Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A | 364 USERS: B- YOU GRADE IT The Shadow Knows
By Cindy McLennan | Season 2 | Episode 21 | Aired on 2013.05.05
Storybrooke. Present. Emma arrives at Neal's room and explains that since Regina is missing, she's looking for Tamara. I really hate that Neal gets these moments of thinking Emma only suspects Tamara, because she (Emma) is still into him. Granted, Tamara isn't only suspicious but guilty, so it will eventually blow up in his face, but I still begrudge him the momentary feeling of superiority. I don't hate Neal. I don't even hate the thought of Neal with Emma. I just hate how this all must make Emma feel. It's extremely effective storytelling, since it has me empathizing with Emma but it makes me feel so bad for her, that I don't want to watch it unfold.
Neal explains to Emma that Tamara is training for a marathon and is off for her usual run in the woods. Inspecting the floor of their closet, Emma notices not soil, but sand. Neal reasonably shrugs this off and says, "Maybe she runs along the beach instead. What does that prove?" Emma answers. "That she lied to you. If she lied about this, then you can bet she's lied about other things too." Neal says, "Maybe she just likes to run on the beach," which feels stilted. Like we're trying to prove that Neal is willfully blind to Tamara's actions. It would have worked better for me, if he pointed out this is a seaside town and she probably cools down on the beach after her run. At any rate, Emma tells him there's one way to find out. We flashback to...
1904 London. Night. Wendy calls Bae to the nursery window. Apparently it was just dumb luck that the Darling parents happened upon Bae in that earlier scene, because otherwise, these grownups can't even see what is directly in front of them. There's no way I'd put these two twitterpated adolescents in the same bedroom, with only two sleepy little boys as their chaperones. That said, I adore this nursery set and am glad it's used, so pay my objection no mind.
Wendy explains that a few weeks prior, right about the time Bae arrived, an unattached Shadow started coming to the nursery window. It can do wonderful things, including flying between worlds, because it has magic. Upon hearing the magic word (sorry) Bae asks Wendy to promise she'll never again open the window or talk to the Shadow. "Magic is dangerous. It always comes with a price." John Darling assumes Bae's just saying that because he doesn't believe in magic. Bae wastes no time in setting him straight. "No. I do believe. That's the point. I've seen magic. I come from another land, a land where magic is everywhere." Mesmerized, Wendy says that sounds wonderful. Bae begs to differ. Magic is why he left. "I lost everything because of it. [...] Magic destroyed my family. I don't want it to do the same to yours. If the Shadow comes back, promise me you won't go anywhere near it." Wendy promises. We flash forward to...