Tag Archives: Prince Charming

Mar 19 2012
3 Comments
ABC, New for Fall 2011, Recaps

once upon a time recapping: heart of darkness

Previously on Once Upon a Time: Red Handed

This week on Once Upon a Time, we pick the thread of Snow and Charming’s tale, while the cards are stacked against Ms. Blanchard. In the Enchanted Forest, Snow has forgotten her love for Charming and is determined to kill the Evil Queen, and Charming is determined to make her remember him, while avoiding King George’s guards. They’re happy for a record five seconds before they’re torn apart again. In Storybrooke, more damning evidence is discovered points to Ms. Blanchard as the killer. Emma thinks she’s being set up, but David starts to doubt her.

Once Upon a Time, Ms. Blanchard

In Storybrooke, Emma is forced to book Ms. Blanchard. Even though the sheriff doesn’t believe she’s a killer, she must pursue the evidence. Emma interrogates Ms. Blanchard, with Regina present to ensure objectivity, and it’s uncovered that box is actually Ms. Blanchard’s jewelry box. She claims someone broke in and stole it, but Regina points out to Emma that there was no break in, and a woman scorned in love will do anything. Emma goes back to their apartment to search, and Henry shows up to help (hi, Henry! I miss you!), claiming Regina is framing Ms. Blanchard because she hates Snow White. Unfortunately for all of them, Emma finds a knife in the heating vent. Henry drowns his sorrows in hot chocolate at Granny’s, and August tells him he should look for answers in his book – the book that just happens to contain stories that really happened.

Henry is ecstatic that someone believes, but August tells him Emma is the sort of person that needs proof. Emma starts to think that Ms. Blanchard needs a lawyer, and Mr. Gold appears to offer his services. Henry’s proof is the ring of skeleton keys from Regina’s office, and when Emma tries them in the door to her apartment it opens. David starts to think his blackouts are the key to Ms. Blanchard’s innocence, and visits Dr. Hopper to retrieve his memories – unfortunately he goes so deep in his hypnosis he remembers Snow talking about killing the Evil Queen. He confronts Ms. Blanchard with his doubts, and she’s crushed he would think her capable of such evil.

The next morning, Ms. Blanchard also finds a skeleton key – one that opens her cell. Emma brings her breakfast and bad news: the heart was Kathryn’s, and Regina appears to be framing her. She promises to clear Ms. Blanchard’s name if she has faith. Emma is taking no chances on this one. She goes to Mr. Gold and is willing to play dirty if it frees her friend. Ms. Blanchard, however, is not willing to sit around and find out.

Once Upon a Time, Snow White

In the Enchanted forest, we pick up where we left off at the end of What Happened to Frederick– Red and Charming on are the run from King George’s army. Red goes wolf-like to hold them off, and they split up. Meanwhile, forgetting her love has given Snow the personality of a sullen, bitchy teenager. The dwarves are so concerned they call on Jiminy Cricket to hold an intervention. Snow decides to spare the dwarves her bitchiness and take it out on the Evil Queen – by murdering her. Before she can put her plan into action, Grumpy wants to take her to Rumpelstiltskin, the man who can do anything. But Rumpelstiltskin can’t cure Snow – even he doesn’t have the potion to restore true love – and instead offers Snow a magic bow to kill the Queen, at no cost. Charming learns of Snow’s intentions and visits Rumpelstiltskin.

In exchange for his cloak, he gets information on how to find her, and a warning that if she succeeds with her plan she’ll become as evil as the Queen. Charming finds Snow’s hiding spot and forces a kiss on her. It doesn’t work, and she leaves him tied up while she continues on with murdering. Luckily, Jiminy frees him, and he shows up just in time to take Snow’s arrow. He tells her he would die for her, and its enough to make her see past her anger. This time she kisses him and remembers. Of course, King George’s men show up at that moment to tear them apart – again. She goes back to the dwarves to apologize, and they promise to help her free Charming. Just in case we’re thinking Rumpelstiltskin let everyone off easy, he combines a hair from Charming’s cloak with the hair he got from Snow, finally creating a potion that gives him power over love.

Once Upon a Time, Charming

Next week, Sebastian Stan (aka Carter Baizen from Gossip Girl) plays the Mad Hatter. Our fairy tales have already included murder and adultery, so why not throw in some insanity too?

Thoughts/Theories
o After disappearing for a few weeks, everything seems to have fallen into place for Mr. Gold. Though I’m not exactly happy that he’s using Emma and Ms. Blanchard as his pawns, I’m hoping Kathryn’s murder trial will be the battleground where he takes some wind out of Regina’s sails.
o August claims he’s here to help Emma believe in the curse. I’m going to be hopeful here and think that’s actually the case. It’s about time Henry had an ally, and I hope this means good will start winning a few battles against Regina.

Nicole N. decided to justify the countless hours she spends watching television by writing about it here. She enjoys a challenge and is currently re-watching all 15 seasons of ER. Follow her @nicolemnelson

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Jan 23 2012
5 Comments
ABC, New for Fall 2011, Recaps

once upon a time recapping: 7:15 a.m.

Previously on Once Upon a Time: True North

Now that we’ve had a few more insights into Emma’s past, this week we’re returning to the star-crossed love of her parents. In Storybrooke, Mary Margaret is still pining over David (and therefore stalking him). In the Enchanted Forest, we finally pick up where Snow Falls left off. Snow is unable to get her Prince Charming out of her mind, and that same Prince is torn between saving a kingdom through his marriage to Abigail or his love for Snow. Juicy stuff.

Once Upon a Time, Stranger

In Storybrooke, the Mysterious Stranger just happens to be fixing his motorcycle on the street outside the mayor’s house. Henry tries to get information out of him, but no luck. Elsewhere, Miss Blanchard rushes out, supposedly late for a school project at 7:15am, but “school project” really means “creepily watching David buy coffee every morning.” Emma finds her and tells her to stop stalking; Ms. Blanchard wishes for a “magic cure” for love. Her non-magic cure is to buy a giant chocolate bar at the drugstore, but unfortunately she runs into Kathryn buying a pregnancy test. At this point it starts to get ridiculous: Ms. Blanchard finds a dove, and when she takes it to the animal shelter she’s told it’s a monogamous species of dove – if she doesn’t find its mate, it will be unhappy forever, so of course she decides to go out into a brewing storm to do so. Regina pays Emma a visit and asks her to look into the stranger, and when the mayor mentions his interest in Henry, she agrees. In trying to find the flock, Ms. Blanchard almost falls into a ravine (yes, really), David rescues her, and they take shelter from the storm in a cabin. They admit to mutual feelings/stalking, and are about to kiss when she mentions the pregnancy test. Emma confronts the Mysterious Stranger in Granny’s – he’s a writer, his mysterious box contains a typewriter – but that’s all she gets. The storm clears, Ms. Blanchard returns the dove to her flock, and she tells David he can’t have it both ways. They attempt to let it go…again, David learns Kathryn’s not pregnant, and 7:15 comes and goes with no coffee for either of them. However, they run into each other buying coffee at a time that is not 7:15, throw caution to the wind, and finally kiss. Yay!

Once Upon a Time, David and Mary Kiss

In the Enchanted Forest, Snow is similarly afflicted by her feelings for Charming. When Red Riding Hood tells her of his marriage in two days, she decides to do the proactive thing and have Rumpelstiltskin “cure” her of love. In exchange for a few strands of her hair, he gives her a potion that will make her forget Charming entirely. Meanwhile, Charming is still thinking of Snow, and King George reminds him what is at stake if his marriage to Midas’ daughter doesn’t proceed. Charming ignores him to write a letter to Snow, asking her to meet him at the palace. She goes and is almost immediately caught and thrown into a cell next to Grumpy. They bond over how love makes people do crazy things, and when Stealthy comes to spring his fellow dwarf, they take Snow too. After a botched escape (and Stealthy’s death), Snow turns herself in to protect Grumpy. King George threatens Snow with Charming’s death unless she tells him she doesn’t love him – with no choice, she breaks Charming heart and her own. She heads back into the wilderness, and the dwarves offer her a place to stay and recover from her pain. However, Charming won’t give up and the wedding is off. But when Grumpy tries to give her the good news, it’s too late – she’s already taken the potion and forgotten her love.

Once Upon a Time, Snow and Dwarves

Thoughts/Theories
o Another step forward and step backward. They are really playing up the tragic love here. I’m beginning to wonder how anyone found love in the Enchanted Forest.
o Points of interest: Snow helped Red out of some sort of bind. Rumpelstiltskin has Snow’s hair for future nefarious purposes.
o The Mysterious Stranger is still stubbornly mysterious. Wild leap here, but could he be the author of Henry’s book?

Quotes

Ms. Blanchard – I just like to come here to see him.
Emma – So you’re a stalker.
Ms. Blanchard – No, not really. Maybe a little bit?

Rumpelstiltskin – Love makes us sick, haunts our dreams, destroys our days. Love has killed more than any disease.

Nicole N. decided to justify the countless hours she spends watching television by writing about it here. She enjoys a challenge and is currently re-watching all 15 seasons of ER. Follow her @nicolemnelson

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Dec 05 2011
2 Comments
ABC, New for Fall 2011, Recaps

once upon a time recapping: the shepherd

The episode opens with David finally returning home from the hospital. Kathryn (apparently I’ve been spelling it wrong) asks if he remembers anything, such as an ugly windmill that used to be in the yard, but he’s still blank. Inside, David’s clearly overwhelmed by all the people at his homecoming party, but Dr. Whale says anything might trigger his memory.


Henry and Emma are by the stairs. Henry explains the reason David can’t remember anything is that the curse hasn’t worked on him yet, filling him with false memories. David interrupts to say hi, but he’s really just looking for Ms. Blanchard, who didn’t show. In the kitchen, Kathryn whines to Regina that it’s like she’s lost David twice, but the mayor tells her she still has a chance. Kathryn says it’s nice to have a friend, and Regina agrees.

David shows up at Ms. Blanchard’s. He worries that his feelings are one-sided, but she counters that he’s married and it should be no-sided. He wants to choose her, but she says their connection is because she rescued him, nothing more.

In the Enchanted Forest, Charming is facing down a brute. He is flung to the ground, but before his opponent can finish him, he springs up and stabs him in the chest. Charming has passed the test. King Midas needs a dragon vanquished, and King George (Charming’s father) needs gold. They leave to discuss the details. As Charming turns to his men to make a heroic speech, his not-quite-dead opponent suddenly stabs him through the chest.

Despite his son’s death, King George still needs a dragon slayer. Rumpelstiltskin appears and reprimands him for not being more careful with the son he provided. King George wants his son back; Rumpelstiltskin wants the Fairy Godmother’s wand. They deal. Turns out the baby he provided has a twin brother, a shepherd who is the real Charming we know and love.

Ms. Blanchard is scrubbing the crap out of some dishes when Emma walks in. Over a drink, Emma tells her if she thinks being with David is wrong, then it’s wrong, and to let him go. Meanwhile, David is looking at old pictures. Kathryn kisses him, but he pulls away, saying it isn’t right.

Once Upon a Time, Shepherd Charming

A floppy-haired Charming is locking up his sheep when his mother returns from the market with a marriage offer that could save their farm. Charming argues he will marry for love, not money, and they’ll save the farm another way. Rumpelstiltskin appears at that moment with his offer – play the part of the dragon slayer and his mother will never want for anything again.

Ms. Blanchard is at the diner when Dr. Whale smarmily apologizes for their disastrous date and asks for another chance, despite her obvious disinterest. Regina then walks in and accuses her of being a home wrecker, since David has left Kathryn. Ms. Blanchard says she had nothing to do with it, and Regina warns her to keep it that way.

A newly prince-like Charming and his knights go to slay the dragon. The knights order him to stay back while they do the work, but it goes horribly wrong. Charming picks up a sword and tricks the dragon into getting stuck in a narrow crevasse, where he chops off its head.

Once Upon a Time, Blanchard and David

David visits Ms. Blanchard at the school before class. She pleads with him to leave her alone, as she is trying to do the right thing. He argues that it’s wrong to stay with Kathryn and pretend to have feelings, when he truly loves her. He gives Ms. Blanchard the choice – he’ll be at the toll bridge at 8, waiting for her decision.

At the station, Graham uses doughnuts to bribe Emma into working the night shift, claiming he has to work at the animal shelter, though I think we all know where he’s really going. A flustered Ms. Blanchard storms in, wondering what to do about David. Emma tells her it’s pretty apparent he’s made a choice, and to meet him.

Charming and King George present the dragonhead to Midas. In addition to gold, he wants to offer Charming his daughter’s hand in marriage to unite the kingdoms. The snooty Princess Abigail (Kathryn) walks in. Charming tries to refuse, but King George warns him if doesn’t accept his farm will be destroyed.

David is on his way to meet Ms. Blanchard when he runs into Regina. She tries to convince him to change his mind, and then points him in the direction of the bridge. On the way, he gets lost again, and stops into Mr. Gold’s shop for directions. As he’s leaving, he spots the windmill from his house and starts to remember.

Charming stops by the farm to tell his mother about the marriage and say goodbye, as Midas must never learn who really he is. She urges him to run away, but he refuses. She gives him her wedding ring, promising that true love will follow it.

Ms. Blanchard is twirling that same ring on her finger when David arrives at the bridge. He remembers his past. Despite his feelings for her, he feels he needs to honor his past with Kathryn. Ms. Blanchard is crushed.

Emma is on patrol when she spots someone sneaking out of the mayor’s house. She knocks him down with her nightstick, and it’s of course a disheveled-looking Graham. She is disgusted and hurt, and tells him she won’t be working anymore nights.

David returns to Kathryn’s. He’s willing to try again.

Charming and Abigail prepare to start their new life together. As their carriage travels towards the palace, we leave them where ”Snow Falls” begins.

Once Upon a Time, Dr. Whale and Blanchard

A tearful Ms. Blanchard is at the diner. Dr. Whale walks in and asks what’s wrong. Ms. Blanchard wants to know how to stop being caught in situations when she already knows the outcome, he tells her to do the unexpected. He offers to buy her a drink. She says she’ll take two.

What we know so far:

What little progress David and Ms. Blanchard made has been crushed, thanks to what looks like clever plotting between Regina and Mr. Gold. Emma and Graham’s budding interest has also been crushed, which makes me sad. On the Enchanted Forest side of things, it appears Charming was being set up as some sort of High King. There is a lot of ambiguity about the political system there, and I really want that to be cleared up sometime soon – there are far too many princes, kings, and queens being thrown at us without a means of fitting it together. The only one that seemed to have any real power was (is?) Rumpelstiltskin.

Next week, Graham starts to remember his past, and someone dies.

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Nov 07 2011
2 Comments
ABC, New for Fall 2011, Recaps

once upon a time recapping: snow falls

The episode starts in the Enchanted Forest, with Charming riding in a carriage with an uptight blonde princess. A fallen tree blocks the road, but it’s a ruse that allows a thief to grab a satchel from the carriage. Charming gives chase and tackles the thief, who is actually Snow. She clocks him with a rock and escapes; he promises to find her.

Ms. Blanchard is on a date with an inattentive blonde (my love David Anders, of Alias and Heroes), babbling about wanting true love before she gives up and calls for a check. On the walk home, she spots Emma sleeping in her car and offers her a spare room, but she declines.

Ms. Blanchard’s class is volunteering at the hospital when she catches Henry in John Doe’s room. Despite his hints, she doesn’t recognize him, and only comments on how sad it is to be alone. Later, Henry tells Emma he’s found her father, and they need to make her parents remember.

Emma asks Ms. Blanchard to read the book to John Doe (or JD as I will now call him), telling her Henry thinks he’s Prince Charming. At first she’s reluctant, but Emma argues it’s the best way to break Henry of his delusions – when JD doesn’t revive, it will act as a reality check. The three will meet for breakfast to discuss the results.

That night, Ms. Blanchard is reading to JD at the hospital when he grabs her hand, but when she retrieves Dr. Whale (her date), he suggests she’s imagining it. Immediately after, he calls the mayor to report JD showed some activity. Regina would crush the phone in her hand if she could.

Snow raids some artifacts from a cave only to be caught and suspended in a rope trap on the way out. Charming appears, with a cocky reminder that he would find her, and she sarcastically dubs him “Prince Charming.” He strikes a deal: help him recover his stolen property – including a ring he was about to give the blonde – and he won’t reveal she is Snow White, wanted by the Queen.

 

Emma (in a stolen shirt of Regina’s) meets Henry at the café and Ms. Blanchard joins them, shocking them both with what happened. Henry immediately wants to go back. Ms. Blanchard does too, despite Emma’s reservations. However, JD is missing, and both the Sheriff and Regina are present. The mayor reveals she is JD’s emergency contact since she’s the one who found him. Dr. Whale warns if they don’t find him soon, he could die. Regina takes Henry home. A review of security footage shows JD walked into the woods.

Snow and Charming are heading through the woods when he notices the vial she has around her neck. He steals it, and she warns it’s a weapon that can squash a powerful adversary. Snow insists the claims against her are lies, and when he mentions her theft, she counters she has only stolen from Queen and mistook his carriage for hers. She wants only enough to get out the realm, and admits to ruining the Queen’s life. They stop for a drink of water. Snow gets away from Charming only to be caught by the Queen’s goons.

Sheriff Graham, Emma, and Ms. Blanchard are in the woods. The Sheriff goes off ahead and Ms. Blanchard asks Emma why she got into “finding people,” she replies it’s something she’s always done. Ms. Blanchard wonders if it was about her parents, and asks if she found them, to which Emma jokes, “depends who you ask.” Henry appears, and tells Ms. Blanchard JD is searching for her.

Snow is about to have her heart cut out when Charming saves her. She is clearly surprised and touched by his gesture. He says it was the honorable thing to do.

Henry tries to convince Ms. Blanchard that JD loves her. Emma wants to take him home, insisting that Regina will “kill me, then you, then me again.” Sheriff Graham finds JD’s bloody wristband.

Snow and Charming reach the troll’s bridge. She tries to negotiate for the jewels, but the trolls are suspicious of Charming and soon both he and Snow are at knifepoint (swordpoint?). They search Charming and find Snow’s wanted poster. Charming gets a sword and tells Snow to run, but he is overwhelmed and she is forced to use her magic vial to defeat the trolls. Charming reveals his name is James.

Sheriff Graham, Emma, Ms. Blanchard and Henry arrive at a t(r)oll bridge, where JD is in shallow water. Ms. Blanchard performs CPR, and when she places her mouth to his, he revives and coughs up water. Henry exclaims that she brought him back to life, and even Emma agrees.

At the hospital, Dr. Whale is tending to JD when the Storybrooke equivalent of the blonde princess shows up, calling him “David.” Regina pops out of nowhere to inform the trio that the blonde is JD’s wife.

Snow and Charming prepare to part ways. Snow tries on his ring for a minute, before claiming it’s not her style. He’ll find her again, and she almost believes him.

Regina explains that JD is really David Nolan, and the blonde is his wife, Katherine. Katherine thanks them. Ms. Blanchard asks how she could not know he was in coma, but she explains they parted on bad terms and she assumed he had left town. Dr. Whale says JD’s recovery is a miracle – which he just got up and went searching for something. “Someone,” Henry corrects.

Regina collects Henry and leaves. Emma of course confronts Regina with how convenient it is Katherine showed up, but the mayor acts oblivious. She throws in a jab, saying how the whole situation has made her glad she has Henry, and how awful it is to be alone.

Ms. Blanchard is twirling a ring on her finger, which happens to be the same ring Charming intended to give to his blonde princess. There is a knock at the door, Emma asks for the spare room, and Ms. Blanchard lets her in.

What we know so far:
Prince Charming is named James and John Doe is named David Nolan. Snow is responsible for ruining the Queen’s life, but how is still uncertain. It almost feels like nothing much happened. John Doe woke up, but he had barely three lines. Also, will Emma ever get fresh clothes?

A reader mentioned in my last post that the mysterious Sheriff Graham is one of the Queen’s guards from the pilot; we don’t see him but we hear his voice. After watching the scene again, I’m not quite sold. One theory I like is that Graham is the Huntsman who spared Snow. What do you think?

Next week is babies, ball gowns, and Mr. Gold (finally), oh my!

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