Review: Once Upon a Time, “Unforgiven”

Rumbelle fans? You guys okay? Anyone need a blanket or maybe a cup of cocoa? Let me know.

Last night’s episode was rough on a lot of fans, actually, but none more so than the new found Maleficent contingent.

Through flashbacks, we see the Queens of Darkness approach Snow and Charming, begging them to help stop Regina’s dark curse. Obviously, their plan fails – hence the premise of Season 1 – but we also learn a very interesting twist about Maleficent’s past.

Turns out, she is also pregnant at the time of the curse, just like Snow.

Whatever choices and sacrifices Snow and Charming made to try to stop the curse, it cost Maleficent her child. Now, she’s back for some revenge.

Regina: “I should have known fish sticks and pound puppy were here for more than a second chance.”

While Ursula and Cruella are busy resurrecting their third member, Regina and Henry try to jog Pinocchio’s memory about his days as grown-up August. Remember August? That guy who seemed really important in the first season? Don’t worry if you don’t, he’s been MIA for a couple years.

Can we all just agree to never let Regina around children anymore. Sound good? She’s kind of an awful human being sometimes. That being said, she did own up to her actions and apologize for threatening a small child, which is real progress. Regina realizes that reverting back to her old, evil ways is not going to get her the happy ending she wants. And as a reward, she gets another clue about the author.

Emma and Hook spend most of their time being adorable, though it seems like Hook might be hiding something from his lady love.

Ursula and Hook have a mysterious history; one which he seems less than eager to divulge. At first, his secrecy bothers Emma, who has learned the hard way that hidden agendas never pan out well. Eventually though, she realizes that relationships are about trust, and Hook will tell her about his past when he’s ready. I, for one, hope that whatever Hook did with/to Ursula in the past, it doesn’t turn Emma away too much. Something tells me she’s going to need him in the coming days…

Learning she’s got a great capacity for evil pretty much confirms this Dark Emma threat that’s been hanging over our heads for a while. For now though, Emma seems to be firmly on the path of GOOD. She’s making good choices, being the bigger person, and believing the best in people. It’s hard to see how she could go dark at a time like this.

Rumple, on the other hand, is primed and ready to be as dark as we’ve ever seen him. Not only does he have nefarious plans with the Queens of Darkness, he’s just seen Belle kissing Will Scarlett.

I love Will, I really do, but the Rumbelle fan in me wants to yell at him to keep his grubby hands off my precious book nerd. She is TAKEN, thank you very much! Now that Belle seems to have well and truly moved on, how on earth are Rumbelle fans going to cope? Will true love really win out, or is all hope lost?

With this knowledge that Belle has found love elsewhere, Rumple might be more ready than ever to do some wicked deeds in Storybrooke. Let’s hope the angel on his shoulder keeps him from going too far.

Other Thoughts:

• Who needs a pregnancy test when you’ve got Maleficent?
• Regina pretending to join up with her old gal pals might hurt her public image a bit.
• Maleficent’s little baby rattle broke my heart. Crying for days.

Don’t forget to give “Unforgiven” your own rating and comment below! 

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Once Upon a Time airs Sundays at 8/7c on ABC