Contributor: Edmund B.
Written by Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg
Directed by Milan Cheylov
After exploring the effects of the Curse lifting on Storybrooke, and Regina in particular, “Once Upon A Time” turns its attention to its main consequence, Emma and Snow’s exile in post-Curse Fairy-Tale Land. Returning home, despite the changes, strips all vestiges of Mary Margaret away from Snow, with a strong dose of Mama Bear instincts thrown in. With the signs pointing to an extended sojourn away from Storybrooke, there will be plenty of time for some familial bonding on both sides of the divide. Toss in an evil parent on each side, and there’s some intriguing possibilities being set up here.
Unfortunately, the supporting cast continues to be much less intriguing. There was no reason Mulan (and, inevitably, Aurora) needed to tag along. The action confirms Snow and Emma are quite capable on their own. Snow channeling Ripley to take out the ogre was the highlight of the episode. Putting the petulant pair right next to them only highlights their weaker scripting and performances. Plus, Emma could use some quality time alone with Mum to learn the evils of step-parents and why arrows work better than guns in fairy tales.
Barbara Hershey’s return and the introduction of Lancelot offered hope for the supporting cast. But the revelation of Cora shape-shifting into the dead Lancelot undercuts that. Lancelot is exiled to the flashbacks and can’t bolster the post-Curse crew. And if Cora is just showing up for the transformation scenes, the casting of whoever she’s impersonating becomes critical, and that’s where the record is spotty. However, making the post-Curse Land a continuing story is an opportunity to build a more substantial storyline, so there is hope of better to come. (Plus, I think they’re running out of Disney Princesses…the major ones, anyway.)
The show is now juggling the split present-day story with the usual Fairy Tale Land flashbacks. As ever, anything filling in Snow and Charming’s backstory works well. Lancelot’s role in the events leading up to their wedding makes his loss in the post-Curse world even more keenly felt. Having Charming’s killing of the siren last season reverberate back to a choice between his mother’s life or their future family added resonance to an already affecting story. Many a fairy tale hinges on whether parents act in the interests of their children or themselves, and the writers are mining that territory in all of these storylines.
Certainly, the question of what the resurrected Cora and King George are planning now hangs over the show. The presumption is something evil, but the show does seem to be returning to the more nuanced interpretations of the early episodes. Rumplestiltskin and Regina, in relation to Belle and Henry respectively, are already shifting into shades of gray. Whether they’re sincere or just a tactic, it’s creating some interesting paths for the show to go down. If they follow Robert Frost, and take the one less traveled by, it will make all the difference in how this season stacks up.
Acting: 1/2
Writing: 1/2
Directing: 2/2
Style: 3/4
Total Score: 7/10