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This article focuses on the Season Four episode.
For the Arendelle character, see Ingrid.
For the fairytale, see "The Snow Queen (fairytale)".

The monster who did this was not the Snow Queen. It was me.

—Emma to Hook

"The Snow Queen" is the seventh episode of Season Four of ABC's Once Upon a Time. It was written by Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz, and directed by Billy Gierhart. It is the seventy-third episode of the series overall, and premiered on November 9, 2014.

Synopsis

Emma captures the Snow Queen and interrogates her at the sheriff’s station. But the Snow Queen uses her prior knowledge of Emma to try to persuade her into thinking that they are more alike than she could possibly imagine. Regina and Robin Hood’s relationship grows increasingly complex as they struggle to find a way to save his dying wife, Emma begins to see what she missed out on by not growing up and being a family with Snow and Charming when she sees how involved Mary Margaret is in baby Neal’s life, and Henry begins his after school job in Gold’s shop while trying to help Regina find a clue to the identity of the author of the storybook. Meanwhile, in Arendelle of the past, we learn about the origin of the Snow Queen and her familial connection to Elsa and Anna as we see her discover her spectacular yet deadly ice powers.[2]

Recap

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

In Arendelle, young Ingrid, Helga, and Gerda are chasing a kite that later hits a tree. After they pull it down, the kite's owner arrives, but instead of thanking them attempts to kidnap them. After being kicked by the kite owner, Ingrid unleashed her power and freezes a tree, causing a branch to break off and fall on the kite owner, killing him. Stunned by Ingrid's powers, the sisters decide to keep it a secret and place the ribbons from the kite on their wrists, vowing to protect each other. Years later, the sisters are preparing to attending their father King Harald's 70th birthday bash. Helga introduces her date, the Duke of Weselton, to her father. Ingrid decides not to join her sisters but takes a brief moment to look before returning to her room after her loneliness causes it to snow inside. Her sisters return from the party to find Ingrid preparing to run away. After assuring Ingrid that she is not a monster and that running away won't fix anything, Gerda suggests visiting Rumplestiltskin. He suggests that they trade him their ribbons in exchange for a pair of gloves that can help suppress Ingrid's powers and an urn that can imprison her in case the gloves fail. Despite her sisters insistence that their love is stronger than any magic, Ingrid fearfully forces them to had over the ribbons.

Back in Arendelle, the Duke sees Ingrid sitting in a gazebo, but instead of waiting on Helga, he tries to seduce Ingrid, who then uses her power to push him away. When Helga arrives, he lies to her about what happened, but Helga knows that he lied and turns down his marriage proposal. As the Duke tells the two that he plans to expose Ingrid to all of Arendelle, Ingrid attempts to freeze the Duke, but he pulls Helga in front of him, causing Ingrid to freeze her instead. As a stunned Ingrid kneels by her frozen sister, Helga's body crumbles into a pile of ice shards. As Gerda shows up, she is stunned by what Ingrid did to Helga. Refusing to believe her and fearing that Ingrid has become a danger to everyone around her, Gerda takes the urn and traps a sobbing Ingrid inside. Later, Gerda goes to Grand Pabbie and asks him to make a potion that will cause the residents of Arendelle to forget Ingrid and Helga ever existed in order to protect the future of the kingdom. He warns her that magic comes at a price but agrees to make the memory potion.

In Storybrooke

Ingrid, the Snow Queen, has set up shop in the clock tower, and conjures up her mirror for her latest plot. At the sheriff's station, Emma tests out a spell with Elsa that they can use on Ingrid. Emma later visits a "Mommy & Me" class to see Mary Margaret along with Ashley and Aurora. Emma is stunned to see her mother tell the others about being a mother for the "first" time, and after Mary Margaret sees her accidentally boiling the milk in Neal's bottle with her hand, she backs away in horror keeping Emma from holding her brother. Emma then gets a call from David saying they found Ingrid at the clock tower, where Emma uses the candle spell on her, creating a pair of hand cuffs. Emma then takes her in for questioning at the station, where Ingrid is using the arrest to play mind games with her former foster daughter. As David, Hook, Belle, and Elsa look at the mirror, Belle notices that the mirror is a fake, prompting David and Hook to warn Emma, and to get Gold to help them.

As the questioning continues, Ingrid admits to Emma that she wants her to be part of her family, but then uses mind tactics on Emma to convince her that her family do not love her, they fear her. Emma denies this, but as she pauses for a second, Ingrid casts a spell on a glass of water, and when she returns Ingrid increases the pressure on Emma, resulting in the glass of water to boil as Emma's powers are unleashed due to her anger, causing the wall in the station to blast open and Ingrid to escape. Ingrid's mind games have caused Emma to completely lose control over her powers. Emma then walks out and as David, Mary Margaret, Hook, Elsa, Mr. Gold, and Belle show up to stop her, Emma tries to tell everyone to stay away but when Hook touches her, she causes the streetlight to fall on David. Emma runs away after a horrified Mary Margret looks at her with disgust and gets into her car driving away even as Mary Margret calls after her that it's okay. Everyone present suspects that The Snow Queen/Ingrid has succeeded in turning Emma against them. After Elsa and Hook are unable to find Emma, Mary Margret blames herself, stating that no one wants their family to see them as a monster. Elsa reassures a fearful Hook that Emma will be fine, but that she needs time alone to come to terms with her powers, the way she did. Meanwhile, a terrified Emma sits in her parked bug in the woods overlooking the town.

Meanwhile, Regina attempts to find out the answers in the fairytale book when Robin Hood shows up to tell her that his heart is still with Regina, but Regina tells him that he should be with "Marian" and wants him out of her life. Later on at Granny's Diner, Robin spots Will Scarlet, and the two make up for lost time over their lost loves as well as to patch things up between the two. Robin later returns to the vault to see Regina, and he kisses her, breaking his code to be loyal to "Marian".

Finally, Gold receives a visit from the Snow Queen, who is ready to make a deal with him, as she has now figured out what his plan is. The Snow Queen knows that Gold wants to leave Storybrooke with Belle and to be free of the Dark One Dagger, while the Snow Queen wants Storybrooke all to herself, and she says that she has the secret to the missing ingredient he needs. She then asks for the ribbons, and as he gives them to her, the Snow Queen whispers the secret into his ear. Then, Mr. Gold says that he will obtain the final ingredient with great pleasure, causing the Snow Queen to stare at him with a shocked expression.

This episode summary is adapted from Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).


Cast[2]

Starring

Guest Starring

Co-Starring

  • Ryan Booth as Man
  • Bailey Herbert as young Helga
  • Ava Marie Telek as young Gerda
  • Greg Webb as King

Uncredited

Trivia

Title

Production Notes

Event Chronology

Episode Connections

Disney

Lost

Fairytales and Folklore

Popular Culture

Props Notes


Then was there much eagerness alight and
Eriol told them of his first
wanderings about the western havens, of
the comrades he made and the
ports he knew, of how he was one time
wrecked upon far western islands and
there upon a lonely eyot found an an [sic]
ancient mariner who dwelt for ever solitary
in a cabin on the shore that he had fash
ioned [sic] of the timbers of his boat.
More wise was he, said Eriol, in all matters
of the sea than any other i have
met, and much of wizardry was there in
his lore. Strange things he told me, of
regions far beyond the western sea, of
the magic isles, and that most lonely
one that lies beyond. Once long ago he
said he had sighted it glimmering
afar off, and after had he sought it
many a day in vain.


Much of the text is repeated on both pages.
  • PAUSE AND READ: Belle's translation (seen upside-down) reads:[17]
[illegible]
of [illegible word] being


With both hands hold the candle
And then use your magic to light it
And then, when you blow on it
Vines of fire will issue forth
From the candle
And form a serpentine bond
Tendrils that will bind
The [obscured] of your intent


ORIGINAL VERSION
SHOW VERSION

When the two sisters returned
from the ball, Cinderilla asked
them if they had been well diverted, and if the fine lady had
been there. They told her, Yes, but that she hurried away immediately when
it struck twelve, and

When the two siste[image ends]
from the ball, Cinde[image ends]
them if they had b[image ends]
been there. They t[image ends]
it struck twe[image ends]

with so much haste, that she dropped one of her little
glass slippers, the prettiest in the world, and which the
King's son had taken up; that he had done nothing but look at
it during all the latter part of the ball, and that most certainly he was
very much in love with the beautiful person who owned
the little slipper. What they said was very true; for a

with so much haste, that she dropped o[image ends]
Glass Slippers, the prettiest in the worl[image ends]
King's son had taken up; that he did n[image ends]
her all the time of the ball, and that [image ends]
very much in love with the beautiful person who owned
the little Slipper. What they said wa[image ends]

few days after, the King's son caused it to be proclaimed
by sound of trumpet, that he would marry her whose foot
this slipper would just fit. They whom he employed began to try it on upon
the princesses, then the duchesses, and all the Court, but
in vain. It was brought to the two sisters, who did all they possibly could to

few days after, the King's son caused [image ends]
by sound of trumpet, that he would [image ends]
this Slipper would just fit. They be[image ends]
the Princesses, then the duchesses[image ends]
in vain. It was brought but ju[image ends]

thrust their feet into the slipper, but they could not effect it.
Cinderilla, who saw all this, and knew her slipper, said to them laughing:
"Let me see if it will not fit me?" Her sisters burst out
a-laughing, and began to banter her. The gentleman who was
sent to try the slipper, looked earnestly at Cinderilla,
and finding her very handsome, said it was but just that
she should try,

[missing]

and that he had orders to let every one make tryal. He invited
Cinderilla to sit down, and putting the slipper to her foot,
he found it went on very easily, and fitted her, as if it
had been made of wax. The astonishment her two sisters

and that he had orders to let eve[image ends]
Cinderilla to sit down, and putting [image ends]
He found it went on very easily, [image ends]
had been made of wax. The as[image ends]

were in was excessively great, but still abundantly greater, when Cin-
derilla pulled out of her pocket the other slipper, and put
it on her foot. Thereupon, in came her godmother, who
having touched, with her wand, Cinderilla's cloaths [sic], made (…)

were in, were very great, but [image ends]
derilla pulled out of her pock[image ends]
it on her foot. Upon this [image ends]
having touched her with her wa[image ends]



Prince Charming [illegible word] the Evil
Queen
's Dark Knights, fighting
his way towards the wardrobe
Gepetto [sic] had fashioned, the one
that would carry Emma to
safety. In one hand, the Prince
held his sword, slicing [illegible adjective]
at his enemies, while in the
other he held his newborn baby girl, clinging to her for
dear life.
Having vanquished the knights, Charming opened the
door to the magical dresser. Tears in his eyes, the Prince
placed Emma inside the small opening. "Find us," he
said, and kissed her on the forehead. Charming closed
the door to the dresser, knowing that this would be the
last time he would see his beloved baby for twenty-eight
years. But deep down, the Prince knew that this was the only
way. He had to let Emma go in order to save her. He
also knew that one day, Emma would return to save
them all.
As Charming closed up the dresser, he was [illegible word]
ambushed by two unforeseen Dark Knights. The Prince
tried to fight them off, but they proved too formidable
for him. One of the knights pierced Charming's stomach
with his sword, and the Prince fell to the ground, [illegible word]
death. The knights checked inside the wardrobe, only to


[image ends]
[three illegible words] [image ends]
happily ever after.


The end!

  • An illustration of Marian and Robin Hood, is accompanied by a story about how they met:[22] Half the text appears on-screen (though a few words are blurred), while the rest appears on a prop page which was auctioned off online in October 2019.[23] The missing text (blurred or off-screen) is set in fuchsia, or, in the case of links, underlined:


Robin was back on his feet in a
dash. He and the Merry Men
pursued the robed figure through
the forest. Though the figure
was quick, Robin knew these
woods well, as they served as his
home. Robin caught up to
the figure, but as he knocked it
to the ground, the figure's hood dropped to reveal
the most beautiful woman that Robin had ever seen.
The woman told Robin Hood that her name was Maid
Marian. Her parents were so poor they could not afford
the evil Sheriff's taxes. Instead, Instead, they gave the Sheriff all
they had of any value -- her hand in marriage. Marian
begged Robin Hood. If her carriage did not arrive at the
Sheriff's castle by daybreak, her parents lives would pay
the forfeit.
"I shall ransom you." said Robin Hood. "I'm sure you
will fetch a fine bounty.
"Then the stories are true." replied Marian," They
say there is a thief in Nottingham who is as selfish as the
Sheriff himself. Our people are starving and while the
Sheriff takes from one pocket, Robin Hood and the Merry Men
Men steal from the other."
Robin Hood had never thought of his crimes in this
manner before, and for the first time, someone had told

him the truth about how he was regarded in Nottingham.
Though he was a proud man, he allowed Marian's car-
riage to continue that night, albeit only after strip-
ing of her purse.
However, in the intervening days, he could not forget
Marian's face, nor the words she had spoken. They were
the first thing he thought of when he awoke and the last
thing he thought of before he slept. When he looked in
the mirror, all he saw was a selfish thief, no better than
the Sheriff of Nottingham. And the thought of Marian
being forced to marry the Sheriff did not sit well with
him either.
Robin Hood woved never to steal for himself again.
He would only steal from the rich and give to the poor.
He would make himself a man worthy of Marian's love.
And that is exactly what Robin did. For many
years, Robin Hood and the Merry Men fought valiantly
for the people of Nottingham. After defeating the Sher-
iff, Robin Hood rescued Marian and married her. In this
way did Marian's love change Robin Hood from a thief
into a man of honor, and they lived happily ever after.

The End

  • Note that the storybook contradicts the story that Robin tells Will Scarlet in the diner. According to Robin, he first met Marian when he stole a horse from a poor farmer. While camping for the night, he awakened to find the farmer's daughter, Marian, aiming an arrow at him. She told him the horse was important to her family's livelihood and without it, they wouldn't survive. Realizing the error of his ways, he returned to Marian's cottage the next day and forfeited his own two horses to Marian and her family. From that day forward, he only stole from the rich and gave to the poor.

Set Dressing

  • PAUSE AND READ: At the sheriff's station, when Emma gives Elsa the spell book, you can, for a brief second, see two papers on the desk. One of them contains a set of handwritten notes and is dated August 19, 1994. The other is transcript of a police interrogation:[29]


INTERVIEW – TRANSCRIPT

CYRIL KEMP

Q Where do you live?
A I live in a homeless shelter.
Q Do you know this boy?
A Yes, I know him. I saw him playing
Q Did you take this boy with you?
A It was me that took him, yes. You should say that. It was me.
Q Took who?
A The boy in the park. I don't know why. Anger I suppose.
Q Where is the boy now?
A I don't know.
Q Where did you hide him?
A I don’t know. I don't know.
Q You said that you took the boy. Where did you take the boy?
A (Refuses to answer).
Q Cyril, where did you take this boy?
Q What's your name?
A Cyril Kemp
Q What do you do for a living Cyril?
A I am an unemployed math teacher. I receive a small disability
pension. It's because of this problem I have.
Q What problem do you have?
A Something in myself when I sleep. The dream, you know.
Q Do you have a criminal record?
A No.
[the rest of the text is a repeat of line 1 to 15]

Costume Notes

  • USE IT AGAIN: Note that the coat is only seen from far away in this episode. It can be seen in close-up when she wears it again in "Darkness on the Edge of Town".[63]

Filming Locations

  • CUT CONTENT: According to a prop sign used during the shooting, the in-universe name of the area is Rowan Hill Park.[76] However, the sign does not appear on-screen.

Goofs

International Titles


Videos

References

  1. Sunday Final Ratings: ‘The Simpsons’ & ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ Adjusted Up. TV by the Numbers (November 11, 2014). “Once Upon A Time (...) 7.42”
  2. 2.0 2.1 LISTINGS: ONCE UPON A TIME. The Futon Critic. “Air Date: Sunday, November 09, 2014. Time Slot: 8:00 PM-9:00 PM EST on ABC. Episode Title: (#407) "The Snow Queen".”
  3. File:407Title.png
  4. TwitterLogo Adam Horowitz (@AdamHorowitzLA) on X, formerly Twitter: Here's another #OnceUponATime #titlespoiler! 15 days to go! Hope to see ya! (September 13, 2014). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  5. Jennifer Morrison, Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis on the Season Four Blu-ray Audio Commentary for "A Tale of Two Sisters"
  6. File:407IcePowersYouSay.png
  7. File:407ConcealYourPowers.png
  8. File:408LeaveMeAlone.png
  9. File:407SnowCharmingStorybook.png
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 File:407ThomasCinderellaStorybook.png
  11. File:407EvilQueenStorybook.png
  12. In "Smash the Mirror", Rumplestiltskin steals the magic urn, which remains in his possession until it is sucked into a time portal in "Snow Drifts". The first part of this story takes place shortly after Belle decides to summon Rumplestiltskin in "Family Business", which means that this part of the story takes place around the same time as the opening scenes of "Skin Deep". In "Lacey", which takes place shortly afterward, Marian is pregnant with Roland, which means that Elsa was trapped inside the urn before he was born. In "Quite a Common Fairy", Robin Hood says that Roland is four years old (note that four years means the time before the Dark Curse struck, plus 28 years between "Pilot" (where time started moving again) and present time "Quite a Common Fairy", which was less than a year (this is proven in "The Tower", where David states that it's been almost 30 years since Emma, who was born in October 1983, was born; since "The Tower" takes place one year after the first half of Season Three (as seen in "Going Home"), and the present day events of "Quite a Common Fairy" must take place in 2012 ("Pilot" takes place in October 2011, as revealed in "Selfless, Brave and True", and another Season One episode, "Skin Deep", takes place on Valentine's Day), this means that less than a year passes between "Pilot" (where Emma turns 28) and the second half of Season Three). All this means that Elsa must have been trapped inside the urn in 1979 or 1980. Since Ingrid traveled to the Land Without Magic in 1982 (as seen in "Smash the Mirror"), she must have waited a few years before she tried to summon Rumplestiltskin to get the urn back and was sent to our world.
  13. File:407Dartboard.png
  14. 14.0 14.1 File:407TheGoldenBird.png
  15. File:407BelleFoundSomething.png
  16. Some Runes Used in "Once Upon A Time" Season 4. Panya's Blog: Linguistic Aspects (October 11, 2014, updated on December 12, 2014). “The Book of Lost Tales (episode 07)”
  17. File:407EnactTheSpellFlipped.png (flipped screenshot)
    File:407EnactTheSpell.png (original screenshot)
  18. File:407InYourFamily.png
  19. File:407IngridUsingIceMagic.png
    File:417NoMoreMagic.png
  20. The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault, by Charles Perrault, et al, Translated by Robert Samber and J. E. Mansion, Illustrated by Harry Clarke. Project Gutenberg. Retrieved on November 15, 2020.
  21. File:407OpeningBook.png
    File:407OpeningBook2.png
    File:407OpeningBook3.png
    File:407SnowCharmingStorybook.png
  22. File:407TurnThePage.png
    File:407MarianRobinStorybook.png
  23. Once Upon a Time - Storybook Page (3270). iCollector (October 2019). Archived from the original on September 26, 2019. (File:407Prop1.jpg)
  24. File:407FurniturePolish.png
  25. File:407GetBack.png
  26. File:318Pavilion.png
  27. File:402RightOnTime.png
  28. File:407ManyMonsters.png
  29. File:407Paper.png
  30. File:407OnlyTurns70Once.png
  31. 31.0 31.1 FacebookIcon Neil Westlake (@NeilAWestlake) on Facebook: As a graphic designer in the film and TV industry, we sometimes get to design tapestries as virtual and sometimes practical assets. (February 10, 2016) "These were made with Norewegian [sic] rosemaling motifs." (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  32. File:407ReginaReading.png
  33. File:522ShowYouTheWorld.png
  34. File:721RoniSensesSomething.png
  35. File:408ArendelleCastle.png
  36. File:407WantIsOutThere.png
  37. File:417HiddenMickey.png
  38. File:407HerPowers.png
  39. EMMA'S BLACK JACKET WITH LEATHER SHOULDERS ON ONCE UPON A TIME. WornOnTV. Retrieved on February 3, 2019.
  40. File:407WasntSoBad.png
  41. Once Upon a Time: Season 4 Episode 7 Ashley's Ombre Open Knit Cardigan. shopyourtv. Retrieved on February 3, 2019.
  42. Patchworked Silk Peasant Top. Anthropologie. Retrieved on February 3, 2019.
  43. File:407OhAshley.png
    File:408Promo6.jpg
  44. Cole Haan Gilmore Wedge Flats Paloma Suede Perf Paloma Suede Perf. indulgy. Retrieved on February 3, 2019.
  45. File:407InTheClockTower.png
  46. Pink Tartan ONE-POCKET TROMPE L'OEIL SHIRT. Pradux. Retrieved on February 3, 2019.
  47. File:407ImGettingMarried.png
  48. File:107ForgetToShave.png
  49. File:108AfterAll.png
  50. File:116NowWeReTalking.png
  51. File:119AboutTheRent.png
  52. File:407WearingATie.png
  53. Leather Sleeve Virgin Wool Blazer HELMUT LANG. Nordstrom. Retrieved on February 3, 2019.
  54. File:408Go.png
  55. File:414ImRightHere.png
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  60. File:407DevilishlyHandsome.png
    File:407EmmaLeaves.png
  61. Free People Geometric Precision Pencil Skirt. Bloomingdale's. Archived from the original on February 8, 2017.
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  63. File:412Hey.png
    File:412WorriedGroup.png
  64. File:407DiplomaticMission.png
  65. File:407WelcomeToMyKingdom.png
  66. File:403DiscoveredSomething.png
  67. File:212IDidIt.png
  68. File:212IPurchasedYouACommission.png
  69. File:417OffWithHisHat.png
  70. File:516OzGuard.png
  71. File:618ToRemindThem.png
  72. File:606YourLifeFamily.png
  73. File:614GiveThatOrder.png
  74. File:615FromThoseBeasts.png
  75. TwitterLogo Mark Klotz (@markklotz) on X, formerly Twitter: #ouat setting up for a scene involving a kite in a tree. #onceuponatime on Burnaby Mountain Park. (September 16, 2014). (backup link; the user's account and the original post have been deleted) (archive screenshot)
  76. 76.0 76.1 FlickrIconTemplate Lawrence Andreutti. Once Upon a Time set photos from Greenwood Park, North Vancouver, BC (Rowan Hill Park) taken on September 25, 2014. (September 25, 2014).  (archive copy)
  77. File:214IGiveYou.png
  78. File:215AndYoureSure.png
  79. TwitterLogo Kyle Gillespie + SQ (@Magnusxxn) on X, formerly Twitter: @AdamHorowitzLA @rapid_rar Also, that kid would be walking by now, not baby sized. (March 19, 2015). (backup link; the user's account and the original post have been deleted) (archive screenshot)
    TwitterLogo Adam Horowitz (@AdamHorowitzLA) on X, formerly Twitter: yes, we got the wrong aged baby and wrong sex. It was a mistake, baby shoulda been around 1 1/2 (March 19, 2015). (backup link) (archive screenshot)

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