'Once Upon a Time' Season 5 Premiere: What to Expect This Season, Will Emma Embrace Her Dark Side?
'Once Upon a Time' Season 5 is well underway and viewers are to expect a lot of changes. From the looks of it, Storybrooke is not going to be the same anymore.
When the first episode of 'Once Upon a Time' Season 5 premiered last Sept. 27, audiences saw that Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison) had officially embraced the Darkness and taking up her role as The Dark One. Despite the efforts of her friends and family, the former Savior abandoned what she once held dear in a quest for revenge. The last moments of the season premiere saw the heroes of Storybrooke back from Camelot with hazy memories.
In a report with Variety, 'Once Upon a Time' producers Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis teased that the fifth season of the ABC fantasy drama was going to see a lot of changes not only in Emma Swan, but in Storybrooke, as well. Here are some of the things to be expected in 'Once Upon a Time' Season 5:
1. Emma Swan's Relationships Will be Tested.
Throughout the progression of the series, Emma's character has been developed from a somewhat reluctant Savior to the hero her son Henry Mills believed her to be. However, Emma choosing to embrace her Dark Side will completely change the tone for the upcoming season. In a report with Access Hollywood, Kitsis said that because of this everyone Emma left behind will be tested. "When you take the leader out, everyone starts bickering," Kitsis said.
2. Hook and Regina will grow closer.
A fan-favorite couple of the series is the developing relationship between Killian (Colin O'Donoghue) and Emma. Now that Emma has embraced her Dark Side, it would become even more challenging for Hook to fight for her. According to Horowitz, a surprising new relationship will develop because of this: Hook and Regina (Lara Parilla). Both characters have known darkness, and both have known what it is like to battle the dark side. "Regina and Hook -- are both people who have battled darkness themselves and the fact that she is facing darkness and they've faced it, and how their experiences can inform what she's going through and either help or hinder her, is something that we want to explore in this half of the season and beyond," Horowitz said.
3. 'Savior Regina'?
Another development in the 'Once Upon a Time' series is that the former 'Evil Queen' will now take the helm as the Savior of Storybrooke. But that does not mean that Regina will be detached from her past. "We've seen Regina on our side, helping out the heroes, but she is going to be thrust into a leadership position in saving the town, with a town that, quite honestly, a lot of people are still frightened of her," said Kitsis.
4. Trouble in Paradise for the Charmings?
The Charmings are going to face some challenges trying to save their daughter. This challenge with Emma will leave the couple powerless and will lead to some unforeseen conflicts. Snow will have a connection with Lancelot while David will have a bromance with Arthur. "We are going to see Snow and Charming fight in a way we've never seen before and we hope that the fact that they share a heart wins out," said Kitsis.
5. More Merida in Upcoming Episodes
Merida's backstory will be shown in the upcoming episodes. The fiery redhead's family will be introduced in the future episodes. "She's going to get her own hour," said Kitsis. It was teased that Merida's father has passed away, he will be seen in flashbacks.
"Once Upon a Time" Season 5 airs every Sundays at 9 pm ET on ABC.