Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: B | 387 USERS: B YOU GRADE IT Goodnight Sweetheart, Goodnight
By Cindy McLennan | Season 2 | Episode 8 | Aired on 2012.11.25
Then Henry hands the necklace to Charming and says, "This helps control the flames in the room. It'll keep you safe." Then why didn't you even try to use it, kid? Charming says, "I will guard it with my life." I have to stop dwelling on one plot point, so let's flash sideways to...
The Land of One Pathetic Poppy. As she prepares to be knocked out by Mulan's sleeping powder, Snow acknowledges that it shouldn't take her too long, provided Henry is waiting for her on the other side. I think that's a pretty big if, or would, in most stories, but this is a magical story, so while stupid things like failure to employ flame retardant bling really brass me off, this bothers me not at all. Emma takes her mother's hand and says, "I'm right here. Say hi to my son, for me." When Snow nods at Mulan, the warrior blows the sleeping powder in her face. We flash sideways to...
Storybrooke. Charming asks if he'll wake in the Fiery Room of Dreams. Rumpy says, "Not exactly." That room is generally visited by people who have previously survived the curse. Charming wonders how he's supposed to find it. Rumpy: "And that, Dearie, is the conundrum we're all depending on you solving. Now I say this with the utmost sincerity: good luck." Charming scoffs at that. Rumpy spins his wheel. Charming stretches out his finger. In my head, I hear Maleficent cajoling, "Touch it. Touch it I say!" Charming pricks his finger and passes out and into commercial.
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.