time true north ninth episode season american fairy tale drama television series time series takes place fictional seaside town maine residents actually characters fairy tales transported real world town powerful curse episode sheriff emma swan helps children quinn lord track father placed foster care system parallel story way encounter evil queen true north written directed creators chose story help reveal emma difficult backstory character lacked counterpart cast fans work television series vampire slayer blind witch house computer generated exterior interior set based concept art designed production designer episode aired united_states abc january estimated million viewers watched episode original broadcast earned nielsen ratings share adults meaning seen percent year olds percent year olds watching television time broadcast decrease percent previous episode critical reception largely mixed negative critics praising performance elements plot house shown forest meets young girl named henry stopped store owner reveals brother henry stolen merchandise regina sheriff emma swan arrive handle juveniles emma discovers siblings living parents food need help emma resolves find nicholas father desire foster system raised regina calls social services system place kids different homes boston determined promise separate emma asks belonged father provides compass emma asks gold compass searches records finds card supposedly says purchased compass gives emma card revealed blank michael garage mechanic tells emma barely handle garage let twins emma choice regina orders despite henry warnings leave evening leaving vehicle breaks reach city limits prompting emma help moments later notices compass working michael arrives tow truck emma explains children leave henry seeing life seeing nicholas face face changes mind michael accepts life later emma shares henry theory daughter mary finds seeing emma blanket sort reaction minute quick dismiss meantime henry asks emma father emma tells henry dad frequent worked hung times resulting emma pregnant henry went jail tried tell henry discover died saving family burning building later admits mary story gave henry lie know truth father emma reunion children michael evening henry arrived pie emma order thank explaining birth father interrupted stranger motorcycle unique box giving asks emma finding place stay referring reminds henry said comes leaves henry replies don characters past enchanted forest lord searching father gives compass won separated return found search run evil queen captured tells help find father condition retrieve item belonging blind witch enter house blind witch asleep evil queen leather eat thing break safely gives taking bite causing blind witch wake children smell scent locks prepares oven working able push witch oven evil queen watches mirror return evil queen palace opens reveal poisoned apple evil queen offers home palace adamant returning father sends forest summons newest prisoner father evil queen asks children turned luxurious life palace answers family family finds frustrated sends away find production true north written executive producers directed shield veteran interview creator noted difficult pick iconic stories challenge revealing piece knew putting fun twist according actress chose particular story way reveal emma history lacked counterpart morrison explained reveal backstory emma goes try help children ends personal life foster kid sense revealed blind witch creator cast actress huge fans starred commented couldn think better trap children house try eat previously worked series writer producer life unexpected morrison remarked viewers maine land definitely counterpart immediately doesn mean don exist exterior house based concept art created production designer ended computer generated joy set created physical set interior inside cake inspiration enjoyed adding small details careful viewers notice true north baked house interior design joy explained trying find ways link worlds audience loves kind stuff october guide reported joining series multi episode arc true north featured appearance stranger guest stars included quinn lord lord collins previously guest starred fringe episodes younger versions collins appeared subject alongside actor played peter cultural references main storyline retelling episode contained number cultural references rack including hulk shown opening scene double reference marvel parent company disney comic book writer creator lost stolen items stranger motorcycle license plate reads references lost comic books seen convenience store rack include issues west coast reception ratings true north aired january united_states earned nielsen rating adults ages meaning seen percent year olds percent year olds watching television time broadcast viewed estimated million people percent previous episode time finished fourth timeslot total viewers adults aired time golden globe awards earned million viewers canada episode finished thirteenth place week estimated million viewers increase million previous episode reviews true north received mixed negative reviews television critics entertainment_weekly writer wished episode master plot forward especially watching meant missing hour golden wished received screen time calling performance creepy ign columnist rated episode explaining tone emma actions hide children report character added positive note storyline safe choice work huffington_post found emotional reaction children rejection effective despite evil ways actually felt sorry concluded intriguing thing happen episode arrival stranger critical episode gave called visual effects bad cgi 90s computer game added mediocre series bit episodes true north big step backwards problem isn kids act problem writing characters horrible week episode straight children television way enjoyed ages need child suspend disbelief long watch true north despite critique enjoy scenes emma conversation concerning writing wall_street_journal opined parallel clear sweet touches ongoing story emma felt episode like episode called house like colorful
True North (Once Upon a Time)