Once Upon a Time | 5x16 'Our Decay'

Our Decay- Thank you once again for another fun reaction to Once Upon a Time, Travis! I definitely enjoy this episode. However, for me... It is most definitely one of my least favorite episodes within this season. Not that it's a bad episode by any means. Because I still love it! This episode is just a bit weaker than a majority of this season's and Underworld arc's episodes, is all. At least in my opinion. And then... I am not a big fan of Dorothy and her storyline with the Scarecrow either. Not at all. Which I will come back to shortly... First... I really enjoy the banter and dialogue between Zelena and Hades throughout this episode. And I love learning about how Hades has become the God of the Underworld upon learning that Zeus has stopped his heart and has forced him to remain Lord over this decaying realm. I even like that in order for Hades to be able to become free and leave the Underworld once and for all, Hades must earn True Love's Kiss. And I love that this is what Hades is seeking, even though I don't believe that such a goal is possible for Hades. And yet... The scene with Zelena and Hades riding the bike together is really cute. I love that it's a nod to The Wizard of Oz, given that Moira Gulch rides a bicycle in Kansas, before she's shown as the Wicked Witch of the West. I love that Zelena doesn't fall for Hades' proclamation of love, and that she refuses to give into his charm in spite of her love she feels for him. However, I do believe that Hades might actually feel something for Zelena. But just like Zelena says, I don't believe he would give up his revenge against his brother just to be with her. I don't believe his love for Zelena is True Love. Zelena on the other hand... I do believe that if she were to come to love Hades in return, then her love for him would indeed be True Love. Because Zelena longs for someone to truly love her with all of her being. However, I really couldn't care less about the whole storyline with Hades helping Zelena to find Dorothy and to capture the Scarecrow for his brains. I really, really hate how weak of a character the Scarecrow is and how his character is animated, rather than him being played by an actual actor. The Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz is my favorite character. So, to see him reduced to a very weakly animated character here, who is poorly written and who says two lines... So very, very disappointing. I also really love Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz as well, so to see Dorothy to be written such as she is within this episode as well, is also disappointing. She's pretty boring and weak. In my opinion. I was happy to see her again at first. However, there's something about this second, older actress playing her, and how she speaks her dialogue that just doesn't feel right to me. And now... I do quite enjoy Zelena's present day storyline upon her coming down into the Underworld, and her seeking to run away from Hades to try to protect her child. I don't like how Wishy Washy Zelena is shown to be, but I can certainly understand her storyline. She does truly just want what is best for her daughter, and you can see just how much so she does love her. Especially in the moment she's chooses to give up her daughter to Robin and Regina, all so that she will remain safe. Which is completely the opposite from why Cora gives up Zelena. And it's absolutely beautiful!! This beautiful moment for Zelena, is one of my favorite moments within this episode. I appreciate seeing a soft side to her for a change. I love seeing Zelena be truly selfless for once, and seeing that she does truly love her daughter. Although... She's just so back and forth with Hades, and especially with how she wants to help her daughter. And then... In the very end, we learn at last why Hades has designed the upper level of the Underworld to look like Storybrooke. As a way of trying to convince Zelena that he loves her and that he has changed. Because he believes that even now, Zelena still wants everything that her sister has. To rule her own version of Storybrooke. It makes sense, and I actually quite like and really appreciate this explanation for why the Underworld, or Underbrooke as Regina calls it, looks like Storybrooke. It makes complete sense. As for Rumple's storyline with Belle throughout this episode... I have such anger towards Rumple. He is absolutely a scumbag. I hate his attitude about becoming the Dark One again, and I hate his coldness towards Belle. Although... I do have to admit that it is actually nice to see Rumple finally show his true colors even to Belle for once, and to stop trying to pretend to be a good man. Because he certainly isn't one any longer. And I do feel badly for Belle. She deserves so much more. Next... I enjoy Henry's smaller storyline throughout this episode, in spite of his emo teenager attitude in the beginning, which really kind of annoys me. More so... I do love how Henry has begun to write new pages for the new storybook he's become the keeper of as the Author, even though he's begun writing and drawing these pages while asleep, which is interesting. And I especially love the moment he shares the page he's written to show Snow and Charming that their message to their son has gotten through to him. Which brings me to the storyline I love most within this episode... I love that Snow and Charming come to realize that they've been down in the Underworld too long thanks to the Blind Witch upon her calling them regulars within her diner. I like how she then tells the Charmings how they can contact their son within the living world through a magical phonebooth, in exchange for David breathing into a vial. I love that we learn that the breath of the living is something that can be something of great worth in the Underworld's version of the black market. Very interesting indeed. Also... I really love getting to know the Blind Witch more and more in this Underworld arc. She's a fantastic character brought into this season! Another of my favorite moments... I love when Robin and Regina talk about why he hasn't named his daughter yet, and how he and Regina have come down to the Underworld to save Killian so they can help a friend who needs them, and so they can show his daughter an example of heroism. I really appreciate this. And lastly... I love the brief scenes with Killian, Emma, Regina, Henry, Robin, and the Charmings. Like I mentioned... These are my favorite scenes within this entire episode no matter how small they are. I do wish that Killian and Emma were in this episode more, but we've definitely gotten a lot of focus on them lately. So, I definitely can understand them not being shown too much in this episode. Overall... This episode is just okay for me, but it's still very enjoyable to watch. And I loved watching your reaction for it like I always do. So, thank you again, Travis!! :) Sincerely, Heidi

Heidi Elizabeth Marcum