Once Upon A Time Season 3 Finale Review
OMG... can't stop watching this finale. It was epically awesome! It's linear (with the exception of 2 flashback scenes) unlike the other episodes in the show, but I think it's because in its whole it works as a flashback and a present day look. It works like a movie if you watch it without commercials for sure.
There's a mysterious light that shows up during the new baby's coronation/potluck. Zelena's time portal (aka Wicked Witch of the West) is opened as soon as she dies. Who falls into it? Well...
Hook & Emma
Emma and Hook go to investigate the mysterious vertical light. The powerful force of the portal sucks Emma in even though Hook tries to pull her out with all his strength. Hook follows (this is important) Emma into the time portal, and they get transported to the Enchanted Forest. But when?
[Since it is a Captain Swan heavy episode, there are going to be spoilers in this post.]
[Spoiler (click to open)]
The two of them have to tread carefully through the Enchanted Forest of the past as they find a way back to present day Storybrooke. Any minor changes can become catastrophic to the future, the one they're familiar with. Hook is familiar with how magic works in his realm, but Emma is a bit oblivious at times.
I love their interactions throughout this episode. He convinces her to stay in Storybrooke and pries out what she's really thinking. He follows her into the time portal when he doesn't even have to go in.
Emma's not mean to him or rebuffing him in this episode either, and he's just there to help her out. That's pretty much what he does this whole episode.
When they go to the tavern to distract past Hook, it's funny to see his reaction to what she does around past Hook. Plus, you gotta love that he punches himself. That's because he doesn't want that version of him being with her. He knows how majorly flawed he was, only living by vengeance and getting drunk all the time. He's come so far in his arc too.
You can tell that he knows how to open Emma up. He pries her out of her shell, breaks down her protective walls, and tells her to speak her emotions. He's the only one who can get the truth out of her (not even her son), things she's been denying to herself, to get her to accept who she really is -- the savior. And it is beautiful.
I wonder if something bad is going to happen to them as a couple in Season 4. One of them will have to use the True Love's Kiss cure... they have to use it to confirm/test that they're True Loves.
I don't care that he's a 300+ year old pirate from another realm, and she's only 30/31. They're meant for each other.
Snow & Charming
It was nice seeing these two fall in love again. It made sense because Emma's feeling lost with how she fits in their lives as well as the new kid being born. It was a lot like Back to the Future, and of course, these two episodes were an homage to the movie. It was interesting seeing that even though they got off course, they were able to fall in love again (with some help from Emma and Hook). Talk about fate.
Rumpel as the Dark One
Loved Rumpel in this episode. He's so snarky. The lines were amazing. The writing was spot on.
Rumpel: "Why haven't I killed him?"
Hook: "If it makes you feel any better it wasn't for lack of effort. Let's just say we bury the hatchet."
Rumpel: "Yes. But why not in your skull?"
Regina & Robin Hood
I thought the pacing of this relationship was fast, no? It seemed to come out of nowhere. If I'm seeing it incorrectly, then let me know, but that's what I felt from Season 3B. It seemed to come too easy, and there's that line that Prince Charming/David said to Emma about how True Loves aren't easy to come by.
It was nice to see Regina happy for once without needing Henry's love so much or vying for revenge either. Regina has grown a lot since Season 1, and I was worried she was going to go all Evil Queen at the end.
You can tell Lana Parilla (who plays Evil Queen/Regina) enjoys her Evil Queen episodes. The costumes are amazing and add to the immersion for the actors. Her performance is captivating, and she gives the Evil Queen life.
I wonder what the show would be like if these characters weren't so revenge/love driven? Pretty boring, no?
There's a tease of what's to come in Season 4... Frozen... Err... I'm hoping they do a better job with it than the movie. It was ok, but not of the caliber of any of the other Disney films. Music was ok. Songs were ok. I don't understand the obsession! Someone fill me in!!! I tried watching Frozen twice, and all I got out of it was some convoluted love triangle. I hope the writers are inspired by the Snow Queen more than the movie.
Overall, amazing/epic episodes! The producers/writers kept their word that this was going to be an awesome finale. I loved all the Hook-Emma moments and all the nods back to BTTF. I loved Rumpel/the Dark One with his funny lines. Let's not forget the twist at the end.
Who's excited for Season 4? September is so far away...
There's a mysterious light that shows up during the new baby's coronation/potluck. Zelena's time portal (aka Wicked Witch of the West) is opened as soon as she dies. Who falls into it? Well...
Hook & Emma
Emma and Hook go to investigate the mysterious vertical light. The powerful force of the portal sucks Emma in even though Hook tries to pull her out with all his strength. Hook follows (this is important) Emma into the time portal, and they get transported to the Enchanted Forest. But when?
[Since it is a Captain Swan heavy episode, there are going to be spoilers in this post.]
[Spoiler (click to open)]
The two of them have to tread carefully through the Enchanted Forest of the past as they find a way back to present day Storybrooke. Any minor changes can become catastrophic to the future, the one they're familiar with. Hook is familiar with how magic works in his realm, but Emma is a bit oblivious at times.
I love their interactions throughout this episode. He convinces her to stay in Storybrooke and pries out what she's really thinking. He follows her into the time portal when he doesn't even have to go in.
Emma's not mean to him or rebuffing him in this episode either, and he's just there to help her out. That's pretty much what he does this whole episode.
When they go to the tavern to distract past Hook, it's funny to see his reaction to what she does around past Hook. Plus, you gotta love that he punches himself. That's because he doesn't want that version of him being with her. He knows how majorly flawed he was, only living by vengeance and getting drunk all the time. He's come so far in his arc too.
You can tell that he knows how to open Emma up. He pries her out of her shell, breaks down her protective walls, and tells her to speak her emotions. He's the only one who can get the truth out of her (not even her son), things she's been denying to herself, to get her to accept who she really is -- the savior. And it is beautiful.
I wonder if something bad is going to happen to them as a couple in Season 4. One of them will have to use the True Love's Kiss cure... they have to use it to confirm/test that they're True Loves.
I don't care that he's a 300+ year old pirate from another realm, and she's only 30/31. They're meant for each other.
Snow & Charming
It was nice seeing these two fall in love again. It made sense because Emma's feeling lost with how she fits in their lives as well as the new kid being born. It was a lot like Back to the Future, and of course, these two episodes were an homage to the movie. It was interesting seeing that even though they got off course, they were able to fall in love again (with some help from Emma and Hook). Talk about fate.
Rumpel as the Dark One
Loved Rumpel in this episode. He's so snarky. The lines were amazing. The writing was spot on.
Rumpel: "Why haven't I killed him?"
Hook: "If it makes you feel any better it wasn't for lack of effort. Let's just say we bury the hatchet."
Rumpel: "Yes. But why not in your skull?"
Regina & Robin Hood
I thought the pacing of this relationship was fast, no? It seemed to come out of nowhere. If I'm seeing it incorrectly, then let me know, but that's what I felt from Season 3B. It seemed to come too easy, and there's that line that Prince Charming/David said to Emma about how True Loves aren't easy to come by.
It was nice to see Regina happy for once without needing Henry's love so much or vying for revenge either. Regina has grown a lot since Season 1, and I was worried she was going to go all Evil Queen at the end.
You can tell Lana Parilla (who plays Evil Queen/Regina) enjoys her Evil Queen episodes. The costumes are amazing and add to the immersion for the actors. Her performance is captivating, and she gives the Evil Queen life.
I wonder what the show would be like if these characters weren't so revenge/love driven? Pretty boring, no?
There's a tease of what's to come in Season 4... Frozen... Err... I'm hoping they do a better job with it than the movie. It was ok, but not of the caliber of any of the other Disney films. Music was ok. Songs were ok. I don't understand the obsession! Someone fill me in!!! I tried watching Frozen twice, and all I got out of it was some convoluted love triangle. I hope the writers are inspired by the Snow Queen more than the movie.
Overall, amazing/epic episodes! The producers/writers kept their word that this was going to be an awesome finale. I loved all the Hook-Emma moments and all the nods back to BTTF. I loved Rumpel/the Dark One with his funny lines. Let's not forget the twist at the end.
Who's excited for Season 4? September is so far away...