Rewatching the episode while I write my review. (it was just as bad the second time)
I have not read the other replies in this thread yet, so sorry if I touch on the same subjects.
Overall:
I had really high hopes for this episode because last weeks was so good. Last week brought back a mystical and magical feeling that I haven’t felt since Season 1. It was creative and the plot was well thought out and had magic that didn’t just serve a purpose for one second and then was gone forever. But this week was nothing more than a filler episode. It did not drive the plot forward at all until the last minute of the episode where Rumple pulled the sword from the stone. I would honestly rate this episode as much of a filler as Dreamy was in season 1.
Liked:
“Was that a kick my little munchkin?” – The Wizard of Oz lover inside of me squealed.
Okay, Zelina has NEVER been in my like section. I genuinely don’t like her character. But this episode, her scene with Emma may have been my favorite. She was sassy and sarcastic and cynical and it just worked this time
Although I don’t really understand Merida’s purpose on the show, I do like how she is portrayed. I like that she tries to fight Emma and that she explains to people that what she is doing isn’t her choice. We haven’t seen anyone fight their heart before. Amy is a seriously incredible actress though.
Really good casting on Brave Characters. Looked just like the Disney movie.
Lots of Belle. She is my favorite Disney Princess and it is nice to be reminded every once in a while that she is on this show.
Merlin’s “voicemail” (And Regina’s sass to compliment it!). I feel like he was not talking about Emma when he said “The dark one has found me”. There was a reason he didn’t use a name but a title. Who knows how long ago this message was from. This makes me excited to see more Merlin background!
Mixed:
Are we just going to ignore the question Merlin asked Emma at the end of the last episode?
Rumple pulling the sword from the stone this early on in the process. Okay, A&E, so you are trying to tell me that after centuries of being the dark one, turning people into snails and crushing them, manipulating people, and so on and so forth, it only takes 24 hours to make him the most pure hero in all of Storybrook?? I’m sorry, I don’t buy it. I could see this being a great arc if they didn’t rush it. If they took us more in depth through Rumple’s struggles and didnt throw it in our face and rush it along then I think I would have been giddy with excitement to see Rumple pull the sword from the stone. He would have earned it. But instead, they had him chicken out til the last second, then save Belle with a Magical McGuffin. AGAIN HE SAVED HIMSELF WITH MAGIC. It’s his biggest problem. He should have knocked Bearida (Bear Merida?) down with his cane. We all know he can do some serious damage with that. But no, magic again, and then he is suddenly considered a hero. Again, I like the idea of Rumple’s redemption but i wanted to see development and I just didn’t in one episode.
Disliked:
Okay, the opening could have simply fixed with ONE LITTLE line to say why Belle was in the dungeons with Charming, Hook, and Merlin. I just don’t understand how Belle went and not Snow.
HOW DID NO ONE NOTICE BELLE AND MERIDA WERE MISSING? The boys club was clearly so self involved with their heroics that they didn’t notice they were missing nearly half their group? And why didn’t Belle scream when Merida admitted she wanted to lure her away from her friends. This whole scene was just strange.
How did Rumple know Emma would go after Belle in order to make him a hero. He just immediately was like *Epiphany* She is going to kill you! Quick, let’s hide! Ugh.
Who wraps Onion Rings like that? I mean, honestly. Those things need to go in a box or they are a mess. Come on, Granny.
HOW DO YOU STILL TRUST ARTHUR?
Magical Mcguffin Mushroom does not burn. Because plot. ugh.
So if I can knock arrows out of the air with my own arrow, can I be a queen too?
Rumple saves himself with magic, again.