ONCE UPON A TIME Review: Don’t Mess With the Jones Brothers

A Hero Worthy to be Saved

Killian Jones has always struggled with self-worth. In the flashback scenes in this episode, he viewed himself as baggage holding his brother back from pursuing his dreams. It wasn’t until the end of Season 4 that he even begins to entertain the idea of being considered a hero. In the beginning of this season, Killian started to embrace being a hero, even to the point of death. Yet with all of his marks in the hero column, he chooses to dwell on his shortcomings and is unable to forgive himself, which is a part of his unfinished business. After being rescued from torture and hopelessness by Emma in the previous episode, Killian starts to understand the weight of what she did in coming to the Underworld to save him. Mix that with the amount of guilt he carries from his darker days, and you’ve got a man who believes he is not worthy to get another chance to live. How often is it easier to forgive everyone else in the room than to forgive yourself?

Enter Liam and Emma, two people Killian looks up to. In describing both of their actions, he uses the term “raised the bar.” Liam and Emma overall have lived lives that are inspiring to Killian, raising the bar on what it means to have good form.

It was much easier to give them all the praise and not take any for himself. Killian has come a long way and has become a hero. In fact in this episode Liam praises Killian for becoming a true hero in a way that Liam never could; Emma too reminds him of his worth various times throughout the episode. It’s not enough to just hear truth from other people; you have to believe it for yourself. Healing does not just come from asking the forgiveness of others but also in forgiving yourself. Killian Jones finally frees himself from the weight of guilt and forgives himself of his own transgressions.

With this freedom in identity, it brings back the freedom of choice. Some of Emma’s unfinished business with Killian is that she has taken away his choice in making a decision. Emma made Killian’s decision for him by saving his life in Camelot and turning him into a Dark One, the very thing he hates most.

Now being reunited with Killian in the Underworld as he is faced with choice of forgiving himself and returning with her to Storybrooke or clearing his unfinished business and moving on, Emma lays the verdict in his hands.

Emma Swan loves Killian Jones; she has traveled to the Underworld to bring him home and does not want to leave without him. But she loves him enough to let him decide, making it a choice, not an obligation. Once Killian finally forgives and accepts him as the hero he is, he gives into love and chooses Emma and their future together, white picket fence and all.

Hope is not lost. They’ve traveled realms and been with each other during the darkest chapters. Not even Hades will be able to stand in the way of true love as they fight for that future the best way they know how to: together.

Worth Mentioning

• Question: Where was Robin Hood in this episode? Seriously, he was not even in the background of any scene. Next week’s episode needs to fix that!
• The Apprentice lied to Henry about bringing someone back to life as the Author. The Apprentice rationalizes it as a “necessary half-truth.” Careful there, you are sounding a bit like Obi Won Kenobi.
• Based on this episode, the argument can be made that Hades is also Davy Jones; those characters are both in the business of souls.
• Henry went on his own rebellious adventure looking for the quill. What was more impressive was that after he found it and had a pep talk with Grandpa Charming, he told the heroes about his rogue mission and the truth behind his motivations. He is the Author and he wants to be part of the action. His family completely understood, once again showing that despite how complex this family is, they really love and support each other.
• Not sure which I enjoyed more: jealous Charming or flustered Charming with Cruella. Either way, I need a reunion scene between James and Charming right now!
• Random question: have any of the Storybrooke heroes slept since arriving to the Underworld? I feel like they could all use a nap at some point; maybe with all the fluffy stuffed animals in the Underworld-version of Emma and Killian’s house.
• In this episode, we got more layers peeled back on Hades’ character. When entering the living world, Hades’ powers are limited, mainly just his immortality. Also, he has made a few visits to our world in his natural form, not in disguise. Next week we are diving into his past with Zelena, the Wicked Witch herself. Will he make another trip to see her now? With Henry rewriting Hades’ story, what exactly will he change and what will the repercussions of it be?