Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-24589671-20141215020437/@comment-24674051-20141215153251

Ok, need to rewatch a few times now to soak in the details, but here's my first thoughts.

1. Since when does a walking broom have the power to summon, or even just reveal, a portal? I think that the Broom may be either a disguise or and magical transformation for the Sorcerer.

2. The dalmation Pup that distractracted Belle was Cruella. She is from a race of shapeshifters that have Dog forms. (hence her White and Black Motif). It would not surprise me at this point if Pongo turns out to be another from that race that had a falling out with Cruella, and was forced to spend eternity in his dog form. (A spell that may eventually be broken).

3. The Rumbelle ship has sunk. I had hoped that Belle would find out, but I never expected Hurricane Belle to blow in and totally destroy Rumps. I absolutely loved that she showed him to the town line and shoved.

4. I loved they way that they handled the OutlawQueen and Marian. Marian just went up several notches in my book for being a decent person. And I love Regina's concern for not only Robin and Marian, but for Roland as well, and how this whole situation would affect him. And Regina sending Robin with Marion so that Marion could live and not be alone in the LWM, very touching and emotional, and so like the new Regina.

5. Emma and Regina doing shots at the end. Classic!

6. The scene in the hidden library at the Sorcerer's Mansion. first with Emma coming onboard for Operation:Mongoose, and Regina's reaction (she was genuinely happy to have Emma as an ally). I also got to thinking that this would be a good place to put Belle to work, as libraries are her specialty.

7. Sad to see the Frozen gang go. But they could maybe show back up in the future. (or I've seen rumors of a potential spin-off for OUaT in Arendelle).

8. The Queens of Darkness could have used a bit stronger intro, but I think the purpose was just to set up the back halg, so I'll take what I got.

Questions from the episode:

1. Is my suspcion that Cruella is a shapeshifter correct?

2. Is there going to be more set up for Camelot in the back half, so that in Season 5 we get a camelot arc?

3. How did Ursula end up in NYC. And what are the 2 other stops (obviously Cruella and Maleficent, but where are they).

4. I know we will see Robin later in the back half. But the question is How, and does Marian make another appearence?

5. How will Rumple and TQOD regain entrance to Storybrooke?