Two-Sentence Summary As Cora plots to stab the dying Rumplestiltskin and become the Dark One herself, we uncover the twisted history between them during flashbacks to Cora’s life as the miller’s daughter who was taught dark magic by Rumplestiltskin before betraying him, ripping out her own heart to allow herself to do so. That heart becomes the means by which Cora ultimately meets her demise at Snow’s hand.
Favorite Line “You are a hero who helped your people. You are a beautiful woman who loved an ugly man—really, really, loved me. You find goodness in others, and when it’s not there, you create it. You make me want to go back—back to the best version of me… And that’s never happened before. So when you look in the mirror, and you don’t know who you are—that’s who you are. Thank you.” (Rumplestiltskin, to Belle)
My Thoughts Ever since I started watching Once Upon a Time, I’ve loved it for two reasons: its unashamed optimism in an age of television cynicism and its ability to create a world in which fairytales are no longer black-and-white but much more morally complex. It wasn’t until this episode that I realized having morally complex characters means that their actions won’t always inspire optimism. If I love Once Upon a Time because the villains aren’t 100% evil, then I also have to accept that the heroes aren’t always going to be 100% good—not even my favorite hero of them all.
“The Miller’s Daughter” was all about the choices we make and the reasons we make them—and what that ultimately says about who we are. No one in this episode was pure good or pure evil, and that’s how I like my Once Upon a Time. This episode was one of the richest, most well-written episodes the show has ever had, which should surprise no one after learning that Jane Espenson wrote it. This woman has a talent for character development and adding layers to the Once Upon a Time mythology that I’ve yet to see matched by any other writer for this show.
As I attempt to get through a hectic (to say the least) workweek, the lovely Leah has volunteered to share her talents with us once again as this week’s Once Upon a Time reviewer!
Hi, everyone! Once again I am back to talk with you all about Once Upon A Time, and this week was crazy as usual. So let’s get started!
Title The Queen Is Dead
What Happened? In New York, bonding time for Emma, Henry, Neal, and Mr. Gold is interrupted by Hook, who stabs Gold with his recently reacquired and poisoned hook and forces them to figure out a plan to get Gold back to Storybrooke before he dies from the magical poison. In Storybrooke, Snow White deals with the simultaneous anniversary of her mother’s death and her own birthday, and she and Charming discover Cora and Regina’s plans to cause havoc and control the town. In the flashbacks to Fairytale Land, we see the circumstances that surround the death of Snow’s mother.
Favorite Lines Charming: And we keep beating them. Snow: At what cost? All I want is our happy ending.
My Thoughts To be completely honest, this episode mostly left me sad. There was not a lot of humor, and as you can see by my favorite lines there were not many snappy one-liners to break up the dramatic tension, as the whole episode was mostly drama-filled. While I immensely admire and enjoy the way that the Once Upon a Time writers are able to tie everyone’s backstory together so well and create all these connections that have great continuity with the series as a whole, this episode left me feeling depressed. Which, to be fair, was probably the point, as it has to spark the catalyst for Snow White’s next story arc as well as truly set up the big clash of good and evil that is likely on its way.
First, let’s talk about Regina and Cora. The end of this episode left me wanting very badly for them to just disappear and leave Storybrooke alone, because they apparently only create despair for my favorite characters. I do, however, find them to be interesting and complex characters even though I hate them at the moment. (Bravo, Once writers; this is how you write good villains.)
Two-Sentence Summary Nick and Schmidt celebrate their 10th anniversary as roommates with an elaborate party that goes anything but according to plan when Shivrang uses to occasion to propose to Cece. Jess tries to push her feeling for Nick away by dating a professional football player who’s open with his feelings…but he might be a little too open.
Favorite Lines Schmidt: It’s just really disappointing when things don’t work out the way you thought they would, you know? Nick: I do.
Episode M.V.P. Schmidt and Nick. This was an episode about their friendship, and it resonated so strongly because both Jake Johnson and Max Greenfield were so good at balancing the comedy and the drama of this episode. I love any flashbacks to college Nick and Schmidt, and the end of this episode featured what might be my favorite flashback yet. Johnson and Greenfield have great comedic chemistry; they banter with a speed and ease that’s not usually seen between two male characters. I loved both of their moments of sheer ridiculousness in this episode (especially with the porta potty), but what I loved most were their quieter, more emotional moments. Both actors really sold their respective heartbreaks, making them “Equals!” again, but not in the kind of way either of them would want. Greenfield was especially devastating in the seconds after Cece accepted Shivrang’s proposal. Their scenes alone after the proposal were the strongest in this episode in terms of their depth. I genuinely believe their friendship; it’s flawed and dysfunctional, but it’s real and full of a kind of love that’s not flowery or overly sentimental but is strong enough to last for 10 years.
Favorite Moment: I know New Girl is a comedy, but I think the dramatic talents of these actors should be recognized. My favorite moment this week was less of a singular moment and more of a pattern throughout the episode of broad comedy being balanced with heartfelt emotional beats. That has become one of New Girl‘s calling cards—its ability to make you laugh and then stop you in your tracks with a moment of genuine emotion. In this episode, I was especially struck by Greenfield’s delivery of Schmidt’s line about things not going according to plan. Gone was the overly confident mask and instead we see him show Nick the vulnerable, broken side of himself. I was also floored by Johnson’s face when Jess tells Nick that she likes men who are open about their feelings. You can feel the whole mood of the scene shift with one heartbroken look.
A New Girl GIF* For My New Girl Feelings
I thought this was supposed to be a fun, fluffy sitcom! How dare it suddenly make me have so many feelings! I just want the couples I root for to be happy, but I do love the storytelling and acting this angst is bringing out of the cast. While this was probably my least favorite episode since before “Cooler,” it was still a surprisingly emotional examination of most of the central relationships on this show, especially one that always deserves more screen time: Schmidt and Nick.
*I have no talent for GIF-making. Thankfully, I am highly skilled at searching Tumblr for the best GIFs. I take no credit for this beauty.
Two-Sentence Summary With Castle in Paris after going rogue in his quest to get Alexis back from her kidnappers, Beckett and the team back in New York City make the chilling discovery that Alexis was deliberately targeted by her kidnapper. As pieces to a puzzle long left unfinished are revealed, it’s discovered that Alexis was kidnapped as bait to lure an elusive intelligence asset—her grandfather (aka Castle’s dad).
Favorite Line
“I just want you to know, son, I’ve always been proud of you. Always.” (Jackson Hunt)
My Thoughts It’s official: Castle has grown up. Who would have thought five seasons ago that the show which began as a quirky take on the procedural genre would be capable of producing something as intense, complex, and riveting as these last two episodes have been? I’m not ashamed to say I never saw it coming. I’ve always loved Castle’s more dramatic efforts, but “Target” and “Hunt” surpassed even my high expectations for what this show is capable of. I think it’s safe to say I have a new favorite two-parter.
“Hunt” took all the best things about “Target” and added another powerful ingredient to the mix with the introduction of Castle’s father. This was the first episode to separate Castle and Beckett for nearly the entire thing and have me walk away impressed, which is a testament to both Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic’s great standalone performances as well as the impressive work done by the supporting cast, especially James Brolin and Molly Quinn.
The episode began with another quietly powerful moment between Castle and Beckett, building on the shift in their dynamic that we saw last week. Once again, it’s Beckett’s turn to bring Castle a cup of coffee as well as the reassurance and stability that comes along with it. The whole scene was a beautiful parallel to the moment Castle held her hand in the precinct in last season’s finale. This time, it’s Beckett’s job to remind Castle that he’s not alone. She’s not giving up on this case, on Alexis, on him. Because she loves him. It wasn’t the time for her to make that big confession, but it’s been there in all of the little things she’s done for Castle in the last two episodes.
I was especially happy to see Castle accept Beckett’s hand and hold it. To be honest, it wouldn’t have bothered me if he didn’t; the man has a lot on his mind that he has to face down on his own. But he held onto her hand; he let himself lean on her if only for a brief moment. This episode was Castle’s time to make a stand for Alexis, the person he loves more than anything on Earth—even more than Beckett. And this moment was Beckett’s way of showing that she’ll stand with him for as long as it takes. He’s done that so many times for her. It’s her turn now.
Throughout both of these episodes, I loved watching Beckett work to stay strong for Castle and help him in the only way she really could—by being a good cop. But we were able to see the strain it put on her in this episode. Katic made Beckett’s helplessness tangible. The scene between Beckett and Esposito in the precinct was heartbreaking because you could tell she was so torn between wanting to be with Castle and wanting to stay in the precinct for as long as it took to get Alexis safely home.
The relationship between Beckett and Esposito is one of my favorites on the show. From early on, he’s been her voice of reason, her guiding light when she’s searching for answers or the right path to follow. Esposito has always helped her see who she really is and what she really wants. I have such a soft spot for moments when he nudges her towards the man she loves, so I thought it was a great touch to include the scene between them where he basically tells her it’s okay to leave the case behind for the night to comfort the man she loves (him calling her “Kate” for the first time was a beautiful little detail to show how serious and personal the situation is for all of them).
From the moment Beckett and Martha discover that Castle is in Paris (I’m just going to try to forget how bad the backdrop of Paris was in that shot of him on the phone with them), the plot starts running and never looks back. There were so many twists, turns, and betrayals that it left me breathless. “Hunt” was a spy-family thriller in the same vein as the greatest spy-family thriller of them all, Alias.
Two-Sentence Summary In “Leslie and Ben,” the title characters get married after an evening that doesn’t exactly go according to plan. “Correspondents’ Lunch” features Ben and Leslie returning to work, with Ben beginning a new job as the head of a Sweetums-run charity and Leslie dealing with the fallout from her email being hacked by journalists.
Favorite Lines Ben and Leslie: “In my time working for the state government, my job sent me to 46 cities in 11 years. I lived in villages with 8 people, farming communities, college towns…I was sent to every corner of Indiana. And then I came here and I realized that this whole time I was just wandering around everywhere…just looking for you.” (Ben’s vows to Leslie)
Correspondents’ Lunch: “I wish this office only had walls.” (Ron)
My Thoughts
I’m still having trouble formulating coherent thoughts about this week’s Parks and Rec event. I watched “Leslie and Ben” six times in 36 hours (a new personal record for TV episodes), and I still cry just as hard every time. I honestly believe that was a perfect 30 minutes of television—it made me laugh, it made me cry, and, more than anything, it made me feel good. If Parks and Rec would have ended forever after that episode like it was originally believed, I would have been devastated but ultimately satisfied; it was that good.
But thank the television gods it didn’t end, and “Correspondents’ Lunch” proved that there are still moments of laughter, kindness, and character development to be found even after such a brilliant high point like “Leslie and Ben.” While the episode wasn’t as good as the one that came before it, it still held is own. It featured Amy Poehler doing impressions, Retta being flawless, and a hopeful turn of events for Andy as a character—of course it was good. I may still not be crazy about the seemingly random “Ann’s baby-daddy search” storyline, but I have been missing her sharing scenes with Chris. So I liked their interactions in this episode. It was an episode worthy of its place, sharing a night with what I now think is one of the best sitcom episodes—and the best wedding episode—of all time.
There were a million little things to love about “Leslie and Ben”—the callbacks to previous episodes, the joyful feeling that permeated the whole thing (but was kept from being too saccharine by Councilman Jamm’s antics), the acting by each member of this incredible ensemble, RON F—–G SWANSON…I could write a recap to rival Leslie’s first draft of her vows in its length if I wanted to list everything that made me happy about this episode.
Ultimately, the thing I loved most about “Leslie and Ben” was that it was an episode about love—the love between a man and a woman and between the two of them and the friends who have become their family. And it was about the love between a show and the audience that has come to adore it over five beautiful seasons.
I’ve said it so many times, but it bears repeating: There is nothing that makes me happier than watching an episode of Parks and Rec where the characters join together to help one of their own. So it should go without saying that I was incredibly moved by the fact that every character had their place in this wedding; even Jerry played a part and played it well. As Leslie is so fond of saying, “No one achieves anything alone.” That’s such an important theme when it comes to this show, and it came to its most beautiful realization here.
Another important theme that makes Parks and Rec such a groundbreaking show is feminists can love and be loved, too—without ever having to sacrifice their feminist streaks. This wedding was so incredible to me because it was a celebration of the fact that strong, independent, ambitious Leslie Knope never had to give up any of those traits in order to find her perfect man. Instead, she found a man who finds the very idea of her submitting to him in any way—including taking his last name—so ridiculous that he jokes about it. She found a man who believes his entire career with the state government was just wandering in the wilderness until he met her. She found a man who sacrificed so much in order for her to achieve her dreams and did it for no other reason than the fact that he loves her more than he’s ever loved any job. And Leslie doesn’t just take advantage of Ben’s support; she does the same for him.
For all of us romantic feminists out there, Leslie and Ben are a sign of hope that it can happen—there are men out there waiting to help us, support us, surprise us, and make us happy.
Instead of continuing to wax poetic about every minute detail that I loved about “Leslie and Ben,” I’m just going to make a list of my favorite things:
Two-Sentence Summary An all-out war over a coveted parking spot highlights the new tension between Nick and Jess in a way that not even Schmidt can deny. Meanwhile, Winston goes on a desperate search for a condom before he can enjoy some quality time with Daisy.
Favorite Line “You dropped your fish sticks.” (Nick)
Episode M.V.P.: Jess. While the entire cast—including Cece—was stellar in this episode, Jess stood out to me because she had to go through such a wide spectrum of emotions. Zooey Deschanel was able to effortlessly transition from silly (taking pictures of the cats on her car) and strange (the weird-off with Nick) to heartbroken (her belief that Nick regretted the kiss) and falling awkwardly but realistically in love. The moment just after Nick told her that the “no-nail oath” was created because he wanted her from the start was breathtaking. Deschanel faces Jake Johnson with a look of total, lovestruck shock, like it’s dawning on Jess as it’s dawning on the audience that Nick has been falling in love with her from the very start. You can see her struggle to breathe as the tears form behind her eyes, and it’s a moment of real, human beauty in the midst of such a hilarious episode. I also have to say that I’ve never liked Jess more than when I got to see her indignation at the very idea of the no-nail oath. She is a strong woman, but her strength is relatable and imperfect. And I love her all the more for it.
Favorite Moment: The entire montage of Nick, Jess, and Schmidt racing to get to the parking space was one of the funniest things I’ve seen on TV in a long time. Every detail was perfect: Nick negotiating with the kids to fold the cardboard and push his car; Jess’s awkward standoff with the old man; Schmidt hitting Nick with his car; and Jess pushing Schmidt’s car with hers. The comedy in this sequence was just pure, silly fun, and that’s sometimes all you need from a TV show—a good dose of laughing until you cry.
A New Girl GIF* for my New Girl Feelings:
Another week, another happy dance. New Girl just keeps getting better and better. The laughs are coming fast and furious, every storyline is working, and the chemistry between all of the actors in the cast has never been more perfect. The writers used Nick and Jess’s kiss as a realistic starting point for an entirely new branch of storytelling, and I love what they’re doing with the situation so far. It’s organic to the characters and the show as a whole, and it’s not getting in the way of the comedy. In fact, it’s making the show funnier—but also more emotionally charged—than ever before.
*I have no talent for GIF-making. Thankfully, I am highly skilled at searching Tumblr for the best GIFs. I take no credit for this beauty.
Before I get to my recap, I have to wish a very happy birthday to Leah, a great writer, great friend, and the Kevin Ryan to my Kate Beckett.
Title Target
Two-Sentence Summary The murder of a Columbia student leads the team at the 12th precinct to the kidnapping of the daughter of a high-ranking member of the old Egyptian regime. When Castle discovers that Alexis was also kidnapped, he proves that a father will do anything to protect his child.
Favorite Lines Beckett: I didn’t think you had that side to you. Castle: When it comes to the people I love, I do.
My Thoughts WOW. I’m not sure there are words to describe “Target” beyond that. Everything about it was exceptional: the characterization, the music, the plotting, the twist, and the ACTING. I’m the kind of person who gravitates towards performances more than I do towards any other aspect of visual media. So when an episode of a TV show features the finest acting by its very talented cast to date, it’s safe to say that the episode is going to be one of my favorites.
I felt the setup at the beginning of the episode went on just long enough to build the tension. While some parts were certainly a little heavy-handed (Castle talking about setting Alexis free), it all functioned as a kind of calm before the storm we all knew was coming, a brief period to get settled in before Castle found Alexis’s phone and the wild, emotionally turbulent ride began.
In an episode that depended on Molly Quinn more than she’s ever been depended on before, she truly shone. I loved that the writers kept Alexis in-character. She’s her father’s daughter—like Martha said—brave and smart and strong. She’s also been shown throughout the series to be incredibly resourceful, which served her well here. It would have been easy to turn her into a crying, frightened mess, but I loved that she was the strong one. She used her brains, and she used them to the best of her ability. Alexis has always been one of my favorite representations of young women on television, and this only added to my love for the character.
Speaking of the women in Castle’s life, let’s give another standing ovation to Susan Sullivan, shall we? This woman can take a few minutes of screen time and use them in a way that makes her performance unforgettable. I loved seeing her strength rise to the surface again. Martha has grown in such a natural, believable way along with her son over the course of these five seasons. In a time of total crisis, it’s Martha who becomes the glue holding her family together—and Sullivan nailed that mixture of hope and fierce determination with her trademark power and passion.
Castle’s family at the precinct was also a subtle but huge source of support in this episode. I loved the moment when he walked out of the meeting with the FBI agent and the rest of the team watched him go. You could see the sadness, pain, and resolve on all of their faces. Castle is a part of their family and has been for years. And these people protect their own. I never doubted once that they were ready to do anything in their power to save Alexis, who is part of their family, too.
Captain Gates was especially powerful in this episode. I got tears in my eyes for the first time in the episode (but certainly not the last) when she told Beckett to do whatever it takes to “find his little girl.” For all her gruff exterior when it comes to Castle, it’s clear that Gates sees him as part of their family, too. I also loved the way it became clear that Gates knows about Castle and Beckett’s relationship. Like “Probable Cause,” this episode didn’t make a comedic moment out of the reveal. Instead, it was a quiet but important moment of recognition when Gates saw them holding hands. I’m sure this will cause tension after all is said and done with Alexis, but I liked that it was handled in an understated way for now. There were more important things to deal with.
Like any strong Castle episode, “Target” got its strength from its leads. Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic both have never been better than they were here—and I say this is as someone who was blown away by their work in “Always.” I know it’s common fandom hyperbole to say that an actor deserves Emmy recognition after a particularly good episode, but I genuinely believe Fillion deserves at least a second look by the Emmy nomination committee for his work here. His vulnerability was something we’ve never seen from him before—not even from his best work on Firefly. And his darkness was something I’d missed from his days as Captain Mal. There’s something truly terrifying about watching those beautiful blue eyes go dark and cold—and it was absolutely necessary here.
First of all, I would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to one of my favorite fellow Nerdy Girls, the Ann to my Leslie, Heather!
Title Manhattan
Two-Sentence Summary Rumplestiltskin finds his son, Emma finds Neal, and Henry finds his dad, while, back in Storybrooke, Regina, Cora, and Hook begin to search for Rumplestiltskin’s dagger—and a way to kill the Charming family without getting blood on Regina’s hands. In flashbacks to Fairytale Land, we discover how a meeting with a seer on the eve of battle turned Rumplestiltskin from a beloved husband to a coward.
Favorite Line “It’s a good thing we don’t have Thanksgiving in our land, because that dinner would suck.” (Charming, talking to Snow about Henry’s complicated family tree)
My Thoughts “Manhattan” was Once Upon a Time at its best. It had truly transcendent moments of acting, brilliant pacing, and a story that’s still haunting me in the best possible way today.
I’ll get this out of the way first: I didn’t care much about what the Storybrooke folk were doing in this episode. I found it incredibly unbelievable that Regina wouldn’t lock the door before using (highly unnecessary) magic to retrieve information from Belle’s purse. I also still don’t care about Greg the way I feel like I’m supposed to. There are so many more interesting things going on right now that are taking my attention away from his parts of the story. I’m sure this won’t always be the case, but right now his story seems kind of tacked-on to the plot in a superfluous way.
Ultimately, this episode wasn’t about Storybrooke. It was about three broken people and a little boy coming together in an apartment in Manhattan. Although the background looked fake at times (especially on the fire escape), there was nothing artificial about the performances each actor brought to this part of the episode. Their interactions crackled with an intensity and a depth not often seen on Once Upon a Time.
Robert Carlyle once again proved that he is the best actor in this talented cast with his work in this episode. Rumplestiltskin broke my heart in the flashback scenes. It was incredibly sad to see him as such an eager, brave young man about to go to war when we know it’s going to end badly.
Sometimes big plot reveals can fall a little short (see August’s box in this episode), but I was shocked in the best possible way by the circumstances surrounding Rumplestiltskin’s “cowardice” in the Ogre War. The seer was terrifying in a way straight out of Pan’s Labyrinth. And I’m still haunted by the questions she raised. Can we escape our fates? Are our lives predetermined, or can we choose? Even with free will, are we destined to go down a certain path?
Two-Sentence Summary A surprise emergency preparedness drill leaves Leslie in lockdown at City Hall on the day she’s supposed to host a gala to raise the money needed to make Pawnee Commons a reality. With Leslie unable to run the show, Ben takes the reins—while Ron becomes a big hit on TV and Andy takes his police exam.
Favorite Line “Love fades. But things? Things are forever.” (Tom)
My Thoughts It’s hard for me to separate how I feel about last night’s episode as a whole from my whirlwind of emotions about the end of the episode and what’s coming next week. Every time I try to think about specific moments in “Emergency Response,” it’s like I can’t hear rational, analytical thoughts over the fangirl voice in my brain screaming, “BEN AND LESLIE ARE GETTING MARRIED NEXT WEEK!”
But because I am nothing if not a professional media analyst (Hey…caps lock is totally professional.), I’m going to try my best to sum up why “Emergency Response” was one of my favorite episodes of Season 5 so far—beyond the beautiful cliffhanger of an ending.
I’m one of those people who believes that Parks and Rec can never be too optimistic. I watch the show because it makes me happy, and the happier I feel while watching an episode, the more I’m going to like it. Nothing makes me happier on Parks and Rec than people coming together to do nice things for one another, so it goes without saying that this episode was one big bundle of joy for me.
Two-Sentence Summary Castle and Beckett prepare for their first Valentine’s Day as a couple while Ryan’s “family planning” begins to affect his work life, and Esposito rekindles an old flame. These holiday preparations are set against the backdrop of the murder of one of the stars of a catfight-filled reality TV franchise.
Favorite Line “You are beauty, passion, and fierce intellect. Be my valentine. —Rick” (Castle’s Valentine for Beckett)
My Thoughts Fun, flirty, fabulously romantic Castle—oh how I’ve missed you! Honestly, that was the most fun I’ve had watching Castle in a long time. The comedy was sharp and full of pop culture references, the twists came fast and furious, and the romance was subtle but still significant. In short, this was an example of what a comedic Castle episode can be when all of the pieces come together in the right way. This episode was like a great piece of chocolate—sweet but not too sugary and incredibly satisfying.
In fact, my only complaint about this episode was the use of Gina Torres. Of course each scene she was in was made 1000 times better just by her BAMF presence, so I simply wanted more of her. She is one of my favorite women on television and has been for years. (Anna Espinosa was always a favorite villain of mine.) Therefore, I kept waiting for her to show up again—and to share some screentime with Nathan Fillion. On Firefly, those two were a dream team, so it broke my heart that we didn’t really get much interaction between them, especially compared to Fillion’s gleeful reunion with Adam Baldwin in last season’s “Headhunters.”
Although I was left longing for more AnnaZoeJessica Gina Torres, I honestly loved everything else in the episode. In fact, in honor of Valentine’s Day, I’m going to turn this recap into “14 Things I Loved About Reality Star Struck”:
Nerdy Girl Notes 