Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-25926288-20180421005904/@comment-31231929-20180421063533

This episode was really good. Alice being the Guardian came as no surprise. To be honest, I was a bit confused on how Rumple was testing Alice at first because he just seemed to be manipulating her into crushing Facilier’s heart in order for Killian’s heart to be cured, but then I realized that was the whole point. Rumple was encouraging her down a dark path so when she chooses to not crush it, her pure heart is confirmed. I loved that when Alice brings the dagger to her, the darkness starts getting sucked back into the dagger and it begins to glow until Rumple’s named fades away. It then turns into a ball of light that Alice starts to try and control, which makes Rumple get a conscience and realize he can’t burden the dagger onto Alice because immortality is just another tower. This episode showed Rumple slipping back into the darkness without Belle to help him stay good (hence him turning back into the imp), but he finally realized that in order for him to truly be free of the darkness and be a good person, he can’t make someone take it on, even if that person is unable to be corrupted by it and was willing. I liked how this was in contrast to the present day where Weaver seems to be slipping back into the darkness and not because he got a conscience.

I loved all the Curious Archer scenes we got, both in the NEF and in Hyperion Heights. I love that Robin became the messenger for Alice and Killian and that she gave her a bracelet which she gives to her a second time in Hyperion Heights. I thought their date of eating candied apples and going to Alice’s favorite bookstore was wonderful and I also loved how Robin told Alice that she would never be too much for her, even on her bad days. I also love how at the end of the episode in the NEF, they appear to be living together in Alice’s cabin.

Another thing I enjoyed about this episode was Rogers and Henry breaking into Nick’s apartment and Henry stealing the test results so he could show them to Ella. It seems that Henry believes Lucy about the curse now that there’s proof. Rogers also now believes something weird’s going on. I’ve really enjoyed this “some characters are awake, others are suspicious, and a few are clueless” thing this season has going on in regards to the curse.

Some confusion: How did Rumple know Alice is the Guardian? Other than the pure heart test and Alice being the first person Rumple saw when he decided to look for the Guardian, what did Rumple know about her that made him think she was the Guardian? What if Rumple tested some random person who also happened to be pure of heart? Does that make them the Guardian? Probably not, but it’s still confusing. On a related note, does Alice have magic because she’s the Guardian or is she the Guardian because she has magic she might have inherited from Gothel and her being pure of heart in contrast to Gothel’s pure evilness make her incorruptible?

I found it hilarious that Wish Killian referred to OG Killian as his “less-dashing other self.” Like, dude, you look the same. You’re both equally dashing.