Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: B | 1 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT Goodnight Sweetheart, Goodnight
By Cindy McLennan | Season 2 | Episode 8 | Aired on 11.25.2012
Charming arrives in a world full of mirrors. Grabbing a torch, he begins his confused and confusing journey. I guess Storybrooke doesn't have a funhouse because PRO TIP: When you're trapped in a hall of mirrors, look at the floor. Instead, Charming just calls out Henry's name. Below, Snow hollers out for Henry. Back above, Charming keeps catching site of his pretty self in the mirror. Talk about distracting! It's then that he notices the necklace is glowing blue, like Sting (Bilbo and Frodo's sword, not the singer, who -- as far as I know -- doesn't glow blue, except maybe when he's doing that tantric stuff).
Ripping off the necklace, Charming holds it in his outstretched palm as if it too is a compass of sorts. When it glows even brighter, it becomes a little too hot to handle, and Charming drops it to the floor. When he bends to retrieve it, he feels heat rising from the floor and realizes the Fiery Room of Dreams must be below. Using the handle of the torch, he pounds away at the floor until he falls through.
Now in the Fiery Room of Dreams, Charming retrieves the now-cracked (sorry) necklace and rise to his feet. It's then that Snow comes into view. Hearing her call his name, Charming rushes to her, but they're separated by flames. He explains about this being too dangerous for Henry and they have their usual exchange about finding one another, then Charming gets down to business and explains it was actually the ink that allowed them to ensnare Rumpy, all those years ago. Rumpy keeps some in his cell. Snow can use it to stun Cora. "Get it. Get it, stop her, and come home." The flames flare. The lovers jump further apart, and Snow asks Charming how he's there. He confesses to entering the Sleeping Curse. He had to see her. "It was worth it." When Snow frets that he's now cursed, he says, "A curse you're going to break with true love's kiss." Looking down at the necklace, Charming jumps the flames between him and his beloved. Once he's on her side of the fire the flames fall away from them, as if the necklace still works. I throw my hands up in the air and resolve to move on.
Charming and Snow lean into each other, but rather than kiss, they pass through each other as if they're ghosts. Since it's a "netherworld" they're not really there. Okay, but the flames are there and can burn Aurora and Henry? Ugh. Panicked, Snow realizes she's waking up. Charming: "It's okay. You'll get back, and then you'll wake me as I woke you. You will always find me, and I will always find you." Snow is having a harder time summoning that famous Charming family faith. "Yes. Will we always lose each other, too? Is that our fate?" Charming: "No. I refuse to believe that. You need to have faith... in us." As she fades away, Snow cries that she's waking up. He encourages her to believe she can do this and says, "I love you." Snow replies, "I love y..." and then disappears. Commercial.