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We saw the battle for Storybrooke, the details of Hook and Baelfire’s past, and a big twist on Once Upon a Time’s epic Season 2 finale (Episode 22: “And Straight On ‘Til Morning”). Did that make for a good episode? Read on for Wetpaint Entertainment’s review of the episode, and then rate it yourself.
Read spoilers at your own risk! For more on Wetpaint Entertainment’s philosophy on spoilers, click here.
As expected, this finale bounced back and forth between Captain Hook and Baelfire’s complicated Neverland past and Storybrooke’s present impending doom, and in both realms, we learned a lot about our favorite characters. There were a few surprising twists along the way, and the first came with Hook not only saving Bae, but fostering a relationship with him only to ultimately destroy it.
Though they had some bonding time — talking about their fathers abandoning them, Bae revealing that Rumple is his father, steering the ship together, etc. — it all came crumbling down once Bae discovered Milah’s picture on the ship. While Hook tried to explain that he didn’t kill her, Rumple did, Bae still felt betrayed. “He tore her heart out and crushed it in front of me, and I’ve spent every moment since then wanting revenge!” Hook exclaimed, adding that they wanted to go back for Bae when he was older. “Perhaps fate brought us back together … we can live the life Milah wanted for us,” he said, and our hearts swelled. But it didn’t work — not only did Bae not forgive him, but Hook allowed him to be captured by the creepy Lost Ones (aka the evil version of the Lost Boys).
As for Rumple? He wasn’t in any better shape than Bae was. He thought about killing Henry — who is said to be his undoing — but stopped himself at the last moment. Just after, he found out that his son, Neal, died, and nearly broke down with a horrified, emotional reaction. Instead of avenging his death — as it was Tamara and Greg’s fault — he decides not to help The Charmings & Co., saying he needs to pay the price of magic. In the end, he does, but first…
The actual destruction wasn’t very thrilling. Yes, trees and vines popped up and sent people running, but it was the behind-the-scenes action that was the most exciting. There were surprising team-ups (Hook and The Charmings, Regina and everyone, and Grumpy and Rumple) and heartwarming moments to make the apocalypse less awful, and we never could have guessed the twists and turns on the road to saving Storybrooke.
First off, Rumbelle reunites after Belle regains her memory! Mother Superior (aka the Blue Fairy) created a potion that, when drank out of a vessel from the amnesia-ridden person’s past, restores their memories. He was skeptical at first, but Grumpy’s advice — yep, he was the one to make it happen, as a favor to Belle — to not let her “die as Lacey” made him change his mind. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t want to wake you up to die, but I needed you,” Rumple told Belle after her memory was restored, hugging her as they cried. “You lost your son. I’m so sorry,” she replies, and our feelings were so conflicted.
Speaking of conflicted, Regina’s storyline was surprising — especially when it came to Emma, much to Swan Queen fans’ delight. After she volunteers to slow the black diamond, Emma discovers that it’s a kamikaze mission. Regina thought it was “only fitting: that the trigger she created takes her life, and she wanted to die as Regina, not as the Evil Queen. Spoiler alert: She doesn’t die. The Charmings decide to try to throw it through a portal (like they did with the wraith) and try to save them all rather than just a few of them. Unfortunately, Hook sails away with the bean before that can happen, but in a surprising twist, Emma’s magic (in combination with Regina’s) stops the trigger and saves Storybrooke! Hooray, right? Not so fast…
At this point in the episode is where we got disappointed. It took two episodes of build-up to get to the possible destruction of Storybrooke, and then it was saved in five seconds? Kind of lame. However, it was all just a distraction. Tamara and Greg kidnap Henry while everyone is busy watching the black diamond, as we find the point wasn’t just to destroy magic — what they really needed was Henry, and it turns out that Peter Pan wanted him, not Bae, all along. What the what?!
Tamara and Greg jump into a portal with Henry just as Hook pulls up with the bean. Mr. Gold and Belle resurface, but it’s not a happy moment — Rumbelle is reunited just to be split apart again as Rumple heads onto the ship, honoring Baelfire and letting Henry be his undoing. Belle doesn’t give up, though, saying, “I understand, but I also know that the future isn’t always what it seems. I will see you again.” After they share a long, heartbreaking kiss, she says, “Baelfire would be very proud of you,” and we couldn’t stop sobbing.
After our tears dried, we watched The Charmings, Emma, Regina, and Mr. Gold join Hook on the ship, discover that Henry was taken to Neverland, and promptly zap into the other realm. Oh, and Neal is alive (?), in the care of Mulan, Aurora, and Prince Phillip, as we predicted. It was both neat and tidy and complex, leaving us unsure of what’s to come, but if this stellar season was any indication, it’s going to be a crazy Season 3!
While the quick-and-tidy resolution of Storybrooke’s destruction was a bit lame, the rest of the episode made up for it. Though Henry isn’t the most exciting part of Once Upon a Time, it will be interesting to see Neverland (and hopefully an alive-and-well Neal) in Season 3. We give the finale 4 out of 5 stars, but what did you think? Rate below!
[adrotate group="5"]We should put all reviews on this.
Did anyone else find it interesting that Gold called out Blue? LOL Anyways can’t wait for season 3!I am a nerd at heart.
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