Recap
![Picture](/uploads/2/7/3/8/27383753/1200307.jpg?549)
The 'Shroom Team
Right away I knew I was going to like this episode, as we begin with a scene in Merlin's attic laboratory, with the gang working to find a potion to release Merlin from the tree. Right away watching Belle looking through books, Snow reading up on mythology, and Regina dishing out sarcasm was fantastic. As luck would have it, Regina finds a picture in the book of a mushroom, said to be able to communicate with Merlin. David, who was becoming a little weary of babysitting duty. instantly jumps on the idea of a quest, something I was definitely in favor of. Arthur immediately agrees to accompany him, and together they set off on a quest that I didn't realize how much I had been wanting to see.
The mushroom stood in a beam of light on an innocent-looking island in the middle of a lake, and David, surprisingly willing after his history with enchanted lakes, successfully maneuvers across the shaky bridge. Just as David begins back across the half-sunken rotten boards with the mushroom in hand, all the dead men who had tried to get to the fungus begin coming out of the water and trying to pull him in. And although he fights well, it seems that the dead people have the power to rejuvenate, and just calmly put their sliced-off heads back on and continue to fight. Suspiciously Arthur does nothing until the dead people are literally choking the life out of David as they pull him further into the inky waters, but just in time the king grabs his arm and pulls him to safety. The two knights lament that the toadstool seems to have fallen into the zombie depths. The two commiserate about past failures, and Arthur shares about his insecurity at being nothing more than a king that pulled a sword out of a rock, while David admits that he wants to be more than just a man who woke up a princess.
Back at the palace, King Arthur announces that he's found the perfect knight to fill Lancelot's place at the Round Table: Prince Charming! He knights him and gives him the big leather chair while all the people applaud, and we're just about to think that Camelot is a pretty nice place until Snow goes out into the hall and meets . . . Lancelot. Apparently Cora was lying (big surprise!) about his being dead! But before Snow can get her brain wrapped around this new tidbit, he warns her that Camelot is not what it seems, and neither is Arthur. He's not to be trusted, something we find out in the following scene. At the lake Arthur wasn't just helping David to shore - he actually picked his pocket and stole the mushroom himself! Not only that, but the knighting David was only a ruse to keep everyone in the dark about what a creep he is. But if you think that's bad, let's get on to Arthur in Storybrooke.
Right away I knew I was going to like this episode, as we begin with a scene in Merlin's attic laboratory, with the gang working to find a potion to release Merlin from the tree. Right away watching Belle looking through books, Snow reading up on mythology, and Regina dishing out sarcasm was fantastic. As luck would have it, Regina finds a picture in the book of a mushroom, said to be able to communicate with Merlin. David, who was becoming a little weary of babysitting duty. instantly jumps on the idea of a quest, something I was definitely in favor of. Arthur immediately agrees to accompany him, and together they set off on a quest that I didn't realize how much I had been wanting to see.
The mushroom stood in a beam of light on an innocent-looking island in the middle of a lake, and David, surprisingly willing after his history with enchanted lakes, successfully maneuvers across the shaky bridge. Just as David begins back across the half-sunken rotten boards with the mushroom in hand, all the dead men who had tried to get to the fungus begin coming out of the water and trying to pull him in. And although he fights well, it seems that the dead people have the power to rejuvenate, and just calmly put their sliced-off heads back on and continue to fight. Suspiciously Arthur does nothing until the dead people are literally choking the life out of David as they pull him further into the inky waters, but just in time the king grabs his arm and pulls him to safety. The two knights lament that the toadstool seems to have fallen into the zombie depths. The two commiserate about past failures, and Arthur shares about his insecurity at being nothing more than a king that pulled a sword out of a rock, while David admits that he wants to be more than just a man who woke up a princess.
Back at the palace, King Arthur announces that he's found the perfect knight to fill Lancelot's place at the Round Table: Prince Charming! He knights him and gives him the big leather chair while all the people applaud, and we're just about to think that Camelot is a pretty nice place until Snow goes out into the hall and meets . . . Lancelot. Apparently Cora was lying (big surprise!) about his being dead! But before Snow can get her brain wrapped around this new tidbit, he warns her that Camelot is not what it seems, and neither is Arthur. He's not to be trusted, something we find out in the following scene. At the lake Arthur wasn't just helping David to shore - he actually picked his pocket and stole the mushroom himself! Not only that, but the knighting David was only a ruse to keep everyone in the dark about what a creep he is. But if you think that's bad, let's get on to Arthur in Storybrooke.
![Picture](/uploads/2/7/3/8/27383753/7219224.png?541)
Arthur's Squire = Worst Job Ever
But back to Storybrooke, where unfortunately nobody remembers Lancelot being alive and therefore Arthur being a creep. The gang is looking through Merlin's spell books when Regina finds the page marked with the mushroom on it. This sets them wondering if they actually were successful in talking to Merlin, although Emma's being full-blown evil is a pretty good indication that they didn't succeed. But the puzzling stops when an infuriated bunch of dwarves storm into the sheriff's station. It seems that Emma swiped Happy's ax while the dwarves were mining for fairy dust, and the little men have had about enough of all this hooliganism, something David echoes as he gives a hard kick to the poor desk chair. I liked seeing a realistic scene with the Charmings; we can understand David's frustration in not being able to help, despite being desperate to save his daughter. To make matters worse, Arthur enters and declares that his treasured box of Camelot archives has been robbed. David goes with him back to the camp, where a magic bean appears to be missing, the only ticket to get back to Camelot.
But David wasn't born yesterday, and uses a fake artifact to trick the people into thinking it's a potion to make people tell the truth. A hooded figure immediately leaps on a horse and gallops away, but David's truck is up for the challenge. And then in what's easily the most epic scene I've seen in a long time, he and Arthur chase down the villain in David's pickup, with David hanging out the window with a 2x4 while Arthur drives as well as any stunt driver, despite having no experience with the big shiny beasts. David knocks the thief off his horse in a joust-like maneuver, and it turns out he's actually Griffin, Arthur's squire, who feels unappreciated for all he does, something Charming slightly chided Arthur for back in Camelot. They throw the man in jail, but Griffin's day is only going to get worse.
As it turns out, the jail cell looks pretty homey compared to what came next. Enter Arthur with an evil gleam in his eye, and hands the poor squire a vial of deadly venom from the Agrabah viper (what killed Snow's dad if you remember) and instructs him to drink it. It seems that the whole robbery was merely a plot to distract the townsfolk from suspecting their new visitors, and to keep the possibility of Griffin being forced to talk with magic at bay, he's supposed to silence himself forever. BOY is that squire underappreciated. Anyway, he takes a swig "for Camelot" and keels over, and my question is, what about the security tape? Pretty sure Arthur doesn't have Rumple's talent for changing film reels.
But back to Storybrooke, where unfortunately nobody remembers Lancelot being alive and therefore Arthur being a creep. The gang is looking through Merlin's spell books when Regina finds the page marked with the mushroom on it. This sets them wondering if they actually were successful in talking to Merlin, although Emma's being full-blown evil is a pretty good indication that they didn't succeed. But the puzzling stops when an infuriated bunch of dwarves storm into the sheriff's station. It seems that Emma swiped Happy's ax while the dwarves were mining for fairy dust, and the little men have had about enough of all this hooliganism, something David echoes as he gives a hard kick to the poor desk chair. I liked seeing a realistic scene with the Charmings; we can understand David's frustration in not being able to help, despite being desperate to save his daughter. To make matters worse, Arthur enters and declares that his treasured box of Camelot archives has been robbed. David goes with him back to the camp, where a magic bean appears to be missing, the only ticket to get back to Camelot.
But David wasn't born yesterday, and uses a fake artifact to trick the people into thinking it's a potion to make people tell the truth. A hooded figure immediately leaps on a horse and gallops away, but David's truck is up for the challenge. And then in what's easily the most epic scene I've seen in a long time, he and Arthur chase down the villain in David's pickup, with David hanging out the window with a 2x4 while Arthur drives as well as any stunt driver, despite having no experience with the big shiny beasts. David knocks the thief off his horse in a joust-like maneuver, and it turns out he's actually Griffin, Arthur's squire, who feels unappreciated for all he does, something Charming slightly chided Arthur for back in Camelot. They throw the man in jail, but Griffin's day is only going to get worse.
As it turns out, the jail cell looks pretty homey compared to what came next. Enter Arthur with an evil gleam in his eye, and hands the poor squire a vial of deadly venom from the Agrabah viper (what killed Snow's dad if you remember) and instructs him to drink it. It seems that the whole robbery was merely a plot to distract the townsfolk from suspecting their new visitors, and to keep the possibility of Griffin being forced to talk with magic at bay, he's supposed to silence himself forever. BOY is that squire underappreciated. Anyway, he takes a swig "for Camelot" and keels over, and my question is, what about the security tape? Pretty sure Arthur doesn't have Rumple's talent for changing film reels.
![Picture](/uploads/2/7/3/8/27383753/5009435.png?448)
Gold Awakens
Back at Granny's, Hook and Robin are taking a gander at Zelena's sonogram, when Granny brings Hook a bag of grilled cheese and onion rings that Emma ordered, with instructions to bring it to the Jolly Roger. No wonder Granny is so good at lasagna, hamburgers, and grilled cheese. That's really all she'd need on her menu. Anyway, Emma morphs herself into her blond rather than her hoary-haired self (how good it was!), but Hook is having none of it. Despite her pleas that Rumple and Belle managed to fall in love and get married under the Dark One's curse, Hook is sick and tired of the white haired Swan strutting in and out of his life, and informs her that he's not interested in this new "improved" version of herself. But as it turns out, the whole thing was merely a sham to get Hook's cutlass, for the sole purpose of . . .
REVIVING GOLD!!! Just as his last rose petal is hanging by a thread, suddenly it reforms in vibrant, glowing colors. But Rumple is no longer on his cot in the pawnshop office; he has been placed in Emma's dungeon basement. Not only did we get a scene with Gold, Rumple was also there, which was basically the best thing ever. The Dark Swan has revived the Dark One (and for that we can pardon all past wrongs) and intends to make him useful. Only a hero can pull the sword from the stone, and since Rumple's heart is basically a blank slate, she intends to groom him as a hero. Interesting.
Back at Granny's, Hook and Robin are taking a gander at Zelena's sonogram, when Granny brings Hook a bag of grilled cheese and onion rings that Emma ordered, with instructions to bring it to the Jolly Roger. No wonder Granny is so good at lasagna, hamburgers, and grilled cheese. That's really all she'd need on her menu. Anyway, Emma morphs herself into her blond rather than her hoary-haired self (how good it was!), but Hook is having none of it. Despite her pleas that Rumple and Belle managed to fall in love and get married under the Dark One's curse, Hook is sick and tired of the white haired Swan strutting in and out of his life, and informs her that he's not interested in this new "improved" version of herself. But as it turns out, the whole thing was merely a sham to get Hook's cutlass, for the sole purpose of . . .
REVIVING GOLD!!! Just as his last rose petal is hanging by a thread, suddenly it reforms in vibrant, glowing colors. But Rumple is no longer on his cot in the pawnshop office; he has been placed in Emma's dungeon basement. Not only did we get a scene with Gold, Rumple was also there, which was basically the best thing ever. The Dark Swan has revived the Dark One (and for that we can pardon all past wrongs) and intends to make him useful. Only a hero can pull the sword from the stone, and since Rumple's heart is basically a blank slate, she intends to groom him as a hero. Interesting.
Best Episode Quotes
1. Emma: "There's something I've learned as the Dark One. If your name is on something, hold onto it."
2. Arthur: "I've had victories, and I've had losses. And I've found that it's the losses that require us to be brave."
3. Zelena: "You got a second chance; why can't I?"
Regina: "Oh I'm sorry, but you've had a second chance. And a second second chance. You can't keep painting yourself as a victim. It's absurd."
4. Emma: "You told me how the man he was groveled and cried on the deck of this ship. He changed for the better too."
Hook: "You're wrong. I was the villain in that little drama, Swan. He was a good man trying to keep his family together. I took this cutlass and put it to his
head and taunted him. I was only one there who has changed for the better."
5. Arthur: "The word 'quest' means to seek, not to find. It's the seeking that matters."
6. Rumple: "A dwarf ax? Now that's a creative path to failure."
Emma: "Dwarf axes cut through anything."
Rumple: "Nothing cuts through magic. Except maybe a kiss. Have you thought about kissing it out?"
7. Emma: "I thought we could talk and have lunch together like old times."
Hook: "I'd like nothing more. But this is hardly like old times."
8. Regina: "You are occasionally a genius."
9. Emma: "It wasn't luck; I worked hard for this."
Rumple: "That's true. You crushed Hook's heart even more firmly under your impractical boot heel."
10. David: "My father drank his life away, my brother accomplished nothing but evil, and there was a time I thought I'd be different. Change the world. But I
just . . . I don't want to only be remembered as the man who kissed a sleeping princess awake thirty years ago."
2. Arthur: "I've had victories, and I've had losses. And I've found that it's the losses that require us to be brave."
3. Zelena: "You got a second chance; why can't I?"
Regina: "Oh I'm sorry, but you've had a second chance. And a second second chance. You can't keep painting yourself as a victim. It's absurd."
4. Emma: "You told me how the man he was groveled and cried on the deck of this ship. He changed for the better too."
Hook: "You're wrong. I was the villain in that little drama, Swan. He was a good man trying to keep his family together. I took this cutlass and put it to his
head and taunted him. I was only one there who has changed for the better."
5. Arthur: "The word 'quest' means to seek, not to find. It's the seeking that matters."
6. Rumple: "A dwarf ax? Now that's a creative path to failure."
Emma: "Dwarf axes cut through anything."
Rumple: "Nothing cuts through magic. Except maybe a kiss. Have you thought about kissing it out?"
7. Emma: "I thought we could talk and have lunch together like old times."
Hook: "I'd like nothing more. But this is hardly like old times."
8. Regina: "You are occasionally a genius."
9. Emma: "It wasn't luck; I worked hard for this."
Rumple: "That's true. You crushed Hook's heart even more firmly under your impractical boot heel."
10. David: "My father drank his life away, my brother accomplished nothing but evil, and there was a time I thought I'd be different. Change the world. But I
just . . . I don't want to only be remembered as the man who kissed a sleeping princess awake thirty years ago."