Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A+ | 383 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT PANic And PANcakes
By Cindy McLennan | Season 3 | Episode 11 | Aired on 12.15.2013
Storybrooke Convent Chapel. Hook volunteers to draw the Shadow's ire. If it's the only way to save them all from Pan's curse, it's a risk he's willing to take. Tink echoes his Neverland words back to him. She thought he'd only risk his life for love or revenge. Hook says, "One other important thing -- me." He hops the pew. Don't break your leg again, Colin!
Hook approaches the front of the sanctuary. Why are there two fire bowls in this church, you ask. What kind of church is this, anyhow? The Contrivance Fairy says, "Patience, dears." Hook smiles as he taunts the Shadow. "Is that the best you've got?" In answer, the Shadow picks Hook up and rolls him down the aisle like a bowling ball. Charming grabs Hook by the arm and drags him back into the pew, because he too knows the humiliation of Face-meet-Floor encounters.
As the Shadow continues to menace the gang, Tink asks Neal if he can trap it. Charming says it is too high, they've got to get closer. Not to mention, Charming, why would the Shadow be attracted to the anemic flame from a candle, when there are two big flaming firebowls, right there? Neal says he can't fly up there, then realizes one among them can. "Tink." While she doesn't have her wings, she has Pixie Dust.
Tink says the Pixie Dust doesn't work. Charming reminds her she made it work before. The men believe in her. Now, she must believe in herself. Tink walks up the aisle and opens up the vial. The Pixie Dust glows and sparkles with magic. She huffs its vapors and smiles. Neal hands her the Shadow trap. Tink magically lights the candle then flies toward the Shadow. She nabs it, closes the trap, wafts back down 'til her feet are planted on the floor, then tosses the Shadow trap in one of the convenient fire bowls. The Contrivance Fairy takes a bow. The Shadow hisses and shrieks as it is destroyed in the flame.
The men approach their hero. Neal and Charming keep walking, because while this is a great episode, some of the blocking in it is painfully awkward, and Hook and Tink need a private word. Hook says, "Look who's still a fairy." Tink: "Look who's still a pirate." After she's sure he's all right, she says, "For the record, I know why you risked your life back there, and it wasn't for yourself, or revenge. It was for Emma." From his "busted" expression it's clear Hook left his poker face back on the Jolly Roger.
A woman says, "Well done, Green." Tink and the gang turn to see Blue alive and kicking. She confirms she was gone, but when Tink destroyed the Shadow, her own shadow was returned and she was revived. Does that mean Greg...Owen...GROAN just woke up alone on Neverland? I suppose it could, but for now I'm deciding against it. because as far as we know, Owen is an ordinary human and his corpse had already begun to decompose. Dear Eddy and Adam, please don't bring him back as a zombie. Let sleeping GROANs lie.