A character is only as good as the actor/actress who breathes life into them. The actor or actress puts their blood, sweat, and tears into ensuring that we’re able to understand the deeper nuances, which make the character special. And these 10 performers weren’t difficult to single out this year as they made each of their characters unbelievably relatable, complex, and beautifully evocative. (A special PSA, you will not see any performers, specifically Elizabeth Moss from The Handmaid’s Tale on this list because while I thought she was unbelievable, and definitely one of the strongest of the year, I couldn’t finish the
Tag: jennifer morrison
Once Upon A Time 6×21-22 “The Final Battle” Recap
Spoilers Ahead And they lived happily ever after. Episode Summary: The Black Fairy’s curse hits Storybrooke trapping Killian, Snow, Charming, Regina, Zelena, and co. in the Enchanted Forest while Emma’s in a Psychiatric Hospital and it’s up to Henry to help her believe again. As it turns out, if Emma stops believing that the life she once had is real, it’ll fade from existence. Rumple faces his mother one last time. The families reunite. And they live happily ever after. Review | Analysis: Once Upon A Time is a special show — for six years it has allowed us to
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Dear Emma Swan
Dear Emma Swan, a letter to Once Upon A Time’s heroine.
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 6×14 “Page 23” Recap
Spoilers Ahead That was … strange. Episode Summary: In flashbacks, with the help of Tinkerbell, Regina’s father tries to bring her to her happiness by helping her find the man with the lion tattoo, but instead, she makes it so the magical arrow points her in the direction of the person she hates most. Upon remembering that she’s the person she hates most, in present day Storybrooke, Regina combines her love with the Evil Queen’s hate, and they send her back to the Wish Realm where she can start over. Emma learns the truth about what Killian did to her grandfather
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 6×11 “Tougher Than the Rest” Recap
Spoilers Ahead “Tougher Than the Rest” was a solid season premiere that finally addressed something we’ve all been wanting to know. Episode Summary: In flashbacks, we learn that a little last-name-less Emma was about to burn away pages of The Ugly Duckling story in order to keep warm after running away, but a kind stranger talks her out of it by telling her she’s capable of changing her fate. Back in the Evil Queen’s wish realm, Emma seeks August’s help to rebuild the wardrobe that sent her into our world while Regina seeks out Robin to learn if he’s happy in
Read moreBest of 2016: Performers
The Best of 2016 performers this year are a surprising batch of brilliant men and women that Hollywood needs to consciously cast more.
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 6×10 “Wish You Were Here” Recap
Spoilers Ahead Episode Summary: When the Evil Queen uses Aladdin, she wishes that Emma’s wish to have never been the savior be granted sending her into an alternate universe where she grew up as a princess in the Enchanted Forest. In order to bring her back, Regina wishes to be sent there as well. And just as the two are about to return home, a fan-favorite thief stops them. The hooded figure is revealed and new twists await. Review | Analysis: Once Upon A Time is generally masterful at creating heartwarming alternate universes with their characters, but in “Wish You
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 6×07 “Heartless” Recap
Spoilers Ahead One heart, one curse, and perpetual weeping by all fans until these are resolved. Episode Summary: In flashbacks, we’re taken back to a time when Charming and Snow met without ever knowing who the other was. In present-day Storybrooke, the Evil Queen finds a new way to torture the couple when she comes and accepts that they’re willing to lay down their lives for the sake of the town. Review | Analysis: Belief has often been an incredibly powerful theme in the world of Once Upon A Time and in “Heartless” it serves as a gorgeous reminder of
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 6×06 “Dark Waters” Recap
Spoilers Ahead Where there is hope, there is forgiveness. Where there is love, there is strength. Episode Summary: In flashbacks, we learn that a submarine Captain named Nemo tries to convince Killian to join his crew, and as it turns out his first mate is Liam, Killian’s father’s second son. In Storybrooke, when the two return Liam attempts to avenge his father’s death. Emma and Aladdin go off on an adventure to the town line. Belle visits the hospital for her first ultrasound. And the Evil Queen continues to gross us out with her crush on Gold. Review | Analysis:
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 6×05 “Street Rats” Recap
Spoilers Ahead A whole new world, a new fantastic point of view. (You all saw that coming.) Episode Summary: In flashbacks, Aladdin (Deniz Akdeniz) accompanies Jasmine portrayed by Galavant’s Karen David on an adventure to find a weapon, and in doing so he learns that he’s actually the weapon — the savior. In present-day Storybrooke, the Evil Queen pretends to be Archie in order to learn Emma’s secret and then “he” ends up revealing the fact that she’s hiding something in front of her family prompting her to tell them about her visions. Review | Analysis: “Street Rats” was yet
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 6×03 “The Other Shoe” Recap
Spoilers Ahead We are in this world to right our wrongs, love with all our hearts, and give with all our might. Episode Summary: When Ashley realizes she has a second chance to save her stepsister Clorinda (Mekenna Melvin), she chooses to do it all on her own, but is later in need of healing touch. Emma battles with the desire to give Killian his happy ending, but fears and the savior shakes continue to overpower her. Snow decides she wants to go back into teaching. Charming searches for the truth about his father’s accident. The Evil Queen teams up with
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 5×21 “Last Rites” Recap
Spoilers Ahead “Keep your chin up, there will be happiness again.” Episode Summary: When our heroes return to Storybrooke, Zelena is hesitant to believe Hades has actually teamed up against them, and after replacing the Olympian Crystal, Hades attempts to use it to kill everyone in order to create a new kingdom with Zelena. Back in the underworld, a newly deceased Arthur teams up with Killian in order to help the heroes defeat Hades. One soul dies, while another returns. Review | Analysis: Once Upon A Time is a show about hope — a reflection of the real world, only
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 5×20 “Firebird” Recap
Spoilers Ahead To quote the 80s classic, The Princess Bride: “death cannot stop true love, it can only delay it for a while.” Episode Summary: In Flashbacks, while Emma’s searching for her birth parents, a Bail Bonds woman, Cleo, manages to convince her to let go and after her death, Emma pursues the same career. In the underworld, True Love’s kiss restarts Hades’ heart and the quest Killian and Emma are sent on doesn’t go as planned forcing the heroes to once again say goodbye as they return home without the man they set out to rescue. Review | Analysis:
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 5×15 “The Brothers Jones” Recap
Spoilers Ahead It’s not enough to have others forgive you, you have to forgive yourself, too. Episode Summary: Flashbacks reveal the terrible deal Liam took with Hades to ensure his and Killian’s place in the King’s Navy. And when Liam doesn’t choose to see the best in Emma, she needs to put her heartache aside to fight and make sure Killian forgives himself. The heroes go on a quest to find the underworld’s version of the storybook, but in order to keep his secret hidden, Liam does Hades another favor by tearing his story from the book. However, when he’s
Read moreThis Season’s Most Noteworthy Performances
Scene Partners: Jennifer Morrison and Colin O’Donoghue
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 5×11 “Swan Song” Recap
Oh, we’re off to see the … Hades?! Episode Summary: In flashbacks, we learned that when Regina chose to test Killian, she had him confront his father after he’d abandoned him and Liam. In Storybrooke, we learned that in order for a soul from the underworld to be brought back, someone living must die. And a hero’s sacrifice saves the day, but because our town savior isn’t okay with losing her love, she’s on a journey to the underworld in order to split her heart. Neverland 2.0 here we come. Review | Analysis: There’s a reason we don’t often theorize
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 5×10 “Broken Heart” Recap
Spoilers Ahead It’s a dark, dark world out there. Episode Summary: In Camelot, we see an upset Killian enact the curse through Nimue which then forces Emma to wipe everyone’s memories in order to take care of everything on her own. In Storybrooke Killian takes away Emma’s memories and resumes his revenge while the heroes attempt to figure out his plot. Review | Analysis: The episode left a good majority of viewers puzzled, but in a way, that’s a good thing — a “penultimate” episode is supposed to be a massive conundrum. And while we’re on the edge of our
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 5×08 “Birth” and 5×09 “The Bear King” Recap
Spoilers Ahead Still haven’t caught our breaths enough to write something creative here. Episode Summary: In “Birth” we learn the truth about what transformed Emma into the Dark One, but we also learn that she’s not the only one in Storybrooke. Because Emma refuses to lose Killian, she tethers his soul onto Excalibur making him the Dark One as well. After she speeds up Zelena’s pregnancy in order to keep the baby away from her plot to give Zelena all the darkness, Killian learns the truth about what’s happened to him through the dream catcher meant for him. In “The Bear
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 5×07 “Nimue” Recap
Spoilers Ahead Once Upon A Time writers always know how to give viewers a fantastic episode, and we’d say this has been the best one all season. Although we’re sure it’ll probably, definitely be topped next week. Episode Summary: In flashbacks, we learn about how Merlin came to all his powers and the choice he made to only use them for good. We also got a glimpse into his relationship with Nimue and how anger fueled her more than the promise of a great and honorable future. In Camelot, Emma and Merlin seek out Nimue in order to retrieve the spark
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 5×06 “The Bear and the Bow” Recap
Spoilers Ahead Adventures and fierce ladies always make for great episodes. Episode Summary: In Camelot, Belle convinces Merida to courageously fight for her kingdom without the use of magic. In Storybrooke, while still under the Dark Swan’s control, Merida attempts to bring courage out of Rumple by threatening Belle. Arthur lies to the group about making contact with Merlin and when they learn the truth, they get Henry to do it — only they reach his “voice mail”. Rumple manages to pull Excalibur from the stone. And unanswered questions leave us on the edge of our seats. Review | Analysis:
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