Once Upon A Time "The Stranger" Review

Once Upon a Time knows how to waste time. The writers introduced August in the 10th episode. Several episodes later delivered the biggest moment in August's short time on the show: the reveal of his name. He stole Henry's book for a period of time to add the story of Pinocchio. Now that pointless murder mysteries are finished, and every character returned to his or her own life, August decides to quit eating pie and conduct the business he was sent to Normal World years and years ago. This business involves the salvation of the fairy tale characters and their world.

The Fairy Tale World High Council (for lack of a better name), as witnessed in the "Pilot," tasked Gepetto with building an enchanted wardrobe. Emma needed to escape before the curse ruined her. Gepetto actually lied to the council members about the wardrobe's capacity for people; he struck a deal with the blue fairy to send Pinocchio through the wardrobe; and, later, he ignored the blue fairy's commands for Gepetto to allow Snow White through to help her daughter BELIEVE enough to save everyone from the curse. Gepetto taught his son about lying for people you love, which contradicted the advice he received since becoming a boy about being truthful and honest, but Gepetto was more desperate to save his son than save his world. Everything is screwed up now.

"The Stranger" is about redemptive heroism. August received a gift when the blue fairy made him flesh, but he never valued his gift. August and Emma have been connected since the day of the curse. Both entered Normal World through a tree. Little Pinocchio needed to take care of Emma always and eventually teach her about her destiny and help her believe in it. The Blue Fairy wisely didn't trust a child to successfully accomplish this feat. Gepetto just didn't want to chance his boy becoming wooden when the curse hit and magic disappeared forever. Gepetto isn't a villain; he's just a father who trusted his child to do the right thing. The story of Pinocchio conveyed a simple moral truth: don't lie. OUAT's Pinocchio is a good kid too. The worst thing he does is tie Jiminy up inside of a wooden clock. The actions of children can be innocent, actions that'll be corrected when disciplined. Little Pinocchio possessed an innate selfishness. Again, he never valued the gift he received. The blue fairy restored him to life after the storm after all; however, the little boy lost the guidance of the most important people in his life. He strayed.

Once Upon a Time's storytelling methods drive me insane. The writers always get to Point B from Point A and then to Point C and so on but it's never smooth nor organic. It's like the writers hit a point in the story where something needs to happen but the legwork required to make the 'something' organic didn't happen. I just accept that August would sit around and waste time for weeks because the writers couldn't tell his story too early. The crux of the story is Emma's panic and her decision to leave town with Henry--it shows a frazzled heroine unable to do what's needed and time is running out. Albeit, time isn't running out in the narrative; a rush to save the town doesn't seem to be an issue--August's decision to make Emma believe is a result of selfishness. The dude is turning into wood. Emma's decision to run is immediate to the audience because the season is coming to an end. Obviously, something will happen in the finale. Another instance of their infuriating storytelling style is the scene in which Pinocchio leaves the foster home. The head of the foster home tells him that he possesses NOTHING. Some kid then shows him a wad of money and says he's leaving, but he refuses to let Emma come along because no kid can care for a baby. It happened because it needed to happen. Blah.

August isn't a lost cause. He volunteers to assist his father at work. August said he just wants to fix things now. He completed a satisfying arc in "The Stranger"--from selfish kid to redemptive hero (at least he's on the path to redemption). He failed to convince Emma. Like the Mad Hatter before him, he rambled on about curses and magic like it was as accepted a fact as a hook echo signaling a tornado. Emma freaked out, emphasizing how overwhelming it is to get custody of Henry. She doesn't feel at all capable of being responsible for an entire town's salvation. This is all part of the hero's or heroine's journey though, and her journey is very much by-the-books. Since Oceanic Airlines popped up this week, and Kitsis and Horowitiz reference LOST nearly every episode, I'll compare Emma to Jack and August to Locke. Will the season end on both looking down into the Fairy Tale World, followed by season 2 opening with Henry Ian Cusick portraying SOMEONE? Anyway, Emma is the reluctant heroine, and August is the fervent believer, desperate to make her believe that she's special, that she's the key to someplace special.

Regina continues to lose her grip on Storybrooke. The Kathryn angle blew up on her. Mary Margaret is the town saint again. Mary, in fact, forgives Regina for whatever she might've done. Regina's so pissed off by Mary's good nature that she attempts to seduce David in her home. The balance of power is shifting in Storybrooke.

Gosh darn it if only Emma believed and stayed in town then all would be solved!