Once upon a Time 3.20
May. 5th, 2014 12:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakIn which there are two characters falling onto bad old habits, and neither of them is Zelena.
On a minor note, the scene between Emma, David and Hook in the hospital floor was made of win. Both for Charming to (once he thought about it) understand where Hook is coming from and for Emma to call him on the reason why ("Yeah, you know all about keeping secrets from loved ones"). Also for Emma to acknowledge David's point re: back-up regardless. Meanwhile, good old Killian seemed relieved his beloved's dad hadn't forgotten about their bromance after all. :) No, but seriously, loved that scene.
Speaking of Emma, the episode underlined, as if it needed to, by positioning the conversation between Henry and Archie in which it's not even a question for Henry that they'll stay on Storybrooke because it never occurs to him Emma could want anything but, and he definitely wants to, directly before the conversation between Emma and Hook in which Emma yet again claims she wants to go back to New York for Henry's sake (and when Hook questions whether Henry himself has been asked, claims to know what Henry wants because she's his mother), that Emma is still in a serious denial and running away place. It would be selfish to say "I want the magic-less life in New York where I don't have to share Henry with anyone", so she doesn't (mind you, I don't think Emma is doing this consciously), instead of going the "for Henry's sake" route which is about to crash because Henry has his memories back now and Emma assumes Zelena is no longer a factor, so they'll have that New York conversation soon (presumably before the past gets changed, more about this in a second). Incidentally, from all this I think I know what Emma's arc next season is going to be - she'll have to want and work for the co-fairytale-existence, instead of regarding it as something thrust on her.
Regina instead of Emma defeating Zelena via white magic after Henry points out she's now capable of it and expresses his faith in her: should have seen it coming, did not, and it feels a good follow-up on Regina's overall development this season. As does what she decides next, i.e. to give Zelena the same type of chance she herself got instead of killing her, precisely because she understands where Zelena was coming from. Regina asking a protesting Rumplestilskin how many people died because of the two of them also speaks of the change in Regina, conscious now not just of what she did to her direct social circle but to all the people who aren't in the credits. If it was, last week, up to debate whether her contrite reaction to Belle confronting her was due to the fact she needed Belle at that point, this week the fact she gave Belle the dagger after no longer needing Belle settles that. Good gesture, too. Except for the part, of course, where Rumplestilskin, having resisted Zelena's offer to magically fix his past as well, falls of the redemption wagon in an entirely ic way.
Given this wasn't the series finale I was waiting for the other shoe to drop, of course, and drop it did. Like I said, Rumplestilskin being unable to resist the change to avenge himself (and his son) on Zelena anyway is entirely him, and entirely his life long pattern of making things worse for himself. Not just because his killing Zelena apparantly freed her to reunite with her magical power and complete the time travel spell. This is the second time he pulls a stunt like this on Belle (the first one being in the s2 opener when she asked him not to kill Regina and he immediately proceded to summon a creature who could kill Regina for him), and on this occasion it comes not only with a direct lie but after a supposed affirmation of mutual trust during which he actually pulls off the same sleight of hand Peter Pan performed on him during the first half of the season. (Rumple, imitating your father = never a good idea.) Despite the show's bad track record when it comes to Belle in s2 and early s3, this is so pointed a set up that I have hope this time they'll actually follow through on Belle responding to something Rumple did with something that's not hugs and forgiveness. And yet, like I said: I can't see Rumplestilskin NOT avenging Baelfire, not after centuries of screwing everyone else over to get him back and with Bae/Neal undoubtedly the person he loved most throughout his life. That by doing that he's displaying hypocrisy in addition to everything else (i.e. like Regina points out, he and Regina are easily as responsible for as many bad deeds as Zelena is) is a non-factor when it comes to our Mr. Gold's emotional makeup.
Now, speculation: assuming Zelena is now able to get back in time to where she wanted to go, i.e. a pregnant Cora who is about to marry Leopold, and is able to do what she was planning on doing, i.e. kill Eva before Eva can sabotage the Cora/Leopold marriage, it would mean Snow, Emma and Henry instantly removed from the timeline, as none of them would be born. Regina, however, could possibly still exist, because while it is very unlikely that a married-to-Leopold Cora could just a short time later have reason to have an affair with fifth-in-line-for-the-throne Prince Henry (which would be necessary in order for Regina to exist), it's not completely impossible. Definitely still existing in the present, since their existence doesn't depend on Snow, Emma, Henry or Regina being born: David, Hook, Robin Hood, Belle and Rumplestilskin. So my guess is that Belle will figure out what has happened and why it could happen (she's been research girl all this second half of the season), and Rumplestilskin (confronted with a wiped out of existence grandson, the very thing he wanted to prevent) will have to go magically back in time as well in order to restore the original timeline. Also possible: Zelena is unwillingly impressed by Regina not killing her and hence modifies her plan to allow for Regina being born as well (as long as Cora keeps Zelena); this means Regina may go back in time as well. Or the writers could surprise me and come up with something different altogether. This season, it's entirely possible.
On a minor note, the scene between Emma, David and Hook in the hospital floor was made of win. Both for Charming to (once he thought about it) understand where Hook is coming from and for Emma to call him on the reason why ("Yeah, you know all about keeping secrets from loved ones"). Also for Emma to acknowledge David's point re: back-up regardless. Meanwhile, good old Killian seemed relieved his beloved's dad hadn't forgotten about their bromance after all. :) No, but seriously, loved that scene.
Speaking of Emma, the episode underlined, as if it needed to, by positioning the conversation between Henry and Archie in which it's not even a question for Henry that they'll stay on Storybrooke because it never occurs to him Emma could want anything but, and he definitely wants to, directly before the conversation between Emma and Hook in which Emma yet again claims she wants to go back to New York for Henry's sake (and when Hook questions whether Henry himself has been asked, claims to know what Henry wants because she's his mother), that Emma is still in a serious denial and running away place. It would be selfish to say "I want the magic-less life in New York where I don't have to share Henry with anyone", so she doesn't (mind you, I don't think Emma is doing this consciously), instead of going the "for Henry's sake" route which is about to crash because Henry has his memories back now and Emma assumes Zelena is no longer a factor, so they'll have that New York conversation soon (presumably before the past gets changed, more about this in a second). Incidentally, from all this I think I know what Emma's arc next season is going to be - she'll have to want and work for the co-fairytale-existence, instead of regarding it as something thrust on her.
Regina instead of Emma defeating Zelena via white magic after Henry points out she's now capable of it and expresses his faith in her: should have seen it coming, did not, and it feels a good follow-up on Regina's overall development this season. As does what she decides next, i.e. to give Zelena the same type of chance she herself got instead of killing her, precisely because she understands where Zelena was coming from. Regina asking a protesting Rumplestilskin how many people died because of the two of them also speaks of the change in Regina, conscious now not just of what she did to her direct social circle but to all the people who aren't in the credits. If it was, last week, up to debate whether her contrite reaction to Belle confronting her was due to the fact she needed Belle at that point, this week the fact she gave Belle the dagger after no longer needing Belle settles that. Good gesture, too. Except for the part, of course, where Rumplestilskin, having resisted Zelena's offer to magically fix his past as well, falls of the redemption wagon in an entirely ic way.
Given this wasn't the series finale I was waiting for the other shoe to drop, of course, and drop it did. Like I said, Rumplestilskin being unable to resist the change to avenge himself (and his son) on Zelena anyway is entirely him, and entirely his life long pattern of making things worse for himself. Not just because his killing Zelena apparantly freed her to reunite with her magical power and complete the time travel spell. This is the second time he pulls a stunt like this on Belle (the first one being in the s2 opener when she asked him not to kill Regina and he immediately proceded to summon a creature who could kill Regina for him), and on this occasion it comes not only with a direct lie but after a supposed affirmation of mutual trust during which he actually pulls off the same sleight of hand Peter Pan performed on him during the first half of the season. (Rumple, imitating your father = never a good idea.) Despite the show's bad track record when it comes to Belle in s2 and early s3, this is so pointed a set up that I have hope this time they'll actually follow through on Belle responding to something Rumple did with something that's not hugs and forgiveness. And yet, like I said: I can't see Rumplestilskin NOT avenging Baelfire, not after centuries of screwing everyone else over to get him back and with Bae/Neal undoubtedly the person he loved most throughout his life. That by doing that he's displaying hypocrisy in addition to everything else (i.e. like Regina points out, he and Regina are easily as responsible for as many bad deeds as Zelena is) is a non-factor when it comes to our Mr. Gold's emotional makeup.
Now, speculation: assuming Zelena is now able to get back in time to where she wanted to go, i.e. a pregnant Cora who is about to marry Leopold, and is able to do what she was planning on doing, i.e. kill Eva before Eva can sabotage the Cora/Leopold marriage, it would mean Snow, Emma and Henry instantly removed from the timeline, as none of them would be born. Regina, however, could possibly still exist, because while it is very unlikely that a married-to-Leopold Cora could just a short time later have reason to have an affair with fifth-in-line-for-the-throne Prince Henry (which would be necessary in order for Regina to exist), it's not completely impossible. Definitely still existing in the present, since their existence doesn't depend on Snow, Emma, Henry or Regina being born: David, Hook, Robin Hood, Belle and Rumplestilskin. So my guess is that Belle will figure out what has happened and why it could happen (she's been research girl all this second half of the season), and Rumplestilskin (confronted with a wiped out of existence grandson, the very thing he wanted to prevent) will have to go magically back in time as well in order to restore the original timeline. Also possible: Zelena is unwillingly impressed by Regina not killing her and hence modifies her plan to allow for Regina being born as well (as long as Cora keeps Zelena); this means Regina may go back in time as well. Or the writers could surprise me and come up with something different altogether. This season, it's entirely possible.
