Once Upon a Time S05E01: The Dark Swan (Full Reaction)
Added 2025-06-30 13:00:10 +0000 UTCThose searching for Emma receive help from unexpected allies; Emma struggles to resist her dark urges as she tries to find Merlin before her transformation is complete.
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The Dark Swan- Thank you so much for an amazing reaction for this amazing first episode of Once Upon a Time, Reds! I really enjoy this episode a lot! It's a fabulous start to a new season!! First... Hook's and Regina's actors... Colin O'Donoghue and Lana Parrilla... They have fantastic chemistry!!! And while I am so happy Killian and Emma are together and in love, I wouldn't have hated seeing Hook and Regina together either, had their characters and their stories been written differently throughout this show. I love every scene they're in together. As heroes and as villains. They're absolutely fantastic in all their scenes together!! :) Oh, and in regards to everyone once again having their memories wiped after a passing of time... I know that this plotline or aspect within this show has been done multiple times, and can seem tedious or even annoying to some degree at this point. However, if there is one thing that all of this show's major villains have learned... It is easier to try to defeat the heroes and succeed in their plans, if the heroes are struggling to remember how certain villains have risen up against them, who these said villains are, and how certain events and moments have come about. We see this throughout season one with the Evil Queen and Rumplestiltskin, in season three's Neverland and Wicked Witch arcs with Pan after he had casted his dark curse again, and especially with Zelena, a little in season four's Frozen arc with the Snow Queen, and now once again with the Dark Swan. And it's true... Most of this show's major villains have used a memory potion or spell to take away our heroes' memories, in order to try to get ahead of them in the easiest way possible. So, is this aspect of the show monotonous and perhaps annoying for being done over and over? Maybe. But it makes complete sense to me. Most of the major villains do almost succeed in whatever dark plans they have. They may not succeed in their main goals because our heroes do wind up defeating them in the end, but these major villains do succeed in some ways. I mean... The Evil Queen does succeed in casting her dark curse and forces her enemies... our heroes, to suffer for twenty-eight years under her curse, which is exactly what she really wanted, and Rumple finds his son at the expense of everyone else. So... There's definitely good reason for a memory spell or potion being used over and over throughout this show. I hope my thoughts regarding everyone being cursed without memories again, help to answer any questions you may have, Reds. Now... While I have a few favorite moments throughout this episode, one scene that really stands out to me, comes in the very end when Emma first appears as the full on Dark One after she has succumbed to the darkness. When Emma appears in the doorway of Granny's Diner in the dark, as lightning suddenly flashes behind her. Her look as the Dark One is sensational! She's still beautiful, and yet dark and terrifying in the best sense. I love her black leather clothes, her deathly pale skin, her hair turned white and pulled back into a tight braided bun behind her head, feathers in her hair on the sides of her head and in her braid that represent the look of a swan's feathers, and her red lips. Her look as the Dark One is completely different from Rumplestiltskin's look, and I absolutely love it! I also love how cold Emma is towards her family, Killian, and Regina, given that she has embraced the Darkness. And I like how she so unexpectedly turns Sneezy into stone just for him sneezing as she is walking into the room. This scene is eerie, and it absolutely makes you want to know just what happened in Camelot to cause Emma to give into the Darkness, which is fantastic!!! So sad, but fantastic! :) To back up a little... I really love the opening to this episode, when we see a much younger version of Emma than we've seen yet in this show, played by the second young actress, Mckenna Grace. A young actress who has quickly grown to become one of my favorite young actresses out there within the acting world! Mckenna Grace is fabulous, and not just here as little Emma in Once Upon a Time, but in many movies too!! I love her!! Back to this premiere's opening scene... I love that little Emma walks into a movie theater along with the other children inside the group home she once lived in back then, as they come to see Disney's, The Sword in the Stone, which is a beautiful way to set up what's to come for this season arc, given that season five brings our heroes to Camelot to find Merlin!! Very soon, we meet a mysterious new character dressed as an usher who catches Emma stealing a chocolate bar from another patron. However, it's clear from his words that he isn't really an usher, as he sternly warns Emma not to pull the sword from the stone one day no matter the temptation. I really love it! And then... We are introduced to King Arthur and a number of his knights as they come upon Excalibur trapped within the stone. I really like Once Upon a Time's version of The Sword in the Stone, and how Arthur is the seen to be the only one destined to pull the sword from its stone, just as he is born to do in all the Arthurian legends too. And after Sir Kay is turned to ash the moment he grasps the sword's hilt to try himself. In the Disney movie, Kay is a bully towards Arthur when they were much younger and has been ever since, just as he is in Once Upon a Time as well. So, this is another fun nod to the Disney animated movie. But most of all... I absolutely love that in the moment Arthur pulls the sword from the stone, we see that it isn't whole upon the tip of the sword being broken off. And as Arthur studies the sword, we see the designs etched into the blade match the Dark One dagger, that we suddenly see again when the episode transitions beautifully to the first moment within Storybrooke just after Emma disappears within the Darkness in the end of season four's finale, leaving behind only the dagger with Emma's name etched into it. And the transition from Excalibur to the Dark One dagger is absolutely brilliant!! I love that we immediately learn that the two blades are one, that has been broken into two pieces!! At last... We come to seeing what's next for our heroes after the tragedy that ends with Emma being taken by the Darkness. I love how Regina, Robin, David, and Mary Margaret are confused and afraid by everything that just happened, while Killian is more angry that Emma felt obligated to make such a heavy sacrifice that caused her to become the new Dark One through the Darkness, an entity that has been his darkest and greatest enemy for centuries. Rumplestiltskin was the monster who took his hand and murdered Killian's first love. The monster who consumed his heart and dreams in his search for revenge. However, I do believe Killian also understands very well by this point that the Darkness that had been trapped inside of the man he helped turn into a villain, is what really corrupted him, and not so much the man himself. And then... As Killian attempts to summon Emma back to them, we learn that Emma is no longer anywhere within their world, but somewhere unknown to the heroes. And I was so excited when I first watched this episode, to find out we would be traveling to a new land outside of Storybrooke and the Enchanted Forest once again. And to Camelot no less, which I absolutely love, because I love, love, love the legends of King Arthur, Merlin, and Camelot!!! So excited!!! :) And at last, we come to the Enchanted Forest outside of Camelot, where the Dark Ones' Vault shown previously in season three's episode, titled... Quiet Minds, resides. And from it, Emma is reborn as the new Dark One, as the Darkness emerges from inside the vault and reforms into Emma. While Rumplestiltskin's look had changed drastically right away when he first became the Dark One upon stabbing Zoso to take his power shown back in season one's episode, titled... Desperate Souls, Emma appears as her normal self. Why doesn't Emma look any different? I believe it's because Emma doesn't accept the Darkness now inside of her right away like Rumplestiltskin did. He wanted this newfound power and enjoyed his first kill. However, Emma doesn't take on the Darkness out of a lust for power, but to save Regina. I believe it's because of the circumstances behind how Emma and Rumplestiltskin become the Dark One. Rumplestiltskin killed a man in order to steal his power. Even if he supposedly did so for the sake of his son. He also killed to steal the power of the Darkness for himself. It was a cruel and selfish act. Whereas Emma had sacrificed herself to save Regina from becoming cursed with the Darkness. However, she didn't kill anyone upon becoming the Dark One. She ripped the Darkness out of the Apprentice to protect him, then released it until she pulled this dark entity into herself for everyone. Her act was noble. Therefore, the Darkness is unable to corrupt her heart so quickly. And I absolutely love it!!! Also... I really love that the Darkness takes on the form of Rumplestiltskin seen only by Emma upon him being only inside her mind, a former Dark One with whom Emma is familiar with in order to show Emma the ways of becoming a Dark One and to tempt Emma to fall under the Darkness' thrall. I absolutely love their interactions throughout this entire episode while Emma struggles with the Darkness inside her head, as she continuously argues with Rumplestiltskin. And I love that this season arc teaches us so much more about the Darkness and the Dark One powers! As well as about the origins of the dagger. This is why we see that Excalibur and the dagger are two halves of this legendary blade. It's amazing, and I can't wait for you to see all to come!! Back in Storybrooke... Killian and the heroes all work to find their way to Emma. They first turn to the Apprentice who offers them a magic wand capable of opening a portal to any land so long as the one wielding the wand can wield both light magic and dark magic. Sadly, the Apprentice dies because he's too weak to survive the darkness' earlier attack against him. And unfortunately, Regina is unable to wield the magic needed to open a portal due to her having done too much good since she had become a hero. I absolutely love the banter back and forth between Hook and Regina, as they argue about Regina being unable to get the wand to work. So, Hook suggests they enlist Zelena's help, which Regina is very much set against the idea. I believe that the reason why Zelena is the key to helping them get to Emma with the Sorcerer's wand, is because the Apprentice has already imbued the wand with his own light magic. And because Regina has done so much good, she no longer has enough dark magic needed as well, so they need to enlist Zelena's help so that she can imbue the wand with her dark magic as well. Unfortunately, Killian is so desperate to find Emma and therefore, he goes against everyone else when he comes to Zelena inside her cell to try to get her to help him. Of course, she is quick to betray Killian the moment he is forced back against the wall upon magic knocking him back when he attempts to rip out Zelena's heart, which is protected by magic. And Zelena quickly grabs hold of the knife she sees on Killian's belt, then without hesitation, she cuts off her own hand at her wrist to be able to take off the magic dampening cuff and is able to reattach her hand. I love it! Is it foolish of Killian to think Zelena wouldn't find a way to escape? Of course, his actions aren't smart, but desperation makes anyone act irrationally and foolishly. And his actions are very much in character for him, which I love. And I love that Killian uses magic he must steal from Regina's stash inside her vault. Magic that was previously seen back in season two's episode, titled... Queen of Hearts, when Regina imbues Hook's hook with magic he could use to rip out Cora's heart upon enlisting him to kill her mother for her. What a great nod back to this episode in season two! :) Next... I like how Zelena comes to Robin disguised as Regina so she can use him against Regina and the heroes so that she can get the wand and use it to escape back to Oz with her baby. And I really like, even appreciate, how Regina counted on Killian to show his desperation by helping Zelena to escape, and knew Zelena would be predictable, which allows her to take the wand back when Zelena becomes weakened upon opening the portal. And I love how Regina taunts Zelena when she states that those in their family know how to exploit pain, which is very true. And then... We're introduced to Merida from Disney's, Brave, played by Scottish actress, Amy Manson. And she's perfect in the role of Merida!! I love her spunk, her accent, and her wild red hair, and she's beautiful too. I love how her character is introduced when she and Emma comes face to face as they both arrive to seek out a will of a wisp, also from Disney's, Brave. I love that Merida is seeking it out to find her three brothers who have been taken prisoner by the other clansmen from DunBroch, while Emma is seeking out the wisp so it can help her to find Merlin so he can free her of the Darkness. I love Emma's and Merida's overall interactions, as Merida comes to fear Emma more and more, the longer they're working together to find the wisp, especially when Merida overhears Emma arguing with the voice inside her head. And I love their battle when Merida fires multiple arrows at Emma, which she is able to catch easily. I love the intensity in Emma's eyes. And unfortunately, Emma falls so deep into the Darkness as it consumes her, that she comes to rip out Merida's heart, then fights with the voice in her head tempting her to crush it, saying that doing so will be the only way for her to use the wisp for herself. And this leads me to another of my favorite moments within this episode... I absolutely love, love, love when Killian suddenly appears in front of Emma, as do Regina, Mary Margaret, David, Henry, and Robin!!! I love how they've arrived in Camelot and are able to find Emma through her baby blanket, and I especially love Killian's pleas to Emma as he helps to pull her back from the brink of darkness. I love how Killian convinces even Mary Margaret, who is willing to force her own daughter to give Merida back her heart through the power of the dagger, that Emma is strong enough to make the right the right decision for herself without being controlled. I love Killian's complete faith and trust in Emma and in her strength for goodness he has seen in her from the moment he met her and that has made him fall in love with her. And his strength is incredible! I love him all the more for being Emma's goodness for her when she's weak and vulnerable. This moment between Killian and Emma is so beautiful, especially when Emma finally is able to fight the Darkness as she restores the heart inside Merida's chest, then collapses into Killian's arms as he holds her so lovingly. Beautiful. :) Finally... King Arthur and his knights arrive and introduce themselves to our heroes, who's coming has been foretold to Arthur by Merlin through a prophecy. I love it! Because I love how this prophecy brings about a new mystery within Camelot, outside of how the heroes suddenly find themselves back in Storybrooke after six weeks have passed, and how Emma has come to give fully into the Darkness. I do think it's a little silly that the heroes come to Camelot as they fly through a tornado inside Granny's Diner, and that they bring both Roland and baby Neal with them on their adventure. But at the same time... I really love that so many people have come to Camelot along with the heroes to save Emma. I also like that it's a nod to The Wizard of Oz, with the house flying in a tornado. And in case you didn't see it... I absolutely love the design of King Arthur's castle within Camelot, because it is designed after the Disney castle, or Cinderella's castle in both Disneyland and Disneyworld, which is designed from the Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany... A beautiful and historical landmark where I have been privileged to visit in my travels and a place I absolutely love!!! And lastly... I love the nod once again to Disney's, Beauty and the Beast as well, when Blue gives Belle the enchanted rose so she can know when Gold gets better, or should he get worse upon seeing how the petals fall. Fabulous! The very rose we know to be given to the Beast from the Enchantress in Beauty and the Beast in order for him and his servants to watch the passing of time. :) Thank you so much, Reds! I really love this episode overall!! I think it's really strong and like I said above... I truly feel this is a very strong beginning to season five! So many beautiful and powerful storylines that I love to come, and I am so excited!!! Thank you once again! Until your next reactions... Sincerely, Heidi
Heidi Elizabeth Marcum
2025-06-30 14:55:15 +0000 UTCI love this ep. Love seing a different side to Emma. It is fun to watch for me
Mariah Libby
2025-06-30 13:17:54 +0000 UTC
