Once Upon a Time Review: Sympathy for the De Vil (Season 4 Episode 19)

Is it just me, or was this the darkest episode of Once Upon a Time we’ve had in years?

Cruella as a psychotic child, popping off her step-fathers and tricking authors into giving her magical powers? Yes, please!

It’s truly been years since we’ve had a villain on Once Upon a Time who was just bad. Not someone who had a traumatic childhood or a lost love or something equally excuse-worthy. Cruella was just downright BAD, and sometimes you need a good baddie.

Cruella: Some people struggle not to be drawn into the darkness , but ever since I was a little girl I’ve said why not splash in and have fun?

She might be messing with Once’s signature theme “evil isn’t born, it’s made” a little bit, but I honestly can’t care. Cruella gave us a stellar episode of devious deceit, and we’ve been needing that for a while.

Isaac’s insertion into Cruella’s story also creates an interesting new facet to his character.

At first, you think that Cruella is a bit of a Rapunzel: locked away in a tower by her evil mother, destined to be rescued by an unlikely hero. And what better hero to change her tale than an adorably shy author? Right? Wrong. Cruella tricks Isaac right into giving her what she’s always wanted: the freedom to mercilessly murder whomever she chooses. Like I said… dark.

You have to wonder if maybe that’s how Isaac got started twisting stories to his will?

Elsewhere, Rumple gets into some trouble when Regina tears out Belle’s heart to manipulate him.

I have to be honest here, it’s about damn time Rumbelle had some screen time together. Even now that their romantic relationship appears to be on life support, I just don’t buy that Rumple’s been in town for weeks and hasn’t made time to visit his wife. Maybe to try to apologize? Mend fences? At the very least tell her to stay on the sidelines so as not to get hurt.

I do like that his mission to manipulate Isaac isn’t all about winning Belle back though.

His darkened heart presents an all new obstacle for Rumple to overcome, and it might be the one real thing in the world that can change his ways. No matter how much he loved Belle or Neal, Rumple has always been a deeply selfish man, so now that being “good” is in his own best-interests – namely staying alive – maybe he’ll end up turning over a new leaf?

After he’s done turning the savior dark, getting people killed, and blackmailing his little heart out, of course.

Speaking of the savior, Emma’s stubborn refusal to see her parents’ side of the story is getting a little old. What started out as understandable anger and mistrust has turned into a full on bratty temper tantrum. At this point, she’ll lash out at anyone who even hints that maybe her parents’ situation was more complex than good vs. evil.

Emma: Forgive me if I don’t take advice from woman who held a grudge for half her life because a ten-year-old spilled a secret.

PREACH, Emma!

I mean, you’re still a brat, but Regina holds the title Queen Brat, in my opinion. Thank goodness someone said it.

Hopefully Emma’s decision to kill Cruella in order to save Henry will help her see a different side to Snow and Charming’s story. When you’re facing a threat to your child, you’ll do terrible things.

And if you’re wondering about that little bundle of evil joy named Lily, she’s still floating around out there.

Maleficient: Lily. You told me she didn’t survive the trip to this world. You lied.
Cruella: Perhaps I did, but there’s an explanation, of course. You see… I’m a really terrible person, and I left her in the woods to die.

We’ll get to meet her next week, when Lily makes her way to Storybrooke, all grown up!

Other Thoughts:

• What are the rules on taking someone’s heart across the town border? Is Belle going to be okay if Regina leaves?
• Cruella playing angry birds? LOL
• Isaac writing away Cruella’s ability to kill? Genius!
• RIP Cruella, you were an AMAZING villainess.

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

Lindsay MacDonald

Lindsay is an associate editor for Tell-Tale TV. She is a writer, viewer, and internet addict. Her obsession with TV started with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and has been going strong ever since; current favorites include Scandal, The 100, The Walking Dead, and Arrow. She considers a perfect Friday night to be a joint-cuddle-session between an adorable puppy dog and her Netflix queue. Follow @lindsayjoane