Hi everyone. I'd like to thank my lovely and talented friend and co-worker, Tippi Blevins, for covering for me, last week. Thanks, Tippi! I was in Disney World. It was a first time for all of us -- my mother, husband, kids and me. It was great, but exhausting. In one part of Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park, there was a billboard for Once Upon A Time. The name was also up on the marquee of a shop made to look a movie theater, so I swear I was thinking about you, the whole time. Now I'm wondering if I can write my portion of the trip off as research -- when I file my 2011 taxes. Hmmm. I'd better jump right to the recaplet, so I'll have time to call an accountant. And possibly an attorney.
Storybrooke: David Nolan (Prince Charming) is our star of the week. He's been released from the hospital and the curse doesn't seem to be working on him yet. He doesn't remember his real life in the Enchanted Forest because of his amnesia, but the curse hasn't filled his head with false memories of Storybrooke yet, either.
Overwhelmed at his homecoming celebration, David takes off and finds Mary Margaret, who skipped the party, because of the feelings she and David share. Later, Mary confides in Emma, who counsels that if you think something you want is wrong, it probably is. Wordy McCrap, is she ever right. That's one of those lessons you hate learning, because once you've internalized it, you have this pesky conscience to deal with, and it's not some little cricket you could just step on, either. Ugh.
Anyhow, David leaves Kathryn and takes a room at Granny's. He tells Mary and says that if she wants to pursue a relationship, she'll meet him that night, by the toll bridge. Really? In the woods? At night? What's wrong with dinner and a movie? Mary feels conflicted, so Emma then counsels her to go for it, because by leaving Kathryn, David made a clear choice. What else could she ask for?
On his way to the bridge, David runs into Regina, who naturally, steers him wrong. He ends up at Mr. Gold's shop and sees a windmill replica that, in the curse-created reality, supposedly once stood in front of the Nolan's house. This triggers the curse and David's head is filled with false memories. He takes off for the bridge and promptly breaks Mary Margaret's heart. Boo hiss!
Enchanted Forest: Well, we're back to calling Charming Charming, because he's not the real Prince James. It's a Prince and the Pauper scenario. The twins were separated at birth, by Rumpy, no less. The twin who would be the real James was given to King George (Alan Dale; Charles Widmore on Lost). Our Charming, meanwhile, was reared by his biological parents, on their poor but lovely farm. I spent much of the episode trying to forget that Charming's parents traded one of their babies to Rumpy, in order to save their farm, but more on that, in the recap.
The real Prince James has a duel with some Unkillable Villain and kills him, while King Midas is paying a visit to King George's kingdom. Midas proposes a deal, if James will slay the dragon currently plaguing Midas's kingdom, Midas will end the financial woes in George's kingdom. Once the deal is sealed, Midas and George depart for kingly things, and the Unkillable Villain turns out only to be nearly dead, and kills James. This is where the Enchanted Forest story gets convoluted, and I'll get into that, and how much I hate Midas's inclusion in this world, in the recap. Suffice it to say that Rumpy tells George that James has a twin brother. Rumpy then persuades Charming to stand in for his twin, James, and slay the dragon.
The king's men are under orders to slay the dragon themselves, and keep Charming safe, so he can deliver the dragon's head to Midas, as per their deal. Yes, this is dumb. Charming does end up being the one to kill the dragon though, because he's bloody Charming, even if he wasn't born a prince.
Midas is so impressed he makes a deal with George for Charming to marry his daughter Abigail (Kathryn, aka the blonde in the feathery dress who was with Charming when Snow ambushed his carriage). Charming won't agree, until George threatens to kill his mother. Although neither Kathryn nor Charming are into each other, they set off on the scenic route to Midas's kingdom, where they will wed. Charming has with him the ring that belonged to his mother, who -- on their last moment together -- had told him true love always follows the ring. Cue Snow White, in full highwaywoman mode, ready to ambush Charming and fall in love.
In other news, Emma catches Sheriff Graham sneaking out of Regina's house. Dr. Whale keeps sniffing around Mary Margaret. Also, they drink MacCutcheon in Storybrooke! A lot more happens in the episode, too. I'll be back with the full recap, ASAP. In the meantime, please grade the episode at the top of the page and then join us in the forum, where someday, your prince will come, and hopefully, he'll come with a bottle of MacCutcheon.