LucidDreamer

Husband and I gave this show a chance, but we're out. We'd dvr'd this and couldn't be bothered to finish watching this episode once we started. Just can't connect with this show. (Strange, because usually my husband likes ANYTHING related to the premise of the show -- big horror fan, loves all the weird stuff).

The character assassination of Robin Hood is reaching Regina "death toll" levels now... Wow, is that painful to watch! I am somewhat indifferent to the whole Regina/Robin stuff, but that scene where he macks on her after Will talks to him about Marian and her love and support -- that was downright disgusting. Also, way to character assassinate Gerda (aka Elsa and Anna's mom, who really shouldn't be named Gerda anyway). Two for two in the "throw these characters under the bus" antics, show.

Sorry, a little late on this, but now that the Gerda thing has been established... I don't mind OUAT twisting fairytales to suit their stories, but in this case, they aren't really. They are using FROZEN "as is" with almost no character alteration (none allowed, I think is the reason). So they've inserted a non-fairytale into the fairytale world. FROZEN isn't even a classic children's story, like Peter Pan, that has had it's own share of variations and adaption. It's a completely original story written for a film that has nothing to do with any folktale, fairytale, classic kids' tale, etc. Don't get me wrong, good film -- but somehow out of place in the OAUT world, at least for me. Especially since they have taken the film and basically inserted it with very little alteration or twists. Of course, now they're pulling stuff from the original tale for little tweaks, like using the Gerda name (NOT the mother's name they used on the gravestones/runic stones in FROZEN, apparently). I don't really mind the mirror thing -- that's a good addition that was left out of FROZEN (well, like EVERYTHING from the orig. story except for the fact that there was a female character who could control ice and snow). Even adding in the Snow Queen -- okay, that's an interesting twist. But Gerda and Kai should have been left out of it. They were never royalty and their story could have been kept separate from this one easily enough. (The orig. story could have sort of happened with this Snow Queen in some other land/time/universe. Making Gerda a princess -- ugh). Just my opinion.

I have gotten a bit bored with this show in general, and just half-watch, but this episode even sent my "less than interested" self into a rage. As a writer myself, I cannot fathom anyone thinking that the current Emma & Regina trajectory works. As everyone else here has nicely detailed, Regina has actually harmed Emma and those she cares about -- even killing (or trying to kill) a few. How in the name of the plot-contrivance fairy would ANY such character (much less Emma, who used to be such a kick-ass warrior-type) want to be Regina's friend? I could understand a mutual truce for the benefit of Henry and the town, but... friends?? This does not compute. Characters can change and be redeemed, or whatever. But Regina is still imprisoning people in mirrors. Not to mention the fact that her whole beef with Emma is that Emma saved the life of an innocent woman who REGINA PLANNED TO HAVE KILLED. The irony of a murderer being angry because someone saved one of their potential victims... Is this lost on the writers? Back to scriptwriting 101, folks.

And his name is.... Walt.

Sorry, I'm not buying that. Even the themes are wrong, in my opinion. FROZEN is a great film on its own, but it isn't any version of The Snow Queen. But that's not really relevant to OUAT because they are using their FROZEN story, so I just hope they stick to the mythology they created for that. It works fine on OUAT, and I don't think the original story as written by Andersen would actually work as well in this context.

I hope they DON'T make the parents Kai and Gerda from the original story -- or any relation to them. Andersen 's characters are quite deliberately NON-royalty. (He had very conflicted feelings about royals, and usually only wrote about "ordinary" folk, unless it was to skewer royals, as in The Emperor's New Clothes). FROZEN retains nothing of the original story except the concept of a female who can control winter weather, so I don't want them to bring in Andersen's tale at this point. Stick with the FROZEN story -- making one of the parents related to the "Snow Queen" as depicted on OUAT is fine, and a good way to tie that all together. But for the love of snowflakes, leave Andersen alone (since they already did that with FROZEN, might as well continue).

Guess I'm in the minority, but the FROZEN stuff is leaving me, well... COLD. (Pun intended, as Emma says). It isn't the actors playing the FROZEN roles, they're fine. it's just the whole insertion of that film (which is not based on any actual fairytale, folktale, or classic children's tale -- it certainly bears no resemblance to The Snow Queen) just doesn't work for me in context with the other characters and set-ups in the OUAT world. It just feels like a commercial gambit to me -- the film made (is still making) mega-bucks, so let's throw it in the mix. (Of course, I really didn't care for the Wizard of Oz stuff either. Also seemed shoe-horned in). I don't know, call me "Grumpy", but I was bored last night (and so were the people watching with me).

Actually, that is a matter of opinion. I happen to like the original H.C. Andersen story. It is true, however, that FROZEN bears absolutely NO resemblance to the original story -- even less than TANGLED does to Rapunzel. Like, there is nothing similar between "The Snow Queen" and FROZEN except for a young woman who can control snow and ice. FROZEN is a fun movie, but it is a little disconcerting that now OUAT is adding in characters that actually are not part of any original fairytale or folktale or even just a classic children's story like Peter Pan. FROZEN is totally a Disney concoction, and so is Elsa. I guess it doesn't matter to most people, but this is certainly taking OUAT away from its roots in classic tales for me.