{"id":415,"date":"2013-05-05T14:41:43","date_gmt":"2013-05-05T19:41:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thechristiangeek.wordpress.com\/?p=415"},"modified":"2013-05-05T14:41:43","modified_gmt":"2013-05-05T19:41:43","slug":"ouat-the-evil-queen-s2e20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/thechristiangeek.net\/wp\/?p=415","title":{"rendered":"OUAT – The Evil Queen (s2e20)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Once Upon A Time is on its final rush to the season two finale.\u00a0 Episode 20, The Evil Queen<\/i> puts the final pieces in place to begin what promises to be a roller-coaster ride to the finish.\u00a0 There are a lot<\/i><\/b> of story threads hanging due to the very gutsy agenda the showrunners had for this season.\u00a0 Kitsis and Horrowitz have promised us closure and resolution, though I’m sure there are a few question\/challenges that will be left to set up season three.<\/p>\n

Life has gotten in the way of my writing, so I will try to take advantage of it.\u00a0 I’m going to change my approach in my write up this time.\u00a0 Rather than doing a detailed episode review, for this week’s analysis I want to consider those different hanging story threads.\u00a0 Time and space permitting, I will also provide some thoughts on what we may see as we wrap up.\u00a0 This will post on Sunday as a “ramp up” for part one of the finale.<\/p>\n

The first big – I’d go so far as to say glaring<\/i> – storyline that has been on hold has been that of Mulan and Aurora.\u00a0 In the first third of the season, it appeared as if these two characters and the Enchanted Forest were going to be the focus of the season.\u00a0 It appears that the Enchanted Forest still exists, but the kingdom was devastated by the curse.\u00a0 There is also this little matter of a wraith hanging out there.\u00a0 However, with Emma and Mary Margaret returning to Storeybrook, that entire plot has been put on hold.\u00a0 Since, each season generally matches a calendar year, I wonder how Aurora and Mulan have done on their quest to rescue Prince Philip.\u00a0 Surely they have made some progress, however I doubt they have succeeded.\u00a0 I think the wraith is going to be something important in the finale and this will be what converges our heroine’s paths.<\/p>\n

The next storyline that appears on hold has been that of Dr. Whale.\u00a0 He only figured prominently in two episodes, however they raised some very important questions for the show.\u00a0 We find the Whale is actually Dr. Frankenstein and that he’s from a Land Without Color<\/i> where science rules supreme.\u00a0 Whale has no connection or loyalty to the people of the Enchanted Forest other than his interactions with Rumple and Regina.\u00a0 He certainly has an agenda; restoring the dead to life, particularly his brother.\u00a0 He also seems to have a rather disdainful opinion of magic.\u00a0 His greatest motivation now is to return home.\u00a0 Henry did raise one important question regarding Whale: what other<\/i><\/b> Lands may be represented in Storeybrook?\u00a0 I think we’ll see that very, very soon.<\/p>\n

One somewhat more minor thread that has hung for me has involved Ruby.\u00a0 For starters, I’ve really missed the character this season.\u00a0 Beyond that, though, what we saw of her backstory did introduce and entirely new group of characters into the story.\u00a0 I have to ask if we will be seeing the “People of the Moon<\/i>” (my name for the werewolves) again?\u00a0 Other than Ruby, were any of them brought to our world?\u00a0 Were they left in the ruins of the Enchanted Forest as “monsters?”\u00a0 As I said, a minor point but one that I think would be very interesting to follow.<\/p>\n

The final hanging storyline that I wanted to bring up is Regina’s redemption.\u00a0 So much effort was made in getting the audience to invest emotionally into a Regina that has renounced her evil ways that it is hard to believe that they would simply drop the plot element.\u00a0 Indeed, the writers not only seemed to drop the line, but using the Cora thread went to an immense effort to reverse it.\u00a0 The way the season has been structured, this has been clearly planned, but it has been a big risk by the writers.\u00a0 It is very emotionally draining for the audience and has the risk of giving the idea that the showrunners are not sure where they were going.\u00a0 The Evil Queen episode, was an extremely important episode in this regard.\u00a0 It shows us that the writers really do have a direction in mind and that the issue is that Regina really is<\/i><\/b> that screwed up.\u00a0 Indeed, we see the level of abuse she was victim to in the whole Cora arc.<\/p>\n

That said, even as twisted as Regina has been made, considering some of her acts I have to ask is there really any redemption possible for her?\u00a0 Many of her actions can be put into the category of the high intrigue of aristocracy.\u00a0 Some into the wars of kings.\u00a0 But the slaughter of an innocent village?\u00a0 I think it is asking too much for an “Oh, I’m so<\/i> sorry,” to be enough to wash away that crime.\u00a0 It also makes me wonder a bit about Snow?\u00a0 She’s lost some touch with reality if she’s that quick to withhold justice where Regina’s concerned after seeing something like that.<\/p>\n

The Regina thread really needs some sort of resolution – or at least direction – in my opinion if\u00a0 the show hopes to keep fans emotionally invested.\u00a0 And I’ll give one idea how that could happen shortly.<\/p>\n

Then there is one over-riding theme for the whole season.\u00a0 The importance of family – the need to not be alone – has really driven all<\/i><\/b> these threads.<\/p>\n

Not listed in my “hanging” plot lines is the current arc with Greg and Tamara.\u00a0 It’s not hard to see how everything has been moving to this point throughout the season.\u00a0 The real question is how does this play out and who is involved.\u00a0 Their focus on the importance of Science makes it real clear that Dr. Whale is going to have some connection.\u00a0 However, I tend to waffle on whether he’s the one pulling their strings, if he’s going to end up helping them or if he will end up using his Science to beat their Science.\u00a0 Still, an organization that is based on Science’s superiority over Magic simply screams The Land Without Color.<\/p>\n

As I’ve said before, that’s a lot of balls to have in the air at once.\u00a0 In twenty episodes only two key plot points have been resolved; the search for Baelfire and The Queen of Hearts.\u00a0 However, looking at it in a big picture perspective as I have done in this article it is not so hard to see all the threads coming together.<\/p>\n

Here is one take on it.<\/p>\n