TV Review: Still Star-Crossed

I was looking forward to the premiere of Still Star-Crossed on ABC. Even though Romeo and Juliet is not one of my favorite Shakespeare plays, I think it's an interesting idea to imagine what happened to the Montagues and Capulets after the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.

Even though most people are familiar with the story of Romeo and Juliet, I'm glad that they began the series with their wedding and subsequent deaths, to introduce the world we're entering, how the characters of the series relate to Romeo and Juliet, and to show where the "sequel" starts. Now, that we've reached the end of Shakespeare's tale, we'll see how R & J's choices continue to affect the lives of those secondary characters.

I liked the "look" of the series. It doesn't look like it's all been filmed in front of a green screen, like ABC's Once Upon a Time. I feel it captures the time period well.

I know that there really wasn't time to tell much of Romeo and Juliet's story, because the series isn't about them, and you can get the whole story if you read the play or watch a version of the play or movie, but I wish they hadn't changed some of the details. Such as Rosaline finding the "dead" Juliet, instead of the nurse, and Juliet finally dies by drinking the same poison that killed Romeo, instead of dispatching herself with the "happy dagger."

I was disappointed that Lord Capulet wasn't distraught over the death of Tybalt. He just says that a Capulet was murdered by a Montague in the streets. Tybalt wasn't just a Capulet, he was his nephew. Couldn't he at least have mentioned him by name?

I was surprised they didn't mention the infatuation that Romeo had with Rosaline, not even in passing. It's interesting that the main character in Still Star-Crossed is a character that is only mentioned in Romeo and Juliet, but she is the reason that Romeo meets Juliet to begin with. Why not reference this at all?

And, that was just the first episode.

The second episode just didn't go anywhere to me. Is the whole series going to be "will they marry or won't they marry?" I don't know if that's enough to keep me watching.

Although... I was happy to see that Torrance Coombs is in the cast. He was one of my favorite characters in Reign, and I was sad when he left. It took me a while to watch Reign again after he left.

Just sayin'.

2017 TV Season Sneak Peek

It's time to talk about the fall TV season and the new shows I'm interested in watching. Last year there were 17 new shows I wanted to check out. Of those 17 shows, there's only one that I will watch for a second season. This new season there are 10 shows this year I've planned on giving a chance. We'll see if there's more than one that I will like.

ABC
Marvel's Inhumans

What it's about: After the Royal Family of Inhumans is splintered by a military coup, they barely escape to Hawaii, where their interactions with humanity might prove to not only save them, but Earth itself.

My thoughts: Ever since Skye/Daisy became an inhuman on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., inhumans have played a large role in the direction of that series. I think it has taken the show in a more interesting direction, as they have focused on how humans react to and act around inhumans. Now, ABC will have a series specifically from the point of view of inhumans, and I'm interested in seeing where the series will go and what new ideas will be brought to the table. I also wonder if there will be some cross-over between Agents and Inhumans. Since there haven't been many character cross-overs between the television and cinematic Marvel worlds, it will be nice to have another television series where cross-over can happen with Agents.

Inhumans will actually debut in movie theaters on IMAX screens on Sept 2, 2017. It will then premiere on ABC on Sept 22. 

CBS
Young Sheldon

What it's about: It's 1989, and nine-year-old Sheldon Cooper has skipped four grades to start high school, along with his less-intellectual brother. His twin sister, who's happy to stay in the fourth grade, has a better sense of what awaits Sheldon than he does. Young Sheldon may understand Newtonian physics, but his blue-collar, church-going family only care if that knowledge will help them win a football game.

My thoughts: When I first started watching The Big Bang Theory, I thought Sheldon's character was very unique, and I found his quirks quite funny. There was no other character like him on television. But after 10 seasons, I've grown tired of seeing very little change in his character. What used to be funny has now just become annoying. I'm tired of everyone pandering to his quirky needs. However, it could be funny to see some of his unique quirkiness in a young boy. I just hope they don't make young Sheldon a mirror image of older Sheldon. It takes years to grow into a "Sheldon," and I hope the writers realize that.

I am excited to see Laurie Metcalf's daughter, Zoe Perry, play Sheldon's mother, Mary. Mary Cooper is such a great character, and it will be fun to see Zoe play a younger version of the same character her mother plays on The Big Bang Theory. That was a great choice in casting, and it's lucky for the producers that Laurie Metcalf has a daughter who is also an actress. 

CW
Black Lightning

What it's about: Jefferson Pierce hung up his suit and his secret identity years ago, but when his star student daughter, hellbent on justice, is recruited by a local gang, he is pulled back into the fight as the wanted vigilante and legend, Black Lightning. According to network executives, Black Lightning will not take place within the Arrowverse (Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow).

My thoughts: Another comic book adaptation, you say? Aren't there enough already? If it's good, I say no. If it isn't good, then I say yes.

FOX

Gifted

What it's about: A suburban couple's lives are rocked by the sudden discovery that their children possess mutant powers. Forces to go on the run from a hostile government, the family joins up with an underground network of mutants and must fight to survive.

My thoughts: Sounds a little familiar, no? Now we'll have inhumans, meta-humans, and the gifted. Although this series is being produced in association with Marvel Television, I'm not sure if it's based on a comic book or not. With three new "superhero" series that I'm interested in watching, let's see if I'll watch all three through the whole season. If they're all distinct enough, and introduce characters that I care about, I don't see a reason not to add all three to the other five comic book-based shows I'm already watching. 

The Orville

What it's about: Set 400 years in the future, this live-action, one-hour, ensemble comedic drama follows the adventures of The Orville, a mid-level exploratory spaceship, as its crew, both human and alien, face the wonders and dangers of outer space, while also dealing with the familiar, often humorous problems of everyday life.

My thoughts: This is one that could be either really good or really awful. I don't think there will be much a middle road here. I love a good spoof, but unfortunately, what most people find to be funny nowadays, just isn't funny to me. I think that Seth Macfarlane can be quite clever sometimes, and then again, he can be quite crass and vulgar. We'll have to see which way this one goes. If it's anything like the film Galaxy Quest, then I'm all in.

Thursdays at 9:00

NBC

A.P. Bio

What it's about: A philosophy scholar loses doesn't get his dream job and ends up working as a high school Advanced Placement Biology teacher. But he's made it clear he won't be teaching biology. He recruits his students to help him mentally break his job-stealing nemesis and win back the position he thinks is rightfully his.

My thoughts: This one sounds a bit like a cross between To Sir, with Love and School of Rock. (without the music, I'm thinking). And then again, it could be nothing like either movie. It just sounds like it could be interesting.

Reverie

What it's about: A former hostage negotiator and expert on human behavior is brought in to save ordinary people who have lost themselves in a highly advanced virtual-reality program where you can literally live your dreams.

My thoughts: The virtual-reality program brought to mind the "framework" from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and I really enjoyed those episodes that took place in the framework. If this series is anything like that, and can sustain the same kind of suspense Agents did, I think I might like this.

Rise

What it's about: A teacher takes over a school's lackluster theater department.

My thoughts: This show sounds like the kind of series that I would write if I ever wrote a TV series. I'm really looking forward to this one. I hope that there will be more "theater" than outside drama. I also hope there will be lots of staged musical numbers.

Will & Grace

What it's about: It's about Will and Grace and Karen and Jack, 12 years later.

My thoughts: The original show was very funny. I'm a bit wary about reboots. Yes, it's nice to visit familiar characters years later, but sometimes it's hard to bring back the original magic. We'll just have to wait and see. Until then, it will be fun to watch the trailer a few more times.

World of Dance

What it's about: This isn't actually a new fall show. This dance competition series premieres on May 30th. 

My thoughts: One of my favorite shows is So You Think You Can Dance, so you can probably guess that I like dance competition shows. I am looking forward to a lot of talented dances and some great dance routines.

2016 TV Fall Season Sneak Peek

This new TV fall season is a first for me - there are more new shows I'm interested in than shows I'm not interested in. If I end up liking all of the new shows I've decided to check out, my DVR is going to be full all of the time. However, the chances of that happening are pretty slim - based on the past.

So, below is a list of the new shows whose pilots I'm interested in watching. It will be interesting to see how accurate my predictions of which shows I'll keep watching will be. I'll keep you posted - in about six or seven months. *wink*

New Shows
CW

No Tomorrow

What it's about: Sarah, a risk-averse quality-control assessor who falls for Xavier, a free-spirited thrill seeker who believes the apocalypse is coming and helps her learn the true meaning of "seizing the day."

My thoughts: I’m all for watching TV shows about seizing the day. Since I don’t do it enough in my own life, the next best thing is watching others seizing it in a TV series. I’m curious if the show will last long enough to make it to the day of the apocalypse because I’d like to see what the end of the world looks like, or what Xavier looks like when he realizes the world didn’t end. 
Chance I think I'll keep watching: Moderate

Frequency

What it's about: Set in 2016, Detective Raimy Sullivan discovers that she is able to communicate via a CV radio with her long dead father, who is speaking to her from 1996. Raimy takes advantage of the opportunity and warns him of his impending death, but when she is able to save his life, she also changes her own history. Based on the 2000 film of the same name, starring Jim Caviezel and Dennis Quaid. 
My thoughts: Frequency is one of my all-time favorite movies. The preview for this series looks really good, and seems to follow the movie very closely, other than changing the main character to a woman. I don’t know what they will do to stretch the premise out for an entire season, let alone additional seasons if it gets renewed, but I’m interested in finding out. I hope it will deviate enough from the movie to add some surprises.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: High

CBS
Bull

What it's about: Inspired by the life of Dr. Phil before he became a favorite of Oprah, the series follows Dr. Bull, head of a trial consulting service that analyzes juries to help develop defense strategies. 
My thoughts: I’m glad this series is about Phil McGraw’s career prior to his TV career, because the whole idea of analyzing juries sounds very interesting – more interesting than a series about a psychologist who has his own daytime series.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: Moderate

Macgyver

What it's about: A reboot of the popular 1980's television series, if you don't know what this one is about, then you probably won't be interested in it. Just think of bubble-gum and paperclips.
My thoughts: Macgyver was one of my Dad’s favorite TV shows. I never watched it, but I knew what it was about - bubble-gum and paperclips. I’m going to check this one out for my Dad. And if I feel like he would have been disappointed in it, I will be too. 
Chance I think I'll keep watching: Moderate

Fox
Pitch

What it's about: Pitch is about a young pitcher who becomes the first woman to play in the major league when she's chosen to play for the San Diego Padres.
My thoughts: It’s surprising to me that I’m interested in a show about baseball. But I am. It would be nice if this show became prophetic.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: Moderate

Son of Zorn

What it's about: Son of Zorn is a hybrid live-action/animated comedy about an animated warrior from a faraway island in the Pacific Ocean, where everything and everyone is animated. He returns to Orange County to win back his live-action ex-wife and teenage son.
My thoughts: I It looks like a cross between Enchanted and He-Man, and I have to admit that this shows looks hilarious. This coming from someone who has never seen He-Man, nor has ever had an interest in seeing He-Man.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: High

ABC
Conviction

What it's about: The brilliant, but rebel daughter of a former President (Hayley Atwell) is blackmailed into taking a job as the head of Los Angeles' newly created Conviction Integrity Unit. She, along with her team, works to examine cases where the wrong person may have been convicted of a crime.
My thoughts: I like Hayley Atwell. I’m sorry Agent Carter was canceled, but I’m glad she has another part. 
Chance I think I'll keep watching: Moderate

Speechless

What it's about: Minnie Driver stars in this comedy about family dealing with the challenges of having a special-needs child. 
My thoughts: Minnie Driver is really funny in the preview. I like her quirkiness. 
Chance I think I'll keep watching: Moderate

Notorious

What it's about: This series is based on the true-life stories of famed criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos and cable news producer Wendy Walker, and explores the interplay of criminal law and the media.
My thoughts: No real thoughts about this one. I’m just interested in checking it out.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: Moderate

NBC
Timeless

What it's about: A criminal steals a secret state-of-the-art time machine, intent on destroying America by changing its past. A soldier and a history professor use the machine's prototype to travel back in time to critical events, hoping to stop him. They must make an effort not to affect the past themselves as they try to stay one step ahead of the dangerous fugitive.
My thoughts: This is the first of three series about time travel. I don’t know why the sudden interest in time travel, but I’m interested in the series for the history aspect of it. I want to see what historical events they will be a part of, and if and how they will change anything.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: High

This is Us

What it's about: This dramedy centers around a group, several of whom share the same birthday, and follows them as their paths cross and their life stories intertwine in curious ways.
My thoughts: I’m curious to see how the lives of these very different people intertwine. I just hope it won’t get too “soap opera-ey.” We’ll see.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: Moderate

The Good Place

What it's about: The Good Place follows an ordinary woman (Kristen Bell) who enters the afterlife, where she comes to realize she hasn't been a very good person. With the help of her afterlife mentor (Ted Danson), she is determined to shed her old way of living and discover a better person within.
My thoughts: This show looks like it could be very funny. I like Kristen Bell.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: Moderate

Midseason Shows
Fox
Making History

What it's about: This series centers on three friends who find a way to travel through time in search of truth, justice, and riches, which complicates their lives in 2016. They visit some of the greatest moments of the past as they try to resolve their personal problems, while history and pop culture comically collide.
My thoughts: Another time travel series. More history. These characters aren’t traveling to save the world (or America), they are traveling for a more personal reason – the resolve their problems. We’ll see how much different this will be from Timeless.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: Moderate

CW
Riverdale

What it's about: Betty Cooper likes Archie Andrews, but isn't ready to tell him, Archie wants to pursue his music and figure out how to repair his fracture friendship to Jughead Jones. New student Veronica Lodge feels a spark with Archie, but doesn't want to risk her new friendship with Betty. It all sounds like typical teenage drama. However, the town of Riverdale is still also reeling from the tragic death of Jason Blossom during the summer. Riverdale may seem like a quiet town, but there is darkness hidden underneath the shadows.
My thoughts: Comic book adaptations are big nowadays, so why not Archie? I’ interested in checking I out, but I am a bit annoyed that they’re trying to make this series something the comic is not – a murder mystery. They’re making Riverdale the next Twin Peaks.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: High

Still Star-Crossed

What it's about: This period series picks up where Romeo and Juliet left off, charting the treachery, palace intrigue and ill-fated romances of the Montagues and Capulets in the wake of the young lovers' tragic fate.
My thoughts: Even though this series looks interesting, I do have a question to the writers of Still Star-Crossed. Have you read Romeo and Juliet? The play ends with the Montagues and Capulets making peace with each since it was their feud that killed the young lovers. I hope this isn’t just another story of Romeo and Juliet with different characters. I would hope that their families learned their lesson and made progress. However, I’m interested in seeing if this story can bring anything new and surprising.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: High

Time After Time

What it's about: This drama promises a fantastical cat-and-mouse adventure through time when famed science fiction writer H.G. Wells is transported to modern day Manhattan in pursuit of Jack the Ripper. Once H.G. arrives in New York City, he finds a world he never thought possible - and a young woman who captivates him. But then there's still Jack, on the loose in Manhattan. 
My thoughts: Time travel – again. But this time the main character is the “king of time travel” – H.G. Wells. I’m really interested in this concept. H.G. Wells traveling to our time trying to catch Jack the Ripper. I wonder if he will be traveling to other times as well as our own modern day.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: High

NBC
Emerald City

What it's about: In the blink of a tornado's eye, 20-year-old Dorothy Gale and a K9 dog are swept into a world far removed from our own - a mystical land of competing realms, lethal warriors, dark magic and a bloody battle for supremacy. As Dorothy navigates this dangerous world, we'll see there's no place like... Oz.
My thoughts: Another reimagining of a classic story. I’m all for mystical realms, warriors, magic and battles for supremacy (not much one for blood, however). I’d like to see familiar Oz characters, and it would be nice if they have characters from other Oz books also. (Ozma is one of my favorites.) One last thought, I just can’t imagine a K9 dog being named Toto.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: High

1986 Fall TV Season Sneak Peek

Here's a blast from the past.

The major networks have announced their new fall season. I've watched previews of many of the new shows on the internet, and I'm interested in many of the shows. In fact, I don't know when I've been interested in so many new shows in a long time. (That's another post for another day.)

Thinking about the 2016 fall season, I thought it would be fun to take a look at another fall season, more specifically the 1986 TV season - 30 years ago.

When I was young, I never knew what new TV series were making their debut in the fall until the Fall Season TV Guide issue came out, usually a few weeks before the new season started. I was always excited to see what shows would make their debut that year, and wonder which shows would become hits and which ones would fade into that black hole of canceled shows no one would remember in years to come.

In those days there was no internet where you could watch preview of the pilots. You only had a synopsis of each series with a picture of the main characters. From those few sentences, and one picture, I would decide which shows I would be willing to take a chance on.

Here is a list of the shows that started 30 years ago, the fall of 1986, See how many of these shows sound familiar to you (these were only on the three major networks: ABC, CBS and NBC):

• Valerie (with Valerie Harper and Jason Bateman)
• Perfect Strangers (with Bronson Pinchot and mark Linn-Baker)
• You Again? (with Jack Klugman and John Stamos)
• The Heart of the City (with Christina Applegate)
• Life with Lucy (with Lucille Ball, who else?)
• Downtown (with Mariska Hargitay and Robert Englund)
• The Ellen Burstyn Show (with Ellen Burstyn, Elaine Strich and Megan Mullaly)
• Amen (with Sherman Hemsley and Clifton Davis)
• Our House (with Wilford Brimley, Deidre Hall, Shannen Doherty and Chad Allen)
• Easy Street (Jack Elam and Loni Anderson)
• Alf (with Alf)
• My Sister Sam (with Pam Dawber and Rebecca Schaeffer)
• Designing Women (with Delta Burke, Jean Smart, Dixie Carter and Annie Potts)
• The Wizard
• Matlock (with Andy Griffith)
• Crime Story
• Jack and Mike (with Shelley Hack)
• Together We Stand (with Elliot Gould and Dee Wallace)
• Head of the Class (with Howard Hesseman)
• Better Days (with Raphael Sbarge)
• Kay O'Brien 
• Side Kicks (with Gil Gerard)
• Sledge Hammer!
• Starman (with Robert Hays)
• L.A. Law (with Jimmy Smits, Harry Hamlin, Corbin Bernsen and Jill Eikenberry)

As with any new TV season, a few shows were renewed after their first season, a few had a good run before being canceled, a few are still in syndication, and the majority of them have been lost in obscurity.

Do you remember watching any of these shows? Did any of them become a favorite?

Still Star-Crossed: This could be my favorite new TV series...

... if it's done well.

2014 TV Fall Season: Preview

The 2014 TV fall season has been announced, and I'm excited to see what the networks have in store for us this season.

Last year there were nine new series I was interested in seeing (Sleepy Hollow, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Reign, Crazy Ones, Ironside, About a Boy, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, The Tomorrow People and Star-Crossed). Three of the nine I never ended up watching (Crazy Ones, Ironside, and About a Boy). Two of the series I started watching and then quit (The Tomorrow People and Star-Crossed).  I watched every episode of Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, but I almost stopped watching it in the middle of the season when the story didn't seem to move quickly enough for me. I did enjoy the few final episodes, however. Three out of the nine series have been renewed, and those are the three that I actually watched every episode (Sleepy Hollow, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and Reign). I plan on continuing to watch all three of them next season.

This year there are six new series that have caught my interest. There aren't any that I'm really enthusiastic about (there doesn't seem to be a Sleepy Hollow in the bunch), but some look promising.

The one new series I was really excited about, Galavant (as you may have read in my post of two days ago) isn't even on the fall schedule. I suppose it's meant to be a mid-season replacement.

ABC

Selfie
Description: After being the subject of an embarrassing viral video, a self-involved 20-something enlists the help of a marketing expert to revamp her image in the real world.
My thoughts: This series is being touted as "loosely based on My Fair Lady." I think the two main characters names certainly give that away. Karen Gillan plays Eliza Dooley, and John Cho plays Henry Higgins. I don't know how George Bernard Shaw would feel about his characters thrown into the world of modern social media. *wink* It's interesting to me that Scottish actress Karen Gillan is committing to an American TV series. She has made a few movies since she ended her era as Amy Pond ended on Doctor Who, and I guess she decided American television would be a good next step in her career. I'm not into the world of "selfies," Instagram, or Twitter, so I'm not in the demographic that this series would appeal to, however, I'm interested to see Karen in a comedy. Who knows, I may like it. It's interesting to note that another Doctor Who actor, David Tennant (who actually was the Doctor), is also tackling American television in Gracepoint (a remake of the British miniseries, Broadchurch, which also starred David Tennant).

Forever
Description: A 200 year-old man works in the New York City morgue trying to find a key to unlock the curse of his immortality.
My thoughts: Two words - Ioan Gruffudd (I met him at Comic Con a few months ago, and that is one beautiful man). I just hope that his curse of immortality has nothing to do with drinking blood. *wink*

How to Get Away With Murder
Description: A group of ambitious law students and their brilliant, mysterious criminal defense professor (Viola Davis) become entangled in a murder plot that will shake the entire university and change the course (great pun *wink*) of their lives.
My thoughts: The premise to this series reminds me of a TV movie from 1991 that starred Pierce Brosnan called Murder 101. In the TV movie, Brosnan is an author who teaches a writing class to college students on how to write a novel that involves the perfect murder. Brosnan is framed for killing a colleague, and the mystery begins. I don't know how similar this series will be to the TV movie, but I'm interested to see where the show goes.

NBC

Constantine
Description: A man struggling with his faith is haunted by the sins of his past but is suddenly thrust into the role of defending humanity from the gathering forces of darkness.
My thoughts: I'm on the fence about this one (mainly because I can't quite grasp what it's really about), but I like Lucy Griffiths, who played Marian in BBC's series, Robin Hood. Another series based on a comic book.

Fox

Gotham
Description: The origin story behind Commissioner James Gordon's rise to prominence in Gotham City in the years before Batman's arrival.
My thoughts: I have enjoyed many series and movies based on comic books, and I'm willing to give this one a try.

CW

The Flash
Description: Barry Allen suffers a freak accident that turns him into a superhero with the power of incredible speed.
My thoughts: Arrow is one of my favorite series - especially after its second season, which exceeded my expectations - and I liked Barry Allen's character when he was introduced at the beginning of this season of Arrow. Given those two facts, I'm looking forward to this series. I hope it lives up to my expectations.

As you can see, there aren't any series on CBS's new schedule that I want to check out. It would be interesting if one of those CBS shows is a big hit and I just happen to give it a chance and love it. I doubt it, but it would be interesting.

What shows are you looking forward to in the 2014 Fall season?

New TV Series: Galavant

I want this to be good and if it's good, please, please, please let it be successful!

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

I don't usually watch The Chew, mainly because it's on during the day when I'm at work, and also because it's a talk show that doesn't interest me. However, I happened upon it on Monday when I was home for the Labor Day holiday. Instead of a doing what I assume is a cooking/talk show, they had sneak-peeks at the upcoming fall season on ABC.

I was excited to see the sneak-peek for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I am really looking forward to this show, and not just because Joss Whedon is the showrunner. Okay, actually, it's mainly because Joss Whedon is the showrunner. However, I loved The Avengers, and I enjoyed Iron Man, Captain America and Thor, and I'm looking forward to seeing a show about the inner workings of the agency that brought all of the superheroes together. And Joss Whedon is the showrunner.

Once Upon a Time: Tiny

This episode was extremely frustrating to me. I just wanted to see Mr. Gold and Emma actually get to their destination. But no. We had to have the backstory of Andre, the giant. Oops, I mean Anton, the giant. And all for what? So he could plant a magic bean starter in Storybrooke that may eventually help the townfolk get back to the Enchanted Forest? Oh, and so we could meet Jack, the Giant Slayer. Big whoop. Come on, move the story along.

We also learned two important things in this episode: 1) Mr. Gold has no magical powers outside of Storybrooke; and 2) David's real name.

Observations:

Mr. Gold gives in to Emma pretty quickly when she says she wants to bring Henry.

Emma, can your scarf be any bigger?

Didn't Mr. Gold always know who he was, even when everyone else was cursed with forgetfulness? So, why did he need a potion to keep him from forgetting  that he was Rumpelstiltskin when he never forgot in the first place?

Emma takes Henry out of school to go on this little trip with her and Mr. Gold. This kid is never getting into college.

I love the word "malfeasance." I want to use it in my everyday speech. There's just a plethora of big words being used by characters in my favorite shows lately. And it's interesting that Hook pronounces "malfeasance," with four syllables instead of three. He says "mal-fe-a-sance" instead of "mal-fea-sance." It must be another of those words that Brits pronounce differently than Americans. Except usually they pronounce words with fewer syllables than we do than more syllables (case in point - "extraordinary").

I am shocked that David didn't hit Hook when Hook tells Mary Margaret he see where Emma got her gumption from. That leer from him was quite suggestive.

I wish Leroy would find Astrid again. Then he could be Dreamy again, instead of Grumpy.

It's so funny when the other giants get so excited about the bean harvest and Anton responds with an very unenthusiastic, "Yay," because that's exactly how I felt about the flashback.

Every time anyone mentions anything about the beans I think of the musical, Into the Woods. By the way, when is that movie coming out? Hmm.

I had the same question as Anton about the beans. Why do they grow them when nobody uses them? Arlo says, "it's what we do." That's no kind of an answer. It really bugs me when the writers need a specific plot point so it will pay out in the future, but they can't get it to make sense, so they just glaze over it and expect us to accept it without questioning. Well, I'm questioning.

David finally went after Hook. But instead of hitting him, he just pushes him against the side of the ship. Come on, David, you're a man of action. Is that all you've got?

If Hook healed Belle, then why is she still in the hospital? She's not crazy. She just forgot who she really is. Can't they just let her try to lead a normal life instead of keeping her in the hospital? Or maybe it's because that's the only kind of life she remembers. Hmm. And does she not even know her Storybrooke name? Does she have a name? Maybe it's... Belle. Hmm.

So, we get a chance to see the real Prince James again. Really, who cares? He's dead. Okay, that sounds a bit unfeeling, but I'd rather see flashbacks of characters I'm invested in. However, it does give Josh Dallas the opportunity to explore another character and show us his range of acting.

James's latest dalliance would love to battle a giant. Could she be...?

James's "girlfriend" must have been in Wonderland. She battled the Jabberwocky, and she was paid with a piece of mushroom that can make someone bigger. How did she get to Wonderland? Or is that just a throwaway reference?

Surprise! Jack's a girl. Shocker! *wink* That deconstruction really isn't as interesting as making Red the wolf. (Side note: I think it's strange that everyone has been referring to Ruby as a werewolf now, instead of just a wolf.)

When the camera lingers on Jack's smirking face after Anton says, "Nice to meet you, Jack," and the music swells, I wanted to laugh.It's as if the writers are elbowing us, saying, "Were you shocked, huh? Were ya? Were ya?"

I found it very amusing that Henry asks Gold if he's ever been outside of Storybrooke. Um, Henry. No one's left the town. First of all, they couldn't for 28 years because the town was cursed. Then, after the curse was broken, no one could leave the town or they'd forget again who they really are. Where have you been?

I'm wondering why Mr. Gold is so freaked out. He's Rumpelstiltskin, a cocky man with magical powers. It seems so out of character to see him freaked out. I know it's a different world for him, but come on! And why fly? It's less expensive to drive, and you don't have to go through security.

How do Regina and Hook know each other? Have they ever met before?

Is it really Regina who is talking to Hook? Or is it Cora? It seems strange that Regina would say that there's a giant in town who wants to "kill the prince." Why would Regina call David "the prince"? Wouldn't she call him David or even Prince James? Why "the prince"? Hmm.

Regina calls Anton "just the distraction we need." I wonder what the plan is. What is she (or Cora) planning to do while everyone else is distracted by a giant on the loose?

Okay, it has to be Cora who gives the mushroom to Anton. Why would Regina carry around a muff? After all, it is Cora who wanted a giant in Storybrooke, not Regina.

How do you hide a beanstalk that big? Humans are sure to come across it sometime.

Mr. Gold freaks out and bangs his hand hard enough to make it bleed. Was that scene just so that he could find out that he doesn't have magic to heal himself? If that's true, did the writer's make Mr. Gold so freaked out before he found out he had no magic just so he could discover he has no magical powers? I would have made him freak out after he found he had no powers, not before. It would have made it more interesting to see him change all of a sudden from that revelation, not just from going through security at an airport.

It's so funny that David and Mary Margaret are raising their voices at Anton. He's tall. I don't think he's deaf.

How do James and Jack jump from the beanstalk to the floor? There seems to be a big gap there.

All the giants have to do is step on James and Jack. I don't get why they're such a threat. Sure they have poison swords. Just give them a little flick with your finger, and don't touch the sword.

Davids' real name is David. Hah! That is funny. Regina thought she was changing James's name to David. Instead she changed David's name to David.

I'm so confused about the town line. Doesn't the town go all the way to the ocean? If the town line were where Mary Margaret indicated, then wouldn't the Storybrooke townspeople have noticed that they couldn't cross that street when they were still cursed?

Anton's awfully quiet while hanging on to that pipe. I would have been screaming my head off.

It's so funny that they have to give Granny that one thing to do - hook the rope onto the back of the truck.

It would have been impossible for David to pull Anton up from that hole the way that he was situation with that rope. I guess that's why we don't see anything between Anton taking his hand and Anton coming out of the hole.

Why are those beans so important to the giants. I just don't get it. Did they use them to go to other lands? What was the purpose of the beans?

How would David know how good the farm land is in Storybrooke? Has he secretly been planting crops since the curse was broken? He was a farmer, after all.

How did Anton know that the dwarfs were miners? Did the pick axes give them away? Or did they have a little "get to know you" conversation while they were walking to the middle of the field?

How cute that Anton got an ax. And it knew his nickname.

Okay, I have a joke... How many dwarfs does it take to plant a magic bean starter? Six - to give moral support to the giant who's digging the one hole where the starter will go. Yes, I'm wondering why it takes six dwarfs and a giant to plant one little starter.

Please, please, please let next week's episode be better than this weeks. And please, please, please let the dialogue be better.

Quotes:

Gold: My name is Rumpelstiltskin. And we're going to find my son.

Mary Margaret: You like the holster, huh?
David: I miss carrying a sword.
Mary Margaret: Well, it looks good on you.

Mary Margaret: That went well.
David: For her it doesn't get much better.

Leroy: No funny business. I'm watching you, pirate.
Hook: Yes, Dwarf. That should deter me from any malfeasance.

Mary Margaret: Oh, don't worry, Leroy. He'll help us.
Hook: What makes you so sure?
Mary Margaret: Because you're a pirate. You know which way the wind blows, and right now - it is gusting toward us.
Hook: Oh, I see where your daughter got her gumption.

Hook: Cora's not the most communicative of lasses.

Leroy: So, Cora used magic to make him travel-sized?

King George: There's giant running amok.

Anton: I'm Anton. I'm a giant.

Anton: At least tell me your name.
Jack: Jacklyn. But most people call me Jack.

David (to Anton, re: James): He paid the ultimate price for his arrogance. He's dead. Here's nothing more you can do to him.

Anton: Emma. Let me talk to her. If she says you're okay, then I'll stop.
Mary Margaret: She's kind of out of town.
(Side note: I just have to say that some of the dialogue in this episode is so bad. "Then I'll stop"? Who says that?)

Anton: But you're my friends.
Jack: No. We're not. If you and your people want to save your lives, take us to the beans.
(Take us to the beans! Hah! So bad.)

[While running away from Anton, the giant]
Leroy: So, let me get this straight. You had a twin brother?
David: Yea.
Leroy: Whose name is James?
David: Right.
Leroy: But your name is James.
David: No, actually it's not.
Leroy: It's Charming, then?
Mary Margaret: No. That's the nickname I gave him.
Leroy: What the hell is your name?
David: David.
Leroy: Your cursed name?
David: My real name.
Leroy: What? You're David James and Charming? Is it like a middle name?
David: No. It's my name name.
Leroy: You know, whatever. I'm going to call you whatever I damn well please. Is that okay?
David: Sure, Leroy.

Anton: You saved my life.
Mary Margaret: That's what we do.

Leroy: No one touches our crop.
Anton: Your crop? I thought you guys were miners.
Leroy: Work is work. It's what we do.
(Hmm, sounds like Arlo and Mary Margaret. "It's what we do." No need to explain any further, right?)

Leroy: An ax never lies.

Emma: You good, kid?
Henry: Are you kidding? A trip with you. First plane ride. And we're going on a quest like in the book. The thing that can make this day better is more frosting.

Once Upon a Time: A Land Without Magic

"I will find you. I will always find you."

Charming is not going to let a bunch of guards keep him from finding Snow White. He escapes from his cell, and gets out of the castle with a little help from - wait for it - the Huntsman!

Oh, yes!

I was ecstatic to see him again!

Just sayin'.

Henry's sacrifice is not in vain. It results in his desired effect, Emma finally believes. He just doesn't get to see the moment, since he's in a poisoned apple-induced coma.

It seems like memories from Emma's short time in Fairy Tale Land came flooding back. However, who has memories of when they are just hours old? If anyone does, I'd like to talk to them; I have a few questions to ask.

Regina confesses everything to Emma pretty quickly.

The fight between Charming and Rumpelstiltskin is great. It's so much better than Snow's fight last week. (Sorry, Snow.) It's great when Rumpelstiltskin grabs Charming's blade in his hand. Now that's power.

David is moving to Boston unless Mary Margaret can give him a reason to stay. She says she can't. Come on Mary Margaret, Boston's a great place. Oh wait. You're right. You can't. You can't leave Storybrooke. Neither can David. You just doesn't know it.

I wonder if Rumpelstiltskin loved his wife (Baelfire's mother).

Now we finally know why only Emma can break the curse..

Charming has to hide the egg that holds true love's potion, and Emma has to find the egg.

It's so cool when Gold opens the case that holds Charming's sword and he shows it to Emma. Did he end up getting every item from Fairy Tale Land? If so, how does he hold it all in that little shop?

What a sad and moving scene when Emma sees August lying on the bed, unable to move. And then, when he turns back into a puppet - *sob* Breaking the curse better turn him back into a real boy (man).

It's funny that Emma is amazed by the moving wall. This is the 21st century. Walls can move at the touch of a hand.

Maleficent's back. Yes!

Cool dragon. Great special effects.

Why is Maleficent still a dragon in Storybrooke? Why didn't she change into a human with the curse?

Loved to see Charming trying to get the egg into the dragon, and Emma trying to get the egg out. Great parallel storytelling.

It's funny to see the little splash when Charming lands in the water.

Mary Margaret reads to Henry from the story book. She doesn't know it's her own story or that Henry is her grandson. It's ironic that Henry goes into cardiac arrest (if that's what it is) just as Mary Margaret tells him that life doesn't always have a happy ending.

Mary Margaret gave Henry the book. I don't remember that. Did I miss that fact from before?

It's great that it's Jefferson who rescues Belle from the "dungeon." But how did he know about Belle? Did that happen before or after he got stuck in Wonderland. I wouldn't think he would know every character's story from Fairytale Land.

Belle: "Who are you, and why do I have an Australian accent?" Okay, I made that last question up, but where did she get that accent. Didn't she come from the same country as everyone else in Fairy Tale Land?

Emma blew up the dragon with her father's sword.

The episode seemed really rushed. As much as I wanted Emma to break the curse, I just wanted the episode to slow down and catch its breath. A two hour finale would have been nice.

Snow says, "Let's take back the Kingdom," but there are really two kingdoms were talking about here: Snow's father's kingdom and King George's kingdom.

Regina finally realizes that she really wasn't in charge of the curse. Gold was.

Wouldn't Regina know that Henry isn't really dead, that it's just the effects of the apple? She should know what would wake him up - a kiss from someone who truly loves him.

Wouldn't Gold/Rumpelstiltskin recognize his true love's voice, because who else has an Australian accent? He doesn't know it's her until he turns around. Okay, he did think she was dead, but here's how I would have directed the scene: Belle speaks and we see a close up of Gold's face when he hears her voice, like he knows the voice but can't believe he's hearing it. Then he turns around and we see his reaction seeing her standing there. I should be a director. *wink* Oh yea, I am. *smile*

Charming breaks Snow out of her sleep when he says goodbye to her and kisses her. Emma breaks the curse with true love's kiss when she says goodbye to Henry and kisses him on the forehead. This show is chock full of parallels.

I loved seeing all of the fairy tale characters remembering who they really are. I especially loved Archie's face when he realizes he's a cricket. *wink* However, the best was seeing David and Mary Margaret reunite as Charming and Snow White. The romantic heart in me just melted. *sigh*

Do we feel sorry for Regina, or don't we?

Why didn't Gold know the curse was broken? Why did it take Belle telling him she remembered? If he knew right away that Emma finally believed when she walked in his shop earlier, surely he would know when the curse had been broken. And why didn't Gold try to help Emma to believe throughout the season since he was counting on her breaking the curse so he could get his power back?

The relationship between Belle and Gold/Rumpelstiltskin is still kind of creepy to me. That whole age difference thing, you know.

We know that power is still the most important thing to Rumpelstiltskin. Even more important than Belle.

The big question is why they didn't go back to Fairy Tale Land.

I wanted to see Snow and Charming's reunion with Emma. I hope there is a good reunion scene in the second season opener. I also want to see Jefferson's reunion with Grace. And I want to see August turn back into... well... August. And I want Graham to not really be dead. Good thing there's going to be a second season.

Quotes:

Huntsman: Don't let my sacrifice be in vain. Find her.

David: Ever since I woke up from that coma, my life hasn't made a lick of sense. Except for you.

Gold: Do my eyes deceive me, or is that the look of a believer?

August: Lucky for us, you're not normal.

Maleficent: Beast is so harsh. I prefer "Maleficent."
Charming: I'm gonna need a smaller egg.

Rumpelstiltskin: Now you're ready for your big moment, dearie.

Charming: Will you marry me?
Snow: What do you think?

Belle: Do I know you?
Gold: No, but you will.

Blue Fairy: If I were you, Your Majesty, I'd find a place to hide.

Snow: You found me.
Charming: Did you ever doubt I would?

Emma: What is that?
Henry: Something bad.

Once Upon a Time: An Apple Red as Blood

Jefferson/The Mad Hatter is back! Hooray!

Not much important happened in this episode other than Snow White finally ate the apple, and so did Henry.

And Jefferson returned.

It was a good episode, but I'm so ready for Emma to finally believe and for everything to come to a head.

The scene when Regina is tied to a tree and everyone wants revenge for what she did to her was great, and we knew it was going to happen because of previews. However, it is clear very soon that Regina is dreaming. It seems that Regina still has a conscience, it's too bad she only has it when she's dreaming.

When did Henry make it look like he is still in his bed? He just left his bedroom when Emma called, he didn't take time to make up his bed.

I love Prince James!

It's a cool effect when the blade that will chop off James's head turns to water.

How small are these kingdoms? Regina can get to King George's castle pretty easily.

Why would the King admit that James isn't his son in front of everyone?

Why isn't Mary Margaret in school during the day?

Emma doesn't want to be Sheriff anymore. She doesn't want to save anybody, except Henry.

Mary Margaret's gotten pretty sassy.

Why would the apple scare James? Does he know what it will do?

Did I already say that Jefferson is back. Yay! So, he didn't disappear into the hat.

Regina was the one who changed everyone's names. That's a lot of people to name. I wonder if she had the help of a Baby Names book. *wink*

The attack on the castle was pretty humorous to watch. I'm sure it wasn't supposed to be funny, but hearing Snow White grunt as she attacked the soldiers just made me laugh.

What kind of dust was in the fairies' buckets?

Did Henry not really believe in the curse until he saw August's wooden arm?

August is giving up. It's all up to Henry now.

When Regina takes the apple turnover out of the oven, she uses a towel to take it out, but then she uses her other hand to lay it on the counter. If it had truly been hot she would have burned that other hand. Realism, people, realism! It reminds me when characters get a coffee from Starbucks in a movie or TV show and it's really empty. You can so tell. How hard would it be to just put liquid in the cup. Realism, people, realism!

Snow White eats the apple to save Charming, and Henry eats the apple turnover to save everyone.

Charming and Snow are so connected that he feels it when she eats the apple.

How does Red know Snow sacrificed herself for true love and that the Queen didn't just kill her?

It was strange that Emma just stood there after Henry collapses. You would think that she would rush to him. It's all in the direction.

However, it wasn't until I saw these two pictures that it made sense:


Quotes:

Archie: My conscience is clear.

Regina: I just wanted to win - for once.

James: Losing my life for love; that's a sacrifice I'm happy to make.
King George: As you wish.

Regina: My tree is dying. Why?
Mr. Gold: Perhaps it's your fertilizer.

Grumpy: Red, you've got someone on your chin.

Grumpy: I miss Stealthy.

August: Take a look at the unvarnished truth.

Henry: You're Pinocchio.
August: What gave it away?

Snow: But I'm rescuing you.

Regina: Did you know that apples stand for health and wisdom?
Snow: Then why do I get the feeling that one might kill me?

Regina (to Emma): Do what you're so skilled at and make yourself at home.

Mr. Gold (to Regina): I guess I don't have to remind you that all magic comes with a price.

Final Thought:

When the DVDs are released, along with all of the episodes I want ABC to include just the story in Fairy Tale Land in order by itself. Sometimes it was confusing to keep track of the sequence of things.

And just because:

Once Upon a Time: The Stranger

This was a great episode of Once Upon a Time, and it almost made me cry.

Henry finally finds the new story that August put in the book. The story is about Pinocchio.

Pinocchio (still a wooden boy) and Geppetto are in the sea during a storm and are almost swallowed by a whale. Pinocchio risks his life to save Geppetto and the Blue Fairy turns Pinocchio into a real boy. She tells Pinocchio "Be brave, truthful and unselfish. So long as you do that you will always remain a real boy."

Later, the Blue Fairy tells Geppetto about the curse and tells him that he's the only one who can save them. He must build a wardrobe from the wood of an enchanted tree, so Snow White can escape with her baby, Emma. Geppetto says he will do it only if Pinocchio can be saved through the wardrobe along with Emma. Geppetto tells Pinocchio that he has to be the one to take care of Emma in the new land. He has to make sure Emma believes in 28 years so she can save them all.

When Geppetto puts Pinocchio in that wardrobe and they say good-bye, it broke my heart. Especially when Geppetto opens the wardrobe again and Pinocchio is gone.

And then in Storybrooke, when August sees his father and his father doesn't know him, it just broke my heart even more.

Pinocchio lands in our world and just a few minutes later, Emma appears in the tree. They both end up in an orphanage, and Pinocchio isn't treated kindly. When Pinocchio/August is given a chance to leave the orphanage, he takes it, leaving baby Emma behind. Poor August is suffering now for poor choices he made as a little boy.

Now that Regina can't keep Mary Margaret away from each other using Kathryn or framing Mary Margaret for Kathryn's murder, she's going to try to seduce David and keep them apart that way. David isn't falling for it. I hope he stays away from her.

August takes Emma out of Storybrooke to the diner where she was found as a baby by a seven year old little boy. He tells her that he was the boy who found her. That he found her in a tree after he came from the land of fairy tales into this world through the same tree. That he is Pinocchio. Emma doesn't believe him. She can't even see that August's leg is turning to wood.

August shirked his duty of caring for Emma when she was a baby. He was selfish. Now he's paying for that, and he may not be a real boy for long. Well, maybe it's time he became a real man. *wink*

August goes to his father's shop and asks him if he can work with him. It's sweet to see August wanting to be with Marco/Geppetto. He says he feels like "fixing things." What a great line with a double meaning.

Emma decides that if she can't get Henry away from Regina legally, she'll just take him away. She picks Henry up that night, and they're on their way out of Storybrooke. Or are they?

Observations:

Doc is attending Snow White when she has her baby. Can she trust a doctor who got his degree from a pic axe?

How many of you wanted so much for Emma to see August's leg as it really was? What will it take for her to finally believe?

Quotes:

Mary Margaret: I don't care what it looks like, as long as it keeps Regina out.

August: You're our only hope.
Emma: Then you're all screwed.

Once Upon a Time: Hat Trick

I loved, loved, loved this episode, even though it wasn't a Snow/Charming-centric episode.

It was an interesting twist to focus on the Mad Hatter instead of on Alice.

Emma: I'd rather lose my job than my friend.

Didn't Emma ever learn that you shouldn't pick up strangers?

Why does Jefferson call the Queen "Regina" instead of "You Majesty?" What is their history?

Regina: Something of mine was taken and found its way over there.

Regina: There's nothing more important than family.

Jefferson gives Emma tea. A little tea party with the Mad Hatter.

Emma is drugged, but she still notices that Jefferson doesn't have his limp. Pretty good powers of observation.

Why does Jefferson take off Emma's jacket before tying her up?

Jefferson's house has to be pretty high on a hill for him to be able to see the Sheriff's office through his telescope. And it looked like he lives in the middle of the forest. Well, this is a fairy tale.

Do all of the men in Fairy Tale Land wear leather pants? Not that I'm complaining.

Jefferson: I see you found Spot.

Jefferson asks Regina to promise that his daughter will want for nothing if he does what she asks, and she gives her word. I wonder if Regina keeps her word.

So, how does Jefferson know about the curse?

Jefferson: Open your eyes. Look around. Isn't it about time?

Caterpillar: Who are you? Who? Who?

I loved that the Caterpillar was Roger Daltry from The Who.

Jefferson: I hate Wonderland.

Poor Jefferson. He's just a father who wants his daughter.

They actually cut off Jefferson's head!

Jefferson: I'm alive? I'm alive!

Jefferson: I don't think. I know. I remember.

Jefferson: Holding conflicting realities in your head can drive you mad.

Emma: If what you say is true, the woman in the other room is my mother.

It was nice to think that Emma believed for a minute. What will it take for her to believe?

When Jefferson falls there is a whooshing sound. So, did he go back into Wonderland? Was Wonderland part of the curse? It must have been if Jefferson was in Storybrooke. Then where is Cora, the Queen of Hearts.

Poor Jefferson just wants to be with his daughter. Did he want to take Grace back to Wonderland with him? I thought he hated Wonderland.

Emma keeps the hat. What will happen with that?

Emma: Other than being on trial for murder, [Mary Margaret's] fine.

Emma noticed Jefferson's scar when they were fighting, and then she recognizes him in the book. Will she believe soon?

One more picture of Jefferson for good measure: