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Once Upon a Time Season 1 Episode 20

The Stranger

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AIRED: Apr 29, 2012

9.0

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Episode Summary

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While August offers to show Emma how she can defeat Regina and gain custody of Henry, Regina plans to seduce David. Meanwhile, in the fairytale world Gepetto agrees to save Snow and Charming's daughter, but seeks to save his son Pinocchio as well.

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165

Once Upon a Time: A Heartwarming Nightmare

This episode made me feel a lot, and I'm very pleased that OUaT is so aggressively covering ground.

By Lily Sparks, Apr 30, 2012

Fan Episode Reviews (8)

good episode,,, but Emma, get with it!

8.5

By BabsetteJacks, Nov 25, 2012

Well, well, well.... SO THAT is who August is.... very interesting and well worth the wait. This episode is good in how it cleared up one mystery and created new ones. For example, what was with Regina and David? Is that her empty void acting up?

And of course, the biggest question... what on earth will make Emma believe? Or even consider the possibility that what Henry says could be true? I mean, I know it would be hard to swallow... but with all the coincidences, how can she not stop and think about it for just a second??

Gotta say, acting was spot on again. Dialogue crisp, even if some of the Fairy Tale Land scenes went on a little long at timesmoreless
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Wow!

10

By amazing_race, Aug 07, 2012

This was a brilliant episode! We finally find out more about August and the mystery that he presents! Can't belive who he turns aout to be and what happened to him back in the fairtyale world! It's astounding!

The ending of the episode leaves a lot of questions! Is Emma seriously running away and leaving Storybrooke with Henry? It's sorta kidnapping, and not setting a good example as a sheriff and what not... :P

But I'm worried that if she does leave with Henry, the Queen will try to stop Emma ever seeing him like she almost did that one other time.

So many questions! I can't wait for the next two episodes! OUaT has been and still is brilliant! Can't wait for more!moreless
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AMAZING episode thanks to the Lost reference!

10

By zedtaker, Jul 15, 2012

I loved this episode anyway but the Lost reference made me say out loud OH MY GOD! I started crying at the sight of Oceanic Flight 815 flying over!

It's strange, us losties are trying to move on but as soon as we see something like that, all the memories come rushing back (like a rush of blood to the head) and you realise how amazing that show was and what it felt like to love Lost. Thanks to once upon a time, they have that Lost style writing and the tone which makes me care about the characters and the story. The episode was so beautiful and I loved the father (Gepetto) and son (pinocchio) relationship so touching! I want more Lost references!moreless
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Splinter

9.5

By sh811a, May 05, 2012

This episode I think is great because we discover who August really is Pinichio but also that Emma is the daughter of Snow and Charming. I'm not too supprised by that since there have been hints of that, though this would also mean Henry is the grandson of Snow and Charming so that's cool. Thoughout this episode the theme is on the consequences of irresponsiblity, and there is a parallel with Gepetto, Pinnocio/August, and Emma because all three have made a wrong choice and have failed to take responsibility on the roles their suppose to play, which makes the episode tragic.

For Gepetto the choice he made is understandable because he was just being a father, but he was also suppose to be a hero. Once, he forces a unfair bargin on the Fairy I feel that is when he loses the title of hero, his love for Pinnocio is a selfish kind and he does teach Pinnocio a bad leason which does affect what happens latter. It's true there is such a thing as grey areas and everyone does lie but that doesn't mean you should.

Pinnocio as we see in the end breaks the promise he made to his father which was to always protect Emma, he fails due to submiting to his own selfish desire of excaping from the crappy orphanage. There is a sign that is crappy with this one moment where Pinocio is fixing Emma's crib and there is this stupid frak head (probably drunk) handy man that barks at him not to touch or take a screw, even though Pinocio practically did his job, a simple job almost anyone at any age could do. Anyway, I can't help but feel if Pinocio stayed with Emma both could have gone into a good home together, if not at least he'd at least be able to take care of her as he got older and may'be both would have found a place to live. But most importantly there could of been a stronger bond between them and he could of taught her everything about the Fairy Tale world, which could help her become disallusioned in the world she lives in. He does come back to forfill his promise but as we see it was too late.

Finally Emma, I always felt her sceptism was her weakness and now it's finally the very thing that will not just destroy the Fairy Tale characters but herself and Henry. We then see a moment when Pinnocio shows her the hard proof of his leg become wood but what she see in flesh and blood, it's revealed why she's so sceptical because she's mystically blind. This may'be be due to her bad experences since childhood which have crippled her sense of optimism. I think subconciously she does believe in what Pinnocio is saying after all how the heck could he know certain details, but also what he says to her about being a mesiah like hero she responds by saying she doesn't want to be a hero to everyone. The thing about roles are we don't really chose them they chose us, and like all roles we're required to do what we were ment to do whether we're ready or not. Emma we see makes the two wrong choices, instead of confronting things like she should she runs away.

After what happens I have a bad feeling at this point Fate isn't smiling at her so Henry may be her last chance, hopefully Emma will believe because time is running out.moreless
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Pinocchio And Your Mission

9.5

By JooPaulo3, May 02, 2012

Great episode, finally the audience knows the August past. I like watch this episode because the story of Pinicchio connect all season, since the curse was unleashed in the pilot. Emma need to believe, but i think just Henry make her see the true. Excellent season of OUAT so far.
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Ginnifer Goodwin	Snow White/Mary Margaret Blanchard
Jennifer Morrison	Emma Swan
Lana Parrilla	Evil Queen/Regina Mills
Josh Dallas	Prince Charming/David Nolan
Raphael Sbarge	Jiminy Cricket/Dr. Archie Hopper
Jared Gilmore	Henry Mills

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Tony Amendola	Gepetto/Marco	Guest Star
Jakob Davies	Pinocchio	Guest Star
Isaiah Lehtinen	Gordie	Guest Star
Keegan Connor Tracy	Mother Superior/Blue Fairy	Recurring Role

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Episode Photos

Eion Bailey and Jennifer Morrison on Onc...

© 2012 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.
Jennifer Morrison and Eion Bailey on Onc...

© 2012 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.
Tony Amendola and Jakob Davies on Once ...

© 2012 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.
Lana Parrilla and Josh Dallas on Once Up...

© 2012 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)
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- Trivia: Behind the opening title, Jiminy Cricket is flying in the woods.
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QUOTES (5)
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- Emma: Hey, what's the emergency?
  Henry: Shh! This is sensitive.
  Emma: If it's sensitive, why are we at Granny's out in the open?
  Henry: I'm hungry.
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- Regina: Thanks for being my knight in shining armor.
  David: Well, it's more like flannel, but you're welcome.
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- Regina: How did you like it?
  David: Best lasagna I ever had. You really know how to work some magic.
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- Emma: You're asking me to believe that you are a fairy tale character?
  August: Pinocchio.
  Emma: Right. Of course, Pinocchio. Explains all the lying.
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- Emma: Now you're telling me I have to save everyone? That is beyond ridiculous. I didn't want any of this.
  August: Well, that's too bad, Emma, because that doesn't change the truth. You're our only hope.
  Emma: Then you're all screwed.
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NOTES (2)
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- Injoke: During Henry's conversation with Regina at the school, he's carrying a Tron lunchbox, another Disney property. Henry's interest in Tron was previously indicated in "What Happened to Frederick."
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- International Airdates:
  Canada: April 29, 2012 on CTV
  UK: August 12, 2012 on Channel 5
  Slovakia: December 28, 2012 on JOJ
  Germany: January 23, 2013 on Super RTL
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ALLUSIONS (0)
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