Once Upon a Time: The Dark Swan
September 29, 2015 5:35 AM - Season 5, Episode 1 - Subscribe

In the aftermath of the Season Four finale, Emma finds herself in the Enchanted Forest grappling with her new found role. Her Storybrooke family bands together to bring her home, but will have to deal with old foe to get there.

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posted by Bulgaroktonos (12 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Welcome to Storybrooke!

It has been 00 days since our last amnesia storyline.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 5:36 AM on September 29, 2015 [4 favorites]


OH GOD HOW DO THEY ALL HAVE AMNESIA AGAIN? Seriously, what percentage of these people's lives do they actually remember? Like twenty? You'd think Jiminy Cricket would have a ton of work to do helping them cope with the fact that most of their lives are huge memory blackouts but then again he got his Ph.D. from a curse so he might not even be that helpful.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 5:43 AM on September 29, 2015 [2 favorites]


Further thoughts:

-As per usual Regina of course killed it. Everything that woman does is dynamite.

-I am intrigued by the idea that the dagger that controls the Dark One is part of Excalibur; that seems like a neat place to go because of course they're both powerful blades.

-Do you think that usher in the movie theater was Merlin? We still haven't see him as Merlin so I'm guessing yes and that the reason he was missing is that he was in our world to warn Emma.

-Disappointed we haven't seen any Lily yet; I'm excited about her storyline with her mother.

-Not sure how I'm feeling about evil haggard Emma? I think there's potential in the idea of a villain who is actually very, very loved by almost everybody but we'll see what happens.

-How much more Merida are we expecting to see? She was fine I guess.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 5:59 AM on September 29, 2015


Amnesia aside, what do we think happened in the Enchanted Forest during the time jump? Emma is clearly pissed at everyone, and honestly I hope Snow and Charming did something to really deserve it. I'm guessing they did. Bringing Granny's and everyone inside along for the ride amused me, but it also means they've got a nice large group for the flashbacks to the time jump. The show is really at its best when it's drawing on a larger number of characters, so hopefully we get some good Grumpy/Ruby/Granny scenes from the time jump. Oh and I loved Regina's dress when they got back from the Enchanted Forest.

I like the idea of incorporating Arthurian mythology, but god did I find Arthur himself underwhelming. He didn't have much to do this episode, so that could easily get better, but he seemed like they cut the "Prince" character out of a coloring book and stuck him in the episode. That has to get better, but still, BORING.

Merida was...alright? I don't really have any thoughts on her other than that the joke about her accent was funny. I don't really have any idea how much they're going to use her. She could have been replaced in this episode with any random innocent for Emma to be tempted into harming and it wouldn't have mattered.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 6:04 AM on September 29, 2015


Oh yeah Regina's dress is AWESOME. I also hope Hook gets more interesting again instead of just wandering around whining about his girlfriend all the damn time. I also agree that Arthur was underwhelming but hopefully he'll get better? Charming did.

Also, if I ever try another piece of embroidery (i.e. if I manage to finish my Cruella-inspired "Bad Decisions & Gin") one, top of the list is:

Welcome to Storybrooke!
It has been 00 days since our last amnesia storyline.

posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 6:12 AM on September 29, 2015 [1 favorite]


(Aw, you two).
posted by ChuraChura at 11:14 AM on September 29, 2015


Didn't Young Swan look just like Kiernan Shipka?

Also these reviews might be part of why I keep watching, following a short string of shows I started or keep up with to appreciate the commentary. There's something appealing to shows you don't have to or want to watch too closely.

I don't think Emma looks haggard but there is a progression in the show where she started with almost aggressive curling and styling that has been getting more relaxed as time goes by. All the doll makeup and hair was way more aging and besides agreeing with Gwen on that picture, I think she looks so much better. Waking up evil looks refreshing. I think the darkness teleported her through an Eileen Fisher and then the trip back stopped by 90s Helmut Lang.
posted by provoliminal at 3:24 PM on September 29, 2015 [1 favorite]


so hopefully we get some good Grumpy/Ruby/Granny scenes from the time jump.

Is Ruby still alive? I have a vague memory that she got killed off in a previous season, but I guess not?

Provoliminal, that tv.com recap is great.

Cracked me up that Sneezy was wearing Swan's old red leather jacket as his acting-Sheriff uniform, that was adorable. Can't believe we're going down the amnesia road again, but, oh well.
posted by oh yeah! at 4:45 PM on September 29, 2015


Lily Sparks does a tremendous job of Reign, too.

I thought Ruby was disposed of, but that might have been because I heard she left for another project. I had it running on netflix in the background not too long ago and I don't think they ever explained why she just disappeared, which is sad because she was possibly my favorite story reboot and character. It could be because she left but she never said or did anything too egregious.
posted by provoliminal at 5:03 PM on September 29, 2015


Ruby is alive, but has been absent because of that other project, I think she's back this season at least a bit. I liked her a lot (especially when she tracked people), so I might be jumping the gun a bit.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 5:09 PM on September 29, 2015


I'm not sold on Merida, assuming she's not just a one-off — but I have to remind myself that I was wary of the Frozen crew when they first showed up in S4, but over time grew to think they were one of the best things in the show, largely on the strength of the actresses playing Anna/Elsa/the Snow Queen, all three of which were so very very good in their roles. So I'm willing to at least give Merida a few more episodes before I judge her too harshly.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 7:55 PM on September 29, 2015


Yeah, I'm super-psyched to have Ruby back and it would be great to have more of the Storybrooke characters in this season; I really enjoy the community. I'm on the same page for Merida as DevilsAdvocate -- she was fine, I guess? She didn't lose me but she didn't win me over either. I do love that she's another female character; one of the things that makes this show really fun for me is how many women there are in such a diversity of roles and with so many different types of relationships with each other.

Provoliminal, that tv.com recap is great.

This is definitely true!
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 9:50 AM on September 30, 2015


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