True North
So, Hansel
and Gretel join our cast of characters.
Or Nicholas and Ava, to use the names of their Storybrooke counterparts. However, I really have to label this episode
as one of the closest things to a filler episode that OUAT has. Particularly since after this episode, these
two new additions are never really seen or even mentioned again. (They may appear occasionally in the
background, but as no one ever acknowledges their presence, it’s hard to
tell.) The main point of this episode
seems to be Emma doing what she can to keep Nicholas and Ava from ending up in
the foster system, so they won’t go through what she did, particularly since
they will undoubtedly be separated if they do wind up in the system. We do get a scene of Henry asking Emma about
his father, but the story Emma gives him, about how the baby daddy was a
fireman who died saving a family from a burning building? As she admits to Mary Margret later on, it
was just that- a story. Personally, I
think Emma coming up with this fabrication was a combination of her not wanting
to disappoint Henry, and her reluctance to relive what really happened,
indicating that that is a scar that never really healed, and for good reason. Overall plot-wise, apart from seeing how Evil
Queen Regina actually obtained the infamous Poisoned Apple, it’s not until the
end of this episode that things started picking up again. We see Mary Margret having a moment with
Emma, who finally tells her Henry’s thoughts about who they really are to each
other, followed by Mary Margret reacting to Emma’s baby blanket. Then, in the next scene, Emma is looking at
an old article about how a seven-year-old boy found a baby (her) on the side of
a road, mere seconds before someone brand new rides into town on a motorcycle. While this newcomer doesn’t give his name at
this point, we’ll eventually learn how ironic it was that he made his first
appearance right after we’re shown that old article about baby Emma and the
seven-year-old.
There’s
nothing really more to be said about this episode. Although, I did get a kick out of Evil Queen
Regina’s ‘I would’ve gone with gravy.’ (You had to see the episode for this
one.) And seeing that Sneezy’s
Storybrooke counterpart is Mr. Clark, a man who works at a drugstore. Someone who sneezes randomly, even under the
effects of Regina’s curse, ends up working in a drug store? Gotta love this
show’s style of humor. On a final note-
to my knowledge, this episode marks the point when we start seeing Emma wearing
the laces of Graham’s boots around her left wrist. You can see it most clearly in the final
scene when Emma is talking with Mary Margret.
While it’s not something that’s directly stated or pointed out in the
show, the actress who portrays Emma in the show confirmed that it is indeed the
shoelace from Graham’s boot in a Twitter post.
I do admit I like that little detail, especially since he’s rarely even
mentioned from this point on. As I said
before, Graham was a likable character, so he deserves to at have an ongoing
homage to him.
7:15 AM
Ah, another
example of history repeating itself. In the
Enchanted Forest, Snow White is desperate for a chance to forget about Prince
Charming, who is about to marry Midis’ daughter, Princess Abigail. So much so, she actually goes to
Rumpelstiltskin for a Forgetfulness Potion.
And in Storybrooke, Mary Margret cannot get David out of her head,
resorting to borderline stalking by memorizing his schedule. Of course, while the Enchanted Forest
plotline ends on a low note, with King George forcing Snow White to tell
Charming she doesn’t love him (threatening to have Charming killed if she
doesn’t), followed by Snow taking the Forgetfulness Potion, the Storybrooke
plotline ends with Mary Margret and David deciding to stop trying to deny their
growing feelings for each other. But we’re left with a sense of foreboding, as
Regina witnessed their kiss. (Guys, I
know you were caught up in the moment and all, but it was really a dumb move to
kiss when you were out in the open, standing right along Main Street. ANYONE could have seen you, and they did!)
How adorable
were Mary Margret and David in this episode? While I know it’s a longshot, I’d like to
think that the dove they try to reunite with her flock is the exact same bird
Charming uses to send his letter to Snow White.
They certainly look like the
same species. If I’m right, how precious
is that? The same bird bringing them
together twice! And that vet talking
about the dove being monogamous birds with Mary Margret and David standing
right there? Nice metaphor.
At Regina’s
urging, Emma delves into the mystery of who the newcomer we met last episode is. However, we’re not really given any
answers. Okay, he has a typewriter. But that explains nothing. Although, now
that I think about it, this show is supposed to take place in modern
times. At least, it is during the
Storybrooke scenes. Who still uses a
typewriter? Can you even get typewriter ribbon anymore? I’m sure if you can, it’s not easy to come
by, leaving me wondering if it’s worth the effort. So the fact that he has a
typewriter instead of a laptop only further makes you wonder just who this guy
is. All we get about him are hints that he knows
more about Storybrooke than he lets on.
This episode is mostly notable for the small
touches. We’re shown the friendship
between Snow White and Red Riding Hood for the first time, something that continues
popping up again as the story continues.
Snow White also has her first meeting with the Seven Dwarfs (Wait, there
were originally eight dwarfs? Poor Stealthy.) In addition, we’re also told that Grumpy was
once in love with someone, a plot point that’s further explored in a later
episode. And there’s Rumpelstiltskin
taking one of Snow’s hairs as payment for the Forgetfulness Potion. That’s going to be important later on.
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