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"Unforgiven"
Episode Review
How nice it is to see Once Upon a Time hitting its stride again! At last we're bringing storylines from the start of the show, as well as some long-long characters from the beginning. Already these episodes are making me antsy for next week, a vibe I just wasn't getting last fall. And while this episode wasn't a character episode or a plot-mover, it did set up quite a few plotlines that we'll be seeing throughout the rest of this season. "Unforgiven" gave us several shocking moments, and I liked them.
To begin with, it was nice to get Maleficent back! Kristin Bauer van Straten is excellent as the understated villain, soft-spoken but dangerous at the same time. The Queens of Darkness so far appear to be fitting in Once's world rather seamlessly, including Cruella. I'm so glad the writers decided to change her, making her magical instead of a puppy-snatcher. I'm looking forward to that backstory! So far I'm loving her sassiness and drama, and I love that the writers are taking advantages of all the opportunities to inject humor. I mean, stuffing dozens of parking tickets all throughout her car? Hilarious. I find myself laughing out loud in these episodes, a very good sign.
Another thing that I particularly loved about "Unforgiven" is that it was a Snow/Charming centered episode, something we haven't seen since last season. And its been even longer since we got a pre-curse backstory. I'd forgotten how much I'd missed them. I'm also glad that they're receiving a big storyline, and even some darkness. With so many other characters crowding them out last half, it's nice to see them getting some edge. Having a backstory with the villains is something we haven't seen so far, and to see them have a little more gray than just black and white makes them more interesting.
And how about the backstory itself? We got all sorts of questions raised. I'm glad to see that Emma only has the potential for great darkness, reflecting back to the Once theme that evil is made, rather than born. Evil is just as much a choice as goodness is. And while everyone has the same choice, being the product of true love as well as the savior makes those stakes even higher. It seems that Snow and Charming sacrificed a lot to ensure that their daughter was kept toward goodness, a further chapter I'd like to see. We got the biggest shock when Maleficent revealed that she was pregnant. I'm glad the writers have given Maleficent a definite reason to feel vengeful, and it was a good change to not make it because about lost love. The bond between mother/child is another strong theme on this show, and a good direction to take. But while we can understand that Snow wouldn't want to embrace darkness to save her child, especially after hearing the prophecy about her baby and growing up with an evil stepmother, I'm not sure how she would have cost Maleficent her baby. Perhaps because she wouldn't help her to stop the curse? We never heard that Maleficent's child is dead; she may be just ripped from her, as everybody else's was in the Dark Curse. It would make sense, since you know Snow and Charming couldn't have done anything as horrible as murder. It would have to be a bad choice, but never anything evil. I'm excited for that one! It's a nice parallel to have both Maleficent and Regina wronged by Snow, albeit mistakenly, further explaining their friendship. And I strongly suspect that Maleficent's child is Lily, Emma's partner in crime. They were the same age, and orphans. And there's a mysterious character coming as an adult, as well as an episode entitled "Lily."
It was a heartbreaking surprise to see that the dragon figurine that meant so much to Maleficent, something I had assumed was some kind of weapon, was indeed a baby rattle. And Straten's reaction was perfect, tearing up at the painful memory of her lost child. It was beautifully portrayed.
We also got to see Charming and Emma working together, as well as a tease toward Hook and Ursula's backstory. It seems there may be a lost love angle there, another smart reason not to make Maleficent have the same problem. Obviously it wasn't a happy parting, as both seem uncomfortable talking about it. And I loved the ending with Snow confiding in Regina. Although they aren't friends exactly, they have become allies of sorts. It was interesting to see that Snow trusts Regina, and that Regina didn't judge her, but rather listened and agreed to help her. And I especially loved it when Regina stepped forward and covered Snow with her umbrella. It was a little link back to when Snow was a little girl and Regina was protective of her, and I loved it. It seems that they really are on their way to being friends, and I'm glad to see it.
Possibly my favorite part in the episode was with Pinocchio. The conversation between Regina and Marco was interesting, both having made selfish choices when pushed to it. But they were able to put aside their differences and apologize to each other, a sure sign that things have moved a long way from season one. And what did Henry find? It seems that August knew more about the author than anyone thought!
And although I knew the Belle storyline was coming, as you can see from the previous post, I couldn't help but feel just as devastated as Rumple looked. I'm not entirely sure that what he saw wasn't a magical illusion from the witches, since they lied to him about Belle asking about him in the shop. Perhaps they're afraid that he'll get sidetracked if he's trying to win Belle back; after all, they got a nasty turn from him the last time he tried to save Belle. However, the Knave did order his "usual" two coffees, and the two are having a dinner at Granny's in next week's spoiler photos, so I could be mistaken. But it seems plausible that this isn't what it seems - after all, could Belle really not see him standing blatantly across the street? And the part where he backs up into the shadows was interesting - a sign that he may be creeping more into darkness and anger than he originally had been. I don't for a moment believe that Belle really likes the Knave, or that she is no longer in love with Rumple. If this is what it appears to be (and I'm not convinced it is) then I imagine Will was just a listening ear that she needed at that moment, someone to reach out to in her loneliness. One good thing: I imagine Gold will fight harder than ever to get her back, now that he feels he may lose her. And I sure hope it works! I'm looking forward to the character packed meaty arc that I think will come from this situation with Belle. I think he really will have to change to win her back this time, something I think he needs.
Good episode! Though not heavily action-packed or clue-revealing, it did begin several very interesting plots. I give it an 8/10. And stay tuned for next week. I cannot tell you how excited I am that August is coming back!!!! Can't wait!