ONCE UPON A TIME REVIEW: It’s Not Easy Being the Savior

Regina as Savior

Regina Mills is a complex, strong female character who has arguably grown the most in the course of the series. In this particular episode, we are reminded of her past as well as how far she’s come from it. Sir Percival confronts Regina on her evil past, one that directly impacted his life. He has the opportunity for vengeance and he takes it. Regina has a choice; she could have easily chosen to use her magic to stop or even hurt him. She doesn’t. In Camelot, she has chosen to take on the role of the savior, and saviors don’t lash out in anger. Others came to her aid in the honorable way. This is not to downplay her strength to get things done by herself. This moment shows the audience that she does not have to face these things alone. She now has strength in numbers.

Another example of Regina’s growth as a character that’s highlighted in the episode is her relationship with Snow White and Charming. When we first met these key characters in the pilot, there was a clear division and disdain between her and this couple. These characters had a lot of history of hate leading to that wedding scene in the pilot, and their relationship has developed and grown since the breaking of the first curse. Over the course of this show, all of them have been able to truly forgive each other and a new friendship has grown in place of the past grudges. In this particular episode, Snow and Charming help restore some of the happiness denied in Regina’s past by helping her prepare for the ball. How sweet was it for Charming to teach Regina how to dance so that she can dance with Robin?! Just looking back at Charming and Regina in the past, they have been quick to snap at each other. Now here he is helping her dance the night away with at a ball, an event she used to feel very lonely at. Then when you look at Snow and Regina, Regina regretted trusting Snow with a secret many years ago; now she trusts in Snow as her friend. Snow encouraged her and helped her prepare for the ball; Regina confided in Snow when she suspected that there was something else on the way to Storybrooke. When Regina sacrificed herself for Robin, Snow didn’t want Regina to face this alone so she grabbed her hand and shared in her burden. That kind of bond creates strength, enough to defeat the Fury. Regina’s friendship with her former enemies is clear evidence of her growth as a character, as well as step into a new role as a hero.

Back in Storybrooke, we continue to see Regina step up to the plate. She assumes the new protector role for Storybrooke, the complete opposite to what we were introduced in the pilot. What’s beautiful is that she doesn’t take this on out of pride or manipulation; Regina takes on this new role out of love: the love for her friends, her son, and her true love and his son. Since her revelation of what her happy ending really is last season, Regina has started to experience that happiness. She’s no longer blaming everyone else for her misfortunes; the only person standing in her way was herself. She feels like she has a place in the world; she is a friend, a mother, a lover, and a hero who has earned the respect of the people around her. This wasn’t an easy process; it took four seasons to get to this realization. Now that she has, this love and acceptance overflows into the people and situations around her in this season. Therefore, she is capable to step out and protect the people she used to despise.

A challenge may arise when it means going out on a limb for an acquaintance or an enemy. Let’s admit it: it is easier to love the people who love you back. We are more inclined to help or simply be there for our friends and family. It can feel like a complete leap of faith to extend that to people we don’t know, even the people who hate us. The title of the Savior is unique because it associates with heroism without expecting anything in return; this kind of selflessness is rare yet has incredible impact. Regina has grown and developed immensely. If she wants to really become Storybrooke’s new savior, she has to learn to be that selfless for everyone in the town, doing what’s best for the well-being of everyone. She has come so far; Regina Mills is capable of it.

Worth Mentioning

• Tonight’s recurring symbols were trees. When Dopey crossed the town line, he was transformed into a tree. In Camelot, Merlin is supposedly trapped in a tree, which is a part of an Arthurian tale between Merlin and Nimue (just a heads up, the 5×07 episode is titled “Nimue”), and you have to admit that the Fury looked like a female Groot.
• Speaking of Groot, did anyone else think of “Guardians of the Galaxy” when Regina, Snow, Charming, Grumpy, and Arthur grabbed hands to disperse the Fury’s magic? I can’t be the only one, right?!
• In Greek mythology, there is a boatman that transports the dead to the underworld across the River Styx. Corpses had coins placed over their eyes so that their souls could pay for passage; otherwise they would be left to wander and find the entrance on their own. When the Fury was about to transport Robin Hood to the underworld, a boatman appeared on his boat in the pond by them. The writers are pulling from tales of mythology, not just the classic fairy tales we know; and I love it!
• A great friendship that is also continuing to grow this season is the one between Hook and Belle. Belle is the only one who knows exactly what Hook is going through right now. She loves Rumple, the previous Dark One, and it’s not easy to love someone so dark. She brought him into the light on countless occasions before his love for power consumed him. If anyone is going to give Hook insight and encouragement while Emma is the Dark One, it’s her.
• Henry Mills is growing up, and nothing warms my heart more than young love. From the encouragement of Grandpa Charming to introducing Violet to modern music, this was definitely an adorable moment. Their second meeting in Storybrooke in similar fashion to their initial meeting just adds to the cuteness level. Plus, you know it’s a great first love when a 80s synth song is in the background!
• So who did Percival make a deal with in order to get an enchanted sword that was specifically made to kill Regina?
• Another highlight of the episode was Snow and Emma preparing for the ball. This was a moment Snow was looking forward to sharing with her daughter but was denied that opportunity because of the curse. Here, both Emma and Snow are able to reclaim something that was taken from them as well as have their first mother-daughter moment in a long time.
• The first thing I thought of when I saw the door in Emma’s new house that leads to Excalibur was a cupboard under the stairs; hence, a potential unintentional Harry Potter reference.
• In Emma’s interactions with Hook, it is clear that Emma loves him. However, there is a new love in her life that actively fights to outweigh her love for her pirate. This new love is power and seeks to separate her from all of her friends and family. Even though she has embraced the darkness, there is still goodness in her. We get a glimpse of that as she stands in the streets outside of Granny’s. She has returned to a place of loneliness that she hasn’t felt since Henry found her, and she longs to be with her loved ones. The darkness wouldn’t return in her life if there was no light left in her. With that, there is hope that Emma Swan can be saved.