Once Upon a Time: 9 Best Quotes from ‘The Other Shoe’ (Season 6 Episode 3)
While the “main” story on Once Upon a Time Season 6 Episode 3 isn’t necessarily the most exciting “case” that the series has had, there are several developments on the larger plot front that make it the best installment of the season so far.
It’s also straight-up one of the most quotable episodes of the series we’ve had to date. Here are the nine best quotes from “The Other Shoe.”
Charming: We will find a way to defeat the Evil Queen. We always do.
Snow White: Is this our life now? Just defeat and repeat?
The writers clearly use Snow as a proxy for the viewers, here. We’re six seasons into the series, and sometimes it can feel like we’re watching these characters do the same thing – over and over and over again. The traditional Once Upon a Time formula of introducing a villain, only for the group to defeat them approximately 10-12 episodes later, has grown stale and predictable.
It can only remain enjoyable to watch them fighting for so long. Snow’s decision to go back to teaching and to build the town back up to the way it was during the first curse is a smart one. It’ll only help to broaden the scope of the show. And who knows? Maybe watching the day-to-day struggles these characters face as “normal” people in a small town in Maine will enliven the series once again.
Cinderella: You don’t know the real story. In the end, Clorinda wasn’t the wicked sister. I was.
We’d already met Cinderella (aka, Ashley) way back in Season 1 – in the fourth episode of the series, “The Price of Gold.” I can’t say I expected we would return to her story, since it seemed to have been a pretty cut-and-dry reenactment of the original tale (except with Rumple taking the role of twisted “fairy godmother”).
That said, I’m glad the show returned to her, and the “twist” in her story is pretty interesting.
We’ve seen Once Upon a Time humanize its villains time and again, but somehow, it’s almost more interesting to see them illuminate flaws in their heroes. They did this with Snow’s “Dark Heart” after she killed Cora back in Season 2, and just last season, we saw Emma embrace her dark side (sorta) in her turn as the “Dark Swan.”
Now, Ashley doesn’t get nearly as dramatic a treatment as either Snow or Emma did, but we do find out that the formerly cinders-covered servant girl isn’t the selfless and flawless heroine she’s previously been made out to be.
In her own way, she really is the wicked stepsister – in an attempt to cling to her own happy ending with the Prince, she completely blows up Clorinda’s with Jacob.
It’s eyeroll-inducing how quickly Ella gives up the information about Clorinda’s whereabouts when Lady Tremaine threatens to smash the glass slipper that Ella believes she needs as “proof” of her identity when the Prince comes a-knockin’. Which, of course, Lady Tremaine destroys anyway. Duh.
Of course, since this is a Disney-owned channel, everything turns out just fine in the end.
Emma’s magic kicks in just in time to save Ashley from Lady Tremaine’s stabbing, and Clorinda and Jacob (who had been in Storybrooke all along) finally reunite for their own happy ending. Never mind the fact that Clorinda had been trapped with her abusive, terrible mother in the Land of Untold Stories for about 30 years – it’s all good now!
I did, for the briefest moment, think that the show might actually let Ashley die. Having Emma fail to save someone – the first someone she ever did save – because her magic is failing would be hugely dark. Too dark, I think, for a show on ABC about fairy tales.
Zelena: Save me? You’re the one that needed saving so badly you ripped yourself in half. So if you’re gonna blame anyone here, blame yourself.
I’m just gonna say it: I hate where Zelena’s arc is heading this season.
Everything I grew to enjoy about her during her well-done character development in Season 5 has been basically pushed to the wayside. The conflict between Zelena and Regina because of the Evil Queen feels very forced and like a huge regression in their relationship.
Also, Zelena is being incredibly selfish and annoying. She knows that Regina is still grieving Robin. She knows that the Evil Queen is not good news. She is literally just palling around with her to spite Regina, like a petulant child. I’m so tired of Zelena’s flip-flopping and line-straddling when it comes to the whole good-vs.-evil thing. Pick a side already!
Emma: Ashley was my first save. You take that away, then what? Everything I’ve done can be undone?
Hook: By the Evil Queen? No, no, no. My Emma’s too strong for that.
If there’s one thing I’m solidly into this season, it’s Captain Swan. We’re only three hours into the season and already I love this healthy, (semi-) normal, comfortable place they’re at in their relationship. The cuteness of referring to Emma as “my Emma” paired with pointing out how strong she is = serious boyfriend goals. Good job, Hook!
Snow White: Dr. Jekyll and Dr. Frankenstein. You know what that sounds like?
Regina: The world’s scariest-sounding pediatrician’s office?
It’s such a pleasant surprise whenever Whale/Frankenstein drops in for a visit! David Anders is amazing (in basically every show I’ve seen him on). It seems like this appearance sets him up for a multi-episode arc, working with Jekyll to defeat the Evil Queen – though I’m not exactly sure how he could manage that, given his current starring role on iZombie.
On top of that, it’s always great to hear Regina make a funny. “World’s scariest-sounding pediatrician’s office” indeed.
Emma: Move in with me. I know everything in life is uncertain, but sometimes you have to walk out the door and hope there’s not a bus. I mean, I have a closet full of red jackets. I feel like I could make some space for some black leather.
Hook: Well, when you put it like that, then I would love to move in with you.
This is, without a doubt, a landmark moment in their relationship, Captain Swan fans. The only way this moment could possibly have been better? If Emma was honest with Hook about the fact that she’s seen a vision of her own death.
I don’t love the fact that Emma is keeping a huge secret – one that could damage her relationships with everyone in her family and circle of friends, not just Hook – but I do love that Emma has taken Archie’s advice to heart. She’s not putting her life on hold because she “knows” she’s going to die. She’s continuing to live and continuing to build up her relationship with Hook.
Is it possible we’ll also see a marriage proposal this season? Not from a ‘shipper standpoint, but from a plot standpoint, this would be a genius move.
I can see it now: Killian proposes to Emma. Because she “can’t,” in good conscious, accept his proposal knowing that she’ll die soon (though of course she totally can and should still get married if she wants to), that’s what will propel her to come clean with everyone about the vision.
Snow: What you’re contemplating is vengeance, not justice, and we don’t need vengeance. We have this town and our daughter and our son who really needs you. It may not be epic, but it is the most important thing you will ever do, and it won’t happen if you’re off seeking revenge for some decades-old crime.
Sigh. Oh boy. Poor, stupid Charming.
I like the idea of Charming getting a storyline of his own. I do! He’s never been my favorite character (honestly, he’s towards the way-bottom of the list), but he and Snow are all too often lumped together as a pair, rarely getting their own individual stories.
This, though? I’m not loving the idea of this. I totally get why Charming would want to track down the person who killed his father – but this whole plot seems just a tad too melodramatic/soap opera-ish.
Also, Snow, in her infinite wisdom, literally told him exactly what would happen if Charming pursued his vengeance – it would destroy their family. AND HE’S DOING IT ANYWAY. Come on, dude. Snow deserves better.
Rumple: This is for our child. A little verse I like.
Listening to Robert Carlyle recite that beautiful lullaby was incredibly soothing. On top of it being a lovely moment, it crystallizes something introduced during the Once Upon a Time Season 6 Premiere.
Rumple, for whatever reason, is not capable of changing for Belle’s sake. But perhaps he can change for his unborn son’s. This is also a smart way to “take it back to the beginning” for Rumple – his relationship with Baelfire and love for his son inadvertently led him to becoming the Dark One. Perhaps his relationship with his new son will undo that. It’s a nice parallel.
Hyde: You’re asking for my help. And that’s a tall order to fill from inside this cell, milady.
Evil Queen: Well, in that case… Let’s take a walk.
Introducing the newest (and most dangerous) Once Upon a Time power couple!
I can’t even express how into this I am. Lana Parrilla is the human embodiment of charisma; she could literally have sparks and chemistry with a brick wall. Since it doesn’t really make sense for Regina to move on from Robin so quickly, I like the fact that the writers are sort of “allowing” Lana a ‘ship by introducing this team-up with Hyde.
Of course, it’s totally possible that this will remain a *totally platonic* villain team-up. Right?
Yeah, no.
What did you think of this episode of Once Upon a Time? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Reviewer Rating:
User Rating:
Once Upon a Time airs Sunday at 8/7c on ABC.
Caralynn Lippo
Caralynn is a freelance writer and editor, but most importantly, she is a diehard TV addict. A few of her current favorites are Mr. Robot, You're the Worst, iZombie, and The Vampire Diaries. She also writes about TV for Romper, The TV Junkies, and TV Fanatic.