Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: N/A | 268 USERS: B+ YOU GRADE IT A Sticky Wicket
By Cindy McLennan | Season 2 | Episode 10 | Aired on 2013.01.06
Storybrooke. Archie's Office. When Charming notices that Regina's file is empty, that's enough to convince Mary Margaret that Regina is guilty. Charming lays out all the evidence they already have. Emma says that in the real world it's much harder to find evidence. It seems like a set-up to her, because it totally is. When Charming wonders who'd frame Regina, Snow says who wouldn't want to. Heck, even she has a motive to do so. It's a long list. Emma points out that there's only one person on the list who they know would kill to get what he wants. We cut to...
Rumpy's Shop. He and Belle are unpacking a picnic basket when the Charmings barge in. Rumpy blathers about the heartwarming family reunion then points at Emma and tells her she has her mother's chin. Emma refuses to let him blow smoke up her ass and says, "We know that you killed him." Rumpy looks from Charming back to Emma. "...And your father's tact." I can't help but think of my friend who constantly says, "The Tact Fairy wasn't invited to my Christening." I love my friend, but she's not wrong. Emma catches Rumpy and Belle up on Archie's death and all the evidence that points to Regina. Rumpy says he had nothing to do with it and can prove it by asking the witness.
After a time cut, Rumpy leads Pongo into the shop. When Belle is impressed with his dog handling ability, Rumpy says, "A long time ago in another life, I got to know a sheepdog, or two." I'd wrack my brain for the story connection, but I keep going from a Please Don't Eat the Daisies place, to a My Three Sons place, and then back to a different definition of know, and I just can't keep my brain on this topic. Hey, here's a fun thought: maybe Charming and his twin were sheepdogs and Rumpy turned them into boys and then gave one to King George. Yes, I have solved the mystery of Charming's real fairy tale name: Rover.
When Rumpy says they can magically extract Pongo's memories, Emma points out that Rumpy could just as easily use magic to fool them as to help them. Rumpy reminds Emma that he knows she too has magic within her. Snow tells Emma she doesn't have to do this, but Emma says learning about Archie's death is worth the risk. Rumpy takes out a dreamcatcher and says it's capable of catching so much more. He rubs it across the dog's head and down its spine. When it starts to glow, Belle asks, "What is that?" Rumpy says it's memories and tells "Miss Swan" to will the jumbled glow into telling them the story. Taking the object in hand, Emma holds it before her and concentrates like you do when you've perhaps been drinking a wee too much. You're not quite seeing double, and you want to make sure it stays that way as you wobble to the bar to order something non-alcoholic, perhaps with caffeine. After some encouragement from Rump, Emma ramps up her efforts. The circle of the dreamcatcher becomes a video monitor. Archie opens his door, Corgina enters the office. Archie takes out his file. Corgina throttles him. Snow cringes as she watches, even though she's shot peoples and ogres alike with arrows. She buries her face on Charming's shoulder, because she's lucky like that. Corgina lifts Archie up off the ground. Emma's face contorts like she's Frodo trying to resist the One Ring's thrall. Finally, she lets the dreamcatcher fall to the floor. Turning to her father she says, "You were right, all along." Charming, still holding onto Snow, whispers, "I'm sorry, Emma." Commercial.