Once upon a Time Rewatch 1.7, "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter"

Read the previous entry in the series here.
Read the next entry in the series here.

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1.7, "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter"

Written by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz
Directed by David M. Barrett

Synopsis

Impressive even for a sober guy.
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary.

Following a rehearsal of the series' premise and the title card, the episode opens in Storybrooke with the sheriff seemingly drunkenly playing darts. After winning a bet, he is confronted by Emma, who makes to stalk off before a running argument that spills out into the street, becoming harassment as the sheriff has sudden flashes of images of a wolf. Emma rebukes him, justly, and departs.

Some of the earlier architecture stretches points, but this is just silly.
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary.

The sheriff then calls at Regina's, kissing her in the search for more images; she recalls an episode in the Enchanted Forest in which she, as evil queen, looked over Snow White laying a flower on her father's tomb. The queen offers such comfort to her as can be done, averring her alignment to her stepdaughter. Later, she consults her servitors, exulting in her impending victory; rather than acting directly, she considers a huntsman--the sheriff's alter-ego in the Enchanted Forest. And the sheriff wakes in Regina's bed, remembering dimly; when he leaves, he encounters the wolf from his recollections.

Emma finds a bouquet on the table in the kitchen she shares with Mary Margaret and discards it, only to be chided; the flowers had been a gift to Mary Margaret. The two confer about the latter's relationship with the physician, Dr. Whale. Conversation soon becomes decidedly uncomfortable.

You know this won't end well.
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary.

The sheriff, Graham, runs out into the forest, where he encounters Gold, with a cane and a shovel in his hands. They confer tersely, and Gold heads off after offering cryptic advice; the scene shifts back to the Enchanted Forest, with the huntsman coming into a tavern and being accosted by others therein. A melee ensues, which the huntsman gets the best of; Regina bids him be brought before her.

Graham continues through the woods outside Storybrooke, following the sounds of wolves. He sights the wolf again, approaching it closely and remembering more as he touches it--and it vanishes. Stupefied, he returns, going to speak with Mary Margaret about what he recalls.

The huntsman reports to the evil queen as bidden. She presses him about his upbringing and assesses him as she tasks him with the assassination of Snow White. He presses for the protection of wolves as his fee and accepts the commission.

Conversation between Graham and Mary Margaret begins to point out gaps in their memories, startling both. It also goes to strange places that Mary Margaret connects to Henry's views of the town's fairy-tale origins; she recommends he go home and rest, which advice he heeds.

Back in the Enchanted Forest, the huntsman accompanies Snow White on a walk in the woods, where he means to fulfill his commission. He finds himself unable to do so, however, as Snow White susses out his intent and flees.

In Storybrooke, Regina calls in at the sheriff's office; she and Emma converse regarding Graham. Regina warns her against a romance with him, confusing her. Graham calls on Henry in the meantime, asking him about his stories.

Not the normal pleading, no.
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary.

In the Enchanted Forest, the huntsman catches up with Snow White, and the two confer. She gives him a letter to be delivered to the queen after her death at his hands. He accepts the letter, reading it, and finding that he cannot go through with the act of killing her; he gives her a whistle and sends her on her way, sacrificing a deer to enable her escape. And Graham confers with Henry about his memories and identity, tracing out implications and future events. Henry also notes the location of the sheriff's heart, and Graham rushes off to find it.

Along the way, Emma confronts him, noting his evident illness. His report to her confuses her, until she sees the wolf. Graham gives chase, Emma following, and they find themselves in the town cemetery, standing before a burial vault. He tries to enter, Emma assisting him; they effectively break into it.

In the Enchanted Forest, the huntsman reports to the evil queen, delivering the letter and the deer heart. The queen bids him read the letter aloud, which displeases her. She intimates the source of her enmity towards Snow White and demands the heart; with it delivered, she stalks off, only to recognize the ruse belatedly and punish the huntsman by taking his heart, in turn, effectively enslaving him.

You know this won't end well.
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary.

In the burial vault, Graham searches to no avail. Regina confronts him and Emma, and Graham cuts off the relationship he had had with Regina. And Emma rebukes Regina, as well, only to be punched in the face for her trouble. Emma responds in kind, and is restrained by Graham; later, he tends to her at the sheriff's office. They confer, and Regina enters the inner sanctum of the burial vault, where she enacts a working that kills him--just as Emma moves to return his affections and his memories come back to him.

Discussion

I'm struck in the present episode by the relative cleanliness of people in the medievalist milieu, as well as the relative lack of accoutrements carried by those traipsing about the forest therein. I know it's a fantasy depiction, of course, and I know it's Disney--which tends to mean sanitizing happens (although there is a fairly frank and open note from the putative savior and clear protagonist that extramarital adult sexuality is fine, which surprises in a prime-time series from the company)--so some cleanup is perhaps to be expected. Too, keeping dirtiness consistent is difficult, which vitiates against its inclusion in a weekly series; production demands would seem to argue against it. But it's still a bit disconcerting to see so many people who are shown as involved in agriculture and outdoor pursuits not getting anything on them; I live and grew up in central Texas, and that does not line up with experience, even with ready access to laundry and shower facilities.

No carts, no packs, just some nobles living their best lives...
Image taken from the Bayeaux Tapestry online, used for commentary

Similarly, the fact that people running around forests without so much as a backpack or a waterskin grates on me. It's one thing, of course, when someone is chased out of their home without time to gather materials; it's quite another when characters deliberately go out on a walk or a ride. Look at hikers now, or joggers; how many go for more than a quick trip up the block and back without at least a water bottle? And consider royal and noble processions, which would, as a matter of course, involve many people, all of whom would want to eat and drink along the way...but then, after looking at some medieval visual depictions of hunting, I have to note that expected baggage trains and carry-ons are absent. I guess, then, that while the series may not have such things true to life, it gets them at least true to (relatively) contemporary depiction, and that's something.

Not a lot of packs, but perhaps a lot of baggage...
Image taken from the V&A, here, used for commentary.

Also, please consider submitting to the Tales after Tolkien Society's offering for the 2022 International Congress on Medieval Studies, discussed here: Twenty-First Century Neo/Medievalisms (a roundtable session). The session seeks to investigate "how a given twenty-first century work (any medium is accepted, and a diversity of media will be appreciated) makes use of the medieval or makes use of earlier works that themselves make use of the medieval, interrogating briefly how the mis/use of the earlier material serves to transmit ideas of the medieval forward. Prepared remarks should run some five to seven minutes, with open discussion to follow as time permits. Ideas in early stages of development are welcome." ***The formal call is here.***