Once Upon a Time: Season 5 Wish List

Posted in Once Upon a Time by Marianne Paluso

We all have so many things we hope to see not only on the current season of Once Upon a Time, but also the entire series. With the first half of Season 5A now complete I decided to compile my own wish list for the rest of this amazing season!! And you know what, even if I none of these happen, I will still be happy as this season really has been so fantastic. But of course there are always things we cannot help but wish for. Some of this is based on spoilers, including the sneak peak for episode 5×7 “Nimue” that was released yesterday, so be forewarned. Here is my top 10 wish list for Season 5:

Killian says “I Love You” to Emma: In the sneak peak released yesterday, Killian finally told Emma that he loved her and we smiled and cried tears of joy. He had told her he loved in so many ways before, but never used the word love with her. In this beautiful scene, that all changes as he gives her a ring and tells her if nothing else it is a reminder that she has “a piercing eyed, smoldering pirate who loves her.” And her smile when she finally hears those words is as glorious and bright as we have ever seen. But I would still love Killian to say those three words “I Love You” to Emma. We have never heard him utter those words to anybody on screen, and something tells me they may be saving it from an upcoming dramatic scene. Brace yourself for some epic romance folks!

In the meantime let’s relive this glorious moment all over again. And if you are like me , this won’t be the first time you’ve done so 😉

The Charmings call Killian “family”: Snow and David have already been showing their support of Emma and Killian’s relationship and his presence in the Storybrooke in general for a while now, but most of it has been silent support, expressing it through their actions. It would be lovely to hear them acknowledge more openly what he means to Emma, and even to them, but most of all, hearing them call him family would be so touching and meaningful, especially for someone who has lived for hundreds of years with no family of his own. Bonus points if one of them gives our dear captain a hug, because the only one who ever bestows this sweet gesture on him is Emma.

More bonding and teamwork amongst multiple characters: One of things I love is when the characters all work together or we get unique team ups in episodes. There has not been nearly enough Captain Charming lately, and I already love the newly formed Captain Hood friendship. And my heart always feels so full whenever Killian and Henry team up. I also loved the new group efforts we witnessed in “Dreamcatcher” and “The Bear and the Bow” of Killian, Regina, Robin and Belle & David, Killian, Merlin, Belle, Lancelot and Merida.. These groups sound amusing from the outside but their results are always golden in my eyes, so I hope we see these continue.

More scenes between Snow and Emma: In season 1 one of my favorite aspects was the friendship between Mary Margaret and Emma. Once the curse was broken the relationship changed as Snow went straight into mother mode. They have gone though lots of trials, and currently there has been few interactions between them. I hope to see some scenes between mother and daughter soon because they have such a special bond that deserves to be explored further.

A True Love’s Kiss for Emma and Killian: We know that Emma and Killian truly love each other but each time a True Love’s kiss has been attempted there has been something preventing it from working, none of which having to do with how deeply they feel for each other. While this is not needed to “prove” what they feel, I think these characters deserve an epic, magical moment like this.

Emma and Killian finally have “coffee”: If you are up on your lingo, then you know that Captain Swan “coffee” is a euphemism for the characters making love, and fans of their story have been waiting a LONG TIME to see them finally take that step in their relationship. And when it finally does happen I highly expect it to nearly break the internet. While I don’t see it happening until after Emma is freed from the darkness, I hope that once they make it through all of these trials, they will finally be able to have their moment and express their love for each other in this way. Given that this is a family friendly show, we cannot expect to see much and honestly that is fine. You can have a beautiful and sensual scene while still being subtle. I most hope to see them holding each other in their arms with adoring looks in their eyes. And if they can also fit in some time for some Netflix viewing of Back to the Future and The Princess Bride, I would smile for days.

More sweet and meaningful moments for Regina and Robin: “In The Price” their relationship was put front and center and we could see just how much the mean to each other. Seeing Regina willing to lay down her life for him was very powerful, while the dance their shared in Camelot was as sweet as can be and so well deserved after what that have gone through. While there have been less moments lately because understandably the focus should be on Emma as The Dark Swan, I hope to see more for these soulmates in the second half of the season especially, dealing with Zelena in mature way, and maybe even getting engaged or moving in together.

More unique backstories and character focused episodes: While I usually enjoy any and all backstories for our characters, some have become a bit repetitive. So I hope we see some more unique ones especially for characters who have had the least amount. As far as back stories, high on that list are Killian in his days in the Navy with his brother Liam, as well as his early days as a pirate, Emma’s adult life after jail, especially her time as bail bonds person, David as a shepherd, Belle before she met Rumple, Robin Hood and his supposed darker past, and the return of Bandit Snow.

Rumple stays on the heroic path: Even though Rumple has pulled Excalibur from the stone, it is going to take much more to be a true hero because it takes one than one heroic act. He needs to continue on the path of good and work to make up for his past deeds. He has just made that first step in the right direction. Although I do love him as a villain, ultimately I would like to see him work to be the kind of man Belle believes he can be. She deserves that!

A moment with all of our main characters together: I love the couples and unique groupings of characters but there are not often scenes where every character is involved. No matter the circumstance I would love some moments, or even a single scene, that involved everyone in a significant way because they each have something unique to offer. So please let’s see an epic scene with Emma, Killian, Snow, David, Regina, Robin, Rumple, Belle, Zelena, and Henry. While you’re at it, throw in some secondary characters, like the Dwarves, Granny, and Archie too. The season opened with a few moments like this, and it would be great to see more.

Honorable mentions:

Another Captain Swan Adventure: There have certainly been many moments for the princess and the pirate already this season, but it has been a while since they had a proper adventure together, with just the two of them as the main focus of the episode. Although they had some adventurous scenes in the Season 4 finale, they last time they had a more focused type of episode was actually the Season 3 finale “Snow Drifts/There is No Place Like Home” with “New York City Serenade” and “Tallahassee” being the other two. I think it is important to balance characters and screen time and I think they have done a good job of that so far, but it would make me happy if just one episode this season featured the kind of epic adventure we have seen for these two in the past.

The Return of Familiar Faces: We already know that many familiar faces are returning soon, namely Ruby and Mulan, as well as Cora, Pan, and Sidney for the 100th episode. But there are other characters I would love to see pop up again even more including: Liam, August, Ariel, Jefferson (that one is very unlikely though), Graham, Tink, Cruella, Blackbeard, and the Frozen characters.

A Captain Swan Wedding or Proposal: Yes, I know my list has lot of these two but it’s is hard to deny the beauty that their story brings to show. There has been so much wedding foreshadowing that it would be so fitting, and extremely beautiful if these two lovebirds tied the knot or got engaged by season’s end.

Henry working as the author: I loved seeing Henry get more involved in the storylines lately, the most he has been since Season 1. Now that he is the author, he is tasked with a great amount of responsibility. I know he broke his quill, but there has to be some way around that, where he can begin recording the stories he is witnessing right before his eyes. I just love the idea of him writing stories about his family: if I ever saw him writing about Emma breaking the first curse, her falling in love with a dashing pirate, his mom Regina slowly finding redemption and love again with Robin, or his grandparents Snow and Charming becoming parents again I think I would cry.

We see the moment Killian traded the Jolly Roger to Blackbeard for a magic bean: This one is probably the least likely to happen this season, so I guess this would be on my series wishlist. But it was such an important moment for his character, and I have ALWAYS wanted to see it played out on screen.

29Oct2015

Once Upon a Time: “Dreamcatcher” Further Thoughts & Season 5 Mid-Season Catch Up

Posted in Once Upon a Time, Television Reviews by Marianne Paluso

This weeks’s Further Thoughts is a bit different as I only have a few additional thoughts on “Dreamcatcher” that I did not cover in my Nerd Machine review. So, I also included some thoughts from previous episodes I have not yet discussed. Warning: some of this contain some spoilers from articles and interviews so read at your own risk.

Mysterious Merlin:

I was so happy to see Merlin this week in both the opening flashback and when Emma released him from the tree. I pretty much completely adore him already. How can you not love the most powerful sorcerer in all the realms who is also as precious as this. It is an interesting take on the character that I quite like because it is the exact opposite of what you would expect.

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Beyond these affable qualities, Merlin and his abilities are real mysterious and left me with many questions. If he was trapped inside a tree how was he able to still communicate with others. We know he did so because he spoke to not only Arthur, but also his Apprentice. I suppose that shows the brevity of his power.

Merlin visits Emma:

One of the most mysterious questions raised is how Merlin was able to visit Emma when she was a child. The timeline is somewhat confusing but was not he already imprisoned when she was in the real world? He had to have been. So that begs the questions as to how he was able to do this. The warning he gives her, very intriguing an ominous at the time, is starting to make much more sense as we have seen the season play out so far.

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In this episode we saw Emma do something very bad to Henry, but for a good reason. It leaves us wondering if she will continue to do so. During the panel for NYCC Jennifer Morrison said that Emma was doing bad things but for good reasons. Those reasons are still a mystery, but she also revealed much has to do with Killian. Jennifer said as much.

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Did she cast the curse for a good reason? Was it out of protection? This is also playing into her present day mission to create a hero out of Gold to pull Excalibur from the stone. She may have a good reason for wanting it to be removed but as Merlin warns, bad things will happen. That is what we discovered in episode 2. If she wants it to be removed she is going to have to pay “The Price.” I think it is possible that Emma is trying to spare Killian from having to pay that Price, but the inevitably bad may still may happen. For if this is not the most blatant piece of foreshadowing, I don’t know what is?

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Two Prices to be Paid?:

We know that in order to remove Excalibur a price has to be paid, but I have been wondering if there is still a price to be paid for saving Robin’s life. Regina offered herself in his place, but then Snow, David, Leroy and Arthur stood with her and fought off the fury that was coming for Robin.The Price was never really paid and the figure we see below simply sails away. With talk of the Underworld coming into play, I would venture to guess that this price has not been fulfilled yet and someone is going to have to pay it.

Merlin’s and Killian’s Rings:

In the additional episode stills released for “Dreamcatcher” of Merlin. I was instantly struck by how similar his rings are to the ones Killian wears. I’m sure many have already brought this up as well, because Oncers are the most brilliant and observant fans ever. Look how similar they are. It is pretty remarkable and by no means a coincidence.

Series Creators Adam Horowotiz and Eddy Kitsis revealed in a recent interview that Killian’s rings would reveal things about his origins.

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With this knowledge, the fact that there are striking similarities between the rings these two men wear is intriguing and extremely exciting!!!

Underground Darkness:

When we saw Lancelot and Guinevere travel to the Dark One’s vault in “The Broken Kingdom” one of the things that was particularly confusing was the darkness that was floating around untethered to anything. It latches onto Lancelot in the same way it did with The Apprentice and then Regina in “Operation Mongoose.” It is trying to snuff out the light. The difference here is that unlike in the Season 4 finale, the darkness is tethered to a person- Rumpelstiltskin. He is the Dark One. So what is this excess darkness that is in the vault? Is there so much that not all of it could be contained in one person, so there are still remnants of it, at the very least safe from the outside world in the vault? This was confusing to me and I wonder if it will even be explained.

Merlin’s First Love is the Dark One:

This is a popular theory that many have been saying and I definitely agree that The Dark One that Merlin summons- the one he plans to kill because they destroyed the woman he loved- was indeed the person standing before him. The darkness can destroy a person. It changes them. Many have also pointed out that this very very could be Nimue as there is a episode coming up with that title. He could not bring himself to kill her and misses her. This moment of grief cost him his freedom. If these ideas end up being true I definitely am on board with the possible parallels between Merlin/Nimue and Emma/Killian. Where Merlin’s first love was destroyed by the darkness and they failed to overcome these demons, Emma and Killian’s love will prevail and overcome this darkness. Isn’t that what the greatest fairy tales are made of? Isn’t that what Samwise Gamgee told Frodo about the stories that really matter:

“Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer.”

Surrounded by all these familiar charterers and allusions, with Emma’s character we are witnessing an entire new fairy tale and one that is for the ages. One that is like so many that came before it where darkness must be overcome. But there is something special about Emma’s story. We sees so many amazing complexities in her various relationships, and this season is about her True Love and fighting for it- fighting for their happy ending amidst the darkest of struggles imaginable. In these stories that we hold dear, there are always moments that are bleak and seemingly hopeless, but there is always hope. When the skies darken, eventually the sun does shine through again. This story feels so reminiscent of the poem “Morning” by William Blake:

This gives new meaning to the scene between Emma and Killian in the meadow when the sunlight peaks through the trees, quieting the darkness within her. For the moment, her fears vanish and all that is left is the two them bathed in sunlight. This was just one moment of the story and the darkness is sure to creep in once more, but it shall not prevail. Light and love will always shine through in the end.

23Oct2015

Once Upon a Time: “The Broken Kingdom” Further Thoughts

Posted in Once Upon a Time, Television Reviews by Marianne Paluso

This week’s Further Thoughts are, like last week, a bit shorter as I was able to cover a lot in my Nerd Machine review. A lot of this is basically reliving the glorious moments of my favorite episode of Season 5 thus far. I loved every single moment!!

The Meadow Kiss:

I don’t think I will ever grow tired of watching or discussing this beautiful scene. It’s the most gorgeous, romantic, fairy tale perfect moment I have ever seen Once Upon a Time! I spoke a lot about the symbolism of the pink blossoms in my review, but I stumbled across this amazing post on tumblr which has some additional, and very apropos thoughts. Bravo to justalilblondemama for your research and thoughts!!

I am also reminded of a paper I wrote in college about the symbolic use of nature in Pride and Prejudice. In that I discussed when the characters are outdoors they are more free and honest with their feelings, as opposed to when they are inside where they are more repressed. This feels quite similar to the way this scene played out. Away from the confines of the castle she is able to breathe again. Outside, Emma is honest and able to share and trust Killian, helping quiet the darkness inside of her. Moreover, this further reiterates the difference between the ways the flowers are presented for Emma and Killian and Arthur and Guinevere. Inside the castle tower, Arthur creates a bouquet for Guinevere with the sands of Avalon and takes always her freedom to choose. Inside the castle she is living a repressed, false life. But for Emma and Killian they are outside in a glorious meadow created by nature, where they both are choosing to believe and trust in each other and their love. It is no wonder, this special moment garnered such stunning direction to match the beauty of what this means for this true love couple.

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Lovely Parallels:

Speaking of Pride and Prejudice, although the Captain Swan moment was unique and lovely, I could not help but be reminded of the scene from 2005 version with Keira Knightly and Matthew Macfadyen, also known as one of the most resplendent films in history. The scene where Darcy walks across the meadow towards Elizabeth and the two share a romantic moment as the sun rises behind them is simply glorious, and when the sunlight was peaking through the trees behind Emma and Killian it was so reminiscent of the Darcy and Elizabeth moment. The sunlight represents love, renewal of feelings, and a promise of fidelity. The sun always rises each day, and the love for these couples remains as constant.

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This scene on the meadow was also reminiscent of another sweet, beautiful fairy tale like moment. When I watched the show with my Mom it was the first words out of her mouth. She said “It’s just like Pushing Daisies.” And she was right. Both pan to a felid of flowers as a couple shares a sweet romantic moment. I still miss this show every day.

The Look of Love:

Jennifer Morrison is such a remarkable actress for many reasons, one of these being her consistency. She does gestures and expressions consistently for Emma. Any time Emma is rendered speechless and her love is as clear as the look on her eyes, so gives an expression where you can see her try to say something but simply cannot, so she lets her eyes (and often her lips) do the taking. We have seen this many times, but was there any more beautiful than the one on this episode. Similar to Jennifer, Colin is also a brilliant and consistent actor with his portrayal of Killian, and I think we all swoon anytime he arches his eyebrow. This moment in particular is wonderful because it is a combination of recognition of what she means with her words “Now that we’re alone,” and love, as his affection for her is shining right there in his eyes.

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Unity in Speech:

Although they have done it before, this episode seemed to be the first time that both Emma and Killian used so much dialogue that referred to them as not only a united couple but one that has a future together. We can see that they are not only together (which we already know), but for the first time on both their parts that they want this to be forever. “We” can get back to the white picket fence life. I will never stop fighting for “us.” Emma and Killian are strong individuals but together they are unstoppable and more importantly they are united and joined by the bonds of love, and want to be forever!

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Gentle Affection and Passion:

One of things I have always loved about the development of the Captain Swan relationship has been the gentle, tender affection between the two as well as the intense passion they share. They are the ideal combination of the two, and what I find true is that you can see the passion they share in these gentle signs of affection. There were so many in the episode- his soft touch of her arm, the way she strokes his hand, the way they hold hands, the tilt of their heads to deepen their kiss, and finally the way Emma puts his arms round his neck, pulling him closer in that last final moment. All of these feel like they are saying “I love you so much and I always will. Let me hold you forever. I don’t ever want to let go.”

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The last moment especially makes me think of this beautiful quote:

“I asked him with my eyes to ask again yes and then he asked me would I yes to say yes my mountain flower and first I put my arms around him yes and drew him down to me so he could feel my breasts all perfume yes and his heart was going like mad and yes I said yes I will Yes.”- James Joyce

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Family Dynamics:

I just had to mention this adorable scene between Emma, Killian and Henry again. They are going to have such a cute family dynamic- heck they already do. Emma will be the supportive but cautious mother. Killian will be the playfully teasing “That’s my boy” kind of step dad. It’s all kinds of adorable and sweet and I hope we see more Captain Cobra Swan scenes in the future because they’re golden.

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Wedding Foreshadowing:

The wedding foreshadowing seems to be in overdrive this season, first with “The Price” and now in “The Broken Kingdom” and I do not believe we are reading too much into it. We are seeing things that are common marriage, wedding and happily ever after visuals and aspects. Emma and Killian ride off into the sunset, she is wearing a white dress and cloak with a long train, she holds a flower (while they are surrounded by flowers) while they kiss after promising to always fight for their future together. I think the question is not if Emma and Killian wed, it’s only a matter of when.

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“Hearts that beat as one”:

I found Arthur’s line to Snow and Charming about himself and Guinevere so interesting. He says, “You’re not the only couple whose hearts beat as one,” and it makes me wonder if this is a foreshadowing clue. We know that Snow and Charming share a heart, but we also know that what Arthur is claiming about him and his wife is far from the truth. And I doubt it will ever be the case. I wonder if it is a hint that Emma and Killian may end up sharing one. It is just interesting that we hear this line in the episode where Emma shares her burden with Killian and it helps her quiet the darkness. The love they share can defeat anything, it seems like the possibility that they may share a heart even more likely.

Lancelot’s Fate:

The fact that we have not seen Lancelot in Storybrooke is alarming and I hope his character has not died, mostly because I really love him. His love for Guinevere feels true as he was able to tell she was not herself and under a spell, something only a true love would be able to recognize. I already adored him because without his (and Ruth’s) actions Emma would never have been born. I hope nothing has happened to this gallant knight.

Is Arthur the rightful ruler of Camelot?:

What I find intriguing about Merlin’s prophecy that Arthur is the one to pull Excalibur from the stone and be the rightful ruler of Camelot, is that it is only from Arhur’s perspective. Right now we have only heard Merlin say his warning to Emma as a child. As far as his other prophecies they are all though Arthur. Did he misunderstand or assume things? Is Arthur even the rightful ruler? He is not acting very kingly because a true ruler would not have to use magic to fix his kingdom. Could Merlin’s prophecy be referring to somebody else?

17Oct2015

Once Upon a Time: “Siege Perilous” Further Thoughts

Posted in Once Upon a Time, Television Reviews by Marianne Paluso

This week’s addition of Further Thoughts is a bit shorter as I was able to cover most everything in my Nerd Machine review. But there are still some interesting things to discuss.

Parallels:

I touched upon the poignant parallels a bit in my review but they’re worth mentioning again because it shows just how well structured the show truly is. Going all the way back to 2×6 “Tallahassee” Emma and Hook’s conversation on the beanstalk revealed how he could read her like an open book. He could see that she is scared and recognizes the lonely look in her eyes. He says it’s because he knows the Lost Boys, but we know that he too has seen that look when he has looked at his own reflection. Their first adventure established them as kindred spirits. The fact that very much the same dialogue is employed in the current scene, and the fact that Emma says she is no longer scared, is was a way of connecting these two scenes in a meaningful way, and creating a long thread to their story.

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It is also no coincidence that this current storyline came after Killian’s ordeal with Gold in Season 4 where his heart was taken and he saw that Gold was trying to have both power and love. In “Fall” Killian makes the wise statement that Belle truly loves Gold and he could have her or power. Gold says he can have both, but the point is that love was not enough for Gold. He refuses to give up one. Emma is now doing the exact same thing. She wants to be the Dark One and wants Killian to be with her. But he knows better and know this is not the real Emma. Love is more than enough for the both of them, and that is what he wants her to remember.

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Coincidentally, and beautifully, all 3 episodes were written by Jane Espenson. She clearly likes to connect her stories together.

Lastly, this parallel does not require much explanation. It is just an exquisitely poignant one. Emma has always been described as having walls that protect her heart. When the line about breaking them down was played over their passionate kiss in the season 3 finale it was a moving way of showing how they have finally come tumbling down. And Killian loved being the one to break them down because that meant she not only was finding courage to let love in and return it, but that she chose him as the one who finally could break down those walls. Only someone she could truly love would be able to do so.

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Music:

The music of Once Upon a Time is one of the things that adds to its depth, beauty, and caliber. Movie scores are probably what I listen to more than anything and the best are memorable, evocative, and reflect what is going on in the scene while still being beautiful on their own. Mark Isham’s score for Once is brilliant and I love the recurring themes. But in “Siege Perilous” I was impressed not only hearing new themes but also music just a bit different than we’ve heard before. In the Captain Swan scene on the Jolly Roger, the music is somber and melancholy with still a hint of romantic undertones. Most especially, it is restrained and delicate reflecting the tension and intimacy of the moment. Watch the scene below to hear this lovely music.

Similarly, the chilling scene with Arthur and his squire was elevated by its score, in particular the high pitched, somewhat frantic use of violin. I have never heard music like this on the show before and it made the scene even more gripping. Listen below and be amazed!

Cinematography:

Stephen Jackson’s cinematography is another crucial aspect of the show that deserves attention and praise. The best lighting is not only beautiful but can give you visual clue to what is happening in the scene, even if it’s on a subconscious level. The scene of the Jolly Roger is a lovely example. The scene is dim and the color is muted, a stark contrast to the bright lighting and saturated color from the Emma and Killian’s first real date. The lighting here reflects that this date is not the same. It’s an illusion. Moreover, I love the way the lighting mirrors the nature of their relationship in the two shot and individual close ups. The scene may be dim but in the shot with the two of them in frame, the window behind them is very bright. This is to show that together they are strong. When they are united they are a beacon of light and love. In the close ups, however, we see that while Killian still has light behind them, Emma does not. There is no light behind her, only darkness. So while Killian is in the light, Emma is in the dark. But the important thing to remember is we are neither all dark or light. We have both. Still, these were lovely visual reflections of their characters in this moment.

The same visual clue can be said for some scenes with Lancelot and Arthur. When Lancelot appears to Snow, they are standing in a dark corridor, but he is literally standing in a pathway of light. Is this light a sign of his trustworthiness? The contradictory and perplexing nature of Arthur is reflected in the lighting on his face while he watches his squire die. Half in light, half in shadow, Arthur literally has two sides to him. Which is the truer one remains to be seen.

Killian’s Heart:

The line the Dark One Rumple says to Emma about Killian is very intriguing: “You crushed his heart even more…” Even more suggests she already has in the past. Was his heart crushed to cast the curse and he is now sharing Emma’s? That is certainly a possibility. I do know that dialogue is specifically chosen, so I truly believe there is something to this line. It is also lovely to see that Emma appears to touch Killian’s chest when they are speaking, the way she often does. That is a glimmer of the real Emma.

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Excalibur:

The idea that Emma is going to create a hero out of Mr. Gold so he can pull the sword from the stone feels not only like a misdirect but also disingenuous. If Gold is ever going to show the kind of heroics necessary (the kind he displayed when he defeated Pan), it must come from within. Emma can’t make him a hero.

An interesting thing about Excalibur is that I wonder if you not only have to be worthy to pull the sword from the stone, but also to wield it. Perhaps only a true hero can do so, much like Thor’s hammer, or your fate will be that of Sir Kay.

Off Screen Conversations:

Although we would love every single conversation to happen on screen, it is simply not possible. That is why I appreciate when they reference ones that have happened off screen. Hearing that Killian told Emma about the first time he met Rumple is moving. It shows that he has been very honest with her about his darkest days, and that like he does with her, she loves him for all his scars and imperfections. Neither would condone his dark past, but Emma does not condemn him for it. She recognizes how he has changed for the better and loves him for who he truly is. After all, she likes when people find their good hearts along the way.

Jousting:

I cannot get over the fact that David turned a car chase into a jousting match. This is one of those things you would only see on Once Upon a Time, and I love it! Also, he is the most trusting person ever when it comes to letting people with no driving experience get behind the wheel. First Henry and now Arthur. He certainly has faith!

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Screencaps Source: Screencapped.net

8Oct2015

Once Upon a Time: “The Price” Further Thoughts

Posted in Once Upon a Time, Television Reviews by Marianne Paluso

This was one of my favorite episodes of the series ever, so it is only natural that I would have a lot of additional thoughts on top of my Nerd Machine review. This is somewhat speculative on some levels as well, so I hope you enjoy!!

-The Dark Swan’s Motivations and Behavior:

There are so many questions and mysteries surrounding Emma’s motivations. What happened in Camelot? Why did she bring them all back to Storybrooke and erase their memories? What exactly does the Dark Swan want and how is that reflected in her demeanor and behavior? She says she wants to punish those who failed her in Camelot and she is isolating herself from everyone except Killian and Henry. She wants to forge the dagger with Excalibur so she can do what all other Dark Ones failed to do- snuff out the light forever. The light they are always pulled towards filled with those they love and those that love them. But what would she gain by snuffing out this light? Ultimate power? Total darkness in the world, meaning complete isolation from love? That does not sound like something Emma would want, especially since as the Dark One, your qualities are simply amplified. Though the darkness can also twist things and lead to bad decisions. That is what makes Emma’s motivations so unclear and enigmatic. Some of her behavior can be analyzed, however, if you imagine all of her characteristics put under a microscope and magnified, the good and the bad ones. More importantly, I think her behavior is related to the way she grew up, her new responsibilities as the Savior, and her insecurities. And frankly much of this is empathetic. She grew up without a real home, so the house she takes up residence in is a beautiful, spacious Victorian complete with a white picket fence. It’s the type of idyllic home a young Emma would have dreamed of living in with a family that loved her. But inside the home lacks warmth. The tables only have two chairs, there are no photos on the walls, and in the end she is sitting alone in the dark at her kitchen table. Emma may have a house, but not a home.

Additionally, Emma has always been afraid of opening her heart because those she did so with left her, so she seems quite possessive of Killian.

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But her insecurities also come into play. She has often felt unloved and not good enough, so when Killian refused her advances, heartbroken his kiss did not work, she says it’s because this is who she is now, and does not understand why he can’t accept that. This is what makes the relationship between them so dramatic.

– The Push and Pull between Emma & Killian:

The push and pull between Captain Swan in this episode during the present day Storybrooke was set up so beautifully. They deeply, truly, and passionately love each other. There is no question about that. But when he tells her “this isn’t you” she is hurt, feeling like once again like she is not good enough. Of course this is not true. Killian loves Emma for who she is through and through. But there is bound to be this constant push and pull between them in this half of the season, because this is not the true Emma. She is in there, but the Dark One persona is overriding her. Belle understood why True Love’s kiss did not work with Rumple, but she still chose to be with him. She accepted him as the Dark One because she believed he could be that and a good man. While it’s important to accept those we love unconditionally, at the same time this did not help Rumple at all. No one would fault Belle, but true love should inspire us to be our best selves, and he only descended deeper into darkness. For Killian, he just wants the Emma he knows, to save her from the darkness. Obviously, this is a good thing, but she is hurt he isn’t accepting her as she is. The journey for Emma and Killian is sure to be somewhere in between these two states. Loving accepting each other as they are, but also inspiring each other to be their best selves- to be good people. In the end this kind of true love will be stronger than the darkness.

– The Emphasis on Hands & Isolation:

Once again hands proved significant, and for all of the characters. The moment Regina, Snow, David, Leroy, and Arthur all joined hands and fought off the fury we see the symbolism of hands united that has been prevalent on the show. Together they are stronger and can defeat anything.

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For Emma, we saw the beginning of her isolation from her loved ones with this emphasis on hands, and also significantly, paralleling where Killian once was. After she heals Robin we see her let go of Killian’s hand and leave him, a shot they made an effort to clearly show in frame.

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When she returns, she stands in the doorway, physically and symbolically separated from her loved ones, even at this early stage. It is so reminiscent of when Killian stood the doorway of the hospital room, looking in at the happy Charming family. In both cases, there is a separation from the family they care for, and a sadness because of it.

And just like when Killian stood alone across from Granny’s looking in at the Diner with sadness and longing in his eyes, at the end of this episode we see Emma do the same. That is the real Emma in that moment. This cannot be what she wants. And what was so heart wrenching in that moment was what Emma does with her hands. Not long ago, she was walking down the street, Killian’s hand entwined with hers. Now she isolated from him, so to fill this void, she clasps her hands together. She holds her own hand.

This is heartbreaking, but just the beginning of her journey. When she realizes this path of darkness will not lead her towards what she truly wants, she will reach out her hand towards light and love again.

– Passionate Kisses:

There was something so moving in the similarities between the two attempts at True Love’s Kiss. They really mirrored each other. Killian kissed Emma in Storybrooke, Emma kissed Killian in Camelot. Both were incredibly passionate, loving, and desperate attempts to destroy the darkness. And both times Killian pulled away out of concern and confusion. You feel both anguish and melancholy and love and hope in both kisses. And significantly, you don’t have two attempts (on top of Killian’s other attempt), if a truly successful one was not on the horizon. That would be cruel to both the characters and the audience, and while they do have moments that make us cry, they also believe in happy endings. Once Upon a Time is not a show about despair, but rather hope. Maybe it’s not just about choosing love over power. Perhaps it’s not just about destroying darkness but restoring love.

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– The Ball at Camelot:

The Ball was one of the loveliest gifts the show has ever bestowed upon us, and one of the most beautiful moments was seeing Emma hold Killian’s hook while they were dancing. He has always been a bit self conscious about it, going so far as to have his hand reattached for their first date. But to Emma it does not matter whether he has two hands or not. And that was clear as we see them dancing, her holding onto his hook with the same gentleness and natural ease as a hand. She loves him exactly the way he is.

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The way Robin and Regina danced was also so incredibly sweet. I liked seeing them have a moment lost in each other. There is not much else to say about the moment below except that it is absolutely adorable, and it also looks like it could be the actors simply laughing. Either way, it works, and it’s as cute as all get out.

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– Wedding Foreshadowing:

There has always been a great deal of wedding allusions and hints of foreshadowing for Emma and Killian, from them holding up rings to each other, to so often a wedding dress being visible in a storefront behind them in many scenes. You may say that is simply a coincidence, but they could have anything in these store windows. Why a wedding dress? I for one think nothing is by chance on this show.

Moreover, the way in which the Ball was filmed was like a beautiful prelude to what a wedding would look like for their characters. From Emma’s white lace dress that was so reminiscent of a wedding gown, to the smile on Killian’s face filed with all the love and amazement that a groom would express watching his bride walk down the aisle, it is impossible for me to believe this was not PURPOSEFULLY meant to resemble a wedding.

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-Does Killian have a connection to Camelot?:

Is Killian connected to this mystical realm? No I do not think he has any kind of obvious connection because I think he would be forthcoming about that. I do however, feel like there may be some kind of unexpected connection, even to him. There did seem to be a pull between him and Excalibur. Not only was he immediately drawn to the door leading to it, but in the promotional poster for the season (seen below in an uncompleted state where he is more visible), we see him not only very close to King Arthur, but he is holding a sword. To my recollection there are rarely any promotional images of him holding a blade. Is this a clue? Will he be the one Emma needs to pull Excalibur from the stone? But what would the price be for doing so? It is sure to be steep and Emma may not even fully understand it. The image of Rumple in her head hardly seems infallible and trustworthy. What if the price she would pay would be losing Killian?

– Henry & Violet:

True Love couples share the distinction of meeting each other multiple times, sometimes unaware of the fact. Emma and Killian hold the record at 4 first meetings, Regina and Robin have met 3 times, while Snow and David twice. Henry and his first crush Violet have now met each other twice and it was very similar to the way in which Regina and Robin did in Season 3, the conversation (song) making them feel as if it’s happened before. It is uncertain what the future hold for Violet’s character, but I hope whoever her family is decides to stay in Storybrooke, so Henry will not suffer the pangs of adolescent heartbreak.

– Arthur & Guinevere:

Before the season began I had the feeling that no one in Camelot could be fully trusted. While Arthur is not being completely truthful of altruistic about wanting to reunite the dagger with Excalibur and make it whole, he did earn some trust by standing with our heroes to help save Robin Hood. Of course that could still be a facade. But Guinevere on the other hand seems far more untrustworthy at the moment and her preoccupation with Excalibur is suspicious.

Screencap sources:

http://screencapped.net/tv/onceuponatime/index.php

http://genrecaps.net/onceuponatime/index.php?cat=9

http://c-odonoghue.com/pictures/