by Julia Lawson
With each episode of Once Upon a Time we learn a new lesson in how to better ourselves, with fairytale examples using more magic and intrigue than we’d come across in our day to day routine. ‘The Tower’ acts as a platform to explore how we present fear to ourselves and others… although it is a relief that in our real world a fear of responsibility doesn’t produce a ‘Dementor-esque’ stalker. And for the most part we don’t spend a large part of our ‘routine’ stumbling round the Enchanted Forrest hunting for magical hallucinogenic roots…
With each episode of Once Upon a Time we learn a new lesson in how to better ourselves, with fairytale examples using more magic and intrigue than we’d come across in our day to day routine. ‘The Tower’ acts as a platform to explore how we present fear to ourselves and others… although it is a relief that in our real world a fear of responsibility doesn’t produce a ‘Dementor-esque’ stalker. And for the most part we don’t spend a large part of our ‘routine’ stumbling round the Enchanted Forrest hunting for magical hallucinogenic roots…
An episode dedicated to Prince Charming (Josh Dallas) coming to terms with the impending birth of Snow White’s baby (Ginnifer Goodwin), the baby being their actual real life child which may end up getting very confusing… After losing Emma (Jennifer Morrison) twice, via magical wardrobe and subsequently by curse-reset, he understandably is nervous. So much so, back in the ‘missing year’ he had a nightmare of ‘Princess Emma’ going to the ball which cascaded into a haunted doll infested nursery of doom. The swirling vortex dragging Emma away was very effective, especially in helping us share the doom and gloom vibe of fatherhood round two.
Drinks with Robin Hood (Sean Maguire), everyone’s new best pal, and the secret stash in the saddle bags led to the unveiling of the Night Root myth – a moss/root which allows you to overcome your fears. He neglects to say the root presents you with your fears and face them there and then. Something Rapunzel (Alexandra Metz) has discovered all too well, having been trapped in a tower by the representation of her fears of ruling the kingdom. A far cry from Disney’s Tangled, with a severe lack of frying pans and chameleons…
Sensing Charming’s presence the ‘creature’ climbs the tower with unnatural speed and confronts Rapunzel, who (with some motivational support from Prince Charming) chops off her hair to send the creature crashing down the tower wall to the forest floor.
Themes of bravery, forgiveness and reunion run through this episode and the ‘past history’ chunk concludes with the Snow/Charming ‘together’ speech and Rapunzel’s family reunion.
But in other news…
Drinks with Robin Hood (Sean Maguire), everyone’s new best pal, and the secret stash in the saddle bags led to the unveiling of the Night Root myth – a moss/root which allows you to overcome your fears. He neglects to say the root presents you with your fears and face them there and then. Something Rapunzel (Alexandra Metz) has discovered all too well, having been trapped in a tower by the representation of her fears of ruling the kingdom. A far cry from Disney’s Tangled, with a severe lack of frying pans and chameleons…
Sensing Charming’s presence the ‘creature’ climbs the tower with unnatural speed and confronts Rapunzel, who (with some motivational support from Prince Charming) chops off her hair to send the creature crashing down the tower wall to the forest floor.
Themes of bravery, forgiveness and reunion run through this episode and the ‘past history’ chunk concludes with the Snow/Charming ‘together’ speech and Rapunzel’s family reunion.
But in other news…
Zelena (Rebecca Mader) is setting her plan in motion – taking Night Root from Mr Gold’s safe in the pawn brokers; getting cosy with the Charmings; shaving Rumplestiltskin’s face with the Dark One’s dagger…
Yes, she has the dagger, explaining why she is able to keep Rumple (Robert Carlyle) in the cage and potentially why he has regressed back into his crazed state. He is left to spin straw into gold to pass the time, while she spikes David/Charming’s camomile tea with the Night Root so he has to face his deepest fear: fatherhood. In the forest the figure materialises challenging him to a duel, all the while taunting him with his fears (which have a unique stench it seems). Of course, the spectre is defeated shattering him sword in the process but just when all seems well again the sword hilt disappears in a puff of green smoke.
According to resident magic expert Regina (Lana Parrilla) by forcing him to face his deepest fears he had to reveal his courage, and by taking his sword – the epitomy of said courage – she now has that courage. Confused? It will be interesting to see how it plays out and its relevance to the overall ‘Wicked Plan’.
Emma and Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) are poking around in the forest hunting for the WW’s lair, which is in the form of a Kansas house complete with bicycle and storm cellar. All the while Hook is teasing her about her close shave with her New York marriage proposal…
“He was not who he said he was and I got my heart broken…”
Because, Emma, he was a flying monkey. Enough said.
The episode concludes with the discovery of the empty cage and Rumplestiltskin is nowhere to be seen – straw, gold, spinning wheel all obvious clues… he’s out.
Yes, she has the dagger, explaining why she is able to keep Rumple (Robert Carlyle) in the cage and potentially why he has regressed back into his crazed state. He is left to spin straw into gold to pass the time, while she spikes David/Charming’s camomile tea with the Night Root so he has to face his deepest fear: fatherhood. In the forest the figure materialises challenging him to a duel, all the while taunting him with his fears (which have a unique stench it seems). Of course, the spectre is defeated shattering him sword in the process but just when all seems well again the sword hilt disappears in a puff of green smoke.
According to resident magic expert Regina (Lana Parrilla) by forcing him to face his deepest fears he had to reveal his courage, and by taking his sword – the epitomy of said courage – she now has that courage. Confused? It will be interesting to see how it plays out and its relevance to the overall ‘Wicked Plan’.
Emma and Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) are poking around in the forest hunting for the WW’s lair, which is in the form of a Kansas house complete with bicycle and storm cellar. All the while Hook is teasing her about her close shave with her New York marriage proposal…
“He was not who he said he was and I got my heart broken…”
Because, Emma, he was a flying monkey. Enough said.
The episode concludes with the discovery of the empty cage and Rumplestiltskin is nowhere to be seen – straw, gold, spinning wheel all obvious clues… he’s out.
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