Bullet points are encapsulated scene analysis from the top of each act to the bottom. (each act is bookended by a commercial break)
1. It’s a really bittersweet contrast that OR Robin used to come to the forest to think and Robin 2.0 uses is a place to hide his thieving ways and plot out his next shady move.
Setting this scene in the forest was brilliant. It highlights the fact that the two Robins share more similarities than just looks (seeking refuge at the same spot in the forest for example) while also making it clear that at their core, where it matters, they’re very different.
It’s what’s inside that counts.
BOING!!!!!
2. “Believe it or not this is where the other Robin used to come to think.”
For all Regina’s talk about knowing Robin 2.0 is not the man she used to know she still comes looking for him at the place OR Robin used to come. In terms of Regina the fact that he’s actually there is less important than the fact that that’s where she goes looking.
She knows this man isn’t “her Robin”. They made that very clear in her talk with Snow. Yet she’s still seeking him out, in a very literal sense as well as metaphorical one, hoping he can help her fill the void left by OR Robin.
Sometimes a person sees who they want to see in another person. Not who they really are.
BOING!!!!!
3. It’s very interesting how long Robin keeps his bow in a defensive position even after he realizes the person approaching is Regina. It’s a strong indicator that the box o’ potions is something he’s willing to go to any lengths to keep hold of.
It’s also the first instance we see in this ep of him dropping the pretenses. But not the last.
4. “I might have put pressure on you to be someone you’re not.”
I’m sorry …. might have?
5. The blocking in this scene is very illuminating.
Regina is still making an effort to get closer, though nowhere near as close as in previous eps. The path to him is not clear and smooth, but she’s still putting in the effort, far more halting and hesitant than in previous eps as it might be.
Robin 2.0 rebuffs her first with his bow then with a “No” and the universal hand signal for stop. He’s all about protecting the potion box at this point.
But as soon as Regina calls him out on his hyper-vigilance he shifts gears. Takes several steps towards her. Offers to meet her later. Just generally gives her what he thinks she wants to throw her off the scent.
Not cool, Robin 2.0
6. And just in case they weren’t clear enough about his motivation, we get one final shot focused on the potion box.
I just get very (◡‿◡✿) like my insides go all (◡‿◡✿) at the fact that Emma’s love language is inarguably touch.That whole scene she was just like cupping Killian’s face and rubbing her cheek on his cheek and hugging him and pulling him up to kiss him and softly brushing his fingers with her fingers when she handed him the ring and just (◡‿◡✿) like this is the girl who had zeroskin to skin contact as an infant and zerohugs in her entire childhood and now she’s at a place in her life where she feels safe and feels most comfortable expressing her love through touch because when she was young it was all too rare in her life and oh my goodness it’s. just. so. (◡‿◡✿) .
First, let me go on record and say that the proposal made me emotional. It was the music, the words, the acting in the way Jen and Colin pulled this off, it was Emma’s growth as a character. All of it sort of collided into a perfect moment. I thought it represented the characters really well. And for a minute, there were no walls, or impending death.
But yes, there is that pesky secret, and last night, I thought of episode 6×05 when Killian went out to dispose of the shears and came back and what it is that he tells Emma about wanting her to have what she wants.
For me, that’s the parallel this season for Captain Swan. As usual, the characters have been flipped and the storyline is now practically the same on both ends. They even included Archie in it.
Emma was keeping a secret from her family that only Archie was privy to and she kept it for 5 episodes. During that time, she took a very big step forward in her relationship with Killian with this large secret and threat looming over her head.
In this half, Killian has a secret and though he doesn’t know the nature or what it is, Archie is once again the only one who knows about it. Killian actually called him to see if he could have an appointment, and had that happened, the odds were that Killian was going to spill his guts right then and there.
Killian said in 6×05 that he whatever Emma wanted, that’s what she would have, and he was very true to his word. She wanted him, she wanted the ring, she wanted to hear him ask her to marry him, so he gave her that, because there was no way he was going to turn her down.
And it’s something he wanted as badly as she did.
I think the moment was beautiful, especially when we consider that the last time they used that music was under completely different circumstances. And not for nothing, that moment back in 5×08 was the start of Emma keeping a doozie of a secret. So if anything, the writers have remained very true to the whole Emma and Killian mirror each other.
The moment Killian decided to “chose her happiness over his own release of guilt” (x)
I don’t want to put spoilers in the tags so witness my flail:
BUT YOU CAN ACTUALLY. FUCKING. SEE IT. Like look at that first gif?????????? Like it’s about a second after the blink. His right-hand eyebrow relaxes and raises a millimetre and his eyelid lowers a tiny bit and his mouth maybe? sort of? kind of twitches up at the corners but like…YOU CAN’T EVEN SEE IT REALLY? EVEN IF YOU’RE TRYING TO LOOK FOR IT? And that CHANGES THE WHOLE LOOK???? Like everything FUCKING SOFTENS and you can see that’s the moment he’s bewitched, overwhelmed, in awe, drowning in every fragment of love he’s ever held precious in his heart for her.
Bullet points are encapsulated scene analysis from the top of each act to the bottom. (each act is bookended by a commercial break)
1. The scene progression in the Teaser is VERY enlightening. As we know, it gives us the lens through which to view the rest of the episode. It sets up the relevant themes and as always, each scene is informed by and informs, those that come before and after. I’m gonna point that out a little more here than usual because, as I said, in this case it’s fascinating.
And since this was one of the least subtle eps of primetime tv I’ve see in a long time it’s not hard to spot the throughlines.
A hard hat may not be good enough to protect you from the anvils in this one. Fair warning.
BOING!!!!!!
2. Personally I loved Beowulf when I read it both in high school and in college. Yeppers, I was that kid. You’re shocked, aren’t you?
3. I was surprised (in a good way) when I saw they were casting someone to play Beowulf. I mean I figured they weren’t gonna get too deep into the weeds of the actual story, which frankly I don’t blame them for, it’s a little dense for primetime.
But Hrunting the enchanted sword and the overarching them of epic battle were perfect choices to use as illuminators of the current storyline(s)
Nice story choice!
4. The staging of the first part of the scene is spectacular. Lots of moving pieces. People. Noise. Flaming catapult rounds. Wooden spikes. Potential danger is everywhere and a battle is definitely afoot.
They do a very nice job of giving that time to unfold.
And though there are dozens of people going about their business, including a blacksmith, we only “meet” two of them. Beowulf and a poor, hapless foot solider looking for courage in a flask. (From here on out to be referred to a PHF)
cshappybeginning 