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jackiestarsister · 11 months ago

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OUAT Rewatch: Season 6

Overall thoughts: This season finally feels like a return to the style and tone of the first two seasons, with the present-day action taking place in Storybrooke, and multiple storylines with multiple antagonists playing out. Those are the seasons I like best!

Episode 6x01 “The Savior”

~ The teaser sets up the conflict for the whole season: can a Savior get a happy ending?

~ “There’s nothing more dangerous than an untold story, and the people who don’t want them told.” What a great line!

~ Where did all of Zelena’s baby supplies come from? Did Robin Hood own any?

~ Regina and Zelena are so endearingly awkward interacting as new housemates!

~ The camera freezes on a cross-shaped headstone when Regina says “Heroism comes first”! Was that an intentional symbol?

~ “When it comes to fixing our biggest problems, there are no shortcuts.”

~ When characters visit the asylum/prison part of the hospital, it usually feels like an homage to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Emma’s visit to Hyde is the first time it feels like an homage to Silence of the Lambs!

~ Rumple/Gold has already faced the challenge of making Belle fall in love with him again, back in Season 2 when she lost her memory. Having him do so again in the dream world feels unnecessary.

~ The Oracle basically quotes Yoda from The Empire Strikes Back! I’m surprised Emma doesn’t call this out.

~ It’s amazing to see Regina acknowledge that she was a horrible stepmother to Snow, and for Snow to realize that Regina was the one who made her learn about hope!

~ Regina’s monologue and the montage at the end are soooo lovely! I much prefer her new attitude, that one’s life is made up of many stories, over her Season 4 obsession with an Author controlling her life.

~ When Belle passes by the pawnshop, the camera looks out over a candelabra like Lumiere!

Episode 6x02 “A Bitter Draught”

~ The Count of Monte Cristo seems like the kind of story that should be in a Hook-focused episode, since it deals so much with revenge and piracy.

~ I love Hook and Belle’s scene, his apology for trying to kill her in the past, and his acknowledgement that he still has work to do in the area of forgiving himself. That baggage did not go away when he decided to return from the Underworld. And Hook’s music motif sounds so sad and pensive during that scene!

~ Regina swordfighting … is not something I ever expected to see, but okay, cool.

~ Why the heck does Rumplestiltskin suddenly act like he wants Regina? They might be past the teacher-student phase of their relationship, but it’s still incredibly uncomfortable!

Episode 6x03 “The Other Shoe”

~ Looks like Hester Prynne from The Scarlet Letter is now in Storybrooke! I guess it would make sense for her to have sought refuge in the Land of Untold Stories.

~ Emma watching Hook interact with Alexandra is soooo sweet!

~ I like that this episode revisits the backstory of a character who had a one-off episode so early in the show.

~ It seems strange for Ella to say “There’s no such thing as magic.” Did she not live in the Enchanted Forest, or at least a neighboring kingdom?

~ Dopey getting his master’s degree! And Grumpy/Leroy’s attitude toward Emma!

~ It might have been better setup to show Ashley’s reaction to seeing Lorinda’s name on the list of newcomers.

~ Mary Margaret was already shown returning to her teaching job in the middle of Season 4, presumably after she took some maternity leave. Her time away in Camelot and the Underworld only amounted to a couple months, at most. Why is her return to teaching such a big deal now?

~ Hook and Henry practicing swordfighting is great, and shows that Hook has now joined Henry’s father and maternal grandfather in the role of mentoring him!

~ They brought back Gus/Billy! It’s nice to see Ella having a friend with her in her home and at the ball.

~ I like that they show how Ella and Snow met! That helps explain how they recognize each other at Ella and Thomas’ engagement/wedding ball.

~ It almost seems odd that OUAT hasn’t depicted the Cinderella ball before, earlier in its run.

~ Cutting from the glass slipper to the glass chess set—both possessions/gifts of Rumplestiltskin—is great!

~ David’s desperation seems a bit out of nowhere after he appeared so optimistic in his scene with Mary Margaret.

~ Hook really let Belle settle in and put her own mark on her cabin, which was previously his own!

~ Looks like Snow was as responsible for Ella’s happy ending as Emma was for Ashley’s!

~ Dr. Jekyll meeting Dr. Frankenstein is hilarious! As is the fact that Snow thinks getting them to teach is “part of getting this town back to normal”!

~ Snow and David’s final scene is so sweet, and their conversation about Neal is full of truth! Childrearing may not be “epic,” but it really is the most important work.

~ They really contrived a way to get Robert Carlyle to read poetry in his full Scottish accent!

~ How can the Evil Queen simply free Hyde? Did Regina not take any precautions against this after finding out she had visited him?

~ I like the theme of this episode, about seeking happiness even when the future is not a guarantee, and the fact that the storyline ends in reconciliation for Ella and her sister and their respective loves.

Episode 6x04 “Strange Case”

~ In situations where you feel powerless, cutting your hair can feel like a way of reclaiming control. So, it makes sense for Gold to take that action, even if it seems random.

~ Interesting to see Gold fixing a watch, and his shop full of clocks, considering the show’s name and theme!

~ Rumplestiltskin basically plays the same role in Jekyll’s story as he did in Frankenstein’s.

~ Gold sinks to new levels of abuse in this episode, imprisoning Belle in the name of protecting her.

~ It’s pretty significant that Gold is comfortable with Belle being with Hook on his ship, considering their history with Milah.

~ Leroy and David have a great, supportive little exchange.

~ Grumpy/Leroy has never articulated the dwarves’ job(s) as “protectors” before. I thought he was going to say that what they do best is work—they seem to gravitate toward physical labor, whether in the mines or in the magic bean fields.

~ “It’s the queen!” Nice little callback to the pilot episode!

~ It looks like Snow is now teaching middle or high school level, whereas during the curse she was teaching elementary school.

~ Now I’m wondering whether Storybrooke’s schools bother with actual certification or accreditation. Does Snow really know how to teach?

~ What is with Belle’s outfit? It looks like a nightgown, or hospital gown, or something for the beach or a maternity shoot.

~ Interesting that Hook is the one to save Belle, and Gold sees it!

~ The fact that Gold’s attempt to protect Belle ended up putting her in danger is so emblematic of their now-toxic relationship.

~ Considering how they set up the new arc with Regina and the Evil Queen, I wasn’t expecting Jekyll and Hyde’s story to end so quickly!

~ I like the framing of Regina and Emma’s profiles against the ocean.

~ David’s angst and mixed feelings about Hook and Emma’s relationship aren’t really resolved by the end of the episode.

~ I knew Shireen was Jasmine!

~ The credits list Tom Sawyer as a character! Where was he?

Episode 6x05 “Street Rats”

~ What is with the use of captions for time and location? They were hardly ever used before the previous season.

~ Aladdin’s accent sounds like that of someone from the lower class in some part of England.

~ I like Jasmine’s clothes very much, but she’s wearing way too much jewelry for someone in disguise or on a mission in the desert.

~ What did the Evil Queen mean about her and Archie being a good team? The fact that she forced him to do unethical things during the curse?

~ Jasmine and Aladdin’s argument scene is great! And he does the apple trick like in the movie!

~ The Evil Queen is like Satan, or Eris, sowing discord among Emma’s family, and either creating or exposing a lack of trust.

~ The heroes should remember that A) people have kidnapped and impersonated Archie before, and B) he would never betray a patient’s confidentiality.

~ They pay homage to two movies with a single prop!

~ Why would any villain with half a brain discuss their plans and motives in a public place, with other people right in front of them?

~ On the other hand, it’s interesting to see Zelena and any version of Regina talk about their children.

~ Why don’t the heroes rush to find Archie after realizing he’s missing?

~ Regina being the one to comfort someone who’s grieving is new!

~ There isn’t nearly enough spotlight on Hook in this episode, as he learns that Emma’s life may end because of her role as the Savior. But that shot of him looking back at her before leaving her in the crypt is beautiful and speaks volumes!

~ Emma and Henry’s scene is wonderful, and her turnaround makes sense. She wouldn’t change her attitude after hearing a “hope speech” from her parents, but she would do so in order to comfort and encourage her son.

~ Hook manages to turn a banal question like “Pizza or Chinese” into a profound moment: “Your heart’s desire, Swan. That’s all I want.”

~ I had thought that Hook was past keeping secrets, especially from Emma; but it makes sense that he would keep one with the intention of having a way to help/save Emma.

Episode 6x06 “Dark Waters”

~ I spent the whole episode confused about when the flashbacks take place. The opening caption says “At the time of the Dark Curse,” but Hook was frozen in time with Cora for the 28 years of the first Dark Curse being in effect. Did Hook leave Cora at some point(s) and resume traveling on the Jolly Roger after time started moving again, before Emma and Snow arrived in the Enchanted Forest? That’s the only explanation that would make sense of Liam II aging yet Hook still being on his quest for vengeance.

~ Hook wants so earnestly to be a good parental figure to Henry, making him a healthy breakfast and offering to play video games with him!

~ Henry is still ambivalent about Hook: one moment Henry sounds defensive against Hook, probably because he is still attached to his father; the next moment, he’s defensive of Hook when the Evil Queen taunts him.

~ If Belle is one trimester through her pregnancy, that suggests that the baby was conceived during her honeymoon in Season 4, not during her brief reconciliation with Gold in Season 5.

~ It’s interesting that Liam II followed in his brothers’ footsteps with a career at sea, only in an entirely different way.

~ Hook and Henry’s interactions and bonding are so good!

~ I’m glad that Liam II and Nemo reunited, but I wish there had been a little more time given for Liam’s reconciliation with Hook. A lifetime of suffering would not be forgiven that quickly.

~ Of course Emma would have done the same; she practically did the same with Excalibur!

~ Gold is quite bold to refer to Henry as Hook’s son in front of the Evil Queen!

Episode 6x07 “Heartless”

~ The fact that the Evil Queen can just waltz into the Charmings’ apartment and magic one of them away …

~ How did Snow meet the Blue Fairy prior to knowing the dwarves? And how did Snow not realize that the one she thought she met as a child was really an impostor, Cora? In Season 1 it is implied that the fairies joined Snow White’s fight because Blue owed Grumpy a favor after he let go of Nova.

~ The Blue Fairy throwing axes!?

~ Wilby and Longbourne sound like nods to Jane Austen!

~ The Evil Queen quoting that Dylan Thomas poem is unexpected but fitting!

~ It is a bit odd to see Hook be the one to give a pep talk/hope speech, but he makes a good point about Emma’s relationship to her parents. The time travel adventure gave her a unique role in bringing her parents together. In a way, she is as responsible for their relationship as it is responsible for her existence.

~ I tend not to like when the writers have characters meet only to forget about it later; but in this case it feels forgivable because they do figure out that it was each other!

~ Why would Gabriel leave Snow unattended in the prison wagon?

~ Belle makes a good point about the difference between being “pure evil” and being too weak to be good.

~ The Evil Queen really reconstructed the glass coffin just so Snow and David could play out that scene?

Episode 6x08 “I’ll Be Your Mirror”

~ It’s amazing to see Regina upset about Snow and David’s sleeping curse, when she was the one who originally put Snow under one!

~ That split-screen montage is so bittersweet, and unusually artistic cinematography for this show!

~ I wish we got to see Hook helping Henry figure out what to wear to the dance! That glimpse of Hook holding up a tie for him is such a tease.

~ The Evil Queen tying a tie around Henry’s neck while deceiving him is so symbolic!

~ When did Belle meet Jasmine and Aladdin?

~ How can Gold quote Cora saying “Love is weakness”? I thought his character couldn’t regress any more, but I was wrong.

~ Is the Dragon’s daughter Mulan?!

~ The Evil Queen really seems to have forgotten how Cora ruined her life, if she is now trying to shape Henry into a king.

~ Even though it’s part of a sinister, almost seductive conversation, I like that they finally addressed the fact that Henry is a prince, and that being royalty is about more than just birth.

~ It’s nice to see an episode focused on Henry, and on his relationship with his mothers! Their maternal love triangle was the main source of conflict in the first two seasons, and it’s wonderful to both revisit his childhood with Regina and see how much they have all grown. Emma and Regina talk about Henry like the coparents they have become.

~ Where was Hook this whole time? Did the Evil Queen knock him out only temporarily, so he was able to arrive just in time to restrain her?

~ Was Sidney once Aladdin’s genie?!

Episode 6x09 “Changelings”

~ From the beginning, the show has always played with the fact that Rumplestiltskin takes children through unfair deals, but never explained why. Is this episode supposed to answer that question?

~ Rumplestiltskin has a tapestry of the Visitation in his castle! How appropriate, since it’s a story about two pregnant women!

~ The Evil Queen finally has an outfit that I like! She looks more like a warrior now!

~ I never realized until now that a genie’s tie to his lamp, which enslaves him while giving him his power, is just like the Dark One’s tie to the dagger!

~ As can be the case in real life, the thing that keeps Gold from being loved and forgiven is the fact that he believes he can’t be loved or forgiven.

~ This must be the first time Emma actually assists a mother in labor and delivery! It’s beautiful to see, though a little odd to think that Emma’s own childbirth experience was with the newborn’s nephew.

~ Who knew it was possible to simultaneously feel so much hatred and sympathy for a character?

~ So is Belle still living on the Jolly Roger? Or do the fairies let her stay in the convent to recover from the birth?

Episode 6x10 “Wish You Were Here”

~ Regina really should have thought of a better version of her wish! For instance, instead of sending just herself, she could have sent Henry or someone else Emma and the others would have trusted.

~ How can Regina be so certain that the reality she is in is not real? How does she know the doppelgangers aren’t connected to their counterparts in Storybrooke?

~ It was way too easy for David to get hold of the lamp! And the Evil Queen could have just magicked it into her hand.

~ “We’ve been portalled!”

~ Princess Emma’s characterization really doesn’t make sense, even for an alternate reality. If her parents were brave heroes, and she was raising her son to be a knight, she would at least try to follow and set good examples of heroism. Surrendering the key to the kingdom in front of her parents makes no sense; they would have taught her the value of sacrifice and the importance of fighting for their people.

~ If the Dark Curse was not cast, how in all the realms did Emma meet Baelfire/Neal and have Henry with him at such a young age?

Episode 6x11 “Tougher Than the Rest”

~ They did a great job of casting a teenage August! He both looks and sounds like him.

~ Nottingham does the same thing as Gabriel, leaving the prisoners in transit just so they have an opportunity to escape.

~ Regina doesn't mention to Robin the fact that his other version had a son. That makes a huge difference in his identity!

~ Didn’t Emma and Regina learn from their experience with Marian/Zelena that you shouldn’t bring people across time and realities in order to save them?

~ Lana Parilla’s acting in a single shot, when she goes from grieving Robin to rejoicing at his arrival, is great!

~ How is it so easy for Emma to knock Gideon back with her magic and destroy the sword?

~ It looks like there is a carving of a swan on the shelf in Marco and August’s garage!

Episode 6x12 “Murder Most Foul”

~ This is one of the biggest episodes about David and his family, but also manages to move forward plot and character development for Hook and his relationship with Emma.

~ As twins, David and James probably both had trauma from being separated from each other as infants.

~ Emma is still wearing the same clothes she wore when Gideon was born!

~ I wonder how long Hook thought about proposing to Emma, how long he had that ring, and what made him decide to take that step at that point. I’m guessing her defeat of Gideon was a big part of it, as he had been afraid that she would die.

~ Did Hook actually buy the ring, as Archie assumes? How could he afford it? Does he have any savings or income at this point?

~ Regina has a piano in her home! Does she play, or Henry?

~ Why couldn’t Regina heal Robin’s slight wound?

~ What David asks Hook to do really is awful: betray the trust of the woman he loves in order to make a good impression with her father and maintain the friendship they have.

~ Is that the Golden Fleece in Rumplestiltskin’s castle?

~ So Pinocchio existed when David was only six years old?! But he was still a little boy when Emma was born. Does that mean he lived as a wooden puppet for a couple decades before he became real?

~ David handcuffs Hook just like Emma has on so many occasions! Pretty crummy way to treat the guy who just did so much to help him.

~ David never addresses the fact that he sent his brother into the River of Lost Souls, which is supposed to be even worse than death.

~ Why would David challenge George (or anyone) to a duel with knives rather than swords?

~ David’s monologue is fantastic, and some of the best acting we’ve seen from Josh Dallas in this show!

~ For Hook, of all people, to talk someone down from exacting revenge is amazing!

~ David is terrified by the idea that even his best effort might not be good enough. David’s fear is actually one that he shares with Emma and Hook: that he won’t be enough to protect the people he loves.

~ The big question is, why does Robert’s ghost appear to David at that time? And why didn’t David find him, or at least his tombstone, in the Underworld? It’s as ambiguous as Hamlet’s father’s ghost in the play from which this episode seems to draw its inspiration.

~ The blessing scene is so excellent! The only weird thing is David calling Hook old-fashioned, when in the past Hook called David old-fashioned about his expectations for Emma’s relationships.

~ It seems like a stretch for Hook to recognize someone he killed on a dark rainy night decades earlier. It might have been easier to believe that he could recognize a trinket like the lucky coin; but he does not recognize it the whole time he and David are handling it.

~ I would have expected the episode to end with Hook looking at the pages, but having it end with him closing the engagement ring box is even more ominous!

Episode 6x13 “Ill-Boding Patterns”

~ It’s cool to see Beowulf appear in OUAT!

~ It’s so strange to see Gold discourage someone from giving in to their inner darkness. He practically drove Cora, Regina, and Zelena into it, and a vision of him urged Emma to embrace her magic as the Dark One.

~ Since when does Regina wear hats that match her outfits? Is she picking up aspects of Zelena’s style?

~ Regina being willing to let Robin go in order to find his happiness is huge character development from the woman who enslaved Graham and tried to kidnap Owen for the sake of her own happiness.

~ I can’t believe they gave Baelfire a storyline about “going dark”! I don’t like it when they use memory-altering magic to create a storyline only to erase a character’s arc; but it says a lot about Rumple that he was willing to let Baelfire blame him rather than himself.

~ It feels odd for Emma to be absent for most of an episode, only appearing in one scene where she is ignorant of the full truth of the situation.

~ Even when split from Regina, the Evil Queen is proud of her town!

Episode 6x14 “Page 23”

~ I bet Henry asked for details about Hook’s proposal because he wants to get ideas for his own in the future!

~ I’m glad to see Nemo still acting as a friend and mentor to Hook, but their scene basically plays out the same way as Hook’s scene with Archie in the previous episode.

~ Why does Henry Senior ask “what are you doing” when Regina hardly moved?

~ The scene with Emma and Hook was inevitable, but I’m surprised it took place in the middle of the episode rather than at the end. Why did Emma come home at that point, after learning that Regina was going to face the Evil Queen? Was she coming to get Hook so he could be part of the action?

~ I like how the conflict between Emma and Hook is more complicated than just her being mad about what he did to her grandfather. She’s upset about the fact that he kept it a secret, not necessarily because it was dishonest, but because it shows his doubt about the strength of their relationship.

~ “Destinations never matter” is a pretty strong absolute statement, and contradicts Nemo's previous goal to find a permanent home.

~ I knew the arrow was going to lead Regina to face herself! But why did it not lead to her magic mirror? That would have been a fantastic tie-in with the themes and symbols of the original Snow White story.

~ Regina literally fighting herself, and then embracing herself, is amazing!!!

~ I LOVE Snow and Hook’s scene! They hardly ever interact with each other, and I don’t think they’ve ever had a scene with just the two of them. It makes sense that she would be the one to renew his hope that he can be forgiven and deserving of love.

~ It feels odd for Nemo to appear, and even mention Liam, without Liam himself showing up, when Hook is wrestling with so much guilt about his past. Liam would have stirred up all kinds of feelings about guilt and atonement.

Episode 6x15 “A Wondrous Place”

~ Wouldn’t “Let’s go fishing” be more fitting than “Let’s go hunting”? Or is kraken not a fish?

~ Hook almost acts parental with Jasmine and Aladdin, telling them to “Get on board before you get yourselves killed” and encouraging her to face her fear.

~ I would expect Henry to do more than sit around with his headphones in and ask “Are you okay?” when his mom is going through a heartbreak.

~ When and why did Emma stop wearing Hook’s ring pendant? Did she give it back to him when they both returned to Storybrooke?

~ Snow refers to her son as a toddler, but he can’t be more than a few months old, maybe a year at most!

~ I like that Hook and Liam II have a goodbye hug, but I wish they had more scenes together! Despite sparing him in their fight, Liam has not really been shown forgiving Hook or accepting him as his brother.

~ Jasmine mentions Scheherazade!!! About time a female storyteller got some credit!

~ How does Ariel’s flashback storyline fit in with her present-day story in Season 3? Did she not tell Eric about her mermaid identity when they reunited in Storybrooke?

~ While I wish Aladdin had been a more active character this season, it is cool to see Jasmine be the one to defeat Jafar!

Episode 6x16 “Mother’s Little Helper”

~ I can’t see Emma allowing Gideon into her home when Henry is there.

~ The Black Fairy is way too giggly. They speak of how evil she is, but she acts like a school bully.

~ Wait, so the Dragon did make it out of the mirror?

~ The way Hook says “civilized” reminds me of Obi-Wan Kenobi, but betting a ship in a game of cards seems like Han Solo and Lando Calrissian!

~ Would Blackbeard really carry something as powerful and valuable as a magic bean in his hat?

~ Captain Hook running from Lost Boys seems a bit undignified.

~ How ironic Gold saves Emma’s life in the very same manor where he tried to kill her!

~ How can Emma tell a parent that their child cannot be saved?!

~ If the heroes left behind the Lost Boys who remained loyal to Pan, why did they take Felix with them when they left Neverland?

~ Having Gideon be controlled by the Black Fairy via his heart may preserve his innocence, but also undermines all his motivation in the last few episodes. Whose idea was it for him to impersonate Aesop?

~ The Black Fairy’s dress at the end of the episode looks like spiderwebs! I guess spiders are kind of her motif, like the Other Mother in Coraline.

Episode 6x17 “Awake”

~ “Who said this was a rescue?” had me laughing out loud!

~ Emma and Snow wear similar shirts in this episode, black with white collars!

~ What caused the pixie flower to grow at that point, ten years after the curse was cast? Did some evil arrive that caused it to appear?

~ The idea that people woke up from the curse before Emma broke it really undermines the significance of her role.

~ Did David have fake memories when he first woke up from his coma? Did he understand the technology of this world?

~ Who is that police officer/security guard? Shouldn’t it be Graham as the sheriff?

~ David’s confidence that Hook is fighting for Emma is beautiful!

~ Hook references the Tiger Lily at Skull Rock incident from the book Peter Pan!

~ How could there be so many Lost Boys left behind on Neverland? There weren’t nearly that many in season 3!

~ “Why is it never past their bloody bedtime?” Hook must have had more than his share of hearing the Lost Boys’ parties!

~ The pig and the conch seem like allusions to Lord of the Flies, which is also about boys stranded on an island!

~ Emma shows great character growth in that she understands and forgives her parents giving up the chance to raise her in order to let her save the rest of their community.

~ I had to look up Geppetto/Marco’s toast, “Cent’Anni.” It is a traditional Italian toast meaning “May You Live 100 Years.” That is so beautiful in the context of Snow and Charming’s sleeping curse!

~ The distribution of the sleeping curse in a chalice seems like a strange inversion of the Eucharist (aka Communion or the Lord’s Supper). They are aware of Snow and Charming’s sacrifice for them, and they choose to sacrifice for them in return. It also reminds me of Paradise Lost, when Adam learns that Eve has eaten the forbidden fruit, and chooses to eat it in order to share in her curse rather than be separated from her.

Episode 6x18 “Where Bluebirds Fly”

~ This may be the first Zelena-focused episode that I remotely like!

~ Honestly, Snow and David should understand why Emma and Hook would want some privacy. Both couples just reunited after being separated for a while, and the sleeping curse was going on even longer than Hook’s disappearance!

~ Does Regina just regularly go to Gold and/or Belle to stock up on potion ingredients?

~ Emma and Hook are so sappy and shameless at this point! And their bemused expressions as David and Snow argue over them are hilarious!

~ Hook is a good man to put up with his future in-laws’ bickering over his wedding; but he could have been a little more assertive about what he and Emma want rather than what Snow wants.

~ “If this is about Hook, that ship has sailed, and there’s a pirate on it, deal with it!”

~ David’s monologue is wonderful, but Snow’s reaction, expressing doubt about the outcome of the Final Battle, seems out-of-character for her.

~ Baby Robin’s care is a throughline of this episode, but who is taking care of baby Neal while his parents plan his sister’s wedding?

~ Emma saying Robin is “one of us” in the presence of only Regina and Zelena made me wonder if Robin might be a magic wielder like them!

~ I am surprised that they actually had Zelena give up her magic. When Emma tried to do that in Season 4, it was portrayed as a terrible thing, indicative of self-loathing. And magic has had such a huge impact on Zelena’s life and identity, for her to give it up is a huge personal sacrifice. I’m not sure we’ve seen her reach the point of being able to do something like that unless it was for her child’s direct benefit.

~ I like that Belle has a subtle arc in this episode, with her role as a babysitter having some relevance at the end.

Episode 6x19 “The Black Fairy”

~ I never thought we would see grown-up Peter Pan again!

~ The candles flicker out for a moment when Rumple is born, just like how the electric lights flickered when Henry and Neal were born!

~ The baby really does look like Rumple and Pan!

~ If Tiger Lily was Rumple’s fairy godmother, that raises a lot of questions about her relationships with Pan and Hook in Neverland. Did she recognize Pan as Rumple's de-aged father? Did she know about Hook’s quest for revenge on the person she was supposed to safeguard? Did she try to sabotage Hook, in order to protect her charge?

~ It's funny and interesting to hear Regina and Zelena talk about living without magic. But how are electric lights more barbaric than candles or whatever means they used in their respective lands?

~ Regina really got Zelena a monkey key chain!

~ Gold should know that Hook would be outraged at him for putting Emma into a magic sleep of any kind!

~ Is “Dreams are a maze” an unsubtle reference to Inception?

~ Gold says it's a "luxury" to "always do the right thing." That sounds like John Paul II's definition of freedom!

~ Zelena says "boody hell" now!

~ Regina asking Zelena to look after Henry is amazing, but the timing of it in the middle of their comical driving lesson feels awkward. And shouldn’t Emma also be part of the conversation about who would raise Henry if his parents died? And wouldn't Henry have some reservations about starting a new life with the woman who killed his father?

~ "Do this for me, so that no mother will ever be ripped from her child." Was that a veiled threat? Or did Fiona really want to prevent the separation that she eventually caused for so many?

~ It’s interesting to see Emma (attempt to) bond with Gold, of all people, over the experience of being an orphan.

~ Granny’s being the heart of Storybrooke … makes sense on some level, but could have benefited from more setup or acknowledgement of it as such.

~ “Jukebox?” “Jukebox.”

~ Finally, someone introduces the idea of passwords to confirm identity! They have fallen prey to too many magical impostures.

~ I find it a bit hard to believe that Regina never killed a fairy during her reign of terror.

~ Regina is wearing light colors when she faces off against the Black Fairy!

~ While it’s a bit of a stretch to believe that a fairy can be bested with a car crash, Zelena coming in to save Regina that way was both awesome and hilarious!

~ I don’t like the idea that the Dark Curse was created by the Black Fairy rather than Rumplestiltskin. Was he playing into her hand by finding someone to cast it, just as Regina played into his hand by casting it? That kind of behind-the-scenes manipulation isn’t needed since it was already there.

~ So after turning Granny’s upside-down, the heroes just have a relaxing dinner there? And they don’t even stand up when Gold informs them that he killed his own mother to protect them? They don’t seem very appreciative!

~ When and why did they decide to hold the wedding so soon? They just talked about postponing it! Most people wait at least a few months, and all that planning and arranging that had Mary Margaret so excited takes time!

~ Belle should recognize that Gold is singing the same tune he always has, saying that everything he does is to protect his family.

~ Hook asking Henry to be his best man is such a great moment! They started out mainly caring about each other because of their connections to Emma and Neal, but they’ve developed a real friendship and respect for each other.

~ What happened to the Blue Fairy?! Did the Black Fairy really torture her to get the information on the wand? Did Gold really restore her to the other fairies?

Episode 6x20 “The Song in Your Heart”

~ The title sequence is similar to the wedding episode of Steven Universe, with an orchestra tuning their instruments!

~ This whole episode is wonderful! The hilarity of seeing the characters break into song, and be self-aware about it, helps offset the heaviness of the present-day plot, where Emma’s wedding day and her entire future are both at stake. But the theme of music also serves a purpose for the plot, and gives Emma an epiphany about her life, her inner strength, and her relationship with her parents. Music lovers know that there is something powerful, almost sacred, about it, and having that explored in the context of OUAT is really interesting.

~ The musical numbers do an impressive job walking the line between parody and earnestness. They represent each of the characters well, and are just plain fun to watch.

~ Hook is the only one who wholeheartedly embraces the singing without questioning it or finding it strange.

~ I can’t tell if Zelena is self-aware about her song or if it is one of those musical numbers that just represents her interior thoughts.

~ Zelena’s actions in the flashbacks don’t really make sense.

~ How can Emma run away when her fiancé, parents, and friends are frozen in the Black Fairy’s custody? Why does the Black Fairy let her go instead of threatening to kill them then and there?

~ Emma tries to do the same thing Henry did in season 3, giving up her heart to one of Rumplestiltskin’s parents.

~ Emma seems like the last person to embrace singing, as she’s always been the most resistant to magic, emotion, and vulnerability. So it’s really significant that the climax of her journey involves her finding power through a song.

~ Emma’s song is the first in the episode that doesn’t feel like it’s half playing for laughs: the music is powerful, and the lyrics are completely serious and show Emma’s growth as a character. She has not only forgiven her parents, she has come to believe that they were right to give her up, because she needed to fulfill her role as the Savior.

~ “A Happy Beginning” is just perfect. The characters understand that there are still challenges ahead they need to face, yet they enjoy the moment, look to the future with hope, and commit to stand with each other through whatever comes.

~ Archie and Marco are both at the wedding, but August is nowhere to be seen! He must have been present off-camera, because there is no way he would miss Emma’s wedding.

~ I thought I heard several subtle references to songs from other musicals, including “Let It Go” from Frozen, and “On My Own” and “A Heart Full of Love” from Les Misérables

Episode 6x21 “The Final Battle Part 1”

~ Is that David’s sword, the one Emma used to slay Maleficent? Is that why they included those clips in the recap?

~ Why is Henry always exempt from the Dark Curse(s)? Did Fiona choose to keep him in Storybrooke so she could use him as leverage over Emma? Letting him retain his memories and the storybook seems like too much of a risk.

~ There seem to be way more asylum patients, and a much better facility for them, in this curse’s version of Storybrooke.

~ Emma taking her medicine gives big Matrix vibes.

~ When Hook wakes up, the first thing he does is look at his hand to see if his wedding ring is still there!

~ How is the Charmings’ old castle standing? Wasn’t it destroyed in the first curse? Didn’t Emma and Snow see it in ruins when they went there in Season 2?

~ Having Hook face the beanstalk again is a great way to get the characters to reflect on the beginning of his relationship with Emma. His speech to David is full of emotion and accurately summarizes what made his and Emma’s relationship so compelling, both similar and different from other love stories in fairy tales.

~ Henry acknowledges that Hook is Emma’s true love!

~ Even when she doesn’t believe him, Emma still loves and appreciates Henry so much.

~ Finally, they addressed the fact that Wish Snow and Charming were killed!

~ So Wish Robin, who was a selfish scoundrel, still met Friar Tuck at some point? Why do they never show this friar?!

~ Henry’s smile is so proud when Fiona talks about how hard it is to get Emma to stop believing.

~ Hook and David have a nice moment in the giants’ castle, but the context feels contrived. And that “obstacle course” isn’t all that difficult for Hook to overcome.

~ Is that dragon supposed to be Maleficent?

Episode 6x22 “The Final Battle Part 2”

~ Hook calling Snow “Mummy” is funny, but it feels a bit immature and regressive after he’s come so far in his relationship with Emma’s parents.

~ There is absolutely no need for Snow to say “It’s important.” Hook knows how bloody important it is!

~ I wish Hook and David’s climb ended up making an actual difference in the plot.

~ Unlike when Emma first tried to leave Storybrooke, nothing impedes her when she drives away this time. Fate does not intervene with a wolf or some other distraction or obstacle.

~ It looks like Henry can draw, just like his father and paternal grandmother!

~ Having Snow and Charming reverse roles and play out the true love’s kiss awakening was not necessary. They already did that back in season 2, and they revisited the sleeping curse imagery throughout this season. There is no uncertainty about the strength and authenticity of their love, so it does not carry any real suspense.

~ Is that the mirror from Beauty and the Beast?

~ What was that shot of Emma barging into the mayor’s office with the sword for? Did she intend to use it against Fiona?

~ How can light snuff out light? It doesn’t make sense.

~ Gold kills Fiona way too easily. How can she be defeated by her own wand? Does it work like the Dark One dagger, being the only thing that can destroy its owner? And why is Fiona’s death the event that breaks the curse, rather than Emma coming to believe?

~ Why did the writers have Belle reunite with Gold only for her to be left behind while he has his final temptation? Why not just have them reunite after?

~ Where did Emma get the beanie? Did she pause to put it on while running from Gideon with the sword?

~ Hook saying they should kill Gideon makes no sense. He was there when Gideon was born; Gideon is Belle's son and Baelfire/Neal's brother; and they know that he’s not in control of himself. Hook knows what that is like from his own experience of someone controlling his heart.

~ David calling Gideon an SOB is actually insulting Belle!

~ Emma’s declaration of who and what she is reminds me of a line from Peter Pan declaring his identity to Captain Hook: “I’m youth, I’m joy.”

~ The climax and resolution happen way too quickly.

~ I think Hook should have been the one to kiss and awaken Emma. Yes, Henry doing it is a nice parallel to her waking him in Season 1, but their relationship had been solid and unquestioned for years, and he had already served a heroic role in the finale by getting Emma to believe. In contrast, Hook had just married Emma a day earlier, after many ups and downs in their relationship, and he had failed to break curses by kissing her on two previous occasions (in season 3 and season 5). Plus, his whole adventure in the previous episode yielded no real effect on the plot. Having him be the one to say “I love you” and kiss Emma to restore her to life would have been more fulfilling for both the plot and the characters’ relationship. Plus, if he thought she was gone for good, it could have been a really emotional growing moment for Hook, seeing his love sacrifice herself for him and everyone else, and respecting that in spite of losing her. Then the kiss would have been completely based on how he felt, not on any pragmatic hope as in the previous cases.

~ Gideon turning into a baby again feels like the kind of false solution Gold proposed to his other son. He offered to make Neal a teenage boy again so they could have a do-over. Does turning into a baby again erase all of Gideon’s memories, the experiences that shaped him? (I can hardly call it character development since his character was not really well written.)

~ Was that Tinker Bell? Did she return to Neverland after all?

~ I’m glad that David is the one taking care of Neal now, instead of him being left with a babysitter while both his parents work!

~ Violet is waiting for Henry at the bus stop! But it’s such a fleeting glimpse it’s easy to miss.

~ Emma making Hook her deputy is excellent! He has come such a long way in his life, from indentured servant to navy man to pirate to law enforcement.

~ The dwarves making new signage for Regina’s door is sweet, but giving her the title of queen again seems weird. Snow and David are the real leaders of Storybrooke, and there are other princes and princesses there too. If they want to have an official leader, they really ought to be elected.

~ Having Gold and Belle dance to the music from “Beauty and the Beast” is sweet, but they’ve done it before, and their reconciliation doesn’t really feel earned after how much he put her through. How does she know if she can trust him now? Does he still have the Dark One dagger?

~ The only thing that seems missing from the montage is a shot of the Jolly Roger. Hook may not live there anymore, but I’m sure it would still be a part of his new family’s life.

~ That last shot of everyone sitting on one side of a long table is just like Da Vinci’s “Last Supper”! After all the jokes and sarcastic comments about family dinners in this show (“Maybe one day they’ll invite you to dinner,” “It’s a good thing we didn’t have Thanksgiving in our land,” etc.) it’s amazing to see them all come together for a meal—even those who have killed each other's loved ones and/or tried to kill each other.

~ Honestly, that last scene of Lucy knocking on Henry’s door would not have been a terrible place to end the series. Then, if the writers wanted, they could have told Lucy’s story in a separate spin-off.

#Once Upon a Time reactions #ABC's Once Upon a Time #The Song in Your Heart #The Final Battle #Captain Swan #Captain Swan wedding #Once Upon a Time

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