In this week’s upcoming episode “The Cricket Game,” life in Storybrooke is going to change as we know it. On the heels of Emma and Mary-Margaret’s return from the fairytale land, Cora and Hook have followed to unleash their vengeance on the unsuspecting residents. So while magic is back, so are those who are not afraid to use it.
At a recent screening and press conference, executive producers Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz shared some scoop and teasers about what is upcoming in the second of half of ONCE UPON A TIME’s climatic second season.
Now that Snow and Charming have been reunited again, will they finally have more than 5 minutes together this time?
EDDY: Yes. It’s fun to see them together again. They are kind of figuring out their new role being together, being in Storybrooke, and being Emma’s parents even though they are the same age.
ADAM: The first half of the season was them coming to terms with their memories coming back and all that. Now going forward it is: what does this mean being a family with these memories and having this strange familial relationship and what do they want now? What does that mean in these completely different circumstances?
Much of Regina’s storyline in this upcoming episode is about change, both in the past and the present, will some of the other characters face the same thing in their lives?
EDDY: I think in a lot of ways everyone is kind of changing both for the good and bad, in a sense. Now that the curse is broken and they are in Storybrooke and they remember who they are with both memories, it’s kind of confusing. Snow and Charming are trying to figure out: What is our role here? What is our role with our daughter? Emma is trying to figure out what is her role as a mother. So I think you’re going to see that throughout the season.
Will our heroes now be able stay in Storybrooke, or will there be other places they can go outside of it?
EDDY: That is an excellent question. Yes, as the promos have stated, the idea of leaving Storybrooke is an upcoming issue.
In terms of the Rumplestiltskin/Hook storyline, can you tease anything about that coming up?
EDDY: We’re going to get into it soon. Very soon.
Another storyline you’ve teased is Mr. Gold’s son. How quickly will you revisit that?
ADAM: Pretty quickly. I think that now everybody’s back in town and there’s new issues to deal with, obviously with Cora and Hook, Mr. Gold is pretty determined.
EDDY: I would say it will arise within the first 5 episodes coming up.
Will they find a cure to cross over the border of Storybrooke without losing their memories?
EDDY: Well, perhaps. If Gold’s is not in Storybrooke, I’m not sure how he would find him if we didn’t.
What can you share about the potential pairing of Hook and Emma? Everyone’s excited about that.
EDDY: Emma is going to find herself with a few choices this season and I think that in all life there are the people that are right for you and there are the people that are wrong for you. Then there are the people you just choose. Emma is going to face all those things. So we’ll see what happens.
Can you talk about the men in Emma’s life and when we might be seeing them, like Graham, Neal, and August?
EDDY: Well, Graham is dead and if we brought him back everyone would say we are messing with continuity, so there’s that. What is interesting is the love of Emma’s life last year was Henry; then this year we met the one person she’s fallen in love with. Hook is obviously eye-candy, and I don’t think she’d stare at him and think he’d be a great father for Henry. So what’s interesting about Emma is she’s going to ease into it. Now that she’s found her family, now that she’s gotten over the shock of “they’re the same age as me” has worn-off, they are starting to become a family. They are starting to settle down. The anger and walls that she has put up in her life are starting to be broken, but not as quickly as they’d like. I think that includes her heart. So it’s a matter of who wins it.
Are we going to be seeing Henry interact with his birth father?
EDDY: I would be really disappointed if we went through the season and we didn’t show that.
Will we see August again this season? And in the episode where he should Neal the box, will we find out what was in there?
ADAM: Yes, and you will get that answer. August is an important part of the fabric of story and it is a story we are continuing to tell this season.
EDDY: We are hoping to have [Eion Bailey] back.
What can you tease about Ethan Embry’s upcoming role?
ADAM: It’s really good. He’s great and that’s pretty much all we can say. But we’re very happy to have him.
EDDY: This will help: his character’s name is “Mysterious Stranger.” We’re excited to tell that story as well.
What role will DOWNTON ABBEY’s Lesley Nicol play?
EDDY: I can tell you that she has a connection to Snow White and her family and that will be explored in Episode 15.
Then what is next for Mulan and Aurora?
EDDY: Mulan will be in the episode after this week’s. Aurora and Mulan are off to save Philip and we’re hoping to return to that at some point this year. But I can say for the first batch of upcoming episodes, we’re focusing on the Charmings, the RumBelles, and Cora/Regina family.
ADAM: Family dynamics is really what’s going on. It’s really focused on now in Storybrooke where we have all our players back together and what’s going to happen when they are all ping-ponging off each other. From Regina to Gold to Snow to Emma, their interests are often in conflict.
In light of these revealing teasers about what lies ahead for our heroes and the rest of the Storybrooke residents, it is important to remember that with a potentially deadly foe circling around, it is only a matter of time before Cora strikes and someone dear pays a price. In “The Cricket Game,” Archie betrays a confidence and makes him a target. But shall everyone’s favorite cricket/therapist find the grim reaper knocking or will there be more tricks in store as magic weaves through the lives of everyone in Storybrooke? We can only say for certain: no one will remain untouched and unscathed. 
Be sure to tune in for an all new episode of ONCE UPON A TIME on Sunday, January 6th at 8PM on ABC (CTV in Canada)
Tiffany Vogt is the Senior West Coast Editor, contributing as a columnist and entertainment reporter, to TheTVaddict.com. She has a great love for television and firmly believes that entertainment is a world of wondrous adventures that deserves to be shared and explored – she invites you to join her. Please feel free to contact Tiffany at Tiffany_Vogt_2000@yahoo.com or follow her at on Twitter (@TVWatchtower).