Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: B+ | 116 USERS: A- YOU GRADE IT PANdora's Box
By Cindy McLennan | Season 3 | Episode 10 | Aired on 12.08.2013
Storybrooke. Emma and her parents find Gold and Belle leaving his shop. He is in no mood for one of their crises, but Emma says they need Pandora's Box. Gold doesn't want to tempt fate and let Pan escape. They explain that somehow Pan is still controlling the Shadow. Gold points out they barely succeeding in catching Pan the first time. Emma's not talking about catching him. "Wouldn't you rather be sure he's gone?" Gold asks what she has in mind. We cut to the...
Town Line. Charming's truck pulls up, first. Gold's Cadillac follows. Emma and Gold bicker about who will perform what function, but Emma wins out when she points out that the lion's share of the work has to be done on the other side of the line, where there is no magic. "With all due respect, the real world is my expertise." Emma crosses the line and says she'll deal with Pan on her terms. Gold points out Pan is his father. Emma says this is her hunch. If she fails, Gold can pick up the pieces.
Gold magically opens the box from the Storybrooke side, and places it outside of the town limit's, where Pan will have no access to magic. Emma stands waiting with her gun drawn. Henry, in Pan's body (Hen) finally appears and has to convince Emma not to shoot him. Hen rattles off facts of his life, but Snow points out Pan could have learned those facts from Henry. Emma recalls her father's earlier pep talk and says life is made up of moments as well as fact. She asks Hen to tell her the first time they connected (not met). Hen smiles and tells her it was when they were on his castle play structure and he admitted he knew she only gave him away to give him his best chance. Mother and son hug, and cross the line after they're sure Gold won't incinerate them. Emma gives Gold the Pandora's Box, while Hen hugs Snow and Charming. Gold apologizes for doubting Hen, and for putting him in the box in the first place. Hen says it's okay and that he probably would have done the same. We cut to...
Regina's Vault. Panry eyes all the potions and hones in on one, then manipulates Regina by telling her he's so lucky she's protecting him. Regina promises that when this is over, she'll be the mother he's always wanted her to be. Regina hugs him, and tells him she loves him. Panry reaches behind her and grabs the potion in question. When he opens the bottle, the mist knocks out Regina. Panry smiles. "I know you do. That's why this was so easy." Evil! Also? Commercial.
After the break, we return to the Enchanted Past. I'm running long, so here's how I covered it in the recaplet: Snow and Charming share a quiet moment. Snow confesses she wants to start a family. Charming feels the same way. Snow realizes she was so focused on defeating Regina, because she didn't want to bring a child into a world filled with such badness. Now Snow knows there will always be problems; they have to find good moments between the bad. This is a reminder I desperately needed, Snow (and Show), so I thank you for that. We flash forward to the...