scenicbyway

I'm with Kate in thinking the tip was a little short. The crew provided ALL of the entertainment, how many drinks did they pour? How late were the guests up (all night). It also seemed like the charter was longer than their usual charters. The main guest was completely drunk 90% of the time so perhaps he has a foggy memory on how above and beyond the crew were?

I think Kate knows exactly what she's dealing with in Rocky. It's obvious Rocky is used to being the center of attention and being told how wonderful she is. It's Kate's unlucky job to train Rocky in the ways of a Stew. It looked like before the first charter that Kate did give Amy and Rocky each the list of things that needed to be done. It would appear that Rocky didn't complete her tasks and that's why Kate decided to train her step by step before the next charter. Kate's just doing her job, recognizing also that if Rocky screws up in front of a guest it could mean they all are docked on their tip. Just like Eddie is to blame if the deckhands don't do their work, Kate is to blame about the Stews. Leon is just a piece of work. It looks like beautiful food, but there's absolutely an arrogance there, I didn't mind him telling them to fish since they already seemed to have planned to do that, I did mind in the last episode where he cooked them "Mexican Spaghetti" for their Mexican theme party. If the guests want Mexican, it's your job to serve them Mexican.

I thought it was odd they'd even discuss skin surgery when she so clearly wants to have children. It would've been nice to see them counsel her on a healthy pregnancy diet, because it will probably be hard for her to gain and lose weight again so soon.

The thing is, Emma still has to be redeemable so she can't be as dark as Rumple, or as evil as Regina. She's got to be somewhere in between evil Snow (little scary) and evil Charming (just wears eyeliner and doesn't smile as much). Maybe she'll force everyone to eat cold grilled cheeses and cold onion rings?!

So, epically sized to me means that the mid season finale will be 2 hours long. This way they get in 11 hours of programming but in 10 episodes, saving the spring season premiere for the 100th episode. Payoff for long time fans? I have no idea. The only thing that would be satisfying for me would be a TLK between Hook and Emma, but I think they are saving it for a long while. So I can't fathom, what another payoff would be at this point.

Anyone else think Jared agreed to the fantasy suite with Ashley I to get away from Jaclyn? She would've eaten him alive. At least he knows what he's getting with Ashley, which is probably a good night's sleep because he can drift off while she keeps talking...

I was actually a little worried for Tenley and JoshUA as they randomly tasted raw fruits and vegetables at the city market in the city of love. Everyone knows in Mexico, you have to treat your fruits and veggies in a bath of microdyne before consuming them. I cringed everytime she tasted something. I would also think for a picky eater, scallop ceviche wouldn't be high on her list of favorites and could again be hard on the stomach. Jared must have zero dating experience, the note Ashley wrote him is straight out of jr high or high school. Why does he keep stringing her along? Especially when he had another guaranteed rose? Get a clue Jared! Maybe they've made some kind of deal so they can both stay on vacation? Oh, Samantha, yes you are pretty. I thought what Ashley S said was what all the guys were thinking, they are struck by her beauty and don't see the manipulator underneath. It made no sense for her to tell Joe she was keeping him and then give a rose to Dan. Perhaps that's the only way she thought she could be rid of Joe? Dan really is the grandpa of the show, I don't think there's anyone there he's actually interested in, he just wanted a free pass for another week. I missed Ashley S.'s date with Nic, I'll have to see what happened, I had no idea they had sort of coupled up. Apparently, Tanner and Jade are as boring as they seem since they're pretty much never shown. I think Carly is pretty, her hair is fine, she can't help her dark eyebrows. She makes a great narrator, between she and Ashley S they have everyone figured out.

I would love for this to be Hook's quest, to save Emma/DarkEmma. But it's still Emma's story, and, as we've heard before, "nobody saves me but me." I think Emma will save herself, yet be supported by the Nevengers & Robin. I do think a split is coming between Hook and Emma, DE will want him to turn dark as well and he'll refuse. Hook will be tied up (probably) researching with Belle how to get the darkness out of Emma and it will bring back all kinds of painful memories of his pursuit against Rumple. Really, this is Hook's worst nightmare, he's spent hundreds of years trying to kill the Dark One, now he's in love with her. I do wonder how dark they can make Emma's character, perhaps DE won't have her memories of her time in Camelot and that's what the dreamcatcher is for? She'll see all the terrible things she did there before the team got to her? The thing is, how "dark" can you make Emma? She has to be redeemed, she has to become the Savior again, that's her role. Rumple as Dark One is different because he doesn't have to be redeemed. We see flashes of his humanity occasionally and Belle is blind in her love towards him, but that won't work for Emma. How does she become "good" again? Perhaps it's a simple as Henry finding a new pen (which would be really irritating). Honestly, this season seems painful looking at all of the spoiler photos. I guess this is the big crisis Hook and Emma have to go through before they can become engaged. I just think, "haven't Emma (and Henry and Hook) been through enough?" I'm just glad there's been no spoilers of Maleficient or Lily filming. That storyline bores me to no end.

I thought it was such a sweet wedding. It felt like we were watching a really personal moment instead of manufactured "reality" drama. Watching Zach walk Amy down the aisle to her seat, I was surprised they didn't flash back to Amy coaching Zach in soccer in the same place years ago. I loved the wheat planted behind the gazebo, it really showcased the land and made a beautiful backdrop for pictures. When Jeremy mentioned in speech that once Zach and Tori started dating Zach's posture completely changed, I thought it hit the nail on the head. Before Tori, Zach always ran around with his head down, now he holds it up and puffs out his chest. She really has nurtured him, and he needed it. I think dropping out of college and wanting to play soccer but only getting to be on the sidelines really affected him right out of high school and Tori's made him believe in himself in a way that his mom couldn't. I'm not sure Matt's really tried with him since his focus seems to always be on Jeremy.

So do Juelia and Mikey actually like each other or do they both just desperately want to stay on the show and this is the only way? I just think they've decided this is the only way to find "love" by pretending to be a couple. Ick. Sounds like Samantha tried to stack the deck by texting a bunch of the guys before the show. I wonder if they know ahead of time what point they'll enter the show at? I'm not sure she's actually interested in any of them.

Well, somehow, the people of Camelot have been transported to Storybrooke. It appears to be a welcoming festival for them perhaps like the reception they put on for the Storybrooke people when they went to Camelot to find Emma. They're allowed to throw parties even with Emma as DO, it looks like from the spoilers that Hook and the rest of the "save Emma" group isn't really joining in on the fun. I think it's just a setting for them to meet up with new crucial information into saving Emma (which we know won't matter because nothing does unless it's in a finale). The episode will air around Halloween so it makes sense to do something special. As we know, anytime they throw a party, something awful happens, this is just another version of Character a--"Party at Granny's!!" Audience-- "Oh, for love of God, they'll never learn"

I've only seen the episode through the return of Mikey so far, but, what's with all of this "Save Juelia" crap? The girl isn't going to lose her home or life over going off of the show! I think the conversation between Juelia and Chris H. was a total retcon for bringing Mikey back. TPTB must've known what JJ was planning, they probably even told him to keep Ashley S because she makes for better television and they knew Juelia would be safe by bringing Mikey back. Considering "Save Juelia" took 30+ minutes and interestingly, as shown, the only one who saved her was actually herself... I hope the rest of the episode gets more interesting.

I was hoping we'd see Ashley S. get a date card at the end and invite Juelia and just have a gals day/night on the BIP dime.

Did Dan just want to date other people all of a sudden? I can't believe they haven't shown why he broke up with Ashley s. I think she handled it really well considering it came out of no where. I guess he felt safe this week because he's handing out the rose and wanted to make it interesting? I makes no sense that one night he's totally accepting the rose to the next night breaking up with her to see what else is out there. Maybe the cameras were too focused on the Juelia/Joe non-drama. I don't feel sorry for Juelia, she was duly warned, Ashley was not.

So many great pictures! The title of the episode is "Broken Kingdom" though, so even though it looks like CS is happy, I suspect by the end of the episode, they may not be. I'm in the camp of dream/fantasy sequence. We know that a happy ending/wedding is what Hook would want and probably even Emma, but Adam and Eddy's spoiler of "love is a dangerous weapon" and the beauty and the beast magic rose thing really gives me pause. I'm not sure they are on their way or just coming from their wedding, since they seem to be alone. I don't think either one would get married without at least Henry there. I do like they idea of two weddings or even an enchanted forest engagement and a Storybrooke wedding.

I didn't think Lucy and Daphne's bathrooms were worthy of the prize, it seemed like they won because they'd only have $800 to spend next week and that wouldn't work. I didn't think Lucy and Daphne's bathrooms were worthy of the prize, it seemed like they won because they'd only have $800 to spend next week and that wouldn't work.

I'm sure Regina's in charge of "Save Emma" (which we already know she goes full dark so #fail anyway) as much as Zelena is Robin's "girlfriend." I love some real information an not just an entertainment reporter making stuff up from Comic Con.

I didn't see what the big deal was with John. He lost 120 pounds in 90 days, Chris was all over him because it wasn't 140, give me a break. Clearly Chris' methods didn't work with him but it he end up losing an amazing amount overall.

I don't think Hook's going to go dark. He's worked so hard to get where he is and he wouldn't want to disappoint Emma. Besides, what would the point be, other than to bring back THE leather jacket? I do think there will be conflict between Hook and DarkEmma, this whole plot is just another bump in their relationship adventure, that I sure hope ends with a TLK, THIS SEASON! I agree, I think Arthur or Merlin or both will use Hook as a weapon against Emma and a faux betrayal is the best way to do that. I don't think Emma would go full dark because of Henry or her parents, the focus seems to be on Hook and Emma.

I've been thinking for a while that Emma is going to be the Emma we know in the EF and Camelot while she'll be "Dark Swan" in Storybrooke "her reality" and that appears to be what's happening. Just as we never saw sparkly Rumple outside of fairytale land we'll won't see sparkly Emma outside of Storybrooke. I know the promo in the cell seems like it would be different, but I'd argue there's special magic in the cell keeping her transformed. I don't mind Emma's dark wardrobe, I think the hair needs work but maybe it will look different on camera. The new house is reminiscent of a Castle and with that picket fence, I think it might be Emma's dream house. It would be funny to see Dark Emma live with the Charmings, but with this new found sense of self, it's nice to see her get a home. I wonder if Hook and Henry will move in though?

I'm so glad this season is over! Kaitlyn was awful. She was inarticulate and she shamed herself. How many times did she say she'd made a mistake with Nick after that first sleepover? If she was actually going to pick him, it wouldn't have been a mistake. She was worried she'd end up alone, which should've been a huge clue that after that night she was in no way going to choose Nick at the end. I think Kaitlyn and Shawn deserve each other, he's crazy jealous and she's a big flirt, neither have jobs and she can't stay forever without one. I give them a week. I would like to see Nick's eventual happy ending but not as a contestant on the show...

Looking at the title for episode 2. "The Price" must be what the price is for either summoning Emma or using the dagger. Didn't Ginny and Josh say the dagger rules have been changed? I suspect it will also mirror whatever is going on inside of Emma with her taking on the darkness--the price for taking on the darkness. I wonder if Hook actually does summon Emma in episode 1 or if it can only be Snow and Charming since they essentially help send her on this path? Perhaps Emma does appear but hides out until she destroys the beer garden. I wonder if the beer garden is destroyed before or after their trip to Camelot in Granny's. It does seem like they may be playing with several timelines. Oh Joy!

Is it odd that both families were relieved it was down to the final two? I don't think Kaitlyn "wants" either guy. I do think Nick is being genuine, it's his constant eye rolls (which might be a nervous thing) that make him seem shady. Shawn is just a jealous and possessive guy. CH even tried to warn Kaitlyn about that before the rose ceremony but she wouldn't listen to him because Shawn is "hot." I guess I just don't see how he's hot when he's been acting like a jealous jerk since Nick showed up. Shawn didn't like that Nick came late to the show and Nick's previous reputation for calling out Andi for exactly what Kaitlyn's been openly up to (sex) this season. Get over it Shawn. Why has all the drama focused on Nick and Shawn? Shouldn't the focus be on the Bachelorette that we still know nothing about? I thought it was odd that Kaitlyn said she had concerns about Nick long term--does this mean he's a bad kisser, because that seems to be how she judges things, the guy has a real job and family, perhaps that's too steady for her. It's pretty obvious that production thought that this was going no where, that's why they went straight into overnights hoping maybe she'd like Ben more by that point and why they've skipped hometowns, why see Nick's again (the family probably refused to have the show back in their home) and Shawn's an idiot so why waste time there.

Thinking about love as a weapon... as much as I'd like for Hook or Henry to have the dagger, Regina will probably be the keeper of it since she can protect it with magic. Cue the scene in Regina's vault when Emma convinces her that she'll only use it for good, or perhaps, she takes Robin hostage and Regina's forced to give it over. I also don't get the quote that Emma is filled with the "lightest light and the darkest dark", what does that make her....AVERAGE, wouldn't those two balance each other out? I think it's funny that the DO outfits coordinate. Sparkly Rumple would fit right in with Dark Emma.

I don't think Meghan was wrong in not inviting Shannon IF this hadn't been a tv show. It was pretty clear from Vicki taking Shannon out to dinner that they were supposed to be filming that night as a group and it would be a problem if Shannon wasn't with the group. What would they have shown Shannon doing instead? Yelling at David, oh wait... Meghan doesn't realize that there is supposed to be drama, I get that she wanted it drama free for her first fundraiser in the OC, but perhaps pick having another party to be filmed instead? Has she never seen the show before? I find it hard to believe that Heather is a half million over budget, when they priced the project, did they just go with basic finishes? Can she really just write a check for $250,000? Does our health care system need some tweaking by chance? Interesting that Lizzie continues to have a bigger role, but she's not a regular.