3 Badass Moments from Once Upon a Time “Heart of Darkness” 

It was an intense and emotional episode of ABC’s Once Upon a Time, as Mary Margaret was arrested for Kathryn’s murder in Storybrooke; and in Fairty Tale Land, Snow White was knee deep in bitterness and a loveless existence thanks to the potion Rumplestiltskin gave her. There were three badass moments from “Heart of Darkness” that particularly stood out:

1. Red wolfs out to stop knights from going after Prince Charming.

In “Red-Handed,” we learned Red is the Big Bad Wolf. In “Heart of Darkness,” she had full control of her wolfing out and she was amazingly badass about it. She knew Charming needed to get to Snow. So, she decided to take dramatic (and deadly) action in the name of true love. After spotting the full moon, she threw off her cape and hood and tore after the knights in wolf form. She afforded Charming the luxury of getting away safely. I already loved Red before. I think what I have now can be considered a healthy case of worship. Too bad that transformation scene was all we saw of her in the episode.

2. Snow remembers her life with Charming.

After Snow drank the potion that made her forget about her one true love, she became a complete and utter you-know-what. The seven dwarfs had to stage a Jiminy Cricket-led intervention to try and get her to see she’s turned into one horror of a housemate. It didn’t work. So, with Rumplestiltskin’s help, she set out to kill the Evil Queen. After knocking Charming out and tying him up to a tree, things looked dire. But, no worries necessary. Jiminy freed the prince so he could stop Snow from making the biggest mistake of her life. He went above and beyond the call of duty after he took the arrow meant for the Queen. What did he get for his trouble? Only the moment he’d been waiting for. Charming proved he’s not only charming and heroic, he knows exactly what to say to the woman he loves. He told her why he let her shoot him with the arrow and why he wouldn’t let her kill the Evil Queen.

“The only thing I care about is that you don’t forget who you really are. I would rather die than let you fill your heart with darkness.”

Snow was impressed. She revealed how no one has ever been willing to die for her. To which he sweetly said: “No one you can remember.” Then they kissed. Suddenly, she remembered him and she remembered them. True Love’s kiss brought Snow back to Charming and back to those dwarfs. Too bad their happiness only lasted about five seconds before King George’s knights captured Charming. Snow yelled after him as he was taken away:

“I will find you. I will always find you.”

Such an awesomely romantic moment. One I completely feel is badass because both Snow and Charming qualify as badass individuals.

3. Mary Margaret tells David to get the hell away from her after he doubts her innocence in Kathryn’s murder.

In Fairy Tale Land, Charming is badass. As for David, his Storybrooke counterpart? Not so much. Emma was forced to arrest Mary Margaret as evidence piled against her in Kathryn’s murder. Of course, Mary Margaret didn’t do it. She knew it. Henry knew it. Emma knew it. But, ultimately, David didn’t. He let his memory flash that occurred while he was under hypnosis, combined with all the mounting evidence against the woman he loves, cloud his judgment. He confronted her while Mary Margaret was behind bars. And her reaction was one of bewilderment and devastation.

“David, are you asking me if i had something to do with Kathryn’s murder?”

Yet with that devastation, came the third badass moment. She didn’t try to understand where he was coming from. She didn’t excuse his behavior away. She just couldn’t get why he didn’t have complete faith in her like she had in him:

“When your phone records came back. When I found you wandering in the woods. When everyone thought you’d killed Kathryn, I stood by you. I never once doubted you. And now that everything is pointing to me, you actually think I’m capable of that kind of evil? Get. Out.”

Good for Mary Margaret. I’m glad she showed David the door. I want those two together in the long run, but they’re definitely going to have to work for it and be very patient.

Other moments I loved:

• Mary Margaret hiring Mr. Gold as her lawyer — she told Emma to go investigate the case while she was going to confer with the dastardly attorney/businessman.

• When Charming first caught up to Snow, he kissed her hoping that would get her to remember. It didn’t. Instead, she clocked him one and then tied him up to a tree.

• The conversation between Henry and August and the book being real. Plus, the writer said he was in Storybrooke to make sure Emma starts believing — all they need is proof. Emma won’t believe anything without proof.

• Snow’s group hug with the seven dwarfs. And then they all decide to go save Charming together: “You can’t do it alone. But luckily you won’t have to. Let’s show that king what Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs can really do.”

A few moments I didn’t love:

• Mary Margaret not having faith in Emma. She used the mysterious key that suddenly showed up in her prison cell to get her the hell out of dodge. That move is so going to make her look guilty.

• David doubting Mary Margaret. I’m still angry at him.

• Snow and Charming having two seconds of happiness before being separated. Couldn’t they have let them have at least five minutes of pure joy before separating them?

Once Upon a Time airs Sundays at 8/7c on ABC.