Once Upon a Time 1.19 'The Return'

This episode had something important to say, but just took too long to say it. Everything that happened here was a necessity in continuing this show’s journey towards an eventual turning point, and though it spent a little too much time following characters talking nonsense, it was still a strong episode in what is so far a solid season-ending arc.

Rumple’s son, Baelfire tries to reverse the curse that was put on his father in ‘The Return’. Meanwhile, Mr Gold attempts to discover the truth about August’s identity, but is shocked when he figures it out.

What’s been a massive driving force in Once Upon a Time’s underlying narrative is the fact that though we know the bones of the story, we’re still completely at odds as to what led to those events, and what sacrifices were made for these characters to end up in the position they’re in today. That idea permeated ‘The Return’, taking Rumple, someone who has already seen some strong character deconstruction, and further cemented him as one of the show’s driving characters.

The familial discord that has affected almost everyone else still remains a massive part of Rumple’s story, and though I appreciated the twists this episode attempted, I’m a little irritated by the amount of filler we were subjected to along the way. I don’t know if I’m alone in thinking there was a little bit too much of that ominous, vague chit chat than normal, particularly in August’s case. I was happy enough with my first assumption of August’s identity, but where it ended up after that took his story that much farther to justify him a position in Once’s game of thrones.

‘The Return’ still maintained that momentum established in Heart of Darkness, and got the series to yet another pivotal position. Though Regina’s deception is still keeping her from suffering the consequences of her actions, Sidney’s confession only solidified any hatred viewers might feel towards her. The one person that actually feels something for her, and she used him like a napkin. One thing that’s becoming clear is how much work the writers will have to do when Regina eventually switches sides, and fights for what’s right, though ‘The Stable-Boy’ helped her case quite a bit.

Considering the vast amount of episode-time dedicated to Kathryn’s disappearance and eventual re-emergence, I was a little surprised at how little that story was focused on. It didn’t need any extra attention mind you, but since it had driven the show for so long, Mary Margaret and David’s absence was a little strange at first. I love how well Mary Margaret is growing, too. I was instantly thrown off by her shy, reserved and dismissive nature when we first met her, but since her affair with David she’s proven just how much spine and strength she has; valuable traits for a classic story character who spent years as a representation of damsels in distress.

Regardless of any extra padding it might have suffered, ‘The Return’ was still another essential piece in the puzzle, giving all of the character’s decisions and motivations more backbone and plausibility. In a story that’s starting to really depend on those characters and the decisions they make, that’s an important thing to get right.

8/10