Plot
Honestly, the real reason that I didn't enjoy this episode was that it achieved absolutely nothing. A missing piece of the past was filled in - but it wasn't a necessary piece, and I think the filler they came up with was worse than anything a viewer could have concocted about what went on when Snow and Charming really battled Regina. I mean, a lack of confidence being fixed by a pushy fiance and a fake Excalibur? Does that have any relevance to anything? No. The main plot in the present was equally shoddy. Emma spends the entire episode puzzling over who she truly is - something which I feel is a bit of a cliche in television and also something which shouldn't be such a big deal. You are who you are, it's as simple as that. Rumple spent the episode trying to throw away his past, only to have it come back and fall on his head. Over the past season, Emma has been trying to accept her parents - and now she's admitting she still feels like an orphan. It felt like everyone in this episode just took several steps backwards.
Character Development
No one really developed anything helpful in this episode. Snow developed a crippling confidence issue, Charming developed a frustrating and very large ego, and nothing else of any importance happened to anyone. Except maybe Emma admitting that she doesn't feel like her parents are really her parents, but that doesn't come as a surprise to anybody. Fairly useless episode.
Music
I didn't notice anything bad or brilliant, although the music when Grumpy was being choked by Regina amused me a lot. It was trying to be so dramatic - but we know he's alive in the present, so all the tension had gone out of the scene anyway.
Acting
Fine from everyone, but I thought the scene where Emma admits that she feels like an orphan was particularly good. It was very moving, and the only way it could have been better was if Snow wasn't there. Sorry. She was awful in this episode.
Scenery
I'm kind of getting bored of Neverland now. Throughout the course of the episode, it felt like every Neverland scene was in exactly the same place - and it always seems to be night time there, as well, which is just weird. Even the scenery in the Enchanted Forest was boring and samey.
Sexism
None that I noticed, which is probably the only good thing about this episode.
Bechdel Test
1. It includes at least two women, (Yes)
2. who have at least one conversation, (Yes)
3. about something other than a man or men. (Yes)
Those arguments between Snow and Regina paid off. 3/3
2. who have at least one conversation, (Yes)
3. about something other than a man or men. (Yes)
Those arguments between Snow and Regina paid off. 3/3