I loved the opening scene of Souls of the Departed, because we got to see the familiar face of a much-loved character. Emma’s first love, and Henry’s father, Neal Cassidy made a brief appearance in this 100th episode to offer a warning to Emma. The return of Neal, played by Michael Raymond-James was a real hush-hush operation, with the actor being reportedly being whisked in and out so fast your head would spin, and I thought it was a real beautiful moment between the two characters.
I loved that he gave her a warning about the Underworld ,and that she should go back while she can. He knows she is there to save Hook, but it is too dangerous a place for her. He knew her well enough to know that she would not leave without at least trying to save Hook, but he had to try. I might have teared up a bit when he asked about their kid, and told her that he wasn’t in the Underworld, and that was because he had no unfinished business. I loved that he was solely there for her, and her alone.

Image courtesy of ABC
I miss Neal, I really do, but I feel better about him being truly gone now that Emma has had some closure. In return, she was able to give their son Henry, some closure of his own, and that was knowing that his father was in a better place. Who doesn’t want to know that for sure about a loved on? It gives the survivors hope, and some peace of mind.
I love how they completely transformed the Storybrooke we know into the Underworld, where all the inhabitants are dead, and trapped due to unfinished business they have left behind. Cue Cruella, driving by in her luxurious car, and right on time too! I bet everyone that came to the Underworld has a Cruella type they will have to deal with while searching for Hook.
Gold certainly does not want to stick around long enough to find out about any unfinished business, and he is planning on being on the first ferry out of Hades. Of course, he has to set on his father, Peter Pan first, and it seems that Pan misses the world above. He wants to trade souls with one of the people who came to save Hook, and he thinks that Gold will help him out in that regard. I really would not put this past Gold, despite not liking his father all that well. After all, he is all about looking out for numero uno!

Image courtesy of ABC
Regina is the first one who has to truly deal with a blast from the past, as her mother would like to see her. It seems her mother is in some kind of position of power on this other side of Storybrooke, and she practically begs her daughter to leave, or something bad will happen to Regina’s father. It turns out that Regina is his unfinished business, and he tells her to stay in the Underworld, and finish what she started.

(ABC/Jack Rowand)
BARBARA HERSHEY
Regina has really come a long way from her evil Queen type days, and she has totally redeemed herself in my eyes. I hope that nothing happens to make her go back to those evil ways. Meanwhile, Emma and company find Hook’s grave in this world, and spread the potion over it that would allow them to be able to contact Hook. When Hook appeared, very briefly, he could not tell them a thing as he appeared to be beaten very badly. I say beaten because that is exactly how it appeared to me.
I loved the graveside talk that Regina had with her father, and that he appeared to have crossed over into the light, because as I said earlier, she was his unfinished business. The only thing I didn’t understand from the little flashback to the Enchanted Forest was if Cora took the box containing Regina’s father back to Wonderland with her, then how did Regina kill him to enact the original curse? No worries, I think watching the events of the timeline will help me work this out!. At least, I hope, but I might let that little tidbit go, as it is really nothing in the grand scheme of things. I loved that Henry got to meet his namesake in his grandfather,that is one lucky kid to be loved by so many!
I like where this is going, and it appears our heroes now have two agendas while in the belly of the Underworld. Why don’t we save a few souls while in the midst of saving Hook? I, for one, love the idea because I don’t think I would want it on my conscience that I could be the reason they are stuck in such a place! Let Operation Firebird commence!

Image courtesy of ABC
Did anyone notice the parallels of the real Storybrooke with its Underworld counterpart? When our heroes arrived, the clock was not working at all, much like when Emma first arrived in Storybrooke. I thought it was very telling that both clocks started ticking again once it was decided they were staying in both worlds. We did meet Hades, who pointed out the very same thing to Cora when she came to see him at the end of the episode.
TICK TOCK, every little tick of the clock means a soul has left the Underworld ,and that doesn’t make Hades very happy at all. Cora receives the perfect punishment as she is turned back into being the Miller’s daughter that she hated so much!
What did you think of the 100th episode? Where do you think Hook is? Sound off below!!
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