Once Upon a Time 1x13 Review

What Happened to Frederick? 

After last week's powerful ending I really wondered if they would pick up on that story, or move it to the back burner. It seems the latter was the case, and while I enjoyed this episode I missed Mr. Gold and Regina having a nice chat. 

This episode focuses yet again on Mary Margaret and David's relationship. Everything comes to a climax and once again the two different universes experience almost opposing directions for these two love birds. For me though, this was not the most interesting aspect of this episode. The Stranger revealed his name(information that looms large for several characters in this show). I'll get to the name in a little bit, and I am going to refute one of my own theories on who is is. Not based on any information or clues we got, but more so from his behavior. 

In Storybrooke this week David agrees to finally tell Kathryn about him and Mary. Mary obviously is happy about this, and runs to tell Emma. However, when David breaks the news he leaves out the bit about his relationship with Mary and of course that leads to all kinds of crap for everyone. I loved that Kathryn runs to Regina first. Does this woman not have any friends at all? I mean I know she considered Regina her friend, but even friends of hers must notice that she never really smiles(except that creepy evil smile), and always is conning everyone. Regina breaks the news to her about the affair and she understandably flips out. I've been surprised that the show has been so kind to these two. I mean we like Mary and David, but they are carrying out a relationship while he's married. 

People begin to torment Mary and make her feel just awful about what she's done. Even Granny gets in on the action. If Granny hates you then you know you're not cool. I love that it was Regina that painted "Tramp" on Mary's car and I can only imagine the glee she must have gotten for that. She HATES Mary/Snow as we all know so she clearly was loving the fact that Mary was the most hated woman in town. Love though does conquer all and Kathryn decides that if Mary and David do love each other then it's wrong for them to be apart. he tells Regina that she has written them both letters and gives them her blessing. Regina is not happy, and right then I expected Regina to be on her way to crush another heart. Especially when Kathryn said she was leaving town. Bad things happen when you try to leave according to Henry.

Regina spoils the happy ending and steals the letter to David so that he and Mary won't know it's okay for them to be together. She burns it, and just at that moment Kathryn appears to have vanished out of her car as she was trying to leave. Very creepy ending, and a great shot of evil Regina at the end. 

Like I said though, my favorite part of this episode was all about the Stranger. He reveals that his name is August Wayne Booth. That name is too crazy to not be really important. I checked to see if it might be an anagram, but there were WAY to many choices. I'll have to see what theories arise because that was a wacky bit of info. As I mentioned, we know that names are very important so it was huge I think that he revealed it to Emma. I used to think he might be the Big Bad Wolf, but I'm not sure about that anymore. In fact I'm pretty confident he is not. Not because of any clues really, but he's just not acting like that character at all. This guy is mysterious, and important. The BBW did disguise himself, but this goes well beyond that. I think the Stranger's identity is much more deep and important to the series as a whole. 

Why was he cleaning the book? It didn't appear damaged when he had it last time we saw. What did he do to it? Was he creating some kind of potion, or spell by cleansing the pages like that? I got such a Lost vibe in that scene. It looked exactly like the scene with Jacob and the tapestry to me. Then he simply gives it back to Emma in a strange sort of way. So strange. Henry is very happy of course to get the book back, but I think he's even more happy about his new video game. SPACE PARANOIDS!!! FTW!! This is why we love Eddie and Adam. What others shows reference TRON like that? loved it! 

WOW okay that was a lot. On to Fairy Tale Land. That story is somewhat more simple, but I felt more touching. We see that the woman Charming was supposed to marry is cool with him leaving because she really wants to get back with her old man Frederick. One problem, Frederick was turned to gold by King Midas. I did wonder wy no one ever went to Rumpelstiltskin, I mean they go him for everything else. Anyway, to save Frederick and give Abigal happiness Charming must battle the dangerous, yet sexy siren of the Lake of Nostos. Nostos for those who don't know is an ancient Greek word for "homecoming" and is a huge theme in the classic story The Odyssey. We all know that sirens play a huge role in that story, and while this was quite different I think we can put this down as the second character from Greek myths. Midas being the first of course. 

Charming is successful and helps restore Frederick. He runs off to find Snow even though she told him she doesn't love him anymore. Little Red Riding hood though informs him that she does love him, and they ride off together to find her and avoid getting killed by the very angry King George. 

Good episode I think, and it created some all new questions. I really don't know where the story with Kathryn is going. Is she dead? She vanished, but where did she go? Did her vanishing have anything to do with the burning of the letter, or was it just that she tried to leave? How many more events happen between the end of this episode, and when Charming kisses Snow to awaken her from the sleeping spell. I thought it was interesting that neither Rumpelstiltskin, Mr. Gold nor the Evil Queen appeared in this episode at all. That has to be the first time that has happened. 

I look forward to next week, and wonder what the repercussions of these events will be.