a 'once upon a time' squee post 2 of 2
I pretty much love everything about this show- with only one glaring exception. I CANNOT STAND THAT LITTLE KID. I feel bad for the Evil Queen, having to deal with him. Although it makes me wonder- why would you invoke a curse that you yourself fall victim to, and if she is self-aware, why would she adopt a child?
Anyway, I like everyone else; Jennifer Morrison is doing a great job as the lead, she makes me snicker with her dry wit and her funny facial expressions. Obv, I adore the Evil Queen. Omg, Rumpelstiltskin, I feel embarrassed for finding him so attractive (is that Rush off SGU I spy? He’s so typecast, lol). And Ginnifer Goodwin was born to play Snow White. FANTASTIC CAST IS FANTASTIC.
I even like Prince Charming.
Sure, I rolled my eyes at him when he stopped Snow White being a BAMF with the sword, but he redeemed himself by making a credible effort to kill the Evil Queen.
Except he really shouldn’t have called out to her. Maybe he could’ve averted tragedy if he’d thrown those stupid noble impulses to the wind and thrown his sword at her back without a warning. Idiotic heroes and their code of honor.
BUT THAT AWFUL LITTLE BOY, I WANT TO PUNCH HIM EVERY TIME HE’S ONSCREEN. It aggravates me that he steals his teacher’s credit card and uses her money to fund his search for his birth mother and his trip to find her, but he doesn’t get in trouble for it! The teacher coos over what a clever boy he is, how special, and his birth mother doesn’t bother telling him off for it. Even his adopted mother is more concerned about the fact that he brought Emma back than disciplining him for STEALING.
And he’s just so nauseatingly earnest and persistent in badgering Emma about how it’s her DESTINY to stay in town and rescue everyone, ugh. Sure, we as viewers know that he’s actually right, but in-universe, there’s no way he can be certain of that, nor can anyone else (except perhaps the Evil Queen). So rather than finding it endearing and applauding his little mission, I instead find it highly aggravating and ridiculously entitled. SURE, OF COURSE YOUR TOWN IS UNDER A CURSE. GO AHEAD, UPROOT THIS WOMAN AND INSIST SHE LEAVE HER LIFE BEHIND IN ORDER TO PLAY OUT YOUR STUPID FANTASY. He’s so presumptuous, and because he’s a little kid, it’s supposed to be cute or some rot. GRR.
If they’d made him a seer of some sort, possessing some gift that allows him to see what’s going on, I’d applaud him. But instead, he’s an annoying kid with a fairytale book and an overactive imagination. That he’s right doesn’t justify his actions because he can’t know that for sure, he just lucked out. I just want him held accountable for his behavior instead of getting a free pass to steal and lie and be rude because he happens to be right about the town’s curse. I found Gaius in Merlin irritating enough, but it’s a lot worse that I’m expected to accept his behavior from a little brat.
Ep specific thoughts:
As in Enchanted, I love that ‘hell’ is our world! LOL.
Who did Evil Queen lose and how is it Snow White’s fault? They’re straying away from the fairytales, right? ‘coz I don’t remember that at all.
Can I just say, I love Evil Queen’s theme.
The ominous music to which she stormed down the aisle and which appears when she’s being particularly badass is very cool. And I snicker a bit at how she has to whirl dramatically to give herself the momentum to pull her train in place so she doesn’t trip. (leaves her vulnerable, you could attack her at that moment when she’s focused on making sure she looks the part)
The mayor miscalculated by trying to intimidate Emma. If she’d played the role of ‘long-suffering career woman balancing her work and her personal life’, Emma would’ve had sympathy for her difficulties with her son and understood how hard it was and been on her merry way. But threatening her just made her dig her heels in. Tsk, tsk, bad call.
I think she's too used to being able to push everyone around her in town.
She's got them all scurrying around in fear of her, doing her bidding, that she doesn't know what to do when she comes across someone who has nothing to lose in defying her and who only bears down harder when challenged.
I love Evil Queen visiting Maleficient! Their frenemy dynamic was fun to watch. ^_^
'Must we do this?'/'Alas, we must.'
‘If you’re going to kill me, KILL ME.’
‘Why would I do that? You’re my only friend.’
That is both hilarious and really sad. The former because…er, what was the point of saying that? what awkward dialogue. I’d get it if Maleficient said, ‘Kill me but not the horse unicorn’, or ‘Spare me the monologue, kill me now’ or whatever, but that was just…wtf? IDGI.
And sad, ‘coz…UGH, HER FACE. Great acting, I really feel for her. So filled with bitterness and loathing that she’ll do anything to get revenge, even jeopardize her friendship…but even that isn’t very strong or providing much comfort to her. >_< I’LL BE YOUR FRIEND. I want to write badfic with a self-insert that befriends her and tries to cheer her up and make life happier. I am so tragic, I know.
I did think it was nice of Maleficent to try and dissuade Evil Queen from her course, pointing out it’d cost her dearly and leave a void she’d never be able to fill. Sure, it was self-serving, since she’d be caught up in the curse, but still.
’So be it.’ I CAN’T TAKE THE DEPTHS OF HER DESPAIR, OH, GOD. I love her delivery of this line. It’s not loud and arrogant and OTT, it’s not even all that bitter and melodramatic, there’s just this quiet resolve because she can’t stay her hand, she can’t do anything else, she has NOTHING to live for except vengeance and if she doesn’t exact that, what is she supposed to do with her days?
Side note: holy crap, her boobs. I can’t stop staring. That costume does wonders for her cleavage.
And I love how the length of the necklace alters in order to draw attention to her cleavage.
It really amuses me how she has to keep flinging her cape behind her. Woman, learn how to master your cape, it does not behoove you to keep manually adjusting it. *shakes head* Take notes from Snape, the master of the billowing cloak!
AGH. I was enjoying this and that stupid little kid shows up again. Demands Emma walk him to school, what a brat. And I wonder how he paid for her drink, whose money did he steal for that? *side-eyes him* There he goes, throwing that large heavy apple behind him without even looking. I guess it was too hard to find a BIN to put it in, oh no, he’s gotta litter, for one, and possibly bruise someone with that, for another. And his whiny voice is getting on my nerves. I HATE HIM SFM, I CAN’T DEAL WITH THIS, WHYYY.
I would like this so much more if it were like Savannah and Shirley Manson in Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles. I found their relationship fascinating! That little girl, sensing something was wrong with her mom, torn between wanting to believe in her beloved mother and suspecting something was wrong. For those of you not in the know, the kid was right- her mother was killed and replaced by a female Terminator. But watching that cold, emotionless machine attempt to mimic the expected maternal bond was pretty entertaining and I had so much sympathy for Savannah. Too bad it ain’t like that here.
Emma realizing that as ‘Snow White’, the teacher could be her mom. *squishes her* I wonder if she wants to believe in this story now because it could lead her to her birth parents. She looks too shaken not to have invested in this somewhat, no matter how crazy.
And then she goes to her later for a chat when she's conflicted and doesn't know what to do.
I think this relationship is so sweet and kinda tragic at the same time, 'coz that's her mother right there and she doesn't even know her!
IDK why people put their shoes on the bed.SO GROSS. You could’ve been treading in dog poop and then putting that on the covers you’ll be sleeping on/under… *shudder* That said, her boots are awesome. DO WANT.
Are we supposed to be shipping Emma and the Sherriff? ‘coz I’m feeling it. Ofc, I wouldn’t mind if Rumpelstiltskin turned up again…
WHY DOES REGINA CARE SO MUCH ABOUT THAT DAMN BOY? I wish she’d just throw him out, seriously, it pains me to see a villain brought to such lows. Repeatedly attempting and failing to charm a kid, ugh, it’s embarrassing. I have this thing about villains maintaining their dignity and being an actual threat, and I’m getting second-hand embarrassment seeing her repeatedly stumble.
And does he have his teacher under hypnosis? He steals from her without repercussion and now she’s bailing out Emma on his say-so? SERIOUSLY?
Okay, I LOVE EMMA. Hot damn, fresh out of jail from a frame job and she goes and CHOPS OFF HALF THE APPLE TREE? Oh, god. Insanely badass!
(umm, apples aren’t supposed to bounce, are they? Lol, obvious prop is obvious. IDC, though, I know people were all ‘omg, so fake looking’ but I don’t mind, I enjoyed the surrealism of Pushing Daisies, so fake apple trees are okay with me)
DEFINITION OF HBIC. <3
But this makes me feel more and more sorry for Regina. She is so outclassed in the intimidation department. Plus, half her tree is gone. >_< WHY CAN’T YOU BE PROPERLY EVIL?
‘Revenge is a dark and lonely road, and once you go down it, there is no heading back.’
‘What is there for me to head back to?’
*sighs* It’s lines like this that make me root for her. *pets* She’s so broken.
Haha, when she was making a bargain with Rumpelstiltskin for help with enacting the curse, I honestly thought he was going to proposition her. Okay, wow, shipping her and Rumpelstiltskin now!
COME ON, he was totally checking her out when she asked him what he wanted.
SERIOUSLY? You promise to do whatever he says if he says please? What if he says ‘please jump off a bridge’?! YOU’RE NOT THINKING THIS THROUGH. *facepalm* Don’t be so damn desperate, first rule of barter, they’ll know they can demand anything and you’ll go for it. >_< She tries to be so evil, but she’s a babe in the woods.
HOT DAMN, when he grabbed her by the throat, gah, hitting my kinks, well done, show!
At first I thought she was going to cut out her own heart, somehow, like in that twisted fairytale. *shudder* (and in HP, y/n?) Now I’m worried she’s gonna kill that nice old guy that wants to protect her. :O
Lol, that cap. Is he…not even checking out her ass? Come on. Seriously? I mean. I can’t speak for anyone but myself, but…huh. Okay. Points for self-restraint, I guess.
I love how innocent Regina seems with her apple tree.
The whole thing where she’s tended to it since she was a little girl really comes across, the way she’s so tender and almost vulnerable here. It makes me think of a girl whose doll’s been torn apart, picking up the pieces and putting them together again.
Regina actually looks upset when the sheriff points out that Henry will get hurt if things escalate between her and Emma. Again, why does he matter to her?! I’m thinking she can’t remember who she is. I assumed she did, because she cast the spell and what’s the point of people suffering if she can’t remember that she hates them and that she’s responsible for making them hurt, but…yeah, IDK. Makes me even more annoyed with the kid, because he’s not defying an evil queen, he’s mouthing off to the woman who loved him and cared for him all these years.
Even if she is manipulative and coldly driven.
Y’know, that was a truly masterful move, calling Emma over to call a truce and all the while setting her up to hurt Henry’s feelings and alienate them, mwahaha. NICE.
But…I swear she was blinking back tears. Damn it.
Holy crap, the old guy’s her father. OUCH. And that she seeks his counsel on whether or not she should cut his heart out, oh god.
Seriously, WHAT DID SNOW DO TO HER? WHAT DROVE HER TO THIS? Some random dude she was gonna marry, but Snow intervened somehow? I wanna knooooow.
And if ’she must be punished’, why through this overly convoluted and demanding plan? Why not magic herself into the castle and kill the prince and their child? Then Snow White will suffer for the rest of her life, blaming herself and mourning their deaths. PERFECT REVENGE. Why do this stupid curse that requires her to kill the person she loves most?!
I’m now ten times more annoyed that she killed her father for a happier life and all she got was this lousy existence with a horrible child that hates her. And possibly she doesn’t even know Snow White and can’t even take pleasure in her misery. WHAT WAS THE POINT?
Side note: he was a really nice old guy, but I gotta say- DUDE. This chick just had to be talked down from killing you! Do you really think you should be getting close to her rn? O.o I’d be running out of that castle as fast as I could.
Argh, this whole storyline about Henry (finally learned his name!) is annoying me. Emma has to stay to protect him because she is a GOOD PERSON. She is his BIOLOGICAL MOTHER SO SHE OWES IT TO HIM. Why is his teacher putting the obligation on her to ‘protect’ Henry when she’s the one who’s known him longer and is a support system for him? Why make the newcomer who knows nothing about his situation responsible?
IDK, I get really touchy on adoption storylines. It’s just that if you take away the supernatural elements and the fact the Regina has been cast as the villain, what you have is a troubled kid who’s acting out with a mother who’s at her wits end trying to rein him in and deal with his antics, and then the bio-mom turning up and wanting to take care of him when she gave up all right to him years ago! Sure, Regina’s pretty awful, but she’s right in saying that Emma abrogated her parental role and can’t just waltz in and act like his mother when REGINA is the one who’s fed and clothed and sheltered him all these years. It’s just so…it feels like she’s full of herself, that she’s appointing herself his guardian and sticking around to ensure his mental health and whatever.
And so now Emma’s buying into his fantasy and encouraging him to believe his mother’s an evil queen. NICE. Now he’s never going to try and reconcile with her. IDK. Look, again, I get that the narrative of the show is based on Regina being evil, but I cannot get over the fact that Emma does not know this and she’s encouraging the kid to believe his mom’s evil. The whole therapy scene where she makes herself his accomplice and talks about them being co-conspirators and tricking the evil queen into believing they weren’t onto her…SO DISGUSTED.
Agh, Rumpelstiltskin! This dude is so cool, I enjoy his interactions with everyone. He really unsettles Regina, which is entertaining. ^_^
And OMG, the look in her eyes when he asked why she named the kid Henry…and how he said PLEASE. DO THEY BOTH REMEMBER?! I AM SO CONFUSED, I NEED ANOTHER EP, WHY IS THERE NO MORE, ARGH.
tl;dr- I hate Henry, I love Regina, I am fond of Emma and Snow, plus I am interested in inappropriately shipping Rumpelstiltskin. Also, I adore the fact that there are so many strong, well-written compelling women on this show, and that they are not merely foils for the male characters. In fact, in ep 2, there was only one real male player, and most of it was the leading ladies trying to outdo each other.
The best part is how I was just saying to redbrunja that while Revenge was awesome for having a lead female focused on a goal that had nothing to do with love interests or propping up a male plotline, it made me hungry for another show with a female sociopath…and hark! Once Upon a Time, here to answer that need! Only Regina/Evil Queen needs to turn it up a notch, but still, I’m loving having another villain to cheer on. ^_^ I think it’s wonderful having two shows focused on two ladies conspiring and trying to outwit each other. ^_^ Emma vs Queen Regina and Emily vs Queen Victoria. AWESOME.
PS. In the discussion post over at abc_onceupon, this comment by zippytheavenger made me smirk and sigh happily once more over this show:
Also liked how Emma and Regina's Battle Royale is so blatant and frank. None of this typical sneaky, catfighty, 'frenemy' bullshit that most television shows seem to think is the only acceptable way for women to display rivalry. My fandom doesn't use subtle social sabotage, my fandom uses a chainsaw
I really like that, it’s so true, women aren’t usually allowed to lock horns and take each other on directly in this manner, and I enjoy the way the show lets them be hardcore. :D
Anyway, I like everyone else; Jennifer Morrison is doing a great job as the lead, she makes me snicker with her dry wit and her funny facial expressions. Obv, I adore the Evil Queen. Omg, Rumpelstiltskin, I feel embarrassed for finding him so attractive (is that Rush off SGU I spy? He’s so typecast, lol). And Ginnifer Goodwin was born to play Snow White. FANTASTIC CAST IS FANTASTIC.
I even like Prince Charming.
Sure, I rolled my eyes at him when he stopped Snow White being a BAMF with the sword, but he redeemed himself by making a credible effort to kill the Evil Queen.
Except he really shouldn’t have called out to her. Maybe he could’ve averted tragedy if he’d thrown those stupid noble impulses to the wind and thrown his sword at her back without a warning. Idiotic heroes and their code of honor.
BUT THAT AWFUL LITTLE BOY, I WANT TO PUNCH HIM EVERY TIME HE’S ONSCREEN. It aggravates me that he steals his teacher’s credit card and uses her money to fund his search for his birth mother and his trip to find her, but he doesn’t get in trouble for it! The teacher coos over what a clever boy he is, how special, and his birth mother doesn’t bother telling him off for it. Even his adopted mother is more concerned about the fact that he brought Emma back than disciplining him for STEALING.
And he’s just so nauseatingly earnest and persistent in badgering Emma about how it’s her DESTINY to stay in town and rescue everyone, ugh. Sure, we as viewers know that he’s actually right, but in-universe, there’s no way he can be certain of that, nor can anyone else (except perhaps the Evil Queen). So rather than finding it endearing and applauding his little mission, I instead find it highly aggravating and ridiculously entitled. SURE, OF COURSE YOUR TOWN IS UNDER A CURSE. GO AHEAD, UPROOT THIS WOMAN AND INSIST SHE LEAVE HER LIFE BEHIND IN ORDER TO PLAY OUT YOUR STUPID FANTASY. He’s so presumptuous, and because he’s a little kid, it’s supposed to be cute or some rot. GRR.
If they’d made him a seer of some sort, possessing some gift that allows him to see what’s going on, I’d applaud him. But instead, he’s an annoying kid with a fairytale book and an overactive imagination. That he’s right doesn’t justify his actions because he can’t know that for sure, he just lucked out. I just want him held accountable for his behavior instead of getting a free pass to steal and lie and be rude because he happens to be right about the town’s curse. I found Gaius in Merlin irritating enough, but it’s a lot worse that I’m expected to accept his behavior from a little brat.
Ep specific thoughts:
As in Enchanted, I love that ‘hell’ is our world! LOL.
Who did Evil Queen lose and how is it Snow White’s fault? They’re straying away from the fairytales, right? ‘coz I don’t remember that at all.
Can I just say, I love Evil Queen’s theme.
The ominous music to which she stormed down the aisle and which appears when she’s being particularly badass is very cool. And I snicker a bit at how she has to whirl dramatically to give herself the momentum to pull her train in place so she doesn’t trip. (leaves her vulnerable, you could attack her at that moment when she’s focused on making sure she looks the part)
The mayor miscalculated by trying to intimidate Emma. If she’d played the role of ‘long-suffering career woman balancing her work and her personal life’, Emma would’ve had sympathy for her difficulties with her son and understood how hard it was and been on her merry way. But threatening her just made her dig her heels in. Tsk, tsk, bad call.
I think she's too used to being able to push everyone around her in town.
She's got them all scurrying around in fear of her, doing her bidding, that she doesn't know what to do when she comes across someone who has nothing to lose in defying her and who only bears down harder when challenged.
I love Evil Queen visiting Maleficient! Their frenemy dynamic was fun to watch. ^_^
'Must we do this?'/'Alas, we must.'
‘If you’re going to kill me, KILL ME.’
‘Why would I do that? You’re my only friend.’
That is both hilarious and really sad. The former because…er, what was the point of saying that? what awkward dialogue. I’d get it if Maleficient said, ‘Kill me but not the horse unicorn’, or ‘Spare me the monologue, kill me now’ or whatever, but that was just…wtf? IDGI.
And sad, ‘coz…UGH, HER FACE. Great acting, I really feel for her. So filled with bitterness and loathing that she’ll do anything to get revenge, even jeopardize her friendship…but even that isn’t very strong or providing much comfort to her. >_< I’LL BE YOUR FRIEND. I want to write badfic with a self-insert that befriends her and tries to cheer her up and make life happier. I am so tragic, I know.
I did think it was nice of Maleficent to try and dissuade Evil Queen from her course, pointing out it’d cost her dearly and leave a void she’d never be able to fill. Sure, it was self-serving, since she’d be caught up in the curse, but still.
’So be it.’ I CAN’T TAKE THE DEPTHS OF HER DESPAIR, OH, GOD. I love her delivery of this line. It’s not loud and arrogant and OTT, it’s not even all that bitter and melodramatic, there’s just this quiet resolve because she can’t stay her hand, she can’t do anything else, she has NOTHING to live for except vengeance and if she doesn’t exact that, what is she supposed to do with her days?
Side note: holy crap, her boobs. I can’t stop staring. That costume does wonders for her cleavage.
And I love how the length of the necklace alters in order to draw attention to her cleavage.
It really amuses me how she has to keep flinging her cape behind her. Woman, learn how to master your cape, it does not behoove you to keep manually adjusting it. *shakes head* Take notes from Snape, the master of the billowing cloak!
AGH. I was enjoying this and that stupid little kid shows up again. Demands Emma walk him to school, what a brat. And I wonder how he paid for her drink, whose money did he steal for that? *side-eyes him* There he goes, throwing that large heavy apple behind him without even looking. I guess it was too hard to find a BIN to put it in, oh no, he’s gotta litter, for one, and possibly bruise someone with that, for another. And his whiny voice is getting on my nerves. I HATE HIM SFM, I CAN’T DEAL WITH THIS, WHYYY.
I would like this so much more if it were like Savannah and Shirley Manson in Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles. I found their relationship fascinating! That little girl, sensing something was wrong with her mom, torn between wanting to believe in her beloved mother and suspecting something was wrong. For those of you not in the know, the kid was right- her mother was killed and replaced by a female Terminator. But watching that cold, emotionless machine attempt to mimic the expected maternal bond was pretty entertaining and I had so much sympathy for Savannah. Too bad it ain’t like that here.
Emma realizing that as ‘Snow White’, the teacher could be her mom. *squishes her* I wonder if she wants to believe in this story now because it could lead her to her birth parents. She looks too shaken not to have invested in this somewhat, no matter how crazy.
And then she goes to her later for a chat when she's conflicted and doesn't know what to do.
I think this relationship is so sweet and kinda tragic at the same time, 'coz that's her mother right there and she doesn't even know her!
IDK why people put their shoes on the bed.SO GROSS. You could’ve been treading in dog poop and then putting that on the covers you’ll be sleeping on/under… *shudder* That said, her boots are awesome. DO WANT.
Are we supposed to be shipping Emma and the Sherriff? ‘coz I’m feeling it. Ofc, I wouldn’t mind if Rumpelstiltskin turned up again…
WHY DOES REGINA CARE SO MUCH ABOUT THAT DAMN BOY? I wish she’d just throw him out, seriously, it pains me to see a villain brought to such lows. Repeatedly attempting and failing to charm a kid, ugh, it’s embarrassing. I have this thing about villains maintaining their dignity and being an actual threat, and I’m getting second-hand embarrassment seeing her repeatedly stumble.
And does he have his teacher under hypnosis? He steals from her without repercussion and now she’s bailing out Emma on his say-so? SERIOUSLY?
Okay, I LOVE EMMA. Hot damn, fresh out of jail from a frame job and she goes and CHOPS OFF HALF THE APPLE TREE? Oh, god. Insanely badass!
(umm, apples aren’t supposed to bounce, are they? Lol, obvious prop is obvious. IDC, though, I know people were all ‘omg, so fake looking’ but I don’t mind, I enjoyed the surrealism of Pushing Daisies, so fake apple trees are okay with me)
DEFINITION OF HBIC. <3
But this makes me feel more and more sorry for Regina. She is so outclassed in the intimidation department. Plus, half her tree is gone. >_< WHY CAN’T YOU BE PROPERLY EVIL?
‘Revenge is a dark and lonely road, and once you go down it, there is no heading back.’
‘What is there for me to head back to?’
*sighs* It’s lines like this that make me root for her. *pets* She’s so broken.
Haha, when she was making a bargain with Rumpelstiltskin for help with enacting the curse, I honestly thought he was going to proposition her. Okay, wow, shipping her and Rumpelstiltskin now!
COME ON, he was totally checking her out when she asked him what he wanted.
SERIOUSLY? You promise to do whatever he says if he says please? What if he says ‘please jump off a bridge’?! YOU’RE NOT THINKING THIS THROUGH. *facepalm* Don’t be so damn desperate, first rule of barter, they’ll know they can demand anything and you’ll go for it. >_< She tries to be so evil, but she’s a babe in the woods.
HOT DAMN, when he grabbed her by the throat, gah, hitting my kinks, well done, show!
At first I thought she was going to cut out her own heart, somehow, like in that twisted fairytale. *shudder* (and in HP, y/n?) Now I’m worried she’s gonna kill that nice old guy that wants to protect her. :O
Lol, that cap. Is he…not even checking out her ass? Come on. Seriously? I mean. I can’t speak for anyone but myself, but…huh. Okay. Points for self-restraint, I guess.
I love how innocent Regina seems with her apple tree.
The whole thing where she’s tended to it since she was a little girl really comes across, the way she’s so tender and almost vulnerable here. It makes me think of a girl whose doll’s been torn apart, picking up the pieces and putting them together again.
Regina actually looks upset when the sheriff points out that Henry will get hurt if things escalate between her and Emma. Again, why does he matter to her?! I’m thinking she can’t remember who she is. I assumed she did, because she cast the spell and what’s the point of people suffering if she can’t remember that she hates them and that she’s responsible for making them hurt, but…yeah, IDK. Makes me even more annoyed with the kid, because he’s not defying an evil queen, he’s mouthing off to the woman who loved him and cared for him all these years.
Even if she is manipulative and coldly driven.
Y’know, that was a truly masterful move, calling Emma over to call a truce and all the while setting her up to hurt Henry’s feelings and alienate them, mwahaha. NICE.
But…I swear she was blinking back tears. Damn it.
Holy crap, the old guy’s her father. OUCH. And that she seeks his counsel on whether or not she should cut his heart out, oh god.
Seriously, WHAT DID SNOW DO TO HER? WHAT DROVE HER TO THIS? Some random dude she was gonna marry, but Snow intervened somehow? I wanna knooooow.
And if ’she must be punished’, why through this overly convoluted and demanding plan? Why not magic herself into the castle and kill the prince and their child? Then Snow White will suffer for the rest of her life, blaming herself and mourning their deaths. PERFECT REVENGE. Why do this stupid curse that requires her to kill the person she loves most?!
I’m now ten times more annoyed that she killed her father for a happier life and all she got was this lousy existence with a horrible child that hates her. And possibly she doesn’t even know Snow White and can’t even take pleasure in her misery. WHAT WAS THE POINT?
Side note: he was a really nice old guy, but I gotta say- DUDE. This chick just had to be talked down from killing you! Do you really think you should be getting close to her rn? O.o I’d be running out of that castle as fast as I could.
Argh, this whole storyline about Henry (finally learned his name!) is annoying me. Emma has to stay to protect him because she is a GOOD PERSON. She is his BIOLOGICAL MOTHER SO SHE OWES IT TO HIM. Why is his teacher putting the obligation on her to ‘protect’ Henry when she’s the one who’s known him longer and is a support system for him? Why make the newcomer who knows nothing about his situation responsible?
IDK, I get really touchy on adoption storylines. It’s just that if you take away the supernatural elements and the fact the Regina has been cast as the villain, what you have is a troubled kid who’s acting out with a mother who’s at her wits end trying to rein him in and deal with his antics, and then the bio-mom turning up and wanting to take care of him when she gave up all right to him years ago! Sure, Regina’s pretty awful, but she’s right in saying that Emma abrogated her parental role and can’t just waltz in and act like his mother when REGINA is the one who’s fed and clothed and sheltered him all these years. It’s just so…it feels like she’s full of herself, that she’s appointing herself his guardian and sticking around to ensure his mental health and whatever.
And so now Emma’s buying into his fantasy and encouraging him to believe his mother’s an evil queen. NICE. Now he’s never going to try and reconcile with her. IDK. Look, again, I get that the narrative of the show is based on Regina being evil, but I cannot get over the fact that Emma does not know this and she’s encouraging the kid to believe his mom’s evil. The whole therapy scene where she makes herself his accomplice and talks about them being co-conspirators and tricking the evil queen into believing they weren’t onto her…SO DISGUSTED.
Agh, Rumpelstiltskin! This dude is so cool, I enjoy his interactions with everyone. He really unsettles Regina, which is entertaining. ^_^
And OMG, the look in her eyes when he asked why she named the kid Henry…and how he said PLEASE. DO THEY BOTH REMEMBER?! I AM SO CONFUSED, I NEED ANOTHER EP, WHY IS THERE NO MORE, ARGH.
tl;dr- I hate Henry, I love Regina, I am fond of Emma and Snow, plus I am interested in inappropriately shipping Rumpelstiltskin. Also, I adore the fact that there are so many strong, well-written compelling women on this show, and that they are not merely foils for the male characters. In fact, in ep 2, there was only one real male player, and most of it was the leading ladies trying to outdo each other.
The best part is how I was just saying to redbrunja that while Revenge was awesome for having a lead female focused on a goal that had nothing to do with love interests or propping up a male plotline, it made me hungry for another show with a female sociopath…and hark! Once Upon a Time, here to answer that need! Only Regina/Evil Queen needs to turn it up a notch, but still, I’m loving having another villain to cheer on. ^_^ I think it’s wonderful having two shows focused on two ladies conspiring and trying to outwit each other. ^_^ Emma vs Queen Regina and Emily vs Queen Victoria. AWESOME.
PS. In the discussion post over at abc_onceupon, this comment by zippytheavenger made me smirk and sigh happily once more over this show:
Also liked how Emma and Regina's Battle Royale is so blatant and frank. None of this typical sneaky, catfighty, 'frenemy' bullshit that most television shows seem to think is the only acceptable way for women to display rivalry. My fandom doesn't use subtle social sabotage, my fandom uses a chainsaw
I really like that, it’s so true, women aren’t usually allowed to lock horns and take each other on directly in this manner, and I enjoy the way the show lets them be hardcore. :D