Belle Remembers and Gets Left Behind

Season two ended on Sunday, and I have mixed emotions about it. This show just drives me crazy sometimes. We learned a little more about Neverland through flashbacks with Hook and Baelfire.  Hook rescued the kid and had him work on his ship and Bae was just starting to trust the pirate.  Of course, once Hook found out that Bae was the son of his former love Milah and his enemy Rumple, his tune changed.  He told the kid that Rumple was the one who killed his mom.  Bae blames Hook for breaking up his family.  Peter Pan, who we can safely assume is a villain, sent out his evil lost boys to capture Bae.  Once Bae is captured, we learn that it wasn't Bae who they wanted, it was a boy who wouldn't have been born for hundreds of years - Bae's son Henry.  Yikes!

Rumple is trying to kill his own grandson with his mind when the Charmings show up to tell him that his son has been shot through a portal and is probably dead.  Rumple of course is very sad, but refuses to help save the town.  He has lost the will to live.

The bad guys Greg and Tamara activated the self-destruct diamond to wipe Storybrooke off the map.  Regina thinks she can slow it down with her magic but it will kill her.  The others plan to open a portal and escape to the Enchanted Forest.  Snow thinks there is a way to save Regina too and Henry would be heartbroken without his mom.  After a tearful hug with her same-aged parents and little son, Emma harnesses the magic in her and helps Regina absorb the energy from the diamond and saves the town.  The magic throws them back and just as they are getting to their feet, they notice that Henry has been taken.  Good job grandparents!

Meanwhile, Grumpy has a bottle of blue stuff that can bring back the memories of those who went over the town line - Sneezy and Belle.  The only catch is that they have to drink the solution from a cup that belonged to them.  As much as Rumple enjoys Lacey, he would rather be comforted by Belle in his last moments.  He uses magic to put together the pieces of the chipped teacup that she had broken and poured in the drink.  Since Lacey never met a drink she didn't like, she drinks without hesitation.  Belle is back!  She tearful makes out with Rumple and comforts him while he cries about his son.  It was beautiful.

Regina and the Charmings are determined to save Henry and high-tail it toward the docks.  They are just in time to see them open a portal in the water and jump in.  Rumple and Belle show up.  Hook brings his ship and everyone boards.  Hook has a bean that can take them to get Henry.  Rumple stops Belle.  She can't go!  She needs to save the town!  Really?  Why must you push her away Rumple?  Stay with your hot girlfriend who would undoubtedly be all over you or board a ship with all your enemies to find a grandson you don't care for and leave your woman forever.  Tough choice!  Of course, it won't be forever, but seriously, he needs to quit abandoning her.  So, Belle walks away crying and everyone else boards the ship and heads to Neverland to rescue the kid.  We also got to see where Neal landed when he went through the portal - on a beach where he can be tended by Aurora, Mulan, and a newly-alive Phillip!

So, overall, lots of good stuff happened.  Belle came back and we get to see what Neverland looks like.  Next season will probably be in that location while we are left to wonder what is happening with Neal and Storybrooke.  Is it fall yet?

To Neverland!

I have to admit, I was never a fan of "Peter Pan".  The cartoon just didn't interest me and "Hook" was only a little better.  But, for some reason, I was super psyched to see Bae (with a much deeper voice!) meeting the Darling children.  I have never quite been able to figure out the timing in "Once Upon A Time", but if Rumple is around 300 years old and Bae was sent to England when he was fourteen, shouldn't it have been mid-1700's, not 1900?  Things that make you go hmmmmmm.

The Darling children were, well, darling, but the shadow who took Wendy away definitely was not.  Being not so familiar with the Peter Pan story, I do recall Peter being separated from his shadow but don't recall that shadow being an evil tyrant who kidnaps children and never lets them leave.  There was a lot of speculation that Bae was Peter Pan, but now we know that he is not.  He was actually picked up from the water by Captain Hook and presumably worked on his ship.

It was very frustrating to see Emma try to convince everyone that Tamara was evil and everyone just patted her hand and told her to sit still.  With Neal, it was a little more understandable because Tamara was his fiancee, but Emma's parents are just morons.  There, I said it.  It's one of the things that kills me about this show.  It is basically a story about Snow White (my least favorite Disney princess), but Snow and Prince Charming are so stupid and unlikable that they are hard to watch.  The really good parts of the show have nothing to do with these characters.  That is a problem.

Of course, Emma was right, and Greg and Tamara are up to know good.  I have said many times before that I dislike Regina, but I also dislike seeing someone (especially when it is a man to a woman) being tortured.  It's gross.  Isn't this supposed to be a family show?  Kill her quickly or yell at her, but torture is just gross.  I get that Greg just wanted his dad back and Regina killed him (probably) for no reason, but still.  Tamara is also gross because Neal is a pretty good guy and she told him she never loved him and then shot him.  She needs to go.  Now.  I am pretty curious about this whole organization that they work for.  I have a sneaking suspicion that this is some sort of religious organization, which I really have a problem with.  I don't like religion being made fun of or mocked.  It has become popular in Hollywood to do so, but I am just not cool with it.  So, I am hoping I am wrong about that.

Even though this episode was pretty great overall, there were definitely some annoying moments.  The Charmings rescued Regina.  Genius move.  She will try to kill them again.  Although.....  (ha ha!)  "Lacey" was drinking again and bringing out Rumple's violent side.  And how creepy was it when she asked if he could make her be young forever?  Is she just using him?  It was really sad to see Neal fall through that portal and Emma refusing to let go of him.  It was surprising to hear them admit they loved each other being apart so long, but it was nice too.  I hope they can be together someday.

So, what is next in the season finale?  According to the episode synopsis, Greg and Tamara will use that diamond to try to destroy Storybrooke and Regina will try to stop it.  Rumple will find out what happened to his son, and of course, be really bummed out about it.  But, will Neal live?  I don't know, but if you pay attention to spoilers, there have been a few pictures of Neal hanging out with Mulan, Aurora, and Philip in the Enchanted Forest.  So, I am guessing, he will be found next season some time after the actor has a chance to film some movies.  :)  And what of the villains?  Well, again, spoilers say that they will be kidnapping Henry and his extended family will travel to Neverland to get him back.  I am not sure if this includes Rumple and Belle.  So, we will probably have another great episode and then have to wait another four months to see what happens!

Is August Gone For Good?

I wish I could say I was shocked at what happened on last Sunday's episode, but loving spoilers as I do, I was not.  Yep, our dear August turned back into a little boy.  The kid is cute and all, but I much prefer Eion Bailey.  Did you notice that old and young Pinocchio had totally different coloring?  Red hair and brown eyes for the younger and brown hair and blue eyes for the older?  Kindof sloppy casting there.

Why did August have to die?  And how did he die, because we aren't really sure of that right now.  I was hoping to see an interview from Kitsis and Horowitz (show creators) or Eion Bailey, but I haven't seen any.  It is very possible that Eion just wanted to do other projects and be written off the show.  If this was just a creative decision, frankly, it doesn't make any sense.  So, I am just going to guess that this was the actor's decision.  I am really disappointed that August is off the show, because while he did do some crappy things, he was one of the only characters who know what was going on.  He escaped the curse, knew Neal was Baelfire, and has been all over the world.  And I still think he had something to do with writing Henry's storybook.  Sigh.

So, back to Tamara.  Originally, I thought she only existed on this show to keep Emma and Neal apart. But no!  She is an evil ho (pardon my language) who doesn't care about Neal at all and is only out to find magic.  Real magic.  And boy did she find it in Storybrooke!  Not only did she hit the magic mother lode, but she also reunited with her other boyfriend Greg Mendel aka little Owen who is looking for his dad.  Yep, these two baddies are in this together, although I would bet that Tamara is playing him too.  Tamara is clearly the "her" that Greg was always talking to on the phone.  So, where is Tamara getting all this money to buy other-worldly cures from dragon men in Asia?  And what about that taser that she killed the dragon and August with?  Since August was made of wood, he was likely not electrocuted, so the device must have been magic somehow.  What is Tamara's deal?  Is she from the Enchanted Forest?  She said she is human, but she could be lying.  Although, how would she have gotten there?  Was there another magical wardrobe like Pinocchio and Emma used?  My guess is that she is some kind of evil scientist and will exploit everyone in Storybrooke for the right price.  Could she even be the catalyst for some of citizens to go to Neverland?  Hmmm.

So, now we have a four week break until the new episode "Lacey", one I am really looking forward to.  Will Belle get her memories back or will she remain as her alter ego Lacey?  Will she and Rumple fall in love again?  I am really looking forward to this one!

Will "Once" Visit Neverland?

Season two is coming to a close soon, and the big question is - what game changer is in store for season three?  If you remember, in the season one finale, the curse was broken, everyone got their memories back, and Rumpelstiltskin brought magic to Storybrooke.  A lot has happened this season.  Snow killed Cora and blackened her heart, Emma and Snow visited the Enchanted Forest, Hook came to town to kill Rumple, Belle got shot and lost her memory, Henry met his father, and Rumple was reunited with his son.  What could possibly be next? 

Since "Once Upon a Time" was created by people who used to work on "Lost", it is very likely that "Once" will try to reinvent itself some way each season.  If season one was about everyone being cursed and season two was about everyone having their memories back, what could season three be about?  We don't know, but is it possible that everyone will lose their memories again or that we will be in a different time period?  I would really hate that, but could it happen?  We know that the last two episodes of the season are called "Second Star to the Right" and "Straight on Til Morning".  That's right ladies and gents, we are headed to Neverland.  But why?  We know that Hook is from Neverland and it is more than likely that Neal (aka Baelfire) spent some time there as well, whether he is Peter Pan, a lost boy, or just a visitor.  We also know that Anton the giant was planting some magic beans that could open up portals to other worlds and that Henry is desperate to get rid of magic.  And what about Neal's fiancee Tamara, who has some sort of agenda, and the stranger Greg Mendel (little Owen) who has been taking an awful lot of videos of the magic happening in Storybrooke.  I have a feeling Henry will somehow send some of his family members to the land of Peter Pan.  But who?  Will everyone go?  Just Emma, Neal, and Henry?  Hmmm.  I'm sure we will get a better idea of where the story is headed by the end of the season, so we may just have to be patient and wait.  I just hope that we don't lose any major characters along the way.  Can't wait until May to find out!  :)

Baelfire Finally Revealed!

"Manhattan" was a great episode that answered many of our questions.  How did Rumple hurt his leg?  Self-inflicted injury because of a seer's prediction.  Why did Milah stop loving Rumple?  While they loved each other at one time, Milah couldn't stand that her husband didn't die honorably in the Ogre War.  Was Rumple always a coward?  No, he used to be brave.  Will Henry ever find out the truth about his father?  Yep, though he was disappointed in Emma for lying to him.  Who is Baelfire?  Of course, it was Neal Cassidy, former thief and Emma's baby-daddy.

Lots of answers.  Some surprises.  I was really surprised that Rumple had no idea that Henry was his grandson.  I thought Rumple always knew everyone's business.  I wondered if Rumple was surprised that his son was a forty-year-old man.  Was he expecting Bae to still be a child?  Hey kid, we are only ten years apart now!  I really liked the reunion between Henry and Bae.  It was cute, though it was heartbreaking for Rumple that Bae wanted to spend time with Henry instead of with him.

Will Emma and Neal reconcile?  I really hope they do.  They obviously loved each other years ago.  There is a complication though - according to TVLine, Neal is engaged.  There is a character named Tamara who will be recurring this season and possibly next season.  Tamara will probably be accompanying Neal when he comes to Storybrooke.  Would Neal come to Storybrooke just to be with Henry or will he reconcile with his father as well?  Rumple really needs something good to happen to him because his life really sucks right now.  Not only was there a prophecy that probably Henry will get between him and Bae, but Bae doesn't really want anything to do with dear old dad.  And of course, there is the little matter of his girlfriend Belle being in the hospital with amnesia.  And if that isn't bad enough, the Villain Squad is looking for his dagger to take control of the Dark One.  Rumple could use some love about now.

A Little Wooden Puppet Returns

Besides the flashback in "Tallahassee", we have seen neither hide nor hair of August W. Booth this season.  In the season one finale, August turned back to wood and when his father Gepetto was told where his son was, August had somehow vanished.  Where in the wide world of Storybrooke could little Pinocchio be hiding?  Your guess is as good as mine, but I have a feeling that the big blue-eyed wooden puppet crossed the town line.  Remember, since he was in our world before the curse happened, he will not lose his memories.  The question is - is he walking around as a man or as a puppet?

Eion Bailey was a main cast member for the second half of season one and then suddenly disappeared.  Was this the writers choice or his choice?  We know that Eion filmed a pilot that did not get picked up.  So, couldn't he come back to Storybrooke?  Or is his story over?  It has been confirmed that August will appear again.  The very awesome Vancity Filming caught the actor in action filming scenes with Neal Cassidy in NYC (really filmed in Vancouver).  And, episode 18 is titled "Selfless, Brave, and True" which is a play on what the blue fairy told Pinocchio he should be.  Maybe this is an August/Pinocchio-centric episode.  Could this also be the character's final episode?  Because the actor is rarely on the show, I hope I am wrong but I really have a feeling that the character could be killed off in this episode.  The character may no longer be needed.  We know his character's history and how he wronged Emma.  He was even a possible love interest for Emma, but with Neal and Hook in the picture, he is no longer needed for that.  The only thing left is for him to reunite with his father Gepetto.  I bet that will happen in this episode.  When I find out anything more, I will let you know.  :)

Manhattan

I am really excited to see the new episode "Manhattan" this Sunday.  Really excited.  Will some of our questions actually be answered?

This will be a Rumple-centric episode, which are always good.  Emma, Henry, and Rumple will be in NYC trying to track down Rumple's son Baelfire.  SPOILER ALERT!!!!  In the preview for this episode, we saw Emma chasing down a man in the street and looks startled when she discovers who he is.  The man that she runs in to is Neal Cassidy, aka Henry's dad.  The real question is - is Neal also Baelfire?  We won't know for sure until Sunday, but I am 99.999% certain that they are one and the same.  If they are the same person, did Rumple know?  Did he ask Emma to accompany him because he knew they had and history?  Did he know that Henry was his grandson?  Is it Sunday yet????

The other really cool thing about this episode will be the flashbacks.  As far as I know, these will be the earliest flashbacks we have seen, focusing on Bae's birth.  Below, I have included part of the press release for this episode.  We see Neal of course, but we also see Milah.  There are some pictures of a time when Rumple and Milah appeared to *gasp* like each other!  From what I understand, Rumple is going off to fight in the Ogre Wars (presumably where he hurts his leg) and returns to find Milah either pregnant or with a new baby.  We may even see why Rumple and Milah's relationship started to sour.  Another guest star also caught my eye: David Quinlan as father.  I think this man is playing Rumple's father, when Rumple was a child.  Wouldn't that be cool?  I never really thought of Rumple ever being a child, but it could be really enlightening.

This episode won't be all fun and games.  Cora and the rest of Team Evil will be trying to track down Rumple's most treasured possession - the dagger that controls the Dark One.  Oh dear.  Can you imagine these three having Rumple for their personal slave?  I have a feeling that even if they do get the dagger, Rumple will outsmart them as he always does.


WHILE MR. GOLD GOES IN SEARCH OF SON BAE IN NEW YORK, CORA ATTEMPTS TO TRACK DOWN ONE OF RUMPLESTILTSKIN'S MOST TREASURED POSSESSIONS, ON ABC'S "ONCE UPON A TIME"
"Manhattan" - While Mr. Gold, Emma and Henry go in search of Gold's son Bae in New York, Cora, Regina and Hook attempt to track down one of Rumplestiltskin's most treasured possessions. Meanwhile, in the fairytale land that was, Rumplestiltskin realizes his destiny while fighting in the Ogres War, on "Once Upon a Time," SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.
"Once Upon a Time" stars Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White/Mary Margaret, Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan, Lana Parrilla as Evil Queen/Regina, Josh Dallas as Prince Charming/David, Emilie de Ravin as Belle, Colin O'Donoghue as Hook, Jared S. Gilmore as Henry Mills, Meghan Ory as Red Riding Hood/Ruby, and Robert Carlyle as Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold.
Guest starring are Barbara Hershey as Cora, Michael Raymond-James as Neal Cassidy, Rachel Shelley as Milah, Ethan Embry as Greg Mendell, Spencer Drever as boy, Brighid Fleming as little girl, Shannon Lucio as Seer, David Quinlan as father, Primo Allon as Gadling, Mackenzie Gray as Hob, Toby Levins as sergeant and Aaron Brooks as soldier.

If you want more hints about what happens in this episode, check out this link to an interview with the always awesome Jane Espenson:

http://portalsofperception.tumblr.com/post/42897408775/just-listened-to-barbara-barnetts-radio-show

Where in the World is Baelfire?

I remember reading an article where the producers said that Baelfire would be revealed this season.  Well, yay!  Is it too early though?  We are only halfway through season 2 and they have already broken the curse and now we will meet a person who was the reason that curse was created.  We know that Rumple has been looking for his son for hundreds of years.  Why would he think that his son is still alive?  We know that he is because he showed up on the magic globe from Cora, but really, how did Rumple know?  Do they share some sort of psychic connection?

When we do finally meet Baelfire, how does that change the show?  Obviously, Rumple will be very happy (or at least he will be once Belle remembers who the heck she is).  Will it be a happy reunion between father and son?  Does Bae know Rumple killed his mom?  I kindof have a feeling that Rumple and Bae are going to have some problems.  After all, Rumple did choose magic over his own kid, even if he did regret it immediately.  

A lot of people (me included!) speculate that Baelfire and Neal Cassidy (Emma's baby-daddy) are one and the same.  If that is the case, we may get our answer very soon.  In an upcoming episode "Manhattan", Gold, Emma, and Henry attempt to track down Bae in NYC.

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are pictures on the internet of Emma and Neal Cassidy meeting in a restaurant during this episode.  We really won't know more until that episode airs, but I also found this:

http://vancityfilming.com/once-upon-a-time-michael-raymond-james-arriving-for-rehearsals/

and this:

http://vancityfilming.com/once-upon-a-times-michael-raymond-james-has-a-twitter-qa/

Yep, Neal will be in Storybrooke!  And, according to the actor, he will be there for most of the season!  Are we convinced yet?  I am really anxious to see the reunion between Rumple and Bae, as well as the reunion between Emma, Henry, and Neal!  Can't wait!

One Big Dysfunctional Family

When Cora kissed Rumple in "In the Name of the Brother", I started thinking that maybe all the characters are more connected to each other than we realized.  There are three important families on this show - Rumple's, Regina's, and the Charmings, though there is some overlap, such as Regina being Snow's stepmother.  I have created a graphic of the family tree of these families showing the relationships that we know and some that are just speculation.  Enjoy!

Well, there you have it.  It took me forever to make and I'm still not sure it is right.  As you may have noticed, I left off some of the parents who aren't essential for the diagram - Snow and Charming's moms and Belle's dad.  Some dating relationships were also left off, such as Regina and Daniel.

I don't know for certain, but I would probably bet money that Neal and Baelfire are the same person.  We aren't sure the nature of Cora's and Rumple's relationship back in Fairy Tale Land before she became all evil.  There is a small possibility that Rumple is really Regina's father.  Ew.  We probably won't know for sure until "The Miller's Daughter" or maybe even another season.

Some interesting info:  Henry Mills is the adopted son of Regina Mills, but Regina is also Henry's step-great-grandmother.  And she doesn't look a day over 30!  That would make Cora Henry's grandmother.  If Baelfire and Neal really are one and the same, that would make Rumple Henry's grandfather.  If Rumple and Belle get married, she will be Henry's step-grandmother!  Ha! And if Milah were still alive, Hook could have been Henry's step-grandpa.  See, every relationship on this show centers on Henry.  Potential Henry grandparents: Snow and Charming (maternal), Rumpelstiltskin (paternal), and Cora (maternal).  Yikes!

Another other interesting relationships you noticed?

What Should Happen in 2013?

SPOILER ALERT!!!

I am so excited "Once Upon a Time" is finally coming back from hiatus!  Five weeks has been too long!  The good news is that there is a big batch of new episodes and some awesome stuff coming up!  Six episode titles have been released: "The Cricket Game" (Regina/Archie-centric), "The Outsider" (Belle-centric, introduces Ethan Embry's mysterious new character, Mulan is featured, Hook gets in Belle's face), "In the Name of the Brother" (Whale-centric, Gold tries to get back with Belle), "Tiny" (Giant-centric?), "Manhattan" (Emma-centric, Emma goes on a road trip and meets up with Neal - more proof that he is Bealfire), and "The Queen is Dead" (probably Snow or Charming-centric, maybe Regina).  They also just cast a young Cora (Rose McGowen), so she will also have an episode soon.  Lots of good stuff ahead!

During this break, I have come up with some ideas of what I would like to happen.  It doesn't mean they will, just wishing.  This is a very difficult show to predict:

• Gold is reunited with Baelfire, who of course will turn out to be Neal.  Bae will find out from Hook that Rumple killed his mom and he will be really angry.  Then, they will make up and hug it out.  Neal will move to town to get back in Emma's good graces.  Henry meets his dad.
• Hook will try to get back at Gold by flirting with Belle.  Belle won't fall for his tricks.  After all, he did knock her unconscious in Fairy Tale Land.  Gold will beat up Hook (with magic of course).  Belle and Gold will profess their love for each other and they get engaged.
• Belle will make new friends in town, particularly Henry, Archie, and Emma.  She will also finally get angry at Regina for locking her up for all those years.
• We find out about Jefferson's wife and Grace's mother.  She has to be Alice, right?  But is she dead?  I will guess yes.
• Snow and Charming, along with Henry and Emma move into a new house.  It is awkward at first because Snow and Charming start to act like Emma's parents even though they are all similar in age.  Emma starts to call them Mom and Dad.  Lots of love.
• Sheriff Charming will become Mayor Charming.
• Hook hooks up with Regina.  Whether there is real affection or just trying to get back at Cora is up for debate.
• Cora will survive the season, but will somehow be trapped in Fairy Tale Land again.  Killing her is really series finale material, right?
• Archie will find love with Mother Superior aka the Blue Fairy.  Or maybe Red?
• Red will find something to do other than be Snow's sidekick.  Maybe become a leader of a gang of werewolves?
• August will return to town to reunite with Gepetto.  He will also have some explaining to do about that twenty grand he stole from Emma.
• Someone will travel back to Fairy Tale Land.  Regina maybe?  Gold? Whoever it is should bring Mulan, Aurora, and Philip back to town. 
• Mulan meets Shang.

I think that is it!  Probably none of my wishes will actually happen, but will have to see!  :)

Who's Your Mommy?

Even though he is the youngest, Henry Mills is a very important character on "Once Upon A Time".  After all, he is the reason Emma came to Storybrooke and broke the curse.  Without him, no one would have regained their memories.  Little Henry is kindof awesome, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have problems.  He has two - his mothers.

Emma Swan got pregnant when she was eighteen.  The father was Neal Cassidy, a thief who got Emma arrested.  Emma had a baby in jail.  Being so young and so aimless, she gave the baby up for adoption.  Whether by coincidence or by design, the baby got a new home in Storybrooke, Maine and a new mother in former evil queen Regina Mills.  Regina named her son Henry after her own father and came to love the boy more than she had ever loved anyone.  There was a problem though - Henry didn't love her back.

By most standards, Regina was a good mother to Henry.  She loved him, fed him, clothed him, protected him.  But, Henry was a very intuitive boy.  When he got a book of fairy tales from his teacher (Grandma!) Mary Margaret Blanchard, he discovered the truth.  Storybrooke, Maine wasn't a normal little town - it was a place inhabited by amnesiac storybook characters!  His adopted mother fit the profile of the evil queen.

Henry learned something else in that book of his.  His birth mother was the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming and she was the key to breaking the curse on their town.  Henry stole a credit card from his teacher and headed to Boston to find now twenty-eight year old Emma Swan.  It took Emma a little convincing, but she took Henry back to Maine and to his mother Regina.  Emma meant to just drop Henry off, but her mothering instincts kicked in and she decided to stay to watch over Henry.  Henry immediately was drawn to Emma and loved her.  It took Emma a little longer, but she came to love Henry as well.  That love broke the curse.

The end?  No way.  If this were the real world, Emma might try to fight for custody of Henry and would lose.  Even though he dislikes her, Henry would stay with Regina until he turned eighteen.  The kid would rebel and do everything he could think of to make Regina's life miserable.  Loud parties, piercings, drugs, running away, you name it.  This isn't the real world though, and this problem won't be solved anytime soon.

Yes, Henry feels a connection with his birth mother Emma.  Regina also loves the kid with all her heart.  So, who should Henry live with?  The answer is simple really.  Both mothers live in the same town, so they should have joint custody.  If Regina wants Henry to love and respect her, she is going to prove that she wants what is best for him.  Even if it is a good solution, I really doubt it will happen.  Henry was living with Grandpa Charming in Emma and Snow's apartment, but now that Emma is back from Fairy Tale Land, I think Henry will being living with her, while Charming and Snow live together elsewhere.  Regina will probably give in to the evil magic she has been fighting so hard against and will get Henry back by force.  I think in the end, Henry will be with Emma and Regina will be alone.  It's sad but we will just have to wait and see!

Neal Cassidy - Where Does He Fit In?

The opening scene of season two was a man in an NYC apartment who receives a postcard from Storybrooke with one word on it - "broken".  We met him again in episode six and learned some more about him - his name is Neal Cassidy and he is the reason Emma was in jail.  He is also Henry's dad.  I think it was pretty good casting because he does kindof look like Henry.  You know who else he looks like?  A grownup Baelfire. 

I know, this is a popular theory, but I really think it is true.  Rumplestiltskin is really old - much older than anyone else on the show.  He held Regina as a baby.  His son Bae is probably 30 years younger than him.  Hook also comes from this timeline.  Remember, he ran off with Milah before Rumple became the Dark One.  So, we know that Rumple became essentially immortal, but why have Bae and Hook lived so long?  Maybe because of a little place called Neverland. 

In Neverland, boys never grow up.  This would probably also hold true for Hook and his crew (such as Smee).  We saw Hook go to Neverland when he threw the last remaining magic bean in the water.  Wouldn't Bae's bean have taken him to the same land?  This would probably make Bae be Peter Pan.  The real question is - how and when did Bae get to America and how did Rumple know his son was still alive?  We will probably find out later, but I am quite curious. 

So, will we meet Neal again?  I'm sure we will!  No way will they introduce us to Henry's dad and never show him again!  I hope they meet this season, but I don't know for sure.  I also look forward to Bae meeting his dad again.  Will it be a happy reunion?  Does Gold know that Henry is his grandson?  He is very nice to the boy, or is he just nice to all kids?  And what about Emma?  Will she punch him or at least listen to his story?  It really is August's fault that Emma went to jail, not Neal's.  I can't wait to see what happens!  :)

When Will Emma and Snow Return to Storybrooke?

Emma and Snow have been stuck in Fairy Tale Land all season, and if you ask me, it's high time they returned to their loved ones in Storybrooke. 

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!  SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our favorite Mother-Daughter duo may be returning to Maine soon.  Not that it hasn't been interesting seeing the remains of FTL and meeting Mulan, Aurora, and Hook, but reuniting with Charming and Henry is just what this family needs. 

Van City Filming, a really cool site I recently discovered, is dedicated to posting photos of tv shows filming around Vancouver, Canada.  They have posted some great pics recently that are spoilerific.  Check out this page:  http://vancityfilming.com/articles/once-upon-a-time-second-reunion/  Third picture down.

It's a Charming Family reunion!  This is rumored to be episode 9 (Queen of Hearts) which is probably Cora-centric.

It got me wondering though, could the duo be Cora and Hook in disguise?  You might scoff, but nothing on OUaT is coincidence. The clothes Emma and Snow wear are pretty consistent. Snow often wears a white shirt or coat (except in the dream sequence when Regina was tied to a tree and Snow was wearing black).  Emma wears jeans and a leather jacket or sweater, pretty casual.  JustJared posted these pictures of Snow in black and brown and Emma in a dressy gray jacket.  Am I wrong?  Could it be possible that Hook and Cora took over their bodies or at least cast a spell to look like them?  It would create drama and doesn't it seem a little early for them to come back?

http://www.justjared.com/photo-gallery/2745987/ginnifer-goodwin-josh-dallas-once-upon-a-time-pawn-shop-filming-10/

Henry's Dad - The Mystery Revealed?

It has been a big old mystery who Henry's dad is, but I think I have figured it out. 

SPOILER ALERT!!!  SPOILER ALERT!!!!!

ABC recently released the press release for Episode 6 - "Tallahassee".  Check it out at the bottom of the page. 

Check out the guest stars. Michael Raymond-James as Neal Cassady. Michael Raymond-James is the guy we saw in the first scene of episode one - the guy in NYC who received the postcard that simply said "broken". He is set to appear in this episode (and a few more episodes later). Is the character named after this guy? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neal_Cassidy

He is the guy who everyone thought was Baelfire (and still may be), but now I think we can safely assume he is Henry's dad. Am I way off?  They do kindof look alike:

Also, look who else will appear - Eion Bailey aka August Booth/Pinocchio! Yay!

EMMA TREKS UP A BEANSTALK WITH A NOT-TOO-TRUSTWORTHY CAPTAIN HOOK TO STEAL A COMPASS FROM A MURDEROUS GIANT, AND EMMA'S PAST IS REVEALED, ON ABC'S "ONCE UPON A TIME"  "Tallahassee" - With the hopes of finding a magical compass that could help her and Mary Margaret get back to Storybrooke, Emma takes a journey with a not-too-trustworthy Captain Hook up a treacherous beanstalk in an attempt to steal the item from a murderous giant (Jorge Garcia, "Lost"). Meanwhile, Emma's past is revealed to be anything but magical when she meets up with a fellow thief who wants to make an honest woman out of her, on "Once Upon a Time," SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.  "Once Upon a Time" stars Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White/Mary Margaret, Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan, Lana Parrilla as Evil Queen/Regina, Josh Dallas as Prince Charming/David, Emilie de Ravin as Belle, Jared S. Gilmore as Henry Mills, Meghan Ory as Red Riding Hood/Ruby, and Robert Carlyle as Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold.  Guest starring are Michael Raymond-James as Neal Cassady, Colin O'Donoghue as Killian Jones/Hook, Sarah Bolger as Aurora, Jamie Chung as Mulan, Eion Bailey as August W. Booth/Pinocchio, Jorge Garcia as Giant, Marc-Anthony Massiah as traffic cop, Tony Alcantar as cashier, Fane Tse as customer, Artine Brown as cop and Kerry Sandomirsky as Loretta. "Tallahassee" was written by Christine Boylan & Jane Espenson and directed by Dave Barrett.
 

Once Upon A Time - What will happen next?

After a long summer of waiting, the new season of "Once Upon A Time" finally arrives on September 30. "Once", in my opinion, was the best new show of the 2011-2012 season and has a great cast of characters that you won't see anywhere else on tv.

If you forgot what happened during the season finale, here's a little recap: Regina tried to kill Emma with a poison apple baked into a turnover. Henry tried to warn Emma that Regina wanted to kill her. To prove it, Henry ate the poisoned treat and became deathly ill. Jefferson, aka the Mad Hatter, freed Belle from the psych ward under the hospital and told her to find Mr. Gold and tell him that Regina locked her up. She did and Mr. Gold was shocked to find his long-lost love alive all this time, though she has no idea who he is because of the curse. Meanwhile, everyone is gathered in Storybrooke hospital as Henry stops breathing. Emma kisses her son and tells him she loves him. Then, all kinds of crazy stuff happens. Henry wakes up, everyone gets their memories back, Snow and Charming are reunited after breaking up for the millionth time, and Regina makes a run for it. Mr. Gold is far away from the action in town as he and Belle go to the magical well deep in the forest. He drops the true love potion, the one Emma rescued from the dragon's belly, into the well, creating a purple smoke that envelops the town. Magic is coming, Mr. Gold tells Belle. Belle, who now has her memories back and professes her love for the pawn broker, is ticked. Oh, and August turned to wood. He is Pinocchio after all.

All caught up? Good.

So, what's going to happen next? Is the curse really broken? Everyone remembers who they are, but they haven't been transported back to Fairytale Land yet. Here are my predictions for season two, based on casting, previews, and my own imagination:

• Emma will get custody of Henry. Regina did almost kill him, plus the whole town is against her now. But, Emma has never raised a kid, so her relationship with Henry will change drastically. She will have to be a parent, not just a friend.


• Mr. Gold and Belle will not get their happily-ever-after. He chose magic over her. Twice. A girl can only take so much. They will argue throughout the season, and she will probably move back in with her dad, while Mr. Gold tries to win her back. He will promise her to give up magic but will still do it behind her back. He thinks he needs it to find Baelfire, the only person he loves more than Belle..


• August will stay wooden, for now. The story has too many other people to focus on right now. He will be back toward the end of the season.


• Baelfire will return with the help of Rumple's magic, but it will not be a happy reunion between father and son. Bae has had a long time to be bitter that his father abandoned him. He will also be revealed as Henry's father. Henry will like him despite his faults and try to fix him up with Emma, who hates him for abandoning her.


• Snow and Charming will finally be together, for awhile, but she will still be angry with him for choosing Katherine over her. Emma and Snow's relationship will become strained now that they know they are related. Emma will question her parents as to why she was given up, and she will not forgive easily.


• We will learn what happened to Regina's wicked mother. I predict that Regina stole her mother's power and banished her to Wonderland where she became the Queen of Hearts.


• Dr. Whale will be revealed as King Triton, Ariel's (the little mermaid) father. His name has to have something to do with water, right?


• David aka Charming will side with Regina, becoming her only ally for now. She has always been nice to him, and he sees her as a person wrongly accused. Of course, this causes problems between him and Snow.


• Jefferson will be revealed to be Regina's brother or some other sort of relative. They seem to have a history together, and he is one of the few people who doesn't seem scared of her. Also, we will find out that Jefferson's long lost wife is none other than Alice of Wonderland.

So what do you think? Do you think any of my predictions will come true?