What’s the worst episode of Once Upon a Time?
I haven't rewatched in a loooong time since I'm only rewatching if I'm giffing, but from memory, I have to say "Swan Song."
For me, there are episodes over the years that have worse parts in them (ex. Half of "Beauty" disgusts me to my core and makes me wanna take Rumple away from everyone, but the other half is very enjoyable), but I believe that episode was bad from top to bottom. It didn't give a payoff for the half arc it was closing that actually made sense, and most of the characters' decisions were non-sencical.
Rumple seemingly taking the darkness back because he "is a coward and couldn't cut it without it" is bad writing on his character because a) he looked surprised when Emma actually killed Hook and the darkness was already transfered to the Excalibur and b) besides the fact that we've spent a half arc proving that he can get shit done without the darkness, he is also someone who never does something for shallow reasons. And the reason they gave him is nonsensical and shallow because they changed his characterisation oh so slightly since s4, new writers came in and weren't writing him with nuance and that rolled over like an avalanche 'till s7.
And then we have the glaring issue of Emma suggesting they go to the Underworld to save Hook and everyone looking at her like she said what she wants for breakfast and agreeing to follow her. There's a deleted scene where Henry is the one asking it, so the rest do it for him, and that's better, but still not quite right. I get that Henry is 13 and wants to be brave, but 4 adults over there should have some dialogue over it and take some convincing.
Which brings me to my firm belief that this storyline (as well as the s6 CS one) was written for Neal, not Hook, and yes, that changes things. (Just like the Zelena baby storyline was meant for Rumple, not Robin and GoldenQueen, not OutlawQueen, but the Ouat fandom is not ready for that conversation).
If it was Neal instead of Hook, everyone's decisions would make sense because Neal's presence and death would have had way more impact on everyone already. Rumple would either try to save his son and that would backfire somehow, taking the Dark One back again or he would actively sacrifice his progress and become the Dark One again willingly because it's HIS SON, it's the one person he'd do anything for and also the one person who wouldn't want to live being the Dark One for two seconds. Giving that motivation to Hook isn't exactly non-sencical, but it doesn't have the same impact and the same implications! Not only because of Neal's backstory, but the impact of a Dark!Neal would give low-key Jack Torrence vibes. Hook being a murderous asshole is nothing new 😭 He simply was funnier at points, which I appreciated.
Emma and Henry would both be crying their eyes out and saving him would be indeed a choice of agony and desperation that would be warranted. Rumple would follow willingly and Snow and Charming would definitely want to help their daughter get her love back BUT ALSO, Henry to get his father back. Regina would have had many motivations depending on how they would've written her relationships with both Rumple and Neal up until that point, but the most consistent one in every scenario is Henry, she'd do it for not seeing Henry devastated.
