From the moment it was revealed that Marian was actually Zelena posing as her I knew this episode was an automatic A. Whatever small detail that bugged about the episode was little in comparison of the greatness of this twist because: A) Rebecca Madder is back!, and B) It makes for an incredibly tight and entertaining hour of television.
Though I have a rule of the dead staying dead and OUAT has often violated this rule with poor results, this is the time where they actually pulled off a resurrection greatly, because it ties up with several past episodes arcs and makes the story all the more connected and interesting. As such, can I be mad that the writers resurrected Zelena? Not a chance!
If there could be any complains about the episode that would be that Will Scarlet, even in a flashback that seems key for him, still has almost no place in this show and essentially expendable, and that every Storybrooke plot halts on the expense of Robin Hood and Rumple’s storyline on New York over the time gap.
But as I said, those complains are so minor in comparison to the grand schemes of things, so I honestly couldn’t care less. Even the flashback, which isn’t really stellar, manages to build up to the big Zelena twist in a good manner; at first I rolled my eyes a bit that we got what seemed another boring flashback about Robin Hood being both a thief and an honorable man, but the importance of it is how it connects with the rest of the episode.
If Robin Hood didn’t go for the potion on real life like he did in the flashback, then nothing would have been set in motion for this half back of the season. And while I thought that it was quite dumb for Robin to help Rumple, OUAT has created enough suspension of disbelief to let it slide; besides, Robin’s character hasn’t been brought to his darker sides as Snow and Charming have been lately, so it’s understandable why he would help.
Last summer I said that bringing Marian back was one of the worst choices the writers made, but now I think is pretty worth it to get to the glorious moment in which it turns out that it was Zelena all along. We’ve been told that magic can never be destroyed, so it does follow with the show's logic, and while some of you may be bugged that she was brought back for shock value, I actually think she has a lot to offer for the show, and the way the show rolled with it was just filled with inspiration and excitement.
I honestly couldn’t have enough of it, and Rumple twisting Regina’s hand by telling her that Robin’s fate was hanging in the balance, and that she had to help him turn Emma dark is moving the plot forward in a very interesting direction.
There’s no better Regina than a conflicted Regina; she doesn’t want to do Rumple’s bidding, she honestly cares for Emma and I’m sure she’ll do anything possible to help on her situation, but everything is so messed up, with Robin's life pending on a thread, and it open so much possibilities that, even while I feel a lot for Regina, I just can’t see past the fruitful storylines up ahead.
A few weeks ago I said that OUAT has struck gold with its current storyline; I think now we have finally saw what the show can be when it’s pushing its potential, something similar to what happened during “Fall” on the first half back of the season; there’s just so much possibilities and it was thoughtfully entertaining that I just can’t help but smile as I write this review.
There is nothing I love more than to write a positive OUAT review: I love the show and I love when it delivers. And though I know not everyone feels the same - I checked the “What did you think?” section -, I just can’t be more happy.
Every line landed, the worst scenes on the episode were carried either by thematic continuity and/or humor, and the highs came from the smartly developed twist that made this episode so worthy and so delightful. This is what I want to feel with OUAT every single week.
Grade: A
Stray Observations:
-David and Snow tell Emma they met the author. I like how David says “we are only human!”, it ties back with what I have stated multiple times during this season that the writers are trying to humanize the heroes.
-Rumple has the author; now that was easy.
-Modern things Robin Hood doesn’t approve of: alarms, they make his ears hurt and make his tasks as thief harder. He also isn’t fond of thieves on bikes.
-I love how at one point Zelena imitated Rumple’s voice.
-At the moment where Rumple’s heart stopped I honestly thought that Zelena would disguise as him and it would have turned out that she was assembling the queens of darkness all along; it would have been like when Lost killed John Locke. It would have been pretty bold, but I’m still happy with the direction they went with.
-Rolan is essentially lifeless during this episode. I hope that he is the one to figure out that Marian is Zelena and that he tells Robin, that would give him some purpose. Though Will is the first priority on which characters need purpose.
-The show had an unusual strong moment with Rumple and Robin as Rumple told him to grab on his happy ending. It makes one wonder if one does truly have one happy ending or if there are multiple ones waiting around the corner, as at one time Marian seemed to be Robin’s. I guess there’s plenty of directions for it to work out, and in rather unexpected ways.
-Next week we have Cruella to look forward to: I wonder what they’ll do with her backstory,
Great review Pablo. Agree on almost everything!
ReplyDeleteThe 2nd half of this episode was probably the best Once has delivered in quite a while. I mean it felt really intense and drove me to to dig my head into the screen. Once has an issue to start an episode these days, it feels so flat and really doesn't work for me. But when they dig through some boring stuff I really enjoy the episode.
People were commenting on the Zelena twist for quite some while and even though I expected it the way Rebecca acted her lines was brilliant and a beautiful pay off for this twist.
Regina's face at the end spoke million tales really great acting by Lana (not that we are surprised).
I completely agree on Will being useless, he really bothered me in the flashbacks and didn't contribute to the story besides name dropping his sister again and establish a relation between Will and Robin.
-The only thing I disagree is that bringing back "normal" Marian was a poor choice. I loved challenging Regina in a different way.
Things I want the to clarify Zelena being struck by SQ dark magic? And Regina taking her heart! Why Zelena didn't age either?
Zelena needs to learn PERSONAL SPACE! it bothers the hell out of me how close she gets to everyone
ReplyDeleteI personaly think it fits with her crazy personality
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment!
ReplyDeleteI agree, OUAT starts a bit slow, but in this particular episode it was handled OK, though I can't say at was really interested at Robin Hood's story at first, but it soo payed off.
About the aging, I know it will dealt with during next episode, so we'll have to wait and see what the writers do to explain it
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Lol I can't believe how people can have so many different points of view about a episode :p
ReplyDeleteFor me it was the WORST twist ever and a tie with "selfless brave and true" for the worst ep of OUAT. Don't get me wrong, I love that Zelena's back (and I LOVE R. Madder) but this "plot twist" was so bad in its execution that I can even believe they dared to to this.... They must really think we are all stupid because Marian being Zelena ALL ALONG!? That makes absolutely NO SENSE at all when you think about 4A.... Zelena replacing Marian somewhere in the end of 4A, that, I would have gladly accepted but this incoherent storyline? NO no no.
I don't care for Robin at all so the ep was so boring to me except for Rumple/Zelena and Rumple/Regina at the end. Emma giving a deserved hard truth to her parents was amazing as well
For Will, I absolutely love him because of OUATIW but you're right, why on earth did they brought him to OUAT??
While for me this episode was 95% terrible I must admit that at least it will bring some interesting thing for the rest of the season
PS1 : I respect your opinion about the ep and this comment is absolutely not there to invalidate what you think :)
PS2 : hiiiiiiii Zelena's back!! Even if I'm angry about the way she was brought back, I'm still so happy to see her again!! :D
I didn't really like the episode. Yes, the Zelena twist was great, but the episode was almost completely flashbacks. The enchanted forest/Oz flashbacks were unnecessary. I would have prefered to see more of the author. Next week I guess.
ReplyDeleteI understand your frustration, I've felt that way with some OUAT episodes, and I respect your opinion. Going in, I knew this episode would be divisive to say the least.
ReplyDeleteI personally just rolled with it; it's surprising how there are things that are "no, no" for me while there are others that I just can easily let slide if I like the direction the episode is taking; the thing is, I love that Zelena is back, and I see so much good stuff up ahead that I may oversee some issues with the execution, but I just love how Rumple is so terrified while Zelena starts to terrorize him and explain everything; I just find it so incredibly exhilirating and fun that I thought that it came together perfectly, at least it did for me.
And Zelena being there to mess with Regina's happiness? Now, that's some fun the show is having!
I think Ursula's and Cruella's aging will be addressed not sure about Zelena not aging in during the course in Oz. But maybe just maybe in 4x20 /Mother) the episode where Cora comesback we see her being in the EF and not aging.
ReplyDeleteAlso one thing I hopefully will explored is Regina and Zelena, I thought it there was so much more space for them to interact but Zelena being so much more powerful ruined that.
They were above the regular flashbacks scenes for me, I mostly give them a pass because there is a thematic continuity with what we see on the episode and sets up in motion everything, so I see them as build up to the great twist, and it made go from mildly enjoying the episode to love it once Marian turns out to be Zelena
ReplyDeleteI agree with a lot of your points. But what I don't get is if Marian/Zelena was then in fact under the Snow Queen's curse. Did Regina save her - twice? Or was it all a big game for Zelena?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I don't think we need to see any more "choosing" from Robin. I think that could have been handled better by the writers. He chose Regina because he wanted to live truthfully. Now, he changed his mind. Kind of confusing honor codes there. But I still like Robin as part of the show.
I think that Zelena was never, in fact, in danger and just played them, waiting for the chance to rake Robin away from Regina.
ReplyDeleteAs for Robin, he is at a crossrodes in which he wants to fall in love with Marian again and I think the reason is pretty simple: it is the easy way out, and he wants a family for his son. If he left for Storybrooke that means leaving him alone, and who knows what Zelena would do to him if Robin left. But I agree that maybe it could have been handled better, I think maybe if they tweaked Robin's lines it could have been more engaging
Oh don't worry on that I absolutly agree with you! Zelena being back is something I wanted since 4x01 :) I will forever hate the execution but at least I'm sure I will love the result :D
ReplyDeleteyeah i guess but it REALLY annoys me, it was the same with Jafar and the Jebberwocky on OUAT in Wonderland
ReplyDeleteFair enough, at least you are looking for fruitful storylines up ahead :)
ReplyDeleteTo each his own, I honestly couldn't have enough of her caressing Rumple while terrorizing him. It was delightfully disturbing!
ReplyDeletemaybe Zelena is just powerful enough not to age. Rumple doesn't either, even before the curse.
ReplyDeleteThink The Dark One is immortal till someone else stakes him and robes his powers.
ReplyDeleteI hope it will at least addressed.
"I love how at one point Zelena imitated Rumple’s voice."
ReplyDeleteLOVED THAT SCENE.
i'm happy that Zelena's back, her character is much more interesting than Marian. But it's a way to solve Robin's dilemma between his wife and mother of his son and his soulmate. I didn't see the episode already, but only a short scene when Marian turns into Zelena and i think the actress who plays Marian were pretty good in Zelena's mode. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnd just like every one here, i am so eager to learn more about Cruella De Vil ! I hope an "A+++" episode !!
LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
ReplyDeleteI feel bad for Outlaw Queen. Their current situation is so like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-TArwP7uBs
And add to the fact that in some way or another, Zelena seems to be really the one calling the shots and not Rumple surprisingly.
ReplyDeleteThis is a mess, but for me, it's a beautiful mess.
ZELENA IS BACK.
ReplyDeleteTHE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST IS BACK.
YAAAS.
Mariah Carey announces #1toInfinity and OUAT brings back the Wicked Witch of the West. It doesn’t get much better.
ReplyDeleteOverall I loved this episode. Zelena has always been one of my favorite villains. And the Rumple/Zelena scenes were over the top awesome. I can't wait to see how much trouble Zelena can cause for Regina and the rest of Storybook. I'm also looking forward to seeing how Rumple ultimately handles his deal with Zelena. I can't imagine he'll really let go of his desire to avenge his son's death.
ReplyDeleteA couple of things I found confusing or disappointing about this episode are
1. That the Author seemed to be more afraid of the hero brigade catching him than he was of the Dark One. Either the Author is really desperate to get a magical quil or he's an idiot. I'd chose being held captive by the Charmings over Rumple any day.
2. I never watched OUAT Wonderland so I'm not invested in Will Scarlet's character and the writers don't seem to be giving me a reason to care when he's on my screen.
3. I have always been a fan of the OutlawQueen pairing but the final scene between Robin and Marion/Zelena dimmed that for me greatly. I find it sad that the writers are basically telling us that while Robin is Regina's true love, his true love is and always will be Marion. I also have to agree with the other comments about being tired of watching Robin choose. It's like watching a tennis match being played with Regina's heart, and it makes Robin look like he'll chose whoever happens to be available at the moment.
Overall I loved this episode and can't wait for the rest of the season to play out.
yeah, you're right, the dark one is special. Zelena had at least magic available during the time in question, not so Ingrid, Cruela and Ursula.
ReplyDeletefor now. no way Rumple doesn't have a plan to strike back. If/when he gets the potion from Zelena, he will go after her (if she isn't killed before).
ReplyDeleteThey said there will be an explanation for Ursula and Cruella next week. So maybe there is a rule to play of.
ReplyDeleteI loved the episode, Zelena's ressurection was probably the best handled one on the show. It would also make sense for Zelena to do everything Marion did as a way to ruin regina's happiness. Rebecca is an amazing actress and she gets me so into her characters. She really brings the screen to life.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I haven't seen many reviews mention is how this episode also explained away Robin Hood's recasting. One of the things he stole from the wicked witch was the clover that let's you preform the glamour spell. He would have had this when he stole the wand from rumple, which explains why he didn't recognize him. He probably also gave it to marion, which explains why Zelena had it on hand for taking her place.
As far as your review, great as always. You think things out well and are honest, which doesn't always happen in a review-some think it has to be sunshine and roses-so thanks for that.
ReplyDeleteThe episode itself was fairly entertaining. I am not sure I would give it an A but a B or B+. I liked the story of Marion and Robin Hood and no one plays a wicked witch better than Bex Mader!
What I didn't like is the continued emphasis on Robin being an honorable man and then he did what he did to Marion with Regina. I know some think that it was because he thought Marion was dead and he fell in love with Regina, I get that but it still doesn't speak to being honourable if you are sleeping with someone else. When I see the Marion/Robin story it is even harder to understand.
I guess my problem is still how the OQ story is being told. The only thing having Zelena be Marion is so OQ can happen. Whomever was Marion doesn't change any of what happened as Emma was bringing her back so the fact it was Zelena didn't change anything. I was a little confused, so I went back and watched 411. The reason Zelena wanted to take over Marions body was to go back to SB and make Regina's life a living hell, so why did she basically tell Robin to be with Regina? The only reason Robin went with Marion was because she was sick and had to live in a land without magic/ I guess I am wondering then, why would Zelena let that happen? How can she make Regina's life hell from New York? It would be much more painful to be in SB and have Regina see them and suffer. Is this really the plan for the season, or is it an attempt to address that many fans are not liking how this story is being told. I really don't mind th
Cora is back? How did I miss that? Thanks for the info!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, thank for your comment! I truly appreciate your kind words :)
ReplyDeleteNow, about the whole Marian/Zelena situation; I think she wanted to keep Robin from Regina so she tricked both of them, forcing Robin to go to NY with her only so Regina couldn't have him, after all she said she couldn't win Robin's heart, so the best next thing to make Regina misserable is to keep her true love away from her.
I understand that this looks like it was made to make the OQ story fit, but I think that the first priority here was to make a surprising and very entertaining twist, plus giving Rebecca Madder a backdoor to come back to the show. Making the OQ story work seems more like a sidedish to me than a priority.
And about Robin Hood's code; he was an honorable man in the past and he let his code slide by following his heart and going for Regina during the Frozen arc, and now that he is not with her it seems like he wanted to regain his honor by following his code once again.
Great review. You are the real MVP
ReplyDeleteOmg what is worse....for Regina........Emma bringing Marion back OR Emma bringing zelena back...... Oh my.
ReplyDeleteYep Barbara Hersching is coming back for an episode. I assume it's 4x20.
ReplyDeleteTotally makes sense! Zelena is so wicked I don't doubt she played being frozen again so Robin and Regina are seperated after they got together. It makes more sense than the former situation in which Marian became refrozen just because some magic of the Snow Queen was left in her body.
ReplyDeleteI repeated it a second time because it was so brilliantly done by Rebecca Mader.
ReplyDeleteThere's just too many retcons and cheap resurrections. Rumple, now Zelena...
ReplyDeleteNow they retconned Zelena because people liked her. Who also started out as a retcon poorly forced into past events, not that she's the only one. They're doing it since season 2.
For how long can they keep writing in characters in the past that before the whole thing falls apart?
Zelena being Marian is a way to resolve the poorly received adultery of Robin. However, this does not resolve the fact that Robin was less than honorable throughout 4A because at the end of the day, he thought that Marian was Marian. He did not lift one finger other than a kiss to find any resolution for Marian's cure. He was day drinking, moping around like his wife was a burden, and was more willing to help Regina with the book than asking his friend (Belle) or the fairies for assistance. And as soon as his wife was down for the count, he jumped on Regina despite her wish for him to get his distance. Now that he is in NY, and Regina is not with him, now he wants to make it work with Marian????
ReplyDeleteRobin is not a compelling character and they should have integrated him better into Storybrooke life. At least he never tried to kill any of the Charmings.
At the end of the day, though Zelena killed Marian, Regina is still responsible for killing Marian in the original timeline. I just don't find it good storytelling to root for Robin being with is wife's murderer which left his son motherless. And that shouldn't be justified just because 30 year old pixie dust said that they are soulmates.
No matter how much they repeated "code" in this episode, I still don't buy any it and it was annoying for them to keep repeating, telling us he is honorable instead of doing a consistent job showing us. Anyway, I can't wait for the next episode. Cruella is the best guest villain of this arc and has such a personality.
To me the credibility of Zelena being in disguise is more bothersome.
ReplyDeleteAm I supposed to believe that he let herself be frozen and her heart be taken out? And otherwise not doing anything while all that stuff happened... I guess she would have let herself crushed by the snowmonster if it wasn't for Regina?
Meanwhile perfectly playing a role of a woman she never knew...
It's just a gaping plothole.
Thank you very much! Really appreciate it :)
ReplyDeleteDefinetely bringing Zelena, if Marian was brought back the evil queens arc may have not even be triggered, but it's a close one
ReplyDeleteI think the saving grace of this resurrection is that bringing in Zelena back makes up for juicy and very entertaining storylines and it was delivered in an exciting way IMO. Rumple's resurrection, on the other hand, was very lame
ReplyDeleteSeriously as much as I like Mader in the show, her Rumple imitation being hilarious and all, this was a terrible twist as it contradicts all of the show since Hook kissed Emma and Zelena took Emma's powers. That's right, if Zelena does not die and her life force lives on so that she retains her magic she retains Emma's magic as well and thus Emma could not have done anything in season 4A or 4B or even come home in 3B. Note the fact they omitted the part where the smoke come to the crypt and joins with the pendant from 3B hoping the audience does not remember that is where Zelena's magic and life force was stored along with Emma's magic as well. Then again according to this rewrite Zelena got to the time portal first so it should have taken them all to Eva and not Snow but it did not. Logic fails these writers. Like the idea that Zelena would kill Marian who she has never met and who has never identified herself to anyone but some how Zelena knows what Emma does not. Guess Marian was killed after Blue showed up as well because Blue would see through the Glamour like she did with Emma. And let us not forget that Rumple checked Emma's luggage as well.
ReplyDeleteOh but while they are messing with glamour it was fun to see "Will" supposedly pop up in Oz and get a potion that would have made the entire Red Queen tale moot,knowing that Robin had a deal with Rumple even though Robin never mentioned a deal with "Rumple"; and wishing Robin well. (Most likely not Will as Rumple lived for 28 years without magic and with his damaged heart.) The question one should be asking is why send a thief when you have magic to steal what you want (gauntlet)?
Also, since when doe Rumple have access to portals so that Robin can use one?
AND ON CRUELLA, they will do the abused child thing yet again and throw in the Author as her on true love for giggles and a lack of creativity, making dalmations evil to boot. They turn the story upside down and add a little Gatsby fair to the imagery. (You asked)
Huh. You pointed out a lot of things I forgot about. Well, this has to be the biggest plothole in the show by far.
ReplyDeleteAlso are we to believe that she was constantly wearing the clover amulett and no-one noticed even when she was frozen/unconscious.
"see through the Glamour like she did with Emma"
This was in the time-travel? My memories are fuzzy.
"And let us not forget that Rumple checked Emma's luggage as well."
What's this exactly?
Yes, kind of hard to forget Zelena tooka awy emma's magic before dying and that is the only reason Emma gets it back as it is trapped in an amulet inside the box Regina will one day insert Marian/Zelena's heart.
ReplyDeleteA bit easier to forget when Snow called Blue to change her back into a human froma love bug and Blue knows Emma is not Princess Leia and standing right behind Emma is Marian. And then when Emma wants to go home Hook carries in Marian/ Zelena and Rumple calls Marian their luggage, of course not sensing that the person on the table is not Marian. Rumple has the power of sight as a seer and that should have told him like Blue's powerd told Blue that this was not the person they thought it was. Remember, Rumple unlike Zelena had seen Marian by that time, and had not shot Marian or Robin with an arrow from a bow we are now supposed to believe was magically enchanted in Omaha to shoot golden arrows and never miss their marks. I could shred this episode piece by piece but why bother.
People are enjoying a fiction with no logic and that is fine for many. For me I simply scratch my head that there are credit cards being used on fictional banks and apartments owned for three or years with no rent and no taxes being collected, Magical Obamacare for Rumple, bill less cell phones and internet and let us not forget the only person we know with portal doors other than the Sorcerer is Jefferson and unless Will is the Sorcerer in disguise (cough cough) you are missing a scene or six to explain the portal.
I know in one way it seems mean to tell writing staffs what they missed but I assume I could be wrong or they can change anything with their magic quills, assuming of course they were made before all the magical trees in the enchanted forest were destroyed. Thank goodness for magic typewriters. On can only get what they are made out of.