Once Upon A Time - Nasty Habits

Neal is in NEVERLAND!! Okay, now that I have that out of the way. Let's start Nasty Habits.

Felix has Neal walking through the forest. Felix mentions he hoped he would never see Neal again. Neal tells Felix that all he wants is Henry. Again it's brought up that Pan has been looking for Henry for a very long time. Neal manages to get out of the knot Felix tied his hands with and punches him out, noting "I am not a boy anymore Felix, and sure the hell ain't lost" before running away. *prays that he finds Emma or Henry*

Flashback - Enchanted Forest

Young Baelfire is drawing when Rumple comes in bringing him am gift. I always love a young Bae flashback. Dylan Schmid is fantastic in this role, and young Bae crushes my heart constantly. I already know I am going to love this episode. Baelfire sneers that he does not want anymore gifts from people Rumple terrorizes. He wants to go outside, have friends, and see the world. Rumple says it's not possible because he has enemies who could hurt Bae. Bae tells him that what Rumple is really scared of is Bae leaving and never coming back, which fair point. I would run if I was Baelfire too. His dad turns people into snails and squashes them.


Present day Neverland

Rumple once again sees Belle. Is she really there? Is she a vision? Not sure at this point. They discuss Rumple wanting to save Henry and how honourable his intentions are. Rumple says that he honestly does want to save Henry because he is okay with dying. He wants to because he has nothing left to live for. Belle is all "Hey, what about me?" which I understand. I would be upset too. Rumple tells her that eventually she would have seen him as the monster he is, and left him. He wants to honour Bae and save Henry. Belle reminds him that he has a nasty habit of reverting to self preservation.

Present day Neverland

Strategy meeting to get Henry back. Tinkerbell wants to know how they intend to get off the island. She doesn't want to help until they have an escape plan. None of the group do, and she flat out tells them to forget her helping until they've figured it out. She is not confident because nobody leaves without Pan's say so. Fun moment as Tinkerbell tells them that Tamara and Greg are dead and Regina smirks. Lana Parrilla is fantastic. It's funny but I am enjoying Regina more this season. Tink storms off and tells them they know where she lives when they are ready. 'Never break in somewhere unless you know the way out'  is something Neal taught Emma and she agrees they need a plan. Hook doesn't have a way off the island either but does mention that he had made a deal with Pan to get off the first time, and now I am curious. What exactly is their backstory? Please give it us, writers! He mentions that he may know where they can find answers though.

Present day - Neverland

Rumple comes across two Lost Boys and magics them to sleep. Neal comes bursting out of the forest at the same time! Father and son reunited. Rumple doesn't believe it's actually Neal, with good reason. He's been seeing Belle all over Neverland so...  not surprised. Neal eventually convinces Rumple it's him by calling him Poppa (and the tears start, seriously this messed up family!).

Flashback - Enchanted Forest

Rumple comes home to find young Bae gone. He is immediately enraged and traces Bae's trail to this little town where other children have gone missing. Apparently there is a magic piper who lures children away. I love this twist on the Pied Piper already. Of course, because it's what Rumple does, he threatens to find this piper and kill him.

Present Day - Neverland

Neal wants to know if the Lost Boys are dead. Rumple says no, and Neal wants to leave it this way. He says he'll do whatever it is to get Henry back, but they don't need to kill Lost Boys. Seems Neal may have a soft spot for the young boys he spent so much time with. He tells Rumple that he does not have sacrifice himself to save Henry, that he has another way. Neal calls up a giant squid from the ocean using a shell and tells Rumple to extract the ink from it to immobilize Pan long enough to snatch Henry. It's a solid plan! I can't see them rescuing Henry this early in the season, so I am not confident it's going to work.

Hook's led them to Neal's hideout when he was in Neverland as a boy. The paintings on the wall...*feelings*. He painted the Darling family, his trip through the portal, and the Port/Starboard symbol Hook drew on the ship when Neal was with Hook. *all the tears*. It makes me want to hug young Baelfire. Such a tragic life. I LOVE that Emma immediately knew it was Neal's home.

Hook and Charming have a discussion about Charming's injury. Hook wants him to tell Snow and Emma about it. Charming refuses and tells Hook to keep quiet, and that they only thing that matters is Henry. Ugh. Charming...STOP! You're being ridiculous.

Flashback - Enchanted Forest

Rumple waits and hears the piper's music. Follows it to a group of bewitched dancing boys. Rumple orders the piper to hand over his son. Piper rips off his hood to show....PETER FREAKING PAN! Okay, that's a fantastic twist. Peter calls Rumple "laddie". It's obvious they know each other, even back this far. Interesting. One of my theories is seemingly becoming more plausible. Peter sneers at Rumple, commenting "Look whose all grown up and become the Dark One". Peter mentions it's lonely in Neverland and wants to take these boys with him so he can have friends. He mentions that people can visit Neverland in their dreams, but that they can't stay. Only certain boys can hear the music that he plays. Boys who feel unloved, and lost (which gives Peter the inspiration for the name). It explains why Bae can hear it, and obviously Rumple too. Peter rubs it in that everyone Rumple has loved has left him. Milah, his father, and now Baelfire. He offers a deal...Rumple gets to ask Bae if he wants to go home or go to Neverland. If Bae picks home, Rumple can keep him. Robbie Kay manages to hold his own against the incredible Robert Carlyle. He is truly talented, and this scene pretty much blew me away.

Present day - Neverland

Peter is throwing a party in Henry's honour, but Henry's not having it. Henry can't hear Peter's music, which means Henry still feels loved, and has faith he will be found. Peter tells him that he'll hear it soon enough. Felix comes to tell Peter that Neal and Rumple are searching for Henry as Neal escaped. Peter doesn't seem concerned. Rumple and Neal try to ambush Pan. Peter calls Neal Baelfire and gets reprimanded "It's Neal now". Neal shoots the squid ink dipped arrow at Peter. He catches it, and laughs. Neal tells him the tip wasn't what he coated and Peter ends up being frozen in place.

Peter tells Neal that he may want to leave Henry with him because there is something Rumple isn't telling him. He tells Neal that Rumple isn't there to save Henry, but to kill him. Neal wisely grabs Henry and runs before questioning Rumple. He demands to know what Pan is talking about. Neal gets worked up, and angry (it's hot!) and tells Rumple to "stop stalling". Rumple tells Neal all about the prophecy and that Henry will be his undoing. Neal puts it together and accuses Rumple of deciding to kill the boy no matter who it was. Rumple agrees but says it is different now that he knows it's his grandson. Rumple swears he was going to save Henry. Neal doesn't seem impressed, or convinced. This episode is filled with nasty habits, both Rumple and Neal have them. Rumple is a coward who always puts self preservation before anything. Neal's learned that he can't depend on his father, and that mistrust may just mean Henry getting recaptured by Pan. Rumple offers to prove that he is telling the truth. Neal wants his dagger, but Rumple can't produce it. Neal is fed up (just like his younger self) and says that there is always some answer, some reason with his father. It doesn't matter that his intentions are honourable now. What about when they get back to Storybrooke? In a week? Month? Year? He could end up thinking that 'undoing' is not such a good thing. Rumple says that will not happen, Neal is his happy ending. Neal, in a moment of mistrust, freezes his father, and tells him that he is going to find Emma and take his family home. Rumple begs him to not go off alone, but Neal doesn't listen. Damn it, Neal! For once just trust your father (although I get why he doesn't). That final "Goodbye Poppa" *tears*. Young Bae flashbacks break my heart EVERY SINGLE TIME.

Hook and Milah feels! Hook mentions Neal got his love of drawing from his mother. Eventually Emma works out that the candle they are using to look around the cave is not just a candle, but something that reveals a map made out of stars. A map home (the way Emma says home.. Tallahassee feelings). Sadly, nobody but Neal can read it though so they are screwed (until they find out Neal is alive that is). Hook tells them that he taught Neal to code his maps, so since Neal is dead they can't use it. Emma runs outside on the verge of a breakdown. Her speech here is awesome "I’m not sad. I’m pissed! Yes, Neal just died. But I lost him years ago, all that time thinking he didn’t love me only to find out that he did, and it was too late. I can’t even tell him how angry that makes me or how much it hurt when he left. Or how terrified I was when he came back, because I knew the moment I saw him that I never stopped loving him." SHE NEVER STOPPED LOVING HIM! I may have burst into tears, and this episode is just filling me with so many different emotions. This is what happens when I get invested in fictional characters. EMMA LOVES NEAL! She, of course, goes running off cry. Snow has a very real moment where she tells Charming that she has no idea has to comfort Emma. It's the first thing a mother learns, and Snow has NO CLUE. You can see the hurt on her face, and how desperately she wants to be there for her daughter. It drifts into Snow and Charming talking about how Snow would cope if Charming died. Of course he does not take the chance to tell Snow he's dying, nope. Charming is a lying liar who lies and pretends everything is fine. Not cool, Charming.

Flashback - Enchanted Forest

Rumple finds Bae and uses magic to whisk him back home. Bae wants to know who Peter Pan is. Rumple says they grew up together, and that Peter betrayed Rumple at some point. Says that Peter "fooled him for a long time" and that Peter's true nature is "darker and more repulsive than Bae should be exposed to". Bae cries that all Rumple had to do was take Peter's deal and ask him to come home. Bae says that fact that Rumple didn't ask means he doesn't trust him, and that he would have come home if only Rumple had asked. Baelfire walks out the door, not trusting his father. I am now DYING to know how Rumple and Peter know each other.

Present Day - Neverland

Neal, obviously, runs into Peter Pan, but not before making it to Emma's camp. Nobody is there but Neal knows Emma was there (can these two sense each other or something?). Peter tells Neal that HE taught him to never enter a place without knowing how to leave (and Neal taught Emma) and takes Henry back (queue fans calling for Neal's head, but really what was he suppose to do?) and Neal captive. Neal screaming at Henry that he will find him (Charming and Snow's favourite line) and that he's alive was heartbreaking because Henry is passed out. He's got not clue this is going on. :(

Peter tells Neal that it's all a game. What they really should be worried about is getting off Neverland. Reminds Neal that nobody leaves without his permission. Neal reminds Peter that he's done it before. Peter basically laughs in his face and insinuates that he LET Neal leave. Not surprised by this, at all. I have always thought he let Neal leave to meet Emma. Peter says he has everyone right where he wants them. He also mentions resetting the board and that the game is about to change. Seriously Robbie Kay, stop be amazing. I want to hate Peter and I can't. He's ruthless and scary and Robbie went to the same eyebrow acting school as Colin O'Donoghue.

Belle and Rumpe talk again. She says that she knows Rumple would have saved Henry. She is questioning why Rumple is sad though because Neal is alive. Rumple comments that he has something to live for and that makes this whole prophecy something he doesn't want to have happen. Belle beseeches him to break old habits and stop with the self preservation he always falls back on. Rumple tells her to go away, and I am left with the nagging feeling that Henry is in trouble because Rumple wants to live for Neal, and Henry is in the way of that (or so Rumple thinks).

Peter waits for Henry to wake up, and plays his piper music again, except this time Henry can hear the it. Henry joins the Lost Boys in their dancing and I am scared. Henry is not going to want to leave this island when Emma and the gang finally find him.

Until next Wednesday... Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust.

The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa
Release Date - October 29, 2013
Publisher Website - HarlequinTeen
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 342 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**obtained for review from publisher**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice.

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as normal as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for; his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, normal simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.

Julie Kagawa may just be the queen of ripping out reader's hearts. The Iron Traitor once again mixes romance, action, fey and heart crushing moments to move her Call of the Forgotten series into overdrive.

Ethan continues to grow on me. A reluctant hero who is being dragged into the fey's mess. He only wants a quiet life where he is left alone. He allows himself to be dragged in though. Is it because he truly cares for Megan and therefore her family, or is something else going on? We, once again, get to see how much is truly destined in these tales. Ethan being involved in fey business is never by chance, and I appreciated how Julie ties everything together.

Kenzie is the voice of reason. The voice we all want as readers in the story. She cares deeply for Ethan and their romance is one of the sweetest I've read. Here is a boy whose built up walls, is abrasive, but is not a jerk to Kenzie. She sees the true Ethan underneath, the one who doesn't have to hide, and manages to bring him out. They support each other. Of course, Kenzie's illness is never far from their minds, or ours either. It's heartbreaking that Ethan has found something good in his life, and for her to be torn away much to soon seems unfair. I hope that there is a magical cure or something.

Keirran is a lot like Ash. He loves Annwyl. We get to see what he is willing to do in order to save her. This chain reaction of fading fey that we witnessed in the first part of this series has severe consequences. We see the natural progression, and panic that is seeping into these fey. Keirran's story is very much woven into the mystery of how the fey got this way, and how to save not just Annwyl, but all of the fading fey.

As usual the ending left me breathless, and anxious to get my hands on the next installment. Julie's taken something that could be expected, and made it still shocking. The theme of love and how far you're willing to go for those you care for is the cornerstone of this novel. It allows us to see the contrast between Ethan and Keirran. Two men who will both lose their loves, but deal with it in very different ways. It leads to an interesting dynamic, and a cataclysmic ending.

Julie Kagawa has successfully bridged these two series together in a way that I was not expecting. This is much more than a spin-off as everything directly relates to the previous series. Intense, romantic, and Ethan Chase is quickly growing on me. If you've loved Julie's previous books be sure to pick this one up.

Last Night At The Viper Room by Gavin Edwards

Last Night At The Viper Room by Gavin Edwards
Release Date - October 22, 2013
Publisher Website -  Harper Collins
Publisher Social Media - Twitter/Facebook/SavvyReader
Pages - 288 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**obtained for review from publisher**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Hollywood was built on beautiful and complicated matinee idols: James Dean and Marlon Brando are classic examples, but in the 1990s, the actor who embodied that archetype was River Phoenix. As the brightly colored 1980s wound down, a new crew of leading men began to appear on movie screens. Hailed for their acting prowess and admired for choosing meaty roles, actors such as Johnny Depp, Nicolas Cage, Keanu Reeves, and Brad Pitt were soon rocketing toward stardom while an unknown Leonardo DiCaprio prepared to make his acting debut. River Phoenix, however, stood in front of the pack. Blessed with natural talent and fueled by integrity, Phoenix was admired by his peers and adored by his fans. More than just a pinup on teenage girls' walls, Phoenix was also a fervent defender of the environment and a vocal proponent of a vegan lifestyle--well on his way to becoming a symbol of his generation. At age eighteen, he received his first Oscar nomination. But behind his beautiful public face, there was a young man who had been raised in a cult by nonconformist parents, who was burdened with supporting his family from a young age, and who eventually succumbed to addiction, escaping into a maelstrom of drink and drugs.

And then he was gone. After a dozen films, including Stand by Me and My Own Private Idaho, and with a seemingly limitless future, River Phoenix died of a drug overdose. He was twenty-three years old.

In Last Night at the Viper Room, bestselling author and journalist Gavin Edwards toggles between the tragic events at the Viper Room in West Hollywood on Halloween 1993 and the story of an extraordinary life. Last Night at the Viper Room is part biography, part cultural history of the 1990s, and part celebration of River Phoenix, a Hollywood icon gone too soon. Full of interviews from his fellow actors, directors, friends, and family, Last Night at the Viper Room shows the role he played in creating the place of the actor in our modern culture and the impact his work still makes today.

Gavin Edwards takes River's name and makes an anagram. Viper Heroin X. A sadly prolific anagram to how River's life would end. October 31st will mark 20 years since River Phoenix's passing. A young talent, a son, a brother, a friend who died too soon. His impact on Hollywood, and those who he knew is still felt today, and this novel examines not only his life, but the culture that River was part of.

I was hesitant to pick this up. I remember seeing Stand By Me, and My Own Private Idaho and being totally blown away by how talented River Phoenix was in both those movies. I quickly became a fan of his work, and saddened that he would never reach his full potential. Needless to say, I am glad I picked this one up. The author takes a more gentle, less sensational approach. Nothing is glossed over, but it's handled extremely well. You see the devastation drug use has on a person, and how easily it is to spiral. The novel looks at drug use, and it's effect on those who use. River is described as a mess close to his death, with him being almost unrecognizable to some of his friends and loved ones. He jumped from group to group and as a result  nobody seemed to know how out of control his drug use had become.

The novel is clearly made up of research, rather than new interviews. It doesn't showcase a lot of new information and most of it is taken from interviews that were done previously. As 20 years have passed, this may have been the best solution. The answers given by various people would have been the most resonate at the time and memories clearer. I was struck by a quote from River's on/off girlfriend Martha Plimpton

"(River is) already being made into a martyr. He's become a metaphor for a fallen angel, a messiah. He wasn't. He was just a boy, a very good-hearted boy who was very f-cked-up and had no idea how to implement his good intentions. I don't want to be comforted by his death. I think it's right that I'm angry about it, angry at the people who helped him stay sick, and angry at River."

What gets me the most is the emotion behind it. She's right to be angry. It's the quote that stayed with me long after I finished the book because of it's unflinchingly honesty. Nobody wants to say it, but I applaud her for doing so.

The brief glimpse of who River was made my heart ache even more. He seemed like one of the most caring, sweet, gentle people. River's passion seemed to be not with acting, but with music. He also was deeply involved in various charities and an advocate for animal rights. It's this kindness and spirit that made everyone flock to him. He, by all accounts, held firm in what he believed, and loved to debate with people. His childhood, by accounts, may not have been a happy one. River himself called it "interesting" when asked if his childhood had been happy. Regardless, he had been influenced by that upbringing and that fact is woven into the novel beautifully.

The inclusion of chapters where you see the rise (and fall) of some of the hottest stars that were coming into the scene around this time. It's interesting to note that a group of great actors were just starting out at this time. The 'what if' section was particularly sobering. The author inquires what roles River may have taken on instead of other actors (some examples were Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp). River was in talks to star in The Man In The Iron Mask before his death, and the role ultimately went to Leonardo DiCaprio. He was also interested in The Basketball Diaries, another role Leonardo is well known for. It's heartbreaking because River's talent was evident, and he had potential to grow as an actor. The questions of what he might of done is haunting. 

If you're into pop culture, you'll appreciate the little facts about young hollywood at the time. Johnny Depp acquiring the Viper Room. Leonardo Dicaprio wanting to meet River at the last party he attended. The Two Coreys and their behaviour at the time. The Winona Ryder and Johnny Depp glamour couple starting out, and ending. It's these little details that made the novel a gossip lover's dream. The author never allows you to forget that this is River's story though. He uses this to contrast what is going on in River's life. River referred to LA as "the bad bad town". It appeared he knew it was a bad place for him to be, but tragically was drawn back again, and again.

The novel paints River as a kindhearted, conflicted, troubled young man who sadly died too young. As a fan of River's performances, I was riveted by this novel. It'll give you a brief insight into his background. It left me with an ache that his talent did not get to grow into it's fullest potential and that a young life was needlessly ended too soon.

New To My Book Closet

It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews).

Small, but awesome mailbox this week. I happened to notice this book up on Edelweiss and requested it. A huge thank you to Simon and Schuster for the chance to review it.

Of Metal and Wishes by Sarah Fine (Goodreads)
 
Happy Reading, and Happy Weekend!

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Here are my obsessions this week:

**SPOILERS FOR AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN**

BOOK

Cover reveal for Brazen by Katherine Longshore

This Wednesday I have the honour of revealing the cover for Katherine Longshore's newest novel. Brazen sounds amazing, and the cover matches Gilt and Tarnish perfect. Be sure to stop by to check it out! 

Reader/Blogger Wishlist

If you don't know what Reader/Blogger Wishlist is Jessica from Read My Breath Away describes it much better than I could. Basically, if you have Twitter, join readers and bloggers who will be posting their wishlist of books they wish existed. I am taking part, and can not wait to see what everyone wants to read. The twitter party is happening THIS Monday.

Cover of Jodi Lynn Anderson's The Vanishing Season

It's so pretty! I am a huge fan of Jodi Lynn Anderson's Tigerlily. One of the most beautifully written books I've ever read. Its one I push people to read. I am excited to get my hands on this beacause I know the writing will be amazing, and the synopsis sounds AMAZING!

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

This Tuesday everyone! THIS TUESDAY! I have the day off work. Wine and cupcakes shall be purchased. Pizza shall be ordered for dinner. My day shall be spent reading. I've, sadly, already been spoiled for this, but I am none the less excited to finally finish Tris and Four's story.

TV/MOVIE

Endless Love Trailer

Risque, sexy and intense.This is a remake of an older movie, and seems to be all about obsessive love. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Bookclub will be reading this one just in time for the movie to come out in February. The music is rather chilling. A slowed down version of Addicted To Love sort of fits this story perfectly. Oh, and I fully expect this to be rated R.

Dracula

The new TV series, Dracula is premiering on Oct 25th! That's this week. I am beyond excited. I hope they twist the original story a little bit and make it incredibly fun.

Evan Peters in American Horror Story: Coven

Episode 2! That is the episode that Even Peters BLEW ME AWAY! This is something different from what he's previously played on this show. He's done it brilliantly, and I am so excited about his storyline for this season. The Frankenstein aspect to his story, and how he portrayed someone being pieced back together and brought back to life is pretty amazing. He totally impressed me with those few scenes and I expect many more as he slowly regains his personality, and control.

OTHER

Ontario Blogger Meet Up

We are getting so close! The other Ottawa Blogettes and myself will be traveling to Ottawa to hang out with our fellow book lovers. I am really looking forward to a fun weekend.

So what are you obsessed with this week?

Follow Friday

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. It's a great way to meet new blogger friends.

This weeks question is:

What are some of your favorite magazines?

I read Entertainment Weekly. I am not a big magazine reader, so I think that would be the only one.

Happy Weekend!

Once Upon A Time - Quite a Common Fairy

This point in the season is when writing these could start getting confusing. I am going to start putting headings above sections, I think. I will label them based on where the action is taking place, and by flashback/present day depending on what's in the episode. It'll help clarify things (at least I hope).

PRESENT DAY/ NEVERLAND

Charming's poisoned wound is causing him issues. Poor guy can't keep up, and he's a little sweaty. No clue how he expects to keep this a secret for long, because it's obvious something is up. Hook manages to be the only one who realizes this and calls Charming out on it. He tells him that he has to tell Snow and Emma. Charming refuses, wanting to put his hopes in Tinkerbell and her pixie dust. Sadly, as we learn Tink's backstory we find out she has no wings, no pixie dust, and no way to help Charming.

Of course Peter's hideout is moving around the island. Always with the tricks. At this point I am not sure they're ever going to find the camp. Poor Henry.

So Henry has clothes! They look like ones he was given though, not his. Peter crows! OMG! That caused so many fangirl feels. Peter often crows to call his Lost Boys in versions of the story. It was a perfect nod to the classic. Peter wants to play a game called 'Target Practice'. I can see this not ending well. There is a humorous exchange of Peter tossing Henry an apple, and Henry saying he doesn't like apples, and that it's a family thing. Very cute.

Henry is peer pressured into shooting the arrow towards the apple, which Felix has on his head. He instead decides to shoot at Pan. Peter catches the arrow easily, and seems to be fine with being shot at. He tells Henry he has something to show him. He wants to show off the picture of Henry he's been carrying around. He tells Henry that magic is dying that he has to save everyone. He tells Henry that HE is the savior. Emma was meant to have him, and that was her role, but that Henry will save them all. Pan says that Henry is the product of both light and dark (Emma's the product of true love, and Baelfire is the son of darkness). Interesting idea, but I think Pan's a lying liar who lies.

PRESENT DAY/ENCHANTED FOREST

Baelfire is frantically trying to find anything that will create a portal. He's realized Henry is in Neverland too, and is desperate to get there. We get a mention of 'ruby slippers' being something that can open portals. I can not wait to see their version of Oz. Robin Hood's merry men come in with an adorable little boy following shyly behind. Turns out the tyke is Robin's son. Baelfire says he knows how to get to Neverland. Um, do not be using that boy as bait, Bae (no matter how much I want him in Neverland). Robin, after hearing out Bealfire's plan, agrees to let Roland call the shadow. Baelfire used a little heart-pulling pleading, and reminds Robin that he technically owes him for Rumple saving Marion so that Roland could be born. I like that Baelfire realizes he has a lot to make up for when it comes to Emma. He has to earn back her trust, and I look forward to him doing just that. Roland is saved from the shadow by Mulan and Robin while Bae jumps out the window after the shadow and is on his way to Neverland!! YES! I can't wait for him to meet up with Emma. I predict intense emotions when everyone realizes he didn't die. Of course, Baelfire ends up with Felix who tells him that Peter will be happy to see him. Totally not surprised that he ended up being captured within seconds of arriving on the island.

PRESENT DAY/NEVERLAND

Of course Regina wants to use magic...again. "Have you even been listening?" snaps Snow. No, she really hasn't. Even when Hook tells her it'll result in her death. Hook mentions that a fairy on the island might be able to help. He mentions she has pixie dust. Interesting discussion about whether pixie dust is the same as fairy dust (it's not, pixie is more powerful). Will pixie dust save Charming? I hope so! Emma's reaction to realizing Hook means none other than Tinkerbell is hilarious (every child 'knows' her). Regina immediately says it's a bad idea to go find Tinkerbell. She tries to convince Emma to pool their magic and get Henry back, and Emma very kindly tells her NO! I love Emma's "what did you do to her" reply to Regina very much not wanting to go find Tinkerbell. Regina finally explains that if they want Tink to help them, she's better off staying out of it because of their history. Regina is the cause of Tinkerbell's wings being ripped away, but Regina sees it as Tinkerbell interfering. Tink is justifiably angry. She seems to have genuinely wanted to help Regina and got nothing but trouble as thanks.

A rather sweet moment where Regina and Emma talk about Henry.  Regina refers to what they are doing as "Operation Henry" because that's what he would have called it. Regina tells Emma that it's the most important thing for her to get Henry, even if she has to leave Regina behind. It's these moments that make me want Regina to redeem herself. The young, innocent girl who lost Daniel shines through, and you fee like there is hope for her. If only Regina would let go of the anger, and let love in. Tink catches up with Regina after Emma has left and they have it out. Regina tells Tinkerbell to kill her, even offering up her heart for crushing. She convinces Tink to choose differently than what she herself did, and not become a killer. Tink relents, but says she won't help get Henry back.

Emma and the rest find Tinkerbell's treehouse. Snow remarks that she sympatizes with Tink a little because she recognizes this as just a place to stay, just like where she stayed when she was on the run from the Queen. She recalls this when she meets Tink later on, and offers her a home with them when they leave Neverland. I am on board with Tink coming to Storybrooke!

Once everyone is back together, Hook and Tinkerbell greet each other. He calls her Lady Bell (um...*SWOON*). They give each other flirty looks. I officially want them together. Hook beseeches her to help them after 'everything they've been through together'. I want to know what their past was! Did she help Hook leave the island the first time? It's Hook that makes Tink relent and help. She agrees to get them into Peter's camp but warns that they will only have one chance.

ENCHANTED FOREST/ FLASHBACK

In a flashback Rumple comes to taunt Regina. She missed her magic lesson and tells him she doesn't want to do it anymore. He tells her it's pretty much too late. She's tasted darkness, but more importantly the darkness has tasted her. He tells her that her rage is all she has. How much of this is him pushing so that she'll do what he needs and get dark enough to enact his curse? ALL OF IT! It softens me a little towards Regina because she is not evil yet, and Rumple is doing his best to make sure it happens. After almost falling off a balcony she ran to when Rumple leaves, Tinkerbell rescues her. I LOVE Tink. She's perfect. Full of adorable sass ('Snow White? That's her name? Even I think that's a bit precious and mine's Tinkerbell'). She tells Regina that she needs love, and Tink can help her find it. She's going to use pixie dust to find Regina's soul mate. This is the first confirmation that you can have more than one 'true love'. Intresting. It leaves the door open for other people to have second chances. Regina is totally having a pity party, and needs to harness this into something productive, sadly we know she won't. Regina eventually relents and Tink steals some pixie dust to help get the job done. They use it, and it brings them to a bar/pub in which a man with a lion tattoo is lit up by the pixie dust. Regina is scared, and doesn't go in, instead she runs away.

Regina's second chance at love is later revealed to be Robin Hood (which, hello, obviously). Will she let love in? I found it extremely interesting to consider what her going into the 'bar' would have changed. She might have let go of her anger, and never enacted the curse. Emma and Baelfire may never have met and had Henry. Would Rumple have gotten another person to create the curse to help in his search for Baelfire? If so, what would it have changed under someone else's hand? Would Emma have still been ripped out of Enchanted Forest, or would someone else have become the savior instead? All interesting to ponder. It's frustrating that Regina couldn't let her anger go, and walk towards potential happiness. I hope we see her change, and let love in. This episode showed that Henry's happy ending will include Regina. I think Robin Hood is a start to Regina's walls coming down. They are each other's second chance, it's rather sweet. I do find it curious that Tink says she ruined Robin's life too. How exactly? Robin loved Marion (whom I am guessing he met after that night in the bar) and had Roland. I assume he's sad that Marion died, but I don't see how his life is ruined. He had love, and a son whom he seems to adore. Curious to see how this will play out.

Blue Fairy is a bit of a hard ass. She is strict and demands complete obedience. Her and Tink did not see things the same way, and since Tink did technically misbehave by helping Regina she's stripped of her wings. A totally crushing moment. Also intriguing is that this was Tink's SECOND chance. What did she do with her first? I found it fitting that to take away her wings Blue had to tell Tink that she no longer believed in her (I do believe in fairies! I do, I do!). I am curious to see if Henry's true belief can get Tink back her wings.

ENCHANTED FOREST/PRESENT DAY

The episode continues with sadness, as Mulan, who has spent the whole episode being told that you have to tell the one you love that you love them, goes to talk to Aurora. She didn't want to speak with Phillip, whom I theorized Mulan may have feelings for. Instead, we find out it's Aurora she is in love with. She doesn't tell Aurora as she's stopped by Aurora's new of being pregnant. Realizing that Phillip and Aurora are happy, she decides to join Robin Hood's band of merry men. I hope Mulan finds her true love, and that we get a happy ending to her story. Unrequited love seems to be a theme that is developing this season.

Now that Tinkerbell is going to help, I hope we're going to Pan's camp next week. I can't wait for Baelfire to meet up with Emma. Rumple's reaction to his son being alive is going to be filled with emotion. It's going to be an exciting couple of episodes!

Until next Wednesday... Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust.