It is Tuesday and this week's Once Upon a Time did not disappoint! Where to begin?
I have to begin by saying I am not so great with the Peter Pan mythography. It has always been one of my least-favorite tales-turned-Disney-tradition. Even as a child, I found the whole "let's never grow up!" battle cry of Neverland to be terribly irresponsible. (Why yes, I *am* an Oldest Child. Why do you ask?)
Therefore, I didn't have super high expectations for my own enjoyment of The Crocodile, knowing Captain Hook would be front and center. But I really think the writers provided a great spin on the story! Rumpelstiltskin as Hook's nemesis ... maybe I'm just easy, but I found it to be a fun turn on the narrative.
I suppose we may as well just get this out of the way: Killian Jones/Colin O'Donoghue, he's awfully easy on the eyes, isn't he? Better just leave it at that.
So our visit to the past in the Enchanted Forest lays out that story for us, further exploring the idea of Rumpelstiltskin as a coward, a thread we were introduced to in Season One's Desperate Souls. We also see through Rumpel's story that all of the power in the world(s) couldn't bring him the two people he loved most - Milah and Bae. We've talked about it extensively before, but it's this unraveling and unveiling of back story that engender sympathy for us in our Bad Guys.
In Storybrooke, Rumpelstiltskin still struggles with magic and the power that it brings (and the cost) as he tries to navigate a relationship with Belle. Just as in the Enchanted Forest past, he again bumps up against the limits of magic and power when it comes to engaging in real relationship.
The development of Belle's character is my very favorite aspect of this episode. Beauty and the Beast, of all of the Disney Princess stories, stands at the top of my list. And so I loved how in The Crocodile, we see Belle resisting the paths that both her father and Rumpel want to put her feet on and committing to some independence. And guzzling lots and lots of iced tea. (Find the ladies' room fast, dearie!)
I think I'm going to have to start taking notes again as I watch (remember?) because my hormonally-overloaded brain is having a hard time remembering all that I wanted to discuss this week!
I do know this much: I DEMAND MORE REGINA! We got, like, one minute of her last week and NONE MINUTES THIS WEEK. Unacceptable.
Do you think Rumpelstiltskin as Crocodile worked? Oh, how about our Mr. Smee? Was it believable for Milah to leave not only Rumpel but also Bae to swashbuckle about with Killian? Belle as librarian - perfect choice or perfectly predictable?
Next week: we finally out Dr. Whale's backstory! Right? Maybe? Hopefully?!
(Where in the bless is AUGUST?!)
You've got thoughts and I wanna hear 'em!
