Read the previous entry in the series here.
Read the next entry in the series here.
1.19, "The Return"
Written by Jane Espenson
Directed by Paul Edwards
Synopsis
Following a brief recapitulation of recent events and the title card, the episode begins with August abed, nursing a strange malady. He staggers to a phone and calls to note a need to accelerate matters. Later, he enlists Henry in a bit of distraction, sending him into Gold's shop to cover his own clandestine pilfering. The boy distracts the pawn-broker of many talents unsuccessfully, and Gold arrives back in his office before August can purloin what he seeks.
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| All according to plan, but whose? Image taken from the episode, used for commentary. |
In the Enchanted Forest, a young Baelfire plays, occasioning some commotion. Rumpelstiltskin arrives to rebuke the villager who had commented sharply at the boy, turning him into a snail and delivering an ignominious ending to him--despite his son's entreaties.
David calls on Kathryn in the hospital, startling her. They confer, him apologizing for his earlier follies. They seem to end at an accord, and David departs. Meanwhile, Mary Margaret is welcomed home, noting the mismatch between the current festive mood and her earlier treatment. Henry and August, both present, confer about their escapades at Gold's, August revealing little; Henry gifts her a card and a bell, David arriving just as Emma makes to attend the party. Emma dismisses him with the boy, and she and Gold confer about August.
In the Enchanted Forest, Baelfire rebukes Rumpelstiltskin for his actions. He notes the differences in his father, and Rumpelstiltskin muses on the necessity of power and his existence as the Dark One. Balefire strikes a deal with Rumpelstiltskin for the promise of his renunciation of power.
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| This might not be the most welcome nighttime visitor. Image taken from the episode, used for commentary. |
Emma confers with Sidney at Granny's, confronting him about his having bugged her office. She realizes that Sidney is in love with Regina and dismisses him. And Gold continues his pursuit of August.
In the Enchanted Forest, Baelfire tries to play with local children and is shunted aside; the children know their parents' fear of Rumpelstiltskin. The children flee from him, save for one young woman who voices approval of Rumpelstiltskin. She notes the availability of another power to afford him his father's freedom, and Rumpelstiltskin's evident slaying of their mute servant seems to confirm that desire in him.
In Storybrooke, Gold watches August confer with the Mother Superior and confronts her about the conversation. The details give Gold ideas about August's true identity. And in the Enchanted Forest, Baelfire confers with the Mother Superior's counterpart, the Blue Fairy. The two discuss the exile of Rumpelstiltskin to a world without magic, the fairy pushing the boy toward enacting his father's banishment and giving him a magic bean that will enable travel between worlds.
David tries to talk to Mary Margaret, and she rebukes him sharply for his failures. He tries to justify them to her as he apologizes to her for his disbelief. She spurns him.
Baelfire reports his success to Rumpelstiltskin, bidding him accompany him. Rumpelstiltskin notes the problems in his interactions with the Blue Fairy, and Baelfire argues. Rumpelstiltskin is shamed into going along with his son--and in Storybrooke, he confers with Hopper about the possibility of his son's return. The conversation goes awkwardly, Gold noting his own failures and his uncertainties; Hopper's recommendation for honesty does not sit well with Gold. That night, Gold confronts August about his pursuit. August calls Gold his father.
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| I feel like this should end with Spaghetti-O's. Image taken from the episode, used for commentary. |
In the Enchanted Forest, Rumpelstiltskin confronts the Blue Fairy about her meddling with his son. He stumbles onto a way to effect a return to his son, and he proceeds to devote himself to finding a way to the world where his son has gone, raging at her as she flees.
Regina awaits Emma in the sheriff's office, noting that a confession in the abduction of Kathryn is forthcoming; Sidney tenders the confession. Emma disbelieves and confronts Regina about it, warning her of her intent to reclaim Henry.
Discussion
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| Image via Smithsonian from the British Library's Queen Mary Psalter, used for commentary |
It's a small thing, but the references to snails early in the episode bring to mind the phenomenon, discussed by Colin Schultz and others, of snails popping up in medieval manuscripts' marginalia. Interpretations vary, of course, and how likely it is that the production staff for the series would have had such a thing in mind is open to question (although likely not). Still, it is an interesting little point of correspondence, intentional or otherwise, doing just a bit to reinforce the series's medievalism.
A larger thing that emerges for me is the comparative machinations of Gold / Rumpelstiltskin and the Blue Fairy. In one sense, the former stands as an almost-ideal example of typical depictions of fay folk, being (largely) bound by agreements made and adhering almost slavishly to the letter of those agreements (indeed, "intent means nothing" is overtly stated in the episode.), and he is not at all above abusing those letters to get what he wants from those with whom he bargains. It is decidedly Faustian, perhaps early modern more than strictly medievalist, although the term remains...ambiguous. The Blue Fairy, though ostensibly "good," is a peculiar kind of good--not above coercion and deceit, certainly not in line with the more heroic ethos espoused by more central protagonists in the series. She seems to be much less rules-bound, even than Gold / Rumpelstiltskin, which makes her more dangerous; at least with the Faustian character, it can be assumed that his word is his bond, but she can clearly lie...
It's something to think about, certainly.
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