Once Upon A Time, Season 3, Episode 2: “Lost Girl”
Written by Andrew Chambliss and Kalinda Vazquez
Directed by Ron Underwood
Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on ABC
Once Upon a Time welcomes us back to Neverland this week and once again the writers kick the episode off in a very interesting, yet dark, way. We are greeted to Rumplestiltskin cutting off his shadow and then sending it on a very important mission concerning the dagger. Props need to be given to the CGI department for this scene. They manage to freak us out with mere shadows and Rumple’s flying off with the dagger, fiery eyes blazing, sends shivers down our backs.
After this delightful introduction, and an attempted heart to heart between Charming, Snow, and Emma, we discover that this week we are going back to the past Enchanted Forest. Interestingly, the opening scenes of the past Enchanted Forest storyline are the same ones we saw in the pilot. Thumbs up to the creators and writers for showing continuity with the original storyline! Often shows’ original episodes are forgotten or pushed to the back burner. It’s pleasant to see such steadiness throughout the series, relating back to the beginning.
Back in Neverland, the writers do an extraordinary job crafting this new and improved, rather creepy Peter Pan, and the young actor that portrays him, Robbie Kay, is excellent. He plays Pan how we would think a child his age would act, while throwing curveballs with his delivery. Kay’s almost playing Pan like a love child between Regina and Rumplestiltskin- pure evil. He has a temper and is often a brat like Regina, but he has a clever and sneaky way of wording things, just like Rumple.
Another actor that gets to be front and center is Jennifer Morrison. It’s enjoyable to see how much Morrison has grown as an actor since the pilot. The scenes between Emma and Snow are spellbinding. Morrison pulls us in, showing us it still hurts her, not having Snow and Charming around when she was growing up. But she also makes us root for her and her determined will in finding Henry. Morrison plays everything off delightfully, adding to the suspense that is Neverland.
It’s interesting to see how closely, and successfully, the writers mirror the past Enchanted Forest and Neverland storylines. The past Enchanted Forest sees Charming making whatever pushes are necessary to get Snow to believe in herself. The same is mirrored in Neverland with Snow this time making the push at Emma.
All in all, the second episode from this season’s Once Upon a Time does not disappoint. It’s clear that the writers want to take us down a much murkier chapter for season three, and they are exceeding very well at this, leaving questions right and left. What is going to happen to Rumple? Will he rejoin the group? Are we going to see Belle in Storybrooke? Will Regina continue to stay with the group or get fed up and leave? What exactly is Pan planning for our group of misfits? And what does that poisoned cut on Charming mean for him?
Sadly, we will have to wait until next week. One thing is for sure- season three of Once Upon a Time is undeniably shaping up to be the darkest ride we’ve gone on yet.
Joshua Bouye