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OUAT....Selfless, Brave and True..
Well, we finally know what happened to Pinnochio. Plot-twisty episode, albeit frustrating one.
As an aside, I really wish they wouldn't give me previews at the end. But I can share this - no new episodes until April 21. And in three weeks we get a special on the making of the series.
Interesting episode, albeit frustrating. The non-Rumple episodes are always incredibly frustrating and uneven for some reason. I don't know why this is?
I have three quibbles: 1) Emma didn't get to punch Pinnochio (dang-it) 2) Still no explanation regarding how Baelfire knows Hook nor for that matter any reaction whatsoever from Regina regarding the sudden and unexpected appearance of Henry's dad, who just happens to be Rumplestilskin's long lost son in Storybrook (seriously, you'd think this mattered on some level??? Mileage varies on these points, I know, but it annoys me to no end when writers skip over these sorts of details - while focusing a lot of time on things like poor Snow getting over her misdeeds (yes, we know she's upset and why, we do not need yet another conversation between Charming and Snow about this - we got it). 3) Chinese Dragon was kind of lame. Oh and possibly a 4th - what happened to Pinnochio - found that to be an incredibly frustrating albeit surprising and understandable writing choice. I can't fault the writers for their plotting or metaphors.
Starts with Pinnochio discovering that he is turning into wood...in the Far East. I'm not sure where. Guessing either Thailand or Indonesia. At least they had him speak a different language. It also oddly fits with the Pinnochio story...he's off having fun and pleasuring himself after destroying Emma's life again. But, hey, at least he pays for it - in classic storybook fashion - he turns into wood. Nice metaphor - instead of his nose growing, he turns into wood for selfish behavior. In short, Emma doesn't need to punch him, the universe is doing it for her.
Meanwhile Snow White isfeeling sorry herself hiding under the covers, while Charming caters to her ever need. Emma tells her Dad that it is time he stop catering to her and that she find a way of dealing with the fact that she killed Cora. Snow to be fair, does explain to Charming - that it's not that she killed Cora that is bugging her, it's that she used Regina to kill Regina's mother. Yes, they both deserved it, but that doesn't make it right - also as is demonstrated with Pinnochio...sometimes it is best to let karma handle these sort of things.
Speaking of karma...along comes Owen, who Regina does actually recognize, surprise surprise. Kudos to Regina for recognizing him. I wouldn't have. She offers him pie on the house and then follows him to his room at Granny's. (Is Granny's the only hotel in Storybrook? I'm guessing so, everyone appears to stay there that isn't either already residing in Storybrook or has found someone willing to put them up. The loft space by the way is Snow White's home originally, Henry and Emma just joined her, along with Charming. They need a bigger house. It's sort of unfair - Rumple and Regina have these huge houses to themselves, while there are four people living in a relatively small loft apartment.)
Regina (everyone's second favorite sociopath, the first being Rumple) seems to think Owen would be happy to see her again and doesn't hold a grudge. She's actually hurt and surprised that he is upset with her. Oh well, at least she's consistent in this regard. Sociopathic, unremorseful, and a wee bit unself-aware, but definitely consistent. Owen confronts her about his Dad, Flynn. Regina tells him that Flynn left shortly after he did. He accuses her of lying and that people don't disappear. She gives Owen the same spiel she gave Emma, about how she can make his life a living hell and make him disappear - and it would be better for him if he just left Storybrook now. (Yeah, and that worked so well with Emma. Honestly you'd think she'd learn by now? Like I said, consistent.)
Meanwhile...we are finally getting Pinnochio's back story and where he disappeared to. I was confused for a bit there, because I was not entirely certain when the flashbacks were taking place, up until the final flashback - I thought they were taking place in the time period after August/Pinnochio disappeared and when Snow finds him in the trailer. But no, they took place between the time period when August broke Emma and Neal up and he followed Emma to Storybrook. So we told several things with the flashbacks regarding Pinnochio - 1)what August did after he broke up Emma/Neal, 2)why he returned to storybrook to get her to break the curse, 3) when he told Baelfire he'd send him a post-card and how Baelfire reacted to it, 4) where he went and why after the curse got broken.
Turns out he went off to have fun. He started to turn into wood. Hunted down a Chinese Dragon to fix him. Didn't have any money, so stole it from Tamara (who also happens to be Neal's girlfriend - small world, isn't it and a somewhat ironic one?) who claims to be dying of cancer (not), to get the potion to fix him - only to have Tamara steal it back from him (because after all he stole from her first). The Chinese Dragon tells Pinnochio that the potion will only fix a symptom - turning back to wood, it will not cure him - he must do that himself. (ie. Stop being a sociopath.)
At the same time - we get a bit of insight into who Tamara is. Turns out Tamara is a bit of a bad-ass. But not a storybook character or a litigator, instead she's a warrior woman with a bad-ass shocker device that seems capable of killing bad-ass immortal storybook characters.
Also, in the plot-twist to end all plot-twists, is Owen's girlfriend or the "HER" that he keeps contacting by cell phone and sending photos to. (Although I sort of figured out that plot-twist when I saw the previews from last week - those previews are deadly. I did not however figure out Pinnochio...he looked like John Henry the lumberjack in the previews.)
Turns out Owen and Tamara are in cohoots and have been for some time. Tamara followed August/Pinnochio to Baelfire/Neal and orchestrated their meeting. And Tamara has been hunting down magic. August believes she wants to take the magic out of Storybrook. I'm not so sure - she seems to lust after it in much the same way Rumple does. At any rate, her relationship with Baelfire/Neal has suddenly become quite ironic. Plus the woman has a lot of money. How'd she come by it? Not that it matters. But Regina may have met her match.
Tamara gives August (ironically) the same spiel that Regina gives Owen. August unlike Owen does take her up on it, until he finds the photo she allegedly gave the Dragon, and realizes she killed the Dragon. And doesn't have cancer and lied. He rushes back to Storybrook to warn Emma. Runs into Tamara - who he stupidly attempts to confront. Tamara shocks him. He dies trying to tell Emma the truth. The Blue Fairy per Henry's guidance, brings him back to life - except as the little boy, Pinnochio, not the grown man, August. And he's younger than Henry. So unfortunately for Emma can't remember anything. Dang-it. Yet clever, very clever on the writers behalf.
Snow White is happy, as is Charming, if Pinnochio can find redemption so can she. Well, it was at a great cost...there is that. Which is admittedly troubling. Also Snow, unlike Emma, got the cathartic moment of hitting Geppetto for tricking her, and depriving her of 28 years with her daughter. Then she ruins it, by stating no, no, this wasn't me, I didn't do that.
Of course you were right in what you did, he was your child and you've paid for it. (Okay she's right about that and so was Emma, because he was apologizing/confessing when she slapped him.)
Emma convinces Baelfire/Neal to tell Tamara the truth about where he came from and who he is - thinking he's the liar in this picture. Eh. No. Turns out Tamara already knew - thanks to Pinnochio. (Seriously Pinnochio is like a plague on Emma and Neal/Baelfire's lives, with friends like Pinnochio - who needs enemies? They are much safer with him as a kid again - well as long as he doesn't befriend Henry. Stay away from Henry, Pinnochio.) Also talk about double-standard - she whines to Baelfire/Neal about his interest in Emma, when she's sticking her tongue down Owen's throat. Not only is his beloved fiancee, a liar, she's also manipulative and in love with someone else. Apparently Neal/Baelfire's luck with women is a bit similar to his father's?
At any rate, Tamara's connection to Owen redeems her a little in my eyes. Clearly they have been planning this for a while. What they are planning outside of taking down Regina and Storybrook and finding Flynn, I'm not certain.
Oh...and guess who is missing from lockup in Manhattan? Hook. Emma doesn't see a problem, after all she's beaten and locked Hook up three times now. Baelfire isn't so sure - dude, you have bigger problems on the horizon.
The writers are definitely having fun, I'll give them that. Also we appear to be past the Snow White Angsting Over Her Immortal Soul bit for at least a while. Regina also appears to be finally paying attention to Greg Mendel/aka Owen.
I did find it ironically amusing that Emma tells Bae - you invited Tamara here? What are you going to tell her when she sees a giant walking by or a werewolf? Or who you are? Isn't it bad enough we have Greg Mendel to deal with? Bae - oh it won't be so hard. Emma - tell her the truth. Turns out? Didn't have to. Both Greg and Tamara know about Storybrook and have been hunting it for quite some time. Yep this is a major plot arc for the season finale - I was right about that, just didn't see how it would come about - like this approach better than what I predicted. It's twistier and more ironic.
As an aside, I really wish they wouldn't give me previews at the end. But I can share this - no new episodes until April 21. And in three weeks we get a special on the making of the series.
Interesting episode, albeit frustrating. The non-Rumple episodes are always incredibly frustrating and uneven for some reason. I don't know why this is?
I have three quibbles: 1) Emma didn't get to punch Pinnochio (dang-it) 2) Still no explanation regarding how Baelfire knows Hook nor for that matter any reaction whatsoever from Regina regarding the sudden and unexpected appearance of Henry's dad, who just happens to be Rumplestilskin's long lost son in Storybrook (seriously, you'd think this mattered on some level??? Mileage varies on these points, I know, but it annoys me to no end when writers skip over these sorts of details - while focusing a lot of time on things like poor Snow getting over her misdeeds (yes, we know she's upset and why, we do not need yet another conversation between Charming and Snow about this - we got it). 3) Chinese Dragon was kind of lame. Oh and possibly a 4th - what happened to Pinnochio - found that to be an incredibly frustrating albeit surprising and understandable writing choice. I can't fault the writers for their plotting or metaphors.
Starts with Pinnochio discovering that he is turning into wood...in the Far East. I'm not sure where. Guessing either Thailand or Indonesia. At least they had him speak a different language. It also oddly fits with the Pinnochio story...he's off having fun and pleasuring himself after destroying Emma's life again. But, hey, at least he pays for it - in classic storybook fashion - he turns into wood. Nice metaphor - instead of his nose growing, he turns into wood for selfish behavior. In short, Emma doesn't need to punch him, the universe is doing it for her.
Meanwhile Snow White is
Speaking of karma...along comes Owen, who Regina does actually recognize, surprise surprise. Kudos to Regina for recognizing him. I wouldn't have. She offers him pie on the house and then follows him to his room at Granny's. (Is Granny's the only hotel in Storybrook? I'm guessing so, everyone appears to stay there that isn't either already residing in Storybrook or has found someone willing to put them up. The loft space by the way is Snow White's home originally, Henry and Emma just joined her, along with Charming. They need a bigger house. It's sort of unfair - Rumple and Regina have these huge houses to themselves, while there are four people living in a relatively small loft apartment.)
Regina (everyone's second favorite sociopath, the first being Rumple) seems to think Owen would be happy to see her again and doesn't hold a grudge. She's actually hurt and surprised that he is upset with her. Oh well, at least she's consistent in this regard. Sociopathic, unremorseful, and a wee bit unself-aware, but definitely consistent. Owen confronts her about his Dad, Flynn. Regina tells him that Flynn left shortly after he did. He accuses her of lying and that people don't disappear. She gives Owen the same spiel she gave Emma, about how she can make his life a living hell and make him disappear - and it would be better for him if he just left Storybrook now. (Yeah, and that worked so well with Emma. Honestly you'd think she'd learn by now? Like I said, consistent.)
Meanwhile...we are finally getting Pinnochio's back story and where he disappeared to. I was confused for a bit there, because I was not entirely certain when the flashbacks were taking place, up until the final flashback - I thought they were taking place in the time period after August/Pinnochio disappeared and when Snow finds him in the trailer. But no, they took place between the time period when August broke Emma and Neal up and he followed Emma to Storybrook. So we told several things with the flashbacks regarding Pinnochio - 1)what August did after he broke up Emma/Neal, 2)why he returned to storybrook to get her to break the curse, 3) when he told Baelfire he'd send him a post-card and how Baelfire reacted to it, 4) where he went and why after the curse got broken.
Turns out he went off to have fun. He started to turn into wood. Hunted down a Chinese Dragon to fix him. Didn't have any money, so stole it from Tamara (who also happens to be Neal's girlfriend - small world, isn't it and a somewhat ironic one?) who claims to be dying of cancer (not), to get the potion to fix him - only to have Tamara steal it back from him (because after all he stole from her first). The Chinese Dragon tells Pinnochio that the potion will only fix a symptom - turning back to wood, it will not cure him - he must do that himself. (ie. Stop being a sociopath.)
At the same time - we get a bit of insight into who Tamara is. Turns out Tamara is a bit of a bad-ass. But not a storybook character or a litigator, instead she's a warrior woman with a bad-ass shocker device that seems capable of killing bad-ass immortal storybook characters.
Also, in the plot-twist to end all plot-twists, is Owen's girlfriend or the "HER" that he keeps contacting by cell phone and sending photos to. (Although I sort of figured out that plot-twist when I saw the previews from last week - those previews are deadly. I did not however figure out Pinnochio...he looked like John Henry the lumberjack in the previews.)
Turns out Owen and Tamara are in cohoots and have been for some time. Tamara followed August/Pinnochio to Baelfire/Neal and orchestrated their meeting. And Tamara has been hunting down magic. August believes she wants to take the magic out of Storybrook. I'm not so sure - she seems to lust after it in much the same way Rumple does. At any rate, her relationship with Baelfire/Neal has suddenly become quite ironic. Plus the woman has a lot of money. How'd she come by it? Not that it matters. But Regina may have met her match.
Tamara gives August (ironically) the same spiel that Regina gives Owen. August unlike Owen does take her up on it, until he finds the photo she allegedly gave the Dragon, and realizes she killed the Dragon. And doesn't have cancer and lied. He rushes back to Storybrook to warn Emma. Runs into Tamara - who he stupidly attempts to confront. Tamara shocks him. He dies trying to tell Emma the truth. The Blue Fairy per Henry's guidance, brings him back to life - except as the little boy, Pinnochio, not the grown man, August. And he's younger than Henry. So unfortunately for Emma can't remember anything. Dang-it. Yet clever, very clever on the writers behalf.
Snow White is happy, as is Charming, if Pinnochio can find redemption so can she. Well, it was at a great cost...there is that. Which is admittedly troubling. Also Snow, unlike Emma, got the cathartic moment of hitting Geppetto for tricking her, and depriving her of 28 years with her daughter. Then she ruins it, by stating no, no, this wasn't me, I didn't do that.
Of course you were right in what you did, he was your child and you've paid for it. (Okay she's right about that and so was Emma, because he was apologizing/confessing when she slapped him.)
Emma convinces Baelfire/Neal to tell Tamara the truth about where he came from and who he is - thinking he's the liar in this picture. Eh. No. Turns out Tamara already knew - thanks to Pinnochio. (Seriously Pinnochio is like a plague on Emma and Neal/Baelfire's lives, with friends like Pinnochio - who needs enemies? They are much safer with him as a kid again - well as long as he doesn't befriend Henry. Stay away from Henry, Pinnochio.) Also talk about double-standard - she whines to Baelfire/Neal about his interest in Emma, when she's sticking her tongue down Owen's throat. Not only is his beloved fiancee, a liar, she's also manipulative and in love with someone else. Apparently Neal/Baelfire's luck with women is a bit similar to his father's?
At any rate, Tamara's connection to Owen redeems her a little in my eyes. Clearly they have been planning this for a while. What they are planning outside of taking down Regina and Storybrook and finding Flynn, I'm not certain.
Oh...and guess who is missing from lockup in Manhattan? Hook. Emma doesn't see a problem, after all she's beaten and locked Hook up three times now. Baelfire isn't so sure - dude, you have bigger problems on the horizon.
The writers are definitely having fun, I'll give them that. Also we appear to be past the Snow White Angsting Over Her Immortal Soul bit for at least a while. Regina also appears to be finally paying attention to Greg Mendel/aka Owen.
I did find it ironically amusing that Emma tells Bae - you invited Tamara here? What are you going to tell her when she sees a giant walking by or a werewolf? Or who you are? Isn't it bad enough we have Greg Mendel to deal with? Bae - oh it won't be so hard. Emma - tell her the truth. Turns out? Didn't have to. Both Greg and Tamara know about Storybrook and have been hunting it for quite some time. Yep this is a major plot arc for the season finale - I was right about that, just didn't see how it would come about - like this approach better than what I predicted. It's twistier and more ironic.
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