Once Upon a Time's Midseason Premiere: An Evil Birthday, a Blushing Hero and 10 More Teases 

celebrated 100 episodes on Saturday night with, among other things, a screening of the milestone hour aka Season 5’s winter premiere (airing Sunday, March 6).

Once Upon a Time Highlight Reel Revisits 100 Episodes of Adventure, Love and More

TVLine was among those on hand for the VIP presentation. Knowing that spilling full-on spoilers “comes with a price,” here are some teases involving Emma, Regina, the Charmings and the other major characters arriving (or already residing) in the Underworld.

♦ The premiere kicks off with one of the series’ most powerful and emotional cold opens ever, doing justice to storylines past and present.

♦ The episode is a bit Regina-centric, from both her current-day conundrum in the Underworld (Mayor Cora lays out a rather grim ground rule) to flashbacks of one of her birthdays, where a surprising someone sets out to gift-wrap for the Evil Queen the only thing she desires.

♦ A case of mistaken identity leaves one of the heroes a bit flustered.

♦ Fitting for the milestone episode, a character whom we first met in the series pilot and who has not been seen in a while resurfaces when you last expect — to great comedic effect.

♦ Under the oversight of the Blind Witch, the menu at Underworld Granny’s now offers gingerbread…

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♦ A first meeting between two characters just may leave you a bit misty.

♦ Seeing the key to Room 8 tees up a sweet moment between Henry and Emma.

♦ Freshly deceased Hook has seen better days.

♦ “Chip” puts in an appearance, sparking a flashback to a “lost” scene between Rumple and Belle.

♦ By the end of the hour, one character will experience an extreme reversal of fortune.

♦ From the first moment Underworld’s pampered overlord is revealed, it’s clear that

alum Greg Germann is having a helluva good time playing Hades.

, or for any other show? Email insideline@tvline.com and your question may be answered via Matt’s Inside Line.

“The episode is quite Regina-centric” not surprised. How many centrics is she getting and has gotten so far… urgh

I dont understand this either considering the show should centre on Emma, Henry and the Charmings… I mean Im on team #evilregals and all but it makes more sense to have it about them. Also the whole point of the underworld trip is save Emma’s true love… whatevs… The writers better knock 5B outta the park like 4A…

ITA. It’s really a shame & annoying they made the 100th episode a Regina-centric. A milestone episode like that should’ve been for ALL the characters and not focus on any one character. Disappointing.

I rather see more Charming Family with Emma and Henry. Since we are going FOR Emma overall (and obvs her true love Hook[look forward to what shape he will be in,.. Poor dude). Like dedicate some time there and callbacks. Not just callbacks for Regina it seems.. but unless this episode is an episode that also opens up the way for arc and how it will playout throughout the season then ok.

But its annoying also in the sense 100th episode also seems to be an episode based on we see Regina’ birthday? in the flashbacks or something?

“A case of mistaken identity leaves one of the heroes a bit flustered.”

“A first meeting between two characters just may leave you a bit misty.”

Hmm… Maybe Henry gets to meet his namesake?

I’m guessing that they mistake James for Charming. Maybe even Snow does. AWKWARD!

Thanks for the scoop! I find it a bit strange that they made the landmark 100th episode very Regina-centric. Why not have ALL the characters play a big role in the special episode without one specific focus on one character? Or at the very least make it more of an Emma-centric since she’s the main character?

Better to have story organically drive things versus some sense of what is “proper.” The Regina-centric Underworld story is imperative to quickly establish the ground rules.

No offense, but I think you’re always going to be disappointed if you expect this show to be Emma first, everyone else supporting to her. That’s not what it is and it’s never what it was either. It started out as a show about three strong, female lead characters and their respective relationships and the ways in which their paths are intertwined formed the story. I quite like that about it. And season 5 was heavily Emma centric so far, which is why I don’t have a problem with the two other ladies getting some focus in the first two episodes of 5b. It’s overdue actually, in my opinion. A full season needs balance and OUAT works bests when it involves all its main players and the respective strengths they bring to the table. If Cora’s the Mayor of the Underworld and we get a first glimpse of what it’s like and how it works through her as a sort of tourguide, it makes sense to involve Regina.

Emma in terms of character and who she is. She is central main protagonist, so their is difference to the other mains as well.

So, you’re a big Regina fan too? Great, now I can’t enjoy reading about ouat on this site anymore :-(

She’s the whole reason I stopped watching in 4B…I didn’t think this show was supposed to be about the bad guys winning and getting literally everything they want without even showing a speck of remorse! Looks like I won’t be watching 5B either, damn.

Hi. The points were awarded for understanding that Regina’s story serves as our entry into the Underworld.

I can’t reply to your reply but thanks for responding–I think I’m just a little emotional about the show sometimes because it’s both my favorite and my most hated show on television right now…

Regina has shown plenty of remorse-she was tying to saveMarionfrozen heart though Marion was the wife of the man she loved.Regina saved Marion from the monster in early 4a.She also played double agent in 4b with the villains,Queens of Darkness.She helped Emma saved Storybroke in s2 finale.Shes stepped aside to let Robin be with Marion if he wanted to.Since s2 finale,Regina has done nothing but show remorse and be good.She helped Emma fightIngrid and the snow monster.She also was originally initially going to take theDarkness in her to save Storybrook.Shes also being nicety evil sister Zelena,letting her be with her baby and believing Zelenacanbe good.Regina didn’t get everything she wanted either-Marionwasbrought back, spreading her and her true love or soulmate Robin then Zelena tricks Robin into impregnatingher again separating her and Robin or at very least ,complicating their relationship.She hasn’t killed Zelena though she probably could..

Boom. Perfectly said. Fandoms have no chill. To me the episode sounds great from what Matt teased.

Emma may be the Savior, however, Snow and Regina (and Rumple, too, though in a different way) play as important a role in the story as Emma does. Without Regina’s Story there would have been no curse, so there would be no show. Personally, I don’t think that Once Upon has a true main character since the protagonists all have a part in the story and I find it somewhat fitting that it’s Regina-centric since it’s her (original) curse, and the town is her creation. *shrug*

I feel the same way. It was Regina’s character that really got the ball rolling. If it were not for her there would no story to tell. I am really looking forward to this episode. I always enjoy Regina-centric episodes.

If we want to get into technicalities, it was actually Rumple’s character that got the ball rolling. If it weren’t for his quest to want to find Bae, he wouldn’t have had Regina cast the curse and there would be no story to tell. So really, it should be Rumple who gets a 100th episode centric.

Actually both of them because he needed Regina to cast the curse. They were basically partners in crime if you will.

Love Regina -centric episodes! Can’t wait!

Finally a Regina-centric. It’s been high time. These episodes never fail. They are always interesting.

It’s only been like 9 episodes since her last centric? And she had a flashback in the last episode?

It’s been like 84 years. No wonder the show’s popularity kept declining. That flashback in the last episode wasn’t even about her. She was Hook’s supporting player. And the one who made him reconsider his plan to kill Emma’s family.

That’s why they planned her 100th. To set ground rules in the UW and save the show. Hehe.

Thanks so much for the scoop Matt. Can’t wait until the 6th. Hope you had a blast last night and the party.

I’m glad that Regina is getting a centric episode but did it really have to be the 100 episode,,i mean shouldn’t that be Emma centric since she is the main character.

Shouldn’t the 100 episode be Emma centric since she is the main character

Greg Germann as Hades!!! That’s fantastic!!! I’d watch just for that.

Can’t wait to see Chip again, and the Rumple/Belle scene. I wonder if it’s a scene of them saying goodbye to one another before he left for the Underworld? Also looking forward to seeing the Blind Witch again, and trying to figure out who the reappearing character from the pilot is.

I’m pretty sure the character is Sidney Glass.

I think it is Graham because we have not seen him in forever and we saw Glass last season and never saw him in the pilot episode.

Why are Hookers worried? The entire series is about Hook now. Regina will get shoved into the background like everyone else in episode 2.

Im not worried. And i dont think thats happening sadly lol. (like she hasnt had more backstories and focus all seasons) lol

That’s just not true. She did have the focus in S1 together with Rumple (but lo and behold, nobody complains about THAT) and in S2. After that, she’s had a fair amount of time like anyone else. She did have two centrics in 3A, but how many in 3B again?

I really don’t understand what you’re all complaining.

Emma is indeed the protagonist, and the focus is always on her. Always, no matter how many “centrics” Regina has had.

Another reason for Regina-the Evil Queen to have the 100th episode – she brings in ratings.

That’s what makes dealing with his fans so exhausting and tiring. Yeah, I know that’s harsh maybe and I don’t want to generalize as I’m sure there are nicer ones too, but the loud ones who comment on every article on the net, the loud ones, come off like bratty children now.

Regina, Snow and Rumple will likely get 1 episode for each of them tops, Charming, Robin and Belle may not even get their own centrics. Between three dozen scenes of Hook and Emma babbling about their undying love, more Hook backstory that’s relevant for nothing else storywise, Zelena being her usual over the to villain self and the Underworld stuff getting its own eps. So really. Can’t they just let fans who like characters other than Hook and CS be happy they get a single episode for their favorites in this whole arc?

Like, that’s how spoiled children act. You get so much from the writing and promotion, but is it ever enough? No, of course. Of course you feel like you’re entitled to having what little attention this show gives to anyone who’s not CS taken away and given to your favorites, too. Exhausting, so very exhausting.

Every single character fan does this. When there were articles being written about Hook being the Dark One, there were plenty of Regina and Rumple fans who complained like children for the exact same reasons you listed. So stop trying to make it seem like it’s exclusively an issue to Hook fans…this ENTIRE FANDOM is full of exhausting childish fans. If you haven’t seen the exhausting and tiring comments from Regina and Rumple and SQ and Rumbelle fans, then consider yourself lucky. They’re just as loud and bratty.

After a really bad first half of the season, I’m quite looking forward to this episode – being Regina-centric and seeing Cora again (Barbara Hershey is amazing). We haven’t had many Regina-centric eps recently, especially with Emma-Emma-Emma in 5A, which I’m quite frankly bored of (A&E have both said there are three leads of this show – Emma, Regina and Snow). Hopefully 5B starts as it means to go on…

Can I just ask, when did they say that? I’ve always seen Emma as the main character…

Google “‘Once Upon a Time’ team: We show women who aren’t afraid of power”. That’s one article I know off the top of my head in which they discuss writing a show with three women as their leads. They get into it by describing how they see OUAT as a show about mothers and how they have the three women in this different motherhood roles/family dynamics. But if you go back and watch season 1 again… it’s also just obvious from their writing. Emma as one central role as the savior, but Snow and Regina’s roles are no less important. They are all just important in different ways. And the screentime was equally distributed as well.

I’m looking forward to see the interaction between Cora and Regina also. You’re right about 5A it was basically all Emma. I’m ready for more Regina and Snow as well as Emma.

I wonder if the 100th episode will reveal whether or not A/E will write in Emilie’s pregnancy?

The Regina-centric episodes have always been the show’s strongest episodes. Emma has always been a main character in Storybrooke. We generally didn’t see Emma-centric flashbacks until this season. I can’t wait for 5b. Thanks for the scoop.

Well, if I wasn’t already excited for this episode (I was) this would do the trick! Sounds like it’s going to be a good one.

A little stumped on this one, though: “a character whom we first met in the series pilot and who has not been seen in a while resurfaces when you last expect” – Wouldn’t that have to mean that either they managed to get Jamie Dornan back, or Archie/Blue/Gepetto died off-screen?

Someone else in the comment section was also wondering about who it could be. I’m pretty sure it’s Sidney Glass. He came out in the pilot and Giancarlo Esposito (the actor who portrays Sidney Glass) was said to be coming back for the 100th episode.

Sidney was not in the pilot. Is he the returning character (which btw was already announced)? So is it a mistake then?

Well it would not be Sydney anyways as he and the magic mirror were not introduced until episode 2. The only person that comes to mind was Graham (at least as far as dead characters are) I mean he was introduced in the pilot, he has not been seen since episode “Welcome to Storybrooke” in season 2, and he is dead. Not to mention, I know there was a blind item not to long ago stating that there was a character returning to a show despite how they went out. That the actor was kept pretty well hidden to ensure that it would not be leaked out. Something like that means it has to be a huge return, and what would be bigger than Graham in real time, and not just some flashback?… I know the creators said that they would love to have him back, but he was just so busy… yeah, we’ve heard that before from many show creators. I’m 86% sure it is Graham.

Matt, I am stumped as to who it could be showing up from the pilot episode… I hope you don’t mean Sidney Glass/Magic Mirror, cos he debuted in episode 2…

My bet for the return is that Disney asked Marvel to give Sebastian Stan a day off for the Mad Hatter to return maybe just to give them another path back like if he is dead but still has the hat.

I certainly won’t be watching this live – I need to be able to fast forward the Regina parts. I just…I can’t believe they’re wasting the 100th episode on a freaking Regina centric! It will be exactly like the 50 other Regina centrics we already have which tell the same boring story over and over again – oh look Regina is murdering everyone but it’s not her fault, look can’t you see she’s crying! Why can’t they do an Emma centric (she’s only had about 5 flashbacks in 5 seasons!) or make it about everybody???

Just because Regina, Snow White, Charming and the dwarfs are the ones who appear in flashbacks doesn’t mean they’re the only ones this episode is about. Chill out. We’ll get to see everyone arriving in the Underworld in the present day timeline. Matt already said it’s tied to Regina because this is the angle they use to open up this new world to the viewer in the first episode. I don’t get why you have to act like you’ll see nothing but Regina in this episode when nothing in spoilers and articles confirms that. Just relax and watch the episode before you freak out about not getting what you think you should get.

Unless you want the show cancelled, knock yourself out. It’s the first episode of the 5B arc that matters. From there, as every time, the ratings go down inevitably. If the show is cancelled, you won’t be able to enjoy your Emma (whom we’ve seen a lot anyway).

Anyone whining or threatening not to watch because it’s Regina centric, think about it.

The only characters we haven’t seen in a long time who were in the pilot are Graham and that random guy Emma went on a fake date with so she could take him into custody.

Regina’s dad, Sidney Glass, and the Blind Witch didn’t appear until episode 2. Of those 3, the only one we haven’t seen in a while is the Blind Witch.

Unless they’re counting Archie who we last saw in 4×03, but that really wasn’t that long ago.

What about Archie/Jiminy Cricket? Anyway, it’s probably a good thing that the premiere will be Regina-centric. If anything, the last half-season shows that the show can’t write “good” characters unless they’re villains (albeit lame ones).

Please let the character from the pilot be Graham! And that he can finally let everyone know it was Regina who killed him and it wasn’t just a freak accident like Emma thinks it was.

I hope we will get to see the snow queen. I wish they would explore malificents baby daddy that they promised the viewers in season 5

Apparently they find Hook in the 100th episode and he looks horrible. Since filming started back in January he’s looked like his normal self. What do you think happened to him? Is Hook going to be the character that receives going experience and extreme reversal of fortune? I feel like Emma and Hook will share a heart by the end of the episode or something drastic will happen that brings Hook back to life by the end of the episode. Do you think they’ll give CS their TLK/moment within the first 5 episodes?

This has gotten me more excited for the show then I’ve been in a long time. Great variety in the teases. Sounds like a big ensemble episode.

But I’m also incredibly excited to hear Regina has a nice bit of focus. Her centric episodes have always colored the canvas of the show and her role is always relevant to the overall story of an arc. Regina adds so many layers to the storylines and the shows themes. Her having a prominent role in a milestone episode beginning an arc makes sense.

So excited for more Regina! She’s my favorite character. Can’t wait to watch this episode.

Thank god! We’ve been deprived of Regina for far too long. I like all of the other characters, but I feel like Emma & Hook have been shoved down our throats so much lately, that I’m getting a bit fed up of them. Which is a shame because I have always enjoyed their story lines before. I wish there was more of a balance between them all.

This sounds interesting! I was very weary of the show after 5A, and determined to stop watching. While I enjoy almost all of the characters, Regina is my favorite, so I may not be able to resist watching this one (damn you Horowitz & co. for luring me back one last time). But whomever the focus is of the episodes, I hope the writers go back to character based writing. This plot based writing has ruined it for me.

I’m so happy we’re finally getting a Regina-centric. It’s been so long and don’t forget that the whole show begun centering around the Evil Queen’s curse. There’s no one main character on this show and Emma gets plenty of screen time all through the seasons – more than anyone else so there’s no reason to complain. The 100th will be amazing!

I for one cannot wait for the episode. Regina and Cora is still such an interesting and rich dynamic and I have missed the Evil Queen. Always a great reminder of how far Regina has come and how far we have come with her.

People are exhausting, aren’t they Matt? Love Regina! Love that you gave us this scoop… Wish you hadn’t been bullied into changing the wording of the article, but that’s no fault of yours! Welcome, again, to the OUAT fandom. 😘

No, I changed a word because in retrospect, there is almost equal amounts of Emma’s own journey. But the flashbacks certainly give Regina the edge if one were to call this a “-centric” episode.

I love that the people complaining about a Regina centric are all CS fans. Hook dominated the 2nd half of a disappointing 5A, and I for one am thankful that we seem to be returning to the women of the show. We are long overdue for a good Regina centric.

I’m not a Regina fan, so I’m a little bummed that they’re making her a big focus of the 100th episode. I’d rather the focus be on Emma and her mission to save Hook. The scene with Henry sounds interesting, though, and it’ll be cool to see the returning characters.

Oh, and please, if they’re going to focus on Regina for the 100th, I hope they at least give Robin Hood a big role, too. He’s about the only thing that makes Regina bearable, and it’s annoying how they turn this legendary hero into a background character.

Matt is it true that Sean Maguire is leaving his role as robin hood?

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