History Recap / OnceUponATimeS6E18WhereBluebirdsFly

** Snow is determined to make Hook and Emma's wedding this, but David points out that by rushing into things while the threat of the UltimateEvil is still on the horizon, it would actually be dashing hope by ruining what should have been Emma's happiest moment. Instead, he says the true hope spot is believing the Black Fairy can be defeated so there can be a wedding afterward with long life and happiness.

* AdultFear: Zelena, preparing milk for her baby (but not noticing the baby monitor has stopped making noise), finds the cradle empty...and the Black Fairy, thief of children, holding her.

* ArmorPiercingQuestion: Stanum actually uses a number of these on Zelena, but the best exchange is probably this.
-->'''Tin Woodsman''', ''after she has told him about the time-travel spell to go back and make Cora choose her instead of Regina'': Seems like you're going to an awful lot of trouble to be with someone who didn't want you to begin with.
-->'''Zelena''': Careful. The ''last'' person to speak so freely to me is now peeling bananas with their feet.
-->'''Tin Woodsman''': You wouldn't be so upset, ''unless'' what I was saying was true.

* ContinuityNod

* HistoryRepeats: Charming is afraid this will happen if Emma and Hook rush into marriage--that just as his and Snow's wedded bliss was destroyed by the Evil Queen, the Black Fairy could do the same even if they do end up defeating her and surviving.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: The Black Fairy's attempt to corrupt the fairy crystals into the dark fairy dust she needs to start the Final Battle not only backfires thanks to Zelena, it creates the pure light magic crystal needed to restore the Blue Fairy's magic and restart her heart--and knowledge she possesses will be key to defeating her. Gideon is quite smug in pointing this out.
* HopeSpot: Snow is determined to make Hook and Emma's wedding this, but David points out that by rushing into things while the threat of the UltimateEvil is still on the horizon, it would actually be dashing hope by ruining what should have been Emma's happiest moment. Instead, he says the true hope spot is believing the Black Fairy can be defeated so there can be a wedding afterward with long life and happiness.

* IJustWantToBeSpecial: This is revealed to be Zelena's true motivation, even more than wanting love, a family, or power. She ends up sacrificing Stanum to keep her magic because she is convinced this is what makes her special...not realizing it's those who love her.

* LockedInAFreezer: Or in this case, mine shaft. Regina goes to stop Zelena from facing the Black Fairy alone, and their argument and brief magical scuffle causes a cave-in that [[ClosedCircle traps them inside]], so they must work together to get out--[[WeAreStrugglingTogether made more difficult]], of course, because of Zelena's arrogance and Regina's previous blame game re: Robin Hood.

* MamaBear: Once again Zelena is this, willing to do anything--including face the source of all evil--to protect little Robin. [[BatmanGambit Just as the Black Fairy counted on]].

** The Tin Woodsman (in this universe, a childhood friend of Zelena's named [[AdaptationalNameChange Stanum]]) is cursed for chopping down a tree, the same as happened to him in the Oz books, with the difference being that instead of chopping off his own body parts to be replaced with tin ones, he's actually [[TakenForGranite turning]] ''[[TakenForGranite into]]'' tin.
*** Subverted, however, in that this time the witch who cursed him was the Wicked Witch of the North, not East.
** Also, the Tin Woodsman is once more seeking a heart--only in this case it isn't so as to feel love, but because it is magic and can break the curse. Like in the MGM film, it's red[[note]]well, pink[[/note]] (and actually called the Crimson Heart), and it also doesn't actually do anything (until filled with someone's magic).

** The episode title references a lyric from the song "Over The Rainbow", which was written for the MGM film.

* ParentsWalkInAtTheWorstTime: Snow White barges into Emma and Hook's house--ironically, to discuss wedding plans--right as they're about to get hot and heavy. This leads to the UnusualEuphemism (something of a show tradition) of "making pancakes."
* PlotCoupon: The wand which banished the Black Fairy to her realm and which can defeat her now is only half--the heroes have to find the other half to win.

* UsedToBeASweetKid: Stanum brings up how Zelena was once a kind-hearted girl who wanted to use her magic to help others.

* YouCantFightFate: Henry reveals to Charming that he tried to use his Author's pen to have Emma "win the final battle" but every time, the words erase themselves.

* LameExcuse: As David works harder and harder to shoot down Snow's ideas for the wedding venue, his reasoning becomes more and more this trope.

* LoveIsAWeakness: As usual, Zelena believes this (both past and present), which is why she sacrifices Stannum and is prepared to leave Storybrooke with Robin. When she finally does the right thing and gives up her magic to save everyone, she claims she feels "weak", [[DefiedTrope but Regina responds]], "You look stronger than ever."

* MeaningfulName: Stannum's name is derived from the scientific term for tin.

* VisualEffectsOfAwesome: The CGI on the (eventually) Cowardly Lion is quite impressive.

** Zelena tests the milk for her daughter with "not too hot, not too cold, just right."

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: It is never explained why the Lion is apparently guarding the Crimson Heart--was it simply in his territory? Was he set to guard it by the Wicked Witch of the North (thus making this a case of AdaptationalVillainy)?

-->'''Tin Woodsman''', ''after she has told him about the time-travel spell to go back and make Cora choose her instead of Regina'': That's an awful lot of trouble to go to to be with someone who didn't want you in the first place.
-->'''Zelena''': Careful. The ''last'' person who said something like that to me is now opening bananas with his feet.
-->'''Tin Woodsman''': Or maybe the reason you're so angry is because you know it's true?

* ArmorPiercingQuestion: The Tin Woodsman actually uses a number of these on Zelena, but the best exchange is probably this.

** When the Woodsman comes by, an annoyed Zelena moans about people not knowing about her banishing the Wizard a while ago.

* IJustWantToBeSpecial: This is revealed to be Zelena's true motivation, even more than wanting love, a family, or power. She ends up sacrificing the Tin Woodsman to keep her magic because she is convinced this is what makes her special...not realizing it's those who love her.

** The Tin Woodsman (in this universe a childhood friend of Zelena's) is cursed for chopping down a tree, the same as happened to him in the Oz books, with the difference being that instead of chopping off his own body parts to be replaced with tin ones, he's actually [[TakenForGranite turning]] ''[[TakenForGranite into]]'' tin.
*** Subverted, however, in that [[AdaptationalVillainy this time]] the witch who cursed him was the Wicked Witch of the North, not East.
** Also, the Woodsman is once more seeking a heart--only in this case it isn't so as to feel love, but because it is magic and can break the curse. Like in the MGM film, it's red[[note]]well, pink[[/note]] (and actually called the Crimson Heart), and it also doesn't actually do anything (until filled with someone's magic).

* StaringDownCthulhu: Zelena is surprised the Woodsman shows no fear standing up to her but he points out he's already cursed and "I haven't got much to lose."

* UsedToBeASweetKid: The Woodsman brings up how Zelena was once a kind-hearted girl who wanted to use her magic to help others.

* YouAreNotAlone: The Tin Woodsman tries to tell Zelena this, and that she doesn't need time travel or her magic to make it so. She doesn't believe it or accept it until choosing to stay with Regina and help stop the Black Fairy.

* PlotCoupon: The wand which banished the Black Fairy to her realm and which can defeat her now is apparently only half--the heroes have to find the other half to win.

Regina accepts Zelena's help in hopes of stopping the Black Fairy.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: It is never explained why the Lion is apparently guarding the Crimson Heart--was it simply in his territory? Was he set to guard it by the Wicked Witch of the North (thus making this a case of AdaptionalVillainy)?

* LoveIsAWeakness: As usual, Zelena believes this (both past and present), which is why she sacrifices Stanum and is prepared to leave Storybrooke with Robin. When she finally does the right thing and gives up her magic to save everyone, she claims she feels "weak", [[DefiedTrope but Regina responds]], "You look stronger than ever."

** Zelena gives one to Regina, letting her have it for unfairly blaming her for Robin Hood's death. Although Regina doesn't apologize (only pointing out she had saved her from the Evil Queen and was only trying to do so again with the Black Fairy), she does look troubled.