Once Upon A Time - Season Finale Recap: Family Matters
Recap and review of Once Upon A Time - Season Finale - And Straight on 'Til Morning:
The finale to the second season of Once Upon A Time benefits from an "all hands on deck" approach to the climactic conflict that's been building since roughly midseason. Though the anti-magic crusade by Greg (Ethan Embry) and Tamara (Sonequa Martin-Green) could have been better developed over the second half of this season, there were plenty of engaging dramatic developments to keep the narrative moving forward on its own. Mr. Gold/Rumpelstiltskin (Robert Carlyle) reconnecting with Neal/Bae (Michael Raymond-James) was a long time in coming, as was the similar reunion between Neal and Emma (Jennifer Morrison). There was also the continually affecting romance between Gold and Belle (Emilie De Ravin), and the struggles of David/Prince Charming (Josh Dallas) and Mary Margaret/Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin) to get back to the Enchanted Forest. And then there's the apocalyptic conflict of "And Straight on 'Til Morning", in which both the heroes and villains of the series band together to rescue the citizens of Storybrooke from certain death. However, the finale works not because it's built around a big, game-changing story, but because that story is one that's centered on character -- more specifically, on how each character is defined by family: whether it's their need for one, their lack of one, or the things they'll do to protect the one they have. The richness of these characterizations makes for a beautiful episode that has the added benefit of really feeling like a season finale -- big things happen, plotlines are paid off, new stories are teased and seismic shifts in characterization are front-and-center. It's that rare finale, in this age of television, that immediately gets you excited for next season.
Credit: ABC
"And Straight on 'Til Morning" picks up where last week's cliffhanger left off, as Greg and Tamara activate the trigger to destroy Storybrooke, though their larger goal remains a secret. While half the town is trying to prevent the deaths of everyone in Storybrooke who isn't of this world (since the trigger will leave people born in this world unscathed), the other half is preparing for the end. In particular, Leroy/Grumpy (Lee Arenberg) has gotten a potion that Mother Superior/The Blue Fairy distilled that will return Sleepy's (Gabe Khouth) memories, and he had her whip up an extra batch for Mr. Gold, in order to return Belle's memories to her. Leroy recalls that Belle reminded him who he was once, and so he pleads with his former enemy not to let Belle die as Lacey. Parallel to this personal drama is the redemption of Regina (Lana Parrilla), who goes into the underground mines to use all her power to contain the trigger's effects. She does this knowing that she won't survive, and that it will only buy the others just enough time to open a portal to the Enchanted Forest to escape Storybrooke's destruction.
This is where things start getting emotional, as Regina says that everyone has thought of her as The Evil Queen, but this is her chance to do the right thing, and to be the person Henry (Jared S. Gilmore) wanted her to be. It's a beautiful little moment between Emma and Regina that illustrates the pathos of two women trying to save the world for the good of their son. The scene is equally resonant with the moment in which Belle finally regains her memories. Both Gold and Belle break down when Lacey remembers who she really is after drinking Mother Superior's potion. She still has her memories from her brief time as Lacey, and weeps for Gold over the loss of his son, while Gold tearfully tells Belle that he's sorry for "waking" her up this close to the end. However, he claims that he just couldn't do any of this without her. The gradual evolution of Gold has been one of the real treats of this season, and he remains the show's best character, for my money. These early scenes between Emma/Regina and Gold/Belle form an emotionally affecting pair that helps keep the story moving.
Credit: ABC
When Emma tells Henry that his mother won't be following them to the Enchanted Forest, he refuses to hear it, having already lost his father, Neal. He says that they're the heroes, and they can't just give up. Mary Margaret also refuses to let Regina die, saying that their future would be paid for with her blood, and they would never live that down. The townspeople are initially reticent to follow through on the idea, but Dr. Hopper/Jiminy Cricket (Raphael Sbarge) convinces everyone that Snow White and Prince Charming never led them astray before. And so the group hatches the plan to open a portal, using the magic bean that David and Hook (Colin O'Donoghue) were able to retrieve from Greg and Tamara, to send the trigger away from Storybrooke and rendering it ineffective. Hook, however, resists the idea -- until Emma convinces him that he can either serve the greater good, for once, or he can continue to be alone, with no friends or family of his own. He hands over the pouch with the magic bean, as the choice with which he's presented speaks to his character conflict throughout the course of the episode, relative to the flashbacks (which pick up after the cliffhanger in last week's flashbacks).
Credit: ABC
Hook picks up Baelfire (Dylan Schmid) on the Jolly Roger, and what follows is a strangely effective emotional story about the bond built between the two. When the shadow, this universe's version of Peter Pan, sends his Lost Boys after Baelfire, Hook claims not to have seen the boy. When a search of the ship turns up nothing, they're forced to leave, resulting in Hook and Baelfire developing a friendship of sorts. Initially, Baelfire was simply a means to an end for Hook, a way for him to get his revenge on the Dark One. But as the episode continues, the bond between the two deepens, as Hook teaches Bae how to steer the ship, and then reveals that his own father, much like Baelfire's, was a coward who abandoned him. However, though the bond is one of the more affecting stories of the episode, it doesn't last for long, as Baelfire discovers a drawing of his mother on Hook's desk, and surmises that Hook is the pirate that killed her.
Hooks swears that he was in love with Bae's mother, and that not a day passed where she didn't regret leaving Bae behind. They had planned to go back for him when he was old enough, but the Dark One found them, and crushed Milah's heart right in front of him. Hook pleads with Bae to give him a chance to make amends, saying that they could be a family together. All Baelfire has to do is say the word. But the boy is in no mood to begin trusting Hook. He says that the pirate will never change, try as he might. And Bae is right, as Hook sells Baelfire out to the Lost Boys. It's a disappointing turn that actually gives way to a pretty interesting plot development, as it turns out that Bae isn't the boy Peter Pan is looking for -- it's Henry (opening up an entire universe of confusing predestination paradoxes). The Lost Boys decide to let Bae go, and as the boy stands on the lonely beach, we flash forward to the present, in the Enchanted Forest -- where Neal washes up on the shore, having been discovered by Princess Aurora, Mulan and a resurrected Prince Philip.
Credit: ABC
These closing twists feed right into the climax of the episode, as Hook is revealed to have given Emma an empty pouch, having kept the bean for himself. As the end draws near, Emma collapses into her parents' arms, calling David and Mary Margaret "mom and dad" for the first time in an unexpectedly moving moment. Then comes to idea that while Regina's strength might not be enough to contain the threat, Emma has an immense amount of power herself, as the prophesied savior. Emma approaches the trigger and binds her power to Regina's...and it works. The trigger is neutralized, and the day is won. Well, except for Henry having been kidnapped in the ensuing panic. Greg and Tamara smuggle the boy away, explaining that while their initial plan involved destroying Storybrooke and eradicating magic from the world, their goal changed when they discovered something far more important: Henry himself. So I suppose they're working for Peter Pan? Kind of throws a wrench in my "descendant of Wendy" theory. I love the ambiguity. Yet the climax doesn't end there, as Hook heroically returns, having had his mind changed by Emma's speech earlier. He brings Emma, David, Mary Margaret and Gold aboard the Jolly Roger and opens a portal using the magic bean, as the assembled team heads to the other side to find Henry. I just loved seeing everyone being brought together here, and Gold's final parting with Belle was just as terrific as their earlier emotional scene together. We also now have our overarching plot for next season, as Neal struggles to get back to Emma, and Emma and co. team to rescue Henry. I'm so there.
"And Straight on 'Til Morning" is a wonderful finale for a second season that, while inconsistent in a lot of ways, ultimately had far more hits than misses. I'm looking forward to season three, as the show evolves into a much more nuanced fantasy drama.
