‘Once Upon a Time’ season 5, episode 16 review: Zelena, Hades, and a heart-numbing narrative
Despite everything that we have seen from Zelena on “Once Upon a Time” season 5 so far, there is one thing that we can still say about her: She has a heart buried somewhere underneath that angry / awful / often-evil exterior.
It is with that in mind that Zelena was interested in doing what is best for her child, and that included giving her over to the care of Regina and Robin … at least in that second (more on that later). This came after a portal brought her, her child, and Belle to the Underworld for the first time. This gave Rumple a chance to reunite with his wife … but also tell the truth regarding what happened with the curse from so many years ago.
As for the past … In more evidence that there is someone out there for everyone, Hades thought that he had found his one true love in Zelena … or at least so he claimed. He knew that if he kissed Zelena, he would be able to have his heart beating again, and he would not be imprisoned in the same way that he has been. This was the first time that we actually started to understand more of his motives for keeping everyone in the Underworld. He wants to watch others suffer in the same way that he has.
By the time the past became present, it started to become clear that Hades may actually be a heck of a Zelena fanboy! He basically created the Underworld as a demented Storybrooke, something that her sister Regina once tried to do.
This is the twist when it comes to the child. Zelena gave her up because she thought Hades was trying to hurt her, but that wasn’t the case. He was trying to protect her. The truth was clear, but at the same time, Zelena was not intent on joining him just yet. We don’t know where this story is going for the two, but it feels like there is more narrative steam here than ever before. Episode grade: B+.
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