Once Upon a Time Wiki
Register
Advertisement
This page is move protected The subject of this article is involved with the Once Upon a Time The subject of this article is or relates to an episode The subject of this article is featured in Season Six of Once Upon a Time

Aladdin: Are we done searching yet?
Jasmine: You can ask the same question a hundred times and you will get the same answer. We search until we find Agrabah.

"A Wondrous Place" is the fifteenth episode of Season Six of ABC's Once Upon a Time. It was written by Jane Espenson & Jerome Schwartz, and directed by Steve Pearlman. It is the one hundred and twenty-sixth episode of the series overall, and premiered on April 2, 2017.

Synopsis

When Hook finds himself trapped in another realm along with the Nautilus and her crew, he races to return to Emma before Gideon can execute the rest of his plan. In Storybrooke, Regina and Snow take Emma out to get her mind off Hook’s disappearance. And in a flashback to Agrabah, Jasmine befriends Ariel, and together they set out to locate Prince Eric as the threat from Jafar intensifies.[2]


Recap

This section is a detailed recap of this episode. There are major spoilers. Click to expand.

"Many years ago" in Agrabah, the Sultan, looks for suitors for his daughter. Jafar answers the request, except he has an ultimatum: if Jasmine rejects his hand in marriage, sunset will destroy Agrabah. Later on, while chasing down a thief, Jasmine runs into Ariel, who is looking for Prince Eric. Believing that finding Eric will bring his army to protect Agrabah from Jafar, Jasmine and Ariel team up and track down Eric on Jasmine's magic carpet, only to discover that Prince Eric was Jafar in disguise. Ariel suggests that Jasmine use a vial of powder she stole from Jafar to defeat him. Jafar uses his magic to send Ariel and the vial back to the sea.

Before sunset, Jasmine agreed to marry Jafar, in exchange for sparing the lives of her people. She hands him the ring. Jafar reveals that he never wanted to rule Agrabah since its people had always scorned him. He wanted the ring, which contained the magic jewel that powered Agrabah's protection spell. He then uses it to cast a curse to make Agrabah disappear, "out of human reach".

As the Nautilus submerges, Nemo and Liam inform Hook that Gideon took the Kraken blood needed to return to Storybrooke. Hook suggests that they hunt down the squid. 

On land, Jasmine and Aladdin search for Agrabah. Jasmine finds a ring in her pocket after she had wished to find Agrabah. They later continue the journey on the boat, when they come across the Kraken, and Hook saves them. It turns out that the Nautilus compass can lead them to a person whose heart is filled with revenge. This gives Hook an idea to help track down Jafar, who might still have the ability to help him return to Storybrooke. Unfortunately, the Kraken critically damaged the Nautilus. Jasmine uses her second wish to send them to Jafar's pinpointed location, Hangman Island.

After they part ways with Nemo and Liam, Hook, Aladdin, and Jasmine encounter Ariel, who had a lamp that contains Jafar, who is now a genie. When Jasmine summons Jafar, it only ends up freeing him, since he found a way to break his genie curse while imprisoned, before going on to knock out the others with magic. Jafar no longer wants anything from Jasmine, the only vengeance on those responsible for his imprisonment (Cyrus and Alice). Jafar goes on to mock each of them, calling Aladdin "battle-broken" and "weeping". At Jasmine's insistence, he tells her what happened to her kingdom, but only because the answer amused him - Agrabah was trapped inside the ring that she just wished up. Jafar then mocks Jasmine's past failure and inability to save her people, before demanding that Jasmine give him the ring. Jasmine turns Jafar into a walking staff using the magic powder, much to Jafar's shock. With true love's kiss, Jasmine breaks Aladdin's genie curse. This causes Agrabah to re-materialize from the ring. Later, Ariel gives Hook a seashell that can allow him to call Emma across realms. Hook reaches Emma, vowing that he never meant to leave her and that he'll find a way to return to her.

In the present day, Emma tells David about Hook having killed Robert. David is upset over this and about Hook's reluctance to confess himself. Emma tells David that he left on the Nautilus after they broke up over this issue, as Leroy saw earlier. Later, Regina suggests to Snow and Emma that they enjoy ladies' night at a new bar called "Aesop's Tables," but a heartbroken Emma passes. At home, Emma accepts that Hook won't come back and gathers his things with Henry when she gets a phone call about a bar fight. As she arrives, Emma discovers that Regina and Snow tricked her into joining them. Regina encourages Emma to open up about her heartbreak while a drunk Snow challenges a group of Vikings to a knife-throwing contest. Aesop, the bar's owner, meets a crying Emma. Aesop tells Emma about a heartbreaking of an artist and his wife, then gives her a napkin to wipe her tears away. At home, Emma makes to put away Hook's belongings, when she noticed a seashell calling out her name, discovering that it was Hook telling her that he'll return to her. After Emma loses the signal, she hears Aesop's voice and she looks up, only to discover that Aesop was Gideon, who needed Emma's tears to blackmail her. With her tears, Gideon can prevent Hook from using any portals to return to Storybrooke, unless she helps him kill the Black Fairy.

This episode summary uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).
The
Once Upon a Time Wiki encourages users to rewrite the summary in their own words.


Cast[2]

Starring

Guest Starring

Co-Starring

Uncredited



Trivia

Title

Production Notes

  • REUSED FOOTAGE: The establishing shot of Storybrooke early in the episode,[5] where the leaves are blown across Main Street, is the exact same shot that was used to show the empty streets of Storybrooke the morning after Hook's death in the Season Five episode "Swan Song",[6] but with a lighter color hue. The shot was recycled once again for the opening shot of the Season Seven episode "Beauty",[7] with an even lighter color hue.
  • For the exterior scenes in Agrabah, a couple of dump trucks worth of sand were dumped into a green screen space right before the Season Six Christmas break, enough to cover the whole surface by about 1–2 feet. Unfortunately, thanks to Vancouver's rainy climate, the sand was wet, and they couldn't shoot a desert scene on wet sand. To solve the problem, the crew brought in industrial fans that ran 24 hours a day over the Christmas break so that the sand would be dry by the time they got back from the holidays to shoot the scenes in January.[8]
  • Director Steve Pearlman came up with the name for the bar that Emma, Mary Margaret and Regina visit, Æsop's Tables.[9]
  • Llamas were used in this episode instead of camels, because it would have cost 20,000 dollars to import them.[10] The production team originally wanted to have camels appear on-screen in Agrabah, but there are no camels to be found in Vancouver, where Once Upon a Time was filmed, and they would have had to ship them from Los Angeles.[8]
  • During filming of this episode, greensperson Sarah McCulloch nicknamed Deniz Akdeniz, Ali Baba.[11]

Event Chronology

Episode Connections

Disney

Fairytales and Folklore

  • HIDDEN DETAILS: The banners outside the tent where "Prince Eric" is staying feature a sea-wyvern,[17] a legendary creature with a dragon's head and wings, a reptilian body, two legs, and a fish tail. It is the sea-dwelling variant of the dragon-like creature known as a wyvern.

Popular Culture

  • ♫ MUSIC: The song "There's a Blessing" by Johnny Copeland is playing at the bar when Regina tries to get Emma to open up about her feelings.

Props Notes

Set Dressing

Costume Notes

  • The genie pants Deniz Akdeniz wore for this episode had to be fitted with an electric heating device due to the cold weather they experienced during filming. Colin O'Donoghue asked if they could do the same with his costume, but his jeans were too tight-fitting to fit a heating device underneath and the actor got quite cold.[58]
  • BRAND INFO: The boots Aladdin is wearing during his time as a genie[59] are modified jewelled boots from the Canadian retailer Aldo.[60]

Filming Locations

International Titles


Videos

References

  1. Porter, Rick (April 4, 2017). ‘Little Big Shots’ adjusts up: Sunday final ratings. TV by the Numbers. “Once Upon a Time (ABC) (...) 2.80”
  2. 2.0 2.1 LISTINGS: ONCE UPON A TIME. The Futon Critic. “Air Date: Sunday, April 02, 2017. Time Slot: 8:00 PM-9:00 PM EST on ABC. Episode Title: (#615) "A Wondrous Place".”
  3. File:615Title.png
  4. TwitterLogo Adam Horowitz (@AdamHorowitzLA) on X, formerly Twitter: Here's another #OnceUponATime #titlespoiler -- hope to see ya in March! (December 12, 2016). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  5. File:615EmptyStreet.png
  6. File:511MorningInStorybrooke.png
  7. File:704Storybrooke.png
  8. 8.0 8.1 Tumblr I want a pirate mascot (@capitaine-odette) on Tumblr: Van Con 2017 set tour report: with spoilers (March 27, 2017). "Steve told us that they shot a desert scene on the green screen in early January, and I found the anecdote that went along with this really interesting. They trucked in a couple of dump trucks worth of sand into the green screen space right before the Christmas break. He said it was enough sand to cover the whole surface by about 1-2 feet. The problem was that the sand was WET because, don’t know if you've heard, it rains a lot in Vancouver. Anyway, this is a problem because they couldn’t very well shoot a desert scene on wet sand. So, they brought in industrial fans that ran 24 hours a day over the break so that the sand would be dry by the time they got back from the holidays to shoot the scene. If I remember correctly, this scene will be in the upcoming episode. He also said there would be llamas in this scene. They originally wanted camels, but there are no camels in Vancouver, and they would have had to ship camels in from LA…which apparently shipping animals across international borders is an issue! So, llamas." (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  9. @selina_arlette (Nasty Woman) on X, formerly Twitter: Aesop's Tables is such a @JaneEspenson joke 😂 (April 2, 2017). (archive screenshot; the original tweet and the user's account have been deleted)
    TwitterLogo Jane Espenson (@JaneEspenson) on X, formerly Twitter: I wish it were! It came from the episode's director, Steve Pearlman. But I love it as if it were my own. (April 2, 2017). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  10. Tumblr The Enchanted Forest News Service (@efnewsservice) on Tumblr: Bridge Studios set tour: Llama Mystery Solved! (March 25, 2017). "“The llamas: camels would have cost them 20k to import so they opted for llamas.”" (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  11. TwitterLogo Sara McCulloch (@leafladygreens) on X, formerly Twitter: @KarenDavid & Ali Babba [sic], I hope he had long-johns under those "fancy pants"! Ha! It was bloody cold, & so beautiful! (January 8, 2017). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
    TwitterLogo Sara McCulloch (@leafladygreens) on X, formerly Twitter: Ok, so I HAD 2 take a pic of "Fancy Pants" shoes, ya Ali Babba [sic], wait, Denis...... He's a sweetie! Magical gold feet? (January 7, 2017). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  12. File:615DogAndTheWolf.png
  13. 13.0 13.1 File:615GaveMeAway.png
  14. File:615TakeASeat.png
  15. File:615Hey!!2.png
  16. File:615TakesNapkin.png
  17. 17.0 17.1 File:615INeedAnAnswer.png
  18. File:615ForThe.png
  19. File:502PercivalIsDead.png
  20. InstagramIcon Amber Crombach (@ambercrombachmua) on Instagram: When #Jafar drops his magical red powder as we start to roll! (April 9, 2017). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  21. File:615TakingTheBottle.png
  22. File:615HoldingTheSpyglass.png
  23. File:317WhereYouWent.png
    File:317WhereYouWent2.png
  24. File:615ClosingTheBox.png
    File:615TakingTheConchShell.png
  25. File:615ClosingTheBox.png
    File:615OpeningTheBox.png
  26. File:702PicksUpBottle.png
  27. File:615HookPlottingCourseFlipped.png (flipped image)
    File:615HookPlottingCourse.png (original image)
    File:615HookPlottingCourse2Flipped.png (flipped image)
    File:615HookPlottingCourse2.png (original image)
  28. File:615CanILose.png
  29. File:W108FakeBottle.png
    File:W111GeniesBottles.png
  30. File:W113JafarsLamp.png
  31. File:615Target.png
  32. File:103KnightHitsGround.png
  33. File:203FollowMyLead.png
  34. File:205MeOneThing.png
  35. File:206StrugglingToHoldOn.png
  36. File:207WasALittleBoy.png
  37. File:208ThatsImpossible.png
  38. File:209KeptAlone.png
  39. “Emma Swan” (2) prop boot knives from Once Upon a Time Season 1, Episode 3 and Season 2, Episode 3.. iCollector (May 2019). Archived from the original on December 16, 2018.
  40. File:615AllDay.png
  41. File:102LookingAtFiles.png
  42. File:104SocksUnderTheBed.png
  43. File:W101AliceIsThatReallyYou.png
  44. File:W106Edwin.png
  45. File:701ACurseHuh.png
  46. File:702DeadEnd.png
  47. File:714Yesterday.png
  48. Young, Michelle. Fireplace Fan Screen Fireplace Screen Vintage Brass Fan Peacock Shell Fan Fireplace Screen. Trendesire. Retrieved on November 25, 2018.
  49. File:615LeavingWithoutPaying2.png
  50. File:117WarmUp.png
  51. File:501IntoTheCastle.png
    File:503Wow.png
  52. File:615ThisManyCorkscrews.png
  53. 53.0 53.1 File:615Ariel.png
  54. File:615Ariel2.png
    File:615LikeThatOne.png
  55. File:615Ariel2.png
  56. File:615LairForSure.png
  57. File:615WhomeverSummonsHim.png
  58. Once Upon A Time Season 6 Episode 15 Review w/ Karen David | AfterBuzz TV. YouTube (April 2, 2017).
  59. File:615Promo23.jpg
    File:615Promo33.jpg
  60. "Aladdin" Once Upon a Time Season 6.. iCollector. Archived from the original on December 2, 2018. “...a pair of modified/jewelled Aldo size 11 ankle boots featuring a Genie pointed toe...”
  61. 61.0 61.1 File:615RealFriends.png
  62. LANVIN leopard pattern knit dress. Farfetch. Retrieved on February 8, 2019.
  63. Bellange Lace Trim Blouse JOIE. Nordstrom. Retrieved on February 8, 2019.
  64. File:615TakeMyPayment.png
  65. InstagramIcon Craig Clarke (@vfxsup) on Instagram: Row, row, row your boat.... well not between takes at least. (April 5, 2017). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  66. InstagramIcon Craig Clarke (@vfxsup) on Instagram: Happy Friday!!! Cheers to the weekend !! (Bridge Studios) (September 14, 2018). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
    InstagramIcon Craig Clarke (@vfxsup) on Instagram: Going into the weekend like.... 😂😂 (Bridge Studios) (November 2, 2018). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  67. TwitterLogo What's Filming (@WhatsFilming) on X, formerly Twitter: #OnceUponATime is filming in the forest and on the beach at Belcarra Park until after midnight tonight. (January 6, 2017). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  68. TwitterLogo What's Filming (@WhatsFilming) on X, formerly Twitter: #OnceUponATime used this cabin set for their filming at Belcarra Park last Friday. Thank you @belcarradeb for taking this pic! (January 12, 2017). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  69. InstagramIcon Craig Clarke (@vfxsup) on Instagram: some behind the scenes pics from the magic carpet ride 😉 (Bridge Studios) (October 1, 2018). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  70. InstagramIcon Craig Clarke (@vfxsup) on Instagram: That time we filled the green screen stage with sand and opened a petting zoo for @jogarciaswisher and @karendavidofficial #behindthescenes #onceabcofficial (Bridge Studios) (April 3, 2017). (backup link) (archive screenshot)

  71. InstagramIcon Craig Clarke (@vfxsup) on Instagram: Ha, realized I posted the last pic before so I dove back into the folder and found this one of Colin making a call on a sea shell 😂 (Bridge Studios) (October 1, 2018). (backup link) (archive screenshot)

Advertisement