@Midnight Dreary wrote:
In episode 1×20, “The Stranger,” we will finally learn the true identity of August W. Booth. From all accounts, it would seem that he is indeed Pinocchio. Especially given the fact that the episode will feature Pinocchio’s background story. But what if it’s a red herring? What if the Pinocchio story is really a story within a story? What if Pinocchio’s story is blended with the story of the Wizard of Oz? Here’s my evidence for why August is indeed the Wizard of Oz.
-For one, August arrived during a storm. This was the first clue that made me think of. The storm in “True North” made me think of he infamous tornado in the Wizard of Oz. The Wizard himself even said that he arrived in Oz in a hot air balloon via a storm.
-August wears several curious pieces of jewelry, including: a metal bracelet, a gold chain bearing a golden claw or tooth-shaped pendant, and a silver cross-like object hanging from a longer silver chain. The metal bracelate could represent the Tin Man, the golden claw or tooth could be the Cowardly Lion, and the silver cross could represent the Scarecrow.
-As mentioned by others before, August is sporting a license plate on the back of his motorcycle that bears the name “Kansas.” This could also be a clue to him being connected to either Dorothy or Oz.
-When August told Emma in episode 1×18, “The Stable Boy,” that he was not a liar, that also could have been a clue to him being Oz. Most people interpreted this line as evidence that he is in fact Pinocchio, because we all know that Pinocchio’s main theme was lying. However, to a certain extent, so was Oz’s. When Dorothy and her friends finally meet the great and power Wizard of Oz, it is revealed that he is not in fact a wizard or some omniscient being, but a man. Just a man. He lied. He lied to his people by telling them that he was a powerful wizard. He even went so far as to hide his true face by using, literally, smoke and mirrors.
-Pinocchio’s desire is to be a real boy. But in the Once Upon a Time universe, who would be able to grant that wish? Rumpelstiltskin? Sure, but he’s always in the middle of every fairytale, so maybe the writers use someone different. The Evil Queen? Hmm, maybe. But why would she help a poor man and his wooden puppet? Maybe Oz was the one who turned him into a real boy. Oz has already shown himself to be someone who can give non-humans beings human attributes. He gave the Scarecrow a diploma, to symbolize his brain. He gave the Tin Man a token heart-shaped clock, to represent his large heart. And he gave the Cowardly Lion a medal to represent his resurfacing courage. So, what if our writers take these symbols as literal human attributes? What if the writers present Oz as someone who can literally turn the non-human into an actual human?
-In episode 1×17, “Hat Trick,” we were introduced to the Mad Hatter and his magic hat. Inside this hat are numerous different worlds. One of which we already know as Wonderland. However, there were several different doors to several different worlds. One of the doors that caught my attention was the green door. This door is probably Oz. Green to symbolize the Emerald City and in fact, Oz himself. The introduction of this magic hat was not an accident. The writers want us to remember this hat and its numerous doors for a reason. We’ll probably revisit these doors in future episodes in the forms of Oz, or possibly even Neverland. So, the writers are probably preparing us to see what’s behind these doors in the near future.
-In the promo for episode 1×19. “The Return,” August is seen challenging Mr. Gold by pointing the dagger of the Dark One at him. This could be interpretted as two powerful sorcerers battling off to see who is the most powerful. Rumpelstiltskin is the Oz of his realm. He is the most powerful being in Fairytale land. Maybe August wants to undo all the evil Rumpel ahs done.
-And finally, why would the writers have us wait all season to learn who the infamous stranger is only to find out that he’s Pinocchio? That would be ridiculously anti-climactic. Making us wait all season for Oz? Yes! Or making us wait for Peter Pan? Sure! But for Pinocchio? Uh…no.
I am flabbergasted right now!!! 😮 😮 😮 It never even occurred to me that August could be Oz. I actually hope it’s true. I know’s it kind of out there, but it’s better than him being Pinocchio. Pinocchio in a leather jacket? Weirdness. 😯