Once Upon a Time Review: The Strength of Love
Christine Orlando
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Even during the fighting, it was all about the love on Once Upon a Time Season 3 Episode 7 - and who was strong enough to survive?
When Rumpelstiltksin sent Ariel to Storybrooke, he told her to find what he needed by the strength of their love. Thankfully, it didn't take long for Belle to find that tea cup which lead her to Pandora's box.
I found Ariel a lot more fun this week. Perhaps it was the fish out of water scenario she personified. She had no idea what a gun was or what it could do and when Belle explained the myth behind the box in this Once Upon a Time quote, I loved Ariel's response…
Belle: It's Pandora's box. Legend says it contains the world's darkest evil.
Ariel: Shouldn't you be wearing gloves or something?
When the boys in the mine started talking about how Peter Pan was holding their sister hostage, it didn't take long to figure out that it must be Wendy Darling. How very sad that Wendy's been kept in a cage for a century.
Pan easily led Henry right to her and had her spin a tale that played on Henry's love of fairy tales and desire to play the hero all in one.
Wendy may be the perfect tool to help Pan manipulate the truest believer, but I'm still unsure about what Peter Pan's end game is with the boy.
Elsewhere in Neverland, Snow wasn't speaking to Charming, and I couldn't say that I blamed her. So many important things happened to him since they've gotten to Neverland and he only shared them with her when he was forced to. Charming said he was protecting her but this was about trust more than love. Snow had every reason to be hurt and angry.
I was happy to see that Hook won't be backing down from a good fight when it comes to winning Emma's heart…
When I win your heart Emma, and I will win it. It won't be because of any trickery. It will be because you want me.
Hook
I was definitely feeling a lot more chemistry between Hook and Emma during this episode than I was between Emma and Neal. I also appreciated how incredibly confident Hook was in Emma's ability to get her son back and defeat Peter Pan.
I've yet to see you fail and when you do succeed, well that's when the fun begins.
Hook
He really does believe in her and that's an attractive quality.
At the same time, I'm happy Emma wasn't focusing on either one these men. She's got one priority here in Neverland and that's getting her son back.
I choose Henry. He's the only love I have room for in my life.
Emma
And that's the way it should be…for now.
My biggest complaint about the entire episode was that there was so little Regina, but that didn't stop her presence from being felt. Her teaching skills already have Emma starting fires in the middle of windstorms. There's no telling how powerful these two women could be if they ever truly teamed up.
Were you happy to be back in Storybrooke? Are you hoping Ariel sticks around? And after watching "Dark Hollow" are you TeamNeal, TeamHook or simply TeamEmma?
C. Orlando was a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. Follow her on Twitter.
