"Heroes and Villains" is the eleventh episode and mid-season finale of the fourth season of the American fantasy drama series Once Upon a Time, which aired on December 14, 2014.
This episode marked the return of the villainess Maleficent, as well as the introductions of Cruella de Vil and Ursula the Sea Witch.
[1] In this episode, Mr. Gold tries to kill Hook, but Belle stops him; Regina says goodbye to Robin Hood; and Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff go back to Arendelle.
Rumplestiltskin uses his magic and chokes her, but she's brought along company: Ursula (who wraps her tentacles around Belle), and Cruella De Vil.
As they race to the clock tower, Gold has Hook watch him put his plan into action by placing the hat into position and it is released.
When Emma and Mary Margaret arrive to stop him, Gold freezes them and then attempts to crush Hook's heart, only to discover he cannot; Belle has the real dagger and the gauntlet glove.
As Gold is forced out of the town, his leg injury returns and he crumples to the ground, crying out for Belle, whom he can no longer see.
Also watching this was Gold, who tells Regina about the fairy tale book and that he doesn't know who was the author, but wishes her the best in finding her happy ending.
Later that evening, Emma places Hook's heart back in and they embrace and kiss, then she joins Regina for a drink at Granny's.
As Anna put on her gloves, she shows Elsa a painting of their mother and aunts that she found hidden away in the East wing of the castle.
Six weeks later in New York City, Gold pays a visit to an aquarium, where he has a meeting with a fish feeder, who is revealed to be Ursula.
[3] The episode received positive reviews from critics, with most noting the finishing to the Frozen story, and the acting of the central characters.
"Heroes and Villains" isn't quite as definitively conclusive as last year's midseason finale—an hour that would have functioned perfectly well as a full series wrap-up—but it did have the whiff of a hand firmly closing a storybook called The One With the Frozen Tie-In.
"[4] Amy Ratcliffe of IGN gave the episode a great review: "Tonight's Once proved yet again that the show is at its strongest when it's propelled by its primary cast instead of the current 'theme.'
That alone makes for an interesting back half of the season; let's keep our fingers crossed and hope the Queens of Darkness don't screw things up.