Ranking the top 5 moments from “Once Upon a Time” season 7 episode 18: “The Guardian”

After watching ABC’s Once Upon a Time season 7 episode 18 last night, Rumple gives up his chance at true freedom to protect someone else from losing hers, proving that even he can show signs of a pure heart.  Well maybe not completely pure, but his love for Belle is certainly pointing his moral compass in the right direction.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, “The Guardian,” Rumple tries to get to the bottom of Hansel/Nick’s mysterious death while Henry begins to question everything, desperately seeking something real and concrete.  Meanwhile, Regina pays Dr. Facilier/Samdi a visit and Tilly/Alice and Margot/Robin enjoy an adventurous first date.  My top 5 moments from Once Upon a Time season 7 episode 18 are:

5

Rumple crosses paths with Dr. Facilier in the past.

In this episode, we learn more about Rumple’s past.  He has still been trying to find a way to free him from the dagger so he can be with his true love, Belle but is running out of time.  Even though Belle is gone, he finds comfort in speaking to her and reveals his most vulnerable thoughts to her, clinging to a connection.  Rumple’s thoughts are interrupted when Dr. Facilier shows up, reminding us that these two are no strangers in Hyperion Heights.  Rumple and Dr. Facilier discuss how the new guardian must be “pure of heart” and that she will need to be tested if he ever wants to see Belle again.  Rumple approaches the potential guardian, Alice with a test, desperate to save himself no matter what the cost.  In present day, Rumple discovers Hansel/Nick’s body and knows that this was no accident.  He finds a voodoo pin on the floor and immediately blames Dr. Facilier.  When he discovers that the dagger has gone missing, he refuses to sit by and play by the rules.

4

Tilly/Alice and Margot/Robin go on a first date.

Undeniable sparks have been flying between Tilly and Margot as soon as Margot arrives in town.  Margot even tells her mother, Zelena/Kelly that she wants to stay behind because of the potential budding romance.  When Margot asks Tilly to join her for a day on the town, she means business, as she even comments that she is wearing lip gloss for the occasion.  After a sugar-rushed treat, Tilly opens up and decides to show Margot her world.  She brings her to a bookstore and tells her how much she loves it because she can go anywhere in the world without moving from this very spot.  After Tilly has a minor breakdown, Margot reminds her that she is there for it all, including the bad.  She gives Alice a bracelet similar to the ones she collected around the world and tells her, “This felt like an adventure to me.”

3

“Don’t make me ask you a third time.”

After Rumple discovers that the dagger is missing, he immediately blames Dr. Facilier and tells Regina about his concerns.  He asks Regina for the magic she got from Dr. Facilier but she reminds him that this is the only thing in the world she has to try and save her son and his grandson, Henry.  Regina tries to do what is right and confronts Dr. Facilier who admits to killing Hansel/Nick but not to taking the dagger.  Regina takes him at his word, but is she being blinded by her unresolved feelings for him?  Rumple refuses to trust him, however; and steals the magic from Regina.  Later on when he realizes his mistake, he explains to Regina that he did what he had to do.  Regina is beyond angry, however; and tells him that he hasn’t changed a bit and that she’s done with it.  She tells Rumple, “you and I…we’re through,” and it looks like she means it.

2

Rumple makes the right choice.

After testing Alice, she passes with flying colors and is about to take on the responsibility of being the new guardian.  Rumple has a change of heart, however; and stops her from doing this.  He explains to her that “immortality is just another tower” and he can’t do that to her.  This moment is touching and leads to one where even Nook thanks him for doing the right thing and shakes his hand.  Rumple promises Belle that he will find another way for them to find each other again and it looks like his decision brought him one step closer to that.  Even though it may not seem that way, Rumple’s decision to choose goodness will lead him to his happy ending.  Only it just might take a while to actually achieve it.  In present day, Tilly/Alice is hearing a buzzing in her head and shows Rumple that the dagger appeared in her bag.  Rumple knows that Tilly is the true guardian, previously thinking it could have been Anastasia, but takes the dagger back and hides it away for now.  Will Rumple make the same right choice now in Hyperion Heights?  We’ll have to stay tuned, but Rumple’s path toward redemption is not over just yet.

1

Henry questions everything.

Henry doesn’t know what to believe after seeing the medical blood test report.  He goes down to the station to talk more to Hansel/Nick, but is shocked to learn that he is dead.  He asks Nook/Rogers if he can look around Nick’s apartment, which is clearly breaking the law and tampering with evidence, but Nook agrees all the same.  Henry is not the only one questioning everything around him, as Nook/Rogers reveals that a medical report showed that Hansel/Nick was stabbed in the heart from the inside which is simply not possible.  He asks a very important question, “What the hell’s going on in this town?” but it looks like we will need to wait for him to find out more.  At the end of the episode, Henry shows the blood test results to Jacinda and tells her that he even called the hospital to confirm their authenticity.  Henry finally realizes that Lucy was right all along and blurts out, “I am her father.”  It looks like it will only be a matter of time before everyone wakes up and realizes that they are stuck within another curse, but will they be able to break it without consequences?  Stay tuned!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Once Upon a Time in the comments section below.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl