Once Upon a Time Season 5 Mid-season Review

I'm not a review-based blog, but I have strong feelings. Also, SPOILER ALERT FOR SEASON FIVE.

I'll be the first to admit that I LOVE Once Upon a Time. It's a huge guilty pleasure of mine. (We'll get to why it's guilty in a minute.) It premiered in my junior year of high school, and I loved the concept of retelling classic fairy tales. The acting was great, the writing was pretty solid, and the characters were likable.

For the first couple of seasons, that is.

Then, it devolved into this terrible mess of a show where nobody can remember what happened last episode because we have SO MANY PLOT LINES AND CHARACTERS. For example, do you remember Cinderella? Exactly. This show is terrible most of the time, but I love it. I'm garbage.

After the absolute disaster that we called Season 4, I was on the verge of giving up the show. However, I kept pressing on and walked shakily into Season 5, and it was everything I had ever wanted. Here's why:

Dark Swan: You can feel how much fun Jennifer Morrison is having being evil. Within the first episode, we have set up the story arc for the half season. It all stems from a gorgeous idea; if you take away the Savior, who will save the day?

Expanding the Lore: This show has a timeline that nobody can fathom, but it has given us all kinds of amazing lore. I have waited through four seasons to finally learn more about the Dark Ones, and I was not disappointed. Nimue is being regarded as one of the greatest episodes of the series (if not THE best one.) Plus, it was written by my absolute favorite screenwriter, the amazing Jane Espenson!

Moral Dilemma: Zelena. Though I have major issues with the way she came back and the fact that she came back at all, she was a great addition to the season. Her situation introduces some fabulous moral debates. Is it right to take her baby away? Was Emma justified in trying to kill her? Was Regina justified in sending her back to Oz? Scandal.

After the penultimate episode of the mid-season, I was on the edge of my chair. In fact, the cliffhanger was so good that I thought it was the finale. Surely, bringing all the Dark Ones back will cause all sorts of interesting plot lines. Will Gold be meeting face-to-face with Rumplestiltskin? Is Nimue going to wreck everything? Will we learn more about each of the Dark Ones in the lineage? The answer was no. Here begins my problems with the episode.

1. We barely used the Dark Ones. How does any writer look at all that evil wrapped up in cloaks and just use them to mark Emma's friends and family for death? Especially with the success of Nimue's character, you would think we would actually do something interesting with her.

2. They did another death fake-out. This is one of my huge television pet peeves because you're not playing fair with your audience. This isn't even the first time they've pulled this stunt. They did it to Gold, Zelena, and Henry. They just do it to get you to feel emotional. It carries no purpose. There's a joke that says the only person in the Marvel Universe that stays dead is Uncle Ben. I guess in Once Upon a Time, the only main character that stays dead is Neal. *cries*

3. They kind of ripped off a story line from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. *SPOILERS FOR BUFFY* The whole situation with Emma turning Hook into a Dark One is almost exactly like Buffy taking Angel's soul away in Season Two. I would not have minded if not for the fact that they ended it EXACTLY THE SAME. Look at this.

It's a tale as old as time:
Boy becomes evil. Boy tried to send people that Girl loves to Hell. Girl has to face Boy. Boy comes to his senses, but it's too late. Girl has to kill Boy. Girl kisses Boy. Girl stabs Boy with a sword. Boy get's sent to Hell. Girl cries. Apparently, ABC can't come up with their own sad moments, so they have to steal them from other shows.

4. Toddlers love to build up a block tower and knock it back down again. In similar fashion, the OUAT writers love to build up Mr. Gold's character and then make his evil again. I've lost count of how many times it has happened, and they just use it to make sure they can use evil in future seasons. "Oh, you thought you destroyed all darkness? Sorry, I did a magic thing when you weren't looking. Don't tell Belle." This show delights in its use of Deus Ex Magica. Seriously, it's annoying.


This part of the season came in with a roar and went out with a whimper, but like the disgusting human I am, I will keep watching. I actually have hope for the rest of the season because the Underworld story has a lot of potential. Plus, they're bringing back a lot of characters to cameo in the 100th episode of the show. Here is a quick list of why you should watch the second half of the show:

1. Cora
2. Cora
3. Cora
4. Cora
5. Cora

 Peace and blessings,
Caleb Gibbs

Reconcile

I haven't been myself in a while. For the past few years, I have been straining to hold up relationships that are dragging me down. Until I start thinking about what is best for me, I can't become a better person and friend. I need to reevaluate who and what gets my time and attention. I'm going to begin backing away from relationships that are toxic, one-sided, and imaginary. 

Toxic relationships, you make me mean. You make me judge people for the clothes they wear it or what they put on Instagram. You encourage me to harshly criticize the passions of others. I love you and the people that you used to be. However, I need to save myself now. 

One-sided relationships, you make me angry. We used to have so much fun, but now, I don't even matter to you. I still considered myself one of your best friends even after I was cast aside for the newer and shinier people. If we've drifted apart, that's fine. It happens. However, if you ever want to fix what's broken, I'm a phone call away. 

Imaginary relationships, you break my heart. I'm coming to realize that our entire relationship is in my head, and that you never actually cared about me. I liked the idea of you. I refuse to waste my time and energy over missing you and getting upset that you don't care, when I don't ever grace your precious mind space. However, you might care and not be very good at showing it, so I offer forgiveness. 

I love and care about you all even if I'm backing away for now. I'm not strong right now, and I need to heal. There are friends and family that care about me and encourage me to be my best self. I fear I've lost my spark. I hope I find it, and I hope you find what you're looking for. 

Caleb Gibbs