Once upon a Time Rewatch 1.21, "An Apple Red as Blood"

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

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1.21, "An Apple Red as Blood"

Written by Jane Espenson and David H. Goodman
Directed by Milan Cheylov

Synopsis

More frightening than any dream...
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary.

After a recapitulation of series events and the title card, the episode begins with Regina eating with Henry, the two quiet at the table until interrupted by Emma. Emma notes that she has been invited, Regina refusing her entry, and Regina finds herself beset by vengeful townsfolk. It is a dream, of course, from which Regina wakes in fear. She stalks off to check on Henry and relaxes after satisfying herself that he is there--although he is, in fact, fleeing Storybrooke with Emma. Henry balks at the haste of their departure, trying to talk her into addressing the curse; she refuses, and he takes matters into his own hand, running her car off of the road and pleading with her.

In the Enchanted Forest, George addresses the captured Charming, castigating him for his flight. Charming accepts his execution, but the execution is interrupted by Regina. She purchases Charming from George.

Not into subtlety, are we?
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary.

Regina frets over the apples on her tree rotting on the branch and seeks Gold. She upbraids him, and the two note that killing Emma will break the curse; Regina tries to broker a new deal with Gold, and he reminds her of the implications for her of the curse breaking. She turns instead to the Mad Hatter, Jefferson, for aid.

Emma and Mary Margaret confer, the latter rebuking the former sharply for her sudden flight. Emma explains herself, poorly, and finds further rebuke.

In the Enchanted Forest, Snow White and an array of others plot to free Charming from his captivity. Regina's presence is noted, as is the certainty of a trap; all affirm their desire to press on. Regina's animus against Snow White is noted, and she calls on the captive Charming, mocking him with her intent.

In Storybrooke, Regina continues to consider her tree as Jefferson arrives. They confer aspersively, with Regina revealing that she has his magic hat--and enough magic to power it. He is once again reluctantly persuaded to assist her, asking for and being promised a new start with his daughter as his price for aid.

I'd swear I've seen this somewhere before.
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary.

In the Enchanted Forest, the rescue operation gets underway. A number of forces converge on George's castle, entering it and killing their way through the defending forces to their objective.

Henry calls on August, reporting events with Emma. August notes his failures to the boy, revealing his condition and its causes to him. Henry notes the need for haste, and August demurs in favor of making best use of his remaining time with his father. He commends the task to Henry and sends him out on it.

Emma confers with Hopper about reclaiming Henry; he advises against it, citing a number of reasons. She dislikes the report.

The rescue attempt continues in the Enchanted Forest, Snow White reaching Charming's cell to find him absent; a mirror shows him imprisoned in Regina's palace, elsewhere. They confer in sadness, and her exhorts her to faith before Regina interrupts the vision. She offers a parley; Snow White accepts the offer, disarming herself and proceeding despite the advice of her friends.

I fell into a burning ring of fire...
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary.

Regina takes Jefferson into her crypt, the repository of her magic. She feeds magic to his hat, sacrificing even her last remembrance of her late beloved stable boy, to make it work; it is a partial success, allowing something to be grabbed and brought through. Regina has an idea, and Jefferson allows her to reach through and bring out an apple from her tree in the Enchanted Forest.

In the stable where her lover had died, Regina confronts Snow White; she takes her to the place where her lover is buried. She reveals what had actually happened to him, and Snow White sorrows at the news, shortly thereafter accepting a bite from the poisoned apple and its concomitant magical slumber against the life of Charming--who is aware that something has happened to his beloved, despite his captivity.

Regina retrieves the same apple whence it had rolled away, and she plots to have Emma eat from it, as well. The plot takes the form of an apple turnover, which Regina serves Emma as the latter makes an unexpected visit and offers a bargain. Emma is suspicious of the tart, but takes it and leaves, to Regina's delight.

They're so precious when they're sleeping...
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary.

Snow White's companions find her body in stasis, believing her dead. Regina exults in her victory and the sorrow of Snow White's companions. Regina exults over Gold, as well, though he does not react as she had expected. Henry visits Emma, eating of the turnover after she explains her intent and her inability. He falls into a coma.

Discussion

A couple of things stand out for me in the present, penultimate-for-the-season episode. One is that the anachronism at work in the series manifests again, with the guillotine George intends to use against Charming and the surprising grappling-bolts shot from the crossbows during the rescue mission. The compression of the pre-modern continues to grate, although it does not surprise--or it should not, anyway, given how recently it has popped up again.

The other is the manifestation, early in the episode, of the dream vision. Yes, it is something of a hackneyed plot device to have things happen and "have only been a dream" if the dream is used to wave away the consequences of events. When, as in the present episode, there is prophetic or revelatory power, however, the dream-sequence becomes a useful tool--as medieval writers of such visions understood. I've commented on such things before in this webspace, some relatively recently to this writing; my comments remain true, I think--or I hope so, anyway. I'd hate to think I've gone so far wrong...