New Episode Discussions Post

[the_fairest]

April 29, 2012
Once Upon a Time Episode 2.20
"The Stranger"

Huh. Well that was -- that was. Huh.





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Comments

Re: Ongoing Storybrooke Plot

[notinthebook]

This whole episode is about two different people (possibly three if my theory is right) railroading Emma in the very worst ways Emma can be. In all emotional and responsiblity and non-gentle fashion ways they can, which shoves her into what were usually early season sudden reactions.

THIIIIIIIIIIS.

Emma's a loose cannon when we meet her. She assaults a guy (true, a fugitive, but he was under control at the time and she only knocked him out because he said something she didn't like), she chops down part of Regina's tree and threatens to come back for the rest. She acts on impulse and that impulse is to kick something in the face and then run. She only starts trying to be better because of Henry and, to a slightly different though not necessarily lesser extent, Mary Margaret. And she does start getting better, though she still prefers to do things her way and not by the book.

But then August takes her to the one spot guaranteed to make her feel abandoned and alone all over again, and shoves all of this sudden responsibility at her that she simply cannot handle, and all that good work unravels, bringing her straight back to the run mentality. And she takes Henry with her not because it's a good idea, but because she doesn't care about good and bad when she feels threatened.

I love her, but she's not necessarily a good person, not like Snow or James are good. She's a hero, but not an angel, and they've made that pretty clear.

Personally, I think Henry would be able to convince her it's a bad plan, but we'll see!