TV Series > Once Upon A Time - Season: 1 > Episode: 8

TV Episode Details:

This week on Once, we got to explore Rumpelstiltskin past, which was a lot less evil than I expected, while seeing Storybrooke deal with who will take over our poor Graham's position. That's right, poor Graham is actually dead. I don't know why, but that felt cheap. I guess I was hoping for something magical and fantastic to save him, unfortunately, that didn't happen.

Rumps was once a human, who fled from the battlefield and branded a coward, thus was forced to take care of his son by himself. One day, when his son was almost 14, which is that age that the conscription would take him into the war, he decided to do what every deserter would do, take his son and flee. This of course didn't go very well when the soldiers caught up with them. It was after this, that he learns that he can steal the powers of 'the dark one', Zoso, if he kills him with his own dagger. Of course, doing so is what transformed him into the dark person we now know.

His back story really changed everything that we know about this character. I had no idea that there was actually a reason behind his madness, especially one as selfish as saving children from dying on the battlefield. That really makes me wonder what his goals really are now. Also, since the dagger killed Zoso, and Rumpelstiltskin had the dagger after, where is he keeping this very important blade so that no one else can control him, or kill him?

Back in Storybrooke, we learn that Graham really did die, but for some reason, Henry is more upset about it than Emma. I can understand how she feels, as I don't see death as something to morn over either, but it almost seemed like she didn't even care. Even during the scenes that he was brought up, she didn't even care that he was gone, even though she obviously loved him. A bit odd for a 'good' character.

After taking the role for 2 weeks, she was about to take over as the new Sheriff, when Mayor heart-crusher appoints the newspaper editor as sheriff and fires Emma. I love how she took out her frustration on the toaster. I am sure toasters everywhere with a view of the show got a bit hot under the collar from the condition of it afterwards.

The big surprise came from Mr. Gold, who suddenly arrived to help her out by giving her the information in the town charter to stop the mayor in her tracks. It was obvious that this would have to benefit him somehow, and by the end of it all, we learnt it was a way for him to put her in a position where she could pay him back one day, as they agreed. I have a feeling we will have to wait until the season finale to find out what it is, but the big question will be is if she will stand up against him again when he does ask.

In the end, she keeps her job, Henry's confidence that good can win has gotten stronger, and the mayor has pie in her face once again. Everything ended almost exactly how I expected to end in Storybrooke, and the knowledge we learnt about Rumpelstiltskin, really helps kept this episode going strong. A bit of an oddrestart for the 2nd half of the season, but still gave us lots of content that will probably have major repercussions for future episodes.