I loved him so much.
After his secret about Regina is exposed to Emma, Graham feels the need to explain his actions. Of course, without the memory of how he got sucked into Regina's terrible manipulations from way back when in Fairy Tale Land, words are failing him. He exclaims that he can't feel anything, which is by no means comforting to Emma. She could care less. But Graham wants her to understand it, something he can't fully do himself. So, since words are no help, Graham escalates to physical contact, a harmless kiss. Whoosh! Before his eyes he sees a vision: trees in a forest and a white wolf with one red and one black eye. Startled, he jerks back. Emma, of course, did not see the wolf or trees. She's disgusted by his forwardness, especially in his drunkenness. She tells him to get lost.
Graham, now completely confused, decides the best way to test his theory of not feeling anything is to go to Regina. Regina is taken aback. Graham's never come to her before. He's the one on call. But nevertheless, lets him in.
It's then he has another vision...a dream this time. He's startled awake. Apparently Graham's lack of feelings have also affected his good sense because he hurriedly recounts his dream to Regina. Regina is alarmed by his behavior and suggests he get more sleep. He's sick and she's worried because his vision, which he claims feels like a memory, hits a little too close to home. She knows who he really his and if he remembers, all will be lost to her.
As much as she tries to persuade Graham to stay with her and get more sleep, he leaves. He has to get to the bottom of why he's seeing these things. Stumbling out to his car, he drops his keys. He bends down to snatch them up only to come face to face with the very white wolf from his dreams. Graham is stunned silly. He can only watch as the wolf trots off.
After his secret about Regina is exposed to Emma, Graham feels the need to explain his actions. Of course, without the memory of how he got sucked into Regina's terrible manipulations from way back when in Fairy Tale Land, words are failing him. He exclaims that he can't feel anything, which is by no means comforting to Emma. She could care less. But Graham wants her to understand it, something he can't fully do himself. So, since words are no help, Graham escalates to physical contact, a harmless kiss. Whoosh! Before his eyes he sees a vision: trees in a forest and a white wolf with one red and one black eye. Startled, he jerks back. Emma, of course, did not see the wolf or trees. She's disgusted by his forwardness, especially in his drunkenness. She tells him to get lost.
Graham, now completely confused, decides the best way to test his theory of not feeling anything is to go to Regina. Regina is taken aback. Graham's never come to her before. He's the one on call. But nevertheless, lets him in.
It's then he has another vision...a dream this time. He's startled awake. Apparently Graham's lack of feelings have also affected his good sense because he hurriedly recounts his dream to Regina. Regina is alarmed by his behavior and suggests he get more sleep. He's sick and she's worried because his vision, which he claims feels like a memory, hits a little too close to home. She knows who he really his and if he remembers, all will be lost to her.
As much as she tries to persuade Graham to stay with her and get more sleep, he leaves. He has to get to the bottom of why he's seeing these things. Stumbling out to his car, he drops his keys. He bends down to snatch them up only to come face to face with the very white wolf from his dreams. Graham is stunned silly. He can only watch as the wolf trots off.
The shock of seeing the wolf wears of quickly. He feels connected to this wolf somehow, like he knows it from somewhere. And what better way to see if that's true? Graham decides to track him down. But the woods surrounding Storybrooke are vast, and when Graham stumbles upon Mr. Gold "gardening" in the middle of the woods, Mr. Gold assures Graham that there are no wolves in Storybrooke, "at least not the literal kind." Mr. Gold's moment of honesty somehow gives Graham license to trust Mr. Gold. So, Graham spills the beans on all of his visions and that he really saw the wolf. Mr. Gold just tells him to keep searching and that dreams are sometimes memories of another life.
Spurred on by Mr. Gold's words, Graham continues the hunt and actually finds the wolf. The wolf comes to him and he touches its head. Whoosh, again! More memories surface. The woods, the wolf, a young woman with black hair, red lips and skin white like snow. She's crying as Graham raises a blade at her. And then an emblem on a building. What does it mean? Who is the woman? Mary Margaret?
As the final bell rings, Graham finds Mary Margaret cleaning up her classroom as students rush out. Graham's not here for small talk and gets straight to the point. He asks Mary Margaret if they know each other. Not from now, but from a past life. She's confused. She can't say, but as far as she's concerned, there is no past life. So he sticks it to her. When did they first meet? She starts to answer, but then takes it back. Confused that she can't remember, she simply replies, "No." Graham can't remember either. He can't remember when they met or when he met anyone else. He thinks it's odd, but Mary Margaret just thinks that's part of life. But when Graham starts asking if he's ever hurt her, she's quick assure him otherwise. She thinks he's been talking to Henry. He looks feverish and maybe it's best he get more sleep.
Graham leaves but not to go home. It's a certain 10-year-old he seeks. After Graham explains that he wants to see Henry's book, Henry excitedly lets him in. Finally, someone who might believe his theory.
Spurred on by Mr. Gold's words, Graham continues the hunt and actually finds the wolf. The wolf comes to him and he touches its head. Whoosh, again! More memories surface. The woods, the wolf, a young woman with black hair, red lips and skin white like snow. She's crying as Graham raises a blade at her. And then an emblem on a building. What does it mean? Who is the woman? Mary Margaret?
As the final bell rings, Graham finds Mary Margaret cleaning up her classroom as students rush out. Graham's not here for small talk and gets straight to the point. He asks Mary Margaret if they know each other. Not from now, but from a past life. She's confused. She can't say, but as far as she's concerned, there is no past life. So he sticks it to her. When did they first meet? She starts to answer, but then takes it back. Confused that she can't remember, she simply replies, "No." Graham can't remember either. He can't remember when they met or when he met anyone else. He thinks it's odd, but Mary Margaret just thinks that's part of life. But when Graham starts asking if he's ever hurt her, she's quick assure him otherwise. She thinks he's been talking to Henry. He looks feverish and maybe it's best he get more sleep.
Graham leaves but not to go home. It's a certain 10-year-old he seeks. After Graham explains that he wants to see Henry's book, Henry excitedly lets him in. Finally, someone who might believe his theory.
So who is Graham? What's his fairy tale story? The clues we have so far are the woods, a wolf, Mary Margaret, who we know is Snow White. If he's trying to kill her, he must be that small but significant character...the Huntsman.
You see, the Huntsman was raised by wolves, much like Mowgli from the Jungle Book. They're more like family to him than humans. And when anyone tries to harm one of his beloved family members, they'll pay with their lives. And when one such fight breaks out in a local tavern, a glass shard gives access to the Evil Queen. You see, she's killed Snow White's father; Snow White doesn't know, and she wants to keep it that way. She's got one down and one to go. Snow White must die. And what better way than at the hands of a ruthless huntsman. And when she sees this particular huntsman kill like there's no tomorrow, she decides right then and there he's the one.
She sends her men out to bring him in. And after a brief confirmation that he's adept at murder, she hires him with a simple exchange of assurance that hunting wolves is outlawed in all the kingdom. The Huntsman dresses up as a knight and takes Snow White for a walk in the woods. It's not long before Snow White realizes that the Evil Queen has set her up. She's sent this man to kill her. Why? She doesn't know. But she's not going to be easy prey. After slugging him with a handy branch, she runs. But not for long. Because the Huntsman catches up to her, only to find her...composing a letter?
She confesses that it would only be a matter of time before he caught her anyway, and this way she can at least say her final words of forgiveness. This touches the poor Huntsman. He takes pity on her and tells her to run. He won't kill her but he'll take the letter back to the Queen.
You see, the Huntsman was raised by wolves, much like Mowgli from the Jungle Book. They're more like family to him than humans. And when anyone tries to harm one of his beloved family members, they'll pay with their lives. And when one such fight breaks out in a local tavern, a glass shard gives access to the Evil Queen. You see, she's killed Snow White's father; Snow White doesn't know, and she wants to keep it that way. She's got one down and one to go. Snow White must die. And what better way than at the hands of a ruthless huntsman. And when she sees this particular huntsman kill like there's no tomorrow, she decides right then and there he's the one.
She sends her men out to bring him in. And after a brief confirmation that he's adept at murder, she hires him with a simple exchange of assurance that hunting wolves is outlawed in all the kingdom. The Huntsman dresses up as a knight and takes Snow White for a walk in the woods. It's not long before Snow White realizes that the Evil Queen has set her up. She's sent this man to kill her. Why? She doesn't know. But she's not going to be easy prey. After slugging him with a handy branch, she runs. But not for long. Because the Huntsman catches up to her, only to find her...composing a letter?
She confesses that it would only be a matter of time before he caught her anyway, and this way she can at least say her final words of forgiveness. This touches the poor Huntsman. He takes pity on her and tells her to run. He won't kill her but he'll take the letter back to the Queen.
Without too much question, Snow White runs. The Huntsman brings back a heart, only this is the heart of a stag. But before he hands it over to the unsuspecting queen, he requests that she know what the letter said. He reads it for the queen. But rather than hear the touching words and forgive Snow White, the queen's heart hardens. This is all the more reason to kill Snow White. She deserves to die after the heartache she put upon the her. After the betrayal of trust. In rage, the queen demands for the heart. She's fooled, but when her heart chamber box doesn't open, she realizes she's been duped.
And who should pay? The Huntsman, of course. His heart he can no longer have. Enraged, she rips the heart from the Huntsman's chest and commands he be taken to her chamber. His heart goes in the box. And should he ever betray the queen, one little squeeze and he's a dead man...
And who should pay? The Huntsman, of course. His heart he can no longer have. Enraged, she rips the heart from the Huntsman's chest and commands he be taken to her chamber. His heart goes in the box. And should he ever betray the queen, one little squeeze and he's a dead man...
Back in Storybrooke, in Henry's room, Henry explains that the visions all lead to one definite conclusion: Graham is the huntsman, from Snow White. As for the emblem, well, that's where the Evil Queen is keeping his heart.
Graham is overjoyed. He thanks Henry and leaves, only to run into Emma. So much has happened since they last spoke, but now Graham has hope. He explains that he can't feel anything and the heartbeat that Emma feels is just part of the curse. He explain that he has to follow the wolf. The wolf will lead him to his heart. Emma is shocked that a grown man would believe a kid's theory and take it seriously. But when the wolf appears, Emma can't help but follow Graham and the wolf. The wolf leads them to a mausoleum. Graham spots the symbol right away and exclaims his heart must be in there. Emma, not fully believing him, decides to humor him and help him search for the heart. They bust down the door and start searching, but nothing comes up. They're about to leave, when who should stumble upon them: Regina. She's horrified that they would be snooping around her father's grave. And for what? Nothing could be that important.
But it's not so much that they're messing around her father's resting place, but that Graham is with Emma. Harsh words fly and Emma's had enough. Fist wound up, she lets Regina have it and slugs her. Regina retaliates and after one bloody lip and a few soon-to-be sore muscles, the fight calms. Regina's not worth it, Emma explains. And for Graham, his and Regina's relationship is over. He doesn't feel anything and never will.
Of course, Regina doesn't take this lightly. No, the only way to stop this madness, this rebellion, is to end it. Once in the tomb, Regina simply pushes the coffin to the side and climbs down a secret staircase to a wall of boxes. Inside is Graham's heart. The one she took back in Fairy Tale land. A simply squeeze will do and it will be over.
Back at the sheriff's office, Graham helps patch Emma up. They kiss and Graham fully gains all of his memories. He remembers...everything. But before he can tell all, his heart gives out. He falls to the floor and Emma desperately tries to revive him to no avail. Graham's dead and Emma's horrified. Back in the mausoleum, Regina's wrath is satisfied..
Graham is overjoyed. He thanks Henry and leaves, only to run into Emma. So much has happened since they last spoke, but now Graham has hope. He explains that he can't feel anything and the heartbeat that Emma feels is just part of the curse. He explain that he has to follow the wolf. The wolf will lead him to his heart. Emma is shocked that a grown man would believe a kid's theory and take it seriously. But when the wolf appears, Emma can't help but follow Graham and the wolf. The wolf leads them to a mausoleum. Graham spots the symbol right away and exclaims his heart must be in there. Emma, not fully believing him, decides to humor him and help him search for the heart. They bust down the door and start searching, but nothing comes up. They're about to leave, when who should stumble upon them: Regina. She's horrified that they would be snooping around her father's grave. And for what? Nothing could be that important.
But it's not so much that they're messing around her father's resting place, but that Graham is with Emma. Harsh words fly and Emma's had enough. Fist wound up, she lets Regina have it and slugs her. Regina retaliates and after one bloody lip and a few soon-to-be sore muscles, the fight calms. Regina's not worth it, Emma explains. And for Graham, his and Regina's relationship is over. He doesn't feel anything and never will.
Of course, Regina doesn't take this lightly. No, the only way to stop this madness, this rebellion, is to end it. Once in the tomb, Regina simply pushes the coffin to the side and climbs down a secret staircase to a wall of boxes. Inside is Graham's heart. The one she took back in Fairy Tale land. A simply squeeze will do and it will be over.
Back at the sheriff's office, Graham helps patch Emma up. They kiss and Graham fully gains all of his memories. He remembers...everything. But before he can tell all, his heart gives out. He falls to the floor and Emma desperately tries to revive him to no avail. Graham's dead and Emma's horrified. Back in the mausoleum, Regina's wrath is satisfied..
Burning Questions:
1) When Regina takes hearts, how can it sometimes be to instantly kill and other times just to control or the emotional side?
2) What is Mr. Gold burying in the woods?
3) How many, and whose, hearts does Regina have in her heart box chamber?
4) Will the whistle the Huntsman gave Snow White come back into play later?
5) How will Graham's death/missing heart be explained in an autopsy?
6) What did Snow White do to justify the Evil Queen's wrath?
Until next time...
~ Taryn
1) When Regina takes hearts, how can it sometimes be to instantly kill and other times just to control or the emotional side?
2) What is Mr. Gold burying in the woods?
3) How many, and whose, hearts does Regina have in her heart box chamber?
4) Will the whistle the Huntsman gave Snow White come back into play later?
5) How will Graham's death/missing heart be explained in an autopsy?
6) What did Snow White do to justify the Evil Queen's wrath?
Until next time...
~ Taryn