Last night’s ONCE UPON A TIME showed us just how evil the Evil Queen can be. With a fantastic episode, featuring Snow White and Prince Charming in a storyline that was actually interesting, the ABC hit show proved that it has gotten back to its groove from seasons past. “Heartless” showed that the Evil Queen is just cruel and… well… heartless in her crazy quest for revenge against Snow White.
Snowing. I’ll be the first to say that they usually bore me to death. I used to really like Snow White and Prince Charming in the first couple of seasons, but for the past two to three seasons, they have both been pushed to the back burner and seemed to have made that spot a permanent residence. They hadn’t had any interesting storylines for a while now, so last night’s episode was truly a breath of fresh air for these two. It really felt like a season 1 episode and it was such a joy to see Snow when she had just escaped her kingdom and was still trying to learn how to be a badass. I admit I liked the flashbacks a lot more than the present day storyline, but that was mostly because I love that part of their story together, when they were still getting to know one another and Snow was still a bandit and a fugitive. To see them realize that they had actually met before and saved each other’s lives, but just hadn’t seen each other’s faces then was so touching and brilliantly executed.
Now back at the present, the Evil Queen is obviously out to get them and her new plan actually works. When she threatens them to give up their hearts or she will make everyone in Storybrooke drink water from the River of Lost Souls, they are put in an impossible position. Either way they lose, so they just have to choose if they’d like to save the town or save themselves. Knowing them like we do, we all knew it was a no brainer that they would eventually sacrifice themselves. But then the Evil Queen proved that she is ruthless and even more cruel than we thought, because she managed to alter the sleeping curse in order to fit Snow’s and Charming’s very special case of a shared heart.
She put the actual curse on their heart, so that when they use a true love’s kiss to save each other, the one doing the saving falls under the curse, while the cursed one wakes up. That way, they will never be able to be together again. So way to go, Evil Queen. You got what you wanted.
The worst ship of the year. Speaking of the Evil Queen, can we officially declare that she and Rumplestiltskin make the most bizarre, icky ship to ever grace this show? Every time they’re on my screen together – making out *shudders* – it feels like a car crash. I am completely horrified and yet, I can’t look away to save my life. I have no idea where this partnership (relationship?) is going, but I really, really don’t want to see them together. It seriously gives me the creeps.
I loved that Zelena saw them and told Belle everything just to spite the Evil Queen, but that caused Belle to confront Rumple and that was glorious. I still hope that she never, ever gets back together with him, but seeing Belle standing up for herself and her unborn child was awesome.
Captain Swan. I just had to squeeze this in because that vault scene was just so fantastic and made my heart nearly burst with rainbows and little hearts. Hook and Emma are a testament that a relationship can work and that we don’t need contrived drama just for the sake of drama to keep them apart. Their relationship has its faults, yes, but they have amazing writing on their side and showrunners who are not afraid to let a couple stay together and face adversity together. Other shows should really take notes from ONCE UPON A TIME on how to handle a relationship between two characters after they get together. Yes, ARROW, I’m looking at you.
Just a final comment before I go: I am so glad they didn’t kill the dog in the Enchanted Forest. So glad. Wilby lives!
A new episode of ONCE UPON A TIME airs next Sunday, November 13, at 8/7c on ABC.