#without even knowing Everyone is just tallying up the lies and stories and twists and bullshit you're trying to pull

[lem-cup-rev]

2.7 | Reunion

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018)

🌸🌸

Oh… my god… I couldn’t stand this one.

All of the interaction was exaggerated in a way that I found so annoying. The entire episode was a predictable deception sketch where every acting choice was just “lies like a lying liar”.

I’m trying so hard to be constructive about my opinion, because lots of things that are extremely simplistic and straightforward can be lots of fun for lots of people, and I constantly praise this show for the same.

Maybe this particular tone just isn’t what I expect and enjoy in She-Ra. The cartoonish fumbling was ratcheted up so hard that it made no sense in the established tone. Everyone seemed very dumb, and it felt like nothing anyone said registered with anyone else. Adora really started to seem halfway in her giggly drunk state and I don't really know why.

The Horde side suffered from the same problems. One moment just shot me with disappointment, where Catra lies to Hordak, and she just puts on an obvious cartoon liar face, when I really expected her to say it in her steady, serious way, giving us one of those chilling moments where we know she’s making a choice that will affect the rest of her life.

This episode is about Glimmer being shocked that Bow keeps secrets. I think one reason that fell flat for me is that we, the audience, never had any other idea of Bow’s life. It’s never, ever come up. This is the first time we’re learning about it, so it just isn't a twist to us.

I also think the dads’ library has an interesting blankness of location and context. I think it’s all but the only commoner location we ever see besides either cute towns or rough bars. I have no idea where it is, what community it belongs to, or where they think Bow’s university is. It seems like Adora and Glimmer found it five minutes from Bright Moon.

I actually loved the lore. It felt really cool and creative finding out that Sirenia was a mythological figure, who was a constellation, so the characters have to learn what stars were.

I also loved the final scene with Catra and Hordak. Catra being laid out by the basic need to breathe makes her seem fragile in a powerfully scary way.

I always really loved the story of the Horde cycle of abuse. Hordak’s unflinching cruelty makes every other character destroy each other fighting for his approval. It makes me think of this incredible quote from Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo speculating that driving every insecure, violent man is a more powerful violent man he’s afraid of. Anyway, I sure hope that throughline doesn’t go in any weird directions after this!

Let’s check in with our tally.

Catra messed up big time in this one. Do I even have to say it? She yelled and got mad without even realizing an impressionable little baby was listening.

Catra’s Crimes: 25

Next time: Teach me your witchy ways!

#review #no spoilers #episode #2⭐️ #she ra and the princesses of power #spop #she-ra and the princesses of power

[officialleehadan]

Plan of Kings

Hello darlings! Continuing with out $5+ prompts, this one is for Kyle, who prompted the first story in this series, and has been an amazing supporter for months. Thank you so much, darling! Enjoy!

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“What do you have in mind?” Avorhain asked warily as Felmarin turned the problem over in his mind. There were several issues that he could see. The most notable was that someone, and he didn’t know who, was dedicated to causing a war between humans and elves. For the moment it seemed that his enemy was now a reluctant ally, but that might not last once Avorhain left Felmarin’s custody. “I’ve been a diplomat all my life. I can lie if I must.”

“First,” Felmarin said, and caught Vamer’s eye. “You have to escape, and it has to look real, which may mean putting an arrow or three in you on the way. Second, we have to find out who exactly wants us at war, without them catching on that we aren’t.”

“And third, Avorhain murmured, the only sign of his displeasure at the ‘arrows’ comment being a slight widening of his eyes. “My daughters. If your mother was targeted, they certainly will be as well.”

“Father-“ Elarria started, and cut herself off when her eyes strayed to Felmarin. Her gaze hardened and her shoulders went back. “I have a solution. For that problem, and for another that neither of you are willing to discuss.”

“Oh?” Felmarin said, and nodded to her, more than willing to hear her out, if only because he certainly didn’t have any good ideas close to hand. “What do you have in mind?”

“I want you to kidnap me,” she said firmly, and raised a hand to stop her father, who immediately started to protest. “You don’t trust each other, and you shouldn’t. Until half a candlemark ago, we were enemies. Now we are, barely, allies. If you kidnap me, we solve three problems. First, you have leverage over Father, so you may trust that he will not betray you when he makes his escape. Second, our true enemies will take my apparent captivity as assurance that we are still at odds, which buys us time to hunt them down. Third, if I am a ‘captive’, my murder will not be useful to our enemy, and so I will, in truth, be safer.”

“Alright, I see why you want to marry her,” Vamer muttered from behind Felmarin. He was sitting in on the meeting because Felmarin trusted him, and also because he needed at least one elf to back him if Avorhain decided to stab him and be done with it. He wasn’t inclined to shed any more blood for the human kingdom than he already had. “She’s fierce.”

“She also speaks Elvish,” Felmarin muttered back, with no faith at all that the information would keep Vamer from making any more comments. “Shut up unless you have something useful to say.”

“No, no. Carry on. I’ll be quiet as a mouse.”

He wouldn’t. Felmarin knew he wouldn’t, but that was probably about as good as he was going to get out of Vamer for now.

Elarria was looking between them and carefully hiding a tiny smile behind her wine glass. Avorhain, thank all the gods, did not seem to understand Elvish, and was looking to his daughter for a translation.

“A comment on the political situation,” she lied gracefully, although not without an amused twist to her lips. “Your Majesty, Father, I believe this is the most efficient solution.”

“I don’t like it,” Avorhain murmured reluctantly, and Felmarin winced. “You would be a hostage, even if we are not enemies. That will not be easy.”

“I will protect her,” Felmarin promised without hesitation. “I already swore to allow no harm to befall her, and this does make that oath easier to keep.”

“Easier to marry her too,” Vamer contributed unrepentantly. “I’ll need to see about all those extra guards.”

“Shut up, Vamer.”

“Just saying.”

“It will be easy enough to arrange,” Felmarin decided to ignore his friend for now. It probably wouldn’t win him any trust if he decided to knife one of his own right in f4ront of the human king. “I assume everyone knows you’re here, Princess?”

She was still hiding a smile. Felmarin tried not to be too distracted by the glitter of her eyes. “They do. My presence was not a secret, although only a few know I remain in the camp. A friend helped me sneak in here.”

“Alright,” Felmarin turned the idea over in his head. “Avorhain, you make your escape tonight. Princess, pass the word to his soldiers. Gather a trusted dozen or so. Vamer, I know you keep a running tally of the most incompetent of our own. Find me three idiots to guard the cells and see that everyone competent is out of the way.”

“I have just the three,” Vamer chortled, too pleased with himself to be anything but malicious. That was alright. Felmarin kept him around for more than his bad jokes. Vamer was also ridiculously good at his job. “And I’ll call the useful ones off to beat some sense into the rest. Majesty, the key will be carelessly within reach. I’ll make sure your hands are barely tied when we leave.”

“My gratitude,” Avorhain said, and hesitated over his own thoughts for a long moment, before he took a slow, steadying breath. “I have a favor to ask. If I am trusting you with one daughter, I wonder, Elf-king, if I could trust you with the other as well.”

“Yalla,” Elarria murmured, her fingers white as she tangled them on her skirts. When Felmarin looked to her, she offered an explanation. “My sister. She’s… she’s only nine, but she… she will be a target if I am out of reach.”

A child. Damn. Felmarin should have remembered the younger princess. It wasn’t that he didn’t know about the child, but a young human was hardly his concern when he had a war to run. “Where is she?”

“In a keep three days from here,” Avorhain said tightly. His fears had merit. The murder of a child was abhorrent to most elves, but the murder of a princess would spark a war from which there would be no return. Felmarin would never harm a child, but there were others who would. “Can you get to her?”

“Not without taking the keep,” Felmarin said and glanced up at Vamer. “But there are other ways. Princess, you run with your father. Ride for the keep and collect your sister there. We will follow until you leave, and ambush you on the road. I regret to say, only your father will escape.”

There was so much that could go wrong, but with the right soldiers, and Felmarin himself leading the ambush, it could be managed.

“There are risks,” Avorhain said after long thought. “But I believe that may… may be the best option. Elf-King, you will protect them? My daughters are the hope of my realm. When I die, Elarria will be queen.”

“Until my dying day,” Felmarin said, the words escaping despite his own best efforts. He scrambled to recover, completely distracted by the way Elarria smiled at him for it. “Believe what you will of me, Human, but I would never harm a child.”

“I do believe you,” Avorhain said, and his shoulders slumped. “Alright. We have a plan. When do we escape?”

“Tonight,” Felmarin said with a nod to Vamer. “Take the king back to his cell. Make it look good. Handle the guards.”

Jokes or not, Vamer would get the job done, and Felmarin trusted him. “Give me a few hours. Gotta move a few people around. Come on, Majesty. Back to your cell.”

“Of course,” Avorhain said, and allowed Vamer to bind his hands lightly. His eyes were worried when he looked at Elarria. “Lari, be careful. I’ll see you soon.”

“I’ll be safe,” Elarria promised, and kissed his cheek. “Don’t worry, Father. I’m safe with Felmarin.”

Felmarin resisted the urge to strut like a peacock, strangled his own instincts mercilessly, and did his best to keep a straight face until the human king vanished out the door.

Alone again, Elarria turned to him, and now he could see the fear in her eyes, hidden under steely calm.

“I should go too,” she said quietly, fingers still tangled in her skirt, betraying her nerves. “If I’m to run with him.”

“Get to the cells with the soldiers. Vamer will make sure you’re in place,” Felmarin said, and struggled to find something else, anything else, to say. He didn’t want her to go yet, but there was nothing for it. “I meant it. I will not allow harm to come to you.”

“I know,” she said, and hesitated, one hand on the tent flap. A spark of mischief came to her eyes, warring with the fear. “And Felmarin, about your offer…. I didn’t say no.”

Before he could wrap his mind around that, she was gone, leaving nothing but the hint of her perfume and a half-empty wine-glass to show she was there at all.

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Forest Fell:

Felmarin never expected to be ambushed in his bath, and never expected for his attacker to be the princess of the kingdom he had just conquered.

Oath and Offer

Enemy Met (Subscriber Only!)

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More Stories!

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#romance #elves #cute #royal #fun #fantasy #romantic

[welcometophu]

Not Your Love Song: Chapter 40

Marked Book 2: Not Your Love Song

Chapter 40

[ Previous | First | THE END ]

“How many people are going?” Kit asks.

Rory’s lost count in the final tally. The past week has been hell week for just about everyone—between midterms and papers due, everyone he knows has been busy. “Not Nate,” he says. “He’s got shifts at work, and he took on extra because Serina’s coming with us. Alex told Dax he couldn’t go, so he and Cass are staying at his house.”

“Alaric said some of the people he’s allying with might show up later in the week, like that girl, Dayton,” Stormy says. She’s tapping out a light beat with her drumsticks, trailing the rhythm from the coffee table to the wooden arm of the sofa to the back of the cushion right behind Andy’s head. It doesn’t seem to bother Andy, who’s bent over his bass, strumming chords while Melanie leans in, watching.

This next week is going to be the longest time Rory’s ever spent with Andy’s girlfriend. He’s torn between dreading it and looking forward to it.

On the other hand, it’s also the first time he’s seen her since he stopped crushing on Andy. And that definitely helps the looking forward to it part.

Kit slips his hand into Rory’s. “Okay. Let’s try this again. We’ve got your band and all currently associated groupies right here.” Melanie snorts, hushing Andy when he tries to protest the terminology. Rory appreciates that she has more of a sense of humor than Andy does.

“Drea’s down the street waiting for Corbin’s bus to come in, and Carolyn’s upstairs helping Serina pack,” Kit continues.

“Chris’ll be here soon.” Thorne pockets his phone, picks up his own guitar. When he sits on the edge of one of the chairs, he’s opposite Rory and his guitar mirrors Rory’s. He starts strumming, and Rory falls in with the melody easily. It’s an old song, one they’ve been playing since he was thirteen. Thorne’s hair falls across his face in a red wave as he leans over the guitar. “Alaric’s with him. They might be running a little late.”

“We’re taking his car up, right?” Stormy says.

“Can’t leave without him,” Thorne agrees. “I’ve got Mom’s car—she and Dad and Dad dropped it off on their way through—but we’ve got enough people going that we need all three cars, plus space for our instruments.”

Rory doesn’t want to think about why Chris and Alaric might be running late. “I think that’s it for this part of the trip, until Alaric’s Clan allies come out later in the week, and not counting Mom and Dad and Dad, who already went up last night.”

The beat Stormy taps out shifts and changes, and the rhythm sings across Rory’s skin. He starts pressing chords into his jeans without thinking about it; his soul knows this particular song. Andy smiles, and the random chords he was strumming take shape, creating a deep bass line, while Thorne’s fingers echo Stormy’s beat, shifting between rhythm and harmony on his guitar.

This is the song. Rory’s song. Kit’s song. The one that’s inked on his arm and winds around both of them, sung by magic and the universe.

He wonders what it’s like not to hear the world singing, and in that moment, Rory’s glad he’s one of the ones privileged enough to be able to listen.

He falls into the melody, picking out chords on his guitar, finding the rhythm and flow. It sounds strange without words, but this is definitely the way that it goes. It’s catchy and sweet, and he realizes that Kit hums along after just a few bars.

Thorne coughs.

Oh. Right.

The only person who knows the words to this song is Rory. He clears his throat, not thrilled with the idea of singing lead, even just sitting here in the lounge on the first floor of Douglass Hall. Kit leans against his shoulder, a long line of warmth. Rory lets the music drift through the opening one more time before he opens his mouth to sing quietly,

“I didn’t know, when we touched What you’d do to me, baby Your ink on my skin, your mark on my heart I’m drowning here, baby You prick, and I bleed hope and fear This is not your love song, baby”

The song isn’t perfect; Rory knows he needs to tweak the words, find the right scansion because there are moments when he trips and tumbles because the meter isn’t quite right. But the feeling is there, and he smiles slightly as he rolls into the next section. It’s not a traditional verse and chorus, not exactly. That just didn’t feel right when he was writing it down.

“Let me run, let me run, Let me fly high, fly away My heart beats in sync with your own I’m alive, and I’m lost, When I’m found, I might drown Noise and chaos ’til you calm the storm”

Kit squeezes his knee, and Rory lets the magic bleed between them. Calm and sweet, surrounding them as Rory’s voice goes soft.

“I can feel you under my skin I’m afraid of this, baby I feel you like true north I gravitate to you, baby Every path I can see leads me right back to you But this is not your love song, baby

Let me run, let me run Let me fly high, fly away I’m afraid, I’m afraid, I’m afraid You are everything I ever, never needed Don’t break us up before we even start”

The song doesn’t have the same intensity it did when he first started working through the melody. It doesn’t buzz under his skin, pulling him in the same way. It doesn’t have Thorne bouncing up to dance while playing. Instead there is a sweetness to it, a quick darting rhythm that rolls off the tongue. Rory slows it down for the final verse, dragging his band mates with him as they follow his lead into the new pace he sets.

“We can stay like this for a while Alone together in a crowd, baby You ask what we’re doing, I don’t know Are we on the verge of falling, baby If we do, I’ll catch you, if you catch me But this is not your love song, baby

I like you. I like this. I like us. Maybe this could be a love song”

The last notes fade, and Stormy plays a little riff against the coffee table, like an exclamation point.

“Is that our song?” Kit asks, and Rory can feel the heat in his cheeks, knows he’s probably bright red.

“I think it’s going to be the lead single on the next album,” Stormy says. She points a drumstick in Kit’s direction. “You’re a good muse. On the other hand, so was Darrik. We’ve got some absolutely heartbreaking grief songs ready to go, too. Half the world is going to think someone’s hooked up, and the other half will think this is a breakup album. Can’t wait until someone tries to figure out what story it’s telling.”

Rory touches Kit’s hand where it lies on his leg. “Yes, that’s the song.”

“Not my love song, huh?” Kit twists his hand, tangles his fingers with Rory’s. “But it could be?”

“This is Rory’s girl song,” Thorne says, and Kit’s brow furrows in response.

“Girl song?”

Stormy snickers, and Andy just shakes his head while Melanie leans in. “I don’t think I’ve heard this one,” she says.

“It was Dad,” Rory explains. It’s one of his favorite stories from growing up, Mom told it often when Rory was small. “Back before either of us was born, Dad was just starting out on the road, and Mom and Dad were dating. And there was a point, before that, when Dad was dating Dad’s twin.” He has to let go of Kit so he can move his hands, indicating which Dad he means with easy motion. “Mom wasn’t working yet, because she and Dad had just graduated from PHU, but Dad’s a little older, so he was already working full time. Which means that Mom and Dad were on the road, and Dad was at home, and the entire time, Dad was kind of falling in love with Dad and feeling weird about it because Mom was already dating him. And at the same time, Dad was confused as fuck because Mom was his best friend and he was starting to wonder if he might be falling in love with her, too. Which was confusing in part because generally, Dad’s about as gay as I am. Apparently Mom’s an exception to that rule.”

He realizes this may not make sense to anyone outside of his family, but Melanie and Kit are both leaning toward him, expressions curious. “Anyway,” he says. “Dad isn’t always great at talking, so he writes songs.”

“Not like anyone takes after him,” Thorne says, deadpan.

Rory glares at him. “And he wrote this song about a girl that he wasn’t in love with, that he didn’t know how to talk to, and he didn’t know what to say. And it was a hit. Every girl in the audience wanted to know who the girl was. Hell, every girl in the audience wanted to be that girl. And Mom and Dad figured out what Dad was trying to say, and they had a whole huge negotiation conversation about their relationship and they’ve all been together ever since. And after that, Mom showed up at one of his shows with a black t-shirt with white letters that just said the girl and nothing else. The press went wild trying to figure them out, and they still try to say it’s something illicit even though they’ve been a stable triad for more than twenty years.”

“So you started writing this song because you didn’t know how to talk to me,” Kit says.

“No,” Rory corrects him. “I started writing this song because I didn’t even know who I need to talk to. And I was absolutely terrified at the start of it that it was going to somehow be someone completely wrong. That I didn’t have any kind of a choice. And then I met this guy who was a good friend, and has ended up being something more, and I’m not even entirely sure how I got here.”

“And you’re still scared?” Kit says quietly.

To the depths of his soul, yes. “Aren’t you?” Rory asks.

“Standing on the edge of the abyss and waiting to fall,” Kit whispers. He moves closer, and Rory has to balance his guitar with one hand while he twists, touches Kit’s face, so they can kiss lightly. “It’s a good kind of scared, I think,” Kit admits.

“I’m getting used to it,” Rory agrees. “And yes, it’s getting a little less scary.”

“We are going to be playing a lot of sappy songs in the future.” Stormy plays a little riff against the coffee table.

“I’m pretty sure Thorne will happily take up the slack and write something else, too.” Rory glances at Thorne, who has a hand over his heart and a wide-eyed innocent expression. It’s what they do, after all, and part of why they’ve made inroads to becoming as popular as they have. Cult popularity, and a little bit of pop culture, too.

Rory’s pretty sure they have a chance to break out even more, to become something amazing if they keep working together and performing and creating the kind of music that gets better and better. He just hopes they can stay together long enough, and that Andy leaving doesn’t make them implode.

“Corbin’s here!” Drea calls through the open front door to the building.

Alaric moves past her, nods at the group in the lobby. “Need to go get my stuff,” he says as he heads for the stairs.

“Get Carolyn,” Kit calls out, and Rory doesn’t blame him at all for not wanting to interrupt his sister and Serina.

Stormy stands up, shoves her drumsticks into her back pocket and shoulders her duffle. “I think this is going to be a good week.”

Rory has to spend a little longer packing away his guitar, as do Andy and Thorne. Kit stands by him, gaze on the windows, looking through to where Drea and Corbin are loading bags into the trunk of Chris’s car. “Yeah,” Kit says quietly. “I think it’ll be good.” He smiles then, his attention turning back to Rory. “I like this,” he says. His fingers drift across Rory’s shoulder, their magic flickering between them.

“I like you,” Rory murmurs back, because he does. Unexpected, and still in uncharted territory, but so far it’s been good. And he’ll take that, follow that path as far as it goes.

I like you. I like this. I like us. Maybe this could be our love song.

[ Previous | First | THE END ]

#welcome to phu #welcometophu #not your love song #phu marked #marked

[theonceoverthinker]

OUAT 1X20 - The Stranger

Hey, stranger!

Meet me under the cut to read my thoughts on this episode!

Press Release August promises to enlighten Emma and take her on a journey that will show her how she can beat Regina, and possibly take custody of Henry; and with Mary Margaret returning to work, Regina puts a plan in motion to seduce David. Meanwhile, in the fairytale land that was, with the Evil Queen’s curse about to strike, Geppetto agrees to a plan that will save Snow White and Prince Charming’s daughter, but with a proviso that could also save his own son. General Thoughts Past Gepetto is the shining beacon of this episode. I love the lengths he goes to to protect Pinocchio and the dark places he goes to in the process. I also give the episode a lot of credit for showing so much of Gepetto and Pinocchio together in the earlier bits of the flashback. We see the selfless nature of Pinocchio that grants him his humanhood and seeing the two of them bond a bit make Gepetto’s blackmail so much more tragic and understandable. That said, while I love the way he emotionally blackmails Jiminy into helping him out, I do feel like it would’ve been a touch stronger had we seen their friendship a bit more in the second flashback scene. Wow, that scene with Pinocchio really didn’t do it for me. See, I get that Pinocchio left Emma and I can understand why. He was roughly 7-9 years old and a baby is a big responsibility, especially when you’re in a new land and are a kid. But I wish that we had seen more of a lingering effect of tension with Pinocchio taking care of Emma other than just one guy who was mean to him. I feel like an additional flashback scene would’ve come in handy here - one with Pinocchio taking care of Emma and one of him being exhausted after some time had passed, being told off, and then having the offer to leave. Because as it stands, Pinocchio only has that one bad encounter that takes maybe ten seconds total with a nothing character to take him away from a baby he cares about and a promise he made to his Papa. Present I find that the scene at the tree between Emma and August was a better version of Jefferson’s speeches from “Hat Trick.” Because August - in addition to being an established character, now ten episodes in the making - is Emma’s friend. Because he’s already earned a great deal of her trust and is implementing evidence (Something that he knows will better help her believe), it feels more like an earned discussion. And while I’ll take my objections with it in the next episode, I find that August demanding that Emma step up and be the Savior works better because his motivations are more selfish.

Also, I like how Emma’s desperation is playing out in the background of the episode as Gold and August continue to fail her, culminating in such a crazy and off the charts decision to abduct Henry. It’s a great moment where it’s completely indefensible both in-universe and to an Emma fan like me and the fallout in the next episode is so well-earned for a WTF decision like that, making me feel like the writers knew damn well what they were doing. Insights -That is the coolest door lock ever and I want it soooooo badly! -”My kid needs me. I don’t have time for faith.” Say what you want about Emma, but my girl has her priorities in check! -I know people have their problems with OUaT’s effects, but they’ve always managed to capture water so well. Whether it’s practical or in CGI, it’s both realistic and beautiful. -Alongside those lines, the Pinocchio wooden toy is so expertly crafted. Given how it’s only in a handful of scenes, it’s really impressive that they went to such efforts to make it tangible. -Regina, making everyone use those old school phones that take forever to reach someone was the most vile part of this curse! -There’s such a great stark contrast between Mary Margaret from the pilot and now. Back in the first episode, she could barely talk to Regina without getting barked at, but the tables have turned so drastically. It speaks to her development over the past 19 episodes, and what’s even better is that she retains her ability to forgive, an aspect of Snow that is such a big part of her, especially in later seasons. -Damn! Henry’s determination is really something else here! While I definitely feel for Regina (It must be awful seeing the child you raised turn on you and call you evil, not matter how true it actually is), Henry has clearly reached a limit and given that Regina actually did frame Mary Margaret, I can’t help but feel some catharsis out of that speech. -Gold, you bastard! That was so douchey, and I am cracking the fuck up! It’s probably some more catharsis, and not unjustified catharsis given August’s ploy in the last episode! He’s now just having all the fun in the world dicking around with August and while I love August, it’s so entertaining to watch! Oh! And when you see the clock, it all gets so much sadder! SO MANY FEELS! -To be fair, Pinocchio, I don’t blame you for tying up Jiminy. -Emma and Rumple just have the best discussions! I like how blunt Emma is with her demands and like Henry, she’s determined as hell! -I wonder if Regina got that rocky road from a certain Snow Queen. ;) -It only occured to me now that August’s presence was foreshadowed in the first episode. Why else would Gepetto speak of not having a child when in the previous scene in the pilot, he clearly did? -Regina’s fake story about finding David is like the evil version of Michael’s letter to Jane in Season 3 of “Jane the Virgin.” It reflects on themes of meant-to-be and coincidences. Also, I have to wonder how much of that story was improvised and how much of it had she planned beforehand. -The effects are on a roll here! I love how the tree in our world all but cracks open as Pinocchio enters our world. As a side note, it’s really lucky that humanity hadn’t built over his landing spot. Imagine that happening to Pinocchio at a Starbucks! XD -There’s such a sad contrast between the “fake” reunion in the past episode and the real one here. The “fake” one while...well, fake is so honest and upfront. You just know that that’s the kind of reunion August would want with his Papa, and in this episode, it’s so calm and lowkey, but tragic because it’s on a bed of lies. -Oh, Emma. That was a terrible idea! I get where you’re coming from girl, but...no! Arcs The Mystery of August Booth - Finally, all is revealed! I’m glad that they got the reveal out of the way earlier in the episode so that we could spend the rest of the runtime exploring his past and present relationships. It really helped to define August as a character. As for the reveal, it was always an engaging mystery that revealed just enough to make August’s character engaging, but not enough that the answer would become obvious. This may just be one of the most underrated twists in all of OUaT for that reason. Favorite Dynamic August and Gold I love how much resentment Gold has towards August and the petty and hurtful ways he lets it out. At the same time though, the two begrudgingly work together knowing that they’re the only other padults that they have on their side, and they’re surprisingly good at doing it. Because of that, how they work together and interact is so amusingly petty and yet coopertaive all the same and it makes me wish we could have seen more reluctant team ups between them. Their relationship is definitely a proto Season 3 Golden Hook, albeit toned down significantly due to circumstances. Writer Awww! It’s Andrew and Ian’s last episode of the season! These guys were a real treat. Their dialogue is fantastic and their theming, while it doesn’t match Fruit’s, works well here because both the latter past segments and the present segments show how far he’s fallen from his virtues and the emotional as well as physical consequences of that. But, they do a good job keeping August likable by showing just how much effort - genuine effort - he’s making to get Emma to believe here. Additionally, these guys know how to use just the right character at just the right moment. Nothing ever feels over or underused. Rating 9/10. We got an excellent exploration of character here. August comes out of this episode fully fleshed out and his dynamic with Emma really pegs home the danger that everyone is in going into the final two episodes. The pacing of the story gives us a fun adventure and every character featured has something to do or contribute to the story. I took a point off for the weak scene in the foster home as that’s supposed to be so much better than it ended up being.

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Thank you for reading and to the fine folks at @watchingfairytales for putting this together! Next time: We talk about fruits. How about apples?

Season Tally (176/220) Writer Tally for Season 1: A&E (50/70) Liz Tigelaar (17/20)* David Goodman (33/50) Jane Espenson (46/60) Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg (38/40)* Daniel Thomsen (8/10)* Vladimir Kvetko (9/10)* (* = Their work for the season is complete)

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#ouat #once upon a time #watching fairytales #ouat 1x20 #ouat rewatch #jenna watches ouat #basically every character in this episode is discussed