood.
Set Dressing
- USE IT AGAIN: The rabbit plushie and the tea set in Alice's cottage[10] previously appeared in Gothel's tower when Alice was celebrating her birthday in "The Girl in the Tower."[19]
- REUSED PROPS: A decorative box is sitting on the table in Alice's home.[10] It is one of two decorative boxes that were sitting on the coffee table in Regina's living room in the Season Three episode "Bleeding Through"[20] and the Season Six premiere "The Savior"[21] (one of them could also be seen on a side table in the Season Six episode "Murder Most Foul").[22] The same boxes were used to decorate the living room in Gothel's tower in "Eloise Gardener." One was sitting on a shelf,[23] while the other one was sitting on the bedside table.[24]
- CREW NAMES ON PROPS: When Rogers searches Nick's apartment, a letter from an "N. Westlake" is lying in a cupboard;[25] a reference to graphic designer Neil Westlake.
Filming Locations
- Byrne Creek in Burnaby doubles as the New Enchanted Forest for the scenes outside Alice's cottage.[26]
- The scene where Tilly and Margot walk down the streets of Hyperion Heights chatting and eating sprinkle-covered fruit was filmed on the south sidewalk of 400 West Pender Street[27] in Vancouver, British Columbia.[28]
- CORTEX Boutique, a store on 420 West Pender Street in the Western Canada building, doubles as Dodgson's Books, the bookstore Margot and Tilly visit.[29] The real-life house number, 420, can be seen on the door when Margot and Tilly enter.[30]
- The inner courtyard of 100 Powell Street and the inner courtyard of East Cordova Street[32] in Gastown, Vancouver, double as the back of Nick's apartment building for the scene where Rogers chases and corners Drew.[33]
- Gastown's Koret Lofts at 55 East Cordova Street in Vancouver doubles as the exterior of Samdi Holdings.[34]
- Koret Lofts also doubles as the interior of Emma and Henry's New York apartment in the Season Three episodes "Going Home" and "New York City Serenade."[35]
International Titles
| International Titles | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Language | Title | Translation | Notes |
| French | "La Gardienne" | "The Guardian" | In French, there are different potential translations for "Guardian," depending on the gender of the individual. "Gardienne" means "Female Guardian." |
| German | "Was wirklich ist" | "What Real Is" | |
| Italian | "Il Guardiano" | "The Guardian" | |
| Portuguese | "A Guardiã" | "The Guardian" | In Portuguese, there are different potential translations for "Guardian," depending on the gender of the individual. "Guardiã" means "Female Guardian." |
Videos
