6×08 “I’ll Be Your Mirror” FAVORITE and LEAST Favorite moments ….

GENERAL: This is one of those frustrating episodes where there’s a ton of potential but is rendered lackluster because of the writers inability to explain their world and the rules that govern it. I like the idea of a Mirror World but it’s frustratingly opaque: no magic, one way (Sydney could talk to Regina and control what she saw!); and somehow putting one specific mirror back together allows Emma and Regina to escape unless you just so happen to have a god’s hammer? I also seriously question how close a family could be if no one can tell that one of their own is not really one of their own when they are acting atypical and in-universe OOC!

This isn’t to say that there aren’t good bits. Like I said, there’s a lot of potential here. The EQ doesn’t see herself as evil, just a strong leader who does what it takes. Henry has being tempted to the dark side, for good reasons, by his own Darth Vader. All good, philosophical elements that should be thoughtfully considered. But that’s the problem, isn’t it? The writers spend little time actually exploring those conflicts for more than a hot moment. I didn’t for a second believe that Henry would smash the Dragon’s heart, so all that conflict was sorta pointless.

Rating: 7/10

LIKED

–The montage of Snow/Charming asleep and awake was seriously adorable. I wish the show had more of these “normal” moments–simply living, even if it’s in a heightened magical world.

–The visuals of the Mirror World are cool

–“Everything is a balance–the darkness and the light” #Theme!

–LOL at the Abu puppet

–“Don’t try to Darth Vader me.”

–The EQ doesn’t consider herself evil, but a strong leader who does what is necessary.

–“Family makes you stronger than you’ll ever be alone.” #SeriesThemeInANutshell

MIXED

–“Never compromise who you are.” Okay, good message but every character on this show keeps compromising who they are. In fact, this entire season is about Regina compromising her entire identity; she is the EQ, the EQ is her.

–Why don’t Emma and Regina have magic in Mirror World? What is it about this world that nullifies magic?

–I find it very hard to believe that none of the Charming’s wouldn’t suspect that “Regina” wasn’t really Regina, especially when she says “I’m not sure she [EQ] was a monster.”

–The Dragon lost a daughter. It’s Lily isn’t it?? *sigh*

–Eh, the Dragon CGI wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great either.

–When did Aladdin and Jasmine deal with the Genie?? We saw their entire story in episode 5?

DISLIKED

–Violet stood Henry up for John Hughes movie night– Is Henry 13 or 30?

–And in this week’s “random MacGuffin” category we have: the Hammer of Haphaestus! Feel free to make up your own story as to why Rumple has that.

–Henry gets clued into the fact that “Regina” isn’t Regina not because she’s literally acting nothing like his mother (talking of princes and monarchy and ruling elite) but because of an odd turn of phrase.

–How is the world one way when Sydney and Regina could easily communicate?

–Everything about Rumbelle horrifies me, from both Belle and Rumple’s side.

–“Rumpleslitskin takes children. Not the other way around.” Every time Rumple has made a deal for a baby–except for Regina– it had ulterior motives, a hidden agenda.

CONFUSIONS

–All summer A and E (and Lana) kept saying that the EQ was “pure evil” but it’s becoming increasingly clear that the EQ has hints of Regina–her love for Henry–and that Regina still has some of the EQ’s hallmarks–snark and fierceness. Yet, STILL, no one talks about re-integration! Why hasn’t this come up at all? Why hasn’t anyone clued into the fact that you can’t separate yourself from your darker half? That you are always going to contain multitudes?

7/10

Here we go again.

Another random new magic rule that has no internal logic. And some more 0ne-use McGuffins that could be used again if the writer’s followed their own world-building.

I am so confused.

-How was Sydney able to talk to Regina? Does EQ know how to tweak the magic to make that happen?

-The way out seemed quite simple: piece together the mirror. Yet Sydney couldn’t figure this out on his own? Then again, he had no one on the other side to let him out, I suppose.

-So the dragon’s fire was hot enough to melt glass? Or random magic used against random magic? How did that work? Dumb luck?

-Will Regina and Emma try to let the dragon out of that world, too?

-Why haven’t they tried TLK on the Charmings yet?

-Why has no one thought of searching for another true love sapling with which to trap the EQ? BF has said nothing about only Snowing’s working on the EQ.

LOVED Lana’s acting though. God, when will she ever get her Emmy?

Hook telling the EQ to ”shove off” ROFLOL.

–How is the world one way when Sydney and Regina could easily communicate?

I’d guess that Sidney’s wish gave him special control over Mirrorland.

I’d guess that Sidney’s wish gave him special control over Mirrorland.

I assumed based on when EQ allowed herself and Henry to see Regina and Emma through the mirror, that meant he could also hear them at that point

You could both be right but I don’t think we’ll ever really know or understand.