Once Upon a Time went extreme on the mid-season finale with Emma.  She’s been a hero but she’s never asked for it.  The “Wish Enchanted Forest” made Emma appear as a wimp and my personal belief is that a wish would never have changed our Emma.

Granted, I understand, Emma had to be extremely different from the one we know.  If she hadn’t been, the Evil Queen (EQ) would not have really won.  But, even if it is a wish world and she grew up with her family, would she have taken life as mildly as she did. Wouldn’t she have wanted to protect the kingdom her parents had striven to make great.  Personally, I think  Emma would have been a stronger leader.  Unless some kind of “switcheroo”  happened, Emma would or should have retained certain characteristics that we know.  Let’s review what we know of Emma Swan.

Season One — the bounty hunter who is a doubter.  Once Upon a Time introduced Emma as a bounty hunter who meets her son for the first time since she gave him up for adoption.  She bravely took him home.  She confronted his domineering adopted mother, Regina Miles.  She stood up and believed when Henry looked like he was dying.  With all of this, she wouldn’t have been so meek and mild.  She would have still had some of these attributes.  I even wondered in “wish world” if she raised Henry because he was so “hard-nosed.”

Season Two — Emma the uncertain.  Once Upon a Time had her come to grips with everything she had learned.  While Season Two is probably my least favorite season, we did see her learn about her homeland and her mother.  And because Snow would have wanted her to be brave, she wouldn’t have allowed a child in any realm to be a wimp. Emma would have been brought up to be a strong person.  Forget the foster care that she lived through in our world.  The Enchanted Forest would always have some new enemy to conquer

On through season three, four and five we saw Emma accept her past (Neal or Neil depending on who wants what spelling), finding her true love (Hook), and raising a son with the woman who was once your mortal enemy.  She has grown by confronting her foster mother, The Ice Queen, and all this has had an impact on her.  I don’t think a “wish” would have changed the life lessons on Once Upon a Time‘s Emma Swan.

In closing, I’m going to speculate and say that Emma’s “wish world” was what the EQ wanted.  She wanted Emma to suffer and figured a weak, meek Emma would do the job.  Unfortunately, the weak, meek Emma was awakened by probably her best friend, Regina, and the quest continues.

Do I look forward to Season 6-B.  Of course I do.  Granted, I want Emma, Regina, Zelena, and Dark One to be the ultimate cause of EQ’s demise but at least she’s of the mix temporarily.  It’s going to be a long wait until Once Upon a Time returns in March.

Once Upon a Time has been seeing protests about their treatment of Belle and Rumple.  There are many who want this pair together but some think that it’s time she dumps him and moves on.  I personally like the pairing but this group has many issues they must deal with in the coming episodes in March.  Let’s look at a few of them.

1.  Black Fairy is Rumple’s mom.  Well, that explains why he became the Dark One.  When you father steals kids and takes them to Neverland and your mom steals kids, it’s hard not to be dark.  The good news is that he never stole a kid (except to lure the Black Fairy).  Considering all Rumple has been through and his parentage, it’s amazing that he turned out as “good” as he did.  He does have a heart of gold for family and for those he cares about.
2. The Evil Queen (from now on known as EQ).  What is this with her obsession with Rumple.  And she doesn’t admit her guilt.  Wonder when Belle will finally clue in to the fact that she has a rival. True the rival is a cobra (I hope that is right) now but she has to be dealt with sometime.  And wouldn’t it be fair that Belle does this.
3. Their son, Morpheus/Gideon.  This is the most complicated story right now.  It’s got the big issues attached to it and we must have details early.  We know the Black Fairy got him and we know that her realm doesn’t work on the same time frame as ours.  The big question is what did the Black Fairy teach him?  Does she want revenge on Rumple?  Does he now hate his mother?  How does the Black Fairy play into destroying the Savior.
4. Can Rumple and Belle mend their lives together.  I believe that the two of them love each other.  The love has also sustained them through many dastardly deeds that Rumple has done.  This time, the deed was protection but he couldn’t tell Belle.  Will they be able to move forward?  Will they be able to defeat their son?  Why, oh why, do we need their offspring being evil when Neal was so good?  Better question:  Why didn’t the Black Fairy go for Neal?

We’ve got to March to ponder these questions.  And discuss them.  More articles from the season/mid-season finale will be forthcoming from me.

 

Once Upon a Time was very interesting last night and one key bit involved the return of the Dragon.  I have always loved this man.  He was the one who helped August. He was the one who taught the Charming/Miles clan some life lessons.  And he is the one who always seem to never be defeated.  That is until last year when the Evil Queen (EQ) showed up.

Now don’t get me wrong! I understand that the EQ had to banish the Dragon to get to Storybrooke. I thought he was dead!  So imagine how happy I was to learn that he had been banished to the mirror land and met up with Emma and Regina.  The good news, he tried to help.  The bad news:  EQ had his heart and used him against them.  Of course, the EQ seems to forget that the Swan/Miles family is strong. Henry saw through her and saved the day using the Dragon to do it.  The only question I have is:  Where is his heart and can he return.

This leads me to the second thought I had last night.  We know that Jasmine is searching for her father and her home.  He know that Once Upon a Time doesn’t mind mixing lands.  And I personally know that I used to bother the executives of Once Upon a Time by guessing plot points of LOST and mentioning them on “The Fuselage” (David Fury and I had several fights). So I’m going to bother the executives once again with a new supposition.  I know not many people read my posts but I’m putting it out here anyway.  Could Jasmine and the Dragon be related?  Could he be say her father?  And aren’t the plot possibilities endless.  Just a question and thought folks!

Once Upon a Time is taking Rumple down a dark path and I’m not sure I like it.  While I know Rumple is the dark one and only out for himself, he used to treasure Neil’s memory.  By conspiring with the Evil Queen, has he forgotten all ties to his family.

In the past, Rumple would have protected Henry and even Emma because they were so important to his son Neil.  After the trip to Neverland, I thought I had found one spot of “love” in his heart — that for his grandson.  And, without reviewing the tape, I seem to remember that he promised to always take care of Henry and keep Emma safe.  Has he forgotten is promise.

Sure the Evil Queen feels like she’s a mother to Henry but a true mother always loves and respects her son.  The only thing EQ wanted was to make him a prince and fit to rule.  When she approached Rumple, I will give that he warned her.  As his grandfather, though, shouldn’t he have tried to protect his grandson.  Has Rumple lost all sense of family? Is he so wrapped up in his personal problems that he has forgotten just who Henry is?

Granted, EQ is a smooth talker and has an attraction for Rumple. Which brings up problem two?  Rumple claims to love Belle and is working to protect her and her son.  Yet, he’s going to extreme links to be part of their lives.  If he loves Belle like he says, shouldn’t he be working this out through counseling?  By making sure he knows where Belle is every minute, and using the argument that he is using, he’s coming off as dictatorial and borderline abusive.  Sure, I can understand that he loves Belle but has he crossed the thin line to being controlling, obsessive, and stalking?

Two theories come to mind.  One was offered by a friend who hopes he used the “scissors” to cut the bad Rumple from the good.  Of course, that theory goes on to say that Rumple has the “good one” tied up in a back room.  My theory is that he knows more about how this is going to play out and is holding back information.  He knows of a way to defeat EQ but either hasn’t gotten it worked out or will spring it when the time is right.  As I recall, he would spin when he thought and he did a lot of spinning last night.  I guess time will reveal all.

 

Once Upon a Time got fans discussing the black spots in Snow’s and Charming’s heart on Sunday, November 6, 2016.  People pulled up the picture from when Queen Regina took it the first time and when Evil Queenie took it this time and noticed the spots had enlarged.  Here’s my thoughts on this new problem that Once Upon a Time has presented us.

First, we need to remember how Snow’s heart became dark.  In season one, episode sixteen, we find out about how her heart became dark.  The Queen (Regina) convinced her in a previous episode to drink a potion that would make her forget love.  Thus, Snow develops anger issues.  When Grumpy and company stage an intervention, it comes out that she wants revenge on the Queen and goes off to kill her.

Charming finds her, of course, but she doesn’t remember her love for him.  When he takes an arrow meant for the Queen, he tells her he would die before her heart became dark.  For some reason, this moves Snow and she kisses Charming and the curse is broken.

Once Upon a Time then moves to season two.  In Episode 16, “The Miller’s Daughter” we find out that Snow’s dark heart comes from murder.  In this episode, we learn the story of Cora but by the end Cora dies.  Cora was killing Gold but Snow reverses the trick and used a candle, which ironically was meant to kill Snow’s mom, to kill Cora.  Regina replaces Cora’s heart thinking they can be a family, and Cora dies in her arms telling Regina that she would be enough.  Of course, Regina declares war.  In the following episode, “Welcome to Storybrooke,” Snow visits Regina at the end of the episode and offers her heart and death to make amends.  This is when we find out about the black spot on Snow’s heart that Regina says will eventually kill her.  While Snow does suffer anger over this, it is Emma who sets up straight and Snow becomes more normal, abet with that black spot in her heart.

In Season 3, we get Neverland and Oz. David is infected with DreamShade and Rumple partially cures him.  In Oz, Zelena launches a plan to take David and Snow’s child only to have Snow enact a curse with the heart of the one she loves most (David).  When the heart is destroyed, Snow convinces Regina to split her heart so she can share with David.  David lives but if one dies, the other dies.

Now the heart is darker.  I’m sure that is coming from some unsavory things that David and Snow have had to do since the season four finale, chief of which involved Malificient.  The only problem is that that was in their past so it would have to come from remorse.  Will the heart get darker?  I guess only time will tell.

 

 

Once Upon a Time fans have seen the sleeping curse used in many forms.  The question is:  Does the plot device need to end.  Let’s look at a few instances and then you decide.

Original Use and Season One:  The sleeping curse began the story of Once Upon a Time.  When Prince Charming awakened Snow, the story started on its journey and has lasted six years.  Not bad for a curse to be used for this means and it kept with the original story.

Season One:  Henry!  Henry wasn’t supposed to be under the sleeping curse.  Regina had that reserved for Emma but Henry knew about the apple pie, ate it and fell asleep.  His biological mom (Emma’s) kiss, awakened him as did her belief in his story.

Season Two:  How many times did Once Upon a Time use the sleeping curse during season two.  Let’s count the ways (and I may miss some).

a.  Aurora — again okay — Sleeping Beauty was under the curse until she was awakened by true love’s kiss.

b.  Henry — went back into the “sleeping curse” sleep  to try and get a message to his mom and Snow.  Remember the introduction of the room of fire where he and Aurora talked?

c.  David/Charming — When Henry got burned from the curse, Charming took the curse  himself and went into the room.  Good news!  He reached Snow and got the message through.  Bad news!  No way he could let the others know the message made it and what Snow and Emma were facing.

Season Three:  If I remember correctly, we got a hint of a curse here but it was the forgetfulness curse.  Zelena threw that on people when they returned from the Enchanted Forest.

Season Four:  No recollection of the sleeping curse being used.

Season Five:  Again, the forgetfulness curse when they return from Camelot.  This time, Emma put it on them.

Belle put herself into the sleeping curse with only her father’s kiss supposed to awaken her.  Rumple tried, but to no avail.

Season Six:  Okay — we have had it used twice so far.  The first time was Morpheus/Rumple Junior and the awakening of Belle.  The second time is the shared heart that means that we revisit a form of Ladyhawke on Once Upon a Time.  While I’m not upset because I loved that movie, it’s a little funny that if Snow is awake, David sleeps.  How do they know which is needed.  The good news appears to be that both are awake for Emma’s battle (which I think may happen before the mini-break).  So, it must not last too long.

Once Upon a Time has found a good plot device to use when they need to develop a character’s strength.  Both Snow and Aurora came out stronger.  Belle now has a backbone and Henry found out he has the heart of the true believer.  But, as we all know, Snow and Charming are the center of the story.  How does the sleeping curse impact the Land without Endings.  Only time and this season of Once Upon a Time will tell.

Once Upon a Time has suddenly awaken from whatever “sleeping curse” it was under.  Everyone who knows me know that I thought the first two to three episodes were disappointing.  Yes, I know Regina had to grieve but they dumped all that plot development on us and did nothing with it.  Suddenly, everything came to life when Cinderella wanted to reunite (and all thought in a negative way) with her stepsister.  From there on it’s been plot development and interesting stories (that I don’t fall asleep) during.

Let’s look at the latest episode (and yes, I plan another blog on certain aspects of it next time).  We have Snow and Charming having a restful night until a shadow passes over the window (by the way — wonderfully shot).  Snow awakens in the forest confronting the Queen.  The Evil Queen’s threat is directed toward the core family of Once Upon a Time.  I just loved Evil Regina saying:  “Give me your heart or the town of Storybrooke dies.  As the Charming/Miles gather to figure out what the potion given to Snow is, it is Regina who figures out it is from Rumple and the Lost Soul’s underground.  Did anyone expect Rumple to take some of that water?  Did we see it happen?  What else did he bring back with him? Oh, another column looming.

But back to the story.  I was glad to see that the Charmings finally got a story of their own and shown.  This couple has been core to the story and have not really shown up much.  Sure they are in on the action but that is about it.  They ARE what Once Upon a Time centers around:  True Love and what it can do.  By uniting their memories, they find they met even before they knew they met.  That was a neat twist.

I’m actually happy that Belle stood up to Rumple and made it there on her own terms.  She was forceful and called him out.  Yes, there is definitely good in him.  Thus brings me to one of my two downsides.

I have two downsides to last night’s episode and here they are.  I don’t like the Evil Queen and Rumple story line.  I’m hoping this is building to something more. Personally, I’m hoping that Rumple is buying time with the Evil Queen only to join the side of good at the end.  Secondly, I’m more confused about the role of Zelena.  Evil Queenie wants to destroy the town and that means Zelena and baby Robin also.  That light hasn’t dawned yet on Zelena.  More importantly, she’s left with two sisters who have not always told her everything.  Regina tries but Evil Queenie is always only going to go after the good for her.  Zelena now realizes it and the question for her is:  Where do you land — on the side of good or evil?  There is no neutral.

My next piece, hopefully by Wednesday, will be on the sleeping curse.  That plot device is very interesting.

 

Once Upon a Time threw me a curve ball last night.  After the first two episodes, I was worried that the show had lost it’s mojo (bad Austin Power’s reference I know).  Last night’s episode not only kept my attention but advanced the story for which I am thankful.

Let’s first look at the Cinderella aspect of Once Upon a Time. I had forgotten that Cinderella was one of the first people that Emma helped.  Add to this the delicious tidbit that the Evil Queen is going to undo all the good that Emma has done and you have the setup for the perfect story.

Once Upon a Time’s “untold story could have made this a disaster.  Instead, they kept it true to the original feelings.  We were reminded of the Enchanted Forest beginnings.  Add in the twist that Ella thought her stepsister was going to marry the prince.  Stir in an addition that was worthy of Ever After and the story was very well done.  In present day, while we thought Ella was going to off her wicked stepsister, we found out the real story of the real evilness of the stepmother.  She had intended to kill Ella.  She had killed Clorinda’s boyfriend or so it appeared.  Cinderella tried to protect all only to risk her life.  Old stepmom and Clorinda ended up in the land on untold stories with both having huge grudges.

In a nice twist of the ironic, I think that it was very appropriate for Clorinda and Ella to have their showdown in the “dead” boyfriends pumpkin farm in Storybrooke (nice Halloween theme there Once Upon a Time).  Add to it that Emma had to find a way to use her magic when her hand was shaky proved that the “savior” still had it in her to do good when times were bad.  That Ella took the pointed cane for her stepsister set up a reconciliation that was not only worthy but set a new path that the Evil Queen is going to find hard to undo.

Now is passing, let me mention the subplots that also worked.  I loved the combination of Dr. Frankenstein (loved the look for Whale) and Dr. Jekyll.  The pairing of these two have huge plot potential as does the school idea of Snow.  I can see the two Doctor’s teaching Chemistry and Anatomy in the school setting.  Regina may have looked surprised over the school angle but it is a natural progression.

I also liked the subplot that advanced the Hook Emma relationship.  It was time that we saw something happy.  Plus, Regina has had some epiphanies lately that seem key to the year.  She not only realized that Zelena may be working with Evil Queen, but that Snow could be her big alliance.

The one subplot that still isn’t giving me strong positive feelings is the David and his father one.  Not only did he go to Gold for information but now he owes Gold/Rumple a favor.  In this case, it was to take a cassette to Belle.  Just what is on that cassette? Will we learn the truth.

Congratulations Once Upon a Time on a job well done.

Once Upon a Time is now telling the stories of those from another land.  The Land of Untold Endings may be a little bit of a misnomer so I have decided to look into these stories and see what I can find out.  I already know that “Cinderella” is coming up and I’ve already presented on this story before at a conference, so I’m ready for it.

Once Upon a Time has decided to use Morpheus to get to the bottom of the Rumple/Belle mess.  Instead of helping, like Rumple hoped, Morpheus told Belle that he has taken the shape of her unborn son and is there to warn her of what Rumple is capable of.  For me, this didn’t quite run true because I have read mythology in the past.  Morpheus is part of the Greek myth. So, let see what we can find out.

Fact:  Morpheus is the God of Dreams.  He can appear in dreams as any mortal and assume other shapes.  He can also deliver messages from the Greek gods.  So while this is fact, the baby is not yet born so no one knows exactly what the child will look like at birth much less in manhood?

Fact:  While Morpheus could have assumed Belle’s son, Once Upon a Time forgot one important part of the Morpheus duties.  Because all people dream, Morpheus doesn’t have the time to deal with everyone so he calls on his brother.  Phobeter helps as the nightmare god and takes the form of scary, big animals.  Phantasus takes control when a dream is to be fake.  Ikelos takes on the role of conveying true dreams to people so they can understand.  Morpheus seems to be the one to visit the kings and leaders of countries.  While I can see him playing in Rumple’s dreams, is it a little much to think that he would bother with Belle’s dreams.

Fiction:  Morpheus lived in a castle where he waits for people.  Morpheus is not a castle dweller.  According to one source he slept in a “cave full of poppy seeds.”  If he slept in a save, why have a castle waiting for Rumple. He could easily have created Rumple’s castle or shop.

Morpheus as a god does not have a story that ends.  In the world of mythology, his story is ever continuing so we can’t put him in the new land of Hyde.

So was the dream true?  I want to believe that there may have been some truth but more lies in the story that “Morpheus” tells Belle. Rumple does try to do good.  He seems to have committed himself to Belle.  To him family means everything.  To win Neil back, he began to change.  He joined the search for Henry and he treats Emma with respect.  He even works with the forces of good even though he is the Dark One.  Thus, while the Morpheus can project based on Rumple’s past history what could happen, he can’t be sure of people’s changes.

In other words, Rumple’s life has changed and could change again.  Thus, while Once Upon a Time gave us a scenario that splits Rumple and Belle potentially forever, I hope they change their minds and give us a scenario that allows the two to make a  life together.  Morpheus (if it was Morpheus), was basing his assumption on the past.  It is not his gift to know the future.  When Rumple is with Belle, we see his best.  Also, let’s face it Belle doesn’t appear as indecisive cause she is keeping him on the straight and narrow.

Want to know about Morpheus?  Visit this site:

http://www.greekmyths-greekmythology.com/morpheus-the-god-of-dreams/

I read with sorry at lunch today that Agnes Nixon has died.  Agnes Nixon created such shows as One Life to Live and All My Children.  I was a big fan of both of these and my high school science class use to watch All My Children instead of the television program we were assigned.  She even drew the boys into the story.

As a teenager at camp, we would gather round the television to see what was going to happen. We cheered the heroes, booed the villains, and often saw our world being mirrored on the television screen. It was amazing what life lessons you could learn on a 30 minute soap.

When I began doing research on television in the 1990s, ABC daytime was my focus point. Agnes’ influence could be seen in the stories that One Life to Live and All My Children told.  In the 1990s the trend would expand to a show she had ties to but did not create, General Hospital.

I want to take a minute and express my feelings of gratitude to Agnes for understanding me as a teen and into adulthood.  Here are some of the stories that affected my life and how she influenced my view of society..

— Vietnam War.  Agnes (because that’s how I think of her) gave us on All My Children the story of a mother losing her son in the war.  While my friends just missed the draft,we watched others go to war and return changed.  Some didn’t return so we experienced along with Ruth Martin a sense of loss.

— Agnes didn’t think we were dumb. She moved the soaps out of the 1950s and recognized trends in the era that the show aired. She realized that women could not stay at home because the “times they were a’changing.”  She knew mothers had to work to help ends meet so Victoria Lord was shown in the newspaper industry.  Erika would take the role as model, Ruth Martin and nurse.

— She accepted that all people weren’t rich.  On both All My Children and One Life to Live there was a healthy mixture of poor, middle class and rich. And they held jobs and showed compassion to each other. Victoria Lord even married a man who grew up poor.  She didn’t pamper her children but sent them to a regular high school.  When they misbehaved, they were punished.

She respected and show love not only to the people on the show but also to her fans.  She never hesitated to show compassion when something happened on a set and she always treated her fans with respect.  In the late 1990s I attended a conference where she was to be the keynote speaker.  My writing researcher and I had sent word that we had family trees for her shows.  She was unable to attend but sent her assistant to meet with us.  She expressed her gratitude that we had taken the time to research and put these together.  How many people would do that?  Agnes did.

Agnes, you lived and loved throughout your life.  I know you are missed and will be remembered fondly. Go in peace.