I really liked the episode. Over the course of the season, I do hope the episodes get stronger, but I did like everything it set up. It was a Jane episode — you’re always going to get a lot of talking and character background, but very little overall movement in the plot. So it wasn’t unexpected (to me) that we saw/didn’t see what we did/didn’t.
Favorite Moments –
– Elsa / Emma. I love that they’re giving Emma a friend that’s her very own (unlike, say Ruby, who’s really Snow’s friend) or a relative (Henry) or with romantic undertones. Emma needs someone who’s trying to understand her powers, so learn with, as opposed to learn from – ie Regina / Rumple.
– Captain Charming. I love them. They also need friends who aren’t significant others, and I think they play well off of each other. I thought their conversation about Emma was totally in character and it would’ve been strange if they didn’t have it – David’s still finding his footing when it comes to this Emma’s Dad thing and given his history, Hook should make his intentions clear to someone other than Emma.
– Anna / Charming. I really liked them. I actually really like Anna. She’s bright and funny. The show needs more bright moments – that’s the biggest problem I had with 3a. There was no room for lighter moments, and I personally need those to break up the constant big bad, we’re-all-in-crisis-mode stuff.
– Snow going nuts. So. Awesome. As a new parent, you’re going to have your share of pull-out-your-hair-I’m-so-overwhelmed-right-now moments. So I thought it was hilarious to see out of control, frazzled Snow. Yes, it was way over the top – but it was supposed to be. She was at her wit’s end. I don’t agree with some that Snow’s trying to take over — Regina’s obviously not capable of running the town if she can’t even handle seeing her son – someone’s gotta do it, and who would be the natural choice but one of those you consider your leader in the EF?
Least Favorite Moments
– Regina. Um…the whole thing was just off. Regina sends Henry a note by bird? Huh? It’s called a phone. Call, send a text. Heck send a text through Emma. But a note by bird is probably the last thing I’d expect Regina to do. And I’m really not a fan of the whole breaking down and being unable to function bit when you lose your romantic partner. I know, she went all evil when she lost her last BF, but at least they were together for more than 5 minutes (I think). But Robin and Regina – though I get how OQ could get intense so fast – really were together for one hot minute before Marian came back. After all Regina has gone through, sans romantic partner, to suddenly backslide and turn into a sniveling pile of depression because she lost the guy in her life? Now that part doesn’t ring true to me.
As for Bo Peep – I liked her! But yes, she is definitely a 1 episode only kind of character. Having someone like that even recurring would get very annoying very quickly. But again, I like the lighter, campier moments so I thought she was pretty hilarious. And I like when they take different spins on the characters so to make Bo Peep a warlord was great, in my opinion.
Question though – at the end when they apparently hear a heartbeat via Bo Peep’s staff thingy….I didn’t hear it….but that might just be me and my going prematurely deaf thing (if you ask my husband, that is!)