I’ve decided to blog my thoughts as I watch in an attempt to not forget anything I want to mention. I’m finding my rhythm in blogging the eps so I may change later on but for now I want to try it this way.
First let me say, I’m excited to be doing this and watching from the beginning made me excited about the show all over again, especially now that I know how it all ends. Ok, here we go:
Hot Prince riding a horse. I always liked how this opened! The snow falling as he kisses her awake. It really is a beautiful opening scene! Then we skip to the wedding and…can I just say…its super sad that the birds Snow loves so much choose her wedding day to make a nest in her hair! Are they still pissed about the time she took the forgetting potion and tried to kill one of them? Maybe they were angry she plucked their feathers for her wedding dress? Seriously what is that hair?!
And of course “Sorry I’m late.” I still love the EQ music! And what’s with the whole Phantom of the Opera “keep your hand at the level of your eye.” LOL! It’s so funny they all cover their eyes. She’s not Medusa people!
And there is baby Henry!! All cute with his stolen credit card! Oh…damn and Emma…I forgot that Emma was at one time a bad ass. I really miss bad ass Emma. Still love the shock on her face when Henry tells her who he is. That’s not something that happens everyday.
And again with Snow and the hair! Ah, creepy Rumple…did they really think he wouldn’t know who they are under those cloaks? He’s Rumple!
Ok, i can’t lie…I felt for Regina from the very first time we see her in Storybrook when she lives every adopted mother’s worst nightmare. Not that he found his birth mom (although that’s very very hard), but that he says “real mom”. Just fucking ouch. I guess because I’m adopted and knew my own mother’s insecurities, on top of how pissed I would get when people would ask about my “real mom”. Ugh, I was always correcting people. Just…yeah. My heart broke a little for her in this moment and the shock on her face. Of course being Regina she recovers quickly and gets her mask back in place. But safe to say my heart opened to her a little in this moment, and although there is plenty of reason to get mad at her through the series every time he says it my heart breaks for her again.
So many little things I didn’t notice before. The first time we see Mary Margaret and the awkwardness of Emma trying to explain who she is until Regina does it for her. That weirdness is a very real part of adoption/birth family dynamics. After I met my birth mom we were out shopping and ran into one of her friends. She’s trying to introduce me and hesitated…stumbled a bit…what does she call me? Finally she says daughter and then her friend’s eyebrows go up cause she knows her kids and I’m not one of them lol. Yeah, it’s weird for all parties involved. So this scene amused me some.
I like how Mary Margaret can’t stop looking at Emma, and their conversation about Henry wrestling with the question of how anyone could could give him up. As much as OUAT screws up with adoption they did manage to get a few things right, this was one of them. No matter how many times I was told as a child my BM loved me, no matter how many times I was reassured…the only thing I thought of her was that she didn’t want me. For a kid it’s black or white, they don’t see they gray. They don’t understand adult situations so to them…they weren’t wanted by their birth parents. They can’t see beyond that. And from Regina’s comments she definitely doesn’t help. I’ve always had the theory her and Henry’s relationship was good until he learned of the adoption. I think it’s fairly clear Regina didn’t handle that revelation well. So yeah, as much as he hero worships Emma I have no doubt he has that nagging voice in the back of his head that Mary Margaret speaks of. It’s a voice he will hear until he grows up and understands the adult world isn’t black or white. I think it helps you get into his head space a little and if you were say…Archie, it could explain why he needs the curse to be real. It gives him a reason doesn’t it? She gave him up because it was destiny, not because she didn’t want him.
Oh God…Snow sending Emma with Charming and the devastation. Now that I’m a mom…ugh I can’t imagine and yep I felt for Regina earlier, but now I can be super mad at her for separating this family. Charming’s sword fight with the baby is amazing. That kiss on the head at the wardrobe, then his complete willingness to give up his life for her. The look on his face when they open it and he sees that she’s gone…it’s relief because she’s safe from the guards but devastation because his little girl is gone and he can only go by blind faith that she’s ok. Damn, Josh Dallas was excellent in this scene.
You know, I never imagined how painful Emma’s convo with Henry on the playground must have been for her. Not only is she dealing the the kid she gave up for adoption, which is hard enough. He’s insisting on this fairy tale story…which at this point she doesn’t believe. He’s telling her she has parents who love her when her truth is that she had parents who abandoned her on the side of the road…just ouch again. Henry for such a cute little kid your words have been a kick in the ass for your two moms. (I know, I know he’s ten…I’m not blaming him or mad at him…just realizing that this whole situation is super painful for both of his moms, but he’s a kid so he doesn’t get that he is bringing up some major pain points here.)
After everything Snow still has this innocence about her. Trying to kiss Charming awake…poor baby. And of course Regina must gloat.
Ah, Regina if you had just found your chill Emma would have left and you would have gotten what you wanted…probably. (Ok we know not really because what she eventually gets is better). But she isn’t wrong here, except for the tossed him away part (really Regina we need to have a conversation about how to talk about your child’s adoption) But the rest…Regina IS his mother. She has been the one who has been there. So…shes not wrong. Emma has no right to insert herself into his life or his family. The last part there, “of course I love him”. Some people (mainly ARB’s) think she lying there. I take that moment as more of a fuck off for having the nerve to ask me that. Yes, she loves him. It’s been established, but here she doesn’t appreciate the question. I think most parents would have a fuck off response if asked if they love their child in the way Emma asked. Umm…bitch of course I do!
So is the theory that Gold gets his memory back when he hears Emma’s name? Cause damn, he has a good poker face. For all of that to come rushing back and he’s just calm.
Well, if you are still with me after that long rambling thing you are pretty amazing lol. This was fun. I look forward to the next one!
