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will flash back an uncharted period in Emma Swan’s past, with the help of

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TVLine has learned exclusively that Kihlstedt will guest-star in Season 5, Episode 20 — titled “Firebird” and written by Jane Espenson — as Cleo, a bail bondsperson and no-nonsense woman who has pulled herself out of a rough early life and trusts her instincts above all else. The character is described as having “a tough exterior hides a strong nurturing side that isn’t often given a chance to come out.”

If that sounds a lot like a certain Savior when we first met her, that is because Cleo was a mentor of sorts to pre-Storybrooke Emma and thus embodies what she might have been had a storybook-toting tyke named Henry not come knocking.

“We are going to get a period in time in Emma’s life we’ve never explored before, which is before she became a bail bondsperson,”

co-creator Eddy Kitsis told TVLine at the 100th-episode party. “And it’s about time!”

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Kihlstedt’s previous TV credits also include arcs on

, or for any other show? Email insideline@tvline.com and your question may be answered via Matt’s Inside Line.

Talk about a misleading headline! But I really can’t wait for this! We know absolutely nothing about Emma after prison. Damn you Once Upon A Time you reel me back in again!

The title of this article is silly…it’s clear she’s not playing future Emma but someone from Emma’s past. I would also like to meet the Swans.

Really misleading headline… I thought TVLine was better than clickbait.

Basically, yes! And thank you for reading past the 140th character. +225 TVLine Power User Points for you! (

No kidding it’s about time! We’ve had MORE than enough of certain other characters’ histories. Maybe I’ll actually watch this episode.

They are too late in giving Emma a backstory or story for that matter. But I agree, I’ll watch this one.

They really are. If the premiere/100th ep is as terrible as all the reviews say it is, I see no reason why an Emma fan would continue to watch this half-season and even get to this episode.

I don’t know why anyone not a raging Hook stan has watched the show for the last three years tbh.

Pray tell, where are all these advance bad reviews

They’re kind of everywhere…although I assume this was more trolling than serious question.

is very welcome news, so in the spirit of that, I have tweaked the headline for what I will call “better clarity.”

(For those who tuned in late, the headline originally, cheekily and arguably accurately described the character as ‘Future Emma.’)

I’m gonna echo the rest of the crowd with WOW misleading title. I was like…wtf? And had to click on it. Kudos. Sounds exciting though. I’m excited to see that part of Emma’s life!

wtf is the title. And damn ouat, I gave up totally on that disaster, maybe I’ll just watch this ep.

So she’s not gonna be future Emma, she will be an important person from Emma’s past and a look at what Emma may have become had Henry not come into her life. LOL! TVLine, read your own stories before making the headlines.

“And it’s about damn time” you said it boss kitsis.

I miss kickass Emma who cared about Henry. I suppose she’s gone for good.

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