In one fell swoop, Pan finally bit the dust, Rumple made a tremendous sacrifice, and Regina finally showed us all that her transformation from evil queen to loving and selfless mother was complete. Not to mention that this show will never be the same again.
Starting with the least surprising, Pan’s time to bow out finally arrived, and boy was it good to see him go. But Rumple sacrificing himself for his loved ones was incredibly powerful, and honestly a huge shock. I’ve made no secret of that fact that Once Upon a Time often fails to make any of its twists unpredictable, but this episode had so many I never saw coming that it’s hard to believe it’s still the same show it was a few weeks ago.
Regina made a similar sacrifice, though not as dark as Rumple’s. It must have been unimaginable for her to give Henry up after fighting for him for so long, but she did it anyway, and all to save the people she used to hate more than anything. It’s been a long road for her since season two began, and I think her transformation has finally come full circle. It’ll be interesting to see how she fits back into the Enchanted Forest when the show returns.
It wasn’t just those two major character turnarounds that made this episode, it was how quickly the series has turned the tables, and re-imagined its story completely. Is Storybrooke gone for good? Maybe not, but the fact that those behind the series have taken a huge leap like this makes me excited about Once for the first time in ages.
I’m not sure what the back half of the season will bring, but ‘Going Home’ was such a whirlwind of events that it’s almost made the plodding pace of the past few weeks bearable. That the show could accomplish so much so effortlessly, and still make time for some brilliant character beats along the way, says so much about how great it used to be, and how great it can hopefully be again.
10/10
Plus
Whether or not Rumple comes back again, I think the significance of what happened her won't be lost.
I’m still not taken by Tink, but I enjoyed her finally embracing her inner fairy again.
Mother Superior is back, and I still don’t care.
I hope we never have to see Robbie Kay or his manic eyebrows ever again.
I liked how all the flashbacks touched so many different pasts, and they held a lot of significance for each of the characters involved.
I absolutlely loved Emma and Hook’s goodbye. That look said it all.
I wonder what life back in the Enchanted Forest will be like when all the Storybrooke gang go back?
The black fairy sounds like someone I’d like to see showing up someday.
I’m excited for the new villain to arrive on the scene.
He Said, She Said
Rumple: “I’m a villain, and villains don’t get happy endings.”
Mary Margaret: “[Fairytales] are a reminder that our lives will get better, if we just hold on to hope.”
Also posted at Doux Reviews and Nad's Reviews.
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