Once Upon a Time S02E18: Selfless, Brave and True (Full Reaction)

Selfless, Brave, and True- Thank you so much for another reaction for Once Upon a Time!! I really like this episode for August's storylines both in the past and in Storybrooke too. I love how his past storyline connects to how he comes to find Neal and then Emma shortly afterwards in Storybrooke. I love August as a character, and I love the actor who plays him... Eion Bailey. So seeing August become a little boy again is a bit sad. However, this moment is beautiful too because upon August becoming a real boy again... becoming Pinocchio again, it allows for him and Geppetto to start over and to live happily together the way they were meant to had Geppetto not sent his son through the wardrobe. And so... I really love this for both of them. This moment for me and everyone in Storybrooke is bittersweet. As for Tamara... while her storyline in this episode is full of twists and surprises, she is another character I really hate because in my opinion, her character just doesn't make sense. For me... there's no real point to her character throughout this episode. Regardless of the story the creators and writers are trying to tell. And I wish that they had come up with a better storyline for her. Although... I will say that I do like the twist that she has masterminded everything and used August to get her hands on the vial of magic, knowing she wouldn't be able to get it from him herself given that he would have seen through her lies since she really isn't sick. That being said... I really love Mary Margaret's storyline and how she comes to find August hiding out in the motor home in the woods. And I love how by helping August despite her own pain, helps Mary Margaret feel more assured that she too can be saved. Especially after David lovingly encourages her to stay strong and to have hope. I love this moment in the end between them. :) Sadly, August is fully made of wood again just like he was when he was still a living puppet back when he was a boy because he fails to remain selfless, brave, and true... just as the title of the episode suggests and as the Blue Fairy warned him. It's like Geppetto tells Mary Margaret and Emma... August has struggled with staying on the right path because he was forced into having to take on so much burden to take care of Emma back when she was a baby and he was only seven years old. So I can certainly understand why August had fallen astray. All that he did while in Hong Kong seeking out a cure from being turned back into wood from the Dragon was wrong, but understandable. He is another desperate soul. His actions are his own, but he is also desperate to save himself. Boy... had Rumplestiltskin been around and not cursed living in Storybrooke at the time, he would have only been too happy to trick August into making a deal with him. However, no other magic could have actually helped August. And to be honest... I'm not so sure even the Dragon's magic would have worked to heal August had he actually succeeded in drinking his potion before Tamara stole it back from him. And that is the point. The Dragon said that remaining a man made of flesh depended on him. It's like Blue says to everyone when she saves him in the end... only by August being selfless, brave, and true could save him. Speaking of the Dragon... think of him as a mystic, or rather a seer of sorts. It's clear he somehow knows everything about those who come seeking him out for a cure. Whether he can see the future, or read minds to learn these things... it's unclear. However, he is an interesting character. And in regards to you thinking that his death is anti-climatic... I completely agree with you. I think it's so strange that they would build his power up so much, especially when he suddenly flies towards her and starts to turn himself into what I assume would have been a dragon of some kind, only for him to suddenly be killed by a taser. First of all... he never should have gotten so close to her, especially if reading minds is one of his powers. And as for the taser which Tamara uses to kill the Dragon and later August too in spite of him being made completely of wood... there is a reason for the taser being powerful enough to kill them both. I won't say why because it would be spoilery, but once you discover this reason, you will understand what I mean. Now... I do think there were a lot of twists and surprises in Tamara's storyline like I said above. And I appreciate the few surprises we do get with her character. However, I don't really care for her overall storyline, especially when we learn that her whole story she tells to August and to Neal is a lie. I felt bad for her at first when she tells August her sob story and then August steels her money, but then she turned out to have ulterior motives and we discover that her entire story is all a lie from the very beginning. And while at first I liked finding out that Neal was engaged to Tamara earlier on because I had hoped that he wouldn't ever be given a reason to want to get back together with Emma, for my own selfish reasons that I won't get into just yet... I just didn't like Tamara's relationship with Neal after this episode. It all just brings too much unnecessary drama to the show and I think I might have mentioned this before... I hate love triangles in any show or movie, which this has now somewhat become, and there's also Greg... or rather Owen now too. Far too much unnecessary drama for each of the characters involved. Another reason why is because Neal has always been just an okay character for, but I won't get anymore into that. My favorite moment in this episode is seeing Marco finally become reunited with his son in the very end, just as August is sadly dying trying to warn Emma and the others that Tamara imposes. I felt so bad for both August and Marco and it was just so beautiful to hear Marco to assure his son that no matter what he's done, he will always love him and that he's been forgiven. And then Blue arrives just in time to cast her magic to save August, as it turns him back into a real boy and gives both August and Geppetto a fresh start to live their lives over as father and son. So beautiful. Sadly, Pinocchio doesn't remember what he was trying to warn Emma about and Tamara's secret is still hers. So, she's still a threat. I know his memory loss seems like a very convenient storyline to be written, but I actually enjoy it, and to me it does make sense. And now... Tamara and Greg are also together, as it's discovered she has been only using Neal and August to get into Storybrooke like Greg had to find his own way in too. And gross... I hate that they're together. A twist I didn't expect and don't like. Another of my absolute favorite moments in is the very end between David and Mary Margaret, as he assures her that she will be okay and find redemption again, because Charming knows her true heart and it's good. So beautiful! Another reason for me to love David/Charming and Mary Margaret/Snow. Oh... and I also love the scene in the woods when Marco finally apologizes to Mary Margaret for taking away her chance to be with her daughter when he sends Pinocchio through the wardrobe ahead of Emma instead. It's such a sad moment, but nice. Overall... this is a pretty good episode. Thank you again, so much, Reds!!! I can't wait for more like always!!! Until the next episode reaction... Sincerely, Heidi

Heidi Elizabeth Marcum