"The Price" of Watching ONCE UPON A TIME

Article first published as ONCE UPON A TIME Review "The Price" on Seat42F.

ONCE UPON A TIME - "The Price" (ABC/Jack Rowand) JOSH DALLAS, GINNIFER GOODWIN

This week’s installment of ONCE UPON A TIME is entitled “The Price.” An evil creature is unleashed upon Storybrooke, coming to collect an unpaid price from magic used. Because only Emma (Jennifer Morrison) has memory of the past six weeks, only she knows why it’s here. She says it’s Regina (Lana Parrilla) who has drawn it to the hamlet. Can Regina step up and be the hero that the town needs?

I’d be lying if I said I weren’t enjoying the role reversal of Emma and Regina. Regina has long been my favorite character, and to see her trying to be the Savior while Emma descends into darkness is great. But I feel like “The Price” is a bit too on-the-nose in portraying this. The situation is too perfect, and because Robin Hood (Sean Maguire) is the life threatened, Regina doesn’t even have to be all that selfless to save him, already being in love with him. It would have been much more powerful to see Regina struggle to step up or do the unexpected for someone she doesn’t care as much about.

That being said, it’s satisfying that the town begins to back up Regina. Many do not believe she has it in her to be the Savior, Leroy (Lee Arenberg) chief among them. And Leroy is one who ends up supporting her and believing in her later. I am sure Regina can be a hero, though not entirely sure she can be the Savior. But I like that Regina has shown enough goodness that others are standing up and paying attention.

On the other hand, I am not entirely convinced Emma is as evil as she seems. She definitely has some darkness in her; the scene where she and the Dark One (Robert Carlyle) look at Excalibur shows she’s still trying to grab power. Yet, she isn’t actively trying to hurt anyone. Rumple, as the Dark One, didn’t always act malevolently. Often, he stayed at home and was just selfish. Emma is displaying the same characteristics, and it leaves me wondering why everyone is so bent on destroying the Dark One. Sure, they want Emma back, but it’s not like the Dark One seeks to kill everyone and destroy the town or anything.

There is the curse, though. Dopey steps across the town line and becomes wrapped up in a tree. Why has Emma cast this curse? What is her purpose? Why did she bring the Camelot group back with her? These are the unanswered questions that will give great insight into this year’s plot when they are revealed.

In Camelot, we see Percival (Andrew Jenkins) try to kill Regina, knowing she was the Evil Queen. He is stopped, David (Josh Dallas) slaying him, and that is when Emma uses deep magic to save Robin Hood at the request of Regina, spurring the creature who is in Storybrooke. (Albeit six weeks late, no? Did it get lost on the way?)

What confuses me is why Arthur (Liam Garrigan) and Guinevere (Joana Metrass) don’t raise a finger to defend their knight. True, these strangers in their midst have come as Merlin’s prophecy said they would, and the king and queen expect something to happen because of them. But why aren’t they more upset that one of their Round Table has been killed? Why does no one in the kingdom, people that know less about the prophecy, demand justice that the interlopers have killed one of their own? Doesn’t anyone seek to know why he attacked? Is the prophecy so clear and so important that and so widely known that the kingdom would allow friends to die in order to not stand in its way? I have serious doubts it will prove to clear this up.

“The Price” is a worrying hour. On the whole, it’s very enjoyable, with some great dialogue and performances. Yet, the holes I’m poking, while not entirely being exposed as flaws yet until we have more information, point to an uneven, non-cohesive story. ONCE UPON A TIME often falls into this trap, starting out strong and then losing steam along the way. It’s a little too early in the fall to be seeing these stumbles, and it makes me worry that season five will not pay off as it should.

At least we get to see Henry (Jared Gilmore) fall for young Violet (Olivia Steele-Falconer, Red Riding Hood) not once, but twice! That softens the blow of the underlying flaws of the hour.

ONCE UPON A TIME airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

"Dark" ONCE UPON A TIME

Article originally published as ONCE UPON A TIME Review The Dark Swan on Seat42F.

ONCE UPON A TIME - "The Dark Swan" JENNIFER MORRISON, ROBERT CARLYLE

ONCE UPON A TIME, there was an uneven series that lured its fans into false senses of security with excellent season openers and an occasional good run, but constantly disappointed in the end. This ABC drama returned for a fifth season tonight, and while the opener, “The Dark Swan,” is pretty promising, I don’t hold out high hopes that it will be able to maintain such quality, especially as there are worrying signs present.

As “The Dark Swan” begins, Emma (Jennifer Morrison) finds herself in the Enchanted Forest, haunted by the Dark One (Robert Carlyle) inside of her. She struggles to resist, remembering that, as a child (Mckenna Grace, The Young and the Restless), she was warned not to pull the sword from the stone. Since she will soon be in Camelot, this is wise advice to keep in mind. Oh, and she has a run in with wild, brave (hehe) red-head Merida (Amy Manson, Atlantis).

I really like the way Emma is handled in this episode. I was worried she’d immediately go evil, but instead, she really tries to keep herself in check with Merida, which wouldn’t be easy for the best of people. Emma may very well embrace her role as the Dark One, as the end of the hour indicates, but at least we know the Emma fans love is inside somewhere, doing her best to keep the power at bay.

Quick side note, why does ONCE UPON A TIME do another time jump and memory wipe? They’ve done it before, and I feel like they’re repeating themselves by doing it again. I understand it’s a hook meant to keep viewers coming back, but it has to organically fit in the story for it to not come across as a cheap stunt. It does not gel all that well in “The Dark Swan.”

Emma’s internal struggle raises an interesting point as it pertains to Rumple, the previous Dark One. Rumple manages to be good and redeem himself prior to his death in season three, but then reverts to a villain when he is brought back. If the Dark One’s hold is so strong that it cannot be overcome, how did Rumple manage to stay a hero for so long? And why didn’t ONCE UPON A TIME show us his warring as he fell back into old patterns?

An arc for Rumple similar to what Emma is going through now would have made the entire show make more sense and stave off some of the negative reviews I’d written in the past. The writers should take the opportunity no to bring this up, and even if it’s too late to entirely make up for that past mistake, it would still help a bit with the overall impression of the series.

Of course, the rest of our people will not let Emma sweat this out on her own. It’s a bit convoluted how it all comes about, but the eventual take away is that Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) allows Zelena (Rebecca Mader) to open a portal (and then she is recaptured), which Regina (Lana Parrilla) redirects to Emma. Mary Margaret (Ginnifer Goodwin), David (Josh Dallas), Henry (Jared Gilmore), Robin (Sean Maguire), and a surprising number of recurring players, including Granny (Beverly Elliott) and Leroy (Lee Arenberg), hitch a ride with our core cast in Granny’s diner on a twister.

The way the heroes get to the Enchanted Forest is fun and clever, though one wonders if it’s all not just a bit too much. Was it really necessary to bring the whole diner and get it operational again? I’m also super excited to see the dwarves and others come along, as Leroy rightly points out that they’ve been left out of the loop for far too long, but will they be well-used? And it’s weird they bring a baby with them, isn’t it?

I’m excited about Emma’s arc, a meatier role for supporting players, and the inclusion of King Arthur (Liam Garrigan, The Pillars of the Earth) and his realm. I’m worried about the amount of characters drawn unnecessarily into the primary arcs and that ONCE UPON A TIME has a track record of good starts that they can’t maintain. This doesn’t stop “The Dark Swan” from being a mostly enjoyable hour, but does not necessarily bode well for upcoming installments.

ONCE UPON A TIME airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

ONCE UPON A TIME Stumbles On "Rocky Road"

Article first published as ONCE UPON A TIME Review Season 4 Episode 3 Rocky Road on Seat42F.

This week’s installment of ABC’s ONCE UPON A TIME, “Rocky Road,” is an interesting because it’s full of exposition, leaving us with more questions than answers. As our heroes race to save a slowly-freezing-to-death Marian (Christie Laing), they encounter a new villain who seems a little too familiar with them. In flashback, the introduction of said baddie doesn’t exactly match up with what’s happening in Storybrooke, indicating that there are more secrets that must come out to understand the tale.

The “monster” is the Snow Queen (Elizabeth Mitchell). Trapped in an urn, locked in a cave, she is accidentally freed by Hans (Tyler Jacob Moore, Shameless) as he attempts to capture Elsa (Georgina Haig) and steal her kingdom. Once she is freed, it is Hans that is in trouble, and Elsa looks to have a new mentor in the woman that claims to be her aunt.

Yet, in Storybrooke, the Snow Queen isn’t so benevolent. She has attacked Marian for unknown reasons, and tells Elsa that Elsa was locked in an urn by Anna and that the Rock Trolls erased Elsa’s memory. Elsa can’t believe Anna would entrap her in such a way, and is confused by what has been supposedly removed from her brain, kicking off a whole new set of mysteries.

This is a pretty compelling narrative, two sisters on their own quests, long separated, beset by challenges. They will surely find their way back to one another because fairy tales have happy endings (usually), but it’s clearly not going to be easy, and the fall run of ONCE UPON A TIME will document that.

We are also briefly introduced to new main character Will Scarlet (Michael Socha), a.k.a. The Knave. We don’t know why he’s come over from Wonderland (he starred in the short-lived spin-off of this series) or gone back to his thieving ways, but his introduction is a fun one, and I look forward to hearing why he isn’t still with the Red Queen, who should be by his side, and hopefully will be again.

Some fans of the series are sure to be disappointed by “Rocky Road” and the episodes surrounding it because of how heavily it leans on the guest characters. Elsa and the Snow Queen aren’t part of the core cast, and by focusing on them so much, it gives the more familiar people less screen time. Personally, while I would like to get back to some of the larger arcs that seem to move so slowly, I am enjoying this Frozen tale, and I think the recent hours are good enough that I don’t have much reason to complain, at least not about story structure.

After all, there’s still development for most of the main cast. Emma (Jennifer Morrison) uses her powers to good effect in “Rocky Road,” and she finally confesses to Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) why she’s keeping him at arm’s length. It’s not him, of course, it’s that every man she gets close to winds up dead, which sort of backs up what Elsa tells Hook, that responsibility trumps personal feelings. And we see Mary Margaret (Ginnifer Goodwin) adjusting to motherhood and a mayorship, two tough challenges that she honestly should be doing better with, but she’s getting there. Her story is a little lame (Mysteries of Laura style), but at least she has something to do, which isn’t always the case.

Best of all, there is movement on both of Regina’s (Lana Parrilla) fronts. First, she teams up with a willing Henry (Jared Gilmore) to find the author of the storybook so she can get a happy ending. It’s cool to see how amazed she is when Henry jumps at the chance to help her, and it’s nice knowing he’ll make sure she doesn’t turn back to the dark side to get what she wants. He anchors her to her heart, and she doesn’t deserve to backslide after coming so far. Robin Hood (Sean Maguire) also admits to Regina he’s still in love with her but just can’t be with her, which does seem to soften Regina’s bitterness, just a little. Let’s hope Robin comes clean with Marian that it just isn’t working between them anymore, which could, but probably won’t, create a new villain.

How weird is it that Regina removes Marian’s heart? I have no idea what the implications of this will be, but I dig the twist.

I don’t like a couple of things going on this season. I still hate how Rumple (Robert Carlyle) has slipped back into his shameful ways, and I really don’t like that Hook is covering for him, though I’m sure Hook just sees it as none of his business. It also doesn’t feel right that Granny (Beverly Elliott), Grumpy (Lee Arenberg), and the other townsfolk should turn so cruelly on Mary Margaret. They’ve been through so much together; they should be more understanding, and it seems out of character that they are not.

Fans of Marvel might also have caught the Thor and Avengers comic books Regina gives Henry. It’s a shameless bit of cross promotion, but nothing new for ONCE UPON A TIME. At least it’s worked into the story nicely, the illustrated tales being compared to Henry’s storybook. Any chance there might one day by an Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. / ONCE UPON A TIME crossover event? It would be incredibly hard to do correctly, so I’m guessing not, even though it could be awesome.

“Rocky Road” isn’t the best episode because it doesn’t have a lot that makes it stand on its own. But I did find it enjoyable, and it planted the seeds for what I assume will be some neat things coming up. For that reason, it works.

ONCE UPON A TIME airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

ONCE UPON A TIME, There Was a "Lost Girl"

Article first published as ONCE UPON A TIME Review Season 3 Episode 2 Lost Girl on Seat42F.

This week’s ONCE UPON A TIME is called “Lost Girl,” and unlike other episodes, the action is kept solidly in Neverland, with neither the Enchanted Forest nor Storybrooke glimpsed in the present timeline. We do get flashbacks to the E.F., but those are in the past, and meant to echo the journey our hero faces in the main thread. The rumors are correct, Neverland is dangerous and dark. Will our beloved characters make it through the woods intact?

The challenge of “Lost Girl” is finding oneself. Emma (Jennifer Morrison) is the titular Lost Girl, having been an orphan who, even after finding her parents as an adult, doesn’t understand where she fits in the world, feeling lonely and adrift. Peter Pan (Robbie Kay) asks her to face that part of herself this week in order to complete her quest to find Henry (Jared Gilmore).

The main relationship Emma must examine to find this missing element is that between her and her parents, Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Charming (Josh Dallas). Early in the episode, Snow tells Emma she can should feel free to call her “Mom,” but that doesn’t go over very well with Emma. This, despite the fact that Snow acts more mom-like to Emma in “Lost Girl” than I think we’ve ever seen her before, actually seemingly wise beyond the young age she appears. It isn’t until late in the hour, though, when Snow prompts Emma to explain an action, that Emma lets loose and admits the hole in her heart.

This is a vital part of Emma that has been glossed for most of ONCE UPON A TIME’s run. We know that Snow and Charming sent Emma out into the world alone, effectively leaving her an orphan. But we rarely see the effect that their actions have had on Emma, who puts up a brave, bold front. In “Lost Girl,” Emma has to face those unresolved issues, causing further rift between the family, though opening up the possibility of healing, now that the cards are on the table.

One must assume Pan is cruel to Emma because Emma abandoned Henry, and so Pan knows Emma is someone who created an orphan. Being one himself, Pan is protective and soft-hearted towards those without parents, and even though that category describes Emma, the fact that she perpetuated the trend means she cannot be part of Pan’s gang.

Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) tells Emma that Pan is one of the most dangerous villains in any realm, and this episode backs up Hook’s claim. Pan is playing a game with Emma, true, but he is far from playful. When Emma allows Regina (Lana Parrilla) to cheat Pan’s rules, Pan reacts by attacking, and only calls off his boys after Charming is infected with a poison. This shows not only is Pan cruel, he is without mercy, punishing any infraction severely.

Of course, Charming hides his deadly injury from everyone, but that’s a story for another episode.

It remains to be seen if Emma can hold her group together long enough to defeat Pan. It’s already cracking, with her strained relationship with her parents and Regina being the outsider. At least Hook is easy-going, following Emma willingly, but that just may be because he wants in her pants. Which might happen, considering Emma relies on him as an ear to talk to, her options being limited.

I do think Emma will rise to the occasion. We see Snow do so in flashback, a tale in which Charming tricks her into thinking she has pulled Excalibur from a stone, giving Snow the confidence to stand up to Regina. There is definitely a strong trend in the family to be a leader who triumphs. Snow and Charming’s time is past, and now it’s Emma’s turn. She will prevail.

Elsewhere in Neverland, Belle (Emilie de Ravin) appears to Rumple (Robert Carlyle) at a crucial time. Rumple is off by himself, and that’s not a good thing. Rumple is often alone while being the Dark One, and it seems he needs loved ones to make him do the right thing. By himself, he gives into the worst parts of his nature. Here, the vision of Belle reminds him to hang onto the good things, even if she isn’t really there for him.

It’s cool that Rumple has the sense to summon Belle’s visage. This shows a turning point for him, as we never saw Bae appear to him after Rumple’s son fell through the portal. Maybe this Rumple has come too far to backslide into what he was in the Enchanted Forest. If so, he may end up actually being the hero Henry needs him to be.

Other fantastic bits in this episode: Pan psyching Emma out when he says Henry won’t want to go home with her; Hook and Emma sharing rum, the solution to all of life’s problems; Hook threatening Felix (Parker Croft) by reminding the lost boy what Hook did to Rufio, a character not see before in ONCE UPON A TIME, but clearly a reference to the movie Hook; Hook asking about the movie-version of himself, and wondering what a perm is; Grumpy (Lee Arenberg) and the dwarves bonding with Charming; Rumple being clever enough to cut off his own shadow, which he sends to hide the dagger.

The relationships and character exploration in “Lost Girl” are what makes this a top-notch episode. It’s a little sad to be missing other plots, but I guess that’s the trade-off for having the flashbacks, a trade I would gladly make the other choice with. Even so, the writing seems to have gone up another level this year, and the series gets better with each passing season.

ONCE UPON A TIME airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Blu-ray Review: 'Once Upon A Time The Complete Second Season'

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: 'Once Upon A Time The Complete Second Season' on Blogcritics.

ABC’s Once Upon a Time, despite a rough start, has quickly become one of network television’s best shows. The Complete Second Season, now available on Blu-ray and DVD, is a great example of the series’ strength, with some of the best episodes to date, and the addition of some intriguing new characters and plots.

As season two opens with “Broken,” the curse has been lifted and everyone in Storybrooke knows they are characters from the Enchanted Forest, though they retain the memories of their time spent in our world. Dealing with these duel identities and finding a way forward, while keeping in mind of the past, is a major push in the second season. With the secrets and mysteries of the first year blown wide open, it’s a reset, and also a source of momentum for the story.

This finding oneself theme is most evident in the villainous characters. We see Regina’s (Lana Parrilla) tragic introduction to magic in “We Are Both,” and she struggles to regain her lost soul in the present, with her love for Henry (Jared S. Gilmore) serving as a life preserver. She backslides throughout other installments, but always finds herself again. She has a long journey ahead of her, but there are hints that she might overcome her flaws.

Similarly, Mr. Gold (Robert Carlyle) wants to be a better person for Belle (Emilie de Ravin), as well as for his son, Bae (Michael Raymond-James), who re-enters the tale in a big way mid-year. This is not an easy road for Gold, as the hold the Dark One and magic have over him is strong. Dangers prompt him to keep his power close, and test his mettle. Like Regina, he is no where near redemption, but that path is open to him.

To replace these two, as Once Upon a Time must have bad guys, we get Cora (Barbara Hershey), a.k.a. The Queen of Hearts, and Captain Hook (Colin O’Donoghue), the former of which is truly evil, and the latter perhaps just misguided, but with some sort of honor code. Later, Tamara (Sonequa Martin-Green, The Walking Dead) and Owen (Ethan Embry), intruders from the world at large, serve a similar dynamic. These four characters illustrate the show’s ability to have both black-and-white roles that serve a purpose, and layered ones that seem realistic, similar to the fairy tale-real world settings. It’s quite impressive.

Once Upon a Time does occasionally suffer from a sprawling cast, especially when Emma (Jennifer Morrison) and Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin) are stranded in the Enchanted Forest, dividing the viewers’ attention in too many places at once, but it does strive to keep the core people at its center. To that end, Archie (Raphael Sbarge) and August (Eion Bailey) are demoted to recurring status at the start of year two. They are still present, but don’t necessarily need their own plots very often, pushed back into the larger fabric of the many villagers, some important, some less so, that make the world feel complete.

I would argue Red (Meghan Ory) also belongs in this secondary group, though she is promoted to main character for this season, and may not return at all next year. Belle is a similar situation, yet there have been hints that an increased role might be in store for her, so her upgrade is welcome, if she is well-used in the future. The third new central player, Hook, is not only pivotal often throughout these twenty-two episodes, but a compelling player who fans have rallied behind, so it makes sense to retain him.

Among the stand-out episodes in The Complete Second Season are: “Tallahassee,” in which we meet Tiny (Jorge Garcia, Lost), a kind giant, and see Neal and Emma’s back story; “Child of the Moon,” which reveals the true Red; “The Cricket Game,” in which it appears Archie has been murdered; “In the Name of the Brother,” a story that adds Frankenstein mythology to the universe; “Manhattan,” which brings several central players in New York City; “The Miller’s Daughter,” where Snow battles darkness; “Welcome to Storybrooke,” in which a stranger comes to town in Storybrooke’s first days; and the two-hour finale “Second Star to the Right; And Straight On ’til Morning,” where the town’s very existence is threatened, thieves attempt to take magic out of this place, and the core cast bands together for a hero’s journey into season three.

The special features on Once Upon a Time The Complete Second Season are pretty great. Of the deleted scenes, a couple are wonderful character moments that should not be missed. The blooper reel is genuinely funny. There are several insightful commentaries, including one with the great writer Jane Espenson which is only included on the Blu-ray version. Also exclusive to the Blu-ray is an explanation of Henry’s family tree, which has gotten quite twisted over the years. Plus, there are five minutes with O’Donoghue which should please many female friends.

The best inclusion is a twelve-minute episode of “Good Morning Storybrooke.” Hosted by The League‘s Paul Scheer and Community‘s Yvette Nicole Brown, as fictional characters, it is a parody-like morning show set in the world of the show. While sometimes a little hokey, and not always quite in keeping with the established mythology (a note to Ariel, who isn’t in Storybrooke? Red acting nervous? Gold being too salesman-y?), it does feature many of the supporting ensemble, and is highly entertaining. Plus, there is a fantastic Lost reference, and we finally get to see Grumpy (Lee Arenberg) and Nova (Amy Acker) reconnect!

Lastly, there’s an unnecessary “Girl Power” featurette celebrating the strong women on the show for, um, I guess, people who don’t pay attention, since Once Upon a Time has never made any secret of featuring powerful females. But there may be some very young women out there who appreciate it.

Besides the couple of exclusive features, checking out the Blu-ray version is necessary because of the type of production this is. While not all of the CGI sets look spectacular in HD, the physical places, which are highly detailed, really do. Not to mention the rich costumes and great magic bits, which deserve to be examined closely, as do the amazing emotions that dance across many a face. There is a beautiful, sweeping soundtrack, so to get the crystal clear audio and visual presentation, high definition is a must.

Overall, this is a terrific release, one that will satisfy fans who crave a little more from their extras, and a superb season with some really exciting, moving stories. Once Upon a Time The Complete Second Season is available now.

Morning Dawns On Once Upon a Time

Article first published as ONCE UPON A TIME RECAP Season 2 Episode 22 And Straight On 'Til Morning on Seat42F.

Grade: 99%

ABC’s ONCE UPON A TIME ended their freshman run with a completely unexpected development which completely changed the focus of the series. This week’s sophomore season finale, “And Straight on ‘Til Morning,” does much the same thing, switching the rules again, and moving both the setting and missions for season three.

Early in the episode, Greg (Ethan Embry) and Tamara (Sonequa Martin-Green) activate the trigger that will destroy Storybrooke, killing all of its fairy-tale-land-born inhabitants. From there, it’s a race against time to either escape this realm or stop the catastrophe from happening.

But as pressing an issue as the trigger may be, the story, as usual, all comes down to character development. Regina (Lana Parrilla) created the trigger, so she decides to sacrifice herself, slowing the trigger enough for everyone else to escape. She knows she isn’t accepted by anyone in town, and this final act might make up for some of the bad stuff she’s down, as well as redeem herself in Henry’s (Jared Gilmore) eyes. It’s sad that she feels this is the only thing she can do, but she’s right, and her actions earn her forgiveness from everyone in town.

It’s weird to see the fairy tale folk jump to Regina’s defense, Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) being the lone hold out. None of these people like her, and she has caused such irreparable harm to their lives. Even if she does the right thing in the end, it would test the level of forgiveness of any sane person to be able to look past Regina’s spells and feel bad for her. I guess it proves just how good-natured and heroic the main characters are to be able to do this.

This pays off for Regina because Emma (Jennifer Morrison), David (Josh Dallas), Mary Margaret (Ginnifer Goodwin), and Henry try to come to her rescue, negating the sacrifice, but it’s the thought that counts, right? They refuse to leave her behind, no matter how tempting that might be. This is the satisfying culmination of Regina’s road towards trying to be good.

I’m not saying Regina will always be on the right side from here on out. Every tale needs conflict, and Regina is a wonderful source of said tension for ONCE UPON A TIME. But by taking her so far onto the positive side of the line, she is bound to keep working with her former foes, who are her family, for the foreseeable future. She’s earned her place in their eyes, and that should have lasting effect.

Sadly, the plan to save Regina almost fails because of Hook’s betrayal, and Emma has to step in with her own power. Together, Regina and Emma cancel out the trigger, thus proving just how strong they are when working in concert. I have a feeling this team up will be important again soon enough, as they will face huge challenges in the future.

While everyone is distracted with stopping the trigger, Greg and Tamara kidnap Henry and jump through a portal into Neverland. Apparently, they work for “Him,” who has been searching for Henry, and thus the trigger is not their end game. These are smart villains who manage to trick our heroes, and that makes them all the more dangerous.

Thankfully, this means they will have to stick around the series in some capacity, Martin-Green’s availability permitting, now that she’s full-time on The Walking Dead. And we still don’t know why Henry has been singled out, or what their intentions with him are, so there’s lots to ponder this summer.

We get a little glimpse of Neverland in “And Straight on ‘Til Morning” as Bae (Dylan Schmid), in flashback, sails on Hook’s ship among the crew. It looks like a terrible place, with the pirates (except for Hook) afraid of the sinister Lost Ones, led by Peter Pan. Peter Pan is not the Big Bad, it seems, but is in service of “Him.” This is a very dark world, and not one anyone would be anxious to venture into it.

Again, what we are shown of Neverland is secondary to a character-driven story, this one focusing on Hook. Hook is a scoundrel, but he has the capacity for good. He protects Bae for his own selfish reasons, out of love for the departed Milah (Rachel Shelley), but then softens towards him. Then he hands Bae over to the Lost Ones. In the present day, Hook betrays Emma, but then comes back and lends his ship and his services to the protagonists.

Is Hook good or is he evil? He definitely realizes that a life bent on revenge is not a life well-lived, but it almost seems like he doesn’t quite know how to be good. Like Regina, he has a bad childhood, mentioned in “And Straight on ‘Til Morning,” and thus finds it hard to make the right choices. But also like Regina, he comes through in the end, making him not completely despicable. It will be interesting to see how he continues to evolve next year, now firmly ensconced with the principal cast.

Unfortunately, or fortunately for an interesting story’s sake, Neverland, with all of its unknown threats, including mermaid curses, will be a major setting next season. This installment ends not only with Greg, Tamara, and Henry going there, but with Hook, Emma, Mary Margaret, David, Regina, and Gold (Robert Carlyle) following in pursuit.

Gold, too, learns to turn his back on his darker nature when he not only spares Henry, whom he considers killing early in the hour, but also sets aside his differences with Hook. It seems Neal’s apparent demise has the desired effect, making Gold questions his priorities and make the right decisions. Yes, there is still a hint of threat in Gold talking to Hook, but they are going to be working together, and Gold is definitely not trying to kill Henry anymore. This is where fans want his character to be.

However, I and many others are very disappointed that Belle (Emilie de Ravin), memory restored through an act of kindness by Grumpy (Lee Arenberg), doesn’t get on the Jolly Roger with the rest, Gold leaving her in charge of protecting the town.. It’s clear that the story of ONCE UPON A TIME is leaving Storybrooke next year, with the entire core contingent departing. This likely means Belle will be downgraded back to recurring player, and won’t have more scenes with Gold anytime soon.

The same can likely be said for Ruby (Meghan Ory), who has been absent from the past few episodes, including the season finale, and has a pilot just picked up by CBS. I hate that ONCE UPON A TIME so frequently dispenses with main characters, even if they aren’t vital to the continued tale, and Ruby and Belle seem to be the latest casualties of this trend.

Neal (Michael Raymond-James) could still be promoted to series lead, though, because, as we find out at the end of “And Straight on ‘Til Morning,” he’s still alive and in fairy tale land with Aurora (Sarah Bolger), Mulan (Jamie Chung), and Phillip (Julian Morris). None of these three are principal players, but Neal is so pivotal to the larger arcs that his latest adventure could steal some screen time away from the rest of the leads. I welcome that.

ONCE UPON A TIME delivers a fantastic finale, with some major developments, unexpected twists, and wonderfully written and performed roles, with Parrilla and O’Donoghue sharing the MVP title for the hour. I am super excited about what will come next, and anxiously await its return next fall, as it has been renewed.

Once Upon a Time chases a dream

This week's installment of ABC's Once Upon a Time, "Dreamy," is another love story, ending just as tragically as the others told so far. Sort of. In the fairy tale world, a dwarf named Dreamy (Lee Arenberg, the Pirates of the Caribbean movies) meets a fairy named Nova (the wonderful Amy Acker, Angel, Dollhouse). They are instantly smitten and would like to run off together. Sadly, neither fairies nor dwarfs are supposed to be able to fall in love, and so the bosses of both, Bossy (Ken Kramer) and the Blue Fairy (Keegan Connor Tracy, Battlestar Galactica), plot to discourage this union. The breakup succeeds, and Dreamy, in his despair, is renamed Grumpy.

In the "real" world, the same story pretty much plays out again. Leroy (Arenberg) is the town drunk whom no one likes, and Astrid (Acker) is a nun whose mistake is about to earn her fellow sisters eviction. Leroy has big plans, vowing to sell 1,000 candles to pay their rent to Mr. Gold (Robert Carlyle), who is not interested in a compromise. Leroy fails, deeply disappointing Astrid, especially because he lies about it at first. However, this time Leroy finds a way to circumvent authority and save the day, selling the candles, and making Astrid very, very happy.

These two plots, paralleling each other throughout "Dreamy," expose an element of the universes that Once Upon a Time has not spent a lot of time on: things can be done over. Most of the characters are happier in the magical land, prior to the curse that brings them into reality and wipes their memories. However, Leroy and Astrid are not. Their fantasy story ends with sadness. Now, they get a second chance, and things go right. Leroy has learned his lesson, even if he doesn't remember being taught it, and he makes things better for himself.

Will this bloom into a full-scale romance for Astrid and Leroy? It's hard to think of a reason why not. Sure, Astrid is a nun, but she doesn't necessarily have to stay one forever.

The bigger question is, what will happen when the curse ends, as it eventually must? Will Leroy, returning to being Grumpy, go back to working in the mines, missing Nova terribly? Or will their union survive the transition, both secure in the fact that they belong together?

Of course, there could always be another fairy tale story, untold at this point, where Grumpy sees the error of his ways and makes things right with Nova. But that doesn't really fit the framework Once Upon a Time is building, and it isn't likely from the current perspective.

Wherever the story chooses to go from here, it cannot take away from the fact that "Dreamy" delivers a sweet love story, wherein two unlikely souls find their mates in an unexpected and outside-of-the-box way. It's a timeless tale that never gets old, and touches many hearts. And by using minor characters not explored too much in the traditional bedtime stories, Once Upon a Time frees itself up to go any way that it desires, without worrying about being hemmed in by traditional tellings.

Also, when Mary Margaret (Ginnifer Goodwin) needs a friend, it's the best one of her dwarfs that comes to her aid. This is a point that should not be overlooked, as a theme of Once Upon a Time is that kindred spirits are drawn together, whatever world they happen to be in. Leroy doesn't abandon Mary Margaret, just as surely as Grumpy would never abandon Snow White. Perhaps it appears that Leroy isn't looking out for MM, but there's an undercurrent there, all the same.

Once Upon a Time doesn't spend a lot of time on the sweet. Instead, much of the series' plot focuses on the darkness that the curse places on Storybrooke. This continues in small segments in this week's "Dreamy," as Regina (Lana Parrilla) plots to frame David (Josh Dallas) for Kathryn's (Anastasia Griffith, Royal Pains, Damages) disappearance. Emma (Jennifer Morrison) suspects that the clues are not adding up correctly, but by not following up these false leads as if they might be real, it puts her job as sheriff at risk.

Clearly, David is not responsible. Any attempt to convict him of such a crime is silly, and stretches out a story that doesn't make any viewer happy. However, there must always be obstacles to overcome if a hero is going to win any battle, and these latest machinations by Regina are just that. What's more, with David and Mary Margaret loathed by the public, it's likely that many characters will believe the evidence against David, no matter how fake it is.

What will Emma do to save David? How can Mary Margaret begin to get her reputation back? It's these questions that are central to the arcs of Once Upon a Time, though, as interesting as the central story is, it's nice to get a break from this for most of "Dreamy."

"Dreamy" establishes a lot of back story for Snow White's (Goodwin) best pals. Now fans know that the dwarfs are hatched in groups of eight (Stealthy, the 8th of this most famous brood, is killed in an earlier episode). They toil in the mines, and make the fairy dust that powers the world. They are named by their axes, which provides a wonderful one-liner about trusting Doc's (David Paul Grove, Elf) medical credentials. There are no female dwarfs. And they cannot fall in love.

While much of this is purely exposition and trivia, it could be important in some way to future stories. Plus, it's just plain cool to get all of these reveals, and enrich the personalities of Snow White's friends. And it's cool to know there are many other dwarfs, such as Bossy and Watchy (Richard Ian Cox, Nana, InuYasha), which expands the world of these beings.

Perhaps most strange in "Dreamy" is the unlikely appearance of a character in an unexpected place. Belle (Emilie de Ravin) is in the bar with the dwarfs, apparently sometime during her plot from the recent (awesome) episode "Skin Deep." She adds a little to this story, encouraging Grumpy to follow his heart. But one must wonder if perhaps the creative team behind Once Upon a Time was so entranced with Ravin's take on the character of Belle that they forced her into an episode that she didn't really belong in, just to use her again. It's great to see her, but the brief cameo only left dissatisfaction, since it really added nothing to her story.

Once Upon a Time may have stumbled in the first couple of episodes, but it has grown into a must-see favorite every week, with consistently good storytelling and acting. Watch it Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

MORE: If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Catch up with streaming episodes of Once Upon a Time. Article first published as TV Review: Once Upon a Time - "Dreamy" on Blogcritics.