HEROES REBORN Rises From the Dead

Article originally published as HEROES REBORN Review on Seat42F.

More than five years ago, NBC’s Heroes ended their four-season run with a barely-begun Volume 6, “Brave New World,” and the words To Be Continued… Now, HEROES REBORN finally gives us that “Brave New World,” the title of its first episode back, as it begins a new Volume 1.

Because a number of years have passed since the events of Heroes, the new show can’t just jump right in. We get a series of flashbacks to introduce a number of the new players, as well as a huge, traumatic event that shakes the world. Then, the action picks up one year later, with the world living in fear of the Evos (what those with powers are called), and a fresh batch of heroes in hiding. The one man who may be able to usher them into a new era is the one who resisted attempts to change the world in the first place, and a familiar face.

Yes, Noah Bennet, a.k.a. HRG (for Horn-Rimmed Glasses), is the bridge between Heroes and HEROES REBORN. Having lost his estranged daughter, Claire, in the big attack, Noah (Jack Coleman) is trying to build a new life for himself. But HRG was never one able to sit on the sidelines, and as soon as Quentin Frady (Henry Zebrowski, A to Z) enters his life, it takes little prodding to get him back on track.

HRG is the perfect character to continue the story. He is involved with many of the heroes, but isn’t a hero himself. He also has history with The Company, which is very much a part of the new conspiracy and story. He is the relatable everyman, while also being the mysterious guy in the know. And his presence, a strong one in the new miniseries, is part of the reason that HEROES REBORN feels just like another season of Heroes.

Now, Heroes itself was a mixed bag, but in the early days, it was very good, and HEROES REBORN gets us back to those early days. There’s a lot going on that the audience doesn’t realize and must figure out. There is a high school student just learning how his abilities work. There are a pair of adorable Japanese geeks. There is a man who resists stepping up, but must in order to protect those he cares about. The Haitian (Jimmy Jean-Louis) may hold the answers. Mohinder (Sendhil Ramamurthy) is on the run from the law, presumably framed for something he didn’t do. So yep, pretty much the same stuff.

I mention Mohinder and The Haitian, and both are part of the two-hour premiere, sort of. They are not the only people who get shout-outs from the past, and I’m sure there will be others. One former player, in particular, has a surprising role in the second hour. But like Heroes, which introduced new players each season, HEROES REBORN keeps the world alive and growing, while bringing in fresh elements, with a bit more overhaul than previous new seasons.

There are a bunch of faces we’re seeing for the first time that are quite welcome. Tommy (Robbie Kay, Once Upon a Time) is the aforementioned high schooler who, like Claire, is hunted and must stay in the shadows. Kaye is a very talented young actor, and the perfect choice to continue this tradition. We also meet Luke (Zachary Levi, Chuck) and Joanne Collins (Judith Shekoni, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2), who have lost a son and seek revenge, as well as a mysterious man (Pruitt Taylor Vince, Deadwood), whose intentions are unknown. This grouping is the second big story, aside from HRG’s, that plays into the main mythology.

HEROES REBORN also needs a bit of humor, as Heroes had, and that’s where Miko (Kiki Sukezane, The Yokai King) and Ren (Toru Uchikado) come into play, serving much the same purpose as Hiro and Ando did in the first go-round. They’ll get involved with everyone else, eventually, but first they have their own quest.

Basically, HEROES REBORN re-creates what was great about Heroes, makes good use of its forbearer, and still manages to seem fresh and interesting. I hope this miniseries ends up being the start of another multi-season run, as the initial installments prove that the franchise has plenty of life left in it. As long as this time quality is maintained, perhaps partially by keeping the seasons shortened to thirteen episodes, as this one is, it would be great to get another four years.

HEROES REBORN premieres Thursday, September 24^th at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

ONCE UPON A TIME is "Going Home" Happy

Article first published as ONCE UPON A TIME Review Season 3 Episode 11 Going Home at Seat42F.

ABC’s ONCE UPON A TIME is “Going Home” in the midseason finale. Pan (Robbie Kay) unleashes his curse on Storybrooke, which will wipe everyone’s memories and allow him to build a town full of people suffering at his hand. As the others race to stop him, it soon becomes clear that the magic required to defeat the villain will come with a very steep price, and the sacrifices must be made by those who, in the past, have seemed least likely to put others first.

It’s a surprise when Pan kills Felix (Parker Croft). It shouldn’t be, as we’ve seen that Regina (Lana Parrilla) had to murder her own father to enact the first curse. But for some reason, it comes as a minor shock, perhaps because Pan doesn’t telegraph it all. Nor does Pan seem to love Felix, which makes him feel like an unworthy sacrifice, but since Pan loves no one, I guess Felix is the closest person in the world to him. Which means Pan would rule the new Storybrooke completely alone. I wonder if he would cope with it better than Regina did? Probably.

Not that Pan gets the chance to find out. Rumple (Robert Carlyle) has a semi-complicated plan. They must get the black fairy’s wand (who is she and why haven’t we seen this character before?) to switch Henry (Jared Gilmore) and Pan back to their bodies, then Henry can bring the curse scroll to Regina to destroy. No one worries that Henry will suddenly be by evil Felix’s side when the swap occurs (thankfully, Felix is dead by that point, but they don’t know that), and not a single character asks Rumple ahead of time what the price may be, even as Rumple warns them about the cost (why not?).

The wand proves difficult to come by as Pan’s shadow guards it and hovers above where Neal (Michael Raymond-James) can use his coconut to nab it. Cue Tink (Rose McIver) believing in herself enough to reactive the pixie dust and fly up. It’s a simple solution that seems a little too easy, but it’s a story point that has to happen for Tink, so that’s excusable. Then Tink kills the shadow, which seems a little out of character, since up until now, we haven’t seen our heroes execute the bad guys, though Tink isn’t exactly the pure moral soul that Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin) is.

Somehow, killing the shadow brings Blue (Keegan Connor Tracy) back from the dead. Does that mean others the shadow has murdered are alive again, too? Will there be any implications from this (probably not)? We have to have Blue remain in the show because she ties into everything and gets to give Tink back her more-than-earned wings. But I’m not completely clear on this plot point.

Then, Rumple uses the wand to make the body switch, putting the magic-blocking cuff on Pan. This proves ineffective, as after everyone leaves Rumple around with his father, Pan wakes up, declares he made the cuff and is thus immune to it, and slaps it on Rumple. Rumple is a very smart man, and while we know Pan is devious to be steps ahead, does Rumple really think it’s enough precaution just to put a cuff on Pan, with no other back up? No wonder Rumple gets his butt kicked.

However, right after that we get the most emotional scene in “Going Home.” With a frozen Bae, Belle (Emilie de Ravin), and others, including the entire main cast, looking on, Rumple has his shadow return the Dark One’s dagger to him and uses it to kill both himself and his father. It’s the ultimate act of redemption, a hero’s death, and everyone is affected by it, even Hook (Colin O’Donoghue). And thank goodness Rumple doesn’t cut off his arm, which is what his first though appears to be after being cuffed.

Many fans think that Rumple is not really dead, and that could be; he disappears in a puff of smoke. But if he is alive, does that mean his father, Pan, now reverted to the older form of Colin (Stephen Lord), is alive, too, to cause more trouble? And if somehow only Rumple survives, is he no longer the Dark One? And how will his friends and family see him differently, since he sacrificed himself for them? Whatever happens, whether Rumple is dead or alive, this teary scene should definitely have ripples later in the story.

With Pan gone, the only thing to do now is to stop the curse. Regina reveals that means everyone is “Going Home” to the Enchanted Forrest, with Storybrooke never having existed, including in Henry’s memories. See, Henry was born in the real world, so even though his parents both hail from fairy tale land, he can’t go back with them, nor remember Storybrooke at all. (So he’s an anchor baby? That doesn’t quite add up to me). Emma (Jennifer Morrison), being the Savior, is a loophole in the curse, so she can stay with Henry under the same restrictions (OK, this does make sense). Regina offers them nice, false memories of a happy life together to fill the gap.

This is almost as big a moment of redemption for Regina as Rumple’s scene is for him. She has to give up the thing she loves most – Henry – sacrificing her own happiness. However, she does it directly for her child, so one could argue a small bit of selfishness, too. Still, it’s awfully nice words that Regina says to Emma upon their departure, and it solidifies the change that ONCE UPON A TIME no longer has a villain in the main cast, no matter what Regina and Rumple call themselves in the end.

The goodbyes for everyone, who have time to gather and walk to the town line, even though Grumpy (Lee Arenberg) already told them the curse was coming from all sides in a panic-stricken tone, are heartfelt and sad. Emma is losing the family she always wanted, and even though she gets to keep Henry, it’s not enough. At least Snow, Charming, and the others will remember Emma, but it’s not a two way street. Neal pledges to find them again, and of course, someone must, or the series would cease to be what it is.

But it’s not Neal who shows up at Henry and Emma’s door in New York (why not Boston?) one year later. It’s Hook. Since Emma doesn’t remember him, and she’s not in love with him so his unwanted half-kiss does nothing to bring back her memories, he definitely has a hard task ahead. That’ll be for the back half of the season, though, so nothing to do now but wait for February.

“Going Home” has flashbacks, as most other episodes do, but instead of telling a complete tale, each scene follows a different character. All of them except the one where Snow gives Henry the fairy tale book give a little insight and are nice. My problem with the Henry one is where did the book come from and why does Henry see Mary Margaret as Snow immediately and how come he immediately leaves town to find Emma that very same month? It doesn’t take him any time at all to figure things out?

As you may be able to tell from my review, there are plenty of holes that can be poked in the plot of “Going Home.” Yet, while watching, it’s a highly enjoyable episode. ONCE UPON A TIME hits the emotional beats right, it just doesn’t always deliver the most cohesive story, with things not quite making sense. If only they would think through the scripts a bit more to eliminate some of those flaws, that would raise this show from a pretty good one to one of the best. It’s just not there yet, and after two and a half years of very slow improvement, it probably always will be B-level, never A.

I still like it a lot, though. There are great questions left to ponder over the break. Will Hook be in a better position to capture Emma’s heart if he’s the one that ultimately leads her back to her family, setting aside their false start? How will the Storybrooke residents adjust to being home? How long will there be two separate settings? Did the writers lie about the Storybrooke / Enchanted Forrest format (seems so, and that’s fine)? Can Emma please recover her memories quickly once reunited instead of another long adjustment period where she doesn’t believe what’s happening (though now that she’s had the love of Henry, she may not be so jaded)? And how does new-baddie the Wicked Witch (Rebecca Mader, Lost) and her land of Oz come into play?

ONCE UPON A TIME returns in a couple of months and will air without reruns through the spring.

"New" ONCE UPON A TIME Builds To Climax

Article first published as ONCE UPON A TIME Review Season 3 Episode 10 The New Neverland at Seat42F.

In last night’s installment of ABC’s ONCE UPON A TIME, our intrepid heroes return to Storybrooke, seemingly triumphant. Warm reunions abound as everyone is glad to find their loved ones safely returned. But all this threatens to unravel when it becomes clear that Pan (Robbie Kay) is not trapped in Pandora’s Box, as they believe, and has a very terrible plan to make “The New Neverland.”

The hugging scene on the dock is a little cheesy, but it’s been earned after the long absence. Rumple (Robert Carlyle) gets to be back with Belle (Emilie de Ravin), and that alone calls for a little schmaltz. Ariel (JoAnna Farcia Swisher) finds Eric (Gil McKinney) in what looks like a close of their story, and similarly, Wendy (Freya Tingley) is back with her brothers.

The one completely inexcusable thing about this sequence is that no one keeps an eye on Felix (Parker Croft). They know he’s bad, and sure enough when “Henry” (Jared Gilmore) asks the grownups what should be done with Felix, they toss him in a cell. Why isn’t he bound or guarded before this? There is ample opportunity for him to slip off into the crowd, which Felix doesn’t do because he’s waiting on orders from Pan, but no one else knows this, or even wonders why Felix doesn’t flee.

No one is happy to see Regina (Lana Parrilla). Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin) makes sure to publicly note Regina’s help, as relations between Regina and the main characters have thawed a bit, but that doesn’t send the townspeople into her arms. Regina is alone, which is why Pan (as Henry) finds it so easy to fool Regina, playing upon that sense of isolation and telling her exactly what she wants to hear  –  that she is loved by the boy she raised.

Now, the real Henry does care about Regina, and after hearing of her doubts late in the hour, he gives her a hug, proving that Pan’s lie isn’t without a grain of truth. But Henry also has Emma (Jennifer Morrison), Neal (Michael Raymond-James), and assorted grandparents. Will there be enough room for Regina in his life to satisfy her, especially when she has no one else?

It’s time for Regina to find love. I don’t think she’ll go evil again, nor will Henry turn his back on her once more, but she will not be able to move forward without someone else. This will most likely be a romantic partner, though it doesn’t necessary have to be. But it’s definitely time for Regina to be truly appreciated and valued. She deserves it.

The Henry-shaped Pan tricks Regina because she has all the magic, which is the power he needs to enact his plan of reviving the curse, wiping everyone in Storybrooke’s memories and creating himself a new place to rule over. Pan finds Regina’s weakness and exploits it, which actually makes it seem a bad thing that Regina isn’t cold any more. Luckily, this should be a temporary viewpoint.

Pan’s biggest enemies in Storybrooke are anyone that can do magic. This list would include Regina, Rumple, Emma, and Blue (Keegan Connor Tracy). He can’t take them all out at once, and doesn’t need to. Subduing Regina, he is able to get away with what he needs from her vault. He also kills Blue, perhaps because she always seems to know what is going on, and in doing so, stops the one person who can restore Tink’s (Rose McIvers) wings, an occurrence that would give Pan yet another enemy with magic.

Blue’s death is very anticlimactic and not nearly important enough for someone who has been such a vital character. Though never a member of the main cast, Blue is involved in most characters’ stories in one way or another. She should not be able to be taken out so easily, as logical as her demise would seem for Pan’s plan. Which is why I won’t be convinced she’s really permanently dead unless she remains so after next week’s episode. Or unless McIvers signs a deal to stick around for awhile, effectively replacing Blue. (Personally, I feel those room for both in the story).

I assume Tink will be instrumental in saving the day in next week’s fall finale. Otherwise, why bring up her lack of belief in herself or her inability to make the pixie dust glow again in “The New Neverland?” Presumably, she is being set up to find her way on her own, and she’ll be able to step up and lend a hand. ONCE UPON A TIME wouldn’t let a recurring character be the ultimate savior, that’s Emma job, but she should be helpful at a key moment.

In flashback, we see Snow just after her wedding. As much as Charming (Josh Dallas) begs her to just appreciate their moment of happiness, Snow cannot bring herself to do so, worried that the Evil Queen will attack. Charming points out that there will always be danger and they just have to live in the moment, but Snow resists. That is, until a close brush with death at the hands of Medusa opens her eyes.

This may seem like a weird time to visit the seemingly unconnected back story, but it does have an important connection to the present day events in “The New Neverland.” Emma is a like her mother, something we don’t get a lot of chance to see, but is very evident with this bit. Neal is trying to get back together with Emma, but Emma resists because she feels she can’t take the time to just be happy. Hopefully, she will soon learn the same lesson Snow did.

And what of Hook (Colin O’Donoghue)? Many will surely be disappointed when Hook promises Neal to back off of Emma. Yet, he’s clearly still into Emma, and even tries to use Tink to make Emma jealous. Will those Hook / Emma shipper fans get a chance to see the two together? Signs point to yes, at least for a little bit.

While I do have a couple of small plot complaints above, what I am most disappointed in is the way Kay plays Henry and Gilmore plays Pan. I can tell they’re trying, but, for me at least, I’m just not seeing the actors in the other characters’ shoes. They still seem a lot like their own parts, just with different dialogue and an extra face or two. Kay, in particular, maintains some of Pan’s mannerisms. Now, this can all be explained away as muscle memory or something in the bodi, but I really wish this particular element came through better.

Next week, excitement will definitely build as the final showdown with Peter Pan plays out, with the very fate of Storybrooke on the line! ONCE UPON A TIME airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Lana Parrilla Soars in "Save Henry"

Article first published as ONCE UPON A TIME Review Season 3 Episode 9 Save Henry on Seat42F.

The latest installment of ABC’s ONCE UPON A TIME, “Save Henry,” is more about a mother than the son named in the title. Through flashback, we see how Regina (Lana Parrilla) comes to adopt Henry (Jared S. Gilmore) and how it ties into the larger story. In the present, Regina, Emma (Jennifer Morrison), and Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin) attempt to rescue the boy and escape Neverland.

Regina has long been one of the most fascinating characters on the series. While she has done evil things, I do not believe that she is ultimately a true villain because she still has heart. We see this in the hole she feels in her life when she is absent a Henry. And we see how much she loves young Henry and that she will do anything to get him back.

It’s true, Regina kills the first Henry she loves, her father, in order to enact the curse that creates Storybrooke. This is a truly vile thing to do, and as promised to her by Rumple (Robert Carlyle), Regina soon begins to feel the loss, craving something to plug that hole. She finds that something when she gets Rumple to secure her a baby, which just happens to be the son of the savior that can ruin her.

We witness Regina’s early struggles as a mother, unable to stop her child from crying. Does baby Henry sense the darkness in her? And when she finally connects with him, does he sense the love? This is a woman who would go to the ends of the earth for her child, and would not make the same mistake with him that she made in dealing with the elder Henry.

That’s why, when Peter Pan (Robbie Kay) has the three ladies bound to a tree that feeds off their regret, Regina alone is able to break free. It’s not that she doesn’t have remorse for the mistake she’s made; it’s that her focus is on the greater feelings she has for Henry, which makes the rest of it worth it to her. Her love for Henry is true, and she is rewarded by Henry calling her “mom” as she tucks him in, safe back on the Jolly Roger near the conclusion of “Save Henry.”

Will this relationship be what ultimately can redeem Regina? It’s hard to say at this point. There is little doubt she would do bad again if Henry were threatened. But I’m starting to think that she will not do anything too evil without Henry’s survival on the line. She knows that she cannot keep Henry and fall back to her bad habits, so unless she has a driving purpose, or unless Henry dies, she likely won’t truly cross the line again. Not fully.

A sign of this is the way Regina wipes her own memory of whom Henry’s mother is, even though that hurts her chances of stopping Emma. Like Rumple, who has to put Henry’s welfare before his own in order to repair the relationship with his son, Neal (Michael Raymond-James), Regina puts her existence on the line to protect the son she has fallen for from herself. It’s a selfless, noble gesture, done before we even know Regina has such things in her.

Parrilla is a fantastic actress, and she deftly handles the role with a level of skill nearly unmatched in the show. Once more, I am drawn to the way she can find the subtleties and buried qualities in the part, and make us care about someone that we should have written off long ago. I do think both the story arc of the character and her popularity can be majorly attributed to Parrilla’s impressive talent, and wish for more episodes featuring her soon.

The conspiracy and coincidences in “Save Henry” leave a lot of questions unanswered. Does Mr. Gold always know he is Rumple? Is his knowledge triggered by Emma arriving? Is Regina destined to get Henry, or is this something Rumple builds into the curse? Why does Pan send Michael (James Immekus) and John (Matt Kane) to look for Henry eleven years ago, instead of only recently? These answers matter.

It’s fun to get back to Storybrooke and its charming residents. Granny (Beverly Elliott), Archie (Raphael Sbarge), Dr. Whale (David Anders) and even Sidney (Giancarlo Esposito), or Sidney’s voice, play a role in Regina’s flashback. I didn’t realize how much I missed them until they are glimpsed again in the sleepy hamlet. I’m looking forward to getting back there next week.

The only real complaint I have is that Snow, Emma, and Regina set off on their own to face Pan. I understand Neal staying behind to look after the Lost Boys, and can even see why he shouldn’t be left by himself. But the Boys seem to be mostly defeated, happy to help in return for a home, so more than three people can go after Pan. David (Josh Dallas) or Neal, at least, could have gone, too, leaving the other, Hook (Colin O’Donoghue), and Tink (Rose McIver) to watch the ‘captives.’ It’s another case of using half measures against a foe that has proved deserving of more.

It is weird that Henry is quickly dying without his heart when others survive for months or years just fine on the show without one. However, that could have something to do with Henry’s heart specifically, which we know is special, or the way Pan wants to use up the energy from it.

I will not complain about how easy Pan is to defeat in “Save Henry.” It certainly seems too good to be true that he is stopped at the tree, but his sneaky twist at the end, taking over Henry’s body and recruiting Felix (Parker Croft), his one loyal servant, to cause more trouble, is a very satisfying continuation of the arc. He is not defeated; he rises again!

ONCE UPON A TIME still has two full hours left in this fall run, airing Sunday nights at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Absolutely "Lovely" ONCE UPON A TIME

Article first published as ONCE UPON A TIME Recap Season 3 Episode 8 Think Lovely Thoughts on Seat42F.

This week’s ONCE UPON A TIME encourages viewers to “Think Lovely Thoughts,” even as the characters on screen struggle to do so. Peter Pan (Robbie Kay) brings Henry (Jared S. Gilmore) to his endgame as Henry’s family rushes to save him. Interspersed with this, we learn Rumple’s (Robert Carlyle) connection to Neverland’s baddie, giving us a glimpse at the Dark One’s childhood.

As much back story as ONCE UPON A TIME routinely presents, it’s rare that we get an extended look at one of the characters in their youth, unless it relates to another character’s adult life (such as Snow in Regina’s flashbacks or Bae and Cora in Rumple’s). Yet, “Think Lovely Thoughts” takes us back to when Rumple was a wee lad (played by Wyatt Oleff), probably the earliest moment, chronologically speaking, the show has done so far.

It seems that being a bad dad runs in Rumple’s family. Not only did he choose magic over Bae, and Bae grew up to be Neal (Michael Raymond-James), who unintentionally left his own son, but Rumple’s father, Colin (Stephen Lord, Shamless), chose his own selfish pursuits over Rumple. Who can blame Colin for being a scoundrel, because, after all, his own father sold him to a blacksmith, and so he had no role model to look up to?

Well, most people, it turns out, as Colin has no regrets about his misdeeds, which is the key difference between a good person and a bad person. In fact (SPOILER ALERT!) Colin is actually Peter Pan, magically restored to youth so that he can stay in Neverland, and who is now willing to sacrifice the life of his great grandson in order to maintain this existence. Talk about a terrible family tree!

“Think Lovely Thoughts” actually puts Rumple in a positive light. Despite his father’s emotional abuse, Rumple had two (literal) spinster aunts (Stargate franchise actresses Lindsay Collins and Glynis Davies) who tried to teach him right from wrong. That’s probably why, unlike Colin, Rumple regrets the screw-ups he makes as a father, and spends his life trying to correct them. The cycle has been broken, whether Neal is ready to admit that or not.

It’s natural that the others are skeptical of Rumple’s nobility, given some of the things he has done in the past. Neal makes Rumple hand over Pandora’s Box, not trusting Rumple to do right by Henry, only to come around by the end of the hour after Rumple proves himself. This could definitely be the start of a new chapter for the men in the family.

That is, if things can work out. As “Think Lovely Thoughts” ends, Rumple is trapped in Pandora’s Box and Henry is dead, and while I doubt very much that either issue is permanent, there is a long way to go to fix the mess ONCE UPON A TIME leaves our cast in.

Henry’s actions, resulting in his death, are born of naivety. Pan lies to Henry, and even after Neal, Emma (Jennifer Morrison), and Regina (Lana Parrilla) join their voices to try to convince Henry of this, Henry doesn’t believe them. Perhaps it’s because he’s from a family of heroes, and just wants to live up to the reputation. Or it could be because Henry knows these three, his parents, would lie to protect their son, and so may not be trusted in this situation. Whatever reason, he makes the wrong choice, tricked by a devilish imp into losing his heart, and thus, his life.

Seeing Regina, Emma, and Neal come together is touching, and that’s why I’m not worried about Henry. Regina and Emma have great magical power, and will stop at nothing to protect their boy. Neal is determined and strong. If they remain united, and we have every reason to believe that they would, they will succeed… eventually.

The weird part about “Think Lovely Thoughts” is why the “Save Henry” group, finally united after many episodes of fragmentation, splits up in this episode. Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) and Tink (Rose McIver) I kind of understand because someone needs to protect Wendy (Freya Tingley) and keep an eye on the Lost Boys, but surely Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Charming’s (Josh Dallas) hunt for a cure can wait. Charming’s life is in no immediate danger, and if Rumple traps Pan in the box, as intended, there’ll be plenty of time to finish this later. Why would they set off on their own without knowing that their grandson is safe?

 

Honestly, that’s the only problem I have with this episode. The special effects, especially the hourglass in Skull Island and the creepy shadow (voiced by rocker Marilyn Manson), are fantastic. Lord is perfect as both Rumple’s dad and the earlier version of Pan, with just enough foreshadowing to make the twist ending conceivable, but not enough that it’s obvious from the start. Rumple’s back story is well thought out, and his relationship with Pan makes sense now. And, as stated above, I love the bits with Henry’s parents.

There are still three hours to go in this fall run. Even if ONCE UPON A TIME spends an hour back in Storybrooke, tying up loose ends and setting up the spring story, that leaves two more installments to complete the Neverland tale. I’ve loved this larger-scale adventure with a finite, approaching ending, and look forward to how it will all wrap up.

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

"Dark Hollow" Dark Spot for ONCE UPON A TIME

Article first published as ONCE UPON A TIME Review Season 3 Episode 7 Dark Hollow on Seat42F.

ABC’s ONCE UPON A TIME finally returns to Storybrooke this week in “Dark Hollow.” Ariel (Joanna Garcia Swisher) fulfills her mission of getting a message to Belle (Emilie de Ravin), and together they find the object Rumple (Robert Carlyle) needs to defeat Peter Pan, literally Pandora’s Box (how cool is it going to be when that opens!). But getting the box back to Neverland proves not so easy when a couple of guys from the Home Office seek to destroy it.

It’s pretty predictable that the two boys who have broken into Storybrooke are John (Matt Kane, Switched at Birth) and Michael (James Immekus, Boxboarders!), especially once you see one is taller and wears glasses. But that doesn’t stop one from wondering what they are doing there, and what control Peter Pan (Robbie Kay) has over them. He’s evil, and we’ve seen that the Darlings are sweet, or at least they were as children. Plus, Michael and John have grown up, so they clearly didn’t stay in Neverland as Lost Boys all these years, making one assume they aren’t totally loyal to the Big Bad.

Of course, Pan has something to hold over them. It turns out to be Wendy (Freya Tingley), still a child after a century, who Pan then uses to manipulate Henry (Jared Gilmore). One definitely feels sorry for the Darling family, just more pawns in Pan’s twisted games. If anything, the revelation that Pan has abducted Wendy and kept her for so long, controlling her brothers with threats, only makes him seem more evil.

Unfortunately, the plot to stop Pan is growing stale. The parts of “Dark Hollow” that are set in Neverland break down into petty squabbling, losing the focus of the story. It’s a good thing Belle and Ariel’s little adventure is such fun, and the dwarves get some great, humorous lines, or else this installment would have little to no redeeming qualities.

Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin) is still upset with Charming (Josh Dallas) at keeping his poisoning and inability to leave Neverland a secret from her. This is understandable, it really is, but three seasons in, tension between Snow and Charming feels so old, not that it was ever any good in the first place. They have had enough issues, and unlike some couple’s bickering, which can be entertaining, theirs just seems whiny and dumb. They’re both noble and heroic, so even when they enact misdeeds, they’re for the right reasons. Just move past it already!

The Emma (Jennifer Morrison) / Neal (Michael Raymond-James) / Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) love triangle is no better. Hook accidentally lets it slip to Neal that he kissed Emma, assuming Emma has already told Neal, and then Neal and Hook argue, leaving them vulnerable to attack by Pan’s shadow and friends. Emma is done with both of them for the present because her focus is her son, not her love life, exactly as it should be. The guys eventually agree, but it’s too little, too late.

Look, there’s a way to do this triangle right that could be really cool. Hook is someone who seems worthy of love, at least right now, and obviously Neal and Emma still have some unresolved feelings from their sordid past. Plus, Neal and Hook have a past relationship that could come into play. However, a boy has been captured by a really, really bad dude. This drama needs to wait, and by not doing so, it drags the episode down.

ONCE UPON A TIME has always been a bit uneven. I guess it’s understandable that, after a string of terrific installments, there’s bound to be a dud. It’s still disappointing, though, because they were doing so well lately that I’d forgotten about many of their flaws, which come barreling back in “Dark Hollow.”

I would never argue that the series should ditch character stuff in favor of action. That’s what should have happened in this hour, but overall, I really love when the players change and wrestle with quandaries. Seeing Regina (Lana Parrilla) keep her bargain with Ariel is a wonderful moment for “Dark Hollow,” something Regina would not have done only a short time ago. But there’s a time and a place for everything, and by giving us the worst of the personal stuff at the worst possible time, “Dark Hollow” is largely a failure.

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

"Ariel" Swims Onto ONCE UPON A TIME

Article first published as ONCE UPON A TIME Recap Season 3 Episode 6 Ariel on Seat42F.


ABC’s ONCE UPON A TIME introduces viewers to “Ariel” this week. The famous mermaid’s story doesn’t quite play out the way fans of the original expect it to, of course, as this show rarely presents a fairy tale in a traditional, straight forward manner. Instead, she is tied into Snow White’s (Ginnifer Goodwin) past.

On the run from Evil Queen Regina (Lana Parrilla), Snow dives into the sea and is pulled out by Ariel (JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Better With You, Reba). Talking to the fish-woman, Snow learns Ariel is in love with Prince Eric (Gil McKinney, Friday Night Lights), and decides to help her new friend get her man. Ariel and Eric hit it off, but upset about returning to the ocean and leaving Eric behind, Ariel accepts help from Ursula, who is actually Regina.

It’s cool that Regina is tied into The Little Mermaid tale, but isn’t actually Ursula, merely pretending to be that persona. Ursula is a sea creature, and it wouldn’t make sense for Regina to spend so much time under the water when her kingdom is on land. It’s unknown if the real Ursula, who makes a cameo in CGI form, will be involved in Ariel’s story, but some of the familiar elements, such as Ariel temporarily gaining legs and losing her voice are included.

What is disappointing is that Ariel’s underwater kingdom is not shown. It’s not necessary to this particular tale, and ONCE UPON A TIME has yet to introduce us to any other characters who could or would go there, so it seems extraneous. Yet, for a series about magical realms, one may be forgiven for being curious as to what Ariel’s home would like, and sad that the show chooses not to show it. Thus, Ariel’s tale is only partially explored.

ONCE UPON A TIME frequently tries to strike a balance between serving the fairy tales it chooses to cover and its main cast. The back story in “Ariel” says something about Snow, but it is mainly a set up because Regina needs Ariel going forward. As such, it doesn’t really serve Ariel as much as it might.

Regina leaves the group when they take yet another side path on the way to saving Henry and finds Rumple (Robert Carlyle). Is it a little convenient she comes across him so easily? To be sure. But we now have “the heroes” and “the villains” as two separate groups working towards the same goal. This should make the next few episodes even more interesting, though I hope they combine forces in the end to defeat the evil Peter Pan (Robbie Kay).

Regina thinks that she knows Rumple, speaking of his strong sense of self-preservation, yet, I don’t think she knows him as well as she believes. Yes, Rumple is less eager to sacrifice his life than he was when he got to Neverland, but that’s because he finds out Neal (Michael Raymond-James) is alive, not because Rumple loses his nerve. There is still a chance at redemption for Rumple, and even as his own son rejects him, Rumple has the opportunity to win him back, at least a little, by being noble. Sticking with Regina, while creating a very powerful and entertaining twosome, might be a step backwards on that mission.

It’s very interesting that Belle (Emilie de Ravine), who has appeared to Rumple for the past several episodes, is actually Pan’s shadow. I wouldn’t put it past Pan to try something so devious, of course, but what does Rumple think Belle is? Does Rumple really believe he’s hallucinating? At first, the Rumple / Belle conversations seem sweet and a good plot device, but now that Regina has exposed Belle’s physical manifestation and the trick, it makes me wonder about how sharp Rumple still is and how vulnerable he may be. Something is wrong with him that he fell for this, which seems a tad out of character.

Across the island, Emma (Jennifer Morrison), Hook (Colin O’Donoghue), Snow, and Charming (Josh Dallas) must spill their secrets in order to rescue Neal from the Echo Cave. It’s a great device for ONCE UPON A TIME, forcing hidden things to come to light, and it’s brilliant for Pan, who wants to create divisiveness in the group, preferring to win the game by setting the others up to lose through their own actions, not his. What happens in the cave will have impact far beyond “Ariel.”

Emma and Neal have find each other again and confess their love for one another, but they aren’t together. Emma is still hurt by him, and while Neal can offer explanation for abandoning her years ago, he cannot heal her pain so easily. One might think losing Neal, whom Emma thought was dead, might make her reassess and forgive, but her admission that she hoped he was dead proves that isn’t the case. She is too deeply broken to move past this quickly, and it’s good the show doesn’t try to do that. Thank goodness Neal is willing to be the patient one, because Emma just needs more time.

This does allow an opening for Hook, who admits Emma has helped him finally get over his last love, but also sets Hook up for disappointment. Should Hook even try to move in, having heard Emma and Neal express their feelings out loud? He is clearly the third wheel, but his affections are real, too. Will he gallantly step aside? Will he redouble his efforts? Will he be angry at Neal, someone Hook is clearly fond of, too? Emma may not be Hook’s next romance, but now that he has moved on, might that leave him open to someone new, or will he obsess?

While a love triangle can never truly by a fresh story element, “Ariel” makes it more complex and intriguing than most, and leaves the door open for development that could go in multiple directions.

Charming and Snow have bigger problems. She wants a baby, which has to be painful for Emma to hear, considering that Emma is the daughter that Snow and Charming left on her own, inadvertently or not, though Emma has a lot of other things on her mind at present. More importantly, though, Charming must admit he can’t give Snow what she wants because he’s stuck in Neverland due to an injury he lied about. Suddenly, there is a large chasm between them.

Will Snow be willing to stay behind with Charming, thus ending their time as main characters on the show? That wouldn’t be so bad, since they’ve been the most boring of the central cast since the beginning. Or, more likely, will they find a way for Charming to get back to Storybrooke? With their home in the Enchanted Forest mostly destroyed because of Regina’s curse, the couple’s future is uncertain anyway. Why not build it here, though that would mean giving up other family and friends?

Of course, first Snow must forgive Charming for his lie. He hid the truth for the right reasons, but he was stupid to do so in the first place, and Snow has every right to be mad. She’ll forgive him eventually, though, so let’s hope their rift doesn’t drag on too long.

“Ariel” is an excellent episode mostly because of the Echo Cave, which really lets the series dig into the personalities of its players. There are weaknesses in story structure but not in the way the actors handle their roles, or the doubts and complexities of the parts. This makes it easier to overlook the flaws in the writing, much more so than when the strengths and weaknesses are reversed.

Next week, we finally return to Storybrooke, which viewers have not seen since last May!

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

ONCE UPON A TIME Has "Good Form"

Article first published ONCE UPON A TIME Recap Season 3 Episode 5 Good Form on Seat42F.

This week’s installment of ABC’s ONCE UPON A TIME, “Good Form,” tells the backstory of Killian Jones, the man who will become Captain Hook (Colin O’Donoghue). Killian first visits Neverland as first mate to his brother on a military ship. But he finds the realm a dangerous place, and the reason he is sent there unsuitable for his moral code. Thus, he embarks on a life as a pirate.

Killian is portrayed as a hero, a noble man who loves his brother and is determined to stand up to a king who would poison his enemies. Is this a hobbling of a legendary villain? ONCE UPON A TIME frequently re-tells familiar stories in a different way, flipping things we believe on their heads. But Hook is introduced last season as a bad guy, so some may be confused by the about face.

But Hook, for as much of a scoundrel as he is, hasn’t really been seen doing anything evil. Yes, he takes Rumple’s wife, but she willingly goes with him. Then, Hook’s revenge mission against Rumple (Robert Carlyle) stems from making Rumple pay for her death. Thus, his misdeeds have been directed at one individual, not the world at large, and with some reason behind them.

Not to mention, Peter Pan (Robbie Kay) is definitely dark and evil in this version of Neverland, so wouldn’t it make sense that his nemesis be the opposite?

It is hard to make the switch mentally, though. We were told Hook was a bad guy, and he even plays to that belief from time to time, so it seems a little strange now. It’s almost as if the writers intended him to be bad, then loved his charm and chemistry with Emma (Jennifer Morrison) so much that they changed their minds. It makes the storytelling uneven, but will please Emma / Hook shippers.

It’s also a little odd how quick Hook’s brand new crew, who don’t have any history or loyalty to him, believes his story and are fine with becoming pirates, turning their backs on their lives. Do none of them have families at home they’re sad about not going back to? I know the storytelling is limited, but this ending rings a bit false.

In the present, Hook is even more heroic than in the past, tricking Charming (Josh Dallas) into being cured of the Nightshade. Hook says he does it for Emma, and he does earn quite the energetic kiss as a reward, however, that’s a lot of effort. More telling will be how Hook deals with learning Neal (Michael Raymond-James) is alive, and if he tells Emma the news or not.

Who does Emma want to be with? She feigns protest at Hook’s advances, but she definitely has feelings for him, at least in the sense of physical attraction, going by the kiss. Even though she loved Neal once, she does feel betrayed by him. Thinking he is dead might be enough to let Emma forgive Neal, but would that last? Neal had noble reasons to leave Emma behind, but will she understand when that is finally all explained? Or might she try out Hook, with whom she does not have a complicated history?

At the moment, Emma’s focus is on rescuing her son, Henry (Jared Gilmore), rather than hooking up, as it should be. She manages to get a message to Henry in “Good Form” to let him know that she’s coming for him. In this, we see the desperate mother doing everything she can to get to her kid.

Henry needs this encouragement. He is losing hope, turning into a Lost Boy. His transformation seems a little quick, but he is just a kid, and is under a lot of peer pressure. I sincerely hope Henry tossing the mirror aside is to protect his mother, and not because he is really falling under Pan’s influence.

In order to make this contact, Emma listens to Regina (Lana Parrilla) over Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin). This means Emma lets Regina get rough with a Lost Boy, taking his heart and controlling him, not exactly a “good guy” thing to do. The result is effective, and Emma is able to reassure Henry, but does it cost her a piece of her soul in the process?

Emma has said that she is the leader on this trip because, not only is Henry her son, but she isn’t sorted in the good or bad sides the other characters are. She can take Regina’s darkness and combine it with Snow’s light to find a solution, using the best of both worlds. The right side doesn’t always win out in Neverland, and they need the balance in order to succeed.

But is Snow right to be upset with Emma? After all, Snow has never failed to win in the end, usually without resorting to treachery. Plus, Snow has tried doing wrong and paid a heavy price for it, mentally and emotionally. She wishes to spare her daughter the same. One must keep in mind, though, that such a price may be worth it if it means the different between life and death for Henry, at least from Emma’s perspective.

I find it very interesting that Emma has taken to calling Henry “our son” in Regina’s presence. Is this a sign that Emma isn’t just allowing Regina to do her thing this one time? Might it be a signal that Emma is choosing the incorrect path overall? Or is she just coming to understand Regina better, seeing why Regina has done some of the things she has done? There’s something more here that will likely be explored in the coming weeks.

Charming also possibly screws up in “Good Form” when he chooses not to tell his family of his upending death, forcing Hook to trick him to save his life. Then, even after Hook manages this, Charming continues to lie, not wanting the girls to know what he covered up. I get that Charming is trying to do right, putting Henry’s welfare before his own, but he should still be honest. Clearly, both Charming and Henry can be saved at the same time. And by not telling Snow or Emma, Charming is hurting them, or it will hurt them if and when they find out. His decision is debatable, but I think he chose wrong.

At the end of “Good Form,” we see Neal in a cage hung next to another cage in a tree by Pan and his Lost Boys. Who is in the other cage? Has Rumple, who does not appear in this episode, been captured, too? Or is another player about to enter the game?

Honestly, I hope it’s the latter. I wouldn’t mind a little more fresh energy tossed in after watching the same characters slog through the jungle a few weeks in a row. ONCE UPON A TIME has not gotten boring, it remains good on a weekly basis, but it is in danger of doing so if it doesn’t start to move things along just a little bit. Introducing someone else to the mix could help with that.

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

ONCE UPON A TIME Not a "Nasty Habit" to Watch

Article first published as ONCE UPON A TIME Recap Season 3 Episode 4 Nasty Habits on Seat42F.


This week’s installment of ONCE UPON A TIME is called “Nasty Habits.” The gang on the island continues to search for Henry (Jared Gilmore), but also realizes that they need to figure out an exit strategy before rushing in. Meanwhile, we see a little more of Rumple (Robert Carlyle) and Bae’s (Dylan Schmid) history with Peter Pan (Robbie Kay), while in the present, Neal and Rumple are reunited.

Here, we learn just a smidgen of the childhood connection that Pan and Rumple share. The series had better show some of the stuff Rumple mentions in “Nasty Habits.” Surely their shared origin story is important? Maybe it’s being saved for down the road, to tie the beginning of Pan to the end? That would make sense.

The timeline of ONCE UPON A TIME isn’t always clear. In “Nasty Habits,” Bae is caught by the Pied Piper (wonderfully tied into the Pan mythology), then taken home by Rumple. This must happen before Bae falls through the magic portal, which takes him to the Darlings, and then eventually to Neverland. So did Pan purposely get Bae at the Darling household?

One thing that makes “Nasty Habits” difficult to digest is that Schmid is so obviously older than in past appearances, in which he plays Bae after these events. I understand that child actors age, and telling a non-linear story means these kind of inconsistencies must be overlooked. However, given the huge growth spurt, I wish some special effects had been used to try to even things out. It’s really disconcerting to try to line these events up with the physical age of the actor being so off.

That aside, it’s a really neat story about Rumple and Bae back in the day. We see yet another crack in the wall of their relationship, which will soon collapse. We see Rumple make wrong decisions to run off his son again. Perhaps we’ve already seen enough that this backstory is unnecessary, yet it’s a timely reminder since it matches so well with the present day thread.

It’s very frustrating that adult Bae, now known as Neal (Michael Raymond-James), doesn’t believe Rumple in his nobility. For one thing, during their first encounter, Rumple doesn’t believe Neal is real and reveals his true mission, which is to sacrifice himself for Henry. Neal seems to accept that, but doesn’t think Rumple will maintain that opinion once he gets home to Belle (Emilie de Ravine). Can’t Rumple just point out that he already left Belle to come to Neverland and rescue Henry, thus proving which would win out?

The sad truth is, and I think Rumple realizes that Neal can never trust Rumple, no matter what Rumple says. Neal has been too hurt by his father, betrayed on multiple occasions by his dad’s “Nasty Habits.” Viewers can see that Rumple has changed. We’ve seen his growth and his journey. Neal, on the other hand, hasn’t been around for any of the development, and only has his memories to go on. Those experiences have taught him not to trust Rumple. From Neal’s perspective, he does the right thing.

The one flaw in this is that Neal sets off into the jungle with Henry, leaving Rumple frozen by a spell. We know Neal wants to be a good dad and protect Henry. Leaving Rumple behind is not Henry’s best chance of making it out of Neverland. Is Neal so screwed up by Rumple that he can’t bury their animosity in the name of protecting his son? There would be time to deal with getting away from Rumple later, but Neal needs Rumple now.

Is Neal right about Rumple? The hallucination of Belle finds a less cooperative Rumple after his most recent falling out with his son. Is Neal turning his back on Rumple enough of a reason to make Rumple want to live again? Rumple is willing to die for Henry mainly to honor Neal’s memory. Since Rumple now knows Neal is alive, he will want to repair their bond, which means he may be motivated to put his death on hold. Of course, should Rumple allow Henry to die, it will destroy any hope of a reunion, ever, though Rumple may ignore that, hoping he can still win the long game.

Of course, Pan does retake Henry. The sad thing is, Henry is asleep the whole time he is with Rumple and Neal, and so doesn’t even know he was rescued, however briefly. This is important in Pan’s game of breaking down Henry’s hope and becoming the guy Henry relies on, but it’s also regrettable because that love Henry’s father and grandfather have for him are his biggest defensive weapons, and he misses an opportunity to rearm himself. Instead, Pan begins to win. For now.

The only question I have here is, why does the sleeping spell last longer on Henry than it does on the Lost Boys? Does Pan use his magic to revive his followers?

Oh, and if Henry is the Truest Believer, as we’ve seen him be and as Pan thinks he is, why does Henry give up on his family so easily? Henry isn’t perfect, of course, and no one is saying he wouldn’t eventually be swayed. It just seems a little too quick and a little too neat for Pan to gain this foothold this quickly.

There is some really great stuff in “Nasty Habits” in which Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin) laments that she doesn’t know how to be a mother to Emma (Jennifer Morrison). This is interesting because thus far the focus has just been on how they can relate to one another. Now we see some practical implications of the lost years between parent and child, as Snow never got to figure out the things a mom discovers while raising a kid. In this, Snow is still a newbie.

As Charming (Josh Dallas) tries to comfort Snow, a startling turn sends him reeling. Snow admits to understanding Emma’s pain over losing Neal (they don’t know he’s alive) because she couldn’t go on without Charming. It is plain during Charming and Hook’s (Colin O’Donoghue) earlier conversation about Charming’s slowly-happening-death that Charming assumes Snow will be fine. Now, he looks at her differently. One has to wonder if this will shake Charming and make him play his hand in another way. He isn’t going to want to leave Snow lost; that would go against his hero grain.

With all of this wonderful character development, “Nasty Habits” is definitely a great installment. The game Pan is playing doesn’t really move forward, and the good guys are stalled in their progress, yet it’s how they face these setbacks and troubles that prove who they really are. It’s a wonderful episode for many players.

Next week: the origin of Captain Hook!

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

"Common" Installment of ONCE UPON A TIME

Article first published as ONCE UPON A TIME Recap Season 3 Episode 3 Quite a Common Fairy on Seat42F.

This week’s episode of ABC’s ONCE UPON A TIME is called “Quite a Common Fairy.” The Operation: Save Henry team in Neverland search for Tinker Bell (Rose McIver, The Lovely Bones), hoping she can help them gain access to where Henry (Jared Gilmore) is being held. Unfortunately, Regina (Lana Parrilla) has a past with Tinker Bell, and that may make the fairy pretty unmotivated to help.

ONCE UPON A TIME frequently takes license in putting its own spin on the traditional telling of a familiar tale. However, I am not sure how Tinker Bell fits into the current understanding. She is in the Enchanted Forest realm when the Blue Fairy (Keegan Connor Tracy) takes away her powers and wings, then is seen as a normal human in Neverland. So has Tinker Bell never been a fairy in Neverland? Or, is the Enchanted Forest the second chance the Blue Fairy spoke of, and Tinker Bell was a fairy in Neverland earlier before screwing up somehow? Maybe by trusting Pan (Robbie Kay) when she shouldn’t have? We know Tinker Bell has a complex to save those who have gone bad, based on this episode. This definitely begs further exploration, even if Tinker Bell is not a major character, only putting in her first appearance here.

It’s pretty cool that Tinker Bell is tied into the existing fairy world, though. Viewers have gotten to know the Blue Fairy fairly well, and we’ve seen her interact with others of her species. It makes since for Neverland’s famous fairy to not only be running in that social circle, but also to not quite fit in, given her isolation and separation from the group. This is very well handled.

Tinker Bell wants a home. She has been abandoned by many, and not found her place. Snow and Charming (Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas, who recently got engaged off screen) offer her this in exchange for her help. It’s kind of fun to see the pair take in yet another stray, but it seems to be their specialty, and it certainly wouldn’t hurt to have a fairy or ex-fairy on their side. I just wonder how the Blue Fairy would react if Tinker Bell goes to Storybrooke…

Once more, we’re treated to a backstory of how Regina makes wrong choices. Tinker Bell, seeking to save Regina’s soul, tries to provide Regina with the key to happiness, leading Regina to a man she could be content with. Regina decides against approaching the man, choosing the wrong path yet again, though she doesn’t fully realize it until, late in “Quite a Common Fairy,” Tinker Bell points out Regina is selfish by depriving the man of his happy ending, too.

There’s a lot to dissect in this sequence. For one thing, Regina doesn’t often think about others. However, clearly that has changed, as Tink’s last words about being selfish wound her. Regina also has found happiness in raising Henry, even naming her mission in Neverland as Henry would, which is why she is able to throw herself at Tink’s mercy, risking her own heart and life to try to save Henry. She has changed.

It is revealed that the man Tink leads Regina to is none other than Robin Hood (Sean Maguire). Now, Robin already has had love and has a son, Roland (Raphael Alejandro). Maid Marion doesn’t seem to be currently around (maybe I missed that explanation?), but does this mean that, despite the trouble Robin goes through for Marion, they aren’t destined to be one another’s soul mates? Might Regina really belong in this relationship? At least she’d finally have a son to dote on who might appreciate her.

Those who make ONCE UPON A TIME have promised more of Robin Hood in the back half of the season, so I wonder if this is the direction the show will take. Season three seems awfully early to redeem Regina and let her find a happy ending, and yet, after how far she’s come and all she’s been through, it’s hard not to root for her to find her man and child. Maybe this season could be the end of Regina’s story, which would be sad, but it would be a very satisfying exit for her.

Speaking of being with the wrong person, Mulan (Jamie Chung) is ready to confess her love to Princess Aurora (Sarah Bolger), only to stop short when she finds out Aurora is pregnant. So Mulan joins Robin’s band of Merry Men instead.

Unfortunately, this probably won’t be resolved anytime soon. With Neal (Michael Raymond-James) making his way to Neverland, only recurring characters, no main ones, are left in the Enchanted Forest. ONCE UPON A TIME tends to only follow those guest stars when the central cast is around, so we probably won’t see any more development with them this fall.

With all of these new people introduced, there could be room for a few characters to exit the story, and the cast to be expanded again. Fairy tales are all about a finite journey with a happy ending.  What if we’re nearing the conclusion for more than just Regina? Might ONCE consider moving the story in completely different directions with new protagonists? It’s an interesting concept to ponder, though one that seems unlikely to occur.

“Quite a Common Fairy” does an excellent job of really developing more minor players, not serving too many of the main ones very much, but still an enjoyable hour. It isn’t perfect, with Mulan’s plan seeming too neat both before and after it is enacted, and the CGI still a few years away from being truly great on a television budget. But it mostly works, and I’m very interested to see the things that happen in other installments because of occurrences in this episode, of which there should be plenty.

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.

ONCE UPON A TIME Has "Heart"

Article first published as ONCE UPON A TIME Recap Season 3 Episode 1 The Heart of the Truest Believer on Seat42F.

ABC’s ONCE UPON A TIME returns for a third go-round with “The Heart of the Truest Believer.” Six people are on the Jolly Roger, come to Neverland to find the missing Henry (Jared Gilmore). But when they get there, they discover Neverland is not quite what they expect. This goes double for the duo that kidnapped Henry, soon learning the Home Office hasn’t been entirely truthful with them.

The Home Office is, apparently, Peter Pan (Robbie Kay) and the Lost Boys. Pan needs “The Heart of the Truest Believer” for some unknown purpose, and for anyone who has ever watched even a little bit ONCE UPON A TIME, you will know immediately that said heart belongs to Henry. Henry has always held the faith that fairy tales are true and good win will, even when others falter. Now the question is, can Henry keep his heart in his chest, and what does Pan want with it?

The twist in “The Heart of the Truest Believer” is a pretty predictable one. Given the nature of the Neverland jungle and the ease at which the boys move around in it, I assumed immediately that the “turned” lost boy was none other than Pan. I wasn’t sure about his motives, but it makes sense that Pan would want to confirm Henry really is whom Pan is seeking before doing anything more to the boy.

I’m surprised to see Greg (Ethan Embry) and Tamara (Sonequa Martin-Green) meet their fates so swiftly. True, Martin-Green has a full-time gig on The Walking Dead, but considering that the pair were the villains for much of season two, one expects there to be more to their tale than being cut down by boys in the woods. However, ONCE UPON A TIME is moving into a new chapter, so I suppose it’s appropriate that the bad guys are new, too. Plus, I like the way this episode ties into last year and makes the viewer rethink things seen previously.

Actually, the Lost Boys don’t straight up kill Tamara; she hangs around just long enough for Rumple (Robert Carlyle), who has magically left the Jolly Roger, to find her and extract a little information. This is the cruel side of Rumple, returned in full force. We see that Rumple is determined to save Henry at the end of last season, willing to sacrifice himself, but apparently he doesn’t mind dipping back into his old bag of tricks to do, as reformed as her might have seemed.

Neverland seems the perfect place for Rumple, extremely well versed as he is in all things magic. Neverland is bursting at the seams with magic, much more so than the Enchanted Forrest, so it makes sense that the character who flourished with the element should have better command of it than the others. This prompts Rumple to ditch them, whether that’s because he thinks they’ll slow him down or he just doesn’t care about them, he’s at home here.

But Rumple has a weakness, too, and that’s his family. An old straw doll is enough to stop him in his tracks and bring him to tears. We don’t know why, as “The Heart of the Truest Believer” breaks format and abstains from doing a full flashback story, but assumedly we’ll get to that soon enough, and Rumple has been to Neverland before.

Of course, this weakness leads Rumple to dabble in blood magic, which provides a way for Neal (Michael Raymond-James), stuck in the Enchanted Forrest with Mulan (Jamie Chung) and Robin Hood (Sean Maguire, recast from Robin’s previous appearance), to locate Emma. He’ll need more help than just them, and Aurora (Sarah Bloger) and Phillip (Julian Morris), to reunite with his loved ones.

I like very much that Neal’s assistance comes in the form of familiar faces. These characters were seen quite a bit early last season, then disappeared. ONCE UPON A TIME does have quite a few people to serve, but it’s satisfying that it’s beginning to reuse those that haven’t been fully explored, rather than just continuing to add new ones all the time. The quartet Neal gets involved with deserve the screen time, and I look forward to seeing how they can help him next, as well as to how long they will stick around this time.

The more help Neal can bring with the better, as Neverland is full of dangers, a reflection of the erratic children who run the land, left to their own devices without guidance or structure, which Emma, Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin), Charming (Josh Dallas), Hook (Colin O’Donoghue), and Regina (Lana Parrilla) soon find out. They are beset by mermaids and drive them off, only to be further threatened by their hostage (Natasha Wilson) with a rough storm. It’s too bad Rumple leaves them, as they could sure use his help!

It’s really cool how the storm is mirroring the discord within this group, feeding off of them and ramping up their hostility at the same time. It may be an obvious metaphor, but it’s an effective one, making for a tense scene.

Emma is the one that saves the day. In all of this, Emma has remained the most neutral, and she is able to do that because she exits outside of the Enchanted Forrest web of relationships, not having lived in that place. Emma and Charming want to be her parents, and so love her as mothers and fathers do, but not having grown up with them, Emma is hesitant to let them in, still holding onto anger towards them. Emma saves Regina so Regina respects her, but they feud over Henry, so they won’t be buddies anytime soon. And Hook takes a fancy to Emma, even giving her Neal’s sword, but Emma isn’t about to hop into bed with a known scalawag.

When Emma jumps in the ocean, though, they all work together to save her. I think they realize that Emma is their best chance at getting what they want, whether it’s family or sex or a way to get back to one’s world. Emma is a powerful force, as is Henry, and they are driving factors in this show.

The one flashback we do see is Emma (Jennifer Morrison) giving birth to Henry. It’s telling that this moment is chosen, as the episode is not about Emma’s relationship with Henry. I believe this means Henry’s origin story and how he came to Storybrooke, as well as what his destiny is, it vital to the plot this fall.

“The Heart of the Truest Believer” isn’t just an exciting story and the beginning of fresh plots in a new world; it’s also reestablishing the role both Emma and Henry play in the show, as leads. It reorders the relationships, Emma taking command over the other four on the ship. It reminds us of what the show is about and why it works in the first place. In short, it’s pretty much the best season premiere one could ask for from the show.

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