Go and use the sword to "be hailed a hero".' Oops!
Go and use the sword to "be hailed a hero".' Oops!
While it wasn't an amazing episode, it was pretty decent.
I didn't mind Bae commanding Rumple to kill Beowulf AT ALL. I actually loved the twist. And it was actually a great way to show once again that not everything is black and white and that Rumple was very humane.
Zelena, oh I missed her so much! Her one-liners, her sass... I liked her and Robin working together.
Gideon and Rumple work great together. Good job!
I didn't even notice Emma wasn't in it until the very end.
And while it wasn't an amazing episode, all the stories were moving forward and that's always a good thing.
Looking back, yep, the writers of the flashback treated the dagger differently than presented previously. (I assume one writer rights the flashback and the other writes the present) As a person who takes note of these things (sadly as the magic system is...), the writer has Rumple carry around the dagger as if it's a wand. He never is shown to magic without it. Thus, this is why I feel that with the LOTR references, I think the writer wasn't clear on how the dagger functions. It's the same way with "Sisters" where Cora randomly had a wand as if mages in Once need to use wands. That was less weird because we do have wand users (even though they can use magic without wands).
On any other note, Beowulf was okay. Great actor and Beowulf was an arrogant heroic person so I see that sticks. Plus, they didn't retcon the Grendel from Wonderland as there was no beast. Perhaps the term "Grendel" is some derogatory term in EF.
'Emma is really being shafted in an arc that's suppose to be about Saviorology. Hopefully that changes soon.
Rumple taking the Dagger with him and using it all the time is not strange. He had become the Dark One very recently, it makes sense that he wasn't sure how it worked.
Killian Jones wrote: Rumple taking the Dagger with him and using it all the time is not strange. He had become the Dark One very recently, it makes sense that he wasn't sure how it worked.
Not that strange but you'd think he would figure it out. But then again, perhaps it does something when he has wields it over just hiding it somewhere. That part is unclear (because sometimes Rumple uses the dagger, sometimes he doesn't)
The one thing I didn't understand was who cast the curse around the town border and when did it happen?
I think either Hyde or the Evil Queen did that. Remember Snow and Charming couldn't leave earlier in the season.
From what I recall over the years, Rumple does a lot of what I would call "ordinary magic" without the dagger. He only uses the dagger for important magic. things like summoning the hat, performing the 'cleaving ritual', and the like. Back in his early days, he may have felt the need to use the dagger as a crutch, until he became more confident in his magic.
Also, given what the dagger represents, it was probably not uncommon for him to have it on his person when travelling. Rumple has trust issues, and not without reason. In Storybrooke, he keeps it locked in a safe much of the time, but most of the people in SB are not going to go looking to mess with Rumple, out of a combination of fear and respect (mostly fear, though). He took it with him to Neverland (only to have his Shadow hide it), and he took it to the Underworld.
Anyway, overall, I was a little disappointed with the episode. While I understand the whole Bae situation, and agree that it makes sense, I still felt that it lessened the memory of Bae. just my opinion. It was nice, though, to actually see Rumple take to the Battlefield and destroy the Ogres. And it was even nice to see Beowulf remind everyone that Rumple was a coward that had run, or rather hobbled, from the battlefield previously and was not the hero everyone was making him to be. (though to be fair, I think Beowulf's pride was blinding him, and in this one case Rumple really was the hero of the day).
I also am a little concerned with Belle's attitude. "You darkened your soul to protect Gideon's". And she was Ok with that? Belle should not be one that accepts that the ends justifies the means. Although I get the whole "I'd do anything to protect my family", is that the type of hero Belle is?
On the other hand, the development of Gideon is leaving room for him to still have some good in him, and that he has a chance to avoid the need for redemption. He's not quite the villain yet, though he is currently in one of the antagonistic roles (along with Queenie and BF). I think I see them changing the direction for the character and having him ultimately end up on the "good" side.
Stray thoughts -
1 This is the second episode where we've had almost no screen time for Emma. Zelena actually had more screen time this week.
2. I did not like the whole proposal scene. I would have prefered for Hook to follow through and tell Emma about Robert and his part in Robert's death. Again, just my opinion, but that was poorly done.
3. The curse at the town line. That is one of the most plot-driven devices on the show. It's conveniently there when they need it, and just as conveniently not there when they need it not to be. One time, it erased your real memories, another time it turns you into a tree, still another time it is just a one-way door. They really need to find more consistency with how that works.
4. the Return of Queenie, just in time for the gunfight at the OK corral. I have a feeling that showdown will be ugly. Although, I really hope that after next episode we don't have to deal with Queenie any more, and any future appearances of the Evil Queen are simply flashbacks (and really, we don't even need too many of those any more, her story has been fleshed out sufficiently).
Others will probably come as I reflect on the episode more. (and have time, since I just started a new job and have much less time to come here).
Why is the Blue fairy always waiting to be killed? Come on, she has magic, a wand... She could at least try to defend herself. If Emma was able to blast Gideon back with magic then so could she. The only times she fought back was earlier this season in "Heartless" and in season 5 when she standed up to Zelena with her wand.
She's just a tad bit slow. It's like Regina in season 3 in comparison to Zelena. Zelena would always kit her before Regina got 50% of the way done.
At least Blue isn't dead! She never dies!