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The World Behind the Mirror, also known as the Mirror World,[1] is a world featured on ABC's Once Upon a Time. It appears in the eighth episode of the sixth season.
Description
The World Behind the Mirror is a realm that is accessible behind all mirrors. Once a person is in this world, he or she can't use magic, but they can touch various mirrors to see what is happening in the world that the mirrors on the other side exist in. There exists a way out of this world, a shattered mirror. Next to it is a pillar with a pile of broken pieces of it. If someone were to complete the mirror, it would activate a portal inside it.
History
At an unknown point in time, the Genie of Agrabah ends up here after being framed for killing King Leopold, and this is how he communicates through the Evil Queen's mirrors. He begins working on a portal to escape his prison but he doesn't finish building it. ("Fruit of the Poisonous Tree," "I'll Be Your Mirror")
During Regina's search for the Author, she temporarily sends Sidney back into the World Behind the Mirror. Sidney later betrays Regina, and assists the Snow Queen, who later frees him from the mirror in exchange for his help. ("A Tale of Two Sisters," "Breaking Glass")
The Dragon is banished to the World Behind the Mirror when the Evil Queen traps him here. He remains alone until Emma and Regina arrive after the Queen imprisons them within the mirror as well. The Dragon reveals there is one possible way to escape the realm through a portal that Regina's Magic Mirror, Sidney, was working on when he was trapped here. Despite his best efforts, the Dragon cannot not finish it, though he suggests that if the three of them work together, they may have better luck. Before they can accomplish much, the Queen speaks through the Dragon with his heart, taunting Emma and Regina, before revealing herself in one of the mirrors with Henry. She then orders the Dragon to kill Emma and Regina, and he, unable to disobey her command, transforms into a gigantic dragon. As he rampages, Emma and Regina duck behind a pillar and determine that if they can get the Dragon to blast the mirror with his fire breath, it could break and release them from this world. Henry helps them by using Hephaestus's Hammer on the mirror's other side, breaking Emma and Regina free. As the Dragon's fire breath bursts through the mirror, Henry grabs the Dragon's heart to preserve it. Regina later frees the Dragon. ("An Untold Story, "I'll Be Your Mirror," "Mother's Little Helper")
Ways to Access the World Behind the Mirror
The World Behind the Mirror can be reached by any enchanted mirror (except for looking glasses, which leads to Wonderland and the Wish Realm). ("I'll Be Your Mirror")
Trivia
On-Screen Notes
- The World Behind the Mirror is featured in the title card for "I'll Be Your Mirror."[2]
Props Notes
- The hand-held mirror that the Evil Queen uses to trap Emma and Regina,[3] is the same mirror that the genie kept with him inside his lamp in "Fruit of the Poisonous Tree,"[4] and where he got trapped after making his final wish in the same episode.[5] ("I'll Be Your Mirror")
- The scenes in the World Behind the Mirror were filmed in a green-screen room filled with green-screen mirrors. Real apple trees were brought in as background elements.[6] ("I'll Be Your Mirror")
- The mirror that Regina finds in Sidney's nest[7] is the World Behind the Mirror version of the mirror that he first appeared in, in "The Thing You Love Most,"[8] and where she trapped him in "A Tale of Two Sisters."[9] ("I'll Be Your Mirror")
Set Dressing
- One of the mirrors in the World Behind the Mirror[10] is the same prop that was used for the mirror that Zelena looks into in the Dark Castle in "It's Not Easy Being Green,"[11] and Zelena's mirror in Oz in "Our Decay,"[12] "Ruby Slippers"[13] and "The Song in Your Heart."[14] It is best seen in the shot where Regina says, "There is no way out," where the mirror can be seen behind her. ("I'll Be Your Mirror")
Filming Locations
- The scenes in the World Behind the Mirror were filmed on a green-screen set at The Bridge Studios.[15]
Appearances
| Once Upon a Time: Season Four | ||||||||||
| "A Tale of Two Sisters": |
"White Out": |
"Rocky Road": |
"The Apprentice": |
"Breaking Glass": |
"Family Business": | "The Snow Queen": |
"Smash the Mirror": |
"Fall": | "Shattered Sight": |
"Heroes and Villains": |
| Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Mentioned | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| "Darkness on the Edge of Town": |
"Unforgiven": | "Enter the Dragon": | "Poor Unfortunate Soul": |
"Best Laid Plans": | "Heart of Gold": | "Sympathy for the De Vil": |
"Lily": | "Mother": | "Operation Mongoose Part 1": |
"Operation Mongoose Part 2": |
| Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| Once Upon a Time: Season Six | ||||||||||
| "The Savior": | "A Bitter Draught": | "The Other Shoe": | "Strange Case": | "Street Rats": | "Dark Waters": | "Heartless": | "I'll Be Your Mirror": | "Changelings": | "Wish You Were Here": | "Tougher Than the Rest": |
| Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Appears | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| "Murder Most Foul": | "Ill-Boding Patterns": | "Page 23": | "A Wondrous Place": | "Mother's Little Helper": | "Awake": | "Where Bluebirds Fly": | "The Black Fairy": | "The Song in Your Heart": | "The Final Battle Part 1": | "The Final Battle Part 2": |
| Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Mentioned | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| Once Upon a Time: Specials | ||||||||||
| "Magic is Coming": |
"The Price of Magic": | "Journey to Neverland": | "Wicked is Coming": | "Storybrooke Has Frozen Over": | ||||||
| Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | ||||||
| "Secrets of Storybrooke": | "Dark Swan Rises": | "Evil Reigns Once More": | "The Final Battle Begins": | |||||||
| Absent | Absent | Absent | Archive | |||||||
Note: "Archive" denotes archive footage.
References
| Worlds and Major Locations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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