Who is Lady Tremaine? Why is Weaver hiding the truth from Rogers? Will Rumplestiltskin work with Regina to try to defeat this season’s big bad? All these plus a discussion about fake Rapunzel, Eloise Gardener and more in our full-discussion of “Eloise Gardener.”

After so many episodes now, we’ve seen the same backdrop for the blue title card, which shows Seattle. Looking at the title card, we noticed the similarities between the Seattle Space Needle and the general shape of the tower.

Eloise Gardener

“Eloise Gardener” spoiled it a little bit too quickly that Alice is Eloise before they revealed it because Eloise means “famous in war” and Tilly means “strength in war”. And what is Alice famous for? Slaying the Jabberwocky, which makes her famous in war and this episode sort of confirms that.

There shouldn’t be a “Many Years Ago” in Wish Realm. It was created by a wish, after all. In the Wish Realm, the Dark Curse wasn’t cast so they actually have about 30-35 years to play with. However, these aren’t just memories we saw, but actual events taking place years ago. At this point, we can try to make sense of the timeline as much as possible but it seems we can’t necessarily mix them at all with the timeline that we know from the Once Upon a Time proper over the last 6 years. After all, the characters as well as the storyline is different anyway.

Fake Rapunzel

Is this tower where we meet Rapunzel/Gothel the same as the one where Regina taught Drizella magic? It also seems that the magic that Drizella found was the exact same dead flower in the box that fake Rapunzel showed in this episode.

If Gothel posed as Rapunzel, does this mean that Lady Tremaine IS the real Rapunzel? After all, Victoria Belfry had some history with Gothel in present day Hyperion Heights, plus her statement at the end of the episode to Drizella/Ivy about her not having any idea what she let crawl out to this world.

Victoria’s last name is Belfrey, which could mean tower

Like Regina’s last name being Mills was a hint that she was somehow connected to the Miller’s Daughter

— MatthewPaul

An interesting thing to point out when Gothel and Victoria were talking outside the tower is when Victoria referenced that the witch taught her how to break a heart. The witch is also known for having a green thumb.

Drizella’s motivation regarding Jacinda and Lucy is confusing, however, Adelaide Kane as Drizella/Ivy does a fantastic job playing the part. She looks heartbroken when the Social Services separated Jacinda and Lucy away from each other. Drizella clearly doesn’t want the curse broken that’s why she put in the special fail safe, so what is her motivation regarding Jacinda and Lucy? Is she simply being a wicked stepsister?

Gothel’s nature of deception with Captain Hook is nasty, yucky, manipulative and deceptive but at least a baby came out of it, and she is definitely Alice/Eloise’s mother. Back in Hyperion Heights, however, Rogers took the very same vengeful witch who is the mother of the girl he’s looking for.

What is Weaver/Rumplestiltskin’s motivation here? If he has and knows about the Dark One dagger,