Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-25926288-20160404010039/@comment-27257290-20160406021557

Eskaver wrote: I think it's passable compared to the season 4a. Season 4a started and went imo as if we were being caught up on the show as if we just started watching. Rumple's monologue in 401 was good, but he spoke exposition and Rumple always the exposition man anyhow. He literally spelt out, "Bae, my son that I love who just died, I want to be the man you wanted me to be in Season 1 flashbacks and I too revenge because that's what I do as the Dark One, but for you. I'll put that aside to be with Belle, who's that bookworm and later I'm going to dress like the Disney Beast, because the subtleties are lost on the viewers. Love, your papa."

They have directors and stuff. So, someone thought it was fine XD. Now repetive lines is common but it totally got significant in season 3b and skyrocketed. 3B, evil vs wicked, 4a acted s if everyone was two because in the finale they had Rumple say his plan like three times within 30 mins (Gahh!), 4b was hero, villain, darkness x128,590 times, and etc. It's not bad now, just skimming under the radar most likely. Ugh I hated that. Yes the plan about the stars in the hat and stars in the sky did annoy me too, I literally told my screen to shut up the last time Rumple said it. But I think it started out earlier than 3B. One of the times it got to me was in 3A when David repeated about 30 times how he doesn't want to save himself from Dreamshade, only save Henry, not to mention how often he expressed sheer disgust at Hook's presence. His disdain for Hook I can deal with, but all the "save Henry not me, save Henry not me" was so self-righteous it triggered a deep hatred for David that I keep to this day.

Tbh season 2 seems to be my sweet spot for the writing. I don't have patience for season 1 with how they dragged out the realisation that Henry was telling the truth, but in season 2 the characters said what needed to be said and then cracked on with their mission, and got a lot done in each episode.

The present day development in this episode, without all the repetitive chit-chat, can be summarised thusly: Henry sleepwrites useless crap, Snow and David remember they have a baby and leave a voicemail, Hades and Rumple summon Zelena, Belle and Zelena Jr, Hades want Zelena, Zelena want baby, Belle finds out truth, Emma and Hook do nothing, Hades talks, gasps, BLUE FIRE, talks more.

Not dissing Zelena's bits though, every bit of Rebecca's talking and acting is gold.