"Once Upon a Time" co-creator Adam Horowitz recently dished on the return of Jiminy Cricket's alter ego (Raphael Sbarge). The actor is set to return on the show this fall and he will be working with a new patient in therapy.
In an interview with TVLine, the co-creator said that "Once Upon a Time" Season 6 premiere will feature the comeback of psychologist Archie Hopper, the human embodiment of Jiminy Cricket. Horowitz unveiled to the publication that "our favorite cricket-shrink is going to find himself with a new patient."
When it comes to the patient that Hopper will be working with, the possibilities are many. One of such possibilities is Regina (Lana Parrilla), who has had several years of hardship, resulting into her Evil Queen alter ego being separated from her. It is also likely that Hopper will be working with Hyde (Sam Witwer) since he has had struggles with an alter ego.
Apart from characters faced with their sense of self, it could be Emma (Jennifer Morrison) or some great couples' therapy for Belle (Emilie de Ravin) and Rumple (Robert Carlyle). Evidently, there are many characters on the show who require a session or two of psychotherapy.
The co-creator previously talked about the upcoming season exploring heroes in a deeper sense. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly last week, Horowitz said that the intention is that new characters and new stories are really a mirror of what is happening inside the characters.
"With Lana and the Evil Queen, that's the starkest example, which we've already teased," Horowitz added. "We're literally going inside her and pulling her apart. There are elements of that that we're planning to do for each and every one of the characters."
Meanwhile, Season 6 will be getting rid of the half-season narratives seen in seasons 3, 4, and 5. The upcoming sixth installment will be a complete entry into the "Once Upon a Time" series, just like seasons 1 and 2. Essentially, the upcoming fall half of the season will not necessarily deal with Hyde for 11 episodes and then have the arc wrap up with the winter finale.
"Once Upon a Time" Season 6 is slated to debut on Sunday, Sept. 15 at 8.00 p.m. ET on ABC. Watch the footage below for more information on the sixth installment.