Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A | 157 USERS: A- YOU GRADE IT PANoply
By Cindy McLennan | Season 3 | Episode 7 | Aired on 11.10.2013
Charming says he and Snow will give Tinker Bell a head's up and see if she'll now help them gain entry to Pan's camp. Since Snow winces at the sound of his voice, it's safe to say she's not over his confession. Emma says they'll all meet back at Tink's. Snow's voice is flat as she adds, "Then we get Henry and get the hell back to Storybrooke." As she starts to rise, Charming extends his hand, which she pointedly ignores as she heads off. It's too bad Regina is missing this tension. I can almost hear her cackle. We cut to...
Storybrooke. And while it's tangential to our World Mostly Without Magic, there's a sun, and it shines and stuff, so neener. The Dwarfs are eating lunch on the beach. Five of them sit together. Sleepy sits a little bit off from the group and Grumpy, being Grumpy, sits even further away. Happy is happy that things have been so calm since Snow and Charming left town. "It's kind of nice not having them around." When Grumpy chides him, Happy says, "No, really. It's only been five days, but it's the first five days with no killing." Sneezy adds, "No wraiths." Doc says, "No giants stepping on my Miata." Sleepy nods. "It has been peaceful." Grumpy says, "ENOUGH! I don't want to hear any more of this. Snow and Charming are coming back. And everything will remain normal."
That's Ariel's cue to appear. She shouts, "Hey," to the approaching Dwarfs as she dons her bracelet and walks toward them. "Do you know where I can find someone named Belle?" Michael Darling (James Immekus) watches the scene through binoculars. He tells John (Matt Kane), "The home office was right. She's here. What now?" Hearing impaired people. Don't believe the closed captions when they tell you Michael is speaking with a British accent because it's not the truth. John, however, does have an accent, which makes Michael's lack thereof all the more striking to the hearing enabled. John answers, "We follow our orders. We find out why she came and we make sure never leaves this town again."
Sidebar: So, are we to believe that the Storybrooke leaders (Belle, Granny, the Dwarfs, Blue) who know Rumpy has warned them that "Others" are coming don't notice these two strangers in their shiny (albeit damaged) vintage, huge red convertible? They've been in town for five days now right? It's not like they're being stealthy (may he rest in peace). I just had to get that off my chest. Let's get back to it.
When we return from break, Belle's sitting at Granny's counter, but she can't even make herself take a bite of her usually beloved cheeseburger. Archie says it's the fourth one she's turned down this week. He knows she can't eat because she misses Gold. Granny says, "It's certainly not my cooking" as she walks out of the scene. Belle explains that Rumpy left saying he was going off to his death. "I wish I was …I wish I was able to help him… help save Henry." Be careful what you wish for, my pretty. Archie tells her that by protecting Storybrooke, she's done something just as important. Belle scoffs at that. "All I did was pour some potion over some rocks. The Dwarfs did all the hard work." Archie knows she wants to be a hero but since she kept the bad guys out, in his eyes, she is. Oh dear, I think I'm accidentally 'shipping Belle and Archie. Belle doesn't think any bad guys are coming there. "I wasn't on that ship because he doesn't need me." Grumpy walks in with Ariel. "Beg to differ, sister, because this little lady just swam a real long way to find you."