Ranking the top 5 moments from “Once Upon a Time” season 7 episode 22 Series Finale: “A Second Chance”

After watching ABC’s Once Upon a Time season 7 episode 22 series finale last night, Regina gets it right when she says, “This isn’t an ending.  I hate endings because then your story’s done.”  She reminds us that our stories are far from over and it’s not exactly a new beginning, as Emma suggested, but really more of “a second chance.”  I have to say that this series finale was an emotional roller coaster for me, reminding me why I fell in love with this show in the first place and why it will always remain a favorite for me for years to come.  Please note major spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s series finale, “Leaving Storybrooke,” Alice and Robin try to find some help for their family and realize how complicated it is to explain time travel.  Meanwhile, Rumple and Nook try to break out of the snow globe and Regina desperately attempts to get through to alter-ego Henry before he does something he can never take back.  My top 5 moments from Once Upon a Time season 7 episode 22 series finale are:

5

“Our story was so short.  Doesn’t make it any less epic.”

Alter-ego Henry has a lot of bottled up anger and plans on taking it out on Regina.  He blames her for all of his problems and thinks that ending her life will bring him some kind of satisfaction.  Regina doesn’t give up and reminds him that in another realm she is his mother.  In a touching moment she says, “You’ve saved me.  Please let me save you now.”  Henry initially turns his mother away, leaving her alone in a prison cell.  While Regina is dreaming, Robin visits her, as he is always still in her heart.  She tells him how much she has missed him and explains she may be joining him.  Regina clearly remembers being a villain and starts to think that maybe this is what she deserves.  However, the goodness in her is articulated by Robin, who tells her that she was able to move her dark actions to the light and that was all because of her.  He tells her that “her life is proof that no one’s path is set,” foreshadowing some of the events to occur later on.  Robin provides Regina with the strength she needs when it seems like the world is against her.  When he tells her how epic their love was, I have to admit that the tears already started coming.  While it seems beyond unfair that these two cannot be together, Robin will always be in Regina’s heart, reminding her that her new path is one of goodness and love.

4

Mad Archer gets their happy ending.

While I was initially hesitant about all of the changes in season 7, Mad Archer always kept me smiling and cheering for them.  Alice and Robin are beyond adorable and their love is pure and innocent.  They have an undeniable friendship and will do anything to protect the other.  In an absolutely swoon-worthy moment, Robin asks Nook for his blessing to marry Alice and he happily agrees.  Nook’s heart is severely weakened from the curse, but Robin reassures him, “no matter what you are walking Alice down that aisle!”  While we don’t get to see the wedding for these two, I am hoping that a spin-off or special may be in their future?  If not, it is definitely something to consider as these two beautiful and courageous women turn browsing a bookstore into an adventure.  Who wouldn’t want to watch these two lovelies take on the world?  Either way, we know that they have earned their happily ever after and they are responsible for saving Nook and the others from the snow globe, proving that they can be quite resourceful and convincing.  Of course they do have an assist from the absolutely fabulous Zelena, who doesn’t turn away from an opportunity to take a Selfie or to help her daughter from the future.  While they may have unintentionally angered Grumpy after destroying his lunch, one can’t help but fall in love with these two, as they will stop at nothing to protect the ones they love.  Their awkwardness makes them that much more adorable, proving that these two are truly meant for one another.  Well deserved Mad Archer!

3

“We heard you needed some help.”

After breaking out of the snow globe, Henry rushes off to save his mother, Regina.  He runs into a little trouble on the way and is saved by his grandparents, Snow White and Prince Charming!  While I was expecting them to turn up sooner or later, I was squealing and cheering for two of my favorite characters.  Snow and Charming bring together a round table to discuss their plan of action and look around them to see friends who used to be enemies, a new generation, and new friends who remind them of old friends, allowing Nook to take his rightful place at the table.  They learn that Wish Rumple’s plan is to use alter-ego Henry’s emotions against him so that he can cast a spell that will trap every single hero in their own portal or prison of loneliness.  He tests the spell out on poor Blue who doesn’t even really get a chance to interrupt, but it’s clear that this fate ends with all of our favorite characters winding up alone.  Snow White explains that they need to remind everyone not to lose hope and that they just have to believe to succeed.  While Snow White is certainly keeping a positive attitude here, Wish Rumple is ready to unleash his spell on every hero who has ever gotten in his way.

2

“A weak coward will not be the Rumplestiltskin the world remembers.”

Rumple refuses to let Wish Rumple win.  As the portals are all opened, Regina finally gets through to alter-ego Henry and ends the initial threat.  However, Wish Rumple is not about to give up that easily.  Our Rumple explains that he has evolved and is ready to do what’s right.  He even calls Wish Rumple “crocodile!”  He knows that he will be giving up his chance to see Belle again, but is finally ready to embrace the goodness that has been trying to surface for so long.  It’s about time.  Rumple makes the ultimate sacrifice and rips out his own heart.  This destroys Wish Rumple and he gives his heart to Nook who is dying after holding on to Alice so she wouldn’t go through the portal.  The curse between Nook and Alice is broken and Nook is healed.  Earlier Rumple revealed to Nook, “you were the closest thing I ever had to a friend,” which is heartwarming enough, but when Rumple sacrifices his own heart to save his dear friend, his goodness has finally shined through.  Rumple is gone but not forgotten and Regina thanks him for saving them and whispers to him that he does deserve his happy ending.  Belle is waiting for Rumple in the afterlife and the reunion between these two is simply beautiful.  They share a kiss and fade away to their next adventure.  Even though Rumple is gone, his story will live on and he is not alone anymore.  Robin’s earlier words to Regina about no one’s path being set come true here, proving that the greatest of all villains can become a hero one can be proud of.

1

“I now crown you The Good Queen.”

After the threat with Wish Rumple is finally over, Regina recognizes that they still need to figure out how to get everyone back to their right time and place.  However, she suddenly has a better idea and realizes that they need to cast one more curse.  Only this time everyone will willingly offer up a small piece of their heart for it to work.  The magic can bring everyone together, allowing all of the realms to exist in Storybrooke.  Regina talks about Storybrooke being a secret place tucked away in a forgotten corner in Maine and that’s what fairy-tales are.  They are secretly tucked away under our bed or on our bookshelf and it’s up to us to dust them off and discover mystery and adventure with each new story.  All of the pages come together to make a true collection and to bring together our favorite characters, opening our eyes to the unimaginable.  They give us something to believe in and everyone believes in Regina right now after she is able to successfully bring them all together.  Regina is the new elected ruler to her surprise and everyone is here to support her.  The Evil Queen has truly become “The Good Queen.”  Emma rushes in fashionably late with Hook and their baby, Hope, bringing cheers to OUAT fans everywhere.  After Regina talks about this being “a second chance” rather than an ending, she brings us back to all of the moments that made us cheer, laugh, and cry.  She says, “I refuse to believe there won’t be more adventures, more love, more family, and yes there will be more loss because that’s just a part of life and in the end we can get past it all with hope.”  While she speaks these words that really resonate with all of us, we flash back to some of those pivotal moments in Once Upon a Time, providing us with the perfect blend of nostalgia and closure. 

The series ends with us leaving Storybrooke and takes a moment to pass by the yellow bug and some of our favorite places in town, but it’s not goodbye.  We can always go back to Storybrooke anytime we want.  Our favorite characters still have untold stories that will continue on as long as we keep believing in them and passing them on to the next generation.  We all need something to believe in and OUAT truly sparked this in all of us, immersing us in a world filled with endless possibilities.  No one’s story is set in stone and we all have the chance to spread goodness to those people we love and to those people who may have some trouble believing.  It’s up to us to never give up and to continue to believe in magic and love, which will keep us strong even when the days don’t shine as brightly.  Thank you Once Upon a Time for giving us fans seven years of magic that will never be forgotten.

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.  Thanks for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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