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The Good Wife and Once Upon a Time - two metas/reviews for the price of one
Do you mind if I put the Good Wife meta and the Once Upon a Time meta on the same post? Not that you have a choice in the matter. I tend to do whatever I dang well please in this journal, well within reason. Learned again last week the valuable lesson - do not seek validation outside yourself, you are a)bound to be disappointed, b) the world is filled with sadistic critics (ie rejection around every corner) and c) get a big head if its too positive. On a related, yet side note? I rather love this Woody Allen quote from American Masters...regarding the Oscars or Academy Awards. "I don't care about the Oscars. It's really not about Best Movie, it's about everyone's "Favorite Movie", you can't have a best or a race, the only time you ever have a best is in track. I used to run track - I got best in that. Movies? No. That's subjective. The films I did that I love the most, no one else tends to like. So I play my clarinet instead, why bother." (Woody Allen refused to have the academy awards listed on any movie ads within 100 miles of NY. They managed to get him to compromise to 50. I completely agree with him. When it comes to art or culture? There's no such thing as best. It's all completely subjective. If you don't agree? Seriously? Get over your snooty self. ;-) Kidding. I respect your disagreement. Here's the thing? People aren't going to agree on crap. But we can respect each other's opinion without agreeing. Saves money on purchasing guns and bombs.)
Enuf.
The Good Wife
Interesting episode. And somewhat chewy. Lots going on. And moved things forward. Also reiterated my view that the real relationship in the series is the one between Kalinda and Alica, not Alica/Will or Alicia/Peter. It's a friendship based series, not a romance.
* The court case of the week actually does reflect on what is going on in the episode.
It's about sexual harrassment yet...somehow goes off topic into a civil rights violation. But mainly it's about the power relationship between a professor and her boss. Her boss has a frienship with her, he gives her "unwanted" attention, then
they have a political disagreement, she gets fired. She's entered into binding arbitration. The lawyers meanwhile are playing similar games. Canning insists that Alicia will join his firm and makes his offer to her again. It would be a huge paycut, as Martha points out. But interestingly enough the intern that Alicia would have picked ends up with Canning. Meanwhile, Caitlin (who grates on my nerves for some reason - she reminds me of some of the annoying people I went to law school with and wanted to kick, albeit not as attractive. The people I went to law school with, not Caitlin. Lawyers really aren't that good looking - that's why they are lawyers. If they were photogenic they would become actors or models - more money. Sad but true.) - goes around Alicia and asks Kalinda to look into the case for her. (I admittedly was distracted during the case - because I kept waiting for Grace to disappear - damn previews!) And the arbitrator seems to be more interested in taking breaks. Not sure what the end result of the case was...I think the University won, because Canning stole an email from Alicia's purse while she was distracted with the return of Grace. Canning explains he was ethical, he waited until after Grace came back, to do it.
* Eli can't get work, so is forced to be friendly with Will. He's lectured on "sharing" by both Will and Diane. Poor Eli, he doesn't like Will. But they do bond over Scotch. And Will asks Eli why he's being investigated by Peter. Eli had no idea he was being investigated or the firm for that matter. Will points out that it will effect Eli - since he's joined the firm. Also, effects anyone in the firm. Will also states that they are investigating judge tampering - which he hasn't done. Will's equally asked Kalinda to check and see if the investigation would be called off if he stopped seeing Alicia. I see this whole thing blowing up in Peter's face - because I think Wendy Scott-Carr is going after Peter, and using Will as her means to do it.
Peter and Alicia. Remember no one knows they are separated or why.
*Enter the cool investigator, the guy with the kid, who I loved from last year and had missed. He's back! YAY! Although maybe not...from Peter's perspective. Wylie..is a thorn in Kalinda, Peter and Carey's sides. Carey's friend, yet he went after Kalinda and Peter. Now, instead of Peter and Kalinda, he's investigating Will...
And he's clever about it. He looks harmless, but he's not. Sort of similar to Martha Plimpton's character and how she used her kids to distract people. He does the same thing.
*I like Alicia's kids. Apparently I'm in the minority? It seems just me and selenak like them. But the kids are realistic and realistically cast, a rarity in these shows.
Grace...keeps calling her Mom to check in. Mom as has been built up over the past few episodes, is worrying about Grace and her unavailability. She's juggling too many things - Will, Work, Kids. It wouldn't be a problem if the affair with Will wasn't illicit, but illicit affairs with kids...aren't that workable, they have problems.
You have to work around it. Also keep your kids from finding out - easier said than done. The kids are on to her or so she fears. But mainly she fears - she'll be with Will or elsewhere when they need her. That she won't be hearing her phone. (Between Will and Peter, I personally prefer Peter, although both bug me. And I think they are supposed to. Not a romance.) Alicia - didn't choose between Will and Peter, she chose between Will and her kids - as was foreshadowed in various episodes.
Will wants to share. He wants to move to the next level. But...he really never pushed. A long time ago - when she told him that she could only go for him if he had a plan, that she had kids, a family, and they had to come first - she couldn't just run away with him - if you want me, give me a "plan" not "romance". He didn't pursue it. He left a message, which was deleted by Eli, but he still didn't pursue - messages after all are unreliable. If you want it - you pursue it. But Will as he admitted to Kalinda, doesn't know what he wants. Is it Alicia? Is it his career? Is it something else?
Diane tells Will he has to break it off. And it does get broken off. Diane assumes Will did it and tells him, that he did the right thing. She'll get over it. Will responds, somewhat cryptically, Alicia will get over it. (Alicia broke it off because of her kids...Will didn't. Will wanted to share. Will wanted more. Will is upset. But, when Grace is missing and Will calls to provide support - because he finds out through Zack (who is working in Alicia's office) and Kalinda - Alicia ignores his call in part out of guilt. Instead she seeks comfort from Peter who is Grace's father and pulls out all the stops to find his daughter. Will walks in on the family's embrace.
* Kalinda is the one who manages to find Grace. I rather loved this bit. Kalinda finds out from overhearing Alicia's discussion with Zack and asks Zack for information. With Zack they locate Grace's cell phone signal. Zack tells Kalinda what he knows, as does Grace's friend. And Kalinda tracks down Grace at a church where she's being baptized. Grace tells Kalinda, I was only gone an hour - I wasn't calling my Mom, my butt was - my cell was in my back pocket. Alicia and Peter aren't mad, just incredibly relieved. They are both in jobs - where they fear that their clients or those they are prosecuting or defending against, may decide to target their children. Alicia sees all the dead girl victims of the man on death row, or Donald Pike the white supremicist who killed a witness that her firm and Peter are interacting with. Her fear plagues her with nightmares. The parental response is achingly real.
I was surprised with the story - I honestly thought Grace would actually be kidnapped and we'd go the cliche route, but instead it is a mislead, what we see is the parental panic and how everyone reacts. Kalinda's response is fascinating - because she leaps to help Alicia, puts everything aside to do it, yet refuses to tell her. She doesn't want her to know. Predictable and in character, yes. What wasn't predictable was Grace isn't hurt. We basically saw how people reacted. Canning who is supportive, yet uses it to his own advantage, all the while pushing for Alicia to join his firm and explaining why she will - kids. He puts family first, her firm doesn't and never will. Also, his clients are no worse than Lockhardt/Gardner's - in some respects they are better. And his tactics, no more tainted. He's right about all of the above. I adore Michael J. Fox in this role - and it gives me a sort of validation to see him playing the role. (So many times I was told I couldn't be an effective attorney or litigator because of my essential tremor, he can play a role on tv with Parkinison's, yay Michael.)
It's still building. All that happened here...was Will/Alicia broke off their affair,
Eli got roped into investigating the investigation into Will by Peter's office,
Kalinda helped Alicia out of a jam indicating Kalinda's feelings for her friend...
Interesting episode. I always enjoy this show. They didn't go the route I expected, yet remained real the whole way.
Once Upon a Time - this episode entitled The Shepard, also threw me. It wasn't what I expected. And one of the many reasons this show works is the actors provide understated performances, they don't give in to camp. The other reason? It is by far the most imaginative and innovative series I've seen. The narrative structure is different, and non-linear. The flashbacks do not follow a linear structure. Oh they do in each episode, just not all together. In episode one - we see Prince Charming and Snow White married and defeating the Queen. Episode 3, we find out how they met. Episode 6? We get Prince Charming's back story - or why he was on that road to meet Snow White. That's sort of out of order. It reminds me of Lost - which sort of did the same thing, except Lost was far more cliche and redundant. Much prefer Once.
And I liked Lost.
Also this Prince Charming isn't what he seems, he's not your standard Dudley Do-Right hero.
1. Real World/Storybrook Spoilers
* Momster pointed out to me last week that Snow White's black and white glass coffin were the pieces that Henry and Regina found in and around the mines. Henry kept his piece. Regina threw her's down the shaft. That's what was underneath the mines - the coffin, and the glade.
* This week we get to see James/aka David Nolan struggle with his feelings for Mary Margaret Blanchard aka Snow White. God, what a name. She can't win. He doesn't remember anything, the only thing that feels real are his feelings for Mary M. But MAry M is afraid, understandably so. She's struck out and lost many times. Meanwhile David Anders, the Doctor (who I am willing to bet dollars to donuts is the Big Bad Wolf in the fairy tale world), is still making an odd play for Mary. He egotistically wonders if she's upset because he never called after their date, and if that's why she
quit her job. (Eh. No.) Everyone tells MM to back off of David. Which is hard since David keeps pursuing and leading her on. Finally he asks her to meet him at the toll bridge, if she's there - he'll know and they can be together. She decides to do it.
Since he's left Kathleen. Unfortunately fate or rather our twin villians, Regina and Rumple intervene.
* Henry believes that David is pursuing Snow because the curse hasn't taken hold of him yet. He was out of it when it took effect, so he doesn't have the false memories everyone else does. Just push him a bit and he might recover his old ones. Emma's not sure this makes sense but plays along. Humoring the lad.
* Regina makes a friend in Kathleen, who thanks Regina for being there for her and pushing David home. For getting it. Regina says long ago, she lost someone she loved. (I'm guessing this isn't Daddy. We still don't know why she hates Snow White. How much you want to bet - it has something to do with lost loves? The out of sync flashbacks add an air of mystery to the tale. And are realistically shown.
2) Meta on Flashbacks
* Interestingly enough Once Upon a Time combines various fairy tales for Prince Charming's back story.
First is The Shepard Boy collected by The Brothers Grimm - about a boy who succeeds in accomplishing various tasks and becomes the son of a king.
And second... King Midas - the Greek fable about the man who could turn anything he touched to gold.
In Once, both stories are changed. Prince Charming, who we believe is a Prince James, a mighty hero, journeys to King Midas' kingdom with his father in hopes of congueoring a dragon in return for great wealth. But is deftly defeated, killed, by
an ogre. Who stabs him through the heart in much the same way the Queen's guards stabbed him after he saved his baby daughter. Except this time he dies. Turns out that it's not James, but his twin brother. Nor is the Prince who died truly a Prince.
The King made a deal with Rumplestilskin - bring me a son and I will trade you this.
Rumple did. Son died. Rumple agrees to bring another to defeat the dragon in exchange for the wand of a fairy godmother in the King's realm (Cinderella's fairy Godmother, I'm guessing). King is thrilled. You can bring him back to life? No, of course not, no one can do that. But he has a twin brother.
Turns out Rumple made another tricky deal with another desperate couple. This time a shepard and his wife, who traded one of their sons to save their farm. Now, they are financially strapped again and he makes his deal with the other one. All you have to do is play the part - slay the dragon, and all will be well.
Midas will give the gold in exchange for the Prince slaying the dragon plaguing his village. Gotta love a show with Dragons. Even if they get slaughtered. It was a nasty dragon.
Prior to Rumple's arrival, the Shepard's mom tells James that he can't have everything. He wants to marry for love and have wealth and security. That's not possible she says. And it is proven true by King Midas. After he slays the dragon, he's told he has to marry Midas' daughter, Katherine. (Interesting Katherine/Kathleen have the same name as do Regina/Queen. Unless I misheard that?) James tries to back out, but the King, his new father, threatens him. If you don't marry Midas' daughter and continue our charade...then I'll kill your family and turn your home to ashes.
Gee nice guy. So, James goes home and breaks the bad news to Mom, he'll never see her again. She gives him her wedding ring to give to his beloved. The ring - she tells him, follow it. It will take you to love. I will know through it you've found love.
[In Storybrook - it should be noted that Snow White/MM still wears that ring, not Katherine.)
He goes back to Midas and his new father, and takes Kathleen on the scenic route.
His new father says - he is beginning his journey towards love. In the trees, we see Snow White perched to swing down and rob him of the ring...and eventually his heart.
Foreshadowing for what will happen in reality eventually...as well?
I was surprised by the story choice. The twin brothers. The idea of duality. The fact that James isn't really a Prince at all, but a Shepard. He's not into wealth. And he's not a hero. And he swore he would only marry for love. Yet in both the fair tale world and Storybrook - he ends up making similar choices - what is right over what is true to his heart. He chooses Kathleen not out of love, but out of duty. Here he tells MM that he has deep feelings for her, but he doesn't understand them, and now that he remembers his life with Kathleen, he feels bound to her - that he should at least try - it's the right thing to do. But is it? Any more than going with her the first time around was the right thing to do?
He's mislead on this path both times..by Rumplestilskin. In Storybrook - Regina sends him to Rumplestilskin's shop, and once there, he sees the windmill...that symbolizes his family home which he chose to marry Kathleen to protect in fairy tale land, and his home with Kathleen in Storybrook - which he called an old ladie's house. Both times, the house represents the farm, the home of his mother that he swore to protect.
By following Snow White, he abandons it and Mom. And his new father. But mostly Mom.
The coveted relationship is with Mom. The biological father is long gone.
In Rumple's shop - he passes Gepetto's parents, and stares at them, then looks at the glass chandlier with dragons and horses and fairy tale creatures, then finally the Windmill representing his own home. Rumple states - "Charming" and David wonders if he means him, no, says Rumple - the chandlier. But one wonders. Robert Carylye continues to impress in this fascinating role. He reminds me a little of Malcolm McDowell and this is the sort of role McDowell would play. He's a villian, but what sort of villain? What is his agenda? What motivates him?
Charming now under the spell of the windmill, is thrust head-first into duty and makes the same ill-fated choice he made long ago, to marry Midas daughter and save his home, not hurt anyone for his own selfish needs. To do what is right.
Meanwhile...Emma stumbles upon the Sheriff exiting the Mayor's window...clearly having spent the night with her. Repulsed, Emma scolds him for lying to her. He can finish her shift. She refuses to work night's any longer - so he can boink the Queen.
He attempts to tell her it's not what it looks like...but gets nowhere. Our poor huntsman.
At the end, MM hits the bar and does drinks with Ander's Doctor, who lends a friendly ear.
Wasn't surprised by the ending. But by the beginning and the route it took. I know Snow and Prince can't get together yet...far too soon for that. This is a series after all. And I like the reveals. Also the themes are consistent - it is about children and parents, and the relationships between them. The loyalty the child feels towards adopted and biological. Charming much like Henry was adopted by a King or ruler who had no children. Sold by a regretful mother. Yet he remains devoted to her.
The correlation between Grandfather and Grandson is direct. Both are in the wrong family, with the wrong mother. Henry yearns to be with Emma, more father than mother.
James yearns to be with his mother, away from the new father, who threatens him and does not provide love. Power yes. Wealth yes. But no love. Henry has the same problem - Regina has everything, but real love.
Regina is no black and white villain though. She believes what she tells MM, that if MM interfers with David (James) - she breaks up a marriage. In Regina's view - the Nolans should be together. In the fairy tale world - she seems to be evil personified, but here in Storybrook, it's not that clear. I dislike her and Kathleen, yet am also sympathetic.
There's a lot going on in this story beneath the surface. So many layers. And it really is the season's best surprise. Unpredictable, innovative, and so different than everything else. I look forward to it every week. One of the few shows that I do look forward to, to be honest...so many are beginning to feel like old hat.
Enuf.
The Good Wife
Interesting episode. And somewhat chewy. Lots going on. And moved things forward. Also reiterated my view that the real relationship in the series is the one between Kalinda and Alica, not Alica/Will or Alicia/Peter. It's a friendship based series, not a romance.
* The court case of the week actually does reflect on what is going on in the episode.
It's about sexual harrassment yet...somehow goes off topic into a civil rights violation. But mainly it's about the power relationship between a professor and her boss. Her boss has a frienship with her, he gives her "unwanted" attention, then
they have a political disagreement, she gets fired. She's entered into binding arbitration. The lawyers meanwhile are playing similar games. Canning insists that Alicia will join his firm and makes his offer to her again. It would be a huge paycut, as Martha points out. But interestingly enough the intern that Alicia would have picked ends up with Canning. Meanwhile, Caitlin (who grates on my nerves for some reason - she reminds me of some of the annoying people I went to law school with and wanted to kick, albeit not as attractive. The people I went to law school with, not Caitlin. Lawyers really aren't that good looking - that's why they are lawyers. If they were photogenic they would become actors or models - more money. Sad but true.) - goes around Alicia and asks Kalinda to look into the case for her. (I admittedly was distracted during the case - because I kept waiting for Grace to disappear - damn previews!) And the arbitrator seems to be more interested in taking breaks. Not sure what the end result of the case was...I think the University won, because Canning stole an email from Alicia's purse while she was distracted with the return of Grace. Canning explains he was ethical, he waited until after Grace came back, to do it.
* Eli can't get work, so is forced to be friendly with Will. He's lectured on "sharing" by both Will and Diane. Poor Eli, he doesn't like Will. But they do bond over Scotch. And Will asks Eli why he's being investigated by Peter. Eli had no idea he was being investigated or the firm for that matter. Will points out that it will effect Eli - since he's joined the firm. Also, effects anyone in the firm. Will also states that they are investigating judge tampering - which he hasn't done. Will's equally asked Kalinda to check and see if the investigation would be called off if he stopped seeing Alicia. I see this whole thing blowing up in Peter's face - because I think Wendy Scott-Carr is going after Peter, and using Will as her means to do it.
Peter and Alicia. Remember no one knows they are separated or why.
*Enter the cool investigator, the guy with the kid, who I loved from last year and had missed. He's back! YAY! Although maybe not...from Peter's perspective. Wylie..is a thorn in Kalinda, Peter and Carey's sides. Carey's friend, yet he went after Kalinda and Peter. Now, instead of Peter and Kalinda, he's investigating Will...
And he's clever about it. He looks harmless, but he's not. Sort of similar to Martha Plimpton's character and how she used her kids to distract people. He does the same thing.
*I like Alicia's kids. Apparently I'm in the minority? It seems just me and selenak like them. But the kids are realistic and realistically cast, a rarity in these shows.
Grace...keeps calling her Mom to check in. Mom as has been built up over the past few episodes, is worrying about Grace and her unavailability. She's juggling too many things - Will, Work, Kids. It wouldn't be a problem if the affair with Will wasn't illicit, but illicit affairs with kids...aren't that workable, they have problems.
You have to work around it. Also keep your kids from finding out - easier said than done. The kids are on to her or so she fears. But mainly she fears - she'll be with Will or elsewhere when they need her. That she won't be hearing her phone. (Between Will and Peter, I personally prefer Peter, although both bug me. And I think they are supposed to. Not a romance.) Alicia - didn't choose between Will and Peter, she chose between Will and her kids - as was foreshadowed in various episodes.
Will wants to share. He wants to move to the next level. But...he really never pushed. A long time ago - when she told him that she could only go for him if he had a plan, that she had kids, a family, and they had to come first - she couldn't just run away with him - if you want me, give me a "plan" not "romance". He didn't pursue it. He left a message, which was deleted by Eli, but he still didn't pursue - messages after all are unreliable. If you want it - you pursue it. But Will as he admitted to Kalinda, doesn't know what he wants. Is it Alicia? Is it his career? Is it something else?
Diane tells Will he has to break it off. And it does get broken off. Diane assumes Will did it and tells him, that he did the right thing. She'll get over it. Will responds, somewhat cryptically, Alicia will get over it. (Alicia broke it off because of her kids...Will didn't. Will wanted to share. Will wanted more. Will is upset. But, when Grace is missing and Will calls to provide support - because he finds out through Zack (who is working in Alicia's office) and Kalinda - Alicia ignores his call in part out of guilt. Instead she seeks comfort from Peter who is Grace's father and pulls out all the stops to find his daughter. Will walks in on the family's embrace.
* Kalinda is the one who manages to find Grace. I rather loved this bit. Kalinda finds out from overhearing Alicia's discussion with Zack and asks Zack for information. With Zack they locate Grace's cell phone signal. Zack tells Kalinda what he knows, as does Grace's friend. And Kalinda tracks down Grace at a church where she's being baptized. Grace tells Kalinda, I was only gone an hour - I wasn't calling my Mom, my butt was - my cell was in my back pocket. Alicia and Peter aren't mad, just incredibly relieved. They are both in jobs - where they fear that their clients or those they are prosecuting or defending against, may decide to target their children. Alicia sees all the dead girl victims of the man on death row, or Donald Pike the white supremicist who killed a witness that her firm and Peter are interacting with. Her fear plagues her with nightmares. The parental response is achingly real.
I was surprised with the story - I honestly thought Grace would actually be kidnapped and we'd go the cliche route, but instead it is a mislead, what we see is the parental panic and how everyone reacts. Kalinda's response is fascinating - because she leaps to help Alicia, puts everything aside to do it, yet refuses to tell her. She doesn't want her to know. Predictable and in character, yes. What wasn't predictable was Grace isn't hurt. We basically saw how people reacted. Canning who is supportive, yet uses it to his own advantage, all the while pushing for Alicia to join his firm and explaining why she will - kids. He puts family first, her firm doesn't and never will. Also, his clients are no worse than Lockhardt/Gardner's - in some respects they are better. And his tactics, no more tainted. He's right about all of the above. I adore Michael J. Fox in this role - and it gives me a sort of validation to see him playing the role. (So many times I was told I couldn't be an effective attorney or litigator because of my essential tremor, he can play a role on tv with Parkinison's, yay Michael.)
It's still building. All that happened here...was Will/Alicia broke off their affair,
Eli got roped into investigating the investigation into Will by Peter's office,
Kalinda helped Alicia out of a jam indicating Kalinda's feelings for her friend...
Interesting episode. I always enjoy this show. They didn't go the route I expected, yet remained real the whole way.
Once Upon a Time - this episode entitled The Shepard, also threw me. It wasn't what I expected. And one of the many reasons this show works is the actors provide understated performances, they don't give in to camp. The other reason? It is by far the most imaginative and innovative series I've seen. The narrative structure is different, and non-linear. The flashbacks do not follow a linear structure. Oh they do in each episode, just not all together. In episode one - we see Prince Charming and Snow White married and defeating the Queen. Episode 3, we find out how they met. Episode 6? We get Prince Charming's back story - or why he was on that road to meet Snow White. That's sort of out of order. It reminds me of Lost - which sort of did the same thing, except Lost was far more cliche and redundant. Much prefer Once.
And I liked Lost.
Also this Prince Charming isn't what he seems, he's not your standard Dudley Do-Right hero.
1. Real World/Storybrook Spoilers
* Momster pointed out to me last week that Snow White's black and white glass coffin were the pieces that Henry and Regina found in and around the mines. Henry kept his piece. Regina threw her's down the shaft. That's what was underneath the mines - the coffin, and the glade.
* This week we get to see James/aka David Nolan struggle with his feelings for Mary Margaret Blanchard aka Snow White. God, what a name. She can't win. He doesn't remember anything, the only thing that feels real are his feelings for Mary M. But MAry M is afraid, understandably so. She's struck out and lost many times. Meanwhile David Anders, the Doctor (who I am willing to bet dollars to donuts is the Big Bad Wolf in the fairy tale world), is still making an odd play for Mary. He egotistically wonders if she's upset because he never called after their date, and if that's why she
quit her job. (Eh. No.) Everyone tells MM to back off of David. Which is hard since David keeps pursuing and leading her on. Finally he asks her to meet him at the toll bridge, if she's there - he'll know and they can be together. She decides to do it.
Since he's left Kathleen. Unfortunately fate or rather our twin villians, Regina and Rumple intervene.
* Henry believes that David is pursuing Snow because the curse hasn't taken hold of him yet. He was out of it when it took effect, so he doesn't have the false memories everyone else does. Just push him a bit and he might recover his old ones. Emma's not sure this makes sense but plays along. Humoring the lad.
* Regina makes a friend in Kathleen, who thanks Regina for being there for her and pushing David home. For getting it. Regina says long ago, she lost someone she loved. (I'm guessing this isn't Daddy. We still don't know why she hates Snow White. How much you want to bet - it has something to do with lost loves? The out of sync flashbacks add an air of mystery to the tale. And are realistically shown.
2) Meta on Flashbacks
* Interestingly enough Once Upon a Time combines various fairy tales for Prince Charming's back story.
First is The Shepard Boy collected by The Brothers Grimm - about a boy who succeeds in accomplishing various tasks and becomes the son of a king.
And second... King Midas - the Greek fable about the man who could turn anything he touched to gold.
In Once, both stories are changed. Prince Charming, who we believe is a Prince James, a mighty hero, journeys to King Midas' kingdom with his father in hopes of congueoring a dragon in return for great wealth. But is deftly defeated, killed, by
an ogre. Who stabs him through the heart in much the same way the Queen's guards stabbed him after he saved his baby daughter. Except this time he dies. Turns out that it's not James, but his twin brother. Nor is the Prince who died truly a Prince.
The King made a deal with Rumplestilskin - bring me a son and I will trade you this.
Rumple did. Son died. Rumple agrees to bring another to defeat the dragon in exchange for the wand of a fairy godmother in the King's realm (Cinderella's fairy Godmother, I'm guessing). King is thrilled. You can bring him back to life? No, of course not, no one can do that. But he has a twin brother.
Turns out Rumple made another tricky deal with another desperate couple. This time a shepard and his wife, who traded one of their sons to save their farm. Now, they are financially strapped again and he makes his deal with the other one. All you have to do is play the part - slay the dragon, and all will be well.
Midas will give the gold in exchange for the Prince slaying the dragon plaguing his village. Gotta love a show with Dragons. Even if they get slaughtered. It was a nasty dragon.
Prior to Rumple's arrival, the Shepard's mom tells James that he can't have everything. He wants to marry for love and have wealth and security. That's not possible she says. And it is proven true by King Midas. After he slays the dragon, he's told he has to marry Midas' daughter, Katherine. (Interesting Katherine/Kathleen have the same name as do Regina/Queen. Unless I misheard that?) James tries to back out, but the King, his new father, threatens him. If you don't marry Midas' daughter and continue our charade...then I'll kill your family and turn your home to ashes.
Gee nice guy. So, James goes home and breaks the bad news to Mom, he'll never see her again. She gives him her wedding ring to give to his beloved. The ring - she tells him, follow it. It will take you to love. I will know through it you've found love.
[In Storybrook - it should be noted that Snow White/MM still wears that ring, not Katherine.)
He goes back to Midas and his new father, and takes Kathleen on the scenic route.
His new father says - he is beginning his journey towards love. In the trees, we see Snow White perched to swing down and rob him of the ring...and eventually his heart.
Foreshadowing for what will happen in reality eventually...as well?
I was surprised by the story choice. The twin brothers. The idea of duality. The fact that James isn't really a Prince at all, but a Shepard. He's not into wealth. And he's not a hero. And he swore he would only marry for love. Yet in both the fair tale world and Storybrook - he ends up making similar choices - what is right over what is true to his heart. He chooses Kathleen not out of love, but out of duty. Here he tells MM that he has deep feelings for her, but he doesn't understand them, and now that he remembers his life with Kathleen, he feels bound to her - that he should at least try - it's the right thing to do. But is it? Any more than going with her the first time around was the right thing to do?
He's mislead on this path both times..by Rumplestilskin. In Storybrook - Regina sends him to Rumplestilskin's shop, and once there, he sees the windmill...that symbolizes his family home which he chose to marry Kathleen to protect in fairy tale land, and his home with Kathleen in Storybrook - which he called an old ladie's house. Both times, the house represents the farm, the home of his mother that he swore to protect.
By following Snow White, he abandons it and Mom. And his new father. But mostly Mom.
The coveted relationship is with Mom. The biological father is long gone.
In Rumple's shop - he passes Gepetto's parents, and stares at them, then looks at the glass chandlier with dragons and horses and fairy tale creatures, then finally the Windmill representing his own home. Rumple states - "Charming" and David wonders if he means him, no, says Rumple - the chandlier. But one wonders. Robert Carylye continues to impress in this fascinating role. He reminds me a little of Malcolm McDowell and this is the sort of role McDowell would play. He's a villian, but what sort of villain? What is his agenda? What motivates him?
Charming now under the spell of the windmill, is thrust head-first into duty and makes the same ill-fated choice he made long ago, to marry Midas daughter and save his home, not hurt anyone for his own selfish needs. To do what is right.
Meanwhile...Emma stumbles upon the Sheriff exiting the Mayor's window...clearly having spent the night with her. Repulsed, Emma scolds him for lying to her. He can finish her shift. She refuses to work night's any longer - so he can boink the Queen.
He attempts to tell her it's not what it looks like...but gets nowhere. Our poor huntsman.
At the end, MM hits the bar and does drinks with Ander's Doctor, who lends a friendly ear.
Wasn't surprised by the ending. But by the beginning and the route it took. I know Snow and Prince can't get together yet...far too soon for that. This is a series after all. And I like the reveals. Also the themes are consistent - it is about children and parents, and the relationships between them. The loyalty the child feels towards adopted and biological. Charming much like Henry was adopted by a King or ruler who had no children. Sold by a regretful mother. Yet he remains devoted to her.
The correlation between Grandfather and Grandson is direct. Both are in the wrong family, with the wrong mother. Henry yearns to be with Emma, more father than mother.
James yearns to be with his mother, away from the new father, who threatens him and does not provide love. Power yes. Wealth yes. But no love. Henry has the same problem - Regina has everything, but real love.
Regina is no black and white villain though. She believes what she tells MM, that if MM interfers with David (James) - she breaks up a marriage. In Regina's view - the Nolans should be together. In the fairy tale world - she seems to be evil personified, but here in Storybrook, it's not that clear. I dislike her and Kathleen, yet am also sympathetic.
There's a lot going on in this story beneath the surface. So many layers. And it really is the season's best surprise. Unpredictable, innovative, and so different than everything else. I look forward to it every week. One of the few shows that I do look forward to, to be honest...so many are beginning to feel like old hat.