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Once Upon a Time S05E08: Birth (Full Reaction) (Patreon)

Published:
2025-12-31 14:00:12
Imported:
2026-10
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Emma must make a gut-wrenching decision; Zelena's pregnancy accelerates, forcing Hook to seek answers.

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Heidi Elizabeth Marcum

Birth- Yay!!! I have been so. so excited for this episode reaction from you, Reds!! I absolutely love, love, love this incredible twist with Killian becoming a second Dark One!!!!!! And I absolutely understand Killian's anger and feeling of betrayal too. It's so heartbreaking, but absolutely understandable. Personally, for me... This episode reveals the biggest and most phenomenal twist within the entire show, with the creators and writers making Killian into a second Dark One!!!!!! And I absolutely love, love, love it!!!!!! Three out of these last four episodes between now and the midseason finale are my favorite three episodes within this arc, among my favorites throughout all of season five, as well as the entire show too!! I just absolutely love them, beginning here with Birth!!!! First... This episode begins in Storybrooke as David, Killian, and Robin make their way to King Arthur's tent to confront him after the heroes discover he has deceived them all this time. David offers to face him first on his own, which doesn't go so well. Arthur is quickly able to escape, but Killian is the one to chase after him through the woods. However, Arthur trips as Killian starts to hold his sword on him, until Arthur swiftly trips him and knocks him to the ground, causing Killian to lose his own sword and allows for Arthur to overpower him. I love how Arthur jokes with Killian about him bringing a hook to a swordfight, to which Killian wittily retorts that he actually brought his sword, but that he misplaced it, due to Arthur tripping him and causing him to drop it. And just when he is about to kill Killian, I love how Emma suddenly appears as she uses a now whole Excalibur to keep Arthur's sword from swinging down to protect Killian, then seeing her use her magic to fling Arthur backwards into a tree to knock him out. But not before seeing Arthur's shock in seeing Excalibur is whole. I love how Emma coldly states that Excalibur can no longer control anyone anymore. And then... Killian stands and apologizes to Emma for the things he said to her aboard his ship back in this season's episode, titled... Siege Perilous, when he told her he loved her in the past tense. But he also says things are more complicated. I love how Killian sees that it is truly Emma who saves him just then, and not the Dark One inside of her. Which prompts him to plead with Emma to give him the answers he and the others have been seeking since their arrival back in Storybrooke, eventually causing Emma to angrily answer that everything she's done has been for him, before she suddenly vanishes in a cloud of smoke. And her answer immediately shakes Killian to his core, as he becomes afraid of what happened between her and him in Camelot that led Emma to giving into the Darkness. After Killian, David, and Robin all arrive back at the station with Arthur upon them placing him under arrest and putting him in one of the jail cells, Mary Margaret and Regina also arrive, then Killian angrily attempts to interrogate Arthur about what happened back in Camelot. Arthur just can't give them answers, since he's lost his memories like everyone else. Regina is skeptical about everything Emma's done being about Killian, while Killian is absolutely certain because of Emma's confession to him. Regina tries to convince Hook that Emma is manipulating him, and unfortunately, Regina and even Mary Margaret fear that Emma is gone, leaving only the Dark One. And yet Killian still tries to convince them they're wrong, until he leaves to get answers on his own from Gold as he's still determined to save Emma. Now... In the next scene between Killian, Gold, and Belle, there is a spoof that the editors actually forgot to remove before they finished editing this episode. It's really the only time I've ever noticed a spoof throughout the entire show, and if you look this episode up on the site... Once Upon a Time wiki, it explains this spoof. As the scene begins, it shows Gold shaking a snow globe in his hand while he's starring down at it. And after Killian walks back out of the shop later to find Emma, he's then shown holding the same snow globe in his hand down at his side as well. This snow globe is never actually explained why it is shown, not just once, but twice. But given that it was purposefully shown in two scenes, it's clear it was supposed to mean something. If you look on the site, it explains that this snow globe has the power to detect when the Dark One is close by, which is quite clever and I really wish this had been kept in and explained. Because if it was, then it would be a foreshadowing of Killian being a Dark One, since he enters the shop when Gold is holding the snow globe as its snow within the ball is swirling, just as it's doing while Killian is later holding it as well. I love, love, love this idea!! However, I can also understand why it was mostly taken out, because if there was any kind of explanation about the snow globe being able to detect when the Dark One is near, then we as the show's fans might have guessed that Killian has now become a Dark One as well, long before the big revelation in this end. Unless of course, the significance of the snow globe was explained in the very end. As for this scene itself... I love seeing Killian return to Gold again seeking answers. I like how Killian once again calls him "Crocodile", to which Gold replies, "Didn't you hear, I'm not that man anymore.", then turns to Belle who is hiding in the corner of the room by the door with a crossbow aimed at Killian in fear of him being Emma coming through the door. Once again... Killian coldly talks about how Dark Ones are clever enough to convince people that they've changed, implying just how often Gold has managed to manipulate him and everyone so often into thinking he's changed. However, he stops his accusations and asks Gold for help in understanding what might be going on inside Emma's head. I love how Gold explains that Emma isn't doing all she's doing because of anything Killian has done to her, but because she is doing everything for Killian to atone for something she's done upon recognizing the look on her face... a face of regret he knows all too well since he's worn it a number of times himself. Gold then tells Killian to ask her what she's atoning for, then when Killian says he's been unable to find Emma since she's begun to ignore his calls, Gold tells him he must give Emma a reason to come to him. This leads me to one of my favorite scenes throughout this episode, when Killian soon stands on the roof of the library, then jumps off in order to get Emma to come to him, choosing to believe she will save him in time just as she comes to do. It's very brave to have that kind of faith in someone. And when Killian reappears in front of her, I love how she questions him about whether or not he knew she would save him, to which Killian answers, "Well, I'm either optimistic, desperate, or both." And then he pleads with her once more to tell him what happened between them in Camelot. Emma states doing so isn't so easy, and Killian beautifully assures her that no matter what she's done, he already forgives her in hope of making it easier on her to tell him the truth. And you can see in his eyes that he absolutely means it. At least in this moment in time he does. However, Emma claims she doesn't need forgiveness and Killian tells her again to come clean, then assures her that she's done no worse than he's done in his long life as Captain Hook and as a pirate. He goes on to explain the sad stories behind the rings he wears, including his brother's ring he had given to Emma back in Camelot... Back in the previous episode, titled... Nimue. You can see how sad Killian becomes when he talks about Liam and that in spite of all he's done to become the hero he really is, he's still very much ashamed of himself upon saying Liam was a better man than him. It's very sad. And then... I absolutely love how Killian explains to Emma how he used to wear these rings as trophies, until he met Emma and they became reminders... "That all sins can be forgiven when someone loves you." To me... It's so beautiful hearing Killian then go on to say that he was absolutely wrong to tell Emma he loved her in the past tense, when he didn't mean it because he does still absolutely love her now. Such a beautiful moment! :) This scene leads to Emma bringing Killian back to her house once again, as she tells him to look for the truth because it's tricky. Killian looks through the telescope overlooking the ocean's waves and he applauds her for picking out the perfect home because it has a stunning view of the ocean and its waves. Then, Emma reveals to him that she wasn't the one who picked this home out. He did. And Killian sees the newspaper with the house circled and marked in his handwriting, confirming what Emma is telling him to be true. Sadly, Emma tells Killian that he found this house for them so they could start their future together, and that everything she's done has been to keep their future alive. And unfortunately, when Killian believes she's finally going to tell him the truth, Emma renders him unconscious by her kiss. It's beautiful and sad how Emma holds Killian in her arms while he loses consciousness, as she stares ahead with tears of remorse in her eyes. Meanwhile... Zelena discovers that the onion rings Emma had given to her the day before during her brief chat with Emma, were drugged with a potion that has worked to speed up her pregnancy and causes her to go into labor. Regina and Robin rush her into the ER, where Whale makes an appearance after quite a long absence in the show. It is hilarious when Whale comes onscreen again with bleached blond hair. I don't know if you've ever seen the television series, titled... iZombie, but the reason for Whale's absence from Once Upon a Time and for his return with this new hairstyle, is because David Anders is one of the stars in iZombie, which was filmed during the same time Once Upon a Time. And his character in iZombie has bleached blond hair for a very significant reason through the entire series. So, when the series went on break, David Anders was asked to come back to Once Upon a Time for this episode and when he did, his hair was still bleached. I absolutely love how Whale jokes about his hair being bleached blond, asking Regina why she's ridiculing him for it, when Emma changes her hair too and no one questions it, then mocks her by saying, "Come on. You know you love it." I also love how he reminds Zelena of the time when she threw him against the wall the last time he delivered a baby too, back in season three's episode, titled... A Curious Thing. Absolutely hilarious, and then that we see Emma do the same thing to him again in this episode. Only, his hit against the wall and his landing is much rougher this time around for sure. :) I never really cared all that much for Whale before this episode, but since his actor, David Anders, began playing his character in iZombie, he really changed how he played Dr. Whale, starting in this episode, making Whale much more likeable and entertaining than ever before. And I love it! I've enjoyed David Anders a lot in a number of shows before Once Upon a Time, but iZombie made me come to really enjoy him a whole lot more. :) Belle and Mary Margaret then come running into the room to warn them about Emma being on her way, thinking she's coming to take Zelena's baby for a spell, although Regina assures Robin and Zelena that she will protect the baby, not really caring what happens to Zelena. Boy were they all wrong about why Emma really sped up Zelena's pregnancy. Later... When Killian wakes up, he comes to finding himself locked up inside the cave beneath Emma's house alongside Zelena, who is also locked up. And at last... When Emma joins them, she finally reveals why she's abducted them both. Or at least, she's going with a fake explanation for why she's taken Killian too. Emma tells Killian she took him in order to keep him from trying to stop her doing what she has planned for Zelena, then reveals she plans to use Excalibur to tether the Darkness inside of her to Zelena instead and then kill her in order to destroy the Darkness once and for all. I like that her reveal explains why Emma really sped up Zelena's pregnancy, so that an innocent life wouldn't be sacrificed needlessly. However, Killian pleads with Emma not to do this, given that in so doing, she would be committing cold blooded murder. Emma tries to convince Kilian to understand, by reminding him that Zelena killed Neal and Marian, and if given the chance that she would kill him too, and Zelena threatens to do so because of what Emma's done to her. In all honesty, I can't help but feel that this plan for Emma to kill Zelena with Excalibur after tethering hers and Killian's darkness to her is a great plan. Bad and very wrong, but it's still a great plan. Doing so, would have solved a lot of problems. And Zelena would truly be dead once and for all. However, it is because Killian and the others are all heroes that they don't, and it makes perfect sense that none of them agree with Emma's plan. Because as much as I love the idea, Emma's plan is very wrong and very much something someone evil would do, even if done with righteous intentions. So, I understand why no one is wanting Emma go through with her plan. Not even Regina. However, Emma leaves without any further explanation, and soon Killian and Zelena plot together to escape, using the potion he had sprinkled over his hook back in this season's premiere episode, titled... The Dark Swan, to try to rip out Zelena's heart in order to take off the cuff around Zelena's wrist now so she can free them. Against his better judgement, Killian reluctantly gives in and frees her. She changes her clothes and heals herself from the birthing process, then finally frees Killian too, keeping up her end of their deal. Next... I also really like the confrontation between Emma, Regina, Mary Margaret, and David outside of her home, as she crossly tells them she doesn't need saving, then puts up a protection spell around them to freeze them so she can continue on with her plan. Then... When she comes back inside, Emma is frustrated to find Killian free as he's searching her house for what she doesn't realize is the squid ink she had stolen from Gold so that Gold, or no one else can use it against her. Luckily for Killian, and unfortunately for Emma, Killian manages to find it just in time, then spills the ink over her before Emma can stop him. However, much to his surprise, Zelena walks back into the house so she can make Emma pay for taking her away from her baby, as she suddenly stabs Killian in his chest with what looks like shears, or maybe pliers of some kind. I absolutely love the sudden mystery presented in this moment when Killian doesn't die, and isn't even wounded upon being stabbed. And I love that we are finally shown at last, just what happened to Killian and Emma in Camelot, as Zelena returns Killian's memories Emma has captured within the dreamcatcher she used to take them from him in all her efforts to keep him from learning the tragic truth about what she's done to him. And what a twist!!! Killian has become a second Dark One! Phenomenal, and I so did not see this coming!!! I absolutely love, love, love, love it!!!! :) To back track a little... In Camelot, Merlin comes to Emma to reveal he has taken her family and loved ones under Arthur's command, and tells her that he will be forced to kill them if she doesn't come to give Arthur the dagger and the ember. When she's struggling to figure out how to help them, Henry talks with her about how Killian found them a home for their future in order to offer her comfort and to help her find the strength in what she needs to do. And Emma realizes she needs to use the Darkness to help her save her loved ones. I absolutely love the magic fight between Emma and Merlin once she arrives to try to take back her family, after she binds Zelena to a tree using magic of her own to do so!! However, Merlin is able to overpower Emma because he's wielded stronger magic for much longer than she has, then Merlin is ordered by Arthur to kill Mary Margaret. Thankfully, Emma is able to give Merlin the strength needed to fight Arthur's command off long enough for Killian to break free from his bindings keeping him tied to his tree, by pulling off his brace attacked to his hook while Arthur is distracted. And when he does so, Killian is able to surprise Arthur as he strikes him with his restored hook over his wrist again, knocking Arthur to the ground and Excalibur from his hand. It's thanks to Killian that not only is Mary Margaret saved, but Merlin is freed from Arthur's control, and they finally succeed in taking Excalibur from Arthur so that Emma can use it to free herself from the Darkness. Unfortunately, in doing so, Killian is injured by the sword when Arthur swings at him to try to kill him. Killian had managed to dodge most of the strike, but he's cut across the side of his neck nonetheless, and later we learn there's much more to such a cut, which changes everything. I love this moment between Killian and Emma in the woods, when Emma uses her magic to heal the cut along his neck, while he jokes about having had worse cuts from itching his nose with the wrong hand!! But more so, I love how loving they are towards one another, as Killian talks about how they have the sword at last, and can now use it to free Emma from the darkness, and so they can finally return home. I love how Killian holds her in this moment. So beautiful. :) Back inside Granny's... While Emma is outside trying to figure out how to light the Flame, Killian is talking with Henry, Happy, and Doc as he jokes about having given Arthur his left hook... More so in the literal sense. So funny. David, Robin, and Regina then return from their search for signs of Arthur and Zelena, who have disappeared, and then Regina asks where Emma is. Regina then confronts Emma again and pushes her to reveal what she's so afraid of and what's holding her back from lighting the spark, using the dagger to do so. Emma fights it off by coming up with weaker excuses while Regina continues to push her, until Killian appears along with Emma's parents, and Killian quickly rips the dagger away from Regina to stop her from using the dagger against Emma. And this leads me to another of my favorite moments within this episode... I absolutely love, love, love when Emma admits to Killian that it is thanks to Regina that she has been able to admit to herself why she's so afraid to take out the darkness. She then shows Killian the newspaper showing the house he's picked out for them in their future together, and goes on to explain Henry was showing it to her to help her to see what she had to look forward to when they return home. In confusion, Killian begins to believe that Emma might not want a future with him after all, until Emma quickly assures him that she does, but she's just afraid for their future to begin with all the dangers they continuously face. I love how Killian pleads with Emma to trust him that they can have the future together they both want. And upon them kissing, Emma puts her trust in Killian once again, allowing for her to finally light the Promethean Flame at last. Beautiful. I love it! :) And at last... This brings us to the moment of this incredible revelation behind the mystery of what happens to Killian in Camelot, as his memories come flooding back to him through the magic of the dreamcatcher!!! An absolute favorite moment of mine throughout this episode as well! And through this dreamcatcher containing all of his memories from their missing time in Camelot, Killian watches as the cut from when he had been struck by Excalibur across his neck reopens, causing him to collapse on the floor inside Granny's just before Emma can reunite the blades together, while everyone fearfully looks down on them. Emma immediately kneels over him as she holds him, pleading with Killian to stay with her. Killian, however, begs her to reunite the blades so he can see her become freed of the Darkness before he dies. She then shouts at Merlin to help her save him, and tragically, Merlin reveals that any cut from Excalibur cannot be healed as the blade is meant to cut all mortal ties, revealing that Killian is going to die and nothing anyone can do will save him. However, in refusing to accept this, Emma realizes she can use the Flame to tether Killian to Excalibur after releasing Merlin from it, in turn taking away Merlin's immortality and power, and forcing it all into Killian. And with all this being said... Merlin and Regina warns her that by her doing so, it would create another Dark One. That Killian would become a new Dark One as the Darkness tethered to Merlin would consume him because of his past with his own inner darkness for so many years. And Merlin goes on to warn her that in so doing, it would be her final step into the Darkness. Everyone pleads with Emma not to do this. And when Regina speaks out, Emma becomes angry with her as she asks Regina what she would have done if it were Daniel or Robin, and for pushing her to save Robin. And rightly so. I hate that everyone is so quick to give up on saving Killian, when Regina refused to lose Robin and begged Emma to risk her own soul to save him for her. Just as I hated how quickly everyone was written to nearly give up on Robin too, back in this season's episode, titled... The Price. Finally, Emma refuses to listen to anyone any longer, then vanishes with Killian, Excalibur, and the Dark One dagger before they can stop her. A very powerful moment and I absolutely love, love, love it!!! :) And then my absolute favorite moment comes next... When Emma poofs herself and Killian to the field of middlemist flowers where she and Killian spent their time together after their horse ride back in this season's episode, titled... The Broken Kingdom, as Killian is lying on the ground dying within Emma's arms as she's holding him with one hand around his, with her other hand over his right cheek. Emma's crying softly as Killian then pleads with her to let him go, pleading with her not to turn him into another Dark One. Killian sadly tells her he's weak, not strong like she and Merlin are. That he's succumbed to darkness before in his life and how it has taken him centuries to push his darkness away. This moment absolutely breaks my heart because it's so beautifully acted between both Jennifer Morrison and Colin O'Donoghue. And hearing the amount of shame and guilt Killian feels upon hearing him utter, "The things I've done... I've done...", then hearing him admit his fear that he won't be strong enough to push away his own darkness again, and least of all the darkness what would consume him upon taking the Darkness into himself because of Emma's dark choice in forcing the Darkness upon him... It's all so tragic. Then, Emma asks him about their future together to which he sadly answers, "I'll just be happy knowing that... that you'll have one." Killian then cries out in pain from the wound, as he slowly begins to die while Emma cries out that a future without him is not enough for her and weeps. Finally, being unable to let him die, Emma... in spite of her longing to save Killian's life, selfishly picks up Excalibur and against Killian's wishes, she unbinds Merlin from the sword and tethers Killian's life to it instead, as the Darkness leaves Merlin's body and comes through Excalibur, and enters into Killian's body. And when she finishes, Killian vanishes in a burst of fire, his name suddenly becomes engraved into the sword's blade just as their true names become for every Dark One, and Emma suddenly becomes the full on Dark One upon fully giving into the Darkness' power in spite of doing so to save the man she loves. Because in spite of her doing so to save Killian, she forces the Darkness into him very much against his will, knowing exactly what all memory of the truth would do to him. Because learning the truth that he has now become the very being he hates and fears above all else, just like he's feared and especially has hated Rumple and the Darkness within him too for so long... It all would crush him and make him turn against everyone. I can't help but cry every time I watch this scene. No matter how many times I've seen it. It's all absolutely beautiful and phenomenal!!! :) If you closely rewatch the present day scenes between Emma and Killian throughout this whole season so far... You just might notice that there are some very subtle hints to indicate that Killian is currently a Dark One. Hints you don't notice during an episode's first watch. Killian is quicker to anger at times, and even a little colder at times. Especially towards Gold and Emma. In the ending scene upon us first seeing Emma as the full on Dark One within this season's premiere, Emma makes her way towards Killian inside Granny's, indicating she is checking on him in order to make sure that whatever she's done to erase everyone's memories takes a firm hold, especially on Killian. Emma saves Killian twice in this episode alone, protects him often throughout the season so far, and often checks in on him and talks with him about the good man he is, and even tempts him throughout the season in order to make sure that the Darkness isn't trying to take over his mind like it's done for her. And because she had stolen his memories of him becoming the Dark One, the Darkness couldn't fully take over him like it has for Emma. The hints are there. You just have to look back and pay very close attention to his actions and how he talks to everyone. Just as I have. I hope this helps to make things make more sense to you, Reds. Once Emma finishes her task... In Storybrooke, Killian sees himself become reborn as the new Dark One within the center of the dreamcatcher Zelena is still holding out for him, as he is risen in Darkness from the Vault of the Dark Ones. At first... Killian is shocked and unable to believe his eyes, refusing to accept that Emma could have turned him into the being he has hated for centuries above anyone or anything else. That the woman he loves above everyone else has done to him the worst possible act of cruelly that anyone could have ever inflicted upon him in spite of her actions being done out of her love for him. And I can absolutely understand Killian's pain and immediate anger towards Emma. Zelena then reveals his name on the blade hidden to him and everyone else through a glamor spell Emma has cast over it. And when he has no choice but to accept the truth once his memories are returned to him, Killian darkly states that his and Emma's future together is over. Upon having his memories restored to him as they come flooding back, the Darkness he can now feel again within his body and that he now remembers then consumes him. And when Zelena asks if he's ready to learn the rest of what happened in Camelot, he answers... "Aye. But first we have to take care of her.", meaning Emma. And the look on his face... Pure anger towards Emma in that moment because of what she's done to him. Because she's hurt him in the worst possible way by turning him into the very monster he has hated for centuries. This moment always gives me chills. Yikes!!! Not good. But so amazing to watch! Bravo to Colin O'Donoghue for his sensational acting throughout this episode!! And to Jennifer Morrison as well!! I love, love, love it!!!! :) Just you wait for all that's to come! And I really hope that my thoughts regarding Killian and his sudden turn towards the Darkness helps you to understand his mindset, and this episode as a whole a little bit more. Thank you so much for your reaction for this phenomenal episode, my dear friend! I absolutely loved it!! And I absolutely loved watching one of my all time favorite episodes again with you as you watched it for the first time! I absolutely love this episode!! Thank you! Sincerely, Heidi