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It’s that time of the season again! This is always one of my favorite threads after an arc ends because it’s nice to see everyone’s opinions laid out once they’ve seen all of a season. It also helps if I get questioned by Daniel on the podcast. Answer any and all questions!
1) Favorite episode of 4A?
2) Least favorite episode of 4A?
3) Overall thoughts on the Frozen storyline?
4) Favorite moment or arc within 4A?
5) Best Frozen Adapted Character?
6) Final Grade for 4A?
[adrotate group="5"]"He was a lot of things to me" "The only conclusion was love"1) Favorite episode of 4A?
Easily “Shattered Sight” (410)
2) Least favorite episode of 4A?
The Snow Queen (407)…though I really disliked some of the other episodes like Fall and The Apprentice
3) Overall thoughts on the Frozen storyline?
FROZEN ALL THE THINGS. Too much Frozen, not enough of our cast that I actually care about. Every possible reference from the movie Frozen they could make, they made. It was too much for 11 episodes. All the flashbacks somehow involved Frozen. The characters really began to grate on my last neve (especially Anna) and everything was wrapped up with too many plot devices. Ingrid was the best part, her emotional storyline was good, even if her plot storyline was simply bizarre and heavy.
4) Favorite moment or arc within 4A?
The town line scene with Rumple and Belle. Broke my heart and made me feel something besides thinly veiled anger at ONCE. Also, the laughing scene with Regina, Snow and Charming in Shattered Sight.
5) Best Frozen Adapted Character?
Sven.
6) Final Grade for 4A?
C- (and honestly, I’m being generous)
Generally, I liked Ingrid but Frozen was so heavy handed and literal and carbon copy that it’s hard not to see it as a mad grab for ratings and cash. The stories each week were inconsistent, there was a lot of really bad morality, and some alarming turns for characters. I’m also convinced that Adam and Eddy write each arc completely forgetting the previous ones.
I really really really wish A and E would stop bringing new “new villain!”and refocus on the characters we already have.
"He was a lot of things to me" "The only conclusion was love"Favorite Episode: Heroes and Villains!
-When Rumple said in the Pilot that “the final battle will begin…” this episode really, for me, delivered on that prediction- more so than any other since the neverland arc. I think the Sorcerer/author will be a big part of the final battle. Hope, hope, hope!
Least Favorite Episode: White Out
-This really hurts me to say because I always love Jane’s episodes the most, but if I have to choose a least favorite, it’s this one. It seemed a little like filler, but I still enjoyed this episode.
Overall Thoughts: Yay character development, BOO plot!
– This season was more about character development than anything, which i liked and didn’t like, but ultimately, what i loved most about it was the way this season allowed Regina and Emma to form a believable friendship. By the end of the Frozen arc, the way Regina was smiling at Emma left me with more hope for their friendship than any other season. In the end, I think the themes of Frozen were perfect for developing Regina and Emma as more than just co-mothers of Henry.
-my biggest beef with season 4A is that Ingrid’s magic remained in the town after she had died. This wasn’t the case when Zelena died, so in the end of 4A, plot ruled. I wish the writers had stuck to their own rules of magic.
Favorite Moment: (Don’t hate me Rumbelle fans)
– When Belle found the real dagger and banished Rumple. I admit, i don’t want that to be the end of their relationship, but for me that moment was powerful. I’ve been wanting to see that side of Belle for a while.
-(honorable mention – 2nd favorite moment lol) The moment Hook grabbed Emma’s wrist and squeezed, letting her know something was wrong. I started the show as a SwanFire shipper. However, I’ve learned to love CaptainSwan, and Hook grabbing Emma wrist while Rumple controlled him spoke loads to me about Hook and Emma’s connection.
Best Frozen Adapted Character: Anna
– Hands down Anna, if for nothing else how loyal the actress and writers were to the cartoon version. well done!
Final Grade: B- or C+, a passing grade.
1) Favorite episode of 4A?
Family business. It was far from perfect but it was good, contributed to the overall arc in both backstory and present, and Emilie’s and Bobby’s performances in the mirror sequence were shatteringly beautiful. Oh and Belle costumes. Mmm.Second fave was Shattered Sight, because of how well they played up the humor with those under the spell. Was very annoyed by what was left out though, and not so sure about DQ’s exit.
2) Least favorite episode of 4A?
Rocky Road. The flavor of the OQ stuff in this episode left a really bad taste in my mouth. Emma acting like Regina was a victim, given everything Regina’s done to her…I dunno, it just didn’t work for me. Oh, and not enough Belle.3) Overall thoughts on the Frozen storyline?
I loved how they intersected it with the Once cast’s storylines–I think the fact that it didn’t involve Regina at all was a weakness because that left her pretty much on the sidelines for the whole arc with nothing to do but mope and make out with her cheating Robin. (Henry and Will also got left out a LOT…why is Will a regular?…and let’s not rehash Belle. I say it enough. And she SHOULD have been involved.) I loved every drop of the Frozen flashbacks and really enjoyed the Frozen cast but I did feel that major storylines–the Rumbelle arc that really needed fleshed out, the Charmings’ new family situation, and Regina’s position in the town–got sidelined a lot with only Hook’s and Emma’s story (of our regulars) getting the time they really needed.I did not like that the resolution for DQ amounted to a happy self-sacrifice suicide move, or that finding Anna relied entirely on a wishing device whose power was only revealed THAT episode (I might have been okay with it if the power had been set up earlier). And I hated that the delicious intersection they set up with Anna and Belle, where they could have used actual character interaction to get Belle to exactly the same point and made Frozen’s impact on the series actually matter to the next arc, didn’t play out…in favor of yet another Plot Device Item whose power (and in this case, existence) only came about in THAT episode.
But I loved when they made the Frozen world work with the Once world far more smoothly than I had expected. DQ was amazing as a villain and the frozen cast were perfect.
4) Favorite moment or arc within 4A?
It was soul crushing but Belle’s face-off with the mirror wins for favorite moment. It so perfectly depicted insecurity and depression as I’ve experienced them, and it was such a character building moment for Belle. I’m hoping that moment comes back into play sometime–it was a chance for Rumple to really see what he was doing to Belle (though he pushed the blame onto DQ as per his usual), and maybe a chance for him to see that she’s got fears just like he does, but still makes the heroic choices even when it kills her. If I were writing for the show, I’d hold onto that moment and use in ten episodes or so when Rumple has to face everything he did to her.5) Best Frozen Adapted Character?
Kristoff, Anna, and Elsa. They were all perfect, and their chemistry together was amazing. I can’t choose…though I will say that Kristoff’s bickering with David, Anna, and Hans was the highlight of 4A for me.6) Final Grade for 4A?
Way, way better than 3A–I feel like the Guest Realm got its fair play (perhaps too much in this case) and contributed at least to Emma’s development as a character. And it didn’t leave me quite as crushed as 3A’s finale…but there wasn’t enough Belle. B-.Keeper of Belle's Gold magic, sand dollar, cloaks, purple FTL outfit, spell scroll, library key, copy of Romeo and Juliet, and cry-muffling pillow, Rumple's doll, overcoat, and strength, and The Timeline. My spreadsheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6r8CySCCWd9R0RUNm4xR3RhMEU/view?usp=sharing
1) Favorite episode of 4A?: Shattered Sight. A lot of meaty character moments via the spell of Shattered Sight. It was fun to see the Evil Queen go at it, while the Charmings got to act nasty themselves.
2) Least favorite episode of 4A?: Breaking Glass. The Emma and Lilly flashback felt flat, and I could do without the Swan Queen baiting between Emma and Regina. Emma and Regina’s interaction during the episode just felt wonky.
3) Overall thoughts on the Frozen storyline?: I actually enjoyed the Frozen storyline. A&E explained that the reason they didn’t go about twisting the Frozen characters as much as other characters on the show is because 1) The characters are already modern. 2) Their goal wasn’t to re-tell the movie, but to expand upon where the movie left off and how it could fit into the show. Unpopular opinion around here, but when I first saw Frozen, I honestly always saw that their was potential for it on the show. As A&E have said, the movie shares some of the same themes as the show, such as their idea of True Love not always having to be used in the romantic sense. The characters were well cast too. As I said in another thread, my favorite aspect of the Frozen storyline by far was Elsa and Emma’s friendship. Elsa and Emma have a lot in common, and it was nice to see Emma bond with someone who wasn’t her relative or love interest. I could sympathize with the complaints that the Frozen characters got way too much screentime, especially when it came to flashbacks. 401 was Anna/Elsa/Kristoff centric, 402 was Anna/Charming centric, 403 was Elsa/Kristoff/Hans/Ingrid centric, 404 was Anna/Rumple centric, 405 was Emma centric, 406 was Belle/Anna/Elsa/Ingrid centric, 407 was Ingrid centric, 408 was Anna/Elsa/Kristoff/Ingrid centric, 409 was Anna/Kristoff/Hans centric, 410 was Emma/Ingrid centric, and 411 was Rumbelle centric. Only 402, 404, 405, 406, 410, and 411 were flashback centrics with one of our regulars. A good half of the Season, and most of those still shared screentime with at least one Frozen character.
4) Favorite moment or arc within 4A?: The whole Rumbelle fallout. It really was a powerful moment to see Belle standing up for herself and giving Rumple what he deserved.
5) Best Frozen Adapted Character?: Pabbie. The CGI for him was actually impressive for this show, and you can’t hate John Rhys-Davies.
6) Final Grade for 4A?: I would probably give it an 8/10. Season 1 is still the strongest, followed by Season 3A, Season 4A, Season 2A, Season 3B, and Season 2B. Yeah I’m splitting Season 2 in half to be more fair, since there are still some great episodes, but I rank the first half of Season 2 above it. Season 2 is hard to rank, because there’s good individual episodes sprinkled in each half, but the overall arc was fairly weak.
1) Favorite episode of 4A?
Heroes and Villains because it was so RumBelle heavy and we didn’t get enough RumBelle this season.
2) Least favorite episode of 4A?
The Snow Queen- It dragged for the first hour and didn’t pick up until towards the end. Though Rocky Road should also get a mention for the same reasons Keb gave above.
3) Overall thoughts on the Frozen storyline?
It was a bit like MAP in season 2- taking away the screentime from the characters we really cared about. It wasn’t bad but it was a little bit of overkill.
4) Favorite moment or arc within 4A?
The townline scene with RumBelle- Beautifully acted, heartbreaking, RC and EDR knocked it out of the park. This is the level of emotion that Once has been lacking in 4A.
5) Best Frozen Adapted Character?
Sven and Kristoff.
6) Final Grade for 4A?
I’d give it a B-
All magic comes with a price!
Keeper of Felix1. Favorite Episode
Hero’s and Villains: Lots of Villains, lots of Rumbelle and boy what a ending. Plus I love seeing Villains talk to one another, it’s just always so much fun.
2. Least Favorite Episode
Breaking Glass: To be honest I don’t really have a “Least Favorite” episode but I do have episode I remember more than others and that one seems to be one I remember least.
3. Overall Thoughts on the Frozen Storyline
Very well thought out, I liked seeing the Snow Queen and felt ingrid was a well rounded and even at time sympathetic Villain. The Once characters were pushed a little to the background but at least Emma got some screen time. Although I did like the idea of the hat being put in the background and how it was building to the next arc which I feel gives the season a much more unified quality to it.
4. Favorite Moment of the 4Arc
The first scene of the Apprentice with Zoso. Something about that scene I just adored, seeing Zoso, and seeing more history to the dark one OOOH it felt so good.
5. Best Frozen Adapted Character
Kristoff: Love him! Something about how he’s acted and written is just SOO GOOD!. I mean he’s just so sarcastic and witty. I love witty characters. Give him and Anna a spin off Family Sitcom please. “Life in Arendelle” we could call it.
Final Score 8.5/10: Disney live action …it worked for me and I have to say I think I like the Once versions of Frozen better than their original counterparts .
1) Favorite episode of 4A?
I think 4×11. It had some nice moments… and by ‘favorite’ and ‘nice’ I mean things that actually resonated emotionally.
2) Least favorite episode of 4A?
4×02. The words “Bo Peep” are now simultaneously profanity and a hilarious joke in my household.
3) Overall thoughts on the Frozen storyline?
Umm… I liked the Frozen characters. I LOVED the Emma-Elsa friendship. The Frozen bits were okay. The SQ bits, meh.
4) Favorite moment or arc within 4A?
I think I was, and remain, most intruiged by the book author plot. Favorite moments, I think I enjoyed the bits of the shattered sight spell where the show KNEW it was camp and played it as camp. Campy fun is fun when it’s intended to be campy…
5) Best Frozen Adapted Character?
Sven!
6) Final Grade for 4A?
Ooh. C-? D+? It was better than 3B, IMO, but that’s not to say it was good. I did feel like 408-411 were stronger than the first part of the season, but honestly, it was pretty terrible. Characters did random stuff without spelled out motivation (Rumplestiltskin, I’m looking at you,) other characters were assassinated (Robin Hood,) they embarked Emma on a new relationship and spent no time examining the relationship itself. Most of the characters had OOC moments if not entire OOC arcs. Snow and David did absolutely nothing, Belle was MIA most of the time, they introduced the Henry-as-apprentice plotline but we never saw any follow up. MOST often, the best scenes of the episode were the deleted scenes. It was all pretty shoddy.
Cause this story needs some mending & a better happy ending...
Note: episode rankings are going to be judged in two ways. A.) How they stood on their own and b.) How they compared to their last season counterpart.
Favorite episode of 4A:
A tie between Rocky Road and Shattered Sight.
RR: I liked the introduction of the Snow Queen, it included some great comedic moments, and it was on par with 3×03, “Quite a Common Fairy.” Plus, it reintroduced Will into the Onceiverse, one of my top five favorite characters. I hope we see more of him in 4B.
SS: It was absolutely hilarious, filled with some great character moments. I really loved the scene of Snow and Regina fighting and, after the curse broke, laughing about it. It really showed how far they have come in their relationship. And, even though there was some mixed reaction, I did like Ingrid’s death scene. The music, her realization. I thought it was nice, and it was infinitely better than 3×10, “The New Neverland,” which I didn’t like.
Least Favorite Episode of 4A:
It would have to be a three-way-tie between 4×01, 4×02, and 4×09. These episodes were all written by my favorite writers of the show, so it kills me that these episodes were just bad. The slowness of the premiere (you can’t announce that a billion-dollar ongoing franchise is coming to your show then have a slow introductory episode), the oddness of 4×02’s flashback (I hated Bo Peep. She was just really, really stupid), and the “What did I just watch?!” factor of 4×09 made them to be some really bad episodes. Plus, I loved their counterparts last season (with the exception of 3×02, “Lost Girl,” though I did think it was better than 4×02).
Overall Thoughts on the Frozen Arc:
It wasn’t the worst way they could’ve brought them in, but I do wish they were spiced up a bit more. Plus, I think killing off Anna (which, again, I know they couldn’t do) would have provided both better drama and a better character arc for Elsa.
Favorite Moment:
The scene in 4×10, when Regina poofs into her Evil Queen outfit and says, “I’ve missed you.” I always love it when Lana portrays Evil!Regina, since it provides better dialogue.
I also really liked the Elsa/Emma storyline, as they were able to help each other in taking down their walls. That said, I still think killing off Anna would’ve helped, too. 😛
Best Frozen Adapted Character:
Pabbie and Kristoff. I liked the wisdom in John Rhys-Davies’ voice, and I always liked Kristoff’s quips. But all the characters were pretty well cast.
Overall Grade:
B-. I think that, if some character motivations and development were consistent throughout the arc (*cough*RUMPLE BUMPLE*cough*), we would have had a better story. However, I do think I’m going to end up liking this arc more than 4B, since that arc knocked itself down a grade by making the term “The Queens of Darkness” canon.
Keeper of Thor’s Hammer, Will Scarlet’s Genie Bottle, Emma’s Gun, Emma and Henry’s Moment at the Castle, Cora, and the infamous Family Tree!
1) Favorite episode of 4A?
The Snow Queen. This one had the least number of plot holes, to my memory. 401 wasn’t too bad, either.
2) Least favorite episode of 4A?
All the rest, due to plot holes, (ep 3 or 2 being the worst…and Bo Peep was just embarrassing) or just feeling unsatisfied due to not feeling a real sense of danger. No one died during the shattered sight spell; it was comical rather than dark, scary or apocalyptic.
3) Overall thoughts on the Frozen storyline?
Horrible money grab. Unnecessary to the Snow Queen plot.
4) Favorite moment or arc within 4A?
-Emma agreeing to help Regina on her quest to find the Author.
-Belle getting wise to Rumple’s antics and pushing him over the time line.
-Finding out that Enchanted Forest is not the name of the whole world, but the name of a land mass or continent in their world (due to the existence of Arendelle and not needing to use a portal to get there from Mist Haven/Enchanted Forest and back).
-The hat, sorcerer and author of the book.
-Lily. Really hope to see her again. That star on her wrist had to mean something.
-Emma and Regina drinking shots at the bar.
5) Best Frozen Adapted Character?
Sven, the Reindeer.
6) Final Grade for 4A?
6/10 or a C-, due to plot holes or other silly plot points that made little sense. The fairies stepping in at the *last minute* to help prevent the Shattered Sight Spell. Also the issue of Regina almost executing Marian was never discussed, and Robin’s line to Regina when he accosted her in the vault sounded like he was giving up his values to be with her for one night. Meanwhile, we saw very little of Henry as the Apprentice. True Love vs Soul Mate was never touched upon either. They just stopped using ‘Soul Mate’ and used ‘True Love’ only, instead. Oh, and they still haven’t addressed the disconnect between Robin’s perception of what happened to Marian and her arrest!
Some of the above might be dealt with in 4B, but with these writers I am not going to hold my breath. Besides, if they had not had Frozen and just the Snow Queen, they may have had time to deal with all of the above and more in a timely manner.
Keeper of Regina's bravery
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