Once Upon a Time Review: The Unexpected Life

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There were so many twist and turns in Once Upon a Time Season 3 Episode 11 that it was a bit difficult to keep up.

But in the end it was one hell of a ride that took most of our favorites back to the Fairy Tale world and left two of them out on their own.

Cowering in Fear

Peter Pan continued his reign of indifference and evil as he cast the curse. First off, he had no problem using his most loyal Lost Boy Felix. And by use, I mean ripping his heart from his chest and crumpling it to dust. Sometimes there's just no payoff in being the loyal sidekick. 

As usual Rumpel had a plan, but he needed the Black Fairy's wand to make it happen. which felt like an odd plot twist. Had we ever heard of the Black Fairy before? Unfortunately this seemed like a patched together way to bring the Blue Fairy back to life and allow Tinkerbell to play hero.

Although Tink deserved the title. The more I've seen of her this season the more I like her. I especially liked that way she cut off all of Blue's mourners at the church with her, "yeah, it's a terrible, terrible thing" because there was no time for a recap of the evils of the Black Fairy with Pan's shadow on the loose.

Tinkerbell's spunky and fun and I hope the end of the Neverland story doesn't mean we lose her for good. 

Emma and Snow had several bonding moments as they both regretted having to give up their children for the greater good. Both wished they'd had it to do over again but that wasn't meant to be…or was it?

When Henry and Peter Pan's bodies switched back, Pan once again showed how little he cared for anyone but himself. He rejoiced in making his own son cower and taunted him by trying to make him feel like the village coward once again. 

As Rumpel looked down at the band on his wrist that wouldn't allow him to use magic, I really thought he was going to cut his own hand off to defeat dear old dad. 

Instead, he called for his dagger which I'd all but forgotten about and used it to kill his father, but he had to die in the process.

Poor Belle. I truly felt for her as she fell to the ground. She'd just gotten Rumpel back. Her love made him a better man and they both knew it but this was where that result led. 

When it came time to stop the curse, it all came down to Regina. But there was a price to be paid and they all needed to know what that was.

But Hook appeared to worry that she was hesitating as he asked in this Once Upon a Time quote

Can you stop it or should we all start preparing our souls because mine's going to take some time.

Hook

Leave it to Hook to make me laugh during the show's most dramatic moments; that's why I love him. Well, that and his love for Emma.

As Regina explained that the price was that she could never see the person she loved the most ever again, everyone felt the weight of it. And Henry blamed himself for trying to break the original curse in the first place.

Regina: I cast a curse out of vengeance and I'm a villain. You heard Mr. Gold, villain's don't get happy endings.
Henry: You're not a villain. You're my Mom.

Once again, the kid was torn between his two mothers but this time would turn out differently, even if he didn't know it. 

Regina gave Emma and Henry the past they should have had, even if it was only in their minds. They'd remember a past where Emma never gave him up. It may have been a lie but their future together would be the truth.

The one year time jump surprised me. I expected the show to end with that little yellow bug driving away from the Storybrooke that was. 

Instead we see Emma and Henry living a domestic and happy life together, until a strange knock at the door revealed a pirate with a hook. 

I loved that Hook kissed her. He was hoping that true love's kiss would unlock her memories. Unfortunately it doesn't work when it's a one way street. 

But Hook's a determined man and somehow he's found a way back to the real world to save Emma's family from some grave danger. I doubt something as trifling as her lack of memory or love for him will stand in his way.  

As Mary Margaret once told Henry…

Believing in even the possibility of a happy ending is a powerful thing.

Mary Margaret

Well, I for one choose to believe. And as much as I enjoyed the Once Upon a Time winter finale, I can't wait for it to return this on March 9th.

Going Home Review

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C. Orlando was a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. Follow her on Twitter.

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Once Upon a Time Season 3 Episode 11 Quotes

Blue Fairy: Have faith.
Snow: That's easy to say when you have magic wings and a wand.

Felix: Outwitting the Evil Queen in less than a day. That's impressive.
Peter Pan: She loves the boy. That makes her weak.