The Song in Your Heart – ONCE299

Emma’s coda, the wedding, carrying over scenes from past seasons, the new curse and more as we hit all the right notes on our full-discussion of “The Song in Your Heart.” Plus! We prepared some powerful magic especially made for the musical episode.

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The more we think about the episode, the less we liked it, but the more we watched “The Song in Your Heart” and listened to the music, the more we love it; it grows on you. The songs from the musical, which were written not by Mark Isham but by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, did a fantastic job, giving variety within the music. Musicals are tricky, but for the musical episode, they gave all the characters something that helps further their story arc. The songs and the styles of the songs also fit the characters beautifully. Snow White and Charming’s opening song, “Powerful Magic,” fits perfectly and sets the tone nicely. Did you enjoy the music as well? Buy the soundtrack to the musical episode and let it grow on you the same way it does to us.

The opening title card also did something that they haven’t done before. For “The Song in Your Heart,” they put the orchestra in the title screen, which didn’t appear in any way in the episode.

One of the interesting things about the musical episode is that they have a couple of “I Want” songs, just like Hook’s solo, “Revenge is Gonna Be Mine” and the Zelena’s “Wicked Always Wins.” The musical episode also got a couple of “I Am” songs, just like Snow and Charming’s “Powerful Magic”, the Evil Queen’s song, “Love Doesn’t Stand a Chance/Down with Love”, and “Emma’s Theme” are all beautiful, the musical scene of “Charmings VS Evil Queen” helps the plot move along, and the use of the splashy musical number with “A Happy Beginning” to cap the episode was well-done.

Enchanted Forest (Past)

The first scene of the flashback of the musical episode follows right after Snow White and Charming visited Rumplestiltskin in the dungeon in the Pilot episode. Their costumes were even the same from the ones in the Pilot, so it was nice that they carry that over for the musical episode. The whole premise of the musical episode was that in this flashback, Snow White wished for them to have something they needed to help Emma, to give her a chance at a happy ending. It was so fitting that when Snow White wakes up the next day, she was visited by a blue bird before she started singing, because in the original Disney animated film, the first song also included a blue bird and Snow White. During Snow White and Charming’s duet, they said, “love expressed through song is a weapon like the queen has never seen.” As fun of an episode this is, it’s not really a different level of love, just a different expression of love. Among the things that the song can defeat, Snow White and Charming mentioned beans.

Over the Evil Queen’s castle, it was fun seeing Sidney, Grumpy, Gepetto, Jiminy and Granny in the mirrors singing their own solo. It was also totally Evil Queen when she broke the two guards’ neck when she started singing her solo. In this flashback, the Evil Queen was seen wearing a rustic gown. Did they lighten her so the Black Fairy could look darker by comparison?

When Snow White and Charming visited the pirates is probably the retcon of the episode. Back in season 2 when we first met Captain Hook, Snow White seemed to be terrified of Hook. Where is that fear here? And since when does Snow White offer her prison to someone seeking revenge?

I thought it was cool that pregnant Snow was in the vicinity of Hook.  Just think; Emma was nearby her future non-aging groom even back then.  I think it was cheesy that all of them would conveniently forget their day of singing.  I mean memory loss is usually associated with curses.  So why?  Because, Snow can’t remember Hook in the future before she meets him again in the Enchanted Forest.  Also, Hook wouldn’t bother breaking into Belle’s cell to get her, if he knew Rumple was already incarcerated.

— Meredith

It’s a lot of fun to watch this episode and focus only on the facial expressions not just of the core characters, but also of the secondary characters as well the ones in the background. Furthermore, when the pirates raised their swords during the song when Captain Hook passes through is also very much like a military wedding.

When the Evil Queen visits Rumplstiltskin probably seems before she tried to enact the curse. It was also funny seeing Rumple teases the Evil Queen, regardless of whether Robert Carlyle wanted to sing or not. On the other side of the realm, however, it was funny that while Zelena’s song is beautiful, it speaks of revenge, death, sorrow, and while Zelena is terrifying the Munchkins. Also, this song and with more time as a musical, Zelena could have reprised this song with positive words reflecting her character growth.

Lana said many guys were nervous to sing and Rebecca was excited to sing

— WWO

Why did Charming and Snow White even need Captain Hook to break into the Evil Queen’s castle? That being said, we loved the counterpoint between the Evil Queen and the Charmings, what with the different melodies and lyrics, it was neatly done. However, it was surprising that the Evil Queen didn’t steal the song-sucking spell from Ursula. It would have made more sense if she used the same shell from the Sea Witch. Also, did the Evil Queen forgot the protection spell that Rumplestiltskin put on Snow White and Prince Charming? Is the protection spell the one deflecting the Evil Queen’s fireballs?

Later on, the Blue Fairy said that what will give Emma her strength is because she has everyone’s songs in her heart. The way they used “the song in her heart” is a metaphor that worked since it was fairy tale, however, the forgetting part is a retcon. The Blue Fairy also said that this was for Emma so she probably knew about the final battle, which makes sense.

Storybrooke (Present)

Starting out the episode with young Emma in the Group home for children in Minnesota in 1991, the flier says “Murray Avenue Elementary School Talent Show: It is your time to SHINE.” It was interesting because the actress who plays Black Fairy is actually Jamie Murray.

Back in Storybrooke, Snow White’s wedding dress starts turning black just as Emma was holding it, which is a bit creepy. In the clock tower, it was indicated that the sole purpose of the curse to separate Emma from everyone. How will Emma be separated from everyone? Will she be left alone in Storybroke while everyone else were sent back to the Enchanted Forest? That being said, it makes sense that the Black Fairy was able to cast the curse without having the need of the heart of the thing she loves most because she was the one who created the Dark Curse.

Emma is also back in her red jacket, which means that she’s ready for battle. Hook, however, isn’t a fan of white. When Emma came in, it was funny when Hook said “Don’t you know it’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding,” which sounded like HE was the bride and not Emma. In Hook’s desperation, he found some dreamshade and used it against Rumplestiltskin. Is Hook back to wanting revenge? It was nice that they brought it back in his song for the flashback, but not in the present after letting go of wanting revenge.

Meanwhile, at the Sheriff’s office, Emma reminisces her time with Henry back in the Pilot episode when he mentioned about the final battle. It was nice how they nicely incorporated Emma’s song later on with the Once Upon a Time theme song, which Karliene first put lyrics to the Once Upon a Time song. In Karliene’s version, she included the line “I will always find you” to the True Love tune so we were expecting to hear the same line when Emma sings her solo, “Emma’s Theme” but they didn’t go that route at all.

In the Pilot episode, Henry said that the reason she brought Emma to Storybrooke is to bring back the happy endings, but he also said that the final battle will begin. It was really cool that they referenced that again, that which Henry plays a big part later on in this episode. Will he also play a big part to defeat the Black Fairy in the season finale?

When Regina finished the time-freezing potion, it made us wonder why couldn’t she make a freeze spell like that for Pan’s curse? Back at the Mayor’s office, Emma tries to confront the Black Fairy alone, the Black Fairy said that she can’t do it alone. This means that she can defeat the Black Fairy if she’s not alone, which is what Henry did when he went to encouraged Emma. Beautiful acting, too, by both Jennifer Morrison and Jared S. Gilmore. It was interesting though that the book has secret pages.

Once again, Emma is willingly giving her heart, but that the Black Fairy can’t squeeze and crush her heart. Does this mean that the Black Fairy actually can’t defeat Emma regardless of whether she’s alone or not?

Of all the songs in the episode, Emma’s Theme seems to be the most popular since it involves the show’s theme. Plus, Jennifer Morrison did a great job singing it. It was powerful and moving, it’s sort of a completion of many chapters of Emma’s journey. Emma said in her song that she was going to save the world from the Black Fairy. Is the Black Fairy’s curse going to affect other realms?

Emma and Hooks’s wedding was absolutely beautiful, the only ones missing were Dopey, Ruby, August, Belle, and Rumple. The song at the wedding, “A Happy Beginning” is beautifully symbolic, they could have ended the series right here with this. It was a great and beautiful metaphor in life that, even though there is a new danger in town, they can be happy and they can overcome these challenges together.

Plus, the way the curse is coming, it was cool of Emma to say that they will defeat it, and  Regina’s line in the song, “let the villains cast their curses, we can overcome them all” perfectly sums up that despite the Black Fairy’s curse, they will get through it if they stand strong together.

With this new curse that just came, what else is in store for the final battle?

With, yet another dark curse, I am confused how this is suppose to play out. They flat out say that Emma is going to fighting in the final battle, but yet the Black Fairy is no where to be seen in the vision Emma had when we first discovered the “Savior Shakes.” Are they going to pull a “Snow and Charming” on Emma and Hook (which would take us back to season 5 with Hook going to the underworld). In my mind, this could go one of two way… 1. It’s good they have two hours to explain how this will all end up (especially if it is the series finale). 2. I may dead watching the final two hours… especially if it is the series finally.

Have fun at the finally/300 episode party. Make sure there is enough celebration for every that shows. I will be having a mini party of my own (PST).

— Nathaniel

PREDICTION: Henry will have a bigger hand in this fight of the final battle… The way that he technically solved this puzzle for Emma (yet again) just leads me to believe that he will have more to do with them figuring out how to deal with or get out of this next curse.

PREDICTION 2: I don’t think they are going to leave Storybrooke. I do think that all of the other worlds will have to either come to Storybrooke to witness the final battle… Or Emma will be fighting for all of the fairy tales everywhere.

THANK YOU for continuing your phenomenal podcast! It has been a fantastic ride from the first show! Love it and I love all of you! God Bless!

— DG

Curses: So it is another dark curse. The question is how similar it will be to the previous ones. It started off differently. Apparently this one could be cast with copious amounts of black fairy dust but without the heart of the thing you love most. All of the previous curses have transported people from somewhere else to the land without magic (Storybrooke) – Regina’s, Peter Pan’s, Snow White’s, and Dark One Hook’s. When Fiona originally created the dark curse it was meant to send all of the children to the world without magic. So for the dark curse to send people somewhere other than storybrooke would be unprecedented. This makes me think they will end up in some version of Storybrooke. They were emphasizing the time stopping power of the curse in this episode; that might be important or just included for plot this episode. The two times we have seen a dark curse cast and broken (Regina’s and Snow White’s, Peter Pan’s was undone not broken and I don’t know if Hook’s was ever actually broken) both of these times breaking the curse required belief and true love. The first time Emma had to believe and the second time Henry. Both curses were broken by someone kissing Henry. So if this pattern holds, whose belief and whose true love will break the curse? In the pilot Rumple says that any curse no matter how powerful can be broken and another time he says true love is the only magic powerful enough to transcend realms and break any curse. The problem is that right now everyone believes and there is true love between any number of characters. Forgetting is not an automatic part of the curse (as we learned in the episode A Curious Thing), but perhaps the Black fairy (like everyone else) will include a memory wipe so that the characters either don’t remember magic or don’t remember that they love one another. Having to fall in love again and believe in magic would be a very season one way to wrap up the show. In general however, I still don’t entirely understand the point of the curse, how casting it will lead to the final battle or how it will make it easier for the Black Fairy to kill Emma.

The Final Battle: Last predictions. I was convinced for the longest time that Emma would die sacrificing herself to save everyone. She showed that she was willing in this episode, but it didn’t work. Henry was convinced that the story needed to end a different way. I think that the fact that they explored this option in this episode means that this is not the way they will go in the finale. It would be kind of cruel to give Emma and Hook their happy beginning and then take it away the next day – though I wouldn’t put it entirely past them given what they have done to Regina. If Emma makes a sacrifice it will likely be a different one. Perhaps she will give up her magic like Zelina (perhaps give her light magic to Rumple), her destiny as the Savior like Aladdin, or some or all of the people she loves (for example maybe she will end up banishing the Black Fairy to another world but have to go there with her or something). I think Rumple will be a major hero in the final battle. As discussed last week, I think he may sacrifice himself in an attempt (successful or otherwise) to destroy the Black fairy. I think the Black Fairy will either be banished again or killed by someone other than Emma. I don’t think Emma has ever intentionally killed one of the villains and they might want to preserve that aspect of her character.  I think there will be a family or community aspect to winning the final battle. There has been a lot of emphasis on Emma not being alone and not fighting the battle alone. In “Awake” the sleeping curse was broken by everyone sharing it. Other things have been defeated by two or more characters working together. Perhaps it will really be everyone working together, the true love among everyone, that will break the curse and defeat the Black fairy. At the end of the show one of the following things needs to happen; light and dark magic cancel one another out leaving everyone normal in a world once again without magic; light and dark magic will come into balance, which might include dark magic being used for good purposes; or the taint will be removed from dark magic and it will become light magic again – undoing what Nimue originally did.

True love between Rumple and Emma: Is it possible that there is true love between Rumple and Emma? They have definitely shared some moments. They have a similar experience of being abandoned children. They are both or were supposed to be saviors. They have both been dark ones. Rumple saved Emma from the Black Fairy’s spider. He was going to kill her to cleave himself from the dagger but even then he seemed sad about doing so. He is connected to her via Neil and Henry. It would be really interesting if it was the love between these two that somehow breaks the curse, defeats the Black Fairy, or propels one or the other to sacrifice themself.

— Gareth

How will the season end? How will Emma defeat the Black Fairy? Join us for our finale party and watch the season 6 finale episode with us!

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Spoilers

• In “The Final Battle, Parts 1 & 2”, Henry awakens to a cursed Storybrooke and discovers Emma has been in the mental hospital
• Meanwhile, the Black Fairy is the new mayor
• Henry then attempts to help Emma regain her memory, while Gold tries to find out what has really happened to Belle.
• On the other hand, Snow, Charming, Regina, Zelena and Hook are trapped in a crumbling Fairy Tale Land and desperately try to figure out a way to be reunited with Emma and Henry
• “The Final Battle Part 1 &2” was written by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz. Part 1 was directed by Steve Pearlman, and Part 2 was directed by Ralph Hemecker
• Guest starring are Lee Arenberg as Leroy/Grumpy, Raphael Sbarge as Archie/Jiminy Cricket, Beverly Elliott as Granny, Deniz Akdeniz as Aladdin, Peter Marcin as Chief, Giles Matthew as Gideon, Andrew J. West as Young Man, Alison Fernandez as Little Girl, Ingrid Torrance as Severe Nurse and Jaime Murray as Black Fairy, Karen David as Jasmine, Gabe Khouth as Mr. Clark/Sneezy, Faustino Di Bauda as Walter/Sleepy, Sara Tomko as Tiger Lily and Olivia Steel Falconer as Violet
• Promo for the season finale starts with Regina as the Evil Queen saying that the entire realm will be destroyed.
• It seems like we are going to be realm-hopping for the season finale, instead of time-jumping
• The promo also showed Emma saying goodbye to Henry, Snow White asking Hook to make Emma believe again, and Emma throwing the story book into the fire.
• Gideon and Emma are also seen sword-fighting in the middle of the street in the promo
• Promo photos for the season 6 finale includes Emma in the psych ward wearing gray clothing and looking really dejected, with Henry talking to her with his story book.
• Another set of photos also includes Archie with the Black Fairy looking a little scary holding Henry’s story book.
• The second half of the photos showed Gideon in the Mayor’s office, Henry holding the book, some stills of Emma, a couple of Snow White as well as Gideon
• Jennifer Morrison has announced via her official Facebook account that she is leaving Once Upon a Time by the season’s end, regardless of whether the show is renewed or not. Morrison also posted the announcement of her leaving the show on her Instagram account.
• Morrison also said that she agreed to do one more episode if the show is renewed for season 7, according to TVLine.
• Josh Dallas, Ginnifer Goodwin, Jared S. Gilmore, and Emilie de Ravin are also going to be leaving the show by the season’s end, according to Ask Auselio Live
• When asked whether she will come back for the series finale, Jennifer Morrison said that she “can’t really speak to that.”
• Adam Kitsis and Adam Horowitz both said that regardless of the show’s fate, season 6 finale “will offer closure”
• The hour before the season 6 finale, ABC will air a special entitled, “THE FINAL BATTLE BEGINS.”
• The special will include the cast and executive producers identify some of their favorite moments over the past six seasons, as well as take a look back at their characters’ journeys
• The special will also discuss what the show has meant to them personally and to the millions of fans who made “Once Upon a Time” a hit show on ABC
• Additionally in this special, “Oncers” get to ask the cast and producers their most burning questions about the series.
• There is a theory going around in the fandom that season 7 will revolve in the Wish Realm, and age up the Wish Realm version of Henry, with the little girl being the Evil Queen and Robin’s daughter.