Once Upon A Time 3.11 Review: Life is Unpredictable

Any of those that have yet to watch Sunday night’s winter finale of Once Upon A Time, entitled ‘Going Home’, now would be the point in which I suggest you turn away from this blog and go do that, before proceeding ahead. For this is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

Keep in mind as you read this review that I watched most of this episode four days ago (I rewatched the last ten minutes two days ago), and while I do have nearly an entire page of notes, I may be a little blurry on parts of the episode. As I have said numerous times, I do not have the clearest of memories, but I really did love this episode, and it has stuck with me, so it should be okay.

Anyways, I have to begin this by saying that this was a good episode, but it was by no means a great one. It did have a great final ten minutes, but the previous points in the episode (at least to me) felt a bit too much like filler, and not enough like there was a heightened sense of malice to it. I’m guessing I’m one of the few that feels this way, but that’s just how I see it.

There were a lot of great performances this week, though. I found that Jared Gilmore was surprisingly good with his rendition of Pan this week, certainly no where near as well played as Pan’s original portrayer, but good nonetheless, and much better than his portrayal of Henry in most episodes before this. Also, I did find that once he became Henry again, he seemed to step up his game. I actually found myself liking Henry, for the most part, and that, while his disposition in the flashback scene neither resembled his character’s personality at that time nor did he look the age, I did like him a great deal better. Gilmore’s acting this week was most assuredly his most well done since, likely, the pilot episode. I also have to note that, once again, Robbie Kay’s rendition of Henry was actually better than Gilmore’s portrayal of the character before this episode. Although, I did find that once he reverted back to Pan he was a bit over the top. Finally, I have to take note of Hook, and Colin O’Donoghue’s masterful depiction of him in this, and every other week before it. He is such an amazing actor that I actually believed that scene could’ve been filmed in the past, before he’d gotten over his revenge plan against Rumple. Also, all of his moments, before the final one, between himself and Emma were filled with such passion and undeniable chemistry that it’s relentlessly exciting. Anyone that saw that seemingly final exchange between them before Emma and Henry left cannot possibly deny their feelings for each other.

A few contentions with this episode that need to be mentioned. One is definitely the more obvious issue that Belle seems to better suit Neal than she does his father. I get that there is a large fan base behind “Rumbelle”, and that my main issue could be the blending of one of my favourite Disney princess movies with another fairytale (i.e. Rumplestiltskin being the Beast), but I have major qualms with this couple because I just don’t see any major chemistry between the characters. But then, I find that that can be the fault of this series a few times over. Also, it could have something to do with the twenty-year age difference, but I digress. Another problem I had with this episode is the fact that I really don’t trust that Mr. Gold is dead. In this day and age of television in the fantasy world, so often beloved characters can come back from the dead (see also: the Blue Fairy). When there’s no build up and feeling of finality to a characters death, it doesn’t quite feel like they’re done with them, and I didn’t feel much of that here, so I don’t trust that they’d actually kill his character off. Another thing, I didn’t feel like Michael Raymond-James really gave it his all this week when playing Neal. He felt very superficial, and like he wasn’t completely grounded in the scene. After his father died, it didn’t seem like he felt any grief at all, and despite their qualms he really should have, and at the end it didn’t appear like he despised the fact he would be away from Emma and his son for an unknown period of time. It’s like his character wasn’t fully there, and it really bothered me because he seemed to be the only one that did not have any issues with anything going on, despite the near 100% likelihood that he should. And, a side note, the one thing I’m not looking forward to with this whole going back to where they came from, is the fact that this likely leads to a larger quantity of CGI use, but I’ll just have to wait to see how that goes. And one final issue I had this week was with the costumed look of Snow during the flashback scenes. It felt like they were taking a page from Once Upon A Time In Wonderland’s playbook, and I wasn’t a fan of it.

There are, most assuredly, several other things that need to be noted regarding this episode. First off, I feel like there was a great deal of hate between Tinkerbell and Hook in that flashback scene, so I don’t really think there’s any possibility of romantic history between them, particularly because he was desperately gung ho with regards to avenging his beloved Mila’s death. Also, I’m curious to know who Emma would think Henry’s father is, if Neal’s gone back to Fairytale Land. Maybe she still thinks it’s him, seeing as he was never affected by the curse in the first place. Another thing, I absolutely adored the rearview mirror shots of Emma, as well as the fantastic cinematographic skill of flipping between those and the behind shots of Henry. That is a piece of television cinematography that makes me adore and want to work in television so badly. It was that beautiful. Also the use of Lou Reed’s ‘Charley’s Girl’ was the perfect music choice for that New York scene and reminded me to download the song, I only wish they’d played more of the song, and the tune they played while Storybrooke was destroyed was spectacular. I definitely think fabricating Emma and Henry’s memories so it feels like they’ve always been together will be interesting grounds for storytelling that I greatly look forward to immersing myself in. Finally, I honestly believe that it was incredibly smart of the writers to have a year pass by before Hook comes to Emma’s door because it’s both a great way to explain Henry’s aging, and also create grounds for a lucrative amount of stories. Plus, classic Lost writing.

All in all, I’m rather impressed with where this series appears to be going. I’m definitely looking more forward to the second half of the season, more so than I am happy with the first half. While I should not be surprised by such tactics being used by the likes of Lost writing alum, I am by no means unhappy with the way this series appears to be going. I am beyond excited to see where they go with this series from this point, a feeling I don’t believe I’ve felt since the first season. This series may have lost it’s way a bit since season one, but I think it may be on the way to bringing that creative vibe back that I’ve only felt sparingly since it’s first season. Also, Hook being the one to go to New York to get Emma was brilliant in my books, and I greatly anticipate how he will convince her of the time she spent in Storybrooke. Basically, this series may grow to become one of my favourite current series once again. The way this finale ended was pure genius, despite its television cliché.

My rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“Life is unpredictable.” – Mary-Margaret explains to Henry.

“Believing in even the possibility of a happy ending is a powerful thing.” – Mary-Margaret says.

“This pink, naked, squirming little larva.” – Pan conveys his distaste for the first sights of his son.

“But I’m a villain, and villains don’t get happy endings.” – Rumplestiltskin expresses.

“And all I’ve wanted is for you to get the hell out of my life so I can be with my son.” – Regina states of her past contrivances with Emma being apart of Henry’s life and her’s.

I know this is late, like my last few reviews, but I think the weird serotonin levels in my brain are acting up again, so the low energy levels are really getting to me lately. So, don’t expect my review of Revenge, How I Met Your Mother, and Almost Human until at least tomorrow. Otherwise, once I’m done posting this, I’m off to try and get my creative juices flowing with my own television series pilot. Goodnight.

Once Upon A Time 3.10 Review: Evil Will Always Exist

All those that have yet to watch tonight’s episode of Once Upon A Time, entitled ‘The New Neverland’, this would be the point in which to stop, turn around, and go do that. For this is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

Well, that was a decent outing for this series, nothing spectacular – like the first season – but decent. I do find that this very much felt like a precursor to the Winter finale, but then that made it disappointing when I was under the impression it was. Alas, there will be another episode next week, so that’s not as upsetting as it could have been.

One problem I do feel that this episode had was that the Blue Fairy’s death didn’t feel like it had enough impact. This is the fairy that made Pinocchio a real boy, but it didn’t seem like there was enough grief behind it, or behind the characters for that matter. These characters are very much supposed to feel as if they’ve been interwoven into each other’s lives, but there was just something lacking in this moment. It honestly didn’t feel like it mattered.

Now, regarding Pan and Hook switching bodies, I very much felt like Jared Gilmore was adept at playing the way Pan walked, but there was almost too much weight behind the way he spoke. Even when Pan was just with Felix, it was as if he were incapable of expression and was simply just putting force behind his words. That was too much for me. Robbie Kay, on the other hand, didn’t exactly seem to fit the part of Henry as well as he did Pan, but I’m kind of wishing that Henry could stay in Pan’s body so I wouldn’t have to see the dismal acting abilities of the aforementioned Gilmore. I mean, the kid could get better as he gets older, but he needs more acting lessons before that happens.

A few other comments I had concerning this episode, one being that I felt Gil McKinney’s turn as Prince Eric this week was much better than the last episode he played him. Perhaps it was because he was only seen for a brief moment, or because the actor felt more natural in a non-green screen setting, either way I liked him better. Also, Snow’s wedding dress looked frillfully ridiculous, and her hair in the Fairytale Land that Was scenes appeared way too much like a wig, it kind of made her head like bigger than it is. Once again, I feel like the relationship between Rumple and Belle is way too weird, and not only because she looks young enough to be his daughter – almost twice over. I just don’t really see it between them, quite possibly because a) I don’t feel that Emilie de Ravin fit the part, and b) I feel like they ruined my favourite Disney movie, so maybe those are my issues to deal with. I’m glad that they weren’t really going for a relationship between Tink and Hook, but I did enjoy that brief moment between Emma and Hook because of that. Finally, I have to say that I quite enjoy the moments between just Emma and Charming. These two actors have such great working chemistry between them that I really feel like they honestly connect on a friendly, almost familial relationship, far more than Emma and Snow.

Basically, I do think that this episode worked for this series, but it was a little too filler for my liking. I think that it could’ve used a little bit of tighter writing, and that some shots didn’t necessarily need to happen. Hopefully the actual Winter finale – of which I initially thought this was until just before reviewing the episode – is better than this, and that it has a more fulfilling plot. I would really like to see some actual action scenes, and not just in the flashback sequences.

My rating: 7 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“Let his parents have a fair shot without a devilishly handsome pirate standing in their way.” – Hook explains to Neal his plan to stay away from Emma. “You serious?” – Neal asks. “Yep, I am devilishly handsome.” – Hook replies.

“I just can’t shake the feeling that something bad is still going to happen, and I need to do everything I can to stop it.” – Emma shares her worries with Charming.

“I don’t know; does he eat with his mouth open?” – Charming asks Emma, of Neal.

“You think I’m interested in Hook? Emma, I’m a married man?” – Charming jokes with Emma.

“I know. That’s why this was so easy.” – Penry (Pan in Henry’s body) remarks as he knocks Regina out.

“There will always be something else, we can’t let it define us.” – Snow speaks of evil to Charming.

“If you have to throw a fireball at something, at least don’t hurt the face.” – Han (Henry in Pan’s body) suggests to Rumple.

Okay, so that’s one review down, one to go. I’m off to watch Revenge now and review it, before hopefully getting some sleep. I have to be up in less than ten hours to hit the road to go pick up my sister, so the next review will likely be quick. Stay tuned.

Once Upon A Time 3.09 Review: Everything For Henry

All those that have yet to watch last night’s episode of Once Upon A Time, titled ‘Save Henry’, now would be a good time to go and do that. For this is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

Well, I have to say that I am not at all happy with the direction that this series is going in. This series – aside from the Emma and Hook moments, and a few fleeting Emma and Neal moments – has gotten so terribly bad. Not only have these last nine episodes only expanded across a handful of days, but when it finally comes to a somewhat conclusion of the, not Pan story but, Neverland story it’s so beyond easy that it is ridiculous. Honestly, is that all it took to defeat Pan’s attempts at stealing Henry’s heart? Regina just takes it out of his chest? Did Pan really not see that coming?

They really appear to be trying to redeem Regina somewhat and make her a morally gray person. She’s not what appears to be the villain of the piece, and that’s really detracted from this series. I get trying to bring fairytale stories to the real world in a realistic way, but sometimes a villain is a villain, and giving them heart just because their actress is good doesn’t always work in the best interest of the overall piece. Maybe no one is wholly good, or wholly evil, but people do veer towards each end of the spectrum, and not everyone is redeemable.

This episode really could have been so good. Unfortunately, the writing just didn’t click, and the acting was half-assed at best. Even someone as strongly favouring of Emma as a character as myself thought that her “mothering” the lost boys, and that dreadfully written speech, just came across as near pathetic. It needed so much more passion behind it, and that’s just not something I felt. For a mother that was coming close to losing her son, she didn’t seem too embroiled about saving him. She certainly wasn’t anywhere near as impassioned as Regina was this week at trying to save Henry. Honestly, Regina was about the closest thing to being a strong point this week – for the most part.

Overall, I don’t think I’ll stop watching this series any time soon – because I really need to see where it’s going with Hook, Emma, and Neal – but I do feel like it’s lost its heart. It just doesn’t have that freshness it came to have during the first season, and even parts of the second season. The closest it’s had this year to greatness were fleeting moments that likely don’t even encompass one full episode. And don’t even get me started on this whole Henry centric season, or the fact that he is in no way capable of encompassing how bad ass Pan has been this season – up until last week’s reveal that he is Rumplestiltskin’s father. Anyways, until next week with this series. Please let it be good.

My rating: 5.5 out of 10.

There were no favourable lines this week.

Okay, by this coming out, I hope you get the hint that I will not be posting a review for Dracula this week. Unfortunately, it just has not caught my attention in four episodes, and I will likely be falling behind now until I feel the need to catch up. Which could very well not happen for a great deal of time, so no more reviews likely of this series in its future – however short that may be. Anyways, check back in tomorrow for reviews of How I Met Your Mother, Almost Human, and The Blacklist.

Once Upon A Time 3.08 Review: How Far Does the Apple Fall From the Tree?

Anyone that has yet to watch tonight’s episode of Once Upon A Time, entitled ‘Think Lovely Thoughts’, I suggest that you go and watch it now before proceeding ahead. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

So, we found out who Peter Pan is, and let me just say, I saw that coming as soon as they introduced Rumplestiltskin’s father. Nevertheless, while it does wrap the characters up rather neatly, I’m not a fan of who they chose him to be. A lot of things from earlier episodes don’t make sense now to me, and the character doesn’t seem like the actor knew ahead of time that this was who he was going to end up being, and thus was unable to act accordingly. Plus I find myself liking Peter Pan less now that we’ve learned who he began as.

In my opinion, there was far too much Henry in this episode. I understand the need to use this character, but the actor is just not good enough to be in as many scenes as he is. I almost wish he was going to die, but we all know that’s not going to happen. When they get his heart back, could the magic of putting it back transform him into another actor? I’m pretty sure only if this kid got major acting lessons, or a legitimately talented child actor took over the role would I actually begin to like Henry too. It just sucks because I actually like the name Henry and this kid is ruining it for me.

While I do find that this episode felt like I got through it far too quickly, I am still beginning to get sick of Neverland. I’m a little bored of this arc because it doesn’t seem to be moving at the same pace as the amount of episodes we’ve had this season. By last week’s numbers, I don’t even think it’s been a week since they’ve gotten there, and too much has happened that it’s difficult to keep track of time. It’s making me a little delirious, and I’d really prefer to move onto to a story arc that isn’t based around Henry. As much as I did find Pan an intriguing villain up to this point, we’ve learned too much about him that I’m pretty much done with this arc. Can it be over soon, please?

All in all, not the worst writing they’ve had on this series, but they seem to be wrapping their characters up to neatly for my taste. Not only that, but the lack of continuity they seem to be able to grasp, even in this season alone is a little disconcerting. I mean, Rumple crying over and being surprised concerning the poppet-like doll because it reminded him of his father just makes little sense now that we all know he left it there. Really, this is another series that I watch that I honestly wish I could go in and clean house. Please, show runners, read a few negative reviews just so you can get some constructive criticism about how your series is going!

My rating: 6 out of 10.

Best Line:

“I’m not walking in there with nothin’ but my good looks.” – Rumplestiltskin states.

Okay, I’m off to watch and review Revenge now, so check back soon for that. Afterwards it’s the review of the series premiere of Almost Human. Stay tuned.