Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: C+ | 1 USERS: D YOU GRADE IT The Right Thing To Do Was Not To Lead Me On
By Cindy McLennan | Season 1 | Episode 6 | Aired on 12.04.2011
Storybrooke Streets, Night: Regina runs into David as he's trying to find his way to the toll bridge. When he says he's meeting someone, Regina says, "So, you've made your choice. [...] Well, I don't suppose I could convince you to change your mind." David says he can't change what he feels, so Regina gives him (mis)directions from Mr. Gold's pawn shop to the bridge. He thanks her as he makes to go. Regina purrs, "Good luck, David. I hope you find what you're looking for."
Bridge: Mary Margaret waits by bridge, bathed in the light of the full moon.
Town: When David gets to Mr. Gold's shop, he can't find where Regina told him to go next, so he enters the shop. Among the first items we get a good look at are those creepy puppets that were once Jiminy's parents. There are some steins. There's Aladdin's lamp. A tea set. It's the glass unicorn mobile that once hung over Emma's crib that catches David's eye, though. He's lost in it, when Gold appears and says, "Charming." Ha. David looks up. Gold blathers about the mobile for a moment and then says he's looking for the toll bridge. "The mayor said there was a fork in the road by your shop." Gold: "Seems Ms. Mills has led you astray." David: "Yeah. You'd think the Mayor would know her own town." Gold: "One would think." He gives David directions. David thanks him and turns to leave, but stops dead in his tracks. There's a large wooden windmill replica right in front of him. David asks where Gold got it. Gold says: "That old thing? That's been gathering dust for... forever." Davids spins the blades. He's entranced. "I think.. .this belonged to me." Mr. Gold: "Really? Are you sure?" David says, "Yes." Gold smiles. David: "I remember." Commercial.
Sidebar: It's interesting to me that a windmill is David's false memory trigger, here, because Regina is Regina Mills, and while we've seen her as the Evil Queen in the Enchanted Forest, she's got to be the Miller's Daughter from the Rumpelstiltskin tale. Mills were used for milling grain. Charming's mother wanted to set him up with the grain merchant's daughter. Okay. Just thinking out loud. Commercial's over. That is all.
Enchanted Forest; Charming's Farm: The triumphant Charming arrives home. Mama Charming is thrilled to see him and crows that he looks like a prince. What's that engraved on her necklace? I never get quite a close enough look. Is it a swan? Is that where Emma's last name comes from? Anyhow, Mama thinks Charming is home to stay. He tells her about Midas's plan to unite the kingdom's by marrying Abigail to Charming. "Makes the grain merchant's dowry look like sheep dung." Mama tells him not to do it. She's ashamed she ever encouraged him to anything other than follow his heart. "Your freedom to choose is more important than anything." She's ready to give up the farm, but Charming explains, "Because of our ruse, Midas can never know who I am which means..." Mama finishes -- saying they can never see each other again. She doesn't care if she's killed. She'll lose Charming either way, and she'd rather know that he was happy and free. Charming tells her he didn't come for advice, only to say goodbye. He's already agreed to the deal. Mama Charming takes off her ring and gives it to him. "Give this to your wife-to-be." James says he doesn't know or love Abigail. Mama: "True love follows this ring wherever it goes, my son. I had it with your father. I've had it as your mother. Now you will have it. Take it. Take it and I will know, even if I never see you again -- I know you'll find love. I know you'll be happy." James twirls the ring between his fingers. We cut to...