Mathius

I can't believe nobody's brought this up: 4x11 ("Heroes & Villains"). THAT, to me, was the show's Jump the Shark moment. And it jumped another shark with Henry's dumbass speech in the S5 finale.

I agree, I think it's because 5B, despite the subpar episodes, was still better as an arc on the whole than 3B through 5A. The focus got messed up in the middle, but the characters were still stronger and more active than they'd been in a long time. Also, Hades was a legitimately fun Big Bad, IMO. Me too. The red filter was a bit much, but I loved the "post-apocalyptic Storybrooke" look and feel Underbrooke.

From the Spoilers thread... How is this news? That's been the norm for this show for a good while now. But no adventures together, which is what the audience actually wants to see. "Built into the mythology of the show"? Does that mean this IS when Isaac makes his reappearance? Compare to last year, where they got an official pick up for S6 by this point. Not sounding good. Well then, epic failure on their part. This is one of the most cynicism-provoking shows in recent memory. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Stop it, you're killing me! "Things from their personal lives"? Given the state of this show's writing, I am quite intrigued by this. Yes, but Colin's character is one of the few on this show to actually maintain that balance successfully and realistically (Zelena from 5B and onward is another). The key word is that everyone is good AND bad, carrying both within them at all times, not constantly flip-flopping between the two like two certain characters whose names begin with "R". That is not relatable, it's frustrating. Similarly, the message of everyone being good and bad isn't really delivered when you throw around the hero and villain labels and shame the heroes as being worse than villains for doing anything remotely bad. I think most people did, which is why they wanted him around for most of the episode, but the writers don't let us have nice things. Even Colin's throwing shade at the writing of Season 6, it seems!

Agreed. You've got to steel yourself for the worst, that way it hurts less if it is the worst and is a pleasant surprise when it's not as bad as you feared.

No, A&E are the leaders in the writers' room. David, Andrew and Jane have equal power as sub-leaders.

LOL, no. This isn't S1 and S2 anymore, Eddy, get with the program.

Finally, the two fandoms can have a moment of empathy for one another! :P

Great, even Brigitte Hales, one of the writers for tomorrow's episodes, says she knows there will be..."feelings" about it, in the negative sense. It's frustrating because David Goodman is the other writer. He's usually the best writer left on the team except for when it comes to Regina. And this isn't a new trend, he has never done well with Regina episodes or episodes where there are significant Regina moments. His credits include: 2x10 - The Cricket Game (The notorious "lasagna episode") 2x15 - The Queen is Dead ("I am good. I was always the Queen, it was you who added Evil to my name.") 4x08 - Smash the Mirror (Crypt sex and the follow-up talk with Snow) 4x14 - Enter the Dragon (Mean Girl shenanigans in the present, poisoning a horse in the past) 5x08 - Birth (Controlling Emma with the dagger "for her own good") 5x19 - Sisters (It was even written along with Brigitte Hales, just like the upcoming episode!) 5x22 - Only You (SQ roadtrip featuring a looong Woegina monologue) 6x09 - Changelings (Featuring Regina's most blatantly hypocritical moment to date) He and Brigitte Hales are also slated for "Where Bluebirds Fly", so I'm not looking forward to that one either.

Yeah, I think Rumple has his own Exception Clause, which lets him get away with everything even when he's actively still being a villain. This quote is so asinine and detached from reality. I love how he claims it's so uplifting that Regina started the show interrupting Snow and Charming's wedding but is now "best friends" with them...and yet he writes an episode where Regina remorselessly crushes the hearts of an alternate version of Snow and Charming like it's nothing, with Lana Parilla even saying it "wasn't a sacrifice for her". There is absolutely no consistency here.

"Atmospheric smoke" and light effects to be included. Ooooooooooo! Also, I'm convinced the SwanMills family scene is some sort of fantasy of Henry's. Snow with schoolchildren was filmed at the same time, so this is probably Henry envisioning the ideal life he and everyone else would live in Storybrooke if it weren't for all the crazy shit that's always happening.

The final battle of "The Final Battle" will be filmed on March 29 and 30.

But they don't appear to be doing flashbacks in this finale...they haven't since S3. And remember, Snow and Charming were in their EF forms at the town line, so this falls in line what that.

Another shot of the house Rumbelle filmed in. Also, it seems Rumple is going full imp/DO as I posted in the Spoilers thread. I guess this is the state he'll die in.

Rumple is going full-on imp/Dark One for the finale.

A&E think they can please everyone, and end up pleasing no-one.

But it sounds like it's a 2x21 scene. And why do you think it's a "settling down" type of moment? That house looks abandoned and run-down to me, so it's more likely just a secret meeting place for them since Rumple is obviously going to be playing both sides, as established recently in 6x13.

They are still filming 2x21, so I'm pretty sure that something fishy is going on. Maybe it's Henry's dream while he's comatose in the hospital (again).

The SwanMills family scene is Emma and Regina seeing Henry off to school, and Emma is wearing her wedding ring, so that means it either takes place at the start of 6x21 before all the shit goes down, or it takes place toward the end of 6x22 and is the obligatory SQ pandering that won't stop even after Emma's damn wedding to Hook. Also, Emilie reportedly filmed an interior scene today, so Belle's still alive after all. Should've known Disney wouldn't let them cross that line! Here is where she filmed, along with Robert.

Good point, but 5x12 doesn't really count, Emma and Regina barely interacted there other than Emma telling Regina to take Robin & Henry and leave. Darn. I guess the first pic was just blurry, when I look closer at it I can see his facial hair.

A clean-shaven Killian? At least that's something new and interesting! Also, Snow and Charming are in their EF outfits but filmed at the town line. Just WTF is going on here? My speculation now is that BF/Rumple/Gideon are defeated, but the curse isn't broken and the secondary characters still don't have their memories. Emma and co. depart to live their HEA while this new guy takes charge as the new Savior who will break the new curse.

Yeah, I can't see how anyone can be surprised. 1x22, 2x22, 4x22, 5x22....3x22 is the only irregularity in this particular pattern for A&E.

Andrew Chambliss is the weakest writer (aside from A&E) who's been here from the beginning. David Goodman is usually reliable, and Jane Espenson is pretty evenly hit-or-miss, but Chambliss has scripted some of the worst episodes of the series. Beyond what you mentioned, he also wrote "Child of the Moon", "The New Neverland", "It's Not Easy Being Green", "Kansas", "Unforgiven", "Lily", "The Price", and from just this season "A Bitter Draught". He has written good episodes too, don't get me wrong, but he definitely seems to turn out duds more often than David and Jane do.

I doubt it. But even if it was, I fail to see the big deal. If Hook having slept with the mother of her first love doesn't bother Emma, then neither should him having slept with Tiger Lily, and at this point the family tree is so twisted that Emma's probably desensitized to weird new additions to it.

But Rumple is already here in the supposed re-cursed Storybrooke, as is Gideon. Wait....when was the last time we saw Emilie filming? They wouldn't go as dark as to have Rumple be forced to crush Belle's heart, right?

OK, now I'm more convinced Emma and Hook's wedding IS real, and is crashed by the Black Fairy in the EQ role prior to this new curse being cast. Also, recasting the Dark Curse. As if she wasn't ENOUGH of a Pan rip-off.