Once Upon a Time S01E13: "Whatever Happened to Frederick?"
After last week's negative review sparked such a passionate discussion, I was kind of hoping I would hate this episode and we could have another comments rumble. But alas, episodes like Sunday's are exactly the reason I watch this Once Upon a Time. "Whatever Happened to Frederick?" was a stunning combination of beautiful, lavish imagery and meaningful parallels between the idealized heroics of fairy tales and true courage in the real world. Things even HAPPENED during this episode. Maybe the writers are picking up the pace because of Henry's growth spurt. Kid looks a lot older, right? They have to speed things along or he'll be sorting out Operation Cobra in between grooming his soul patch and taking the PSATs.
Good TV extends our desire for satiety to the point where the pain of being thwarted blurs into an empathetic swoon alongside the characters on our screen. Characters only become real when we give them our emotions, and of course longing and desire can be sustained for multiple seasons (we are engineered to handle that better than we can handle prolonged pleasure or happiness, which even the most rudimentary wilderness can instantly destroy, like a soap bubble in a knife drawer).
However, we are not going to hurt alongside a character who is hurting for stupid reasons. David Nolan waited right up until his wife was going to move them to Boston to choose Snow, then skipped over telling his wife he loved someone else and lied to Snow about it. The fairy-tale backstory provided a contrast of how Prince Charming used to be: completely fearless and willing to hurt others in pursuit of the truth, even to the point of shivving a beyotch.
The real-world incarnation of Charming, however, is VERY comfortable glossing over half-truths if it means not having unpleasant conversations. It's hard to root for Mary Margaret and David when he is consistently making decisions that are either incredibly stupid or distressingly callous. In light of his behavior this episode, MM turning on him like HE was the siren pulling her to her destruction is justified. NOT justified was Granny's reaction.
That slut-shaming is awfully 1950s of you, Granny, considering that jus a few scenes before you were offering to swing a leg over Graham Lite's Harley if Emma didn't. And did you notice the giant CGI tree in the little murder scene Graham Lite pedaled Emma over to? If it grows alongside a well full of magically restorative water, can I posit that the tree's fruit, once eaten, will probably restore the lost memories of the Storybrooke characters?
I mean, it was sketched on a magical vessel in the Nolans' house, so, you tell me. Coincidence?
I am definitely going to have to discuss this theory with my local mayor. I love dropping by City Hall for a nice chat; we talk about dreams, boy bands, and french braids, and give each other foot rubs. Okay, fair enough, NO ONE has that relationship with their mayor, except Abigail. I love how Abigail spent a lot of last night sailing into Regina's office in the middle of the business day just to hang. When she wasn't busy talking boy problems with an elected city official, she was morphing into one of the best characters on the show. Girl got into law school AND had the best fairy-tale costume we've seen on the series so far:
Turns out she and her saucy hat didn't want to marry Prince Charming any more than he wanted to marry her—so much so that she aided his escape and introduced him to her solid-gold boyfriend enshrined in a beautifully crafted cupola in the woods. This impressive effort from the art department gave us another example of why Once Upon a Time show transcends its clunky dialogue and logical inconsistencies: It's a precious, imaginative breath of fresh air in a world long made stuffy by carbon-copy procedurals and hospital franchises.
Continuing what has been a running theme in the last couple episodes, Prince Charming reminded Abigail that ANY curse can be broken. Abigail's partnership with Charming to get the healing waters of a magical lake was dope city. That whole interlude was a stand-out scene of the season so far. It had weird psychological levels to it, and Josh Dallas looked like he was about to faint from making out with wet-T-shirted Ginnifer Goodwin. Josh Dallas blushes and stares like a starstruck high school jock when she's in-frame, like primitive man would stare up at the moon.
I'm not saying he paid the writers off to sneak in this music-video moment. I'm just saying the last thing he breathes before he goes to sleep at night and the first thing he sighs when he wakes is Ginnifer Goodwin's name. Regardless, I loved him and Red Riding hood escaping together. Red Riding Hood is turning out to be such a good friend and such a stunner in the fairy-tale backstory. I cannot wait to see this thread picked up.
Back to Abigail, though: She just kept getting better as the episode went on. Aside from getting a slap out of her system, she had the maturity to recognize that her ultimate goal was to be happy, not to keep her man, and her letter releasing David and asking him to be happy with MM was heroic. Too bad Abigail spelled out all her plans to BFF Regina before speeding out of town in the dead of night as the fog rolled in.
Now she's missing, and Once Upon A Time is promising us a future episode that crosses over into The Killing territory. Abigail is missing, and someone wrote TRAMP on her car. (Hate it when that happens. If I had a nickel!) Obviously Regina hopped out in front of the car, black-jacked Abigail, and is trying to frame Mary Margaret (good luck, she spent the night curled up sob-singing "Irreplaceable" next to the town sheriff)... but at least the next episode promises to build off of our current characters, and not tread water while introducing a new one. And frankly, I'm starting to feel sorry for Regina. Her life just seems so thankless. She spends all day every day shepherding her worst enemies through their boring lives and can't even get her adopted son to crack a smile by buying him video games. THIS is her happy ending?
Also: What are Poor Man's Graham's motives for tea-staining and sewing in new pages of Henry's storybook? I love a DIY man, but when/how did he get his ye olde bookbinding station set up?
We know from previous episodes that both Henry and Emma have read the last pages and purposefully destroyed them to keep them from Regina. Is Mystery Hipster (okay, August) sewing in new information to mislead them? Or is he restoring the book to its former state for Regina's benefit?
Clearly he planted the retooled storybook by Emma's car after his New Age date to drink mystical well water. He gets no points for fooling Emma, she's as gullible as her hair is long, and it's getting down there, baby. Waist-length blonde curls are no one's friend. Can we work in a plotline where she gets a sensible haircut?
"Whatever Happened to Frederick?" was just a transporting, beautiful episode, and hey: Things happened! We know now that Regina has keys to every house in town, Mary Margaret and David went public (I know MM said they were over, but she says that in literally every episode), and August may have introduced Emma to the key to restoring Storybrooke's memories. Needed it. Need more. Unfortunately we have two weeks to go before the next episode.
QUESTIONS
– Prince Charming will obviously use the water to restore Snow White's lost memory of him; will the tree or the water also help restore Storybrooke's memories?
– Why would MM and Emma meet up at Granny's to have a whisper-talk when they're roommates and can just talk at home in normal voices?
– David Nolan has none of the courage of Prince Charming. Is this due to the curse, or is this a comment on how modern relationships are harder than wrasseling with a siren on the sea floor?
– What is going on with August, a.k.a. Fugly Graham, and the new pages of the Story Book?
Are the characters the opposite of themselves from Fairyland? Would that explain David's wishy-washy decisions from Prince Charming's decisive actions in fairlyand?
1. That's what I would do, now when you said it. I don't think the water will work in Storybrook unless they all believe in a past magical life and wish to remember it, or something like that. I'm sure most Storybrookers have been there and tried it already since it has a sign and everything.
2. It's a TV-Show! Excellent spot, where all characters can show up.
3. I would also be a bit slow if I came out of a 28 year coma and married to the wrong woman. I think he just needs some time and memories to be himself again.
4. I really wanna know.......!
Good episode, you too Lily. I just wish August would have told Emma to make a wish.
The more I see of Graham Lite (or Fugly Graham lolz), the more I need to go back and re-watch Graham episodes because I want him back on the show STAT! Somebody find a magical being ASAP because Emma's character hasn't been the same since he died!
But I love this show, who am I kidding?
Does anyone but me wonder if Granny's having trouble seeing? As in what's been going on in the diner every morning at 7:15?
I would have loved to see her jump on the back of that motorcycle, tho.
Lily, have you considered any more paper dolls to help us get thru the next 2 weeks?
HMMM!!! Or heck, I might actually make a shoebox dollhouse for the ones I did. paper is my best friend, yo.
If the tales in OUAT were like the traditional tales (via Disney), it would be no fun... all would be predictable... So i am glad it is all surprising if at times it feels weird....
Equally if the characters in Storeybrook behaved just as they would in la-la-land, that would be a bore.... what is interesting is how Charming is so brave in lalaland but actually pretty lame in Storeybrook...
Having said this, the village outrage against Mary-Margaret (who merely kissed David was grossly exaggerated...
Also - Frederick looks HOT!
Lily,
I can't believe no-one has commented on your "horseback horseplay"!! I fell off the chair on that one! (probably cuz I've had my share of saddlesores.) TY
I like this show, I'm not sure why...
Lily, that was Mary Margaret's vehicle that had TRAMP spray-painted on the side, which fits with her being treated like the Scarlet Letter around town. (Abigail's car is completely different as shown in the Sheriff's photos from next ep.) I can't be the only one who noticed, toward the end of the ep, when Regina goes into her file drawer for the skeleton keys, they are laying next to a can of red spray paint. Mayor by day, tagger by night!
I keep thinking about last week's episode (I'm OCD like that).... if Mr. Gold can manipulate Regina by saying "please", why didn't he just say to Regina, "Return my cup now, PLEASE" instead of admitting his true name to her? Can he only do it once a day? Did he mistakenly use it up asking her to sit the f---- down?? ha!moreless
He didn't want to say "return my cup now Please" because he didn't want to directly let her know he still has his fairyland memory or that cup has a huge emotional meaning to him. As the dialogue went on, it became more clear to him that she suspected and to get the cup back, he had to answer her quesiton which confirmed it.
Now the chess game is out in the open between Reginia and Mr Gold.
"if Mr. Gold can manipulate Regina by saying "please", why didn't he just say to Regina, "Return my cup now, PLEASE" instead of admitting his true name to her?"
If you were a god would you not have a little fun with it. I believe Mr Gold/Rumpelstiltskin likes to let people think they are in control just a little. After all he pretty much let himself get captured in both realities. I am just waiting to see how he escapes. He is also very fond of making deals so perhaps he prefers to get what he want's that way.
That's a great point about allowing himself to be captured. Could be allowing Regina to think she's got the upper-hand, but instead she'll be put in a position to make another deal with him.... smart!
Yeah that would have been an ideal moment to bust out the "please" rule. I find it hard to believe he's still in the Storybrooke jail (very awkward for Emma having to work ten feet away from him at all hours of the day, when he's napping, shaving, etc.) but they've given us no indication otherwise.
I'm still not sure "Rumplestiltskin" is his true name- the knight making fun of him (prior to his becoming the Dark One) almost makes it sound like an insulting nickname!
Could that be part of Charming's problem? We still don't know his true name either- it was the brother who was raised as Prince James.
As soon as they said the water would bring something back, I immediately thought of Emma wishing Graham back. I didn't know how it would work but I was really hoping for it to come true. He will be back in some way or another.
That would be nice twist..... but he's pretty much dead and I hope it remains that way. I mean, Graham being alive would ruin the whole idea of him dying and its implications in the first place.
I too think he's really dead, but not showing to us a grave, or a funeral seems fishy to me...maybe they are waiting to use some fairytaleworld-alternate universe loophole...
oh yeah, the questions...
1. YES! how did i not think of that?
2. wait so true....you're a genius!!
3. hmmmm good point could be either...i think he's going to have some big upcoming life-changing moment where he realizes wow i do have courage!
4. I hate him! he will never replace Graham! that being said, unfortunately i have no idea whatsoever.
if they are trying to pass off Stranger Weirdo as a new Graham, THAT WILL NOT WORK because Graham was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH BETTER
it's indescribable
So they make a handheld version of Space Paranoids now? An entire dedicated unit, in fact...wonder how that's profitable. Henry better watch out or he could be digitized into the thing.
I love emma's hair but seriously if this is real life that would be sooo fried and frizzled. I mean cmon there's never any static to it when she wears jackets that would give anyone insane static...maybe fugly graham wrote that she would have perfect hair? And i felt so bad for regina, the kid could have at least said thank you. I mean as much as henry may not like regina and knows the truth, it would have been nice to see a little affection between him and her considering she raised him. Also wouldn't that fit into operation cobra? c'mon henry suck it up and at least pretend to give your evil mother some love. In a way I feel bad for Regina, alot of people despite the fact that she's evil can relate to her...I mean we don't know her whole story and lets face it anyone who has taken too much shit can snap at any moment which is regina...and i don't mean snap as in im going to kill someone I mean snap in like im a nice person but now im going to be a really kiniving bitchy person because everyone keeps doing wrong to me or doesn't take me seriously. So she may be the most relatable character on the show. Okay and I love abigail she is soooo awesome and i totally agree on the outfit, if I had to be a fairtale character I would want to be her just to wear that, and her prince charming is not that bad looking either!! Anyone think all the prince's look like hockey players? meh maybe its just me ;). I also don't think the well is the only answer I mean this is one huge curse...and right now we have two ways to kill it: the water (possibly), and a true loves kiss who would need to be Emma's i'm guessing? I think its going to be like the deathly Hollows in harry potter, can't wait for that season finale which i'm guessing will be three seasons down the road. Also maybe you're on to something with them burning the pages, maybe once the pages are burned its etched in stone and nothing could change it. I think fugly graham will have an interesting story line with his history because these fairytales have been passed down to him, and maybe everytime its passed down a change has to be made. Like maybe August's father was angry so he made the evil curse happen (writers usually put their anger in their stories) and it was so astronomical that even him rewriting the story won't change it...this show is great so hopefully the writers stay on edge and don't f it up like last episode. Last episode wasn't horrible but it wasn't that great like it should have been. If you can't blame the actors than you have to blame the writers. Maybe if they pay them more than that might fuel their fire (it upsets me when the heart of the show the writers still don't get paid nearly as much as they should)I liked the ending but I wanted more sustenance than that.moreless
LOL about all the princes looking like hockey players...kind of dead on.
"Fugly Graham"! LMAO!
I agree about the hair - no sheriff is going to go around with hair that chaotic. She couldn't run through the woods (and there are woods EVERYWHERE) more than 5 seconds without getting tangled up.
This was the one of the weakest episodes of the show. Not a bad one, but not as good as others.
To me, the weakest episode so far is the election one, when Emma went against Sidney. And then when MM went to release that dove and ended up hanging off a precipice and somehow David Nolan found her? And what about the episode where Regina built a playground in 48 hours?
Completely agree, I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that.
Thanks for a more "fair and balanced" review. I loved the whimsy and sense of humor you displayed. I guess we'll keep you. ;-)
1) Maybe in a couple of years.
2) I hadn't thought about that. Maybe ... the heating broke. Or Emma wants to show off her extensions to as many people as possible.
3) I was YELLING at my computer screen (meaning, at David), because I knew David wouldn't be honest when MM asked him too. Even in his lovesick-look, you can still see if he's lying. Coward. My guess it's due to the curse, though. I mean, he did stay with Catherine at first, because of his duty. He would've done that too if he were prince Charming and woke after being in a coma for a while. I don't know, really. I do know that I was very disappointed in him. And it broke my heart (well not really) when MM said 'It's not love'. Man, that a great line, especially when he said the exact same thing to the Siren.
4) We'll have to wait at least two weeks for that.moreless
I enjoyed this episode but I have to confess not as much as last one. Nevertheless I liked it in part because it developed a character I wasn't fond of and that I was quite suspicious of and it's Abigail/Kathryn. I always thought she could't be as nice as she seemed and in this episode the story of Abigail took an unexpected path that surprised me and the feeling was good!!! I agree with Lily, the best fairy-tale costume, jijiji!! Really, great scenes with Abigail and Prince Charming, in my opinion. And also enjoyed so much the sirene and underwater scenes... lol
They keep exposing the differences between real/fairy-tale characters, specially with David/Charming: "the honourable thing to do", "fearless bravery". But I agree they will have to handle this differently soon enough or stop giving so negative aspects of his personality all the time, I love Charming but I'm starting to seriously dislike David!!!
I miss Graham so much... I don't like Fugly Graham at all.
And I think Kathryn is locked in the cell next to Belle's. jiji!! And I suppose they will charge David with the murder/dissappearance of Kathyn as the next plan from Regina to keep MM-David apart.moreless
Disagree on the golden locks....Guys love the locks not so much the boy cuts although it does make snow look elfin and fairy like ...As to the lack of courage of Snow and Charming: neither have the same personalities as their previous lives....I take it that this life and past life experience creates a sub-conscious dissonance and it is that dissonance and the resulting symbolic interaction that makes the show intriguing. If the writers lose that thread of connection between the two worlds they may as well pack it up. Implanted symbolism is brilliant and thanks for pointing out about the tree.
What is missing are tidbits towards conclusion. If the writers have an end game they should be giving the viewers hints and steps towards that end. The show can not run indefinitely but i could see another show springing from the ashes of this shows conclusion. Episode II (after three or 4 seasons) much in the way the Clone wars/Star wars saga did. Emma as a new Storybook/fairy tale character? How does her "real world" life experience play into that? "A Connecticut Yankee in King Author's Court", but now the sub-conscious connection between worlds is reversed? The last thing is that the show is developing characters but it is starting to get tedious. We need more intrigue and interaction. Otherwise It is now our favorite show. A few tweaks and this is the next Dallas and top of the ratings otherwise it could be the next arrested development (great show but didn't really connect until after it was cancelled).moreless
This was a good episode were some things did progress, but I was left wanting more out of this episode. It was interesting to learn more about the characters and the Evil Queen though.
The Tree Theory is a good one!
There is more to Granny than meets the eye perhaps.
It is symbolic but could be due to the curse as well.
August is like God to the Fairytale characters.
You're right about the David Nolan/Prince Charming dynamic being a comment on today's relationships and how differently they're approached. But you've also touched on why the townspeople can't have proper relationships - they don't remember. And if you don't know who you are, where you've come from and all the thoughts, experiences and memories that form who you are, you are a victim of your circumstances.
Take DN's situation - he's woken from a coma, forced to do the 'right thing, the noble thing that you'd expect from PC' and stand by his wife. However we know (but they don't) that MM is his wife. So he's doing the right thing based on a lie. Without his memories and his bravery that he knows he has as PC, he becomes a shadow of himself. He's lost who he is. Not even MM shows any of the strength and determination that SW had, something she came to have by her circumstances.
In everyday life, how many people do you know that rush into relationships and become what the other person was wanting in pure desperation for a partner? They don't take the time to be who they are and therefore attract the right partner for them.
DN and MM are supposed to be together but not until they know who they are. The same can be said for everyone.moreless
Am I the only one holding out hope that Graham comes back in Fairyland as some kind of misunderstood Big Bad Wolf in Red's story line?
I don't care HOW he comes back, just that he does- one theory about why they didn't show the funeral was that he wasn't really dead (just mostly dead, like in "the Princess Bride") Maybe they'll find him locked in Snow's old coffin?
So.... what we're saying is... Graham really isn't coming back?? Am I alone on this, or did anyone else expect Graham to come running out of the forest when Emma drank the water that brings back things you've lost. *sigh*
Heart-Attack my ass.
I haven't given up on him yet. The Mayor does have a convenient dungeon asylum, and if Graham regained his Huntsman memories and had his spiritual/emotional heart crushed, all at the same time, he might need some time in a padded cell.
HAAAA....that would be a dream come true. Why did they waste such an awesome actor on such a tiny part?! Seriously miss him.
I kind of like Emmas hair (it's very fairy-taily). But I do hate her stupidity! Not questioning the book floating by just after an unreliable stranger says she's gonna get something back that she lost - jeeezus!
And HOW IS operataion Cobra doing? NOTHING HAPPENS!! Can't someone start remembering SOMETHING soon? I realize they're stretching it out, but come on! Nothing happens in that town.. and as Lily pointed out - the kid is visibly aging. If this isn't a part of the plot they need to get a move on. I wonder if they actually have a plan of where they're going, how they want it to end?
My name is John, and I'm a "Lostie" ...LOL Actually starting to feel a conection between the two shows: "This episode was boring...", why did they go there...."," why didn't the writer expand this....". Let's sit back and enjoy the ride. We're either going to be highly dissapointed, or spend the rest of our lives saying, "whoa, oh, s**t"! , just like another show....
I shall pick up where I left off in my mini (okay not so mini) rant last week and how they're completely ruining David for me. Charming is meant to be Charming for bloody sake so are we to make the not so huge inference that there are no honorable individuals in reality? that the wonderful qualities, morals, and virtues of fairytales are merely idealistic and never obtained. Charming still remains one of my favorite characters but his alter David has lost my respect so much in the past couple of episodes it isn't even funny. I mean inititally he and Mary Margaret were so good that I felt bad for not being pissed at them for being cheaters. But David (the former soldier) is cowardly, fears confrontation, is dishonest, and fears rocking the boat. Gah. And what was with the outdated treatment of Mary Margaret...they may as well have pinned a Scarlett "A" on her low cut cardigan. Sheesh! Oh and I have a bone to pick with you for making me a Ginnifer and Josh shipper...how the hell is that possible? LOL.
Episode was super strong. I love how they gave so much depth and layers to Abigal and somehow managed to make her beloved in both StonyBrooke world and in FairyTale land. She initially appeared as bitchy in fairytale land and desperate in Stonybrooke land, but she transformed beautifully in both lands in this one episode. I'm throughly concerned for her disappearance! And I love that their introducing this Clue sort of murder-mystery vibe now.
I can't be the only one that thought that when Poor man's Graham said the water would mean things would return that Graham was gonna rise up from the dead or something. I so wanted that. But I do like Poor Man's Graham... August. I love how mysterious he is...what is he? Who is he? Why does he seem invested in getting the fairytale book back into Henry's graces? What are his motives? Does the good team finally have someone who is alive(unlike Graham), legal(unlike Henry) and competent (unlike Emma) on their side?! The tree reveal was great as well.
They raised the stakes and gave us a fantastic episode. (And Robert Carlyle wasn't even in it!) I feel like we've gained some momentum again and I'm so beyond intrigued.moreless
AMEN
poor guy who was in center stage.
Again i disagree with this review as i really didn't like this episode and found it one of the most boring so far in the show. Most of it comes from the fact that Snow and Charming is so horribly boring and annoying characters. And it probably didn't help that it came right after the magnificent Rumplestiltskin and Belle episode.
And the rest of the story minimally progressed, by giving us even more questions. (Like the good old days of Lost.......)
Snow and Charming are the main couple...if you dont liked..well... you can only see Rumpel episodes...
Runpel is great...but I love all characters...
LOL @ "August, a.k.a. Fugly Graham"... I don't think is THAT ugly, of course is not AS HOT as Graham was (R.I.P.) but he ain't that bad; yet agan I've had 2 glasses of wine while watching the show, so don't believe everything I'm saying. One thing I can agree with you Lily, David Nolan needs to get a pair! Seriously, what a puss, remember that selfcentered doctor MM had a date once with? He just keeps looking better and better as a date than Mr. Havenoballs Nolan. In my opinion, a sassy egotistic guy is way more fun than a "charming" sissy lier dude, as adorable as he is, is just too much, and the other guy, at least would be fun when you tell all ur girlfriends about it and everyone starts having a laugh for even had gone out with him, isntead of ending crying your eyes out when you tell your best friend he didnt have the balls to come out with YOU. sight...moreless
I don't Lily, but I actually hated the episode. While last episode wasn't great, at least it was entertaining.... this one was kind of boring and it almost felt that nothing happened. They have dragging so much the whole MM and David storyline that by the time they finally did something about it, I was kind of annoyed. My second problem is that are we really supposed to care what happened to Abigail, I mean her character is not interesting enough.... It's like with Tyler, from Revenge, all over again!
I really liked this show, but I really feel that the story is not moving forward. I mean, every now and then they throw some reveals to make us believe the story is moving forward but it`s not. The show is almost like a procedural, where the structure is the same in every episode and they have some reveals or story lines to keep it interesting.
They also have to really work on the main character, or the lack of one. Emma, is supposed to be the hero, yet she is so flat and boring.... give her something to do!
Don't get me wrong, I really like the show but I feel like they have to step up they're game. Just look at Revenge, it had the same problem for like three episodes and now it's amazing! I really just want to be love this show like I used to.moreless
I am a big sucker for underwater imagery, and I thought that making a parallel to a siren leading Charming to destruction and David being a false person leading Snow to destruction was nicely made. (Especially since the Siren at least was assuming a costume of Snow, and David is just horribly changed into a jerk somehow) David leaving his wife was, for this show, a step forward, as they have teased so long who he will choose, his choice (even if terribly butchered) is important, and the idea that its going to be followed up by another episode dealing with Abigail/Kathryn's disappearance is promising. (if it had been a promo for like, "Tinkerbell isn't who you think!" I would have thrown a wine bottle at my TV )