Good episode, although I must say that Rebecca Mader’s definition of “mind blowing” is rather different to mine. Maybe I’ve read too many spoilers, but there were no real surprises in this one. Its strength was the heartfelt scenes between Zelena, Regina and Cora.
Liked:
– Rebecca Mader’s acting. She nailed it. BH and LP were also terrific.
– The family reunion scenes, the emotion, the bonding, the goodbye at the end. Very moving.
– Pan kidnapping Zelena. This is one of the only two ways in which I felt the plot moved along.
– Cruella punching Emma. I’m not entirely sure why this gave me so much pleasure. Maybe it’s because Cruella was acting out my subconscious desires since the end of 5A.
– Seeing more of Zelena’s childhood in Oz. Increased my sympathy for her.
Mixed:
– The flashbacks. There was nothing hugely unexpected here, and it didn’t really make sense. Cora suddenly requiring Zelena’s services was just a convenient plot device. It seemed like a complicated and roundabout way for the sisters to meet, just so that they’d have a memory to bond over in the future when the stakes are high.
– David and James interacting. I was looking forward to this one, but I felt they didn’t do it justice. It turned out to be a simple good twin vs evil twin story. I wish they’d given them a whole episode and allowed them to explore their relationship in a more meaningful way.
– Zelena confirming that she’s going to play Hades. I saw this one coming – I think everyone did. But at least the others know now, so it’s moved the plot along fractionally.
Disliked:
– The idea that the water of the River of Lethe is required to concoct a forgetting potion. I thought forgetting potions seemed reasonably common, so surely they don’t require such a rare ingredient?
– James being damned to eternal torment.
– The way the reappearance of Robin was handled. It seems ludicrous that he’s been running around the woods of the underworld with a baby. Then he tried to shoot a dead man. It’s beyond belief that the writers can’t make this legendary character more interesting.