Once upon a Time 4.02

[selenak]

Beastly day for rl reasons, but I did manage (some) tv. OuaT, I embrace your endearing corniness! You make me happy when I direly need it!



You know, given the show is what it is, I never wondered where David the shepherd learned to sword fight. But precisely because this show is this show, the answer is adorably wonderful. Seriously, leave it to OuaT to let Prince Charming be lessoned and inspired by Anna. And not because either crushes on the other. Just because she's cool and reminds me a bit of Buffy with the babbling, the alias "Joan" and the caring via kicking of backsides and inspiring speeches. I didn't check, was Jane E. somewhat involved in this episode?

Speaking of the Jossverse, that wig poor Josh Dallas had to wear was as bad as David Boreanaz' Liam wig, but hey. Good to see David's mother Ruth again, too. And of course David's father was an alcoholic. Seriously, Robert Carlyle's observation re: what Rumple thinks when he looks at David is as apt as ever. I do wonder whether the two will ever exchange views on what it's like to have an addicted deadbeat dad. (With Rumple bitterly commenting that David's might have died, but didn't become Peter Pan.)

New characters: I didn't understand the name of the Rokoko lady with the super shephard's crook - something with B? Anyway, since she wasn't a factor anymore by the time King George showed up to collect the other twin, I assume we'll get a flashback or two about how she lost her powers. (If not the staff, since David got only around to confiscating it now.)

And the blonde who looks like Juliet from Lost is Elsa's secret long lost...twin? Cousin? Bio Mother? (Due to the 28 years of Storybrooke, either is possible.) Anyway, considering Elsa and Emma bonded in this episode and everyone is on the same page now, it was obvious there would have to be some kind of threat, and it couldn't be Elsa's powers as uncontrollable. Methinks we're going to be set up for a duel of the snow queens at some point?

Meanwhile, Grumpy, Happy & Co. not entirely unreasonably make the point that since Snow was responsible for the second curse, and since they fought to make her ruler back in the Enchanted Forest, and since Regina isn't interested in mundane ruling anymore, Snow should be responsible for Storybrooke. And fix everyone's problems, starting with the electricity. Considering Snow is a breastfeeding mother with only three hours of sleep, if that, this leads to a great Mary Margaret outburst when inspiration to fix the electricity isn't immediately forthcoming. She's right, too: everyone has lived without this stuff for most of their lives. But of course they love their modern creature comforts. Snow being Snow, outburst notwithstanding, she does stay around in the power plant until she's figured out how to get the wretched thing going again. (Sadly, she doesn't say, "I'm a princess, not an engineer!") While this subplot works as comic relief, I do like Snow becoming Mayor and look forward to how she'll handle it from now on.

Also: I must say I love Henry. Not only for googling how to put a comfort basket for a woman going through a breakup together, but also for taking David's "we don't give up" speech to heart by applying it to the Regina situation and showing up at her doorstep, where she holds out for all of a minute to her walling off resolution (women putting up walls being a theme, in case you haven't noticed when Elsa did it literally while Emma and Regina do it metaphorically) before melting and giving us the mother and son hug I wanted to see since the Marian news broke.

Lastly: since Rumple saw Anna on her way in the flashback, he clearly knew who she was (Gold's unhelpfulness in Storybrooke not withstanding). I have the bad feeling that Anna asking Rumplestilskin to help her sister is what is what got Elsa trapped in his vault in the first place.

Comments

[settiai]

I didn't understand the name of the Rokoko lady with the super shephard's crook - something with B?

That would be Bo Peep. :)

[selenak]

Someone else explained about the nursery rhyme to me over at lj. Since we don't have this one in German, the name alone would not have been enlightening. :)

[likeadeuce]

Seriously, Robert Carlyle's observation re: what Rumple thinks when he looks at David is as apt as ever.

What did he say about that? *curious*

I did enjoy this one a lot, corniness and all. And I do like Josh Dallas's ability to play male-female friendship that doesn't have to be flirty. Granted, they did set up him knowing from the start she's engaged to his friend, and David isn't the type to try and steal a friend's girl, but the actors brought a lot to the friendship as well.

[selenak]

Robert Carlyle said that while Rumple would never admit it, but when he looks at David he thinks "Damm, I'd like to be that guy". Which makes character sense if you look at it from a Watsonian instead of a Doylist perspective. (Obviously Rumplestilskin is the more layered character, etc.) They both come from almost identical backgrounds, but David ended up as Prince Charming, not the Dark One. His gaining strength didn't result in his becoming a bully. (One of my favourite Rumplestilskin/Charming scenes, aside from every time Rumple asks for dating advice, is when Gold, Emma and Henry leave Storybrooke and Rumple thinks David is going to threaten him - which he's mocking in advance - but David instead just asks him to protect them. Which is so off script that our Mr. Gold has no reply whatsover at hand. And the type of thing he wouldn't be capable of.) When David's beloved ended their relationship by removing the ability to love from herself, David managed to return it to her. When Cora did this, it just started decades of feuding between Rumple and herself. When David put his only (then) child through a magic portal, she ended up finding her way back, saving everyone and forgiving her parents. When Rumplestilkin lost Baelfire, he moved heaven and earth, screwed everyone over, and upon their reunion his son not only didn't forgive him but was more invested in his own kid and Emma. Etc.

And I do like Josh Dallas's ability to play male-female friendship that doesn't have to be flirty.

Me too. Liked it in s2 with all the David and Ruby scenes, and now here.

[likeadeuce]

Oh, cool! I wouldn't have made that connection but I can definitely see it.

[wendelah1]

I don't watch the show but that's a funny cut-tag.