Tonight's episode of Once Upon A Time, "Desperate Souls," dealt with the balance of good and evil and the effects of power in the hands of the powerful and the once powerless. In the world of Storybrooke Emma is still dealing with the aftermath of Sheriff Graham's death and in Fairy tale world we finally found out how Rumplestiltskin came to be.
Storybrooke Reality
The opening scene has her having a conversation with Mr. Gold about the events of last week's episode. Emma has been serving in the office of deputy for two weeks and according to law she can serve as the new sheriff. Emma is still absorbing the loss but, Mr. Gold convinces her to take the job and also gives her two walkie-talkies from Graham's effects for her and Henry.
The next scene deals with how Henry reacts to the circumstances of Graham's death. It is important to remember that Graham confirmed many of Henry's suspicions about the curse on the inhabitants of Storybrooke when he regained his memory and asked for Henry's help unraveling his past. Graham's death thus has a particularly devastating effect on Henry who was beginning to believe that the curse over his town could be broken. Henry's conversation with Emma confirms this as he voices his fears that Good will always be defeated by Evil since Good plays fair and Evil ignores the rules. Emma is still shown as not completely buying into "Operation Cobra" but she wants to keep his belief in heroes and happily ever afters alive.
Seeing Henry depressed is the final piece of the puzzle in convincing her to take Graham's position as sheriff not only to honor his memory, but also prove that Goods can finish first even against a tough opponent like Mayor Regina. This is cemented by her encounter with Regina at the Sheriff's office. However upon hearing her decision Regina once again acts as the Evil buzz kill by announcing its within her power as mayor to appoint a successor and it will be no other than her key minion Sidney Glass the chief editor of the Storybrooke newspaper. Of course the appoint is blatantly biased but the real blow is that Regina further abuses her power as mayor by firing Emma from her position as deputy.
The next scene shows Emma dealing with her defeat the best way she knows how. By drinking whiskey, listening to loud rock music, and making a mess of poor Mary Margaret's toaster. Mary Margaret comes in like usual to comfort Emma. Just at that moment, who should come in but Mr. Gold. Mr. Gold provides important information about the Town's charter. According to the section about the Mayor's powers, Regina can only appoint a candidate in preparation for the office. Armed with this knowledge she decides to run.
Even though she decides to run things look grim. The Mayor of course being a wicked Queen in a former life is all powerful and Emma is the new girl in town without the homegrown support she needs to win. Things are made worse when Regina has the town paper print a story that reveals more of Emma's past which is the fact that she gave birth to Henry in jail. Emma is appalled at the levels that Regina would go to win and sees Henry further worried about the futility of her candidacy.
Emma then goes to confront Regina about her actions and states that not only were the documents sealed and thus illegally breached the effect of such dirty tactics could traumatize Henry. Regina of course is unmoved and baldly states that tearing down Emma's character only strengthens her own bid to garner Henry's affections. Just as it seems hopeless an explosion and fire happen nearly killing them both. Emma is unharmed but Regina is pinned. Emma is forced with the choice of letting her greatest enemy die or saving her life. Emma decides to live what she preaches and save Regina. The bonus for her effort is immediate as the Fire department witnesses her bravery and the news spreads through town boosting her image ahead of the election debate.
Mary Margaret has a Snow White/Charming moment with David when they meet while posting posters for their respective candidates. Interesting enough David is helping Glass as Regina is a friend of his wife. It is obvious that the feelings between them haven't dimmed but Mary Margaret already burned once leaves first before the situation becomes too awkward.
Emma meanwhile faces a dilemma that has her wondering whether Henry was right. She saw evidence that Mr. Gold was involved in the setting of the fire. She now has to deal with the fact that her big benefactor is playing just as dirty as Regina. She confronts Gold who states that the fire was the only way for her to get an electoral boost before the election. Emma considers dropping out to preserve her integrity.
The moment of truth arrives at the debate. Before the debate she talks with Mary Margaret about the real reasons she's running and that is to be the hero and savior Henry sees her to be. In support of this she exposes Mr. Gold's involvement in the fire. In the end the honesty wins her the campaign as people like that she was able to stand up to someone as powerful as Mr. Gold. It also wins her Henry's renewed faith in breaking the curse and beating Regina. However Mr. Gold taints her moral triumph by stating that he knew what Emma was going to do and that it would have a bigger effect than the fire due to his standing. He also reminds Emma of her promised favor from her deal to save Cinderella saying that now that she is sheriff he would have the opportunity to collect.
Fairytale World
A greatly anticipated background story is revealed with the story of how Rumplestiltskin got his fabled deal making magical powers. We are introduced to a weak and powerless Rumplestiltskin who fights to save his son from conscription in the Ogre Wars. In this world youth or gender is no protection and all children age 14 regardless of gender are sent to the frontlines and Rumplestiltskin's son will be of age in three days.
Things are bad as it is with the army backing the decree but, the Duke who rules the region also has the support of the powerful sorcerer known as the Dark One. Things look worse when Rumplestiltskin and son try to flee. They are caught by the soldiers and the captain reveals Rumplestiltskin's past as a deserter in front of his son. He also implies that Rumplestiltskin's wife had left him because of his cowardice.
Now Rumplestiltskin is out of options with the eyes of the soldiers on his family there is no escape. However help comes in fairy tale fashion. During their first escape attempt he gave alms to a beggar. The beggar comes after their poor treatment by the soldier and tells Rumplestiltskin there is a way to acquire the power he needs to save his son.
That way lies with getting the power of the Dark One. He reveals that Duke bound the powerful sorcerer to his service with a mystical dagger bearing the Dark One's true name. If he gets the dagger Rumplestiltskin would control the Dark One. When proves leery of controlling such a powerful being the beggar points out that if he stabs the dagger into the heart of the Dark One he would gain his powers for himself.
Rumplestiltskin and his son then devise a plan to steal the dagger by setting fire to the Duke's castle. The fire would serve as a distraction while Rumplestiltskin gets the dagger. After getting it Rumplestiltskin sends his son home despite his misgivings and summons him by his true name. Zoso proves unpleasant hinting that his son may be a bastards foisted on him by his wife. Rumplestiltskin stabs the Dark One only to discover that he is the old beggar he helped before. The Dark One was weary of curse of his power and looked for a "desperate soul" to take his place. Zoso dies and the Rumplestiltskin of legend is born and already twisted by the power causing his devoted son to fear him even as he saves him from being drafted.
Tonight's episode showed evil taking advantage of the good by abusing or using power as a tool or lure to achieve its goals. The end result is even good intentions are twisted to bad ends. This is a recurring theme that popped up with all fairy tale characters so far. If Emma is to prevail in the episodes to come she will need to find a way out of this tangled coil. Also the real battle is starting between Mr. Gold and Regina and the consequences are yet to be felt in Storybrooke.
Tega Jessa - I am a freelance writer who focuses on sciences, politics, and sci fi television and have written on them for three years.
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