#4x18 sympathy for the de vil

[fuckyeahbelleandrumpelstiltskin]

Oh lord, this whole plot was such a clusterfuck from start to finish.

Basically there was a leaked ABC recap where it is stated that Regina takes Belle's heart without Belle's permission. However the show muddled that up by either deleting the scene or never filming it.

Then, I kid you not, A&E just forgot all about her knowing. Because Belle getting used and abused to hurt Rumple is no big deal right? Why should anyone care? It's just Belle after all. (Sarcasm)

I hate this show. 🤮

I made a recap with the receipts here for anyone interested to revisit the madness.

i've probably ranted about it a hundred times already...

but BUT the way regina stole belle's heart? the scenes don't make sense. the characters don't make sense.

i liked the rumple&will team up to steal belle's heart, but on belle's side, it's not making sense! regina asked belle for her heart, and yet she's clueless when it was returned? regina's not supposed to pull hearts and order people against their wills either! there was no need! she overstepped! and did i mention how it never got brought up again!?

the subplot ends with belle looking at rumple longingly, like she remembered that "oh! i love him." then follows the apparent breakup between belle and will. (oh, and his place in this show also doesn't make sense!)

ergo, this is my most hated plotline. above all the s5-s7 weirdness, this is one where i don't even consider it canon. there's always a better, alternate version of the situation in my head. my headcanon pieces this stupid stupid situation together.

[wicked-storybrooke]

[intothewickedwood]

Once Upon A Time Rewatch: 4x18 Sympathy for the De Vil

Apparently the actress who plays young Cruella is the same one who place Alice and Cyrus’ daughter in OUAT in Wonderland.

This mother-daughter relationship is so messed up. 

It’s difficult though because, like, what was the mother to do in those times? If she told anyone I’ve heard Cruella most likely would have been sent off to one of those in humane asylums from back then. But surely she could have done something other than lock her in her room for years. 

She locks up her dogs in rooms too?

Cruella: You see umm….I’m a really terrible person and I left her in the woods to die.

So Cruella’s smelly breath powers work on dragons! I wonder if they work on mermaids. I mean, they are kinda half fish.

So did Regina rip out Belle’s heart without her permission or did Belle let her? I feel like she must have done it without Belle’s permission because why would Belle want to be controlled? Belle could have done what Regina wanted of her with her heart still in.

All that time they spent trying to turn the saviour dark when all they needed was Lily’s blood. 

I wonder if Isaac still loves Cruella. The way he smells her furs and inhales her perfume would suggest he still has feelings for her, or perhaps he’s just reminiscing.

To have what you’ve lost return to you, do you just need to speak into the well or did Rumple come because she said his name?

Yeah. No way did Belle give Regina permission to take her heart, especially because she keeps it. 

Oh yeah. It’s weird to think that Cruella must have known who the Author was all along but hid it from the others.

I wonder if there is a realm for every era. That would have been really cool to explore!

The mother did handle the situation terribly though. You can’t just lock your child up. There had to have been another way.

Ngl I kinda love Cruella’s mum as a character though.

How did Isaac get her out of that high building??

Poor Pongo being controlled like that! I hope he gets back to Archie! 

Oh! He gave her a key with his Author magic! But you know what would have been cooler? If he’d conjured a giant trampoline for her to jump on!

It was Isaacs car!

Authella is a cute ship!

I really liked this twist. I was convinced Cruella’s mother had killed her husbands. Oh! Her name’s Madeline. Well Madeline, what did you expect after naming your child Cruella??

Authella is actually so cute.

Wait, how did Rumple find out that Isaac and Cruella knew each other?

Oh. He knows about the kidnapping!

Oh man, big mistake telling Cruella about his Author powers.

Why did he specifically give her the power to control animals? 

When Isaac falls in love, he falls in love hard. He was willing to give her everything.

Resourceful, Henry! Run!

I do feel sorry for Madeline. She did what she thought was right even though she surely could have done something else.

Oh God. This bit! The horror on Madeline’s face! This was so cruel. Her own mother!

Oh my God! Get that gun away from poor Henry!!

Cruella needed professional help. I’m not sure what mental health experts were like back then though.

Oh dear God. She made a coat out of the poor doggies!! This is awful!!

Cruella: “Some people struggle not to be drawn into the darkness, but ever since I was a little girl, I’ve said, why not splash in and have fun.”

Lmao! The ink spilling over her and giving her a new look :’D!

I love the lighting effects in this scene. 

Cruella might not be able to kill Henry but she can still hurt him. Isaac should have written ‘Cruella can no longer hurt another’ or something.

I can’t believe Cruella’s happy ending is to kill people x’D! 

Oh snap! She killed Cruella! 

Poor Henry’s probably traumatised.

That was a great episode! Loved it!

[onceuponaseriesrewatch]

Join us this Sunday, August 4 at 9:00 pm EST for 4x19 Sympathy for the DeVil!

If you’d like to be added to the Hangout chat, just send us your email address!

[hooksmoak]

Emma Swan in every episode | 4x18 Sympathy for the De Vil

[fallenandrogyne]

Swan Queen vs. Sanvers: Emma & Maggie wanting their girlfriends to be protected if they can’t be there to ensure her safety ↳Once Upon A Time 4x18 | Supergirl 2x15

[whimsicallyenchantedrose]

Once Upon a Series Rewatch: the Complete Schedule

With only three weeks to go before the rewatch we thought we’d give you the full rewatch schedule.  All times listed are Eastern Standard Time.  

August 26, 2018. 8:00 pm: 1x1 Pilot; 9:00 pm: 1x2 The Thing You Love Most

September 9, 2018. 8:00 pm: 1x3 Snow Falls; 9:00 pm: 1x4 The Price of Gold

September 16, 2018. 8:00 pm: 1x5 That Still Small Voice; 9:00 pm: 1x6 The Shepherd

September 23, 2018. 8:00 pm: 1x7 The Heart is a Lonely Hunter; 9:00 pm: 1x8 Desperate Souls

September 30, 2018. 8:00 pm: 1x9 True North; 9:00 pm: 1x10 7:15 a.m.

October 7, 2018. 8:00 pm: 1x11 Fruit of the Poisonous Tree; 9:00 pm: 1x12 Skin Deep

October 14, 2018. 8:00 pm: 1x13 What Happened to Frederick; 9:00 pm: 1x14 Dreamy

October 21, 2018. 8:00 pm: 1x15 Red-Handed; 9:00 pm: 1x16 Heart of Darkness

October 28, 2018. 8:00 pm: 1x17 Hat Trick; 9:00 pm: 1x18 The Stable Boy

November 4, 2018. 8:00 pm: 1x19 The Return; 9:00 pm: 1x20 The Stranger

November 11, 2018. 8:00 pm: 1x21 An Apple Red as Blood; 9:00 pm: 1x22 A Land Without Magic

November 18, 2018. 8:00 pm: 2x1 Broken; 9:00 pm: 2x2 We Are Both

December 2, 2018. 8:00 pm: 2x3 Lady of the Lake; 9:00 pm: 2x4 The Crocodile

December 9, 2018. 8:00 pm: 2x5 The Doctor; 9:00 pm: 2x6 Tallahassee

December 16, 2018. 8:00 pm: 2x7 Child of the Moon; 9:00 pm: 2x8 Into the Deep

December 23, 2018. 8:00 pm: 2x9 Queen of Hearts; 9:00 pm: 2x10 The Cricket Game

December 30, 2018. 8:00 pm: 2x11 The Outsider; 9:00 pm: 2x12 In the Name of the Brother

January 6, 2019. 8:00 pm: 2x13 Tiny; 9:00 pm: 2x14 Manhattan

January 13, 2019. 8:00 pm: 2x15 The Queen is Dead; 9:00 pm: 2x16 The Miller’s Daughter

January 20, 2019. 8:00 pm: 2x17 Welcome to Storybrooke; 9:00 pm: 2x18 Selfless, Brave and True

January 27, 2019. 8:00 pm: 2x19 Lacey; 9:00 pm: 2x20 The Evil Queen

February 10, 2019. 8:00 pm: 2x21 Second Star to the Right; 9:00 pm: 2x22 And Straight on ‘Til Morning

February 17, 2019. 8:00 pm: 3x1 The Heart of the Truest Believer; 9:00 pm: 3x2 Lost Girl

February 24, 2019. 8:00 pm: 3x3 Quite a Common Fairy; 9:00 pm: 3x4 Nasty Habits

March 3, 2019. 8:00 pm: 3x5 Good Form; 9:00 pm: 3x6 Ariel

March 10, 2019. 8:00 pm: 3x7 Dark Hollow; 9:00 pm: 3x8 Think Lovely Thoughts

March 17, 2019. 8:00 pm Save Henry: 3x9; 9:00 pm: 3x10 The New Neverland

March 24, 2019. 8:00 pm: 3x11 Going Home; 9:00 pm: 3x12 New York City Serenade

March 31, 2019. 8:00 pm: 3x13 Witch Hunt; 9:00 pm: 3x14 The Tower

April 7, 2019. 8:00 pm: 3x15 Quiet Minds; 9:00 pm 3x16 It’s Not Easy Being Green

April 14, 2019. 8:00 pm: 3x17 The Jolly Roger; 9:00 pm 3x18 Bleeding Through

April 28, 2019. 8:00 pm: 3x19 A Curious Thing; 9:00 pm 3x20 Kansas

May 5, 2019. 8:00 pm: 3x21 Snow Drifts; 9:00 pm 3x22 There’s No Place Like Home

May 19, 2019. 8:00 pm: 4x1 A Tale of Two Sisters; 9:00 pm: 4x2 White Out

June 2, 2019. 8:00 pm: 4x3 Rocky Road; 9:00 pm: 4x4 The Apprentice

June 9, 2019. 8:00 pm: 4x5 Breaking Glass; 9:00 pm: 4x6 Family Business

June 23, 2019. 8:00 pm: 4x7 The Snow Queen

June 30, 2019. 8:00 pm: 4x8 Smash the Mirror, pt. 1; 9:00 pm: 4x9 Smash the Mirror, pt. 2

July 7, 2019. 8:00 pm: 4x10 Fall; 9:00 pm: 4x11 Shattered Sight

July 14, 2019. 8:00 pm: 4x12 Heroes and Villains; 9:00 pm: 4x13 Darkness on the Edge of Town

July 21, 2019. 8:00 pm: 4x14 Unforgiven; 9:00 pm: 4x15 Enter the Dragon

July 28, 2019. 8:00 pm: 4x16 Poor Unfortunate Soul; 9:00 pm: 4x17 Best Laid Plans

August 4, 2019. 8:00 pm: 4x18 Heart of Gold; 9:00 pm: 4x19 Sympathy for the De Vil

August 11, 2019. 8:00 pm: 4x20 Lily; 9:00 pm: 4x21 Mother

August 18, 2019. 8:00 pm: 4x22 Operation Mongoose, pt. 1; 9:00 pm: 4x23 Operation Mongoose, pt. 2

August 25, 2019. 8:00 pm: 5x1 The Dark Swan; 9:00 pm: 5x2 The Price

September 8, 2019. 8:00 pm: 5x3 Siege Perilous; 9:00 pm: 5x4 The Broken Kingdom

September 15, 2019. 8:00 pm: 5x5 Dreamcatcher; 9:00 pm: 5x6 The Bear and the Bow

September 22, 2019. 8:00 pm: 5x7 Nimue; 9:00 pm: 5x8 Birth

September 29, 2019. 8:00 pm: 5x9 The Bear King; 9:00 pm: 5x10 Broken Heart

October 6, 2019. 8:00 pm: 5x11 Swan Song; 9:00 pm: 5x12 Souls of the Departed

October 13, 2019. 8:00 pm: 5x13 Labor of Love; 9:00 pm: 5x14 Devil’s Due

October 20, 2019. 8:00 pm: 5x15 The Brothers Jones; 9:00 pm: 5x16 Our Decay

October 27, 2019. 8:00 pm: 5x17 Her Handsome Hero; 9:00 pm: 5x18 Ruby Slippers

November 3, 2019. 8:00 pm: 5x19 Sisters; 9:00 pm: 5x20 Firebird

November 10, 2019. 8:00 pm: 5x21 Last Rites

November 17, 2019. 8:00 pm: 5x22 Only You; 5x23: An Untold Story

November 24, 2019. 8:00 pm: 6x1 The Savior; 9:00 pm: 6x2 A Bitter Draught

December 8, 2019. 8:00 pm: 6x3 The Other Shoe; 9:00 pm: 6x4 Strange Case

December 15, 2019. 8:00 pm: 6x5 Street Rats; 9:00 pm: 6x6 Dark Waters

December 22, 2019. 8:00 pm: 6x7 Heartless; 9:00 pm: 6x8 I’ll Be Your Mirror

December 29, 2019. 8:00 pm: 6x9 Changelings; 9:00 pm: 6x10 Wish You Were Here

January 5, 2020. 8:00 pm: 6x11 Tougher Than the Rest; 9:00 pm: 6x12 Murder Most Foul

January 12, 2020. 8:00 pm: 6x13 Ill-Boding Patterns; 9:00 pm: 6x14 Page 23

January 19, 2020. 8:00 pm: 6x15 A Wondrous Place; 9:00 pm: 6x16 Mother’s Little Helper

January 26, 2020. 8:00 pm: 6x17 Awake; 9:00 pm: 6x18 Where Bluebirds Fly

February 9, 2020. 8:00 pm: 6x19 The Black Fairy; 9:00 pm: 6x20 The Song in Your Heart

February 16, 2020. 8:00 pm: 6x21 The Final Battle, pt. 1; 9:00 pm: 6x22 The Final Battle, pt. 2

February 23, 2020. 8:00 pm: 7x1 Hyperion Heights; 9:00 pm: 7x2 A Pirate’s Life

March 1, 2020. 8:00 pm: 7x3 The Garden of Forking Paths; 9:00 pm: 7x4 Beauty

March 8, 2020. 8:00 pm: 7x5 Greenbacks; 9:00 pm: 7x6 Wake Up Call

March 15, 2020. 8:00 pm: 7x7 Eloise Gardener; 9:00 pm: 7x8 Pretty in Blue

March 22, 2020. 8:00 pm: 7x9 One Little Tear; 9:00 pm: 7x10 The Eighth Witch

March 29, 2020. 8:00 pm: 7x11 Secret Garden; 9:00 pm: 7x12 A Taste of the Heights

April 5, 2020. 8:00 pm: 7x13 Knightfall; 9:00 pm: 7x14 The Girl in the Tower

April 19, 2020. 8:00 pm: 7x15 Sisterhood; 9:00 pm: 7x16 Breadcrumbs

April 26, 2020. 8:00 pm: 7x17 Chosen; 9:00 pm: 7x18 The Guardian

May 3, 2020. 8:00 pm: 7x19 Flower Child; 9:00 pm: 7x20 Is This Henry Mills?

May 17, 2020. 8:00 pm: 7x21 Homecoming; 9:00 pm: 7x22 Leaving Storybrooke

[allaboutjmo]

Promotional stills of Jen as Emma Swan from Once Upon A Time episode 4x18 “Sympathy for the De Vil”

[themattress]

My Top 50 OUAT Episodes

And now, as a final goodbye to OUAT, I give you this list of my personal picks for the 50 best episodes in the series, listed in order of airing. Two-hour broadcasts are counted as one here.

1. Pilot - 1x01. One of the best TV pilots of recent years due to how quickly it grabs you and emotionally invests you in its magical atmosphere and the plight of its central characters. 

2. The Thing You Love Most - 1x02. Best watched immediately after the pilot, as it deals with the same story but from the dark and twisted perspective of its villain, the Evil Queen.

3. Snow Falls - 1x03. Snow and Charming are, well, charming in their first adventure together and the start of their romance, as is sweet Mary Margaret in the present day.

4. That Still Small Voice - 1x05. Jiminy Cricket of all characters gets a surprisingly dark and emotional backstory that resonates with him in the extremely intense present-day scenario.

5. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter - 1x07. Jamie Dornan gives an incredible performance as the tormented Sheriff Graham / Huntsman, all the way to the episode’s tragic conclusion.

6. Desperate Souls - 1x08. We get our first true insight into the backstory of the enigmatic Rumpelstiltskin, and Emma becomes sheriff, making this a truly pivotal episode for the show.

7. Skin Deep - 1x12. A truly subversive, twisted take on the Beauty and the Beast story, with some unexpected layers added to Rumple’s character and Robert Carlyle’s performance. 

8. Red-Handed - 1x15. Little Red Riding Hood IS the Big Bad Wolf. That is awesome.

9. Hat Trick - 1x17. One of the most terrifying, surreal episodes in the entire series, with the great Sebastian Stan knocking it out of the park as the deranged Mad Hatter, Jefferson.

10. The Return - 1x19. We learn why the curse was cast in a devastatingly emotional story that adds more to the characters of Rumple and August as the season enters its final stretch.

11. The Stranger - 1x20. August’s true identity is one of the best reveals in the whole series.

12. An Apple Red As Blood - 1x21. Part 1 of the season finale, as Regina in both the past and present gears up to finish off her nemesis, with the episode ending on a huge shocker.

13. A Land Without Magic - 1x22. Part 2 of the season finale, the best finale the show ever had, and quite possibly my all-time favorite episode. Almost everything about this episode is perfect and gives you the feeling of a story coming to its end as the threads come together.

14. Broken - 2x01. A solid season opener that sets the show on an exciting new course.

15. Lady of the Lake - 2x03. Things really pick up as Team Princess is formed, Cora is established as the new Big Bad, and we get some beautiful moments between Snow and Emma that make it all the more shameful that the show utterly ruins this dynamic later on.

16. The Doctor - 2x05. Dr. Whale is Victor Frankenstein. Did NOT see that coming!

17. Tallahassee - 2x06. The first adventure that “Captain Swan” (Emma and Hook) partake in together, while at the same time we finally learn about Emma’s sad past with her ex-lover.

18. Queen of Hearts - 2x09. A thrilling conclusion to the first arc of Season 2, where we finally learn Cora’s motivations and get an epic fight between the heroes and the villains.

19. Manhattan - 2x14. This episode is a real turning point, with Emma’s ex-lover being revealed as Rumple’s long-lost son, along with several new insights into Rumple’s past. 

20. The Queen Is Dead - 2x15. One of the show’s most emotional episodes, in no small part thanks to Bailee Madison’s truly amazing performance as young Snow in the flashback.

21. The Miller's Daughter - 2x16. We learn about Cora’s fascinating backstory and the true nature of her relationship with Rumple. But then she dies, and the season totally falls apart.

22. Second Star To The Right - 2x21. Finally it feels like shit is getting done, and the concept of a terrifying re-imagining of Peter Pan in the flashback is immediately captivating.

23. And Straight On 'Til Morning - 2x22. The mess Season 2 became gets cleaned up in this gripping finale, with a brilliant new story set-up laid out to be followed in Season 3.

24. The Heart Of The Truest Believer - 3x01. OUAT is truly back at the top of its game here, juggling four different plot threads perfectly and introducing its greatest villain, Peter Pan.

25. Lost Girl - 3x02. The flashback here is meh, but the present day stuff is nigh-perfect.

26. Quite a Common Fairy - 3x03. For the first time, Regina’s potential redemption feels good and genuine, and Rose McIver’s re-imagining of Tinker Bell is a delight from the start.

27. Good Form - 3x05. Hook’s backstory is amazing, and Captain Swan truly begins here.

28. Ariel - 3x06. JoAnna Garcia Swisher makes a truly perfect live-action rendition of Ariel, and the interactions between all the characters in Neverland take a truly engaging turn.

29. Dark Hollow - 3x07. Belle and Ariel, on a mission from Rumpelstiltskin, team up to fight John and Michael Darling who serve the villainous Peter Pan. Only on this show, people!

30. Think Lovely Thoughts - 3x08. The “Nevengers” truly show how far they’ve come working as a group here, and we get one of the show’s most shocking and twisted reveals.

31. Going Home - 3x11. The perfect series finale that isn’t a series finale, with the action increasingly slowing down so that you can fully appreciate the emotions. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: if the show had ended right here, I’d have been completely satisfied. 

32. Witch Hunt - 3x13. Just plain fun and funny, with great dialogue and great character interactions that really get you re-adjusted to these characters and to life in Storybrooke.

33. The Jolly Roger - 3x17. Quite possibly the quintessential Hook episode, showing just what kind of a person he was and how he desperately wants to be a better man now.

34. Snow Drifts / There's No Place Like Home - 3x21 / 22. After the incredible letdown that was the climax of the Wicked arc, we get this two-part finale that really embodies the magic OUAT had and never quite will again, with Emma’s character arc coming to a fitting end.

35. The Apprentice - 4x04. “The Dark One lies. The Dark One tricks”. This episode does a perfect job at re-establishing Rumple as a true villain and a schemer to be reckoned with.

36. The Snow Queen - 4x07. Quite possibly the most heartbreaking villain backstory the show has ever had, plus riveting scenes between Elizabeth Mitchell and Jennifer Morrison.

37. Smash the Mirror - 4x08. It’s overlong and the Regina and Robin subplot is complete bullshit, but everything else in both the past and present is golden. The 4A arc peaked here.

38. Shattered Sight - 4x10. The boffo comedy in this episode is cringe-inducing, but all of the serious, emotional stuff centered around the Snow Queen and her family gets me every time.

39. Poor Unfortunate Soul - 4x15. Ursula’s backstory is kind of iffy, but the effect it has on Hook and his development here is really good, as are the villains and August’s return.

40. Sympathy for the De Vil - 4x18. “Evil isn’t born, it’s made”...except in this case, where it is 100% born and takes us on a twisted tale that could pass for a good Twilight Zone episode.

41. The Broken Kingdom - 5x04. The twist of the glorious kingdom of Camelot being a kingdom literally built on sand, and its monarch a disturbed megalomaniac, is a great one. Plus, Snow and Charming actually get do something heroic after a long period of inactivity! 

42. Nimue - 5x07. The actors portraying Merlin and Nimue really sell the doomed epic romance between the two, as we get the most far-back flashback in the show’s entire run.

43. Labor of Love - 5x13. This episode can be summed up as “The Nevengers are back.” That alone counters the disappointment of how blandly Hercules and Megara are portrayed.

44. The Brothers Jones - 5x15. A touching tale of brotherhood, good intentions gone wrong, self-loathing and forgiveness, plus giving Hook closure with his big brother. I just love it.

45. Firebird - 5x20. The flashback is utter tripe, but the escalation in the present-day story, the performances, and Captain Swan’s True Love test makes this episode well worth it.

46. Last Rites - 5x21. Aside from that moment with Robin, this episode is awesome, especially the Underworld scenes with the duo I never knew I wanted: Hook and Arthur.

47. The Other Shoe - 6x03. This episode embodies what the show SHOULD have become: a more light-hearted series with adventures-of-the-day starring Emma, Hook and Henry. 

48. A Wondrous Place - 6x15. Hook sails on Captain Nemo’s sub, the Nautilus, alongside Aladdin and Jasmine, meeting up with Ariel and facing down Jafar. Only on this show, people!

49. The Song in Your Heart - 6x20. Because really, who doesn’t love a Musical Episode? This one centering around Emma and her marriage to Hook makes it all the more special.

50. The Final Battle - 6x21 / 22. It’s got a LOT of problems, but the ending it reaches is truly one that fits the show, and we would have been better off if ABC hadn’t renewed it afterward.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

The Price of Gold - 1x04. Rumpelstiltskin’s first showcase episode, and he’s terrifying in it.

Dreamy - 1x14. Screw the haters, I really liked this episode! It was hilarious and sweet.

The Crocodile - 2x04. Our introduction to Killian Jones / Captain Hook. It’s a good one, and I’d have liked it better had Rumple’s role in both the past and present not been so disturbing.

Save Henry - 3x09. A tad anti-climactic and the Regina focus was misaimed, but still good.

New York City Serenade - 3x12. A damn fine start to a new beginning for the show.

Rocky Road - 4x03. Elsa and the Snow Queen are both fantastic characters, both shown well here. It’s held back by the introduction of Will Scarlet, who ended up being a waste.

Darkness on the Edge of Town - 4x12. This episode gives us the visual of villains on a road trip stopping at a drive-thru. You just gotta love that! Also, the Chernabog was awesome.

Operation Mongoose - 4x21 / 22. Despite Isaac’s (and by extension, A&E’s) terrible writing, the weird situations and performances from the actors makes this an entertaining finale.

Siege Perilous - 5x03. A good old-fashioned Camelot adventure is just what I wanted. 

The Bear King - 5x09. Again, screw the haters. The show needed more episodes like this, a standalone where the plot takes a pause and the side characters are allowed to develop.

Broken Heart - 5x10. The present-day plot is absolute crap, but the flashback in Camelot is really well executed, and Colin O’Donoghue is clearly having a blast playing Dark Hook.

Souls of the Departed - 5x12. Not ideal for the 100th episode, but a good start to the Underworld arc, with a lot of familiar faces returning and a great new villain introduced. 

Devil's Due - 5x14. Despite her fate in this episode, it’s great to see the writers presenting Milah more sympathetically than she was before, and Hades continues to be a delight.

Our Decay - 5x16. The first episode where Zelena feels truly human instead of the cartoonish psychopath she was before, with her and Hades’ romance being legit touching.

Sisters - 5x19. While I don’t much care for the subplot with Prince James, the main plot featuring the reconciliation between Cora, Regina and Zelena is great and beautifully acted.

Strange Case - 6x04. Oh, Mr. Hyde, you left us way too soon. The episode is sadly weighed down by Rumple’s textbook abuse toward Belle, which we now know is never truly punished. 

Dark Waters - 6x06. A good bonding episode between Hook and Henry, plus a great new character from the Land of Untold Stories who is actually faithful to his source material!

Heartless - 6x07. For once, Lana Parilla actually gives us an old-school Evil Queen performance, where she’s scary and truly malevolent rather than campy and over-the-top.

Mother's Little Helper - 6x16. I really like the Dark Realm, and wish that more was done with it. The reunion between long-time rivals Hook and Blackbeard is also a lot of fun.

The Black Fairy - 6x19. The retcon that Rumple was born a Savior is ridiculous, but the titular Black Fairy’s backstory actually makes her an interesting character for the first time.

A Pirate's Life - 7x02. It was nice to see Emma again, and even better to see that the Hook in this arc is actually Wish!Hook rather than the original, who is still living happily with Emma.

The Girl in the Tower - 7x14. Robin and Alice are beyond precious as a couple in both the past and the present, finally washing away the bad taste left behind by “Ruby Slippers”.

The Guardian - 7x18. It may have been late in coming, but Rumple / Weaver actually becomes interesting here as we get to explore his relationship with his newfound friends.

Homecoming - 7x21. It’s good to see several old characters again, and even better to see all the loose threads from that abominable Season 6 Wish Realm two-parter finally addressed. 

Leaving Storybrooke - 7x22. Except for Rumple’s end, most of what happens following Snow and Charming’s appearance is utter shit. But.....at least the show is finally over!

[ouat-music]

Sympathy for the De Vil (4x18)

requested by @suspiciousscot

[efnewsservice]

The Paul Becker rehearsal stuff he posted wouldn't be for anything this season. I just found a vid of that exact dance in 4x18 Sympathy for the De Vil

Yeah I relabeled it this morning.

[timelordthirteen]

Belle French being gorgeous and ruining my life in 4x18 Sympathy for the De Vil

[wicked-storybrooke]

[intothewickedwood]

Once Upon A Time Rewatch: Links to My Recaps

So, I finished 3 year long rewatch of ouat & ouatiw a few weeks ago and I thought I’d post links to my live reaction posts of each episode. If anyone’s interested in anything specific you can find it here. It’s also just to have them all in one place. I would love to see your comments about the episodes or in regards to any questions I raised, or anything really if you would like to add anything! I’d love to talk Ouat with you!

All Episodes Tag

Chronological Order | Last To First Order

Season One

1x01 Pilot | 1x02 The Thing You Love Most | 1x03 Snow Falls | 1x04 The Price of Gold | 1x05 That Still Small Voice | 1x06 The Shepherd | 1x07 The Heart is a Lonely Hunter | 1x08 Desperate Souls | 1x09 True North | 1x10 7:15 A.M. | 1x11 Fruit of the Poisonous Tree | 1x12 Skin Deep | 1x13 What Happened to Frederick | 1x14 Dreamy | 1x15 Red-Handed | 1x16 Heart of Darkness | 1x17 Hat Trick | 1x18 The Stable Boy | 1x19 The Return | 1x20 The Stranger | 1x21 An Apple Red as Blood | 1x22 A Land Without Magic

Season Two

2x01 Broken | 2x02 We Are Both | 2x03 Lady of the Lake | 2x04 The Crocodile | 2x05 The Doctor | 2x06 Tallahassee | 2x07 Child of the Moon | 2x08 Into the Deep | 2x09 Queen of Hearts | 2x10 The Cricket Game | 2x11 The Outsider | 2x12 In the Name of the Brother | 2x13 Tiny | 2x14 Manhattan | 2x15 The Queen is Dead | 2x16 The Miller's Daughter | 2x17 Welcome to Storybrooke | 2x18 Selfless, Brave and True | 2x19 Lacey | 2x20 The Evil Queen | 2x21 Second Star to the Right | 2x22 And Straight on 'til Morning

Season Three

3x01 The Heart of the Truest Believer | 3x02 Lost Girl | 3x03 Quite a Common Fairy | 3x04 Nasty Habits | 3x05 Good Form | 3x06 Ariel | 3x07 Dark Hollow | 3x08 Think Lovely Thoughts | 3x09 Save Henry | 3x10 The New Neverland | 3x11 Going Home | 3x12 New York City Serenade | 3x13 Witch Hunt | 3x14 The Tower | 3x15 Quiet Minds | 3x16 It's Not Easy Being Green | 3x17 The Jolly Roger | 3x18 Bleeding Through | 3x19 A Curious Thing | 3x20 Kansas | 3x21 Snow Drifts | 3x22 There's No Place Like Home

Season Four

4x01 A Tale of Two Sisters | 4x02 White Out | 4x03 Rocky Road | 4x04 The Apprentice | 4x05 Breaking Glass | 4x06 Family Business | 4x07 The Snow Queen | 4x08 Smash the Mirror, Part 1 | 4x08 Smash the Mirror, Part 2 | 4x09 Fall | 4x10 Shattered Sight | 4x11 Heroes and Villains | 4x12 Darkness on the Edge of Town | 4x13 Unforgiven | 4x14 Enter the Dragon | 4x15 Poor Unfortunate Soul | 4x16 Best Laid Plans | 4x17 Heart of Gold | 4x18 Sympathy for the De Vil | 4x19 Lily | 4x20 Mother | 4x21 Operation Mongoose, Part 1 | 4x22 Operation Mongoose, Part 2

Season Five

5x01 The Dark Swan | 5x02 The Price | 5x03 Siege Perilous | 5x04 The Broken Kingdom | 5x05 Dreamcatcher | 5x06 The Bear and the Bow | 5x07 Nimue | 5x08 Birth | 5x09 The Bear King | 5x10 Broken Heart | 5x11 Swan Song | 5x12 Souls of the Departed | 5x13 Labor of Love | 5x14 Devil's Due | 5x15 The Brothers Jones | 5x16 Our Decay | 5x17 Her Handsome Hero | 5x18 Ruby Slippers | 5x19 Sisters | 5x20 Firebird | 5x21 Last Rites | 5x22 Only You | 5x23  An Untold Story

Season Six

6x01 The Savior | 6x02 Bitter Draught | 6x03 The Other Shoe | 6x04 Strange Case | 6x05 Street Rats | 6x06 Dark Waters | 6x07 Heartless | 6x08 I'll Be Your Mirror | 6x09 Changelings | 6x10 Wish You Were Here | 6x11 Tougher Than the Rest | 6x12 Murder Most Foul | 6x13 Ill-Boding Patterns | 6x14 Page 23 | 6x15 A Wondrous Place | 6x16 Mother's Little Helper | 6x17 Awake | 6x18 Where Bluebirds Fly | 6x19 The Black Fairy | 6x20 The Song in Your Heart | 6x21 The Final Battle, Part 1 | 6x22 The Final Battle, Part 2

Season Seven

7x01 Hyperion Heights | 7x02 A Pirate's Life | 7x03 The Garden of Forking Paths | 7x04 Beauty | 7x05 Greenbacks | 7x06 Wake Up Call | 7x07 Eloise Gardener | 7x08 Pretty in Blue | 7x09 One Little Tear | 7x10 The Eighth Witch | 7x11 Secret Garden | 7x12 Taste of the Heights | 7x13 Knightfall | 7x14 The Girl in the Tower | 7x15 Sisterhood | 7x16 Breadcrumbs | 7x17 Chosen | 7x18 The Guardian | 7x19 Flower Child | 7x20 Is This Henry Mills? | 7x21 Homecoming | 7x22 Leaving Storybrooke

Once Upon A Time In Wonderland

1x01 Down the Rabbit Hole | 1x02 Trust Me | 1x03 Forget Me Not | 1x04 The Serpent | 1x05 Heart of Stone | 1x06 Who's Alice | 1x07 Bad Blood | 1x08 Home | 1x09 Nothing to Fear | 1x10 Dirty Little Secrets | 1x11 Heart of the Matter | 1x12 To Catch a Thief | 1x13 And They Lived…

[shadowedoracle]

I’m a completist so I kind of recommend watching all (I personally couldn’t even only watch part of an episode). All the ones you’ve mentioned are worth seeing in their entirety. But since I suspect that’s not what you want. These are some recommendations focusing on Rumbelle/ Rumple centrics.

I’d recommend watching all of it up to the end of 3B.  But if you don’t want to do that then I notice you never saw 1x04 “The Price of Gold”, 1x19 “The Return” or 1x22 “A Land Without Magic” which contain some fantastic Rumple/Rumbelle stuff. I’d definitely strongly encourage watching all of Season 1 if you like the show enough in general but you really ought to watch those three if nothing else.

I personally love Season 2 but apart from “Lacey” the episodes after “The Miller’s Daughter” aren’t brilliant -- there are some real duds and the final two always feel like they should be better than they are but they do have some good stuff in them too so I’d recommend those two as well. But really I’d watch all of Season 2.

If you don’t watch the whole Neverland arch you still definitely ought to watch 3x04 “Nasty Habits” without a shadow of a doubt. I like that whole arch and except for 3x05 “Good Form” which is fine but a Hook centric and doesn’t interest me as much, but 3A think it’s got loads of good stuff in it and 3x11 “Going Home” is a fantastic mid-Season finale. I’d argue watching all of it up to 3B is worthwhile but I could give recommendations about which ones to skip if you’re not willing to sit through the duds of Season 2.

Season 4 isn’t great for Rumbelle but there’s some good (well interesting/ emotional) stuff for them in 4x18 “Sympathy for the De Vil” and 4x19 “Lily”.

5x06 “The Bear and the Bow” has a lot of good Rumbelle stuff in it so that’s a good one from Season 5.

I’d also recommend 5x17 “Her Handsome Hero” this is not necessarily a perfect episode but it’s a lot of fun and certainly a favourite of mine (I’m not so interested in the non-Rumbelle plot to be honest but it’s fine).

I can totally see why you’d want to skip 6A which is terrible for Rumbelle. But there’s some interesting stuff that comes out of it. I personally think 6x10 “Wish You Were Here” and 6x11 “Tougher Than the Rest” are fun because the Wish Realm may make no sense whatsoever but it’s a riot and there’s the beginnings of recovery from after 6x09 “Changelings” but your personal tolerance for the insanity of the Wish Realm and the slow beginnings of recovery for Rumbelle may be different.

I’d definitely watch 6x13 “Ill-Boding Patterns” and 6x16 “Mother’s Little Helper which are both good Rumplestiltskin/ Rumbelle/ Gideon episodes.

7x18 “The Guardian” is really good! It’s probably my favourite episode in Season 7. There’s some really great stuff from Rumple in there. Also the other plot is really a lovely Curious Archer storyline which I personally love because I love Curious Archer.

Okay so I’m kinda feeling like a p bad fan(?) cause I just realized that the only eps I’ve seen in their entirety are:

1x01 Pilot

1x08 Desperate Souls

1x12 Skin Deep

1x17 Hat Trick

2x04 The Crocodile (I think?)

2x11 The Outsider (not totally sure abt this one actually)

2x14 Manhattan

2x16 The Miller’s Daughter (or this one)

2x19 Lacey

3x08 Think Lovely Thoughts

4x11 Shattered Sight (or these two)

4x12 Heroes and Villains (^)

5x14 Devil’s Due

6x19 The Black Fairy

7x04 Beauty

And tbh I just got to Skin Deep before I switched to AO3 and started reading fic and the rest I guess I just got through osmosis or smthn idk?? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Lol anyway so point is; are there any other eps worth watching?

[beegoddess]