Contributor: Edmund B.
It’s worth remembering that the wedding of Snow White and Prince Charming precipitated the events of “Once Upon A Time.” So, it is no surprise that the episodes chronicling their journey to that fateful day are the show’s strongest. Their story is the heart of the show, and the latest installment, “The Shepherd”, is as heart-felt as it is heart-breaking in both worlds.
In Storybrooke, the triangle continues. John Doe’s wife, Kathryn, has reunited him with his name, David Nolan, but not with his memories. Mary Margaret continues to fend off his advances, saying it’s just misplaced emotion over her rescue of him. The battle lines are being more clearly drawn as Kathryn’s reunion party brings out the conniving Dr. Whale and the Mayor. Regina and Kathryn find a bond of friendship based on their mutual isolation and losses. It is a tenuous beginning, but one that speaks volumes about their insecurities and motivations. As we’ve come to expect, no-one, in the primary cast anyway, is a two-dimensional cut-out. They all have nuances and very human foibles.
Of course, so do the fairy-tale characters, as we will eventually learn. We come upon the valiant prince battling a brute of an opponent. Their one-on-one match turns out to be an audition for King Midas, who is seeking a champion to rid him of a troublesome dragon. The Prince bests the brute, and wins the job, along with the promise of the riches the King has at his fingertips. He is all set to rescue his struggling kingdom, until his opponent revives just long enough to impale him fatally.
The prince’s father, played by Alan Dale, in a much more satisfying appearance than his guest shot on “Person of Interest”, calls on, who else, the universal fixer, Rumplestiltskin. It turns out, he procured the boy in the first place. Rather than a supernarural deal to revive his son, Rumplestiltskin offers a more down-to-earth, if highly convenient, alternative: his twin brother. Before you can say “Prisoner of Zenda”, James has been plucked from his farm and his sheep to take the place of the brother he never knew he had.
The opening fight and the dragon hunt give the FX department their best chance to show off since the pilot., and they meet the challenge with some admirable eye candy. In addition, both battles side-step cliché. The first, with its denouement, and the second, with the unexpected cunning displayed by James in taking out the mythic creature.
The two stories follow parallel, but varied, paths, as each incarnation learns that things are not as simple as they seem. James learns that rather than return to his farm and his beloved mother, he is expected to wed Midas’ daughter, the shrill harpy first seen in “Snow Falls”. She remains a caricature for now. I will be very surprised if she is not given more depth as the story progresses. in any case, for the good of the kingdom (and to preserve his mother’s life, as Alan Dale drives a very hard bargain), James must give up all he holds dear. His return home is just a heart-wrenching last look.
Similarly, after pursuing Mary Margaret so single-mindedly that he overcomes her objections, David finally remembers his obligations. His marriage has problems, but he must try to overcome them. Realizing this after leading Mary Margaret to the brink and abandoning her there only compounds the heartache.
The teasers for the episode had hinted at the Prince recovering his memories. It was a nice twist to have them return to David instead. The scene in Mr. Gold’s shop where David sees the trigger, subtly planted right at the beginning, was beautifully played by Josh Dallas and the ever-impressive Robert Carlyle. I can only imagine how much fun Mr. Carlyle is having playing a double role with such contrasts. Conversely, Mr. Dallas is winning playing men who both prove to be of equally sterling character.
The show continues to confound expectations of a simplistic story by offering up layered and very human predicaments. Mary Margaret is left with the fickle, problematic attentions of Dr. Whale. At least we know she has MacCutheon scotch (this episode’s “Lost” easter egg, in honor of Alan Dale) in which to drown her sorrows.
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 3/4
Final Rating: 9/10
