The upcoming season of "Once Upon a Time" will take viewers to the land where you never grow up. While most of the season will take place in Peter Pan's domain, the season premiere will open with the main characters trying to get to Neverland.
TVLine confirms that the season premiere will open with a flashback to 11 years ago, during which Emma (Jennifer Morrison) faced an emotionally harrowing decision.
The season opener will then show the six characters- Emma, Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin), Charming (Josh Dallas), Rumpelstiltskin (Robert Carlyle), Regina (Lana Parrilla) and Hook (Colin O'Donoghue)- trying to get along aboard the Jolly Roger. Although the characters try to keep it cordial, four out of the six characters end up getting in a fist fight in the season premiere. The fact that Regina is forced to work with Emma, Charming, Snow and Hook to get Henry back also prompts her to throw out some cutting one-liners.
While on board the vessel, Emma and Hook, believing that Neal (Michael Raymond-James) is dead, drink to his memory. While the scene is partly somber, it includes some flirting between the two, especially on Hook's part.
When they finally reach Neverland, the crew will encounter some mermaids, most of whom are nothing like Ariel. Most of the mermaids are downright nasty, and have no qualms about fibbing. But one person tops the nastiness of the mermaids: Peter Pan. Hook says that he is "a blood demon"- and he isn't kidding. The villainous version of Pan will be revealed early on in the third season.
The first two episodes will also touch upon Rumple's personal crisis, and will delve deeper into some puzzling Rumple mysteries.
The October 6 episode will feature a few flashbacks to the Enchanted Forest before Charming woke Snow up from the sleeping curse. The flashback shows the Evil Queen making them an offer that forces Snow to accept who she is. When we flash back to the present, it is apparent that Emma is facing the same dilemma.
Also in the first two episodes: another fairytale realm (not Wonderland) will be mentioned, and some real-life fairytale movies get referenced, which causes one fairytale character to comically ask, "What's a movie?"
The trip to Neverland will also include some of Pan and Tink's famous pixie dust and an emphasis on believing. Not believing in one's imagination in Neverland can lead to a person's undoing.
Watch the season three premiere on Sunday, September 29 at 8 p.m. on ABC.