Best Laid Plans

In this episode, we finally get to see how Snow & Charming caused Maleficent to lose her child as they come across a Peddler (played by Patrick Fischler), who tells them to meet the Sorcerer's Apprentice. They make a deal so that they can get rid of Emma's darkness by using a vessel to put it in someone, ultimately choosing Maleficent's egg, until they discover after stealing it that a child is inside of it & that the Apprentice would send it to another realm & while trying to save it, accidentally push Ursula & Cruella into the portal in the process.

Poor Unfortunate Soul

As if the title didn't make it any more obvious, we now get to see a teenage Ursula (played by Tiffany Boone) and her past with Hook, as it turned out that she was a free spirited mermaid in Neverland with her father King Poseidon (played by special guest star Ernie Hudson) with a beautiful singing voice, but had to use it to lure ships to kill pirates (for revenge on Poseidon's part as pirates killed Ursula's mother)

Enter The Dragon

In this episode, we get to see Maleficent's backstory along with some insight to the Sleeping Beauty story (finally) & her & Regina's friendship origins as it's revealed that Maleficent (who's pretty much a parallel of a retired washed up celebrity in this episode) actually cursed Aurora in adulthood before her wedding to Philip for revenge against her mother Briar Rose thanks to some motivation from Regina (who's growing impatient at Rumple for not teaching her how to stop Snow White) despite King Stefan (played by Sebastian Roche) trying to stop them.

Unforgiven

Directed by Adam Horowitz (one half of the creators of the show), this episode details the connection between Snow & Charming & the Queens of Darkness, where their dark secret is revealed: after they all go to the Tree of Wisdom to find a way to stop Regina & the Dark Curse, it turns out they can't answer their question as Snow is pregnant, where it's also revealed that not only were they already aware that Emma had potential to be dark, but also that Maleficent is pregnant & wanted to team up with Snow to stop the curse because they both want to protect their children, only for Snow to refuse as Maleficent is a villain. In Storybrooke, we get to see David & Mary Margaret try to avoid Maleficent being revived so she can't reveal their secret, only to fail thanks to Ursula & Cruella forming a ruse to lure them into the mines so they could use their blood to resurrect her. Meanwhile, Emma, Regina & Henry question Pinocchio over the book as his August self tampered with it, but after Regina goes too far to try & force Pinocchio into remembering, Marco tells her to stay away & that her plan is a lost cause, but after apologising, he gives her August's belongings to find possible clues as to who the author is!

Darkness On The Edge of Town

Finally, after nearly 3 months, we are finally back & this was definitely worth the very long wait! After the events of the midseason finale, Rumple & Ursula go off to find Cruella in Long Island so they can convince her to team up with them to find the author of the book so they can all get happy endings. The flashbacks reveal that Rumple had sent for Maleficent, Ursula & Cruella & promises them their happy endings if they can obtain the Dark Curse from a number of obstacles, including the Chernabog from Fantasia. In Storybrooke, Emma, Regina & Henry also begin their quest to find the author, but first have to find a way to save the fairies from the hat they were entrapped in along with Belle & Hook, only to accidentally release Chernabog in the process. However, when Emma & Regina fight him off with their magic, it only manages to drive him away instead of destroying him as it's revealed that he's after someone whose heart can contain much darkness, initially believed to be Regina, but instead turns out to be Emma according to Mr Gold (and it's revealed he was the professor from Oxford that sent Belle a translation to get everyone out of the hat). Once the former head towards the town line, Cruella & Ursula manage to make a deal with Regina & Emma under the pretense that they have redeemed themselves, as they plan to use scrolls like the one Ingrid used in order to cross through, also making a deal with Rumple for him to cross with another scroll (which they do) & they plan to resurrect Maleficent from her zombie form from back in season 2. Oh yeah & it's revealed that Mary Margaret & David know Cruella & Ursula & are keeping a very dark secret up to the point that Mary Margaret threatens to crush both of their hearts.

Selfess, Brave & True

I really didn't like this episode when it first came out up to the point that I didn't even do a proper recap & I named it my number one worst season 2 episode in my list a couple of years ago! If I can be very honest, it was mostly because the fans thought it was the worst, but watching it again, I can actually understand why! The problems in this are almost impossible to write down & it's downright bizarre. The way they handled August was unforgiveable cos he was such a complex & interesting character to know & sympathize with & for them (well, he is returning in the second half of season 4, so maybe it can be forgiven depending on when we'll see him in the show's timeline)! It doesn't really help that Eion Bailey sounds like he really doesn't give a crap & sounds monotone or hams it up throughout, the dialogue that he's given is really cheesy or that the awful CGI on the wood gives him a really creepy uncanny valley look! Anyway, may as well get on with what I thought about the tone because my god, it's way too serious for a fun fairytale show! It all really fails because what was great about the first season (and seasons 3 & 4) was that they balanced the fun, heartfelt & serious moments yet this episode just feels so out of place & any attempts at heartfelt moments really fail! As for Tamara, there is absolutely NOTHING I like about her! Not only is the dialogue that she's given is absolute drivel, but her backstory with lying about cancer & working with some sort of 'Home Office' just made her one dimensional, non threatening & easily the worst villain in the show alongside Greg. And I am not blaming Sonequa Martin-Green at all! If anything, she's doing her best to try & make her threatening, but Tamara herself is just so pathetic & cliched, that she really really fails as a villain. And the fact that she's having a thing with Greg just makes them even more pathetic & stupid. The rest of the characters felt like cardboard cutouts of themselves with no development besides the whole situation with Mary Margaret & her blackening heart quickly being resolved thanks to some sweet choice of words by her husband while Emma & Henry just stated the obvious, Regina was just back to being creepy & Mr Gold wasn't in it at all, so his subplot with Belle's amnesia was put to the side again! The flashbacks would've been more interesting if they hadn't felt so pointless & the writing was very contrived & it was a shame about the Dragon being killed off after one episode because it would've been interesting to see other kinds of magical characters in our world & not connected to any of the characters in Storybrooke besides August & Tamara!
Anyway, rewatching this makes me understand more about why I put this at number one because with silly & contrived writing, awful dialogue, horrible CGI, boring characters & a jarring tone compared to the rest of the episodes, it's no surpise that this is considered one of the worst episodes of the show (well, my personal worst is different, but we don't need to go into that!)

Well, at least they chose somewhere with a 12 hour time difference to co-operate with the 8:15 in Storybrooke!

OK...

I get David wants to do something nice, but Emma's right that they need to stop throwing a pity party  & let her accept what she's done!

N'aww! 

OK, bringing your fiance to a place filled with magical fairytale characters definitely wasn't the brightest idea!

Interesting way to vent out your anger: doing archery while listening to Joan Jett!

God, the CGI makes him look so creepy!

EWW! Pretty extreme way of trying to prove your leg is wood!

Bit weird the Thai characters have American accents when speaking English...and rather convenient that he knows someone who can help with August's situation!

1) Kinda sad he wanted Emma & Neal back together 2) For once Mary Margaret's got a point he needs to stop feeling sorry for himself  & 3) GOD, that CGI is still so creepy!

Very very awkward lunch...

OK, surely she'd think he was crazy talking about being from a world full of fairytales. Bless Neal for trying though!

Bit of a weird personality change being a clingy bitch when talking about Emma!

OK, pretty contrived that they've met & happen to be in Storybrooke at the same time!

Bit weird she thinks she recognises him despite not seeing him for 20 years!

'If I were you, I'd try the fish special. It's right up your alley! Blackened sole.' Could that potshot be any more obvious?!

Note to self: don't trust Mary Margaret with keeping secrets!

Well, he's very interesting given he's not from the Enchanted Forest & knew August was Pinocchio!

Pretty big sacrifice given the sentimental value of it!

Still very contrived that they know each other...

Why the hell would you leave a bundle of money out in the open when he would obviously steal it?!

Feeling guilty now, aren't ya August?

Poor August!

OK, I didn't need to see his creepy CGI eyes close-up!

What makes you think you can dominate someone's life while being in Storybrooke for about 5 minutes?! Oh yeah, and great, she's now acting like the most obvious villain on the planet!

Stop being so creepy, Regina! And pretty stupid excuse 'monthly juice cleanse' to hide the fact you haven't aged for several years!

Could she be any more out of character slapping him?! And don't used your blackened heart as an excuse!

So even after all of his development & self pity, he's still making the selfish choice?!

So she didn't have cancer & is really out of destroy magic? Pretty stupid!

What the-?!

Well, that was pretty easy!

Why doesn't anybody ever check the pulse?!

I've said it before & I'll say it again, WOOD DOESN'T CONDUCT ELECTRICITY!

God, the dialogue in this scene is awful!

Poor Marco!

How convenient Mother Superior was there the moment they needed her!

Seriously?! SERIOUSLY?! They've retconned August's story?!

Still want to know how he knew Neal was Baelfire...

So she set it all up with her & Neal...even more contrivances!

'Don't push me away.' Someone's starting to sound like Regina!

Well, that subplot was quickly resolved despite all the possibilities & implications!

God, this reveal was an utter con!

In The Name of the Brother

I just deleted by previous review of this as I'm honestly not a huge fan of it & I wanted to write more on my actual opinion on it. And yes, I still maintain that this is one of the worst OUAT episodes, but I'll expand more into why compared to my other review. First off, the flashbacks! I still dislike the addition of 19th century non fantasy novels into the show as it really doesn't fit into the fairytale-like universe (similar to my thoughts on Cruella in 4B except she does have magic & lives in The Enchanted Forest), even if they take place in a different realm! Admittedly it was interesting to see a bit more of Victor's backstory as 2x05, but it just feels predictable & it's hardly expanded upon in future episodes & Dr Whale isn't really that strong of a character to hold an entire episode & it doesn't really help after this, Victor & the 'Land Without Colour' are never seen or mentioned again! It doesn't help that the black & white cinematography can make it come across as blue at times & it felt inconsistent having Rumple appear in colour given that Victor was shown in technicolour in 2x05 in the Enchanted Forest. Second: the characters! The Charmings especially as this episode was what made me dislike them in season 2 as they feel very hypocritical in the decisions they made, including whether or not they should leave Greg to die (even if Gold was the one who insinuated it), leaving an amnesic Belle in the hospital & completely ignoring her (also showing how poorly they handled that plot & left her to the sidelines) & not let Gold see her & Emma acting very shady around Greg just came across as out of character. Oh yeah, and Regina's arc is thrown out the window thanks to Cora easily managing to manipulate her by using Henry despite her ulterior motives & the kiss between Cora & Rumple was one of the most disgusting things I have ever seen in the show as well as entirely pointless (well, it was pretty clear she was doing it to mess with him & he wanted her dead)! And the new characters in the flashbacks were pretty much generics who died after one episode (keeping with the running gag in season 2) with Alphonse being the typical disapproving father who wants his son to do what he wants & Gerdhart being the generic kind hearted & honourable brother to Victor!
So was there anything good in this? Well, the acting from David Anders in both the Storybrooke and flashback scenes was good along with Lana's acting during the scenes with Cora, making Regina more sympathetic despite her development being thrown out of the window as I had mentioned before! And Gold's arc involving trying to get Belle's memories back (while a tad creepy from her perspective) just made me feel even more sorry for him & I can kinda understand why he was acting like a jerk to everyone given how insensitive they were towards him!
But anyway, with a boring story & having the characters be backwards & unlikeable (along with Belle breaking Chip which was way too extreme & felt like a cheap shock tactic), this left a bad taste in my mouth for me & is easily not just one of the worst season 2 episodes, but also one of the worst episodes in the whole show!

'Maybe that's why it hurts when I laugh! Did you see his face?! His one true love gone in an instant!' No, do NOT go there Hook!

Haha! 'Gold, are you insane?!' 'Yes, I am!'

Well, I guess this is the closest we'll get to a Christmas episode despite them celebrating New Year & it's only for one scene!

Oh great! Another generic asshole father who has a favourite son & doesn't support the other!

So the Charmings' tactic is to just dump an amnesic & frightened Belle in the hospital & not let her boyfriend see her....these are our heroes!

Poor Rumple!

Wait, how did Rumple get there if there's limited ways of crossing realms & he's been trying to find his son for several years via crossing realms?! Unless it was Jefferson who helped him given 2x05...

AWW!

Hmm, note to self: don't try True Love's Kiss for amnesia when the love clearly isn't reciporacated!

'If I were to pick dead guy of the year, it'd be you'...how the hell did they go from this to being boyfriend & girlfriend?! Seriously, Hook's 'change' has just felt completely unnatural to me & he's never had any sort of epiphany over what he's done is wrong!

Bit weird if he tweets pictures of his food...

You know, just cos you have your own problems that you need help over, it doesn't mean that Gold's problems aren't as important given that HIS GIRLFRIEND HAS AMNESIA!

'So glad I don't give a damn' my sentiments exactly about this episode!

OK, the Star Wars ringtone was pretty funny!

Hmm, rather fair deal given that he needs financial support for his experiments!

N'aww! Nice seeing Chip again!

OK, judging the last deal you made with her (the one she managed to get out of my manipulating you into changing it), making another one involving a truce is not the brightest idea, Gold!

Just when I had this mentally scarring image out of my head...

Rather sad he still has his mother's watch!

Pretty predictable given he had to die somehow so Victor could reanimate him in 2x05!

Uh, what's the point of referring your caller ID just as 'Her'? I get it's for viewers to guess, but it's pretty stupid when put in practice (doesn't help the reveal is completely contrived)

Well, at least Ruby's tracking skills can help!

'Maybe Doc can do it!' 'Perform surgery? *laughs hysterically* NO!' Well, he did help deliver Emma as a baby in the Pilot!

'He's been in a rough place since he brought Regina's fiancé back to life.' 'Daniel?' 'Back to life?'  'Had his arm ripped off and put back on.' 'Cool.' 'Wait. Daniel came back?' 'Like some kind of Frankenstein?' 'That's Whale. The Doctor. And Daniel was his-' 'What went on here while we were gone?' OK, this was pretty funny!

Pretty creepy smelling your daughter's clothes & going through her stuff!
Sweet photo!

OK, clearly there was a time Henry didn't think Regina was evil judging his things!

LOVE that room! Seriously, she'd make a great interior designer!

Awkward reunion...

Well, at least it's nice to know how Rumple got Victor to help him with the whole Regina situation in 2x05!

Sorry, I can't help but find this funny!

HAHA! 'Come with me. We're going to town.' 'It's the middle of the night.' 'I don't care. We'll wake them up. Emma and Henry and the two idiots!'

Wait, so being a werewolf also includes super strength & lightning fast reflexes? 

I don't know about you, but showing your newly revived brother to your father while all the kinks still need work isn't the brighest idea!

Great, ANOTHER one dimensional character dying after only one episode!

OK, this moment was rather sweet!

I HATE YOU CORA!

Regina...why are you letting your mother manipulate you?!

OK, this bit was heartbreaking despite the fact we never see what happens afterwards!

I'm not gonna lie, I was on the verge of quitting watching the show after this tragic scene! Then again, if a man you have no clue who he is kissed you in your sleep & was rambling on about magic & pestering you, surely you'd think he was crazy?

You know, you're not really doing your best to act like that the town isn't hiding anything, Emma!

OK, that globe looks rather cool!

Yeah, Emma definitely sums up my feelings towards Henry in seasons 1-3A!

'If any harm comes to Belle while we're away, I'm killing all of you!' Too bad none of them go to check up on her in later episodes & this threat is never ever mentioned again!

 

'Honey, you're not gonna believe what I saw!' Hmm, seems Emma's superpower is pretty faulty!