'Once Upon a Time' Hero and Villain of the Week: Time to Be Brave

Warning: Spoilers ahead for this week’s episode of Once Upon a Time.

Once Upon a Time has always played with our notions of heroes and villains, good guys and bad guys, happily-ever-afters and just desserts. But this season isn’t just playing with notions — it is stomping them to ashes, burying them, and then reanimating them into completely different creatures. And it’s awesome.

This whole Camelot storyline seems to be the OUAT creators’ way of saying: How do you like dem apples? Arthur is a jerk, Guinevere is brainwashed, and Lancelot is… well, still pretty, but not a homewrecker.

Related: Get Caught Up With Our ‘Once Upon a Time’ Recaps

And in terms of the characters we’ve known and loved for several years, Hook and Regina are legit heroes, while Snow and Charming are deploying some crafty maneuvers.

Guys, where are we? OUAT, Season 5. Buckle up.

Hero of the Week: Hook

In terms of “who’s evolved the most on OUAT,” it’s a dead heat between Regina and Hook. The guy was a mercenary pirate when we first met him; now he’s (a) in love, and (b) actively trying to save the day. Emma (still the Dark One) isn’t doing well, so Hook decides to take her on a fun trip to remind her of who she once was.

First, they spy on Henry and his new sorta-girlfriend (who are too cute). Then he takes her for a horseback ride. Hook suavely manages to get Emma to confess that she’s been seeing visions of Rumplestiltskin. Then, by the end of the ride, she has such a good time that she stops seeing the visions.

“I’ll never stop fighting for us. All you have to do is trust me,” Hook tells Emma. Um, girl, how do you not swoon to the ground at that statement?

Unfortunately, despite Hook’s best efforts in past Camelot, present Storybrooke Emma is still VERY EVIL. She’s keeping Mr. Gold captive to dive into his Dark One knowledge, and is going to use Merida as a means of getting what she wants.

Oh, Hook. At least you tried.

Villain of the Week: Arthur

If you know anything about the Camelot legend, you know that Arthur was married to Guinevere, and then she messed up the whole Knights of the Round Table thing by sleeping with Lancelot.

As OUAT does so well, that is turned on its ear, as we see that Guin and Lancelot are only trying to help Arthur, who’s become a bit nuts about searching for the Dark One’s dagger to complete Excalibur. He’s neglecting his kingdom and his wife.

Guin and Lance team up to find the dagger, and in doing so, bond over their frustrations. They are successful in their quest; unfortunately, Rumple pops up to ruin everything. And of course, he offers them a deal. He gives them a potion that will fix anything that’s broken, which Guin and Lance eagerly accept.

But when they return to Camelot, crazy Arthur accuses them of an affair (which, technically, is true, since they kissed). He banishes Lance, then uses the potion on Guin to turn her into a Stepford Queen.

That explains why, in “six months ago” Camelot, Guin comes to Arthur’s defense when Snow and Charming ensnare him a trap to get the dagger. Not only that, she uses the rest of the potion on THEM, lulling them into trusting Arthur completely.

For now, luckily, Regina has hidden the dagger, but it won’t be long until Arthur gets his hands on it!

There might be a saving grace, though… by the name of Merida! When Lancelot is thrown into the dungeon again, he’s not alone. In the next cell is a certain flame-haired, fiery-tempered lady who should not be underestimated!

Once Upon a Time airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on ABC.