Season 5B Spoilers 

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The "Once Upon a Time" Storybrooke gang will reunite with some familiar faces when new episodes premiere in March 2016. Photo: ABC

Are you missing “Once Upon a Time”? Join the club! The ABC fairy-tale drama left fans with quite the cliffhanger at the end of the midseason finale, and new episodes won’t air until March 2016. While the wait feels long, the second half of Season 5 is gearing up to be a massive game changer for the Storybrooke residents.

The new year will bring not only new episodes of “Once Upon a Time” but also its special 100th episode. The landmark event will be celebrated March 6, which is also the midseason premiere.

“Once Upon a Time’s” 100th episode is titled “Souls of the Departed.” Details of the plot have yet to be released, but show creators Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis have been dishing out some small teasers about the Underworld plotline during interviews. While speaking with Variety, Kitsis confirmed that old characters will be revisited via visions, flashbacks and “another realm.” However, he wouldn’t reveal much more than that.

“The hundredth episode for us — and the second half of the season — what we’re really excited about is, we feel like we’re going to be honoring the show by really giving you that Season 1 feeling all over again,” Kitsis said.

As fans count down to March 6, check out all the characters either set to return or appear for the first time in the second half of “Once Upon a Time” Season 5:

Smurfit will be reprising her role as villain Cruelle de Vil when “Once Upon a Time” returns. But surprisingly she won’t be appearing in the special 100th episode. Instead, fans can look forward to seeing her in multiple episodes as the Storybrooke heroes meet up with her again in the Underworld. (Her car already made an appearance in the promotional video for the second half of Season 5.)

Entertainment Weekly reported that “Once Upon a Time” viewers will be welcoming back Sidney Glass in the 100th episode. When last seen on-screen, he was inside the Magic Mirror. The Snow Queen (Elizabeth Mitchell) freed him and he hasn’t been seen since. It’s unclear how he’ll fit into the storyline when he returns.

Two familiar fairy-tale characters will be interacting with the Storybrooke gang. According to TVLine, Whitesell and Rohl have been cast as Hercules and Meg. The pair will make their first appearance in episode 13, titled “Labor of Love.”

Germann was initially cast in a mysterious role called The Distinguished Gentleman in early November. However, new details reveal the character is actually the Underworld leader, Hades. Viewers won’t have to wait too long to see him. EW reported he’ll make his debut during the midseason premiere.

“Once Upon a Time” fans haven’t seen Peter Pan since Season 3, but Kay will be reprising his role in the show’s 100th episode. Kay teased that viewers may see a “changed” Pan.

Regina (Lana Parrilla) will reunite with her estranged mother, Cora, in the Underworld. And surprisingly it sounds as if Cora might actually be helpful. Horowitz and Kitsis told the Hollywood Reporter that Cora will be the one explaining the “rules of the Underworld.”

If Cora is returning then it’s only right for Perez to reprise his role as Regina’s father, Prince Henry. He’ll be featured in the 100th episode.

Dorothy was originally introduced in Season 3, when she was played by Matreya Scarrwener. However, “Once Upon a Time” will be introducing an older and wiser Dorothy come spring. Reeves of “Chicago Fire” will play a “warrior” version of the character, who will battle “for good” when Zelena (Rebecca Mader) makes her way back to Oz.

Rumple’s (Robert Carlyle) ex-wife — and Hook’s (Colin O’Donoghue) former lover — will be reappearing in the second half of the season. It’s unclear what kind of role Milah will play when it comes to the relationship between Hook and Emma (Jennifer Morrison), but EW reported actress Shelley won’t be featured in the 100th episode.

The Blind Witch appeared briefly in the first season of “Once Upon a Time” and will be returning for the 100th episode. Fans know she died, so it’s assumed she’ll be one of the villains residing in the Underworld.

Dallas is a staple on the series as Prince Charming/David, but viewers will see the actor pull double duty as Charming’s twin brother, James. Horowitz and Kitsis confirmed to EW that the brothers will reunite in the Underworld.

“Once Upon a Time” Season 5 returns to ABC March 6, 2016, at 8 p.m. EST. Who are you looking forward to seeing on-screen? Tweet @AmandaTVScoop and follow for more “OUAT” news.

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