Once Upon A Time - Recap: Out of the Woodwork
Recap and review of Once Upon A Time - Season 2 Episode 18 - Selfless, Brave and True:
"Selfless, Brave and True" is an episode centered on redemption, a narrative thread that's ripe for exploration. Once Upon A Time often succeeds in storylines that deal directly with human morality, as the series often presents these internal conflicts as a character study that details how these people came to a point in their lives where they were torn between the righteous path, and the path of remorseless villainy. In this sense, I quite enjoyed "Selfless, Brave and True", an episode that raised the stakes by introducing a new villain into the world of Storybrooke, and doing so in delectably twisty fashion. Perhaps better than any other hour this season, "Selfless, Brave and True" best exemplifies its theme via a story that gives each of the primary characters in the story something to do relating to that central theme of redemption. By that measure, it's one of the better episodes of the season, particularly in how it sertds some new pieces on the chess board that could make things difficult for our protagonists, going forward. Hook (Colin O'Donoghue) is on the loose, Tamara (Sonequa Martin-Green) not being what she appears to be, and Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin) remaining in constant conflict with her gradually darkening nature. And all the while, Greg Mendel/Owen Flynn (Ethan Embry) on the fringes of the proceedings, going to extreme measures to find his father. There are a lot of ways right now for things to go badly in Storybrooke. That's good television, if you ask me.
Credit: ABC
The episode follows August Booth/Pinocchio (Eion Bailey) in the flashback. While in Thailand, August realizes he's begun to turn into wood. He sees a Doctor, who doesn't believe him, as he is unable to see the enchantment on August's leg. In an attempt to convince the Doctor of his affliction, August stabs himself in the leg. Though the wound seems to prove August's point by drawing no blood, the Doctor is mortified and orders security to take him to the psych ward. August is on the run and comes across a male nurse who insists he knows of a man in Hong Kong who can cure anyone of any affliction, a man called The Dragon (Tzi Ma). August tracks the man down and, in the process, encounters Tamara, the woman who would later become the fiance of Neal (Michael Raymond-James). She's there to see The Dragon with the hopes he'll cure her of her late-stage cancer. Whether or not his powers are actually effective remains to be seen, as August must fulfill several conditions before The Dragon will help him -- he must offer up a personal artifact of sentimental value that cannot be replaced (August begrudgingly forks over the thread holding the whale pendant -- which Geppetto used to bring him to life). Oh, and ten thousand American dollars, because this is, of course, a business.
Credit: ABC
While out drinking with Tamara, August spies the crazy amount of money she's carrying around with her in a pouch in her purse. When Tamara stupidly leaves the money at the bar while she takes a phone call, August violates the Blue Fairy's rules. Upon first granting him life in the Fairy Tale World, she proclaimed that he would remain a real person so long as he remained brave, unselfish and true. After stealing Tamara's money and paying The Dragon for his special elixir, August makes a run for it, as Tamara gives chase. She eventually catches him and is able to take the elixir away from him, leaving August to suffer alone. Of course, she doesn't stop her Hong Kong adventures there -- she returns to The Dragon and kills him.
Credit: ABC
In the present, things aren't any less complicated. Neal brings Tamara to Storybrooke because, as he states, he needs her. They recount the story of how they met for Emma (Jennifer Morrison) and Henry (Jared S. Gilmore), literally bumping into each other on the street in New York, spilling Tamara's coffee all over her blouse. It's a cute story, but Tamara gets irritated after Emma and Henry leave, as Neal takes Emma's advice and tells her the entire truth of where he comes from, even giving her Henry's storybook to look through. Tamara is incredulous, and accuses Neal of still having feelings for Emma. Neal insists that this isn't the case, and that he's telling the truth about where he comes from, but Tamara doesn't want to hear it. Of course, Tamara is concealing secrets of her own, from the murder of The Dragon to the fact that, as a result of her years-long search for August, she engineered the meet-cute with Neal. Their entirely relationship is a lie, more or less.
Credit: ABC
Meanwhile, Snow White is still despondent over forcing Regina (Lana Parrilla) to kill her own mother. She goes off on her own to work things out, practicing her archery in the forest. There, she comes across August, now wood from head-to-toe. August doesn't want to go back to town, despite the knowledge that his father, Marco/Geppetto (Tony Amendola), misses him dearly. Fully-wooden August is one of the best visual effects the show has ever pulled off. It's jarring, at first, but it's never ridiculous the way that some of the less-capable greenscreen backgrounds have been. And it adds a certain emotive quality to August, as he pieces together that Tamara killed The Dragon, and sets about trying to stop her. Unfortunately, Tamara has her stun-gun handy, and the shock kills August...or so it would seem. In proving himself brave, truthful and unselfish, Henry suggests that the Blue Fairy/Mother Superior (Keegan Connor Tracy) could possibly bring him back to life. She gives it a try, and the plan works -- just not in the way anyone might have expected. She is able to restore August as a real boy, the little ten-year-old that Geppetto once raised himself. August, as played by Eion Bailey, is no more. But Pinocchio lives on to possibly become that man again someday. August finds a second life through redemption, bringing the theme of the night full circle.
Credit: ABC
In addition, Snow White recognizes her need for redemption as the episode wears on, particularly after punching Marco in the face upon learning that he lied about the magic cabinet being capable of only taking one person safely through to Storybrooke all those years ago. She immediately apologizes, saying she'd have done the same thing for her child, and Marco continues to apologize for his lie nearly three decades ago. But Snow doesn't like the change she's undergoing, and so she confesses to David (Josh Dallas) that she went to meet with Regina to ask her to kill her. David reassures her, and mentions that the bean crop might soon come to harvest, meaning they could return home. Snow doesn't feel that returning home will wash away her guilt, or the fact of what she did. She understands that there's a process to redemption, and learning to overcome one's past mistakes. It's interesting to see Snow White being given an emotional journey that allows her to grow and change as a person -- in essence, forcing Snow to earn her purity, as opposed to having that pristine character inherently.
Credit: ABC
Lastly, Regina discovers Greg Mendel's true identity as Owen Flynn. Last week, I was happy that they weren't drawing out the inevitable revelation that Greg was Owen, but this week, the entire story feels kind of rushed. Regina tells Greg that his father left shortly after he did, and that she never saw him again. Greg insists that people don't just disappear, but Regina threatens Greg by implying that, contrary to his assumptions, a person can actually disappear quite easily. What Regina doesn't know, however, is that Greg isn't alone in Storybrooke. That mysterious "Her" he's been in contact with since his arrival? Turns out to be Tamara. They embrace in a kiss, and I can only wonder what their game is. I kind of love how each episode answers a question while leaving a vastly more interesting question in its place.
Credit: ABC
"Selfless, Brave and True" is pretty terrific episode, from top-to-bottom. I can only hope the show will maintain this narrative pace, as it feels like the show is getting better at telling more nuanced stories the closer it gets to the finale (this was the case last season). It's the most interesting the show has been this season, since so many plates are spinning at the moment, with no obvious resolution in sight.
