To be perfectly honest, I thought this episode was a bit dull until the end. It took forever to get somewhere and it was obvious that in some places they were just treading water to get to the big OOMPH at the end. There were some great scenes, but as a whole, there were MORE plot devices and more wonky things said and done. It wasn’t my favorite of the season nor my least favorite. I don’t think it was A and E’s finest season/mid season finale, either.
FAVORITE
–Rumple and Belle at the town line. I realized something during this scene–this scene that actually made me feel something for OUAT more than what I’ve been feeling for 11 episodes now—I still watch for Bobby. I’ve been struggling with an answer as to why I still watch or why I’m still invested and it’s Bobby. I hate and loathe with every fiber of my being what they’ve done to Rumple…but by god , Bobby knows how to sell it. That scene was perfect. Going down on his leg when he crossed over, once again broken…it reminded me of how much I loved Rumple once. For three years I’ve been RG–I’ve been Rumple’s Girl and lately I haven’t felt like I was Rumple’s anything. But that scene…that scene was almost like my Rumple. My Rumple that I once fought for and defended. He was ugly and scared and selfish and stupid and I don’t know how he comes back from this…but it made me feel something. And brava to Emilie. She nailed it. She was really something in that scene.
–FROZEN IS OVER. I’m sorry, while some of the actors were good, I really did not like the overall FROZEN ALL THE THINGS arc
–Regina making Robin go.
–Regina and Rumple scene in the car
–The stars in the clock tower were well done in terms of CGI
–The flashback was…okay? I have mixed feelings on this though. See below.
–PUPPY (but see below)
MIXED
–Flashback. Okay, confusion. 1) When in the name of sanity is this taking place? Because Belle was never supposed to leave the castle until he let her go in Skin Deep
–The Queen of Darkness. I liked Cruella but I do not NEED three villains. Good lord. It’s like kitchen sink writing with these guys.
–The resolution to Frozen. Happy to see them go but seriously? Plot device broom leads to plot device door?
DISLIKED
–The Hook’s heart resolution. Talk about fast. And Emma never even questioned why Rumple took his heart in the first place? Yes, hatred but why not “did Rumple have something on you?” And “what was up with that hat?” And “what was Rumple’s plan?” How about questioning Hook???
–Mal’s costume. Oy vey. Look. More Obvious Disney Marketing
–If that puppy is Cruella DeVil I will burn things to the ground.