Ok, Once fans.\u00a0 I have to warn you what I’m going to be writing is going to sound like a bit of a rant, but the truth is, I am really only reflecting sentiments in line with more than one character on the show itself.\u00a0 Let me make it clear; I really liked this episode.\u00a0 Where it may sound as if I’m getting irritated I am sure the writers are pushing me – and the people in Storybrooke – in that direction on purpose.<\/p>\n
To put is simply, Regina’s obsession with revenge is really reaching the point of a tiresome, cloying hypocrisy.\u00a0 Is she really that much of a one-trick pony?\u00a0 Personally, I think the story was written – and acted – to elicit that exact response.\u00a0 I’ll get into this after I highlight some points in the episode that particularly stood out for me.\u00a0 That will help when I come back to this.\u00a0<\/p>\n
First of all, I’m sure the fandom is already awash with Groundhog Day jokes.\u00a0 So I’m going say instead that this episode put me in mind of the Fringe episode White Tulip.\u00a0 It was one of the best time-loop stories ever done.\u00a0 Just like this Fringe episode, not only did each day “repeat,” each was slightly different.\u00a0 One thing for sure, we know now why Rumple let his memory go during the curse period and built a “wake up” for when Emma came.\u00a0 Having to go through the same day for 28 years would have been maddening.\u00a0 And while the curse did take away their happy endings, the fact that it was just the same day over and over quickly robbed any sweetness from Regina’s revenge.\u00a0 Actually, the curse really highlighted the emptiness of revenge and even Regina ended up admitting her revenge wasn’t real.\u00a0 It’s a real shame that she forgot this lesson after 28 years of reminder.<\/p>\n
And that’s where it starts to get a bit “cloying,” as I phrased it earlier.\u00a0 What she seems to be forgetting is that she has been on a decades long obsession to kill or destroy everyone around her.\u00a0 Her mother has been busy at it even longer and makes Regina look like an amateur.\u00a0 Regina not only had thought she had already killed Cora, but she had personally killed her father.\u00a0 So what’s with her?<\/p>\n
“Nobody better dare kill my parents but me!”<\/p>\n
Come on lady!\u00a0 Hang it up, already!\u00a0 Rumple’s advice is frank and good.\u00a0 There is a time to cut your losses.\u00a0 Besides, as we\u2019ve already seen, the evil shtick really isn\u2019t your thing and frankly you\u2019re not very good at it.\u00a0 Try being yourself instead of a cheap imitation of your mother!\u00a0 But as Regina tells Snow, her problem is she never learns from her mistakes.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, it was nice to hear the Evil Queen theme again.<\/p>\n
Rumple is back to being a complete enigma again.\u00a0 Clearly his paying of respect to Cora was sincere, though again Regina needs to consider that if Cora wasn’t trying to kill Rumple she wouldn’t be dead.<\/p>\n
What I found most interesting about him is that his words did not match his actions.\u00a0 Or did they?\u00a0 True, he could argue that he fulfilled any debt in warning the Charming family not only of Regina’s plans but really getting into the why.\u00a0 There was a bit of misdirection too, by the writers.\u00a0 We are left with Gold telling them that he didn’t have to help.\u00a0 Clearly he’s not able to be bullied into helping and his \u201ccasualties of war\u201d comments were pretty cold.\u00a0 What I caught though, was that said he didn’t HAVE<\/i> to help; he never said he would not <\/i><\/b>help them.\u00a0 I for one was certain that he’d be there when Regina came for Snow.\u00a0 I also caught the response when Regina warned him that he couldn’t be Snows \u201cguard dog\u201d forever.\u00a0 His \u201cwanna bet?\u201d sniff was great.<\/p>\n
My big question, then, is why he keeps up what is becoming something of an act.\u00a0 Of course, he may not realize himself that it is a bit of an act himself.\u00a0 I am beginning to suspect that he has a bit more understanding of how Henry will be his undoing, though.\u00a0 I think he has figured out that it doesn’t mean his death, but the loss of the Dark One’s powers.\u00a0 Perhaps we are seeing the first steps in his finding the answer to the question Snow asked, \u201cHow do you live with yourself.\u201d\u00a0 It was obvious his answer still hadn’t worked for him.<\/p>\n
In fact, getting rid of magic seems to have become quite a focus.\u00a0 Henry is certainly focused on it.\u00a0 And while Regina can’t (not won’t) get rid of magic I’m beginning to think something is going to happen that at least moves in that directions at least in some degree.\u00a0 Not only am I sure that Rumple will lose his magic, but I’m beginning to suspect Regina will, as well.\u00a0 Don’t forget that book of spells she has hidden.\u00a0 A rainy day item, eh?\u00a0 In fact, I think the only one to keep their magic may be Emma.\u00a0 Ok… and maybe the Blue Fairy.<\/p>\n
The question, then, is how will <\/i>magic be taken?\u00a0 I think I have the answer to that, as well.\u00a0 Remember that wraith in the beginning?\u00a0 I’ve been saying for some time that we shouldn’t forget about it.\u00a0 It is hard to believe that they would introduce a plot line like that and not follow it up.\u00a0 If the idea of the wraith being responsible for the loss of Rumple and Regina’s magic isn’t crazy enough, I can take it one step further into a real wing-nut theory.<\/p>\n
What if Tamara is the wraith in our land?\u00a0 At least the part without magic.\u00a0 After the reveal that Greg Mendel has ties back to Storybrooke’s initial appearance, I’ve gone back on my thought that Tamara is just a normal girl.\u00a0 However, who could she be?\u00a0 I just never bought into the idea that she would be anyone from the Enchanted Forest.\u00a0 Then it hit me.\u00a0 What about the Wraith?\u00a0 What would it be like in our world outside Storybrooke?\u00a0 I know <\/i>it sounds crazy, but let’s just see how it plays out.\u00a0 We’re certainly seeing a foreshadowing of events back in New York and a getting rid of magic.\u00a0 And we still <\/i>haven’t had this war that Rumple prophesied.<\/p>\n
Also, while Henry is being something of the voice of reason with his anger about magic, I wonder if he’s aware that Emma has magic as well?\u00a0 Or that hers seems to be driven by something different than the anger and hatred that drives Gold, Regina or Cora’s?\u00a0 What kind of difference is it going to make?\u00a0 Perhaps people will start acting like heroes again.\u00a0 Maybe, even, before the end of the season, we will also see some rather surprising heroes.\u00a0 Regina did destroy the curse, even though the idea that she even considered it is a bit more of wedge between her and Henry.\u00a0 At least Emma is trying to take the right steps to patch things up with Henry.\u00a0 A bit of real honesty will go a long way.<\/p>\n
Speaking of doing the right thing, I’ve got a bit of a problem with what the fandom likes to call “Snow Black.”\u00a0 Let’s get this straight.\u00a0 Everyone is redeemable and forgivable except <\/i><\/b>her?\u00a0 Rumple and Regina have a path back to the light, but Snow is condemned for doing the just thing, even if it was though evil means and method.\u00a0 That just seems weak.<\/p>\n
But is it?<\/i><\/p>\n
Remember that this show tends to drip with Christian doctrine.\u00a0 One of those doctrines is an idea called the depravity of man.\u00a0 Is short, man is a fallen creature with a sinful nature that cannot redeem himself.\u00a0 Thus he is in need of a savior.\u00a0 All brought about by the original sin of eating a forbidden fruit; traditionally considered to be an apple<\/i>.\u00a0 Am I the only one seeing a few parallels here?\u00a0 The question then becomes who is the messianic figure that pays for her redemption?\u00a0 Obviously the innocence is gone, but the goodness is still there.\u00a0 She wouldn’t have such remorse, otherwise.<\/p>\n
Finally, Owen\/Greg.\u00a0 Has he spent all this time looking for Storybrooke?\u00a0 I’m wondering about the little dongle he wove.\u00a0 Was that more than just a Star Wars reference and a bit of foreshadowing of that battle that is coming?\u00a0 Also, where is Kurt?\u00a0 I’m assuming that he’s not being kept in the MCP and Greg will not need a light cycle to reach him.\u00a0 I’m guessing that he was in one of the cells next to Belle and Mr. Glass.\u00a0 There is one more aspect to the crazy Tamara theory.\u00a0 Has anyone considered that Tamara might be \u201cHer?\u201d\u00a0 I know it’s all a long shot, but it is <\/i><\/b>one way that pulls all the threads together rather neatly.<\/p>\n
Well, that covers my thoughts for tonight.\u00a0 Another well done episode completed and only 5 more in the season.\u00a0 Tune in next week for more!\u00a0 I would really love to hear your comments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ok, Once fans.\u00a0 I have to warn you what I’m going to be writing is going to sound like a bit of a rant, but the truth is, I am really only reflecting sentiments in line with more than one character on the show itself.\u00a0 Let me make it clear; I really liked this episode.\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[12],"tags":[25,39,46],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5ymfK-6f","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/thechristiangeek.net\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/387"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/thechristiangeek.net\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/thechristiangeek.net\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thechristiangeek.net\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thechristiangeek.net\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=387"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/thechristiangeek.net\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/387\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/thechristiangeek.net\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=387"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thechristiangeek.net\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=387"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thechristiangeek.net\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=387"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}