Wow. This show just elevated itself into a whole other level of awesomeness. Although I enjoyed the past 6 episodes, something always felt off to me. There was just a lot of general corniness and I think I was more in love with the idea of the show than the actual show itself. Honestly there’s still a lot of cheesiness particularly with the dialogue but overlooking some lines here and there, this hour was just excellent. Things really took a brilliant turn the moment Regina stopped with the empty threats and brutally punched Emma across the face which was something I never expected to happen on this show so soon. And once Emma returned the favor, well that was just epic. The final 5 minutes revealing Regina in the underground chamber and then killing Graham (hopefully if the writers have guts) by destroying his heart just as he is about to REALLY kiss Emma was just a wonderful ending. Moreover, I’m loving how the show is really cementing its visual style particularly in the way it transitions between Storybrooke and the fairytale world. It’s little touches like these that give the show a very distinctive style. I am truly hooked now and can’t wait to see the show return next year with renewed purpose and focus as the battle lines are really drawn now. Awesome mid-season finale.
Nad Rating
A
I'm glad you liked this one, too. I've loved all the episode so far, but I think the cheesiness is something I'm oblivious too. In some series it's unbelievably bad (like 'Glee'), but on this it seems to work rather well, and never really feels off. I loved what you said about the two stories tranistioning well into one another. In the alst 2 or 3 episodes that aspect has really started to flourish. Great review nadim!