Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-24386552-20161217174626/@comment-27885419-20170107200603

The first 2 seasons had a number of great episodes and it's pretty difficult to choose just 5... At this moment, I think this'll be my top 5(not necessarily in this order):

1. The Miller's Daughter - Cora is one of my favourite characters and I really liked her back story and the way it was presented. It really explained everything about Cora, her reasons and motivations. I found the ending(Cora dying in Regina's arms) one of the more moving scenes in the show.

2. Snow Drifts+There's No Place Like Home - This was the sort of Happy Ending episode where every thing gets sorted. Also the roller coaster ride of messing up the past and then trying to set it back on path, the flashback to season 1 Snowing, and the entire adventure was pretty entertaining though plot-wise not that productive. Honestly, if the show ended at this point, wouldn't have been too sad.

3. Going Home - One of the more emotional episodes. Multiple flashbacks and multiple acts of heroism. And a bittersweet victory of saving your family(and the town) yet losing a part of it.

4. Skin Deep - Beauty and the Beast is one of my favourite fairytales and the Once version didn't disappoint me at all. It was my favourite episode of season 1, loved a no. of dialogues, and feels, and I guess everything.

5. Tallahassee - First Emma flashback. We finally see Emma's first love, and also one of the most traumatic incidents in her life. Also liked the parallels between the flashback and present, her past love story and the beginning of a new one. Her decision in the end of not trusting Hook was made more meaningful by the flashback, because the last time she let a guy get too close too soon, she ended up burnt badly.

As for the worst episodes, well, Once has a fair share of them as well.

To name a few:

1. Swan Song - To start with, retcon. In addition, such a negative flashback. Plus, the scenes were pretty ineffective, didn't feel the emotions except in a few of Emma's scenes(when she decides to sacrifice herself, and when she cries over Hook's body)

2. Best Laid Plans - I basically hated the entirety of 4B, but this episode especially. Totally OOC. Went against Snow and Charming's, and the Apprentice's, basic nature for the sake of plot. Wanted to hit someone after watching it.

3. Wish You Were Here - I wish I was never here. I never want to see this pathetic, pleading Princess Emma ever in my life. The only thing good about her was her hairstyle. And overall, the episode sent a pretty messed up message. What did it want to say, that the "Savior" Emma, the strong-willed and independent woman we see, exists only because of the Evil Queen? That Regina, in some sick, messed up way, did Emma a favour by cursing her parents and the entire realm?

4. Our Decay - Weird. Really, really weird. Lord of Hell meets Wicked Witch, they bond over how unloved they are, go for a bike ride, and suddenly they are true love. For such complex characters their love story was too simple, not to mention sudden. And weird.

5. Sisters - The worst redemption arc ever. The flashback wasn't even nearly powerful enough considering the purpose it was intended to serve. A lost memory of childhood playtime, and that's it, forgiven? And not only Zelena, apparently it forgives even Hades by extension.