Once Upon a Time REACTION - S01E09 - True North

Thank you so much for your reaction for True North! I do like this episode, and Once Upon a Time's overall interpretation of the Hansel and Gretel fairytale. This wasn't one of my favorite episodes, but I still enjoyed it. I especially love the mystery behind the Stranger coming to town in the end which made both Emma and Henry feel very uneasy, as well as curious. I also really like the Blind Witch. She's creepy and her look is quite good. And in regards to Hansel being foolish to take the cupcake and eating it... there are theories from fans of this show that it's possible the Blind Witch has cast a spell over the many sweets throughout her house to lure children in and to tempt them, which is why Regina sternly warned Hansel and Gretel not to eat anything. And it's possible that once Hansel took a bite, her enchantments immediately alerted her to the children being in her house and stealing her treats. Whether or not these theories are true... I choose to believe they are because otherwise, Hansel is simply foolish like you thought, and their backstory isn't great aside from it being simply another retelling of the fairytale with the added twist of the Evil Queen sending them there to retrieve her poisoned apple meant for Snow White. So I like this idea that he fell for the temptation due to the Blind Witch's magic. As for the rest of the backstory... I really like that Regina kidnapped Hansel's and Gretel's father to get the children to do her bidding, rather than him simply abandoning them like their father had done in the original fairytale. I really liked Hansel and Gretel's father and Emma helping him and the children to become reunited again in the end. While the end resolve seemed simple overall, I still felt touched upon seeing Hansel and Gretel become reunited with their father after all these years they've been separated due to the curse. Oh... and Regina sent Hansel and Gretel away to a part of the Enchanted Forest, known as the Infinite Forest. Land where people remain infinitely lost and trapped. This is why they were never able to find their father before the curse fell over them. I also really love Emma's storyline throughout this episode, as she fights for the children. She struggles deeply with her own past as you will continue to see more of throughout the series, especially with her belief that her parents just abandoned her, as Hansel and Gretel believe their father's done to them too. As for Regina within the backstory... I feel that she was attempting to fill the hole in heart when she offered to take Hansel and Gretel in within the Enchanted Forest. She absolutely wants to be loved. She just hasn't gone about it the right way because of her hatred for Snow White and her inability to get over her loss. Plus... it's revealed that true love in her life has been rare. Also... Regina's costume in the Enchanted Forest, like always... looked amazing. Even her hat. :) Her gowns and costumes are all amazing. Just like the Blind Witch's costume was as well. And lastly... one of my favorite moments throughout this episode aside from the end scene with the mysterious stranger arriving in town on his bike looking for a place to stay, is the moment in the end between Emma and Mary Margaret, as they talk about how Emma brought Hansel and Gretel together with their father, then they went on to talk about Henry's belief that Emma is Snow White's daughter. I love their playful banter, and the moment when Mary Margaret picks up Emma's baby blanket upon sensing something familiar about it. Sadly, she shrugs off her strange feeling as she drops it back into the box, but things are slowly changing and the curse is weakening little by little. :) Overall... this was a solid episode. I can't wait for your continuance for Once Upon a Time, and I'm so happy that you're excited for more as well!!!! Thank you again!

Heidi Elizabeth Marcum