Once Upon A Time - " A Land Without Magic" - FINALE 5/13/12

[photoshopgrl]

Wow just a few thoughts before I unpause GoT.

1. I knew I was right about Regina loving Henry. Maybe it was Emma's kiss that was needed to bring him back and break the curse but I did feel a tiny bit sorry for Regina there for a second.
2. BELLE! How did Jefferson know she was there? What does he gain in getting her out?
3. If Gold was going to the well to bring back magic, does it matter to him that the curse is broken? He was bringing it back either way, right? Only now Belle remembers him.
4. Snow/Charming! So happy that David the bore is officially gone (at least his personality is, which is all that matters)... gosh Charming is so awesome. Every moment with him in this episode was made of win.
5. "If I were you, your Magesty, I'd find a place to hide" heee! Indeed!

Can't wait for next season!

[Fool Me Twice]

Hopefully, next season they'll stop trying to convince me that Snow and Charming embody "true love" (those two milquetoast ragdolls?).

More Hatter would be good. Less Rumpelstiltskin. Gold is fine, but that damn ridiculous Belle story will surely ruin him.

All in all, season one was more interesting than good. Just enough to keep me tuning in (skipping a few episodes) to see what's happening, but wishing better writers were at the helm.

[Ereth]

As usual, my DVR cut off the last minute. Can anybody recap Golds speech about why he was bringing magic back, and anything that might have happened after that?

Thank you very much!

[TIVO_GUY_HERE]

Said that magic is power, then showed the town being engulfed in the cloud, Henry and Emma looking out the window watching the cloud. Cut to Queen looking out her window with her evil smile.

[Ereth]

Thank you.

[robojerk]

Gold said the well can return things once lost.

Instead of magic, Gold should've had the well return his son instead of magic.

[Linnemir]

A decent finale with a good hook for next season ... Random thoughts and observations follow -

Hatter knowing about Belle was out of left field for me. I have to agree that I wish Gold had tried to get his son back rather than the magic.

I felt sorry for Regina for about two seconnds, or until the shot of her evil queen smirk.

As a long-time gamer, I really thought Emma got rid of the dragon much too quickly - and I found the outlilne of the box on the dragon's neck unrealistic. I loved it when she ditched the sword to shoot it, though I knew it wouldn't work. And if memory servers, didn't Emma leave Charming's sword down by the dragon's body??

I would have loved a couple of quick shots showing the dwarves, August, and Hatter and his daughter.

The character of David didn't even rate as milquetoast with me - he was just a jerk. Mary Margaret was pretty blah, but she had her moments.

I still think that Emma looks older than 28, but that's a matter of opinion, I guess.

[BitbyBlit]

Magic is power, and power corrupts. I think it was clear in this episode that Regina actually did love Henry. She had shown signs of that throughout the season, but I am still hung up on the fact that they made such a big deal of Emma being able to detect when people were lying, and then she detected Regina as lying when she said she loved Henry.

Perhaps, however, even though Regina didn't lose her memories, the loss of most of her magic did make her slightly less corrupt than before. So the Regina of Storybrooke was not quite the same person as the Evil Queen of Fairy Tale Land.

But when Regina saw the cloud of magic approaching, that evil smile showed that the Queen inside her was returning.

Not just the Queen, though. Rumplestiltskin is sure to be back to his impish self. (Which I suppose means the dagger now works. Good thing he got it back from Pinnochio!) He loved his son so much that he was willing to set up this whole charade just to get to him, but it was set up in this manner because he could not give up his power. All he had to do was go with his son at the beginning, but he couldn't then. And even after realizing what he had lost, and why he had lost it, he still wasn't willing to give it up. He needed to set up a scheme that ruined a bunch of people's lives so that he could have both his son and his power.

Poor Belle. She got saved just in time for her to lose Rumpelstiltskin all over again.

The Storybrooke bubble has now burst. The rest of the world had better watch out. They are coming.

[Zarisa]

Hey what time is it?


MAGIC TIME! <insert dance here>

[Cearbhaill]

When the curse was broken and they panned by all the major characters I was surprised that we did not see August beginning to revert to his human form.

[photoshopgrl]

Gold said the well can return things once lost.
Instead of magic, Gold should've had the well return his son instead of magic.
I don't think that's how it works. I think all it could return was the magic. I'm still in the camp that thinks he would do anything and give up anything to have his son back. He's already made the choice of power over him once and I cannot see him doing it twice.

I'm still bugged by the fact that Regina knew Emma was Snow & Charming's kid and the savior. When did this get revealed? Are we to assume she's known all along? My one huge pet peeve for this season. Otherwise, I'm happy with how it's progressed and look forward to next season.

[martinp13]

Why did Emma have a memory-recall revelation when she picked up the book after dumping it out of Henry's bag? She's picked it up before... she was reading it when she told Henry she'd like to keep it and read it some more.

Overall I thought the ending was kinda weak. I liked the plant-the-egg/kill-the-dragon cut scenes, and that Jefferson grew a bit of a spine, but that was about it. The kiss-Henry thing was telegraphed a month ago, and THAT broke the curse? Regina should have done everything she could to keep Emma away from Henry: not kill her, but make sure she's never in the same place as Henry. I agree with photoshopgrl that if Regina knew THAT from the start, there was some lame writing going on.

I'm starting to think that they made up some of the "who knows what" stuff as the season progressed. From the pilot, Gold knew. Then Regina seemed to know, then she definitely knew, then Jefferson (and they never explained how), then August (him we understand). "Only one knows" indeed. :)

[markz]

Said that magic is power, then showed the town being engulfed in the cloud, Henry and Emma looking out the window watching the cloud. Cut to Queen looking out her window with her evil smile.

Also, Emma saw the purple cloud and said "What is that?" and Henry answered "Something bad!"

Why did Emma have a memory-recall revelation when she picked up the book after dumping it out of Henry's bag? She's picked it up before... she was reading it when she told Henry she'd like to keep it and read it some more.


My take is that when she picked it up before, she didn't want to believe. This time she wanted to believe, so when she picked it up, it all came back.

[Roommate]

Why did Emma have a memory-recall revelation when she picked up the book after dumping it out of Henry's bag? She's picked it up before... she was reading it when she told Henry she'd like to keep it and read it some more.

I assume for the same reason she couldn't see August turning to wood at first. She had to be ready to believe.

I quite enjoyed the finale. I was afraid they would set up a big cliffhanger but in a way that within an episode or two next season, things would be back to "normal" (Emma not believing, the curse still firmly in place). I don't see how they can back down from the game-changing events of this episode, and I'm looking forward to where it goes from here.

[Cearbhaill]

I think this finale would have benefited greatly by being 30 minutes longer- it felt really rushed. A lot happened.
That said I was pretty happy with the way it wrapped a few things up while still leaving the future wide open.

[Fool Me Twice]

As usual, my DVR cut off the last minute. Can anybody recap Golds speech about why he was bringing magic back, and anything that might have happened after that?

Thank you very much!

In case you want to watch it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6ORntb1GzI

[photoshopgrl]

Oh and how about seeing the Huntsman again? Loved that he helped Charming out.

Does Sebastian Stan have anything else going right now? If not, can we just go ahead and bump him up to a regular for next season? So much awesome. Yes, he's super pretty but that's not why I'm loving him. I love the character and how he plays it and I just find him to be a very 'enchanting' actor. (see what I did there?)

[martinp13]

My take is that when she picked it up before, she didn't want to believe. This time she wanted to believe, so when she picked it up, it all came back.

I assume for the same reason she couldn't see August turning to wood at first. She had to be ready to believe.Thank you... makes good sense. :)

My concern for next season (assuming that pink cloud = magic in our world) is that won't this just be the Rump & Reg show? Who else has the caliber magic that they do? I don't understand his actions: I could see him giving magic to himself (if it were possible to limit it), but to give it to Regina too? Yikes.

So who would S. Glass be? Maybe Alice? They made sure to show us that name on a room/cell as Jefferson was heading to free Belle.

[martinp13]

2. BELLE! How did Jefferson know she was there? What does he gain in getting her out?I have no idea how he knew she was there, but letting her out is his way of telling Regina "I'm spineless and can't kill you, but I can release your hostage AND sic Mr Gold on you at the same time." :)

[photoshopgrl]

I have no idea how he knew she was there, but letting her out is his way of telling Regina "I'm spineless and can't kill you, but I can release your hostage AND sic Mr Gold on you at the same time." :)
Yeah that's about all I could deduct from it too.

[aRKade]

I assume for the same reason she couldn't see August turning to wood at first. She had to be ready to believe.

I quite enjoyed the finale. I was afraid they would set up a big cliffhanger but in a way that within an episode or two next season, things would be back to "normal" (Emma not believing, the curse still firmly in place). I don't see how they can back down from the game-changing events of this episode, and I'm looking forward to where it goes from here.

I think it would be pretty easy to back down from the game-changing events of this episode. The story is that the FTL characters have been stuck in Storybrooke for years without aging. Each year their memory is wiped and they basically live the same year over again. That could be what the purple cloud/smoke monster does. In fact it rolled over the clock tower at 8:15, the time the clock was stuck at when this whole thing started.

Hopefully that isn't what happened since it would be nice to keep the story moving but it is a possibility.

[zordude]

I think that giving everyone their memories is a far cry from " break the curse" but it would have been hard to switch to a fairy tale land only mode next season

[tiams]

So who would S. Glass be? Maybe Alice? They made sure to show us that name on a room/cell as Jefferson was heading to free Belle.

It is Sydney Glass.

[martinp13]

ROFL!!!! Well, now we know where he is. ;) Excellent catch.

[photoshopgrl]

Something just occurred to me. When Gold said the well would bring back that which was lost... at first I thought he meant Baelfire. Then I realized he meant magic. But what if in that magic he also means THOSE that were lost. Maybe Graham since he was killed inside the curse. Who else has been killed in Storybrooke, anyone??

[Shakhari]

Did we ever see the Doctor in FTL? His name is Dr. Whale in Storybrooke. Every time he shows up, I keep trying to figure out who he might be.

[photoshopgrl]

Did we ever see the Doctor in FTL? His name is Dr. Whale in Storybrooke. Every time he shows up, I keep trying to figure out who he might be.
Nope and if I remember correctly someone said in an interview we'd find out his FTL character next season.

[Linnemir]

Something just occurred to me. When Gold said the well would bring back that which was lost... at first I thought he meant Baelfire. Then I realized he meant magic. But what if in that magic he also means THOSE that were lost. Maybe Graham since he was killed inside the curse. Who else has been killed in Storybrooke, anyone??

Gods, but I hope you're right - I LOVED the Huntsman. Truth be told, I found him the most compelling male character of all.

[Zevida]

I got all weepy at the end in spite of myself.

Clearly the stories for season 2 in fairy tale land will be the battle to take back the kingdom. Might be interesting.

I don't like the return of Belle. Honestly it is a little creepy because he's so much older than she is.

I'm sad to see Malefecent go, but hopefully we'll get a Sleeping Beauty story and she'll be back.

Loved seeing the Huntsman again!

Loved Jefferson, as usual! He's a regular guest star on Gossip Girl and is in a new cable series, I doubt he could be a regular on OUAT. Besides, I'd rather get him in 6 great appearances than try to shoehorn him into the show every week in a weak fashion. I'm sure we'll revisit the Queen of Hearts and see Alice eventually too.

[photoshopgrl]

He's a regular guest star on Gossip Girl and is in a new cable series, I doubt he could be a regular on OUAT. Besides, I'd rather get him in 6 great appearances than try to shoehorn him into the show every week in a weak fashion. I'm sure we'll revisit the Queen of Hearts and see Alice eventually too.
This almost makes me want to watch Gossip Girl. Almost.
And I guess you're right about not overusing him. I just hope he continues to be a regular guest star here too then.

[Zevida]

I may have overstated, I think he's only been on 6-8 episodes of Gossip Girl. I tried to find which episodes so I could watch only those on Netflix, but I didn't have any luck.

[photoshopgrl]

I may have overstated, I think he's only been on 6-8 episodes of Gossip Girl. I tried to find which episodes so I could watch only those on Netflix, but I didn't have any luck.
IMDB shows 11. :)

"Gossip Girl" (11 episodes )
Bad News Blair (9 October 2007) - Carter Baizen
Hi, Society (5 December 2007) - Carter Baizen
The Age of Dissonance (16 March 2009) - Carter Baizen
The Grandfather (23 March 2009) - Carter Baizen
The Goodbye Gossip Girl (17 May 2009) - Carter Baizen
Reversals of Fortune (14 September 2009) - Carter Baizen
The Freshmen (21 September 2009) - Carter Baizen
The Lost Boy (28 September 2009) - Carter Baizen
Rufus Getting Married (12 October 2009) - Carter Baizen
Enough About Eve (19 October 2009) - Carter Baizen
The Unblairable Lightness of Being (12 April 2010) - Carter Baizen

[martinp13]

I'm a little confused about "the curse is broken". Please bear with me: some of these details might not match your own interpretation of exactly what happened, but go with the general idea. :)

The evil curse from the pilot episode:

#1) transformed magical beings into non-magical humans: Jiminy Cricket, Magic Mirror, Blue Fairy, etc,

#2) transported everybody to non-magical Earth (or morphed magical FTL into non-magical Storybrooke... either works for this),

#3) wiped/suppressed their memories of their former selves,

#4) trapped them in the boundaries of Storybrooke.

Emma kisses Henry, shock wave, Henry wakes up, "the curse is broken!"

We know #3 is gone and probably #4. But Jiminy Cricket is still a human. They are all still in Storybrooke (or Storybrooke has not reverted to FTL).

Wouldn't Emma's kiss have just broken the apple sleeping sickness curse? Henry isn't under the pilot curse any more than Emma is. Wouldn't Emma have to kiss someone under the pilot curse (like Graham) to have any effect on the pilot curse (like Graham starting to remember who he was)?

The more I think about this, the less sense it makes. Either something's not right or they took serious liberties with the smooches. What am I missing?

[tiams]

I'm a little confused about "the curse is broken". Please bear with me: some of these details might not match your own interpretation of exactly what happened, but go with the general idea. :)

The evil curse from the pilot episode:

#1) transformed magical beings into non-magical humans: Jiminy Cricket, Magic Mirror, Blue Fairy, etc,

#2) transported everybody to non-magical Earth (or morphed magical FTL into non-magical Storybrooke... either works for this),

#3) wiped/suppressed their memories of their former selves,

#4) trapped them in the boundaries of Storybrooke.

Emma kisses Henry, shock wave, Henry wakes up, "the curse is broken!"

We know #3 is gone and probably #4. But Jiminy Cricket is still a human. They are all still in Storybrooke (or Storybrooke has not reverted to FTL).

Wouldn't Emma's kiss have just broken the apple sleeping sickness curse? Henry isn't under the pilot curse any more than Emma is. Wouldn't Emma have to kiss someone under the pilot curse (like Graham) to have any effect on the pilot curse (like Graham starting to remember who he was)?

The more I think about this, the less sense it makes. Either something's not right or they took serious liberties with the smooches. What am I missing?

It has something to do with Rumplestiltskin. Either he failed to mention something important about the curse or he did something once he had access to magic. Anyhow, the curse isn't completely lifted because they are still stuck in Storybrooke.

[Zevida]

What am I missing?

Trying to apply logic to a fantasy show where the writers have been winging it all season and who need to keep the plot moving (characters remember who they were) without ending the whole series (still stuck in Storybrooke, not totally broken).

[Sadara]

I'll be interested to see how the first few episodes of next season play out. I'm still confused about why the lay of the land still looks the same.... or will it after the purple fog is done rolling over everything? I'm very much still digging this show, but I'm confused and wondering at the same time.

[TonyD79]

I'm a little confused about "the curse is broken". Please bear with me: some of these details might not match your own interpretation of exactly what happened, but go with the general idea. :)

The evil curse from the pilot episode:

#1) transformed magical beings into non-magical humans: Jiminy Cricket, Magic Mirror, Blue Fairy, etc,

#2) transported everybody to non-magical Earth (or morphed magical FTL into non-magical Storybrooke... either works for this),

#3) wiped/suppressed their memories of their former selves,

#4) trapped them in the boundaries of Storybrooke.

Emma kisses Henry, shock wave, Henry wakes up, "the curse is broken!"

We know #3 is gone and probably #4. But Jiminy Cricket is still a human. They are all still in Storybrooke (or Storybrooke has not reverted to FTL).

Wouldn't Emma's kiss have just broken the apple sleeping sickness curse? Henry isn't under the pilot curse any more than Emma is. Wouldn't Emma have to kiss someone under the pilot curse (like Graham) to have any effect on the pilot curse (like Graham starting to remember who he was)?

The more I think about this, the less sense it makes. Either something's not right or they took serious liberties with the smooches. What am I missing?

Well. They said that Charmings kiss sent a light through the land, so this was the same light.

The curse is broken but they are still in the real world, where there is no magic. Storybrooke is NOT FTL transformed. Or it would have reverted. So no one reverted to a fantasy character.

While Regina banished them to the real world, the curse was making them all forget. And be stuck in time.

If Gold had not brought the fog, they would have had to work to get back to FTL or live a as non-magic in the real world.

Now that the magic is coming, I'd expect to see some characters revert and hey eventually use the magic to get back. Which works for the Hatter. How he knew is unknown, but this works for him.

As for Regina. I stand by her not fully knowing she loved Henry but realizing it as he appeared to die.

[TonyD79]

I'll be interested to see how the first few episodes of next season play out. I'm still confused about why the lay of the land still looks the same.... or will it after the purple fog is done rolling over everything? I'm very much still digging this show, but I'm confused and wondering at the same time.

It looks the same because IT S NOT FTL.

[tiassa]

One moer thing, wasn't one of the last shots the purple fog engulfing the clock tower, which was showing 8:15? Obviously we don't know if it is going to stop at 8:15, but assuming it does, does that give Storybrooke a "Time out"?

[getreal]

For 28 years, time stood still for the accursed characters in Storybrooke, while Emma grew up outside of the curse. So now that the purple smoke monster (ahem) fog has stopped time in Storybrooke once again, Rumpelstiltskin has bought time to do what he needs to do next season.

I wonder why Malefecent (the dragon) was not carried to Storybrooke by the original curse but stayed just an elevator ride beneath the town?

[KungFuCow]

For 28 years, time stood still for the accursed characters in Storybrooke, while Emma grew up outside of the curse. So now that the purple smoke monster (ahem) fog has stopped time in Storybrooke once again, Rumpelstiltskin has bought time to do what he needs to do next season.

I wonder why Malefecent (the dragon) was not carried to Storybrooke by the original curse but stayed just an elevator ride beneath the town?

The queen said she did that to her.

[sieglinde]

I am so confused. In the story (Disney version) Malefecent is the evil queen's name and she turns herself into a dragon. So in this one they are two seperate entities?

[Zevida]

Malefecent is Sleeping Beauty's evil fairy.

The Evil Queen is Snow White's evil stepmom.

Two different characters in Disney lore.

[DevdogAZ]

I'm still bugged by the fact that Regina knew Emma was Snow & Charming's kid and the savior. When did this get revealed? Are we to assume she's known all along? My one huge pet peeve for this season. Otherwise, I'm happy with how it's progressed and look forward to next season.

Did you miss the scene between Regina and Gold in the previous episode, where it was revealed that if Regina killed Emma, the curse would be broken? We all figured she didn't know or she'd have killed her, but that revelation showed that she did know all along, but couldn't do anything about it.

[photoshopgrl]

Did you miss the scene between Regina and Gold in the previous episode, where it was revealed that if Regina killed Emma, the curse would be broken? We all figured she didn't know or she'd have killed her, but that revelation showed that she did know all along, but couldn't do anything about it.
So she knew all along that the baby Gold brought her was the grandson of her most hated enemy?? I don't believe that. I know it was revealed that she appears to have known all along but until recently they have given no indication of that nor when exactly Regina gained this knowledge so I felt like that conversation with Gold skipped something or I missed something and I know that's not the case.

[DevdogAZ]

So she knew all along that the baby Gold brought her was the grandson of her most hated enemy?? I don't believe that. I know it was revealed that she appears to have known all along but until recently they have given no indication of that nor when exactly Regina gained this knowledge so I felt like that conversation with Gold skipped something or I missed something and I know that's not the case.

No, I don't think she knew Henry was Snow's grandson when Gold first brought him to her. But I think she figured out who Emma was not long after Emma arrived. She wasn't blind to all the changes that started happening in the town suddenly after Emma arrived.

[Cearbhaill]

No, I don't think she knew Henry was Snow's grandson when Gold first brought him to her. But I think she figured out who Emma was not long after Emma arrived. She wasn't blind to all the changes that started happening in the town suddenly after Emma arrived.
I think the moment she knew was the scene towards the end of the pilot when Emma told her how Henry showed up on her 28th birthday.

[oscarfish]

I still do not understand Rumpelstiltskin's motive. For a few of the episodes toward the end, I thought I did. I thought he wanted the curse so he could come to this land to find his son (even though he didn't look like he was looking very hard). That explained why he didn't directly help Emma break the curse.

As of the season finale, it looks like he wanted the curse broken.

Was it that he did want the curse broken, but not until he got his love potion back? Even if that is true, it still doesn't really answer my fundamental question.

I guess I'll have to wait until next season to find out. I wonder how many plot holes you can hind in a four month hiatus.

[robojerk]

I think he needs magic to leave the town, to find his son. Just my theory.

[martinp13]

I would think he needed the curse broken so he could leave town. I can't imagine there's another 'world without magic'. :) Bael must be somewhere on Earth.

I wonder if the magic cloud affected those outside Storybrooke?

[tiassa]

The other major thing that changed in Rumplestiltskin's world is that he got Belle back, this probably affected his thinking about what he wanted from the curse.

[Cearbhaill]

Rumpy wants to have his cake and eat it too.
He wants magic (not to be the Dark One, just general Rumpy magic), he wants Belle, and he wants Bael to love him and respect him.
His addiction to magic is what will bring him down in the end IMO.

[Church AV Guy]

The other major thing that changed in Rumplestiltskin's world is that he got Belle back, this probably affected his thinking about what he wanted from the curse.
He made the deal to get the egg (magic) back from the dragon BEFORE he knew that Belle was still alive. She arrived in hi store and without looking up he told her to leave becasue he was working on something, getting the magic out of the egg. Clearly the mad hatter released her, and told her to tell Gold that she had been imprisoned by Regina, so Gold would have his revengeon her, since the Hatter couldn't bring himself to take that revenge.

[thenightfly42]

I still do not understand Rumpelstiltskin's motive. For a few of the episodes toward the end, I thought I did. I thought he wanted the curse so he could come to this land to find his son (even though he didn't look like he was looking very hard). That explained why he didn't directly help Emma break the curse.

As of the season finale, it looks like he wanted the curse broken.

Was it that he did want the curse broken, but not until he got his love potion back? Even if that is true, it still doesn't really answer my fundamental question.

I guess I'll have to wait until next season to find out. I wonder how many plot holes you can hind in a four month hiatus.
Yeah, I just caught up on the episodes today. Sorry to bounce this old thread, but Rumpy was lying, it wasn't a potion of true love that he hid in the egg. The true love potion looked like two colored wires intertwining, while this one was a glowing pink/purple. The clouds at the end matched the original curse, but we don't know if it is a repetition of the original curse, or something else.