Season 5 of the American fairy tale drama TV series “Once Upon a Time” is still on its long midseason break and its 12th episode is finally set to air on ABC on March 6 with the heroes of Storybrooke going down to the Underworld to save Hook.
While the series is expected to bring back previously dead characters considering that they will be going into an entirely new world, it shall also have its tearful moments including the likely reunion of Regina and her estranged mother Cora.
Regina, played by Lana Parrilla, is currently the Mayor of Storybrooke. She and her whole gang including Emma, played by Jennifer Morrison, Mary Margaret, played by Ginnifer Goodwin, David, played by Josh Dallas, Robin Hood, played by Sean Maguire, and Rumplestiltskin, played by Robert Carlyle, will be travelling to the Underworld in an apparent rescue mission to save Hook, played by Colin O’Donoghue, after Emma was forced to kill him during the winter finale, details the Christian Post.
Interestingly, while Hades, played by Greg Germann, is the lord of the Underworld and basically Season 5’s Big Bad in “Once Upon a Time,” Regina’s estranged mother Cora is actually the Mayor of the Underworld.
Based on recent reports, Regina and Cora will be in for a tearful reunion in the 12th episode of “Once Upon a Time” and the leaked pictures of the next episode actually showed the mother and daughter pair having a series of sweet moments together.
A re-appearance of many characters
There shall also be a re-appearance of one character who first appeared in Season 1 and shall be making his return in the next episode. But he would be bringing some comedic relief.
As expected, Hook will also be making an appearance in the next episode but he will be someone who had just died.
Other characters expected to re-appear in the next episode of “Once Upon a Time” include Prince Henry, played by Tony Perez, Peter Pan, played by Robbie Kay, The Blind Witch, played by Emma Caulfield, Cruella de Vil, played by Victoria Smurfit, and Prince Charming’s twin brother, who is also played by Josh Dallas.
While showrunners Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis were keeping mum about the surprise character that shall make a re-appearance on the next episode of “Once Upon a Time,” word eventually came out that it is going to be Neal Cassidy, played by Michael Raymond-James.
Reports have it that Raymond-James travelled with a group to Vancouver to shoot some scenes for Season 5B of “Once Upon a Time” and he came incognito. He did not check in at one of the usual hotels where guest actors passing through town are often seen but decided to stay in a place outside of the city, details TV Line.
Just to ensure the secrecy, the scenes of Raymond-James as Neal Cassidy were filmed indoors on a soundstage, and away from the paparazzi because they are known to spoil many outdoor shoots of the TV series.
However, despite the secrecy, the media was still able to get wind of his return to the hit TV series. In fact, one cast member reportedly posted a photo of Raymond-James on Instagram and immediately deleted it thereafter.
Important show milestone
Incidentally, “Once Upon a Time” will mark an important milestone during its midseason premiere on March 6. The 12th episode of Season 5 will actually mark the show’s 100th episode, which is quite an accomplishment for a TV series that was not even expected to go past the fourth season.
Focus of the second half of Season 5 of “Once Upon a Time” is the Underworld. Speculations are also rife that since the show will head into the afterlife, there will be a number of characters who shall make their return to the TV series.
Josh Dallas, who plays Charming in the show, in an interview, actually described the Underworld as a place that once they get there, they are going to discover that some of the people there can be saved and brought out there because they are just misplaced in the world.