Souris

To go along with the tease about various outfits for Emma, I wonder if there could be a bunch of different AUs, and they shift-shift-shift from one to another? Maybe the Author keeps rewriting.

Need to specify a story with a PAYOFF, since his last story lacked one of those.

I have this little fantasy of Colin and JMo doing the play version of "Once."

I like the characters I like because of who they are. I don't want them to suddenly be different characters for an extended period. It's like switching the entire cast to entirely new characters. What is this, American Horror Story? No thank you. A tidbit about Emma's costumes in the finale.

I LOATHE the idea of the heroes & villains switching places for any more than the finale AU. LOATHE LOATHE LOATHE. Because I loathe it, that's probably what they'll do for S5.

The big drop started while Elsa & Anna were still firmly on the show, though. The show had the biggest opportunity in the world to enchant those Frozen-related viewers into sticking around -- and not only did it blow that opportunity big-time, it also started turning off long-time fans.

I did forget he is part of the EF stuff too. So I guess maybe he could TLK Regina and Emma.

I'm trying to reconcile the concept of everyone being someone else in an AU/altered timeline with the scene where it appears Emma, the Apprentice & Regina come to lying on the street, and Robin & Henry run up to greet them. Why only Robin & Henry? Where is everyone else? I'm guessing a TLK b/t Regina and Robin in the AU is what wakes them up to remember, and they have to get Emma to remember. TLHug b/t Regina & Emma?

Given the soapy twist at the end of last ep, can we expect that Zelena & Robin's baby will be SORAS'ed* into a girlfriend for Henry in about, oh, six eps? *Soap Opera Rapid Aging Syndrome, for those who aren't familiar with the genre

Variety's take: According to preliminary national estimates from Nielsen, ABC’s winning night opened with “America’s Funniest Home Videos” (1.5 rating/5 share in adults 18-49, 6.1 million viewers overall) and “Once Upon a Time” (1.7/5 in 18-49, 5.1 million viewers overall), with the former up a bit and the latter steady vs. last week. The Alphabet standout on the night, though, was “Secrets & Lies” (1.7/5 in 18-49, 5.7 million viewers overall), which was up 0.2 to a series high and matched its “Once” lead-in; the 1.7 is also better than all but the fall’s first two weeks of “Resurrection” in the time period. Though ABC has made it clear in promos that the season-long “Secrets” mystery will be solved next week, it’s also clear that ABC will want to find a way to extend the series, which stars Ryan Phillippe and Juliette Lewis, into next season. Closing out the night for ABC, “Revenge” (1.0/3 in 18-49, 4.5 million viewers overall) held steady and was able to beat out its drama rivals on both CBS and NBC in 18-49.

This time they may have him take a memory potion to forget Emma and do the DarkSnow thing. Because why come up with new developments when you can retread, I mean, "parallel."

If next week's numbers don't go down a noticeable amount, I think it is safe to say that the current viewing level is the show's floor, and those watching will continue watching regardless of quality or lack thereof.

Half-hour breakdown from Marc Berman: 8:00 p.m. ABC – Once Upon a Time Viewers: 5.24 million (#3), A18-49: 1.7/ 6 (#1) ———- 8:30 p.m. ABC – Once Upon a Time Viewers: 5.01 million (#3), A18-49: 1.7/ 5 (#1) 9:00 p.m. ABC – Secrets & Lies Viewers: 5.73 million (#3), A18-49: 1.7/ 5 (#1) ———- 9:30 p.m. ABC – Secrets & Lies Viewers: 5.76 million (#2), A18-49: 1.7/ 5 (#1) I included Secrets & Lies just for comparison. Once lost quite a few viewers over the course of the ep, but the 18-49 demo stayed the same -- which is what the network cares about.

Perhaps there's another writers' strike, but this one is a stealth one, and nobody else knows about it.

I could see that happening, sigh. I could also see Zelena dying shortly after giving birth, and Regina adopting the baby.

That's exactly what I think they were foreshadowing.

Is it any wonder why the show has devolved the way it has if this is the type of thinking that prevails in the writers room? Nimerfro has only contributed to what was already there before.

Yes, I just ventured into Scott's den of assholery because someone mentioned to me he was being a colossal jerk, and like a train wreck, I couldn't resist a peek. I lasted only a couple of minutes before I had to click away lest I have an aneurysm, but it was long enough to be disgusted, offended and flabbergasted. OMG, how is someone representing the show allowed to say some of the things he's saying to fans? He basically told that fan that it was the fan's problem and it's just a fantasy show, so get over it. Scott was BELLIGERENT with the guy. I mean, WHAT?? Wow, do the writers simply not get it AT ALL! Sadly, he also confirmed that he's back with the show next season.

So she's just like every other character, then.

I'm sure they knew it would get a negative response. They probably didn't even think about it being rape, though, which goes right along with their past problematic issues with it.

Yeah, the show used to be about hope. Even when bad things happened, there was a sense that good would prevail. There was entertainment and fun. Now it's just one grim, foreboding, "gotcha!" downer after another. How is that supposed to be entertaining? The show has really lost its way.

Depends on how many people bring it up. They'll ignore it if it's not that many people. But if a LOT of people mention it, they may dither a response trying to hand wave it away. I don't even know what the hell they've been thinking with the entirety of 4B. So much wrong.

Since you brought it up, I did that, too. And now I know something disturbing about otters.

Can we get Snow bringing Pregnant!Zelena creepy and foreboding cups of tea?

Curio, that was brilliant! You officially put more thought into that than the writers have into 4B.