It’s been a while since I’ve seen “Once Upon a Time”; it’s been on hiatus, mostly because of the “Titanic” miniseries that didn’t do too well in the ratings (even though it was created by “Downton Abbey” creator Julian Fellowes). Anyway, we’re back in Storybrooke, and not a moment too soon, since the last we left off, it was revealed that Kathryn is ALIVE!

Not only is Kathryn still alive, but we also get to the root of August’s true identity! Well, not really, but we do figure out that he’s dying. We also figure out that he was posing as Mr. Gold’s son in order to get him to reveal where his magic knife is.

Things come to a head with the “murder” investigation once all the charges against Mary Margaret are dropped. Mary Margaret still hasn’t forgiven David for being an idiot, and it’s nice to finally see her with the upper hand in this relationship. I don’t know how the writers are going to get David out of the doghouse and back in hers (and the audience’s) good graces, but it’s certainly going to be interesting to see.

We also learn more about Rumpelstiltskin’s backstory; his son, determined to find a way for he and his father to be together without Rumple’s black magic, was given a magic bean by the Blue Fairy. The bean would allow a portal to open to another time and place where Rumple would be cured of magic. Rumple agreed with his son to do whatever it took to get him back to normal, but at the last second, he chickened out, sending his own son through the portal alone. Ever since then, he’s realized just how big of a coward he’s been and has been on a search to find him.

Finally, in Storybrooke, Emma has had just about enough of Regina’s games is about to up the stakes by taking Henry away from her. I can’t wait to see how all of this will play out!

What did you think of this week’s episode? Give your opinions in the comments section below.

(Photo credit: Jack Rowland/ABC)