Episode Discussion 2x09: Queen of Hearts

[jadestrick.livejournal.com]

(ABC has not released any episode promotional images, hence the preview.)

Episode Discussion 2x09: Queen of Hearts

Cora and Hook face off with Mary Margaret and Emma in a race to secure the compass, which will point its holder to the portal into Storybrooke. But back on the other side, Regina and Mr. Gold, desperate to keep Cora out, put a plan into action that would kill anyone entering the portal – placing Mary Margaret's and Emma's lives in danger as well. Meanwhile, back in the fairytale land that was, Captain Hook travels to Wonderland and meets up with a vengeful Queen of Hearts.

Boo hiss to hiatuses.

Comments

[paulownia.livejournal.com]

Hm. Too much of this twitter-verse was predicting certian plot elements early in the episode. For example, tonight's reactions to the Cora reveal and the scroll were pretty much like "uh, yeah, get a clue" which isn't good IMHO. That and I see a lot of complaining about the show having too many characters.

Happy about more Hook. Not surprised about the triple-cross. Just happy with the swordplay banter, although honestly I'm a little confused as to how Emma who has not used a sword can parry decently with Hook, who ought to be far better. Then amused that she punched him in the face.

I love Lana Parillo/Regina. For some strange reason she felt like the emotional core that kept me invested tonight. I loved seeing her multiple incarnations on display and in one episode.


What was Belle wearing? Confused by that. I know she was on her way somewhere when she disappeared, but was it that dress?

MOre really wonky out of scale CG. There's a tendency to shoot green room from a point that doesn't match the room. The actors are sometimes not same distance from the camera and then they use the wrong backdrop . The Hook/Evil Regina shot was really wacked out. The ship at the end was also far too big for the skyline view of Storybrook.




Overall, the actors kept it grounded tonight and made up for some weak suspense in the plot. Last twenty minutes really good drama.

[veracity]

I think that was Belle's blue dress, to bring it back to the Disney tie-in element since that's pretty much all she wore in the animated movie. I'm not sure if she left in it, but I can see EQ putting her in a color to always remind her of the left behind Beast.

[hughville.livejournal.com]

This was an INTENSE episode. So Emma possesses magic more powerful than even Cora's because Emma's a product of true love. Interesting.

I actually felt bad for Regina. She's trying so hard to change and then when she did something really selfless, no-one really acknowledged it and she was left alone. I kept waiting for Henry to come back and ask her if she was coming with them. Also, the costume designers make Lana P. some GORGEOUS gowns when she is The Evil Queen.

Who else knew Cora was The Queen of Hearts? And if her heart isn't in her chest, where is it?? That was kind of creepy.

Will we be seeing Aurora and Mulan again? Why must we wait over a MONTH to see the new episodes?? Did Rumple kill Nova (the wand he used was pink)? He said it was a fairy no one would miss but Grumpy will miss her. And does Belle only show up once Rumple has been naughty?

Hook brought his ENTIRE ship up the beanstalk??

[sparkythegeek.livejournal.com]

Same comments in general as you. :) I felt bad for Regina at the end.

The business about Cora's heart being somewhere else... that actually made me laugh.

At least we only have a month. They used to make you wait 6-8 weeks for new Desperate Housewives with this break. :\

[goddessastra.livejournal.com]

i don't think it was a bean stalk...remember when he went to neverland? he created a swirling portal in the water and the ship went in it...

so perhaps, he created another swirling portal and sailed in it.

[paulownia.livejournal.com]

Last season people were already speculating what Cora was because Regina had to go rescue dad from that land. That's what I think cued people in as to mommy being the Queen.

And the only reason the writers were so cruel was to obviously give Regina motivation to keep wrestling with magic to get what she wants.

I really don't like these types of setups though because it makes the entire group of Team Emma/Snow look like a bunch of self-absorbed asshats.

I ended up being more Team Regina last night than anything. Even her speech to her mom was surprising but actually kind of moving if you were Cora ;)

[paulownia.livejournal.com]

Nah. I'm sure it being magic land, he true love will keep his body there.

And I don't think the ship is sunk too badly. Some better swordplay and wordplay, and it might be salvageable.

In fact, he was coming on to her while they were fighting. haha!

[rpowell.livejournal.com]

I love this show, but Regina and Rumpel are the reasons for my love. Hell, I'm beginning to fall for Cora and Hook. These characters are more interesting than the leading "good guys" . . . namely the Charmings. I'm getting tired of Henry as a plot device and his "good always win" proclamations. I'm tired of Emma being the symbol of "True Love". I'm getting tired of "True Love" being portrayed as something one-dimensionally good. For me, love - even true love - can have both a positive or negative effect on individuals. I think George Lucas pointed this out well in his STAR WARS saga. Aside from Regina and Rumpel, the writers of OUAT refuse to explore this issue with the Charmings. Instead, everything is all sweet and squeaky clean with these people. I'm tired of them. I really wish the series would explore the true dark sides of characters like the Charmings, without them going bad due to some damn spell, like Snow White in Season 1.

Also, the Emma/Hook sword fight was a joke. There is no way Emma should have held out in a fight against Hook like she did. He should have made mincemeat out of her within seconds. This was just as illogical as Snow White besting a trained warrior like Mulan in a fight in the last episode. What are the Charming women going to do next . . . walk on water?

[meepalicious.livejournal.com]

Yeah, to hell with magic when you can have gas heat and running water!

eta: That was not sarcasm.

[bloodysuicide69.livejournal.com]

I was really upset when Team Good Guys left Regina there alone after she sacrificed herself to save whoever came out of the portal because she wanted Henry to trust her. She she got a lovely "you rock" hug from Henry but then they all just left her there. I mean come on, throw the gal a bone for trying!

But as we see in the previews, Regina will be going back to old ways soon. I'm thinking she gets sick of trying to compete for Henry and goes back to what she was doing before.

I don't have a problem with the Charmings. There needs to be something pure in the episode for me. Life is hard enough. If I wanted to watch something that had corruption everywhere I'd just tune on to the news. It's fantasy. Sure it's one dimensional, but honestly I don't care. I care more that the evil characters have a history that makes them "forgivable" (almost). There is enough bad in the world, why taint good?

I was kinda shocked that Emma was powerful like that, but at the same time; I knew something was going to be magical about her because she's the product of True Love. From the moment I saw Snow and Charming's hair glow in the vial on Rumple's apothecary I knew Emma was just as powerful as that vial. Now I just wonder what that means about her character. What will she do with it?

I wonder if True Love is hard to come by. I think that FTL tries very hard to keep that kind of magic away from people. Aurora/Phillip. Cinderella/Thomas. None of them are able to fully be together.

Speaking of Cinderella/Thomas.... are they "True love"? Does that mean that Cinderella's child is as magical as Emma? Is there regular love and then "true love". Regular love is okay, it's what everyone else has, but True Love is like soul-mates. Only happens to certain people?

Henry...

[paulownia.livejournal.com]

Given that Henry is Emma's kid, would be interesting to figure out if he has the same powers or not. If yes, Emma/Neal = OTL. That said, I hope we don't find out because then it would set the pairing up as inevitable .

Re: Henry...

[bloodysuicide69.livejournal.com]

I hope they are! I hope their pairing is inevitable! I hope that things such as OTL find their ways together because that would mean that magic WANTS to be together. That magic PULLS each other.

Much like the one ring to rule them all and it's master (except in a good way). ;)

Re: Henry...

[paulownia.livejournal.com]

Oh I meant that if it is the case it needs to be held off for a few seasons. A lot of the fun in shows that are character based is the unpredictability. This show makes such a big deal out of True Love that to have that proof so early would mean Emma can't really have the most maneuverability in the ship wars :]

Re: Henry...

[bloodysuicide69.livejournal.com]

Ohhhhh I see where your coming from now. Hook vs Neal vs August vs Graham (hey! it could happen) ;) Gotcha!

Well, I voted for Neal from the moment Tallahassee aired. Plus I have a soft spot for reunited family. Considering he doesn't even know he has a son.