We begin this evening back at the old farmstead, where a young Ruth waits with twin babies, James and David. David’s father has been out searching for a way to find medicine, but to no avail. In walks Rumple, and … Continue reading
Hallelujah, the hiatus ends at last! And with the fate of our dear series hanging in the balance, we take on this second half not knowing where the hell we’re going, which is pretty much how this show has felt … Continue reading
We begin tonight with David going to confront Arthur, who takes off running with Killian in hot pursuit. He manages to get the drop on Killian, but Emma steps in to save her boyfriend, throwing Arthur into a tree. Emma’s … Continue reading
We begin tonight at Emma’s house, or should I say “under” Emma’s house, where she’s dealing with Dark Rumple. He discusses the history of Excalibur and tells her it’s time to fulfill the promise in the blade. And now we … Continue reading
Charming was working in the mines?
Emma wore that dress?
Robin took a shower?
We begin in Camelot (say it with me now) “Many years ago…”
Merlin is seeking the Dark One, whom he commands with the dagger. The Dark One appears (wearing a mask for some nefarious, yet-to-be-revealed reason) and Merlin screams “You destroyed her – the only woman I ever loved!” He raises the dagger, but drops it before completing his action and striking a killing blow. The Dark One is quick to pick it up. He takes one of Merlin’s tears, imbuing the dagger with it before he turns Merlin into a tree.
Emma, it turns out, is seeing this through a dreamcatcher while she stands in front of Merlin’s tree.
We begin in Camelot “many years ago” (which is writerspeak for “don’t try to pin us down because we may screw with this timeline later). Young stable boy Arthur is already using his moves on young Guinevere, taking her to the tree where Merlin is trapped. Merlin apparently told Arthur his destiny, whispering from inside the tree. A group of young village bullies show up to taunt Arthur about his dreams for restoring the kingdom to its glory, but Guinevere believes in him.
Forward to Arthur trying to pull the sword and finding it incomplete. They rush back to Camelot where Arthur shows the people a carefully sheathed Excalibur. Don’t worry, Arthur, size doesn’t really matter. Guinevere is there to celebrate but she senses something’s wrong. Arthur shows her the incomplete sword and tells her that his quest has just begun.
Ahead years later to the time of the Storybrooke invasion. Arthur tells David about the dagger being part of Excalibur, and recommends that they bypass Merlin and try to re-forge Excalibur themselves, chasing the darkness away forever.
Emma, meanwhile, is building dreamcatchers (great callout to season two) and hearing voices whispering in her head, calling her to the dagger. Dark Rumple leads her to the dagger in Regina’s room, but Regina’s put a protection spell on it, making it impossible for Emma to take it. She gets fed up with Dark Rumple and blasts him but nearly hits Killian, and she confesses to him that she’s never alone – someone’s always in her head.
She’s clearly not doing too well and Regina suggests that she rest. Henry knows just the place, and Killian won’t leave her side (of course), so off they go.
Okay, I started this list at 21- five for each season and one for season five (so far). I trimmed out some things that made me cry but landed on the happier end of the scale, I brushed aside some moments that felt like a fist in the gut and would surely make a top 40 list, but I just couldn’t get it down that low. I ended up with this. Every one of these moments brought the leakage to my eyes. Your mileage may vary, of course. So, in chronological order (to date), here they are:
Who can forget her grief as she handed that baby over? Heartwrenching.
After all he’d been through with his parents, and he’s such a gentle soul.
To have them put this dastardly deed in his lap was just…crushing. Continue reading
We begin this evening in the mines with the dwarves, who get a surprise visit from Emma. She’s decided to take Happy’s pickaxe, and when he protests, she shares this bit of advice:
“When your name is on something, hold onto it.”
And I call that a serious clue. I’m calling it for sure now, though I’ve had an inkling from the beginning. I don’t think Emma is controlling her dagger, despite having it in her hands last episode. Someone else is calling the shots here. Remember when Hook begged her to tell him what happened last week? Her answer was “I wish I could tell you.” Not “no” or “Eff you” or “I’m not going to tell you,” but “I wish I could tell you.” That’s another little clue, I think.
Flashback now to Camelot where Regina’s trying to whip up a potion to free Merlin from the tree. Snow suggests that they talk directly to Merlin via a magic toadstool she located in a book called “The Crimson Crown” which grows only in the Forest of Eternal Night. (I’m sure the forest is strictly forbidden to all students at Camelot castle, too). David pawns baby Neal off on Snow and goes with Arthur, who addresses him as ‘Your Majesty’.
Helloooo? Continuity? Last week, I remarked that they introduced Snow at the royal ball as “Lady Mary Margaret” instead of Princess (or Queen) Snow White and the only explanation anyone had for that bit of inconsistency was that maybe the royals were trying to stay undercover. Obviously, that isn’t the case. Anyway, enough bitching about continuity.
When last we left our heroes, they were face down on a diner floor wearing strange clothes with no memory of how they got there – or in other words, any Saturday night in college. Well, for me, at least.
Anyway, we’re back now and ready to start figuring out (again) how they lost their memories (again) and I’m sure there’s a surprising explanation (again) and it’ll all wrap up neatly by the mid-season hiatus (again).
So we open with Leroy and the dwarves in a van (Sneezy statue is strapped to the roof) rolling along to the town line. Leroy wants a volunteer to step over, and like a total a-hole, he sends Dopey because he’s the handicapped dude. Regina, David and Snow show up just as Dopey steps across the line and turns into a tree.
Once Upon A Snarky Recap 