Monday, November 12, 2012
Review - Season 2 Episode 7 - Child of the Moon - "Howling at the Moon"
And once one controls something, one no longer need fear it.
Hearing a wolf howl at the moon sounds both mournful and natural. The wolf and moon have an undeniable connection. Much like the wolf, this episode is chock full of mourning, connection, and even discovery, both of self and otherwise.
Let’s begin in the Fairy Tale Land. Snow White and Red are running from hunters. Red has just killed Peter and she must hide. Eluding the hunters, Red and Snow White agree to split up and meet again in the morning by a stream.
The next morning as Red waits for Snow White to appear, a man with glowing eyes pounces on her, grabs her red cloak and makes a dash for it. Red chases the man, named Quinn, and begs for her cloak back. Why does she need it? He goads. He, too, is one of her kind. There are more of them. She can have her cloak, but she needs to come with him. He and his pack can teach her all about controlling the wolf-side of her. No more black outs. Total control.
Desiring to have control over the wolf within her, Red takes him up on his offer and follow him to his den.
Inside, she meets their leader, Anita. Anita, in fact, is Red’s mother, the mother Red always believed was dead. Embracing her mother, she agrees to follow any rules the pack has. In turn, her mother teaches her control. Red no longer needs her cloak.
However, Red forgot about her meeting with Snow; so, when Snow discovers the den, the wolves pounce, tying Snow White to a pole. Red is one of them now, and to show loyalty to her kind and not the humans, Red must kill Snow.
Red refuses. She can’t kill her best friend. Fine! Anita will do it. Transforming into a wolf, Anita closes in on Snow White. As Anita prepares to pounce, Red morphs into a wolf and saves Snow White, only in the process she killed her mother.
She’s sorry for that, but she can’t embrace one part of her and not the other. She must be true to both her selves. She is both. Snow White is the only person who ever accepted her completely.
Looking at Storybrooke, we begin with a full moon. Ruby is worried about endangering the townsfolk. It’s been 28 years since she’s turned into her wolfish alter ego, and she’s searched everywhere for her magical red cloak, even Gold’s, but the garment is nowhere to be found: it didn’t come over when the curse hit.
David believes that Ruby has enough control to not need to be locked up, but Ruby can’t take any chances of harming anyone, including the newly discovered, cheese-loving mouse, Gus, from Cinderella, also known as Billy the tow trucker.
So, out of Granny’s freezer comes the lasagna and in goes Ruby—at least for the night.
The next morning, Granny returns to her diner to release Ruby, but only claw marks and a busted door greet her! David and Granny search for Ruby only to find her in the woods.
Paranoid at what she might have done, she questions everything. When David gets a call, she’s sure it’ll be about some murderous act she committed; but his call is only about a parking violation. That is until they arrive on the scene. Billy’s tow truck, the violating vehicle, is empty and his body, covered in blood, lays on the ground by the tire!
Ruby’s horrified!
Lock her up, she says. Wolfs-time isn’t over yet; only a jail cell can hold her now. So David does.
It’s not long before a certain DA, or should I say king, learns of the murder. Already out to destroy David, King George is cooking up a plan. Rally the town and kill the wolf. That’ll show the town that their prince has no control.
But when the town plus King George break into the jail to kill Ruby, they discover an empty cell. David may not have been an actual prince in Fairy Tale Land, but he has many princely qualities, two being quick thinking and strategy skills.
One step ahead of his kingly “father,” David takes Ruby to Belle’s library. Chained in the library, Ruby’ll be safe and kept from harming more people.
David leaves Ruby with Belle. Belle tells Ruby she’ll stay with Ruby through the night. She’s fairly familiar with being around monsters. (Apologies for the term, Ruby). Nevertheless, Ruby can’t risk harming her friend and ends up locking Belle in her own library. Ruby will run away, deep into the woods.
She doesn’t get far before a howl can be heard across the town. The mob descends.
Across town, David and Granny are searching for answers. They discover a valuable piece of information. King George has framed Ruby.
In King George’s car trunk is Ruby’s cloak, an ax, and paper evidence that could lead to David’s destruction. When David and Granny hear Ruby howl, they race to rescue her.
In front of the townsfolk, David presents the evidence, gains Ruby’s trust in wolf form, and turns her back into a human by cloaking her in red. When they turn to the mob, King George is missing!
The three find him in front of a bonfire. In a menacingly calm tone, King George mock’s David’s power once again and pulls out a precious object—Jefferson’s hat.
You see, earlier, by accident, the dwarves finally discovered diamonds in the mines. Fairy dust was now possible, and there would be enough to repair Jefferson’s hat and make it work. King George knew this and stole the hat.
With a wicked grin, King George throws the hat into the fire, destroying David’s only link to his family in Fairy Tale Land!
At Mary Margaret’s apartment, David laments never seeing his wife and daughter again. Little does he know the incident that happened earlier with Henry, Regina, and Mr. Gold.
When David was off helping Ruby, Regina had been sent to watch over Henry while he napped. Henry, gripped in the flaming nightmare, awakens with a jerk, discovering that the flames had transcended into reality, actually burning some skin on his hand.
Regina immediately calls Gold for help. Mr. Gold mixes a potion and places it in a necklace for Henry to wear while he sleeps. This necklace will give Henry power over the dreams until they cease.
So, while David laments, Henry dreams…
…In present Fairy Tale Land, Mulan may have discovered a way to track down Cora. Mary Margaret and Emma leave to talk to her while Aurora sleeps. Again Aurora’s dream traps her in the fire room, except this time the eyes she sees now belong to a little boy. Above the roaring flames, he calls out to her, trying to calm her. The flames recede and Aurora wakes up with a start.
Mary Margaret and Emma run to her side. Aurora, gasping for breath, exclaims that she saw a boy and that he said his name is Henry!
Burning Questions:
1) How will this link between Henry and Aurora help the two worlds find a portal back to Storybrooke? Or will it bring Storybrooke citizens back to their native land?
2) What will happen when the women track down Cora?
3) Why/How did the flames actually burn Henry?
4) How long do these nightmare side effects last? Did Snow White get burned too? Or is this a completely different dream?
5) For what purpose would Mr. Gold freely give away some magic to Henry? What is his plan?
6) How will David get back at King George?
7) Will there be more deaths because of Ruby or does she really have complete control now?
8) How much power will fairy dust have in Storybrooke? What can it do for Mr. Gold and his curse?
~ Taryn
Hearing a wolf howl at the moon sounds both mournful and natural. The wolf and moon have an undeniable connection. Much like the wolf, this episode is chock full of mourning, connection, and even discovery, both of self and otherwise.
Let’s begin in the Fairy Tale Land. Snow White and Red are running from hunters. Red has just killed Peter and she must hide. Eluding the hunters, Red and Snow White agree to split up and meet again in the morning by a stream.
The next morning as Red waits for Snow White to appear, a man with glowing eyes pounces on her, grabs her red cloak and makes a dash for it. Red chases the man, named Quinn, and begs for her cloak back. Why does she need it? He goads. He, too, is one of her kind. There are more of them. She can have her cloak, but she needs to come with him. He and his pack can teach her all about controlling the wolf-side of her. No more black outs. Total control.
Desiring to have control over the wolf within her, Red takes him up on his offer and follow him to his den.
Inside, she meets their leader, Anita. Anita, in fact, is Red’s mother, the mother Red always believed was dead. Embracing her mother, she agrees to follow any rules the pack has. In turn, her mother teaches her control. Red no longer needs her cloak.
However, Red forgot about her meeting with Snow; so, when Snow discovers the den, the wolves pounce, tying Snow White to a pole. Red is one of them now, and to show loyalty to her kind and not the humans, Red must kill Snow.
Red refuses. She can’t kill her best friend. Fine! Anita will do it. Transforming into a wolf, Anita closes in on Snow White. As Anita prepares to pounce, Red morphs into a wolf and saves Snow White, only in the process she killed her mother.
She’s sorry for that, but she can’t embrace one part of her and not the other. She must be true to both her selves. She is both. Snow White is the only person who ever accepted her completely.
Looking at Storybrooke, we begin with a full moon. Ruby is worried about endangering the townsfolk. It’s been 28 years since she’s turned into her wolfish alter ego, and she’s searched everywhere for her magical red cloak, even Gold’s, but the garment is nowhere to be found: it didn’t come over when the curse hit.
David believes that Ruby has enough control to not need to be locked up, but Ruby can’t take any chances of harming anyone, including the newly discovered, cheese-loving mouse, Gus, from Cinderella, also known as Billy the tow trucker.
So, out of Granny’s freezer comes the lasagna and in goes Ruby—at least for the night.
The next morning, Granny returns to her diner to release Ruby, but only claw marks and a busted door greet her! David and Granny search for Ruby only to find her in the woods.
Paranoid at what she might have done, she questions everything. When David gets a call, she’s sure it’ll be about some murderous act she committed; but his call is only about a parking violation. That is until they arrive on the scene. Billy’s tow truck, the violating vehicle, is empty and his body, covered in blood, lays on the ground by the tire!
Ruby’s horrified!
Lock her up, she says. Wolfs-time isn’t over yet; only a jail cell can hold her now. So David does.
It’s not long before a certain DA, or should I say king, learns of the murder. Already out to destroy David, King George is cooking up a plan. Rally the town and kill the wolf. That’ll show the town that their prince has no control.
But when the town plus King George break into the jail to kill Ruby, they discover an empty cell. David may not have been an actual prince in Fairy Tale Land, but he has many princely qualities, two being quick thinking and strategy skills.
One step ahead of his kingly “father,” David takes Ruby to Belle’s library. Chained in the library, Ruby’ll be safe and kept from harming more people.
David leaves Ruby with Belle. Belle tells Ruby she’ll stay with Ruby through the night. She’s fairly familiar with being around monsters. (Apologies for the term, Ruby). Nevertheless, Ruby can’t risk harming her friend and ends up locking Belle in her own library. Ruby will run away, deep into the woods.
She doesn’t get far before a howl can be heard across the town. The mob descends.
Across town, David and Granny are searching for answers. They discover a valuable piece of information. King George has framed Ruby.
In King George’s car trunk is Ruby’s cloak, an ax, and paper evidence that could lead to David’s destruction. When David and Granny hear Ruby howl, they race to rescue her.
In front of the townsfolk, David presents the evidence, gains Ruby’s trust in wolf form, and turns her back into a human by cloaking her in red. When they turn to the mob, King George is missing!
The three find him in front of a bonfire. In a menacingly calm tone, King George mock’s David’s power once again and pulls out a precious object—Jefferson’s hat.
You see, earlier, by accident, the dwarves finally discovered diamonds in the mines. Fairy dust was now possible, and there would be enough to repair Jefferson’s hat and make it work. King George knew this and stole the hat.
With a wicked grin, King George throws the hat into the fire, destroying David’s only link to his family in Fairy Tale Land!
At Mary Margaret’s apartment, David laments never seeing his wife and daughter again. Little does he know the incident that happened earlier with Henry, Regina, and Mr. Gold.
When David was off helping Ruby, Regina had been sent to watch over Henry while he napped. Henry, gripped in the flaming nightmare, awakens with a jerk, discovering that the flames had transcended into reality, actually burning some skin on his hand.
Regina immediately calls Gold for help. Mr. Gold mixes a potion and places it in a necklace for Henry to wear while he sleeps. This necklace will give Henry power over the dreams until they cease.
So, while David laments, Henry dreams…
…In present Fairy Tale Land, Mulan may have discovered a way to track down Cora. Mary Margaret and Emma leave to talk to her while Aurora sleeps. Again Aurora’s dream traps her in the fire room, except this time the eyes she sees now belong to a little boy. Above the roaring flames, he calls out to her, trying to calm her. The flames recede and Aurora wakes up with a start.
Mary Margaret and Emma run to her side. Aurora, gasping for breath, exclaims that she saw a boy and that he said his name is Henry!
Burning Questions:
1) How will this link between Henry and Aurora help the two worlds find a portal back to Storybrooke? Or will it bring Storybrooke citizens back to their native land?
2) What will happen when the women track down Cora?
3) Why/How did the flames actually burn Henry?
4) How long do these nightmare side effects last? Did Snow White get burned too? Or is this a completely different dream?
5) For what purpose would Mr. Gold freely give away some magic to Henry? What is his plan?
6) How will David get back at King George?
7) Will there be more deaths because of Ruby or does she really have complete control now?
8) How much power will fairy dust have in Storybrooke? What can it do for Mr. Gold and his curse?
~ Taryn
Monday, November 26, 2012
Review - Season 2 Episode 8 - Into the Deep - "Love Can Walk Through Fire"
If there's one thing your father's taught me, it's not to give up.
In Present Day Fairy Tale Land, Emma and Mary Margaret have just discovered that the little boy Aurora saw in her nightmares is Henry. Of course, the obvious reaction to this news is convincing Aurora to become a mediator between the worlds. She needs to go back to sleep, fast! She needs to tell Henry to seek Mr. Gold’s help. How can they defeat Cora, who, by the way, is on mission to join the town of Storybrooke?
I don’t know about you, but if I’ve just been sleeping, and if conditions were right and I’m no longer tired, falling back asleep mere minutes later cannot be done at the snap of a finger. But I guess we’re talking about fairy tale beings where magic is possible, so, Aurora does.
Henry is there amongst the flames. Aurora tells him to find Rumplestiltskin. He can help.
In Storybrooke, Henry wakes up and delivers the message. Regina is there and runs straight away to Mr. Gold.
At Granny’s, Mr. Gold and Belle are enjoying a long-overdue famous hamburger, only to be interrupted by yours truly.
Mr. Gold is none too happy to see the Evil Queen, spitting harsh words in her directions. But you know what they say about mothers on a mission. Regina isn’t backing down. She explains that a very evil person, yes an even eviler person than she, is on her way to this quaint town, and without Mr. Gold’s help she may succeed in paying that visit.
Thinking that he had defeated Cora years ago, Mr. Gold is stunned. He can’t let this happen. There’s bad blood between him and Cora, not to mention everyone else. Cora must be stopped.
After transporting Henry to Mr. Gold’s house, Mr. Gold puts Henry in a sleeping state, but not before telling a familiar story with new information. Once upon a time a certain prince and princess captured a very powerful magician using a certain quill. The magician was magically frozen and locked up in a cell. However, it was not the quill that was the magician’s undoing but the ink with which it wrote. The ink is special for it comes from a particular squid that is only obtainable by a mermaid or him, Rumplestiltskin. It just so happens that Rumplestiltskin was saving a portion of that ink for a rainy day. Henry must tell Aurora to seek out Rumplestiltskin’s old cell. Find the ink and it will defeat Cora.
Henry, in the flame room (here on out deemed the Netherworld), attempts to tell Aurora. But the flames are too high and in the Fairy Tale World the small band of women are being attacked by Cora’s goons. Aurora is pulled from the Netherworld without the necessary information.
The women fight off the zombies only to find that Aurora has been captured.
Henry wakes up. The news is not good. Aurora left before he could tell her what to do. And now his forearm has severe burns. Henry has sunk too deep into the Netherworld. When Aurora left abruptly, which is a big no-no in the Netherworld, the flames lashed out, harming Henry.
Luckily for Henry, Mr. Gold has the magical touch. However, there is no way Regina or Prince Charming is letting Henry go back to that world. It’s too dangerous. Besides, Aurora is gone, perhaps for good.
The plan: put Prince Charming in a sleeping curse. He can tell Snow White the message. She’s the only one left who’s been cursed and can perhaps make it to the Netherworld. They’re banking on it. If Regina can whip up a sleeping curse, Prince Charming can go under, tell Snow White the information and she can give him true loves kiss which will wake him up. Ta-da! Easy-peasy.
The catch: well, this is Charming’s first time in a sleeping curse, whereas all the others had already been in a sleeping curse and had awakened, so Charming might not actually get to the flame room. Oh, and Snow White might not be there to deliver that kiss, and then Prince Charming will be forever in a sleeping curse.
No big deal.
But faith runs deep in the Charming family. Regina concocts that potion, dips Mr. Gold’s sharp spindle in it, and points Prince Charming in its direction. With only a slight hesitation, Prince Charming pricks his finger on the spindle and instantly falls into a peaceful slumber.
In the Netherworld, Prince Charming finds himself in a room filled with mirrors. It’s dark, but there’s a torch. Slowly he searches. It’s not until he glimpses his reflection that he finds his answer. The necklace Henry wore, which Henry gave to Charming, begins to glow. It’s like that “hot and cold” game. The closer he gets to the flame room, the larger the glow.
So when Prince Charming hits his target, the necklace not only glows but becomes hot, burning hot. Charming drops it. The necklace breaks, spilling the potion. However, Charming discovers the floor is also hot, flaming hot.
The fire room is beneath him.
With a simple shove, he breaks through the floor where he finds Snow White.
Snow White, Emma, and Mulan had sought out more poppy seeds that act like knockout powder. Since Snow White had been under the sleeping curse before, if she could reach that state of deep sleep once again, via the poppies, she could reach the Netherworld.
So when she spots Charming amongst the flames instead of Henry, she’s horrified and pleased. The two run to embrace each other only to find they’re like holograms, there but not really there.
They’re in a dream world.
While the message can be delivered, true love’s kiss is impossible. If they can’t even touch how can they kiss? Snow White must find the ink and come back home to kiss Charming awake.
They can be together. They will be together. They must have faith.
Snow White leaves, desperate to find the ink, to get back home. To save Charming.
At Cora’s camp, Aurora finds herself locked in the same cell she and Mulan had locked Emma and Mary Margaret in. Cora tries to win Aurora over, but Aurora’s allegiance is strong. She won’t ever give Cora what she desires, not even if Aurora must die.
Angered, Cora knocks Aurora out cold.
Later, Aurora awakens to Captain Hook’s voice. You see, he had been left by Cora after he returned from the beanstalk. Cora no longer needed him to get what she wanted. Besides, he was a turncoat.
So, after awakening Aurora, he unlocks her chains and tells her to go. He’s freeing her, but she must deliver a message to Emma: Emma should have trusted Hook; he would have done right by her.
Aurora leaves to find the girls, which she does, and just in the nick of time to save Mulan, who had stolen the compass to free Aurora, from Mary Margaret.
Back at Cora’s camp, Hook is discovered by her evilness. She pins him to the wall. How dare he show his face? His only bargaining chip is in his satchel. It’s a heart. Aurora’s heart.
Using the heart like some kind of mind-control piece, Cora whispers the words Aurora simultaneously tells the girls. Hook let her go because of his infatuation with Emma. They should have trusted him.
Emma and Mary Margaret may feel this is suspicious, but they decide to trust Aurora, who is merely a victim here. They share where they’re going: Rumplestiltskin’s cell to get the magic ink.
However, Aurora’s heart doubles as a crystal ball. And the two villains are listening in.
Not only will Cora receive the long-awaited compass, her ticket to Storybrooke, but it will be hand delivered…
Burning Questions:
1) How does Hook know how to take hearts from people?
2) When will Mary Margaret and Emma get back to save Prince Charming?
3) What will Mary Margaret and Emma do when they discover Aurora is being used as a pawn?
4) Will Cora make it Storybrooke? When? Who else will get back?
5) What is the beef between Granny and Rumplestiltskin?
6) Will we see Ursula and Ariel soon?
7) Whose side is Captain Hook really on?
8) Will this really be Regina’s last stint with magic?
9) Is Regina actually turning good? Or is the return of her evil nature imminent?
~ Taryn
In Present Day Fairy Tale Land, Emma and Mary Margaret have just discovered that the little boy Aurora saw in her nightmares is Henry. Of course, the obvious reaction to this news is convincing Aurora to become a mediator between the worlds. She needs to go back to sleep, fast! She needs to tell Henry to seek Mr. Gold’s help. How can they defeat Cora, who, by the way, is on mission to join the town of Storybrooke?
I don’t know about you, but if I’ve just been sleeping, and if conditions were right and I’m no longer tired, falling back asleep mere minutes later cannot be done at the snap of a finger. But I guess we’re talking about fairy tale beings where magic is possible, so, Aurora does.
Henry is there amongst the flames. Aurora tells him to find Rumplestiltskin. He can help.
In Storybrooke, Henry wakes up and delivers the message. Regina is there and runs straight away to Mr. Gold.
At Granny’s, Mr. Gold and Belle are enjoying a long-overdue famous hamburger, only to be interrupted by yours truly.
Mr. Gold is none too happy to see the Evil Queen, spitting harsh words in her directions. But you know what they say about mothers on a mission. Regina isn’t backing down. She explains that a very evil person, yes an even eviler person than she, is on her way to this quaint town, and without Mr. Gold’s help she may succeed in paying that visit.
Thinking that he had defeated Cora years ago, Mr. Gold is stunned. He can’t let this happen. There’s bad blood between him and Cora, not to mention everyone else. Cora must be stopped.
After transporting Henry to Mr. Gold’s house, Mr. Gold puts Henry in a sleeping state, but not before telling a familiar story with new information. Once upon a time a certain prince and princess captured a very powerful magician using a certain quill. The magician was magically frozen and locked up in a cell. However, it was not the quill that was the magician’s undoing but the ink with which it wrote. The ink is special for it comes from a particular squid that is only obtainable by a mermaid or him, Rumplestiltskin. It just so happens that Rumplestiltskin was saving a portion of that ink for a rainy day. Henry must tell Aurora to seek out Rumplestiltskin’s old cell. Find the ink and it will defeat Cora.
Henry, in the flame room (here on out deemed the Netherworld), attempts to tell Aurora. But the flames are too high and in the Fairy Tale World the small band of women are being attacked by Cora’s goons. Aurora is pulled from the Netherworld without the necessary information.
The women fight off the zombies only to find that Aurora has been captured.
Henry wakes up. The news is not good. Aurora left before he could tell her what to do. And now his forearm has severe burns. Henry has sunk too deep into the Netherworld. When Aurora left abruptly, which is a big no-no in the Netherworld, the flames lashed out, harming Henry.
Luckily for Henry, Mr. Gold has the magical touch. However, there is no way Regina or Prince Charming is letting Henry go back to that world. It’s too dangerous. Besides, Aurora is gone, perhaps for good.
The plan: put Prince Charming in a sleeping curse. He can tell Snow White the message. She’s the only one left who’s been cursed and can perhaps make it to the Netherworld. They’re banking on it. If Regina can whip up a sleeping curse, Prince Charming can go under, tell Snow White the information and she can give him true loves kiss which will wake him up. Ta-da! Easy-peasy.
The catch: well, this is Charming’s first time in a sleeping curse, whereas all the others had already been in a sleeping curse and had awakened, so Charming might not actually get to the flame room. Oh, and Snow White might not be there to deliver that kiss, and then Prince Charming will be forever in a sleeping curse.
No big deal.
But faith runs deep in the Charming family. Regina concocts that potion, dips Mr. Gold’s sharp spindle in it, and points Prince Charming in its direction. With only a slight hesitation, Prince Charming pricks his finger on the spindle and instantly falls into a peaceful slumber.
In the Netherworld, Prince Charming finds himself in a room filled with mirrors. It’s dark, but there’s a torch. Slowly he searches. It’s not until he glimpses his reflection that he finds his answer. The necklace Henry wore, which Henry gave to Charming, begins to glow. It’s like that “hot and cold” game. The closer he gets to the flame room, the larger the glow.
So when Prince Charming hits his target, the necklace not only glows but becomes hot, burning hot. Charming drops it. The necklace breaks, spilling the potion. However, Charming discovers the floor is also hot, flaming hot.
The fire room is beneath him.
With a simple shove, he breaks through the floor where he finds Snow White.
Snow White, Emma, and Mulan had sought out more poppy seeds that act like knockout powder. Since Snow White had been under the sleeping curse before, if she could reach that state of deep sleep once again, via the poppies, she could reach the Netherworld.
So when she spots Charming amongst the flames instead of Henry, she’s horrified and pleased. The two run to embrace each other only to find they’re like holograms, there but not really there.
They’re in a dream world.
While the message can be delivered, true love’s kiss is impossible. If they can’t even touch how can they kiss? Snow White must find the ink and come back home to kiss Charming awake.
They can be together. They will be together. They must have faith.
Snow White leaves, desperate to find the ink, to get back home. To save Charming.
At Cora’s camp, Aurora finds herself locked in the same cell she and Mulan had locked Emma and Mary Margaret in. Cora tries to win Aurora over, but Aurora’s allegiance is strong. She won’t ever give Cora what she desires, not even if Aurora must die.
Angered, Cora knocks Aurora out cold.
Later, Aurora awakens to Captain Hook’s voice. You see, he had been left by Cora after he returned from the beanstalk. Cora no longer needed him to get what she wanted. Besides, he was a turncoat.
So, after awakening Aurora, he unlocks her chains and tells her to go. He’s freeing her, but she must deliver a message to Emma: Emma should have trusted Hook; he would have done right by her.
Aurora leaves to find the girls, which she does, and just in the nick of time to save Mulan, who had stolen the compass to free Aurora, from Mary Margaret.
Back at Cora’s camp, Hook is discovered by her evilness. She pins him to the wall. How dare he show his face? His only bargaining chip is in his satchel. It’s a heart. Aurora’s heart.
Using the heart like some kind of mind-control piece, Cora whispers the words Aurora simultaneously tells the girls. Hook let her go because of his infatuation with Emma. They should have trusted him.
Emma and Mary Margaret may feel this is suspicious, but they decide to trust Aurora, who is merely a victim here. They share where they’re going: Rumplestiltskin’s cell to get the magic ink.
However, Aurora’s heart doubles as a crystal ball. And the two villains are listening in.
Not only will Cora receive the long-awaited compass, her ticket to Storybrooke, but it will be hand delivered…
Burning Questions:
1) How does Hook know how to take hearts from people?
2) When will Mary Margaret and Emma get back to save Prince Charming?
3) What will Mary Margaret and Emma do when they discover Aurora is being used as a pawn?
4) Will Cora make it Storybrooke? When? Who else will get back?
5) What is the beef between Granny and Rumplestiltskin?
6) Will we see Ursula and Ariel soon?
7) Whose side is Captain Hook really on?
8) Will this really be Regina’s last stint with magic?
9) Is Regina actually turning good? Or is the return of her evil nature imminent?
~ Taryn
Monday, December 3, 2012
Review - Season 2 Episode 9 - Queen of Hearts - "The Most Powerful Magic of All"
Don’t you know, love is weakness?
No…it’s strength!
In Fairy Tale Land, the Evil Queen is planning her curse that will rage the kingdom and transport all its citizens to a land without magic. However, one person stands in her way…her mother, Cora. Fortunately, a certain pirate happens along, and when the right words are spoken, the Evil Queen can get him do anything she wants. In this case, rip out the heart of her mother so that Cora cannot follow the Evil Queen to Storybrooke in exchange for revenge on Rumplestiltskin.
The pirate, Captain Hook, is given a one-time-use enchanted hook to rip out one heart and directions on how to get to Wonderland—where Cora, AKA the Queen of Hearts, resides. If he does it right, he can kill Cora and be back to Fairy Tale Land in no time.
However, once in Wonderland, Cora is wise to his scheme. And when he tries to grab her heart, she merely laughs. Why would she keep a heart in the same place as everyone else? She is the Queen of Hearts after all.
Hook spills the beans on what he’s up to and why, and Cora sees her chance…to see her daughter again. Or is it to get back at her daughter? Hard to tell with Cora’s deceitful eyes.
Anyway, Cora makes a better deal with Hook. He can take her back; she’ll play dead and fool Regina, and then they can sneak off to Storybrooke with everyone else and Hook can kill Rumplestiltskin. Win-win.
But the ruse works too well. Regina is readily fooled that Hook actually killed her mother—and no, this time she does not ask to see the heart as proof of his dirty dead. (Or at least we don’t see her ask for it). Regina confesses to her “dead” mother that she’s sorry she had to kill Cora. And by the way, she’s always loved her, which is why she had to kill her. Logical.
After Regina leaves to enact said curse, Cora and Hook run off to a corner of the Fairy Tale Land we’ve come to know as the Safe Haven. Cora puts up a shield which protects that part of the land as the curse ravages the kingdom. Hook and Cora watch as it envelops them. Twenty-eight years, and then they can make their way to Storybrooke…
In Present Day Fairy Tale Land, Emma and crew find Rumplestiltskin’s cell and search high and low for the squid ink to no avail. The ink is gone. And just as the discovery is made, Cora and Hook happen along, trapping the women in the cell. Cora takes the compass and they’re off, but not before revealing that Aurora was a pawn.
Oh, and Hook took the giant’s bean necklace, and probably killed the giant too boot. For Hook it’s a reminder of how something good can turn bad. (Nice thought, Hook).
The women continue to search, finding nothing but a scroll where Rumplestiltskin repeatedly wrote Emma’s name like a mad man. Or was he?
Mary Margaret remembers a time when she watched Cora practice magic. The memories gives Mary Margaret an idea. The squid ink wasn’t in a jar, it was in the writing!
Aiming the scroll at the cell bars, Mary Margaret gently blows on the words, which lift and float to the bars, disintegrating them. Go, Snow!
Mary Margaret, Emma, and Mulan leave after tying up Aurora. Aurora can’t be trusted so long as Cora has her heart.
The women chase after the evil villains, determined to get back home.
Meanwhile, Cora and Hook have reached Lake Nostos, er…dried up Lake Nostos. But the missing water is no problem. Cora simply opens up the ground to form a pool of the magical liquid. Hook pours in the sparkly ashes from the wardrobe and they’ve got themselves a portal.
Nearly ready to jump, the women show up and ambush them. A fight ensues. Emma knocks Hook out and saves Mary Margaret from Cora, who tries to take her heart. As Emma leaps in front of her mother, Cora’s hand plunges into Emma’s chest. But Cora can’t take Emma’s heart.
Why? Emma is magic. Love is not weakness, as Cora’s always believed. No. Love is strength. With the power of love, Emma rockets Cora away from her, and Mary Margaret and Emma jump into the portal.
On the other side, in Storybrooke, Mr. Gold and Regina decide they can’t let Cora get through the portal. So, stealing the entire mine’s diamonds, they conjure up enough power to block the portal. Anyone who tries to get through will die.
Regina is reluctant at first. What if Emma and Mary Margaret actually get through?
Mr. Gold doesn’t care. Regina should be happy to finally get her revenge on Mary Margaret and the biological mother of Henry. Besides, what if it’s Cora? It would be better to block the portal than let that monster come through.
So, Mr. Gold blocks the portal—which is the same well that he used to bring magic to Storybrooke.
However, Henry finds out about their plan and runs to stop them. At first Regina tries to hold him back, but Regina’s desire to win back her son overcomes her. She wants to be good. For Henry. So she steps in, and takes the curse away.
The portal opens just in time for Mary Margaret and Emma to climb through.
Thanking Regina, Mary Margaret runs to wake up David, and Emma reveals to Mr. Gold Cora’s unsuccessful plan to take her heart.
Mr. Gold tells Emma that she is magical because she is the product of true love. And love is the most powerful magic of all.
Later, in Present Fairy Tale Land, Mulan had snagged Aurora’s heart and returned to the cell to give it back to the girl. Aurora reveals that the souls the wraiths take can be found again. They are merely in another world. So I’m guessing Mulan and Aurora will soon journey to rescue Prince Phillip.
Back on Lake Nostos, Hook and Cora meet again. The compass may be gone, but the portal is still open, and Hook has a magic bean. Sure, it’s useless on its own, but with the magical properties of Lake Nostos it can work.
As the drum rolls before the credits, the two evil villains are making their way across the water outside Storybrooke. Hook spies the iconic clock tower above the library.
They’re almost there…
Burning Questions:
1) Where is Cora’s heart?
2) Will Regina stay good or will she regress into evilness to get Henry back?
3) How long will it be before Snow White and Prince Charming are separated again? How long until they find each other again?
4) Will Mulan and Aurora find the wraith-soul world and rescue Phillip? Or is that part of the story finished?
5) What will happen to Storybrooke now that two “eviler” villains have arrived?
6) Will Belle be caught in the midst of Hook and Mr. Gold’s inevitable stand-off?
7) When will Henry’s father show up?
8) What will happen the remaining part of season 2?
~ Taryn
Check back on January 6, 8/7c for the return of Once Upon a Time, Season 2.
No…it’s strength!
In Fairy Tale Land, the Evil Queen is planning her curse that will rage the kingdom and transport all its citizens to a land without magic. However, one person stands in her way…her mother, Cora. Fortunately, a certain pirate happens along, and when the right words are spoken, the Evil Queen can get him do anything she wants. In this case, rip out the heart of her mother so that Cora cannot follow the Evil Queen to Storybrooke in exchange for revenge on Rumplestiltskin.
The pirate, Captain Hook, is given a one-time-use enchanted hook to rip out one heart and directions on how to get to Wonderland—where Cora, AKA the Queen of Hearts, resides. If he does it right, he can kill Cora and be back to Fairy Tale Land in no time.
However, once in Wonderland, Cora is wise to his scheme. And when he tries to grab her heart, she merely laughs. Why would she keep a heart in the same place as everyone else? She is the Queen of Hearts after all.
Hook spills the beans on what he’s up to and why, and Cora sees her chance…to see her daughter again. Or is it to get back at her daughter? Hard to tell with Cora’s deceitful eyes.
Anyway, Cora makes a better deal with Hook. He can take her back; she’ll play dead and fool Regina, and then they can sneak off to Storybrooke with everyone else and Hook can kill Rumplestiltskin. Win-win.
But the ruse works too well. Regina is readily fooled that Hook actually killed her mother—and no, this time she does not ask to see the heart as proof of his dirty dead. (Or at least we don’t see her ask for it). Regina confesses to her “dead” mother that she’s sorry she had to kill Cora. And by the way, she’s always loved her, which is why she had to kill her. Logical.
After Regina leaves to enact said curse, Cora and Hook run off to a corner of the Fairy Tale Land we’ve come to know as the Safe Haven. Cora puts up a shield which protects that part of the land as the curse ravages the kingdom. Hook and Cora watch as it envelops them. Twenty-eight years, and then they can make their way to Storybrooke…
In Present Day Fairy Tale Land, Emma and crew find Rumplestiltskin’s cell and search high and low for the squid ink to no avail. The ink is gone. And just as the discovery is made, Cora and Hook happen along, trapping the women in the cell. Cora takes the compass and they’re off, but not before revealing that Aurora was a pawn.
Oh, and Hook took the giant’s bean necklace, and probably killed the giant too boot. For Hook it’s a reminder of how something good can turn bad. (Nice thought, Hook).
The women continue to search, finding nothing but a scroll where Rumplestiltskin repeatedly wrote Emma’s name like a mad man. Or was he?
Mary Margaret remembers a time when she watched Cora practice magic. The memories gives Mary Margaret an idea. The squid ink wasn’t in a jar, it was in the writing!
Aiming the scroll at the cell bars, Mary Margaret gently blows on the words, which lift and float to the bars, disintegrating them. Go, Snow!
Mary Margaret, Emma, and Mulan leave after tying up Aurora. Aurora can’t be trusted so long as Cora has her heart.
The women chase after the evil villains, determined to get back home.
Meanwhile, Cora and Hook have reached Lake Nostos, er…dried up Lake Nostos. But the missing water is no problem. Cora simply opens up the ground to form a pool of the magical liquid. Hook pours in the sparkly ashes from the wardrobe and they’ve got themselves a portal.
Nearly ready to jump, the women show up and ambush them. A fight ensues. Emma knocks Hook out and saves Mary Margaret from Cora, who tries to take her heart. As Emma leaps in front of her mother, Cora’s hand plunges into Emma’s chest. But Cora can’t take Emma’s heart.
Why? Emma is magic. Love is not weakness, as Cora’s always believed. No. Love is strength. With the power of love, Emma rockets Cora away from her, and Mary Margaret and Emma jump into the portal.
On the other side, in Storybrooke, Mr. Gold and Regina decide they can’t let Cora get through the portal. So, stealing the entire mine’s diamonds, they conjure up enough power to block the portal. Anyone who tries to get through will die.
Regina is reluctant at first. What if Emma and Mary Margaret actually get through?
Mr. Gold doesn’t care. Regina should be happy to finally get her revenge on Mary Margaret and the biological mother of Henry. Besides, what if it’s Cora? It would be better to block the portal than let that monster come through.
So, Mr. Gold blocks the portal—which is the same well that he used to bring magic to Storybrooke.
However, Henry finds out about their plan and runs to stop them. At first Regina tries to hold him back, but Regina’s desire to win back her son overcomes her. She wants to be good. For Henry. So she steps in, and takes the curse away.
The portal opens just in time for Mary Margaret and Emma to climb through.
Thanking Regina, Mary Margaret runs to wake up David, and Emma reveals to Mr. Gold Cora’s unsuccessful plan to take her heart.
Mr. Gold tells Emma that she is magical because she is the product of true love. And love is the most powerful magic of all.
Later, in Present Fairy Tale Land, Mulan had snagged Aurora’s heart and returned to the cell to give it back to the girl. Aurora reveals that the souls the wraiths take can be found again. They are merely in another world. So I’m guessing Mulan and Aurora will soon journey to rescue Prince Phillip.
Back on Lake Nostos, Hook and Cora meet again. The compass may be gone, but the portal is still open, and Hook has a magic bean. Sure, it’s useless on its own, but with the magical properties of Lake Nostos it can work.
As the drum rolls before the credits, the two evil villains are making their way across the water outside Storybrooke. Hook spies the iconic clock tower above the library.
They’re almost there…
Burning Questions:
1) Where is Cora’s heart?
2) Will Regina stay good or will she regress into evilness to get Henry back?
3) How long will it be before Snow White and Prince Charming are separated again? How long until they find each other again?
4) Will Mulan and Aurora find the wraith-soul world and rescue Phillip? Or is that part of the story finished?
5) What will happen to Storybrooke now that two “eviler” villains have arrived?
6) Will Belle be caught in the midst of Hook and Mr. Gold’s inevitable stand-off?
7) When will Henry’s father show up?
8) What will happen the remaining part of season 2?
~ Taryn
Check back on January 6, 8/7c for the return of Once Upon a Time, Season 2.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Review - Season 2 Episode 10 - The Cricket Game - "An Extinguished Conscience"
She changed before. Why can’t she change back? … Maybe showing her mercy is the first step.
In Fairy Tale Land, the fighting has just begun to take back the kingdom. Evil Queen Regina’s plan to ambush the royal camp failed. When she learns that Snow White and Prince Charming are separated, that Snow White is traveling alone to meet her prince, Regina puts out a search for Snow White. She doesn’t care what it takes, Regina wants them separated long enough to get some alone time with Snow White.
As luck, or not, would have it, Regina stumbles upon Snow White running in the woods. Snow White wants Regina to surrender, but Regina won’t unless Snow White is dead. As she lunges, Snow White calls on her defense. The Blue Fairy magic-freezes the Evil Queen, and Prince Charming and army arrive take the Evil Queen to a castle cell where she will await her sentence…most likely death.
The royals hold a round table meeting where it is decided that the Queen must die. As long as she is alive she is a threat.
At the execution, Jiminy Cricket asks for final words. The Evil Queen obliges. It’s a heartfelt start that turns into rage. The Evil Queen is only sorry she didn’t inflict more pain upon the kingdom.
As the arrows are nocked and aimed and flying through the air at Regina’s body, Snow White yells “stop!” The arrows are halted via magic, inches from impact. Snow White demands that the Evil Queen be sent back to her cell. There must be another way. How can Prince Charming truly know that the Evil Queen can’t change, can’t be good again? She was good once. Snow White saw it. And once Regina’s dead, there is no second chance for redemption.
Snow White and her charming fiancé decide to rehabilitate the Evil Queen, but not without the help of magic from Rumplestiltskin.
Snow White goes to Regina’s cell and tells her she can be free. She can leave all the evil in this cell and be free. Regina takes the offer. But as soon as she’s out the door, she turns on Snow White, choking her.
Regina grabs Snow White’s knife and prepares to kill the future queen, but that fails. The knife, although clearly penetrating Snow White’s body, does not kill.
Enter Prince Charming and guards. Snow White and Prince Charming are enchanted. As long as they are in this world, the Evil Queen cannot harm them, as per magical exchange with Rumplestiltskin. As for Regina’s evil actions, Snow White and Prince Charming banish Regina from the kingdom.
So Regina leaves.
At least several days, if not weeks or months later, Regina is in her cold castle, glaring into her mirror, when one of her guards informs her of a visitor.
Rumplestiltskin lets himself in and plants the seed for the curse. Today is the Royal Wedding. While Regina cannot harm them in this world, Rumplestiltskin points out, that deal referred to this world. But if they were in another world…
A genius idea!
Like wood in a fire, Regina’s evil desires flames hot. She’s got a wedding to catch…
Cora and Captain Hook have arrived…and just in time, at least according to Cora. Magic is in Storybrooke which can be used to their advantage. For one, the Jolly Roger can be hidden from prying eyes, and Cora can break her daughter down—strip her of all she holds dear, just like any good mother would do.
How will she do that, you ask? Simple. Turn everyone in town against Regina.
As if they weren’t already.
Oh, but I mean turn everyone against the reformed Regina.
All in due time.
But for now, Cora and Hook will simply tour their new land.
At Granny’s, the Charmings are holding a reunion party. A toast to being together… again. Everyone is glad to have Mary Margaret and Emma back in the cursed land. The whole town seems to have been invited including one unexpected visitor. Yep, yours truly, Regina.
Mary Margaret and David are weary, but Emma assures them that she’s safe. She’s trying to change and besides, Henry likes her. Plus, Archie convinced Emma to invite Regina.
However, when Regina finds out that she wasn’t really wanted and that Archie blabbed about their sessions, she confronts the good doctor, er, cricket.
Truly he’s sorry for sharing what he did and promises that he can be trusted, that any vital information will not be shared courtesy of the patient-doctor confidentiality rule. Against her nature, Regina lets it slide because she’s changed, or trying to.
Nevertheless, later that night, Archie opens the door to Regina who promptly confronts him and kills him, magically freezing Pongo in the corner to watch on as his master dies.
Regina slips out of Archie’s office and into the streets; she turns the corner and whoosh…ready for this? Morphs into Cora. Yep, Cora killed Archie, not Regina.
While undetected by other town citizens, Cora was aware Ruby had seen “Regina” go into Archie’s office, no doubt part of her plan to frame her daughter. So the next morning when Pongo rushes to Granny’s barking up a storm at Emma and Henry, Ruby hears the commotion and somewhat translates what the dog is saying. Emma and Ruby follow the dog back to Archie’s office to find the man dead on the floor.
First person to blame is Regina. But when Emma and David break the bad news, Regina is just as shocked as the next person. She didn’t do it and Emma believes her.
David and Mary Margaret try to convince Emma of Regina’s true nature, who she was before. But Emma won’t listen. In this land people are innocent until proven guilty. Only one other person would try to frame Regina using magic: Mr. Gold.
The Charmings storm Gold’s pawn shop, where he denies any responsibility to Archie’s death. In fact, he can help them prove as much. Using magic, they can extract Pongo’s memories and determine the real killer.
Using a dream catcher, Mr. Gold captures the memories and hands the object to Emma. To not skew the authenticity of the memories, an unbiased party is required. Emma has magic in her and she can use it to see Pongo’s memories in their true form.
And so she does. But as we all predicted, she saw exactly what we saw: Regina killing Archie because that is what Pongo saw.
Now Emma sees red. Regina must pay for her murderous ways. Without a plan, the Charmings march off to confront the mayor.
Again, Regina denies her involvement. Yet Emma’s heard enough. She won’t be fooled any longer and she can’t subject her son to it either. She’s his mother; Regina never was and never will be.
I guess the Blue Fairy felt the danger or just happened to be in the neighborhood, but when Regina lunges at Emma for a fight, the Blue Fairy throws a Hail Mary fairy dust pass to Mary Margaret and David. Regina intercepts and uses it against Emma.
In light of Regina’s immediate use of magic for evil, Emma threatens her again. Henry can certainly never be part of Regina’s life, not after what just happened.
They leave Regina to ponder the consequences of her actions. Emma must tell Henry. But she doesn’t know how. She’s not mother material. I mean, she was only his mother for, like, five minutes. Yeah, well, so were her parents to her. They must learn this together. And they will learn it together, as a family.
As Emma breaks the bad news to Henry, Regina tearfully watches on in sorrow.
Now she is truly broken and stripped of all she holds dear. Now, Cora can act.
But there is one more trick up Cora’s sleeve and he’s in the cargo hold of the Jolly Roger. Can you guess? It’s Archie! Alive but bound. Whoever Cora killed in Archie’s office was not Jiminy Cricket. Now, Archie can spill the beans on anybody in town, especially about a certain…crocodile.
Burning Questions:
1) What made Cora so evil?
2) What could Rumplestiltskin just enact the curse to get to our world?
3) What kind of information will Archie provide Cora and Hook?
4) What will the confrontation between Hook and Mr. Gold be like?
5) Will Hook get his revenge? Will Belle get in the way?
6) When will Emma and gang find Cora?
7) Will Emma ever take Regina’s side again or help Regina?
8) What is Cora’s grand plan for Regina’s life?
9) Did magic infiltrate the whole world or just Storybrooke?
10) When will Mr. Gold find Bae?
~ Taryn
In Fairy Tale Land, the fighting has just begun to take back the kingdom. Evil Queen Regina’s plan to ambush the royal camp failed. When she learns that Snow White and Prince Charming are separated, that Snow White is traveling alone to meet her prince, Regina puts out a search for Snow White. She doesn’t care what it takes, Regina wants them separated long enough to get some alone time with Snow White.
As luck, or not, would have it, Regina stumbles upon Snow White running in the woods. Snow White wants Regina to surrender, but Regina won’t unless Snow White is dead. As she lunges, Snow White calls on her defense. The Blue Fairy magic-freezes the Evil Queen, and Prince Charming and army arrive take the Evil Queen to a castle cell where she will await her sentence…most likely death.
The royals hold a round table meeting where it is decided that the Queen must die. As long as she is alive she is a threat.
At the execution, Jiminy Cricket asks for final words. The Evil Queen obliges. It’s a heartfelt start that turns into rage. The Evil Queen is only sorry she didn’t inflict more pain upon the kingdom.
As the arrows are nocked and aimed and flying through the air at Regina’s body, Snow White yells “stop!” The arrows are halted via magic, inches from impact. Snow White demands that the Evil Queen be sent back to her cell. There must be another way. How can Prince Charming truly know that the Evil Queen can’t change, can’t be good again? She was good once. Snow White saw it. And once Regina’s dead, there is no second chance for redemption.
Snow White and her charming fiancé decide to rehabilitate the Evil Queen, but not without the help of magic from Rumplestiltskin.
Snow White goes to Regina’s cell and tells her she can be free. She can leave all the evil in this cell and be free. Regina takes the offer. But as soon as she’s out the door, she turns on Snow White, choking her.
Regina grabs Snow White’s knife and prepares to kill the future queen, but that fails. The knife, although clearly penetrating Snow White’s body, does not kill.
Enter Prince Charming and guards. Snow White and Prince Charming are enchanted. As long as they are in this world, the Evil Queen cannot harm them, as per magical exchange with Rumplestiltskin. As for Regina’s evil actions, Snow White and Prince Charming banish Regina from the kingdom.
So Regina leaves.
At least several days, if not weeks or months later, Regina is in her cold castle, glaring into her mirror, when one of her guards informs her of a visitor.
Rumplestiltskin lets himself in and plants the seed for the curse. Today is the Royal Wedding. While Regina cannot harm them in this world, Rumplestiltskin points out, that deal referred to this world. But if they were in another world…
A genius idea!
Like wood in a fire, Regina’s evil desires flames hot. She’s got a wedding to catch…
Cora and Captain Hook have arrived…and just in time, at least according to Cora. Magic is in Storybrooke which can be used to their advantage. For one, the Jolly Roger can be hidden from prying eyes, and Cora can break her daughter down—strip her of all she holds dear, just like any good mother would do.
How will she do that, you ask? Simple. Turn everyone in town against Regina.
As if they weren’t already.
Oh, but I mean turn everyone against the reformed Regina.
All in due time.
But for now, Cora and Hook will simply tour their new land.
At Granny’s, the Charmings are holding a reunion party. A toast to being together… again. Everyone is glad to have Mary Margaret and Emma back in the cursed land. The whole town seems to have been invited including one unexpected visitor. Yep, yours truly, Regina.
Mary Margaret and David are weary, but Emma assures them that she’s safe. She’s trying to change and besides, Henry likes her. Plus, Archie convinced Emma to invite Regina.
However, when Regina finds out that she wasn’t really wanted and that Archie blabbed about their sessions, she confronts the good doctor, er, cricket.
Truly he’s sorry for sharing what he did and promises that he can be trusted, that any vital information will not be shared courtesy of the patient-doctor confidentiality rule. Against her nature, Regina lets it slide because she’s changed, or trying to.
Nevertheless, later that night, Archie opens the door to Regina who promptly confronts him and kills him, magically freezing Pongo in the corner to watch on as his master dies.
Regina slips out of Archie’s office and into the streets; she turns the corner and whoosh…ready for this? Morphs into Cora. Yep, Cora killed Archie, not Regina.
While undetected by other town citizens, Cora was aware Ruby had seen “Regina” go into Archie’s office, no doubt part of her plan to frame her daughter. So the next morning when Pongo rushes to Granny’s barking up a storm at Emma and Henry, Ruby hears the commotion and somewhat translates what the dog is saying. Emma and Ruby follow the dog back to Archie’s office to find the man dead on the floor.
First person to blame is Regina. But when Emma and David break the bad news, Regina is just as shocked as the next person. She didn’t do it and Emma believes her.
David and Mary Margaret try to convince Emma of Regina’s true nature, who she was before. But Emma won’t listen. In this land people are innocent until proven guilty. Only one other person would try to frame Regina using magic: Mr. Gold.
The Charmings storm Gold’s pawn shop, where he denies any responsibility to Archie’s death. In fact, he can help them prove as much. Using magic, they can extract Pongo’s memories and determine the real killer.
Using a dream catcher, Mr. Gold captures the memories and hands the object to Emma. To not skew the authenticity of the memories, an unbiased party is required. Emma has magic in her and she can use it to see Pongo’s memories in their true form.
And so she does. But as we all predicted, she saw exactly what we saw: Regina killing Archie because that is what Pongo saw.
Now Emma sees red. Regina must pay for her murderous ways. Without a plan, the Charmings march off to confront the mayor.
Again, Regina denies her involvement. Yet Emma’s heard enough. She won’t be fooled any longer and she can’t subject her son to it either. She’s his mother; Regina never was and never will be.
I guess the Blue Fairy felt the danger or just happened to be in the neighborhood, but when Regina lunges at Emma for a fight, the Blue Fairy throws a Hail Mary fairy dust pass to Mary Margaret and David. Regina intercepts and uses it against Emma.
In light of Regina’s immediate use of magic for evil, Emma threatens her again. Henry can certainly never be part of Regina’s life, not after what just happened.
They leave Regina to ponder the consequences of her actions. Emma must tell Henry. But she doesn’t know how. She’s not mother material. I mean, she was only his mother for, like, five minutes. Yeah, well, so were her parents to her. They must learn this together. And they will learn it together, as a family.
As Emma breaks the bad news to Henry, Regina tearfully watches on in sorrow.
Now she is truly broken and stripped of all she holds dear. Now, Cora can act.
But there is one more trick up Cora’s sleeve and he’s in the cargo hold of the Jolly Roger. Can you guess? It’s Archie! Alive but bound. Whoever Cora killed in Archie’s office was not Jiminy Cricket. Now, Archie can spill the beans on anybody in town, especially about a certain…crocodile.
Burning Questions:
1) What made Cora so evil?
2) What could Rumplestiltskin just enact the curse to get to our world?
3) What kind of information will Archie provide Cora and Hook?
4) What will the confrontation between Hook and Mr. Gold be like?
5) Will Hook get his revenge? Will Belle get in the way?
6) When will Emma and gang find Cora?
7) Will Emma ever take Regina’s side again or help Regina?
8) What is Cora’s grand plan for Regina’s life?
9) Did magic infiltrate the whole world or just Storybrooke?
10) When will Mr. Gold find Bae?
~ Taryn
Monday, January 14, 2013
Review - Season 2 Episode 11 - The Outsider - "Worlds Collide"
When you find something…worth fighting for, you never give up.
In Fairy Tale Land, Dreamy has just decided to take Belle’s advice and leave his mining life behind to explore the world with Nova.
However, this part of the story is not about Dreamy, but Belle. You see, Dreamy only stopped by to thank Belle for her words of wisdom. In return, he turns it back on her: follow the adventure. A group of men in town are hunting a ravaging beast called the Yaoguai, a four-legged monster with a flaming mane—literally.
While the hunters may not know where to find the beast, Belle does. She reads, and she knows that most of the world’s knowledge comes from the written word. This book, written in Chinese, pinpoints the exact location of the Yaoguai.
Convincing the men to let her tag along is not hard, but as soon as she spills the beans about the Yaoguai’s location, they boot her off.
But Belle has brains. Since the men couldn’t read the difficult Chinese language, they had no idea that her instructions were way off course. So, on her own, Belle tracks the beast to its lair. Yet while Belle has brains, she lacks the skill of tracking stealthily. Crunching on a brittle trig awakens the creature and it storms out of its cave. Before it can maul Belle, an arrow flies from the woods and scares the beast away. Mulan had hidden in the woods for days trying to track the Yaoguai, and she’s not happy that the process has to start all over because some bookish woman tried chasing adventure.
However, soon after, Belle is in the Chinatown-like village in the Enchanted Forest and the enraged hunter men have found her. Unhappy, they begin to harass Belle. Yet again, Mulan rescues her. The men turn on Mulan, injuring her, and Belle uses some crazy skills to scare them off. Mulan and Belle decide to team up to hunt the magical beast.
The women track the beast to another part of the Chinese village. It’s setting fields on fire. With Mulan hurt, Belle must go alone to kill the beast.
Taking Mulan’s sword, Belle approaches the beast. Getting its attention, it stampedes Belle. Thinking quick, Belle dumps water on the beast’s flames. This unarms it. Panting, the beast waits for its demise. However, Belle is known for handling beasts of many sorts. Plus, the beast wrote “help me” in the dirt via Chinese symbols which Belle can read.
Remembering a pouch of fairy dust Dreamy had given her, Belle pulls it out and dumps it on the Yaoguai. Woosh! It transforms into Prince Phillip—yes, Aurora’s Prince Phillip. Maleficent had put a curse on the young man to keep him out of Aurora’s reach.
In return for breaking his curse, he offers to help Mulan.
And so begins the Mulan-Prince Phillip romance…
But not so fast…
Belle takes off into the woods alone. (Always a good idea). The Evil Queen finds Belle, captures her and tells her she will lock her away forever in a tower---for her own good, of course. To save her from any more lose loves.
But Belle won’t ever stop fighting for Rumplestiltskin, no matter how long she’s locked away!
The Storybrooke storyline is far more moving. Mr. Gold has found a potion that will allow fairy tale characters to cross the border without losing their memory. All one needs to do is pour the potion on the most beloved item the person owns and he can cross freely. After testing the theory on Smee, Mr. Gold prepares for his trip to find Bae.
However, Captain Hook has discovered Mr. Gold’s most precious item and he’s sent Smee to retrieve it. With the object in Hook’s possession, Mr. Gold won’t leave. But if that wasn’t enough, Hook decides to go after Belle.
Cornering her in the library, Belle barely escapes by hiding in the long-forgotten elevator. She calls Mr. Gold. By the time he arrives, Hook is gone.
But now the secret’s out. Hook is in town. But where’s his ship?
Belle goes searching by the docks.( I’ve got to give credit to the birds for seeing an invisible ship and sitting on it). Belle sees the birds sitting in mid air and decides that the ship is merely hidden in plain sight.
Climbing aboard, Belle finds Archie tied up. She releases him and sends him to find Mr. Gold. Again, Mr. Gold arrives just in time. Hook has found Belle in his ship, threatened her with her own gun (which Mr. Gold gave her), and told her the truth about Milah’s death.
Unable to accept the truth, Belle escapes again and runs to Mr. Gold for safety. Mr. Gold has been waiting for Hook for as long as Hook’s been planning his revenge. Now face to face, Mr. Gold wields the power and beats up on Hook. Belle stops the fight before it goes too far. They manage to get Mr. Gold’s beloved object back.
With Hook in town, now is the time for Mr. Gold to leave town.
Meanwhile, the town has buried Archie. Henry is taking it the worst. Trying to cheer him up, Emma decides to take in Pongo. Henry was close to the dog. Also, Mary Margaret and David decide it might be best to find a new home to live in. The apartment is getting a little crowded.
However, while the prince and princess are away, Archie comes to see Emma. He’s alive and he carries dangerous news. Cora kidnapped him. Yes, Emma, Cora’s in town!
But that’s not the riveting story of the week. Maybe next week…
Belle and Mr. Gold travel to the border. With the precious object, a scarf, in hand, the two stand at the red spray paint line marking the boundary. Mr. Gold pours the potion on the scarf and wraps it around his neck. He’s ready—28 years in the making!
He steps across. Magic shoots across his body, but he’s fine. He remembers Belle, who’s standing a mere foot away, and he remembers his mission. The two rejoice, holding hands.
But the moment takes a dark turn when Hook shows up, gun in hand. If he has any say, nobody is going anywhere. The gun goes off, straight at Belle.
Mr. Gold yanks Belle out of the way, but not out of danger. The bullet strikes Belle who falls into Mr. Gold’s arms, but across the boundary.
Magic shoots across Belle, but no matter how much pleading, she has no idea who Mr. Gold is or where she is. So this begs the question, who does Belle think she is? An insane asylum patient? Librarian?
But even that moment is cut short. Headlights flash ahead. A car with Pennsylvania license plates careens toward Mr. Gold, Belle, and Hook. Out of control, the car smashes across the town border, knocking Hook unconscious, and slams into the ditch.
An outsider has made his way to Storybrooke…
Burning Questions:
1) Who does Belle think she is now?
2) Is there a remedy for crossing the border?
3) Who is the outsider? Are there any side-effects on him by coming to Storybrooke?
4) Anyone disappointed that the outsider wasn’t Henry’s dad?
5) Will Mr. Gold leave town now that Belle has is injured and has no memory?
6) Where is August Booth?
7) What will be Regina’s reaction when she finds out Archie’s alive and her mother’s in town?!
~ Taryn
In Fairy Tale Land, Dreamy has just decided to take Belle’s advice and leave his mining life behind to explore the world with Nova.
However, this part of the story is not about Dreamy, but Belle. You see, Dreamy only stopped by to thank Belle for her words of wisdom. In return, he turns it back on her: follow the adventure. A group of men in town are hunting a ravaging beast called the Yaoguai, a four-legged monster with a flaming mane—literally.
While the hunters may not know where to find the beast, Belle does. She reads, and she knows that most of the world’s knowledge comes from the written word. This book, written in Chinese, pinpoints the exact location of the Yaoguai.
Convincing the men to let her tag along is not hard, but as soon as she spills the beans about the Yaoguai’s location, they boot her off.
But Belle has brains. Since the men couldn’t read the difficult Chinese language, they had no idea that her instructions were way off course. So, on her own, Belle tracks the beast to its lair. Yet while Belle has brains, she lacks the skill of tracking stealthily. Crunching on a brittle trig awakens the creature and it storms out of its cave. Before it can maul Belle, an arrow flies from the woods and scares the beast away. Mulan had hidden in the woods for days trying to track the Yaoguai, and she’s not happy that the process has to start all over because some bookish woman tried chasing adventure.
However, soon after, Belle is in the Chinatown-like village in the Enchanted Forest and the enraged hunter men have found her. Unhappy, they begin to harass Belle. Yet again, Mulan rescues her. The men turn on Mulan, injuring her, and Belle uses some crazy skills to scare them off. Mulan and Belle decide to team up to hunt the magical beast.
The women track the beast to another part of the Chinese village. It’s setting fields on fire. With Mulan hurt, Belle must go alone to kill the beast.
Taking Mulan’s sword, Belle approaches the beast. Getting its attention, it stampedes Belle. Thinking quick, Belle dumps water on the beast’s flames. This unarms it. Panting, the beast waits for its demise. However, Belle is known for handling beasts of many sorts. Plus, the beast wrote “help me” in the dirt via Chinese symbols which Belle can read.
Remembering a pouch of fairy dust Dreamy had given her, Belle pulls it out and dumps it on the Yaoguai. Woosh! It transforms into Prince Phillip—yes, Aurora’s Prince Phillip. Maleficent had put a curse on the young man to keep him out of Aurora’s reach.
In return for breaking his curse, he offers to help Mulan.
And so begins the Mulan-Prince Phillip romance…
But not so fast…
Belle takes off into the woods alone. (Always a good idea). The Evil Queen finds Belle, captures her and tells her she will lock her away forever in a tower---for her own good, of course. To save her from any more lose loves.
But Belle won’t ever stop fighting for Rumplestiltskin, no matter how long she’s locked away!
The Storybrooke storyline is far more moving. Mr. Gold has found a potion that will allow fairy tale characters to cross the border without losing their memory. All one needs to do is pour the potion on the most beloved item the person owns and he can cross freely. After testing the theory on Smee, Mr. Gold prepares for his trip to find Bae.
However, Captain Hook has discovered Mr. Gold’s most precious item and he’s sent Smee to retrieve it. With the object in Hook’s possession, Mr. Gold won’t leave. But if that wasn’t enough, Hook decides to go after Belle.
Cornering her in the library, Belle barely escapes by hiding in the long-forgotten elevator. She calls Mr. Gold. By the time he arrives, Hook is gone.
But now the secret’s out. Hook is in town. But where’s his ship?
Belle goes searching by the docks.( I’ve got to give credit to the birds for seeing an invisible ship and sitting on it). Belle sees the birds sitting in mid air and decides that the ship is merely hidden in plain sight.
Climbing aboard, Belle finds Archie tied up. She releases him and sends him to find Mr. Gold. Again, Mr. Gold arrives just in time. Hook has found Belle in his ship, threatened her with her own gun (which Mr. Gold gave her), and told her the truth about Milah’s death.
Unable to accept the truth, Belle escapes again and runs to Mr. Gold for safety. Mr. Gold has been waiting for Hook for as long as Hook’s been planning his revenge. Now face to face, Mr. Gold wields the power and beats up on Hook. Belle stops the fight before it goes too far. They manage to get Mr. Gold’s beloved object back.
With Hook in town, now is the time for Mr. Gold to leave town.
Meanwhile, the town has buried Archie. Henry is taking it the worst. Trying to cheer him up, Emma decides to take in Pongo. Henry was close to the dog. Also, Mary Margaret and David decide it might be best to find a new home to live in. The apartment is getting a little crowded.
However, while the prince and princess are away, Archie comes to see Emma. He’s alive and he carries dangerous news. Cora kidnapped him. Yes, Emma, Cora’s in town!
But that’s not the riveting story of the week. Maybe next week…
Belle and Mr. Gold travel to the border. With the precious object, a scarf, in hand, the two stand at the red spray paint line marking the boundary. Mr. Gold pours the potion on the scarf and wraps it around his neck. He’s ready—28 years in the making!
He steps across. Magic shoots across his body, but he’s fine. He remembers Belle, who’s standing a mere foot away, and he remembers his mission. The two rejoice, holding hands.
But the moment takes a dark turn when Hook shows up, gun in hand. If he has any say, nobody is going anywhere. The gun goes off, straight at Belle.
Mr. Gold yanks Belle out of the way, but not out of danger. The bullet strikes Belle who falls into Mr. Gold’s arms, but across the boundary.
Magic shoots across Belle, but no matter how much pleading, she has no idea who Mr. Gold is or where she is. So this begs the question, who does Belle think she is? An insane asylum patient? Librarian?
But even that moment is cut short. Headlights flash ahead. A car with Pennsylvania license plates careens toward Mr. Gold, Belle, and Hook. Out of control, the car smashes across the town border, knocking Hook unconscious, and slams into the ditch.
An outsider has made his way to Storybrooke…
Burning Questions:
1) Who does Belle think she is now?
2) Is there a remedy for crossing the border?
3) Who is the outsider? Are there any side-effects on him by coming to Storybrooke?
4) Anyone disappointed that the outsider wasn’t Henry’s dad?
5) Will Mr. Gold leave town now that Belle has is injured and has no memory?
6) Where is August Booth?
7) What will be Regina’s reaction when she finds out Archie’s alive and her mother’s in town?!
~ Taryn
Monday, January 21, 2013
Review - Season 2 Episode 12 - In the Name of the Brother - "To Save a Life"
I wanted my name to stand for life, but everybody just thinks it’s the name of a monster.
This week we revisit Frankenstein and his quest to become the infamous scientist to brings back life to those that are lost. Of course, as we know, our dear Victor could not have done so without the aid of magic. But just how did these two worlds ever connect?
Victor and his brother are under the great scrutiny of their father, who wants his sons to become somebody in life. And in his father’s eyes, Victor’s whimsical notions of become a scientist who stands for eternal life are wasteful. A scientists is a nobody. Which is why Frankenstein senior bestows his late wife’s beloved pocket watch to his youngest son, Victor’s brother, Gerhardt.
Gerhardt knows how much the watch means to Victor and offers it to his brother, but Victor turns him down. He can prove to his father the importance of science.
However, there is a cost.
Enter Rumplestiltskin into this black-and-white world. He offers a deal with Victor. Money in exchange for a Victor continuing his work and sharing its secret with Rumplestiltskin.
Victor is elated and prepares at once to find the answer.
To do this, Victor needs a body to experiment on. He heads to the graveyard only to be stopped by his brother. The cemetery’s night watchman spots Victor and his brother amongst the headstones and fires a rifle at them. The brothers run into the waiting carriage and drive off, but not before Victor notices a bullet has struck his brother and killed him.
Victor has a body.
Quickly setting up his lab, Victor attempts to bring life back, but the result is only a burnt heart which could not withstand the experiment.
Victor’s father finds out and disowns Victor. But Victor doesn’t stop his work.
Again, Rumplestiltskin shows up. Along with the money, he can get Victor an enchanted heart. But, Victor will need to come to his world and fail curing a dead man. A young woman named Regina will provide the heart.
And as we know, Victor does get his heart while breaking Regina’s forever. All part of Rumplestiltskin’s plan. And with the enchanted heart, Gerhardt is alive once again.
Only this time he’s come back as a monster. A monster who attacks Victor’s father and kills him. A monster who realizes that he’s a monster and does not wish to live that way. But Victor won’t kill him as easier as that might be on both of them.
It’s here we wait for the next Frankenstein installment. What will happen to Gerhardt who is locked up in Victor’s house? Will he ever become normal or will he always be a monster?
Back in Storybrooke, Mr. Gold’s attempt to leave has been drastically halted. A Pennsylvania car has slammed into the town, hit Captain Hook, who via a bullet pushed Belle over the town line. Belle now has amnesia and thinks Mr. Gold is a creepy man with weird magical abilities.
Before Mr. Gold can kill Captain Hook for his transgression, the Charming’s arrive and call an ambulance. The injured are rushed to the hospital.
One of the Pennsylvanian stranger’s personal affects, a high-end wrist watch, catches Dr. Whale’s attention. It brings back the memory of the pocket watch his brother received. So much does this affect the doctor and the fact that he has no way back to his world, back to his brother, that he’s driven to drink. And drink he does.
With the stranger in need of immediate surgery, Dr. Whale’s drinking and state-of-mind concerns Emma and her parents. But Dr. Whale assures them that all will be fine.
However, time ticks away. The Charmings, who have the stranger’s phone in hand, debate whether to answer its ringing. The caller ID only says “Her.” If they answer it, it could lead whoever it is right to their town. If they don’t, they could still track the phone to the town. With each ring, the group becomes more anxious and there’s no word from the ER. Eventually, Emma requests that the doctor be paged.
But to no avail. The doctor has run away.
Ruby, with her doggy senses, tracks Whale to the docks, where he’s planning on jumping. Ruby saves him and the two chat.
Dr. Whale confesses his life to Ruby. He wanted to be known for life not for the monster he created. Ruby shares her own woes, but eventually convinces him that he can still do good. He can save this man, a man whose mysterious girl is calling.
Dr. Whale takes the pep talk and heads to the ER.
Meanwhile, Cora slips a small treat into Mr. Gold’s shop. She tells him that what’s inside the box will lead him to his son. In exchange, Mr. Gold gives her her daughter back.
Mr. Gold can’t refuse. Sealing the deal with a kiss, Cora leaves. She heads to Regina’s underground lair posing as Henry.
Regina, unknowingly, lets her “son” in. She pleads with him to understand that she was framed for killing Archie. “Henry” agrees. “He” knows she didn’t do it.
Confused, Regina wonders how he knows.
Simple. Cora shape shifts to her own body.
Angered by her mother’s presence, she tells Cora that she’s going to confess to Emma what she did. For Henry’s sake, Regina’s trying to be better and with this murder hanging over her head, there’s no way she can convince him otherwise.
Cora agrees because…she wants to change too. She knows she’s been a bad mother and she wants to restore her relationship.
While Regina may be suspicious, she believes her mother. The roles have been reversed. Cora is to Regina and Regina is to Henry. Can these mom’s really change for the children?
Back at the hospital a couple hours have passed and Dr. Whale finally tells the group that the man is going to live.
Relief all around. But it’s short-lived.
The time has come. Just what did the stranger see out there at the town line? Mr. Gold holding a magical fireball aimed at Hook? Or simply nothing at all?
Emma questions the stranger, whose name is Greg Mendel. Greg confesses that he was texting and driving. He didn’t see anything except that when he looked up there was a man in the middle of the road.
Emma thanks him for his honesty and tells him he’ll be released as soon as possible.
In another hospital room, Belle is being kept for observation. Mr. Gold thinks that if she saw her chipped cup she’d remember. But she doesn’t. Angered by his constant pushing, Belle throws the cup across the room, where is shatters.
Mr. Gold is heartbroken, but he knows what he must do. In his shop, Mr. Gold opens the box. Inside is a crystal ball. With a prick of his finger and a drop of his blood, the ball transforms into a globe. And one section, you might say the Washington D.C. area, is lighting up.
Back at Mary Margaret’s apartment, the family eats dinner. But their evening is interrupted again. Mr. Gold is at the door. That favor Emma owes him has come due.
Today, at noon, they’re leaving to find his son. And if any harm comes to Belle while the two of them are gone, Mr. Gold will see to it that the Charming’s all die.
If that wasn’t bad enough, back at the hospital, Greg dials a number on his phone. When the woman picks up, Greg assures her that he’s fine.
Except she’s never going to believe what he saw…
Burning Questions:
1) What did Greg see? Who is the woman Greg’s talking to?
2) Why was the stranger in the Storybrooke area in the first place? Was this some kind of plan?
3) Where is Bae?
4) Is Bae Henry’s father?
5) If Bae isn’t Henry’s father (Neal), the how is he still alive? Who is Bae in this world?
6) What will Mr. Gold think about airplanes?
7) How long will Emma and Mr. Gold be gone?
8) Does magic work outside of Storybrooke?
9) Who does Belle think she is? Will she ever remember?
10) What is Cora’s evil plan?
~ Taryn
This week we revisit Frankenstein and his quest to become the infamous scientist to brings back life to those that are lost. Of course, as we know, our dear Victor could not have done so without the aid of magic. But just how did these two worlds ever connect?
Victor and his brother are under the great scrutiny of their father, who wants his sons to become somebody in life. And in his father’s eyes, Victor’s whimsical notions of become a scientist who stands for eternal life are wasteful. A scientists is a nobody. Which is why Frankenstein senior bestows his late wife’s beloved pocket watch to his youngest son, Victor’s brother, Gerhardt.
Gerhardt knows how much the watch means to Victor and offers it to his brother, but Victor turns him down. He can prove to his father the importance of science.
However, there is a cost.
Enter Rumplestiltskin into this black-and-white world. He offers a deal with Victor. Money in exchange for a Victor continuing his work and sharing its secret with Rumplestiltskin.
Victor is elated and prepares at once to find the answer.
To do this, Victor needs a body to experiment on. He heads to the graveyard only to be stopped by his brother. The cemetery’s night watchman spots Victor and his brother amongst the headstones and fires a rifle at them. The brothers run into the waiting carriage and drive off, but not before Victor notices a bullet has struck his brother and killed him.
Victor has a body.
Quickly setting up his lab, Victor attempts to bring life back, but the result is only a burnt heart which could not withstand the experiment.
Victor’s father finds out and disowns Victor. But Victor doesn’t stop his work.
Again, Rumplestiltskin shows up. Along with the money, he can get Victor an enchanted heart. But, Victor will need to come to his world and fail curing a dead man. A young woman named Regina will provide the heart.
And as we know, Victor does get his heart while breaking Regina’s forever. All part of Rumplestiltskin’s plan. And with the enchanted heart, Gerhardt is alive once again.
Only this time he’s come back as a monster. A monster who attacks Victor’s father and kills him. A monster who realizes that he’s a monster and does not wish to live that way. But Victor won’t kill him as easier as that might be on both of them.
It’s here we wait for the next Frankenstein installment. What will happen to Gerhardt who is locked up in Victor’s house? Will he ever become normal or will he always be a monster?
Back in Storybrooke, Mr. Gold’s attempt to leave has been drastically halted. A Pennsylvania car has slammed into the town, hit Captain Hook, who via a bullet pushed Belle over the town line. Belle now has amnesia and thinks Mr. Gold is a creepy man with weird magical abilities.
Before Mr. Gold can kill Captain Hook for his transgression, the Charming’s arrive and call an ambulance. The injured are rushed to the hospital.
One of the Pennsylvanian stranger’s personal affects, a high-end wrist watch, catches Dr. Whale’s attention. It brings back the memory of the pocket watch his brother received. So much does this affect the doctor and the fact that he has no way back to his world, back to his brother, that he’s driven to drink. And drink he does.
With the stranger in need of immediate surgery, Dr. Whale’s drinking and state-of-mind concerns Emma and her parents. But Dr. Whale assures them that all will be fine.
However, time ticks away. The Charmings, who have the stranger’s phone in hand, debate whether to answer its ringing. The caller ID only says “Her.” If they answer it, it could lead whoever it is right to their town. If they don’t, they could still track the phone to the town. With each ring, the group becomes more anxious and there’s no word from the ER. Eventually, Emma requests that the doctor be paged.
But to no avail. The doctor has run away.
Ruby, with her doggy senses, tracks Whale to the docks, where he’s planning on jumping. Ruby saves him and the two chat.
Dr. Whale confesses his life to Ruby. He wanted to be known for life not for the monster he created. Ruby shares her own woes, but eventually convinces him that he can still do good. He can save this man, a man whose mysterious girl is calling.
Dr. Whale takes the pep talk and heads to the ER.
Meanwhile, Cora slips a small treat into Mr. Gold’s shop. She tells him that what’s inside the box will lead him to his son. In exchange, Mr. Gold gives her her daughter back.
Mr. Gold can’t refuse. Sealing the deal with a kiss, Cora leaves. She heads to Regina’s underground lair posing as Henry.
Regina, unknowingly, lets her “son” in. She pleads with him to understand that she was framed for killing Archie. “Henry” agrees. “He” knows she didn’t do it.
Confused, Regina wonders how he knows.
Simple. Cora shape shifts to her own body.
Angered by her mother’s presence, she tells Cora that she’s going to confess to Emma what she did. For Henry’s sake, Regina’s trying to be better and with this murder hanging over her head, there’s no way she can convince him otherwise.
Cora agrees because…she wants to change too. She knows she’s been a bad mother and she wants to restore her relationship.
While Regina may be suspicious, she believes her mother. The roles have been reversed. Cora is to Regina and Regina is to Henry. Can these mom’s really change for the children?
Back at the hospital a couple hours have passed and Dr. Whale finally tells the group that the man is going to live.
Relief all around. But it’s short-lived.
The time has come. Just what did the stranger see out there at the town line? Mr. Gold holding a magical fireball aimed at Hook? Or simply nothing at all?
Emma questions the stranger, whose name is Greg Mendel. Greg confesses that he was texting and driving. He didn’t see anything except that when he looked up there was a man in the middle of the road.
Emma thanks him for his honesty and tells him he’ll be released as soon as possible.
In another hospital room, Belle is being kept for observation. Mr. Gold thinks that if she saw her chipped cup she’d remember. But she doesn’t. Angered by his constant pushing, Belle throws the cup across the room, where is shatters.
Mr. Gold is heartbroken, but he knows what he must do. In his shop, Mr. Gold opens the box. Inside is a crystal ball. With a prick of his finger and a drop of his blood, the ball transforms into a globe. And one section, you might say the Washington D.C. area, is lighting up.
Back at Mary Margaret’s apartment, the family eats dinner. But their evening is interrupted again. Mr. Gold is at the door. That favor Emma owes him has come due.
Today, at noon, they’re leaving to find his son. And if any harm comes to Belle while the two of them are gone, Mr. Gold will see to it that the Charming’s all die.
If that wasn’t bad enough, back at the hospital, Greg dials a number on his phone. When the woman picks up, Greg assures her that he’s fine.
Except she’s never going to believe what he saw…
Burning Questions:
1) What did Greg see? Who is the woman Greg’s talking to?
2) Why was the stranger in the Storybrooke area in the first place? Was this some kind of plan?
3) Where is Bae?
4) Is Bae Henry’s father?
5) If Bae isn’t Henry’s father (Neal), the how is he still alive? Who is Bae in this world?
6) What will Mr. Gold think about airplanes?
7) How long will Emma and Mr. Gold be gone?
8) Does magic work outside of Storybrooke?
9) Who does Belle think she is? Will she ever remember?
10) What is Cora’s evil plan?
~ Taryn