Ranking the top 5 moments from “Once Upon a Time” season 7 episode 21: “We Don’t Negotiate with Villains”

After watching ABC’s Once Upon a Time season 7 episode 21 last night, Henry talks about the importance of finding one’s happy ending the right way.  Unfortunately not everyone shares this belief, which we quickly learn during the first half of the series finale.  While sometimes patience, hope, and good deeds can be enough to fulfill our days, some characters are not able to overcome the overwhelming sense of defeat and loneliness within them.  Perhaps we all have the potential to become a villain, only we surround ourselves with people we love and things that make us happy to remind us to stay on a good path.  It’s hard not to be sympathetic to those who wander off the path, however, which can lead to darkness.  While these villains may not realize the damage that they are causing before it’s too late, it’s up to the heroes still existing to fight for good to prevail.  And it’s also important to know when to ask for help, as none of us are in this alone.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, “Homecoming,” wish Rumple pays Henry a visit and offers him a deal.  Meanwhile, Rogers/Nook promises Tilly/Alice that he will find a way for their own curse to be broken, Tiana/Sabine has doubts about her purpose, and Rumple takes on the greatest enemy he will ever face…himself.  My top 5 moments from Once Upon a Time season 7 episode 21 are:

5

Wish Rumple threatens Henry.

Just as the curse is broken and everyone’s memory is restored, it seems like our happy ending is right around the corner.  Only there is one more test that everyone must face in order to obtain it.  Henry is beyond happy to be reunited with his wife, Ella and his daughter, Lucy, but wish Rumple takes advantage of his love for them and traps them in the wish realm.  He threatens Henry and explains that he will destroy his family unless he retrieves the Dark One’s dagger and brings it to him.  Henry finds reinforcements when he goes to Regina, Rumple, and Nook for help.  Regina reminds him that “we don’t negotiate with villains” and talks about the importance of sticking by your family and protecting it no matter what.  They decide to go into the wish realm to save Ella and Lucy, using Alice’s cracked looking glass as a portal.  While they do not really know what to expect on the other side of the portal, they are ready to face whatever or whoever gets in their way, including some familiar faces.

4

Old friends and enemies return.

In wish realm, Henry and the others come across several familiar faces that will have OUAT fans everywhere cheering.  While the end of the show is near, it’s important that we look back on all of our past friends and enemies who have shaped the show and made it what it is today.  While Nook gets some help from our old friend, Ariel, other not so friendly faces are lurking behind the corner.  Peter Pan warns them as soon as they get to wish realm and Cruella holds on to her fur coat, but not her hair color unfortunately, as Henry later strips the black from her hair, which is the ink he needs for the Author’s Pen.  While we know more familiar faces will be surfacing in next week’s series finale, these characters are not to be forgotten, as they provide us with a reminder and a sense of nostalgia of the earlier days of Once Upon a Time.

3

Rumple vs Rumple.

Rumple decides to have a talk with himself.  He explains that he doesn’t want to force the dagger on an innocent and is happy to hand it over to him.  He thinks that wish Rumple could be the loophole he has been searching for all along.  But is he really ready to make a deal with his darker self?  Rumple explains that the one enemy he can never defeat is himself and is ready to get the happy ending he has been searching for.  However, Rumple has a trick up his sleeve, as he uses the squid ink Ariel gave them to trap him.  Rumple is ready to defeat his alter-ego, but Regina walks in and wish Rumple escapes.  While we know it can’t be that easy to defeat wish Rumple, it’s important that our Rumple is taking the necessary steps to finally do the right thing after repeating his mistakes over and over.  Rumple truly loves Belle but is willing to sacrifice reuniting with her if it means saving his family.  This transformation reminds us that it’s never too late to do the right thing and that having people in our lives who support us can make all the difference.

2

“None of my wishes came true.”

Like our version of Rumple, wish Rumple has not revealed his true intentions up front.  We learn that he has another agenda and it involves Henry.  Henry’s emotions are running high, as he is worried about the safety of his family, clouding his good judgment in the process.  He makes the rash decision to obtain the Author’s Pen and is warned by the author to use it to record, but not create.  Wish Rumple has been after the Author’s Pen this entire time and uses wish realm Henry as his instrument of destruction.  Even though our version of Henry turned down Rumple’s deal, wish realm Henry never had a single wish come true and is broken from this.  He is desperate enough to make a deal with wish Rumple and to rewrite history.  We know this can be extremely dangerous and it’s up to our favorite heroes to put a stop to this before all of their stories are rewritten.  After all, words are very powerful, but the intent behind them is what gives them their true meaning.

1

Tilly and Margot are ready to save the day.

Tilly/Alice gets a pain within her and recognizes immediately that something has gone terribly wrong.  She and Margot/Robin go to Tiana for help.  Tiana has been having doubts about her new role as a queen, but puts this aside when she stands in front of her people and asks them for help.  Her words are inspiring and remind us that you don’t always have to possess magic in order to make a difference.  Tiana’s words are enough and a magic bean is turned over to help Tilly and Margot get to their friends to save the day.  Only they need to make a quick stop first to get some help from some friends.  Next stop Storybrooke!  I am beyond excited for the conclusion of the series finale next week, especially since some of our favorite characters will be returning.  While it’s bitter sweet to see the ending finally arrive, I cannot wait to see how it all unfolds.  How about you?  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

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