After last week’s weak episode this one comes as a refreshing change of pace of what we’ve seen lately. Most of the storyline clicks, there’s lots of character development, plot progression, fun scenes and dialogues, among many other great qualities. If last week OUAT portrayed some of its worst habits, this week the show decided to show some of its best.
Things between Emma and Regina have been tense to say the least; since the second half of season 3 both of them got to bond quite a lot and develop a pseudo friendship that grew stronger over time. Sadly, bringing Marian back put some walls between them and there hasn’t been time for the two of them to deal with their issues. Most of the episodes dedicates to that and it does it with grace.
After Elsa goes chasing an illusion of Anna- I knew it was a trap ever since the promo aired- Emma and Regina go after her hoping to find the Snow Queen as well. This gives them time to interact with each other. And woah! Regina was outright cruel to Emma the whole time, and she just took it all.
Whenever Regina is hurt her first instinct is to attack, that is because she doesn’t really handle her emotions well, so rather than showing vulnerability she prefers to go for a full frontal attack. And she goes for it, going as far as saying that Emma has to learn to live with the guilt of what she did and accept that she won’t forgive her. She knows she didn’t intentionally “ruined her life” as she puts it, but the result is the same anyway, so she is not really willing to forgive her.
This would have made Regina quite unlikeable if it wasn’t because the audience already knows that she is just hurt and that she is dealing with it the best she can; as she stepped away from her initial intention of killing Marian she had no choice but to deal with the fact that her relationship with Robin Hood has been damaged, so while she hangs out with Emma she finally has a chance to get her frustration out of her chest, and she uses Emma as some kind of emotional punch bag to get it out.
The script manages to show this very effectively and Lana Parrilla and Jennifer Morrison’s acting own every scene they share together, showing Regina’s frustration and Emma’s desire to bond with her quite strongly, making for something really emotionally affecting.
When she was a teenager, Emma befriended a girl named Lily after shoplifting and they started hanging out together. They get close and they bond over a constant feel of loneliness that make them quite close.
The acting of both young actress is amazing, portraying their friendship almost as sisterhood which makes the storyline even stronger. In the short time the two of them were together, Emma got to have a real friend of her own age and they could bond over their similarities. So it’s really heartbreaking when Emma finds out that Lily has been lying to her and that she is not an orphan, but she actually has a family. Feeling betrayed Emma walks away, and leaves Lily behind, who was probably the closest thing Emma has ever had to a sister.
So it’s not surprising that she is so insistent on trying to fix what happened to Regina; they were becoming friends by the end of last season and since Emma already knows what losing a friend is she doesn’t want to lose what she was building up with Regina.
She almost gives up, but by the end of the episode Elsa gives her the push she needs to try one more time.
So she goes to meet Regina, and she tells her that while her family gives her love they can’t always understand her as she can; they share a lot of things in common even while they are so different, and Emma really feels that they became friends at some point. At that moment Regina is overwhelmed, and I can tell that she felt how poignant that statement was; she may have family, but she never had a real friend, so being considered as one finally pierced through the wall between these two. And even though it ends up with a simple “I don’t want to kill you” as Emma says “it’s a start”.
Emma can’t undo the harm that she inflicted on Regina upon bringing Marian back, but with time they may be able to go past it.
I have to say that I loved Regina and Emma’s battle against the snowman; as short and simple as it was, I like how they teamed up with their magic to defeat it. And when the Snow Queen is choking them- Star Wars style- Elsa comes to the rescue, forming a triangle of powerful sorceress that looked pretty badass for a moment there.
The Snow Queen vanishes, and she takes Regina’s mirror with her.
I haven’t mentioned that Sydney betrayed Regina in order to get out of his mirror cage; it makes absolute sense considering the circumstances, and it’s very interesting to see him teaming up with the Snow Queen however shortly. And as he leaves her ice place, we finally learn what she is aiming: a family that loves her.
Sadly, not every single moment of the hour was outstanding. Snow’s motherhood storylines aren’t very interesting, and her “adventure”- if you could call it that- to find Will Scarlet is less than amusing. And when she finds him and believes him when he admits to be working with David to make her feel useful that’s beyond dumb. Seriously, isn’t Snow supposed to know better than this? This guy has been causing troubles, why would David use him to give her something to do?
I can’t get too mad at that considering how outstanding the rest of the episode was. The reveal that there was more to the tape that Emma made back on 1998 was a very effective cliffhanger, and showing us that the Snow Queen acted as some kind of mother to the home where she was after meeting Lily makes for a very interesting storyline that I can’t wait to see.
This is the kind of stuff that the show should deliver on a weekly basis.
Grade: A-
Stray Observations:
-By the title I’m sure there must be a Breaking Bad reference, I can feel it! But sadly I haven’t watched Breaking Bad yet, so I can’t tell.
-I appreciate that we got less Hook this week, overexposure can be hurtful to his character. It’s nice to see him just being a sweet boyfriend instead of dealing with everything he did last week, which you already know I’m not quite happy about.
-I’m starting to get a bit annoyed by how much Elsa talks about “my sister”. I know Anna is everything to her, but man! Give Georgina Haigg some other lines as well!
-So aside from taking care of the library, Gold’s shop, Belle also has some time to be a nanny. Either she is very good at multitasking or both the library and Gold’s shop require less work than I thought.
-Will: “Someone forgot about my DINNER!”
And that dinner is water and poptart; yummy!
-Nice details: the very same poptart Emma gave to Will is the one she stole back in 1998.
-Regina knows the word “frenemy”. I did not expect that.
-David mentioned a portal to Asgard as a joke, but do you imagine how awesome it would be if OUAT went there? It would be a bit weird since the show is more about fairy tales than mythology, but I would still find it pretty fascinating. Probably the show will never do it and this is just my active imagination, but surely I would enjoy that.
-Only Regina can use a pocket mirror as a cellphone without making it looking absurd.
-Regina: “There’re many enchantments you have yet to be exposed. If you bothered to study your craft, you’d know that.”
Emma: “Kinda learning as I go. Not many online courses for this sorta things.”
That was a golden line, right there!
-Seeing Emma and Lily playing that racing game on a Play Station 1 brought some serious nostalgia to me.
-So I imagined this dialogue:
Anna (singing): “Do you want to build a snowman? Doesn’t have to be a snowman!”
Elsa: “Go away Anna!”
Anna: “Ok, bye!”
Seconds laters, the Snow Queen shows up.
Snow Queen: “I want to build a snow man.”
-Regina: “Now hurry up! I want to get to that Snow Queen before it’s actually winter!”
-Regina knows the word “frenemy”. I did not expect that.
ReplyDeleteBecause of Maleficent.
Great episode. Really sets this Story into a potentially epic arc.
ReplyDeleteJust a few things
-is it just me or were the graphics in this episode pretty good
-lol at the reunion of elizabeth and Giancarlo Esposito, that was a personal enjoyment.
-loved seeing all three of our favorite ladies being badass against a badass snow queen
Yeah, the CGI was better than ever.
ReplyDeleteI was waiting for that Revolution reunion as well! OUAT writers really made sure to please Revolution fans!
And hell yeah! I want to see more of a Emma/Elsa/Regina combo in future episodes.
Honestly, this was such a great episode!
Nice review love the scenes with Regina and Emma telling her I wanted be your friend and teaming up to defeat the snowman and Elsa coming out of nowhere knocking Snow Queen out imagine what Regina Emma Elsa can do if they team up I happen to like Snow and Will scene because we getting more of Mary- Margaret being Snow and I miss that the CGI was amazing happy Sydney stood up for himself
ReplyDeleteI do like this episode According to me, the two most magical moments was : Emma telling a childhood memory to Regina and then, Emma opening her white box with Hook (whereas she never did such a thing with her own mother) Emma is so secretive about her past : we saw the box in the , if my memory'is good !
ReplyDeleteFavorite moment was the snow queen standing in front of her mirror in her lair putting another piece in.
ReplyDeleteIt's a little scene, but it just stood out very emotionally to me at least because it really seemed to represent just how heartbreaking and broken her life was, and all she wants is to simply repair it, like she did with her mirror.
Regina actually has the most pop culture jokes on the show, so of course she knows 'frenemy'.
ReplyDeleteOh man, now you're making me upset about how they've screwed over one of the most important relationships on the show for Hook. :(
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, Breaking Glass is the best episode of season 4 so far with Rocky Road as a close second. I don't mind Frozen in itself, but it takes away too much screentime from the core cast. The other story lines have had core cast in the flashbacks, too. For obvious reasons that is not the case with the Frozen, and I think that is why so many people are frustrated by the cut screentime for the much beloved core cast. This was a good episode because Emma and Regina were the central characters and not reduced as seconds.
ReplyDeletei surprised will hasn't lost his mind with whatever he's looking for, he seemed pretty desperate when he was digging for his satchel
ReplyDeleteoh my god I didnt even think of Revolution when watching the episode I cant believe it
ReplyDeleteIf I was Emilie de Ravin i would've already left this show, dont get me wrong I love this show but they give her so litle to do, in this episode she looked like a background extra.
ReplyDelete"David mentioned a portal to Asgard as a joke, but do you imagine how awesome it would be if OUAT went there?"
ReplyDeleteI've had more than one dream where Once Upon a Time and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. crossed over and everyone was assuring me it had really happened, then I woke up.
I didn't get this episode at all. Emma saved Marian's life. I don't think Regina should be getting all shouty and complaining about Emma ruining her life. Shouldn't she thank Emma for stopping her from killing someone in the past? Regina's character really really confuses me. So does Emma's -- why does she want to be Regina's friend? Emma grew up without parents and in crappy foster homes because of Regina's curse. If Regina can complain about Emma saving Marian, then doesn't Emma have the right to, you know, complain to Regina about ruining her childhood?
ReplyDeleteThe writing on this show baffles me to no end sometimes.
Well. First of all, all the things that you mention, Emma and Regina have already gone through in some way during the first seasons. And Emma has actually blamed her parents more for her life as it was their choice to give her up. Regina had complete tunnel vision when casting the initial curse - all she wanted to do was get even with Snow White. I'm not defending that part of Regina. We all now that she has a hard time controlling her deep emotions, but she has genuinely tried to make amends, and Emma knows that. Also, what this latest episode shows is that she identifies with a lot of Regina's fate. And if those two can manage to become friends - well, there's hope for humanity, yet. Also, let's face it. For the show to be interesting we need deep and entangled emotional stories to keep us on our toes. It's an important morale that it is never to late to redeem yourself - as long as you own up to what you have done and know that you can never take it back. The reviewer here also explains very well how Regina is just lashing out because she is deeply frustrated and in pain - and I think, Emma knows that too. Regina will eventually realise that too and no longer blame Emma. Just my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI find it rather baffling that some expect Regina (or anyone in this situation) to be calm, cool and rational about the fact that Robin Hood's wife came back from the friggin past the minute she started to believe life may have given her a second chance at happiness. Her reaction may have been a bit dramatic at times, but the reaction some of you want her to have is completely unrealistic for anyone such a situation.
ReplyDeleteAnd the Regina and Emma relationship and how it's developed over time has been a central aspect of OUAT since the Pilot. Relationships need to grow otherwise they're kinda pointless on a tv show and the writers have done a good job with the growth for E & R in my opinion. And sorry but if Emma can date Captain Hook after everything he has done to her and her family I really don't think Emma getting along with Regina is an issue here.
That would be a fun crossover; to bad it's only dream material :/
ReplyDeleteNext week she'll have more to do, but yeah, usually she doesn't much to do. I think the writers need a storyline for her ASAP; having such a wide cast it's difficult to have a storyline for everyone, but Lost managed it, and these guys worked on Lost, so no excuses
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of what you said; I've been surpringly forthcoming with the Frozen arc- possibly because I love Georgina Haigg as Elsa-, I think it has brought up some characters issues and backstories that I was really pleased to find out about. That being said, OUAT is becoming intensely overcrowed, so there are members of the main core cast that gets sidelined for a few episodes; Belle has practically done nothing during the past 5 episodes
ReplyDeleteWe did see that box before? I don't remember, 1x04 was such a long time ago (4 years!). I'll go check it out later
ReplyDeleteLots of good stuff in the episode :)
ReplyDeleteWho are in your icon? It looks like the Tenth Doctor and Amy Pond.
ReplyDeleteIt has to do with they have put past them: Regina did a lot of bad stuff- and that's putting it nicely- in the past, but she was forgiven and she did her best to change. She was near reaching true happiness when she was with Robin Hood, so when Emma brings back Marian, she is hurt because she can see her happy ending falling to pieces; it's not really about saving Marian, it's about how her relationship with Robin Hood was tarnished and the happy ending she fought for so long and finally achieved fell into pieces. And Regina being Regina, instead of dealing with the pain she rather throw it into someone else, someone she can blame; she knows Emma didn't mean to hurt her, she knows she meant well, but she is the one who brought Marian back anyway and caused all the pain.
ReplyDeleteAs for Emma wanting to be friends with Regina, she has already put past everything that happened; at the end of season 2 Regina is forgiven for all the things that she has done and she starts her path of redemption. During season 3 she was a key member to the team to both rescue Henry and defeating Zelena. So having come so far Emma doesn't hold grudges, and the reason she wants to befriend her is because they share some similarities; both of them know what it is to be alone, and for the most part of her life Emma was alone, so she wants to be friends with someone who understands what's that like and how much of a burden it is, if only to make the weight lighter.
They are characters from Fringe:
ReplyDeleteOlivia Dunham from the Alternate Universe and Lincon Lee
Oh. The Tenth Doctor and Amy would have been fun together.
ReplyDeleteRe: The twist at the end of Sunday's episode.
ReplyDeleteI suspect the writers are doing a spin on The Old Woman Who Lives in a Shoe with the Snow Queen being the titular character. Anyone got some similar vibes when they saw that scene?
I think it's why i'm so interested by the show : discreet details are the most importants.
ReplyDeleteFor the box, Emma has just arrived in Storybrooke and her cardboards boxes, from Boston. Emma opens the white one and get out the little box with an obvious relief...
What do you mean ?
ReplyDeleteMight be a bit hard though. Charming is already in Thors inner circle and the Mad Hatter lost an arm instead of his head there.
ReplyDeleteI guess I still don't get why Emma wants to be friends with Regina to the point where she's running around begging her while Regina yells at her. Maybe if Emma had said "Let's be friendly for Henry's sake" I could believe it.
ReplyDeleteAlso if the writers want Regina redeemed, they should maybe stop having her do things like trapping Sidney in the mirror and threatening him. Not really the actions of a redeemed person.
I don't expect Regina to be calm about accepting Marian coming back. But if she's really on a redemption path, then she shouldn't be shouting at Emma about ruining her life. Even if she initially lashed out at Emma, after thinking about it she should have thanked Emma for stopping her from killing someone in the past.
ReplyDeleteTo me this argument always sounds like an excuse Emma fans use to protect her from criticism although she deserves it. She saved Marian from death so it's totes okay that she changed the past although she's been told multiple times not to because it could have messed up the present and everyone should be thankful. I wouldn't be, Regina or not. What Emma did was reckless and before she doesn't acknowledge that what she did was wrong beyond messing up Regina's love in my opinion I don't feel sorry for her a bit if not everyone's praising her for what she's done.
ReplyDeleteRedemption is a process. Usually people don't wake up one morning and they're a completely changed person. Regina is on the road of the redemption. Doesn't suddenly make her a saint who doesn't struggle with the darkness and who doesn't make mistakes.
ReplyDeleteYeah, but Stan Lee is half a dozen different people, so that's easily brushed under the rug.
ReplyDeleteEmma saved an innocent life. In what world is that wrong?
ReplyDeleteExactly! It's her struggle between the light she was born with and the darkness that took over in her youth. It's as she says. Evil isn't born, it's made - as so is good afterwards - but neither is easy.
ReplyDeleteI'd be a lot better with redemption if she showed remorse for stuff she's done in the past. I'm reminded of the shows Angel and Nikita, which focused heavily on redemption. The titular characters on those shows never really felt redeemed no matter how much good they did, no matter how many lives they saved.
ReplyDeleteYou're right - since she was the only one who knew about the curse (we'll leave out Rumple at this point), she wasn't simply repeating every day over and over as the others seem to be doing in the flashback to the beginning of the curse (perhaps only their days change when they interact with her or Henry, who isn't affected by the curse). We also know she had contact with the world outside Storybrooke when she adopted Henry, so it does make sense that she would be the most familiar with pop culture.
ReplyDeleteRe: Breaking Bad reference - well, I don't remember them specifically calling it 'glass' but when they make the crystal meth, it is on large cookie sheets and clear as glass (the good stuff is anyway) and then they crack it all up to bag it for sale. Then again, I didn't really like Breaking Bad all that much, so I may just not remember something.
ReplyDeleteAs for the episode, let's all just admit that why this episode was the best of the season is because Regina wasn't relegated to less than 5 minutes of airtime split up in 90 second intervals here and there. Since most of those scenes paired her with Emma, they were just that much better. I wasn't all that much in love with the younger Emma flashback, and skipped those scenes when I re-watched the episode, but I guess it was necessary to get to the big reveal, which I didn't honestly find all that surprising. It's what I've been expecting. And, you can bet that Rumple had something to do with the memory wipe.
The big question this ep left for me is exactly what kind of family the Snow Queen is trying to put together here. IF (and that's a big IF) she's really related to Anna and Elsa, she doesn't seem to be trying to gather them into her fold. It seems a bit odd to me that somebody working on a happy family would be trying to get adults together, so will she try to kidnap Henry and/or Neal? Are there any other kids we really even care enough about for her to take? Or is she not trying to build a family in Storybrooke, but elsewhere? Theories anyone?
and this was a great moment of friendship !
ReplyDeleteyou forgot when Regina flew into a fury against Sidney : TRAITOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR !!! oh my God, it still makes me laugh !
ReplyDeleteNot really. They were all able to absorb pop culture, that's why Grumpy has mentioned Star Wars, the Wizard of Oz, why they have Tron stuff, etc. Regina just snarks more in a way that is more congruent to pop culture references.
ReplyDelete