And we’re back! It’s been about 4 months since the show left us with the intense ending of “Heroes and Villains” and I swear, I couldn’t have been more excited about the show’s return! Sundays are not the same without OUAT on it.
So how did the episode fare? I’d say it is in a thin edge between “Ok” and “Good”. There’s plenty of stuff in the episode to get people excited about the road of season 4B, but much of what we see is setup.
OUAT’s premieres are almost always pretty much by the book: handle plenty of exposition to build the foundation of the season arc, present a crisis, solve crisis, have a flashback that either introduces or setup the new villain and finally, end up with a little twist of the writers choice. And that would pretty much sum up the entire episode, at least on its core. As such, I find that these kinds of episodes become sort of predictable and mostly something to get by.
And yet there’s something about “Darkness on The Edge of Town” that just makes it a bit especial, a bit of standout from the rest of OUAT’s premieres, and it goes beyond the fact that this time around we have 4 villains: I think is that the show presents its best and worst qualities at the same time, and as such it is completely honest to its audience - especially to possible newcomers- about what they can expect of the show.
OUAT is known for handling poor plot devices at times; this show can be truly awesome - and even inspired - with its storylines from time to time, but that’s mostly when the characters are in the front row. When serving a plot is more important than a characterization that makes sense that’s when the whole thing is at the verge of collapsing, and that’s a swaying line that the show is more than comfortable with than it should be.
There’s this constant willingness to accept an otherwise really bad offer or choice just because it gets the story going. And the show should be much better at it by now. So, you must be wondering now “does this guy really like this show, AT ALL?” and the answer is yes: believe it or not, Once Upon a Time is among my favorite shows. And why that is? Well, let’s get to the best qualities of the show then!
If the whole evil team up is the one aspect of the episode I didn’t buy at all - along with Belle asking for help through the internet, I mean, hello? Who did she think she was asking to? Houdini ?-, the aspect that did work - and worked wonders - is everything that is going on in Storybrooke.
After the cold opening, when we see our heroes starting to lead their “normal” lives in Storybrooke there is some kind of soothing air; the music cues are already hopeful and we can see all of them content with their regular lives, and after all that has happened on Season 4A it feels quite earned. It doesn’t last long, but without much dialogue, the editing already makes for a really warm start, and I couldn’t help but smiling. That already felt incredibly special coming from a premiere episode.
But even though that was a great moment, Emma and Regina steal the spotlight whenever they spend time together. Lana Parilla and Jennifer Morrison have an spectacular chemistry and it’s great to see that the writers seized the opportunity to give them lots of scene to share.
Regina’s quest for redemption has been one of the most inspiring arcs of the show, as the character has truly gone a long way from her evil days, and yet the remnants of those days allow for some truly great complex characterization, and whenever Emma enters the scene we get to see someone who fully trusts in Regina’s goodness and she brings the best of her.
Now, the whole black winged demon creature that attacked town once it left the hat… that’s just more obvious plot device to keep the story going, but it works by giving us more time of Emma and Regina team up, while also showing us how everyone has gotten already used to this. Considering how much Storybrooke has been through, I would have rolled my eyes if Snow and David asked “what are we going to do?” instead of outright going into action, which is what they did. Even Emma acknowledges how quickly they grasped the situation and prepared to take action.
The crisis is resolved after Regina and Emma strike down a deal over the phone with Cruella and Ursula to get info on how to beat the beast. The solution - driving the creature to the town line - is both quick, smart and makes complete sense, so I don’t have any complains on that or the follow up scenes.
What I liked the most about it is that, while it is completely reckless to let villains into your town - and Snow made a really good argument there, about never being able to fully trust an enemy -, the fact that Cruella and Ursula said they were looking for redemption stroke her close to home, and so it makes sense she would be willing to give them a second chance, especially since she was the one who most needed one, and it’s nice to see Emma standing by her.
The episode finishes with Rumple getting in town as Cruella and Ursula get him in and he reveals that he has plans to bring Maleficent back to the group and that the creature was actually looking to devour Emma’s heart, which is the one that has the most potential for darkness.
There is a saying that says “the brighter the light the deeper the shadow” and I think it applies perfectly here. Just as much as Emma can be the savior, she can also be the destroyer, and I’m really looking forward to see how the writers explore the darkness within Emma, a route they have never taken before. This would allow her to become even more complex and compelling. And any chance to have a role reversal in which Regina is the savior and Emma is the evil one I can just say: “Bring it on!” as I believe it will bring truly fruitful storylines to enjoy.
So in the end, “Darkness on the Edge of Town” is in essence just as any OUAT premiere, but what makes it standout among all of them is how it manages to handle our main characters so well on the Storybrooke front. Sadly, everything that happens in New York seems to be just out of convinience to keep the show moving forward. The flashback bits were a tad amusing, with the highlight being Ursula saving Maleficent de-facto forming the legion of doom-esquee “Queens of Darkness”, but the execution was pretty rushed.
With a little more work brought into it, this could have been a pretty great episode. As a whole it feels a bit disjointed, with parts that work and doesn’t work at the same time. But all in all, I’m just happy that the show is back! And I’m sure I’ll enjoy what’s coming up!
Grade: B
Stray Observations:
-I have no idea why Regina burnt down the bird painting; it is obviously a wink to the audience to remind us of the parallel of Snow White and the Evil Queen, but it seems like the show should be past that by now. I’ll just think she is not much a fan of birds.
-While looking for the dark curse, Cruella and Maleficent showed their respectives powers, while Ursula was reduced to just using her tentacle to grab the orb that had the curse. When I saw that I honestly said “lame” out loud.
-On the same note, how in hell nobody noticed the beast coming out of the hat? The thing flew up high and it is pretty big, did everyone just stare at the ground while it was coming out?
-The fairies are pretty shaken up by being imprisoned in the hat for so long. I wouldn't like to imagine what that experience would have been like. It couldn’t have been nice.
-I like that Emma and Hook act normal with each other and not so over the top.
-Rumple is not a fan of instant ramen: I get it, I got bored of it too.
-So who is going to feed Ursula’s fish?
-By what we see I suppose Cruella married a millionaire in this world and started a con with him, got caught, and that’s why the police was taking her stuff. But then she ran out with her car and no one even bothered to stop her. I better do not question the logic here or this whole thing will fall apart.
-Snow and David have a dark secret and some history with Cruella and Ursula - and most likely with Maleficent too -. Anything that keeps them away from baby plots is welcome.
-Maleficent: “Just who the hell may you be?”
Ursula: “Ursula, but you can call me ‘your majesty’”
Maleficent: “I don’t bow down to fish.”
Ursula: “Who are you?”
Maleficent: “I’m the person who is trying not to get strangled or impregnated, I don’t know what those tentacles are for.”
-Hook: “I’m sure the savior and the evil queen can come up with a way to defeat this beast.”
Regina: “Drop the ‘e’ word already!”
-I honestly can’t wait to meet the author! So much possibilities there!
GOD! HOW I MISSED YOUR REVIEWS!!!!
ReplyDeleteHe he, thanks :D! I've missed doing them too :)
ReplyDeleteHey, I´ve got a question. The entire sereis it´s been said that The Dark One created the Dark Curse, this epsode proves that the dark curse already existed and he just used The Queens of Darkness to get it, right? I thought it was way too easy to get it, I mean, considering it can destroy that whole world and go to another one.
ReplyDeleteOne of OUAT's flaws in display; not to mention Rumple held into it when in the pilot Regina had to get it from Maleficent. There's some inconsistency there.
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah, it was quite easy to get, even with the beast there to guard it, it didn't seems like a real challenge.
Sometimes OUAT writers take the easy way out and just make things that serve plot development a bit careless. Some other times - when they do a really good job -, the characters realize the ridicoulness of it all and make some great lines on the way and lead the development themselves.
The best and worst of OUAT is in display here
I'm super excited for 4B, especially after the Frozen arc bored me so much I would have tuned out if not for my love of a couple of characters. All the spoilers for this next half are really encouraging though!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see Mal back :D I've been waiting for her friendship with Regina in the past to be explored ever since 1x02.
Re. the bird painting - I'm pretty sure they were just winking at the fact that in 4A (Rocky Road), Regina spotted the painting hanging up, which Snow said was to 'add a personal touch' to the place...Regina really seemed to hate that painting lol. "Well you've succeeded...hideously".
I know, I mean, the monster took forever to wake up, Rumple told the whole story and got out, and I don´t understand why he didn´t let the queens get out too, they had time.
ReplyDeleteRegina just thought the painting was hideous ... :-)
ReplyDeleteNot really an inconsistency, though. The pilot also had Maleficent saying that she wasn't the creator of the Dark Curse, implying that she got it elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteAnd we also know that Rumple trained Regina hoping that she'd be able to cast the curse. It's not without the realm of possibility that Rumple gave the Dark Curse to Maleficent to hold after driving Regina to cast it, with it all being part of their plan.
If Rumple swayed Cruella and Ursula back on his side, he could've done the same to Maleficent.
They made mistake with whole "creation of Dark Curse" but Rumple did not have it in s01e01. Trust me. He gave it to Regina, Regina gave it to Maleficent for sleeping curse and then she had to retrieve it.
ReplyDeleteMistake with whole "creation of Dark Curse" was made but Rumple did not have it in s01e01. Trust me. He gave it to Regina, Regina gave it to Maleficent for sleeping curse and then she had to retrieve it.
ReplyDeleteOh right. I had forgotten about that. I forgot that Regina had swapped it for the sleeping curse.
ReplyDeleteIt's getting a bit confusing either way
ReplyDeleteThis article makes me wonder why from your dissection of the episode you like the show. but that seems neither here not there to the fans of the show who are for the most part lemmings taking fan to the furthest extent the term allows. They have a Mary Poppins mentality to the show accepting anything although implausible as long as it is sugar coated. One day I hope we find they bring in Miracle Max to sell chocolate coated magic and then tell you he is Willy Wonka as well.
ReplyDeleteBut now to your Stray thoughts:
The Painting was burned because it was in poor taste. That was made clear last season. If you are looking for a deeper significance, the painting replaced the mirror Regina exploded when she thought Robin would choose Mariane over her. What you have in that one scene is Snow's perspective on hope going up in flames while The tattered remains of the extra page are taped together in a near by drawer. It is all about apperances.
As for Ursula, I try and look past the fact that she is black and Ariel is not and know there is no way they can write this character with any from of history as basically Ursula should be Ariel's mother, the evil queen of the ocean. As for her powers on dry land, she should have none. Her big power day is the winter solstice and this is only one day a year. So live with the tentacle thing. Personally think she should look like a grape, all purple and squid like.
Yes, they all stood looking at the ground or rather the faeries on the ground. What you should have been wondering is how Chernabog wound up in the hat and who wrote the dark curse if not Rumple? Look down not up for your possible answer.
Faeries in ghat like General Zod in Phantom Zone, imagine a black hole and endless darkness with no light in sight and then imagine it is slowing eating you alive, in short imagine they all have alzheimers.
Back to Ursula and ramen, Still not getting what Ursula is doing on dry land and not looking like a sea creature as the show has already shown sea beings can cross realms without a portal and as such it would make sense Ursula could come and go as she pleases. Ramen, is just Ramen, cheap food. The fish will die in a week, fresh water silver plats, doomed. Would have been better if eels.
Onto Cruella, you should question what she is doing in this realm as Regina did not bring Cruella along with Regina. You also should question the Dark curse as none of these women were there when it was enacted to take a lock of their hair.
Now for a bit of my on conjecture. Blue is most likely the black faerie or at least was at one point, In a Harry Potter manner she created horcrux to store parts of herself making those objects magical and creating along with them new personas of herself, Blue, the Author, the Sorcerer and perhaps one more, Lily. Note she knows the truth of the book, the author and the Sorcerer but in a stern expression does not go into detail. Nothing new there, she has been manipulating people all along. Helps Rumple become dark one. Helps Jiminy become cricket. Leaves Pinnochio with strings attached. Finds magic tree. Tells Rumple nothing about Sorcerer but hints at a curse being beyond his reach. Gives Baelfire the magic bean. Yells at Tinkerbelle over Regina. Has black wand all of a sudden when needed. Turns August back into Pinocchio.So many things point to her being more than she lets on to be. She could even be the Wizard of Oz. Dumb thought but why would the silver slippers exist if not for some ultimately powerful female being, why would the hat be blue,why is the dagger that you must be willing to kill to use, why the wand you have to have magic to use. These could all be parts on one person's effects made to tarp evil in one convert evil in another and in the case of the books preserve and protect goodness. Think deathly Hallows but think this is no dark or evil only right and wrong and to keep the universe in balance power must be split.
Oh and one more twisted thought, how did Rumple know the chernabog was in the hat in order to free him?
♥♥♥♥ I. LOVE. YOUR. POST. ♥♥♥♥ i ALSO "personally think she should look like a grape, all purple and squid like." or thin, but "like a grape, all purple and squid" like Regina in s03e06.
ReplyDeleteI love the show because of its originality and because when it enters the zone and snaps its characters into focus it delivers some really great moment, especially when it comes to Regina.
ReplyDeleteOUAT is an incredibly entertaining show, and I can go with the anything goes logic to an extent, but sometimes I find the show just pulls it too far and becomes ridicolous instead of fun. But even then, I'm still a fan because I'm honestly entertained by it can be truly outstanding at times. And because I love the show is that I'm so critical of it: if I see something that doesn't convince me or that I have a hard time buying, I'll comment on it. This episode isn't the strongest of the series, but it's a good episode that builds some solid fundation for the rest of the season.
Most of all I think OUAT needs to trust its audience a bit better so they can deliver a script that's more sharp instead of just all over the place. And the show has done it before.
I don't lie when I say I love the show, I truly do, but it has some fundamental flaws on it and I intend to call on them. Even my favorite show, The 100, has its share of flaws and I call on them on my reviews.
By the way, I honestly just skipped the stary observations post because I need to run xD, but I'll be sure to adress it once I come back :)
I have no problem with the actress but she is not purple
ReplyDeletePersonally, Regina is over done as is Rumple taking much of the possibility out of the show. So many characters in town and we seldom see them. I hate the way Red and Tink and Grumpy are basically filler. The town is not believeable as a town in this respect.
ReplyDeleteAs for audience, They talk with them but I do not think they respect the audience. It is a one way street going nowhere much like the main road in Storybrooke.
Me , I liked the behind the scene episode more than the first episode as it dealt with timing of things but that seen does not help me when I see some things that just do not make sense like Henry hopping a bus to Boston when buses do not come to town.
Because... he does not care about anyone but himself. When was he ever nice to anybody?
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's a mistake so much as a case of Rumple not having been forthcoming about the curse's origins.
ReplyDeleteI assumed that Cruella's husband was the one in trouble, so she was allowed to keep her old possessions from before marriage like the car and the coat, and to leave.
ReplyDeleteMaleficent actually said "I'm the one whose valet you either knocked out, strangled, or tried to impregnate. I don't know what those tentacles are for."
"I would have tuned out if not for my love of a couple of characters" right?! That and the Snow Queen and some sudden changes of pace here and there, but overall 4A wasn't that strong, it was kind of a snoozefest, as much as I actually loved Anna bein' cute'n'all. 4B is already so much better, we were wrong to doubt 'em (Eddy & Adam), weren't we?
ReplyDeleteRed is not even a filler anymore. I think it's safe to assume she run off into the woods, lol. (Pun not intended. XD) It has been like what...1/1.5 season since we last saw her?
ReplyDeleteShe was in season 3 B in the finale,
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should've phrased my comment differently. I meant the time when she actually had something to do and was involved in the main or seconadry plots in some capacity...Sadly, those days are long gone. It's a shame.
ReplyDelete