Contributor: Edmund B.
Written by David H. Goodman and Robert Hull
Directed by David Solomon
After pilfering Wonderland for a Hatter last season, “Once Upon A Time” continues its forays into the fictional lands just over the horizon from the Enchanted Forest. Actually, we never make it to Neverland. We just find out how the Captain Hook got there, and how, apparently, Rumplestiltskin had a hand in every piece of villainy in the the Forest. So far, he’s been Cinderella’s fairy god-um-person, Belle’s Beast, and now Hook’s crocodile. It also means Mr. Gold, as well as Regina, has a reason to watch out whenever that portal back to Storybrooke appears.
After episodes focusing on Regina, then Snow and Charming, it’s Rumplestiltskin’s turn in the spotlight . Both his past and present stories involve him battling for a woman; his wife, Milah, in Fairy Tale Land and Belle in Storybrooke. He loses both of them, although Belle does survive, leaving him a chance for redemption on this side of the divide. It is intriguing that both his and Regina’s ruthlessness seems to be waning. Perhaps spending the years of the Curse as the only self-aware residents of Storybrooke has softened the hard edges and arrogance that drove them back home.
The flashbacks have given all the regulars a chance to show off different takes on their characters. Robert Carlyle has the most extreme swings, from miquetoast husband and father, to preening demon, to calculating conniver. The gold-skinned one is deliciously over the top. The banter during the duel with Captain Killian felt like “The Princess Bride” infused with the sinister menace of Stephen King. Then, he gets to contrast that with achingly heartfelt portrayals of the man he is on either side of the fiend. The pain of losing Milah again even comes through when he’s the Dark One. It’s what fuels his revenge, and forges Captain Hook’s own dark journey. It’s a veritable acting smorgasbord, and Carlyle is enjoying every moment.
Belle’s emancipation was a very welcome development. Seeing her stand up to Gold and her father turned the fairy-tale cliche of the dependent female on its head. In fact, I’m starting to see some stealth revisionism of the genre going on here. Storybrooke is populated by a growing number of strong, independent women, a point reinforced when Ruby supports Belle in her bid for freedom. (I’d mention it also made for the hottest booth in Storybrooke, but that would hardly be appropriate.) It’s almost biting the hand that feeds them to so ably demonstrate that, noble or commoner, these women are capable of fending for themselves, regardless of whether their prince ever comes along. And, with Snow, show that even if he does, you can still be your strong, proud self and they’ll love you all the more for it. I think that’s a role model any parent would be proud to offer their daughters.
Especially with the reveal of the Cora-Hook alliance at the close, I am increasingly convinced these changes of heart for Gold and Regina are genuine. There’s a Battle Royal brewing, and the lines are being drawn between the unadulterated evils of those left behind and those who have had their perspective altered by life in our world. Rumplestiltskin did teach both Cora and Regina, which should be an advantage. But Cora et al. have no compunction about doing whatever it takes to get their way. It looks like we may be in for a classic clash of power vs. principle. I haven’t felt this positive about the show for quite a while, but the last time was this far into season one. I hope they can maintain the momentum this time, but they’re certainly off to a good start.
Acting: 2/2
Writing: 2/2
Directing: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Total Score: 8/10
