Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A- | 7 USERS: B YOU GRADE IT Freaks and Geeks
By Cindy McLennan | Season 2 | Episode 18 | Aired on 03.24.2013
Emma is sitting at the counter, conveniently next to Marco, so Snow only has to take about three steps to share that August is completely wooden, and is living in a trailer in the woods. She thinks "Mother Superior" might be able to help him. Marco is all over that idea. As the trio heads out the door, the camera zooms out to reveal Tamara is sitting at the far end of the counter, listening to every word. We flash back to...
Hong Kong. 2011. The Dragon's Lair. Tamara emerges from the inner office and tells August it's his turn. What about the other poor saps who have been waiting there? Once August is inside, he takes a seat and the pulls up his right pant leg and asks The Dragon, "Do you see that?" He laughs when The Dragon says, "No because the problem is with your other leg." August is less amused when The Dragon adds, "You're turning to wood, Pinocchio." The Dragon evades the questions about how he knows August's real name and where he's from, and instead reminds his patient to concentrate on his own problem, which he can help. He'll need an item of great value to August. Judging on prior episodes, I don't think August values anything over himself, so that's going to be awkward. The Dragon continues: "I need something close to your heart that cannot be replaced." The way he extends his index finger, I can't help but think he's going to tell August to pull it. I'm glad to report I'm wrong about that. August's hand goes to his neck. He pulls out the pendent he's wearing and declares it worthless. The Dragon says the pendent itself may be, but the string is the one Geppetto used to animate the puppet Pinocchio. "In a way, it first gave you life. It will serve as payment from your soul." After August hands it over, The Dragon tells him he also needs monetary compensation, to the tune of ten thousand dollars. "Bring the money tonight, and you shall never turn to wood again." We flash forward to...
Storybrooke. Convent. Exterior. Marco, Emma, Snow and Blue meet before a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and even she is wondering why these fairies are still living like nuns. Blue confesses she knows about August. After the curse broke, he asked her to return him to what he was. Since "what he was" is "what he is," her hands are tied. She reminds Geppetto that when she first turned Pinocchio into a real boy, she told him he had to remain brave, truthful and unselfish, so that he would stay a real boy. He hasn't done so, and that's why he's turning back. There's nothing she can do. Snow is deeply empathetic with August (probably because she has no idea how he screwed over her daughter), so she starts on about second chances. Blue says if there's a path to redemption for him, he'll have to travel it on his own. Snow assures Marco there must still be hope for his son. We flash back to...