Bishop

Oh yeah, AJ has been removed from all dialogue if you notice. It's the thing that happened that no one can ever speak of, and it drives me crazy. It would be SUCH a better story if Michael was still holding that grudge, even if he was on speaking terms with Sonny, that there still remains this underlying tension between them. Unfortunately, something must have happened (perhaps viewers dislike) that Michael was no longer part of the Corinthos clan and so the writers, first under RC and now with this new regime, have just whitewashed AJ's murder. So now the writers want everyone to now forget, hence the constant ambiguities of the thing "that happened." Yeah, we KNOW what happened! I am still thrilled that Michael was overjoyed to get ELQ back (although I wish it had been him and Tracy to do it and not Jakeson) and still loves his Q family. I was happy to hear him tell Sonny that he is a man who loves and exists in TWO families. Now I just need Michael to have a storyline that doesn't involve babysitting every freakin member of his family. I never liked BM's version of Jakeson, and I still don't, but I can't change it. I do wish that there had been more of a reaction from BM when Tracy gave that heartfelt mention of her "daddy smiling down on him." It was a poignant moment, and BM basically played it like "Yeah . . . whatever. See ya later." Can I just say how THRILLED I am to see JL playing Kevin Collins on my GH screen again. PLEASE tell me that he is sticking around for a storyline because I would much rather see more of him than Lucy Coe. Kevin Collins is sexy as hell, and I do love how him and Laura look together, and I wouldn't mind them getting romantic. God, when was the last time either one of them had a romantic storyline?

And the writers do the same thing, it seems, with Lulu and Valerie. How many times does Lulu have to apologize to the woman who HAD the affair with her husband? The writers WON'T.LET.IT.GO. The same seems true of Michael and Sonny/Carly. It's like he can't have a freakin Quartermaine moment without the writers thinking "Oh wait, let's insert his love for Sonny and Carly so that no one thinks he loves one family more than the other." (insert major eye roll) I will never understand the writers and why they can't seem to understand how to write soap characters.

That's why I can't take Daisy seriously. She acts more like a petulant teenager than a would-be leader. Lincoln works so much better away from her because she comes off too young emotionally. I also don't like her "Huh, I have super powers, aren't I cool?" attitude. I think it was last episode when May or someone said something like "You're not invincible," and Daisy's reply was something like "Well, I'm willing to test that theory." She's a little too cocky.

Well then I guess I failed the test because I'm rooting for Nikolas. I can't take Jakeson seriously, especially when he's trying to be all threatening and imposing when he smirks during moments he's suppose to be menacing. Lol. I was also thrilled that Hayden got the smug slapped off her face when Nikolas told her that she lost ELQ.

This was a ho-hum episode. I do like the fact that Rumple is owning his actions now. He basically told Belle "This is me, take it or leave it." He fully admitted to her that he loves her AND power. He can't give up one for the other; he wants both. She has to decide if she can accept that about him, and frankly, I think Rumple was right in that Belle sort of likes that dark side to him. I admit that I've never been a Belle fan. I can take her or leave her, although I did like the initial Beauty and the Beast storyline when it was first unfolding. I just don't find her compelling enough to hold my interest. I also feel that the writers are spending WAY too much time on characters that sort of pass through but have no purpose. Do I care about Mulan, Red, Dorothy, Zelina or any of the rest? Yet we're spending episode after episode on them. Next week looks like a snorefest. I don't care about OZ!! I think only four OUAT characters have been well fleshed out over the course of the five years and that is Emma, Regina, Hook, and Rumple. The first three have had actually growth and evolution in their characters. Then again, I think I like that Rumple doesn't want to change. That's a choice too. An argument can be made that Snow has had her character fleshed out as well, but I feel that her character is so tightly interwoven with Regina and Emma that she has lost her own identity. The character that has been woefully neglected has been David. THAT is a character that should be getting far more attention than he gets, and certainly moreso than Zelina or Dorothy or Mulan or any of the rest of them. David has a twin brother, a stepfather who hated him for giving up the throne of his kingdom, a mother, etc. There is plenty of story to be told, and yet he is relegated to a few lines here or there. I don't think Hook has been acting differently. I actually love the story of this character (and Emma's) as it has progressed over the last five years. I've seen real change and growth, and I think this year was one of the best. I prefer drama in my storytelling rather than just camp or cheesy fairytale stories. In Neverland or in the other realms, there really wasn't much danger or drama. In the Underworld, Hades truly is a bastard and a great villain. Some didn't like the torture of Killian at Hades' hand, but I liked it. I twas a chance to see Killian vulnerable and to see Emma fight to rescue him. It's usually the damsel in distress, but this time, it was a nice reversal. I think the writers have done a nice job with their love story. I only wish they would devote some time to the Charmings. They had a few brief scenes showing how they met in season one and since then, it's been all about Emma. Like I said, I think Charming needs some time in the sun. (sigh) I guess I have to slog through next week's episode in Oz - a place that I don't care about and characters that don't interest me.

The best part of today's episode was the Qs. I loved seeing Monica, Tracy, Dillon and Michael, and I loved hearing him call her Aunt Tracy. It only took a few weeks for the writers to FINALLY allow Michael to see Tracy, but whatever. I am very tired of the writers making Michael the Corinthos babysitter. Have they NOT watched soaps because it's usually the young guy that goes out on the adventures and the older dad who stays home and watches and protects his own damn family. I can't wrap my head around what the writers are trying for with this storyline because it's not like we haven't seen Sonny go after someone for revenge. How about we change it up a little and have Michael go after Carlos and not sit at home taking care of his mother, his sisters, his cousin, and his brother? He's 25, not 54. I miss the old Jason/Sonny chemistry. It ain't there with BM and Mo, which I guess is to be expected but let's stop trying to make him a mobster and just let the story go in the direction that feels natural for the actors/characters. I see THIS version of Jakeson at ELQ or some kind of corporate job, not as a mobster. Amazingly, I can see Michael in the mob more than I could see Jakeson. Jakeson is too smiley and happy to be a mob enforcer.

In fairness to Killian, he has risked his life MANY a time for all of them too, and he had to deal with their insults (guyliner) and snark thrown back at him. So I say, what's good for the goose. That being said, you would think the writers by now would learn to craft better scenes with these characters.

I believe BM and Kemo are dating. So they can really go to town with their love scenes, whereas I think it's different when one of the actors is married or not. I thought it was bizarre. Jakeson looked happy and jokey in the beginning of the episode, then went all dark, and then back to happy and content. Frankly, I don't get why Sam got so mad today over Hayden and NOT angry when she initially found out about Nikolas' betrayal. I mean she barely reacted when she found out Nikolas knew the truth about Jakeson, and then yesterday, she goes ballistic. It was all just bizarre. I don't think BM has chemistry with Kemo or BM. Jakeson comes off as a sweet, nice guy rather than a dangerous, imposing former enforcer. Jakeson could be any Joe Schmo on a soap at this point. I don't see anything unique about him as compared to the rest of the soap characters on GH. Jason Morgan use to be a force to be reckoned with on GH. Now . . . not so much. Right?? I know. Like I said, he looks like Joe Everybody rather than a mob enforcer. He just doesn't come across to me as dangerous or a guy that would intimidate anyone. Then throw in Curtis' line about how lethal "that guy" is? Please. The writers are trying too hard to sell BM as the mob enforcer Jason Morgan. Just let him be Jakeson Doe.

Today was good and bizarre. The Alexis/Parker scenes and the Julian/Kristina scenes were good, I thought. I like seeing Julian interacting with the Davis girls just to change things up for a change. The Sonny/Ava/Carly stuff? Same old, same old - and I like all three characters, but it was boring. The rest was just bizarre. The Hayden/Nikolas relationship is getting twisted, and it would have played out much better if he had remained pissed off at her instead of her tending to his wounds at the end. On what planet would he want to be around her right now? Count me in also with "Why the hell did Sam go to confront Nikolas? If she wanted to call the police, she could have done that from Jakeson's place. SHE created the situation that took place at Wyndemere because she was shoving Nikolas and forcing her way into his home. Did he have the right to put his hands on her? No, but did she really think he wasn't going to try and stop her from calling the police? Lastly, I know the writers are desperately trying to sell BM as Jason Morgan and as Stone Cold and all that, and the fight was okay, but can we stop with the cringe worthy stuff from Curtis. "I've been in a lot of fights before, but that guy is lethal." Seriously??? Come on. It was not a bad ass fight, folks. It was one guy beating up another guy, and the other guy wasn't a fighter. Now if it had been two or three guys against Jakeson with Curtis' comment, then okay. I saw nothing OMG about the fight. It was a smackdown more than anything. Besides, Curtis looks like he could take Jakeson. I'm sorry but BM just isn't imposing.

I hate that Nikolas is a bad guy but Hayden is the good one. Once again, the writers are condemning a vet and promoting a newbie. They did the same thing with Lulu and Valerie. Lulu is tripping over herself to apologize to Valerie for sleeping with her husband while Valerie stands on her high-horse refusing an apology from Lulu (WTF) because she's upset that she almost got killed - yet ignoring that she tried to kill Lulu's father? Not a big deal. I just hate how they write the vets. The writers love to boost newer characters at the expense of the vets. I'm all for change in characters, but Nikolas hiring a hit on a woman??!!! In the history of his character, when would that have ever been true?? Ever? He is so different from SBu's Jason - and not in a good way. I'm sorry, but the writers from RC to this new regime have changed his character so dramatically, that I refuse to call him Jason. He's Jakeson because he's mostly Jake Doe with a VERY small smidge of Jason Morgan - and most of that is due to the leather jacket. How many more times is Sam going to be the brains? Hey, I don't think Sam is dumb at all. She's a smart cookie, but she basically has to lead Jakeson to the breadcrumbs, point them out to him, and then question if he's getting it. "Do you see what I'm seeing?" Then he sort of looks at her with that Scooby look "Ruh-ruh?" I can't tell you how many debates I get into with people who insist that they are seeing the old Jason emerge, and all I can do is stare at my tv screen and go "Where??!!" The writers need to stop trying to make them Jasam and/or Jason and Sam and just write a new lovestory for Jake and Sam. Trying to fit them into the Jasam box of old is just not working at all. What's even nuttier is that Sam couldn't put the pieces together regarding Hayden's alias, but Elizabeth can go onto the Internet and find all the clues. How does Sam miss that? Then with something more complicated, it's as obvious as a sunrise. I.don't.get.it. There are fans of the Corinthos family and of Sonny - as hard as that is to believe. I am one of them, and I don't find everything he says to be an horrific thing. I'm okay with people hating him, but it's okay if some of us like the character (and actor). Granted, I'm sure I'm in the minority on these boards. I loved SBu's Jason Morgan as well, which is why BM's Billy Abbottesque Jason Morgan is such a bitter pill to swallow. I just wish they would stop moving the goal post. This person is bad. Oh wait, no they are good. This person hates his father for killing his biological father. Oh wait, no, he's okay with it. This person is furious over a betrayal. Oh wait, no they don't think they were betrayed. The writing for these characters is the problem - which is why I find it hard to hate the characters sometimes. That's exactly what the writers want you to feel. There is no other explanation. I mean look at the dialogue. Sonny constantly throws in Julian's face how he got Duke killed and how he deserves to go to prison. Do you ever hear the character say "Hey Sonny. You murdered AJ and got away with it. So why are you on your soapbox?" You will never hear Julian say that. You will never hear Michael ever mention Sonny killing AJ. Why? Because the writers want to pretend it never happened, which is why Michael acts exactly the way you stated. It's the wish of the writers.

Lincoln was great as a doctor and also as unwilling to want to be part of Shield. I like that he didn't want to just be part of the super agents coalition. He genuinely fears himself in some respects, and he doesn't embrace it the way Daisy does. I think Lincoln would be a great character if the show focused on his doctor/science side but also allowed him to dabble as an agent. Luke can pull it off. I just think he comes off as more mature than Daisy, and so to have him be her subordinate, it just doesn't work for me. Lincoln seems more grounded in his reasoning where Daisy comes off as more emotional and reacting in the heat of the moment. Can Lincoln get emotional and "out of control" sometimes? Sure, but it's not his "go-to" reaction the way I feel it is for Daisy. The writers need to pull back on the Daisy/Lincoln pairing or just leave it as the "C" story. I want Lincoln to spend more time with May, Coulson, Mack, Simmons, etc., and just allow the character to find his footing. I thought he was good in the episode. I didn't have a problem with Coulson. I'm not sure what is upsetting other people because I like the character and his sarcasm. I think the only thing that bothered me was that Daisy suffered no consequences for her actions in the episode by Coulson, but then I wondered - did he even know what happened? I'm guessing Fitz never said a word.

That is exactly what I was going to say. Coulson was lambasting Lincoln because he wasn't sure he was a team player and needed to be tested - which is a valid move on Coulson's part. He should make sure new agents are up to snuff, but Daisy is the loose cannon. She was cocky with her "I've got superpowers, look at me," and totally put her team at risk just so she could get the bad guys. She is proving to me that she is horrible as a leader. Even Fitz could see that she was out of control when she was basically threatening to use her abilities against the guy in the car - and she seemed to be enjoying it. I like the character of Lincoln just when he is not around Daisy. The writers make it too smaltzy. When he's with May or Coulson or any other character for that matter, he's allowed to BE a character and not Daisy's boy toy. Let's hope the writers allow Lincoln to get fleshed out away from Daisy, although I do like that Lincoln doesn't tow the Daisy-line, meaning that he doesn't agree with her. He doesn't believe that inhumans should embrace their "specialness." He believes they should be able to choose if the vaccine Simmons is working on works. Daisy believes that all inhumans should embrace their powers. Like I said, she seems to be drinking the superpower kool-aid and not suffering any consequences. I like Simmons and May teaming up and I am hoping that they can save Andrew. I don't see why he can't be returned to his original form although Andrew may never be able to forgive himself for what he did to the inhumans.

I liked that Killian became the "younger brother" around Liam. Usually, Killian is self-assured and cocky, but he did regress emotionally around his brother, and it allowed the audience (and Emma) to see a very different side of him. She even said as much to Regina. I like that the character of Hook has these layers. That's an interesting take. It's true that he had just rebuffed Emma for feeling unworthy and then who knocks at the door? His morally superior older brother that he idolizes to reinforce the point of Killian's failures. I think Killian is a man always in pursuit of trying to be better. Killian loves the sea. That's the impression I got from him. He loves the idea of being out on the ocean as the Captain of a ship able to forge his own destiny, and he doesn't mind at all doing the work. Liam strikes me more as a man in love with the idea of being an officer, having rank and title. He felt the King's Navy was a validation of him whereas, I think Killian just wanted to have something to call his own. I also think Killian is the smarter man in terms of instincts, emotional intelligence (being able to read people), etc., and like you said a better Captain. I think if the crew had their choice as to who to follow as a Captain, it would be Killian and not Liam.

It's not that he's crawled up anyone's ass. It's that the new writers have decided that the previous year never happened, and they've made him the babysitter of PC lately. I mean he's either holding Avery, comforting Sonny/Carly, and holding Joss and Morgan's hands. What a waste! Why isn't Michael visiting Tracy in the hospital? Does he even KNOW she's in the hospital? The writers of GH love to play around with the character of Michael and just constantly change his motivations. It's annoying. Exactly - and the same point I made above regarding Michael. The audience remembers previous storylines even though new regimes try to rewrite everything, and yes, it's still annoying. Kiki would probably still be with MIchael if he hadn't dumped her for lying to him. Then again, these new writers seem to have Michael being okay with Sabrina's lying, which brings me back to "Do previous storylines and events even matter to writing teams anymore?" Best.Moment.Of.The.Week. I LOVE me some Wally, and he just makes GH better when he's on it. I agree. Forget about DOOL and just come back full time to GH, and HOPEFULLY, the writers won't let Wally slip through their fingers. They are so anxious to sign new characters/actors and let the vets go or relegate them to the background. Is it me or is the character just so damn earnest? I read the theory that maybe Griffin was a priest in an earlier life and then became a doctor. I can actually see that as a possibility.

Can someone explain to me why the writers won't allow Michael into the Quartermaine storyline? I mean, he was the character that worked with Edward and Tracy and then AJ and Duke and then Tracy and him to get ELQ up and running and successful? Now the writers have done a redux on the ELQ storyline for him, destroyed the "hating on Sonny" storyline, and now all he does is take care of everyone else. What a waste. Instead, I have to watch Kiki, Nathan, Valerie, and other newbies get storytime and screen time when they bore me to tears. On a purely shallow note, Chad looked really good, and those guns of his were busting almost busting out of that shirt. Does Michael even know that Tracy is sick in the hospital? I'm going to guess "no," since the writers haven't allowed him a word of dialogue regarding the Qs lately.

I think it's the latter. I think Liam sees anything not virtuous as weakness, and I say that because based on what we've seen of Liam and Killian's time together seemed to infer that Killian was "dark." Then again, others have brought up good points that maybe Liam's reference to darkness was Killian's anger and bitterness over what their father did to them. I can see that being a possibility as well. That's an interesting perspective. If it was from Liam's pov, then you're right. It could be that he saw Killian as a screw up when, in fact, he was just a young guy going through betrayal issues that he was able to work out later because Killian seemed to be a very competent and successful seaman in the King's navy - unless, again, we haven't seen something in his past. It's funny because I feel the opposite. I couldn't reconcile how the Good Form Killian could become so villainous as Captain Hook. It seemed such a stretch, but now that I know how his father betrayed him, how he worked as a slave on a ship with a mean-spirited captain, I can see where his darker side was able to take root. It would never have made sense to me if Killian had had a good childhood and a noble early life only to turn fully bad as Captain Hook. There had to be roots for his darkness, and I think this last episode helped provide that insight. You know, you are so right about this. As much as I love the Hook/Killian character, he never seems to get the fully fleshed out scenes and tends to get short-changed. I do think that the writers have devoted way more time to fleshing out Rumple and Regina - who for whatever reason needs to be in every episode. Like you stated, why can't Killian get his scene with Milah rather than Gold since it was Hook that pined and grieved for her for hundreds of years. I'm guessing Rumple forgot about Milah the minute he killed her. Perhaps there is a future scene coming up for Milah and Hook, but I won't hold my breath. I also agree with you about sibling love. I, too, am very close to my siblings, and we hug all the time. When Killian opened the door and saw his brother and vice versa, there should have been a big reaction between the two of them. There should have been far more scenes between the two brothers other than the two brief scenes we got. I don't agree with you on this point. I like the fun and resourceful Hook, but I also love the emo Hook. He is a man who loves and hates passionately, and he is a man driven BY his emotions. I don't need the happy-go-lucky pirate all the time. I do think that the writers should allow WAY more time to flesh out Hook, but I have loved this last season very much - and the previous ones. Colin tends to make the most of his scenes, even when the writers aren't giving him much to work with.

Did I miss how anyone was not responsible for what they did as Dark Ones? First, Emma IS to blame for turning Killian into a Dark One. He implicitly told her that he feared he wouldn't be strong enough to fight the pull of darkness if she turned him, and he begged her to let him die. He died, and she wanted him to survive,and so she turned him. That's a selfish act. Granted, she did it for love, but it was still selfish. Also, Killian never once excused his behavior as a Dark One. In fact, it's why he was so disgusted with himself. He told Emma that at least while she was a Dark One for six weeks, she was fighting the darkness and that she did it for love. He felt he was weak because the minute he found out he was a DO, he wanted his revenge again. Emma reminded him that in the end, he chose the path towards redemption and sacrifice. So both of them understand and see their flaws and strengths. I don't see how either Killian or Emma should be condemned for their actions. Gold, on the other hand, adores his darkness and his powers. I give no sympathy or leeway to him at all. Liam was being self-righteous, but he also had valid points that Emma CHOSE to make Killian a DO against his will. That's simple fact. However, Liam's argument that Killian "always had darkness" in him is BS. I agree with the others who stated that a drinking problem is not "darkness." Heck, we'd all be guilty of it. I think Killian adored his father and felt immensely betrayed when he sold them into slavery. Who wouldn't? So he drank, but at no point did I ever see young Killian as a man who would sell out other people for his own benefit. Okay, but didn't Killian also admit that it was Emma who turned him back towards the path of wanting to be a good man. Let me say this: Killian, imo, has always been a good man at heart - or wants to be. When Killian admitted on the island that he never thoguht he would be able to get over Milah and love another woman, it was his realization that he had a future. He also told Regina that he wondered if their constant search for revenge is what kept them from loving someone. So for Hook, he was always looking for some happiness with someone, imo. When he found it with Emma, and that she was a good person, it made him want to be better and to change, and he did. I didn't find the dialogue he had with Emma to be out of character when he was angry with himself for turning to vengeance. He felt he had made so much progress only to believe that he could still regress. Emma's point that in the end, he DID choose the right path at the expense of his own life tells her - and him - that he is a good man and worthy of forgiveness. Throw in that Liam was put on a pedestal and didn't make any effort to let his little brother know that he wasn't all that, and it just made Killian feel more inferior - to Emma and Liam. In the end, he realized his brother was flawed (for betraying his crew) and Emma was flawed (for refusing to let Killian die and turning him because she couldn't lose him). I agree completely. How is drinking the same as being dark. I don't get that comment by Liam, and unless Liam knows about something horrific Killian did as a youth, it's a dumb statement. In fact, Liam had far more darkness in him than Killian ever did because Killian didn't sell the souls of his shipmates for a rock and a commission in the King's Navy - Liam did that. So if anyone has a penchant for darkness, it would be Liam, and yet he allowed his brother to believe he was the moon, the sun, and the stars.

Emma turned Killian, against his will and without his consent, into the darkest being in the realm because she couldn't bear to lose him. She would rather have him dark and evil and with her rather than not have him in her life. She took away his choice. How is that not douchery behavior? Yes, Emma still has that superpower, but Killian has an impressive BS meter all his own. He was able to tell when Emma wasn't telling him the whole truth, and even last night, he sensed immediately that something had happened between her and Liam. Both Killian and Emma are good at reading other people - and each other. Regarding why Hook didn't trust Emma's superpower is because it was his brother, and he couldn't accept that there was anything to tarnish the halo he had put around his brother. jmho

This is the Elizabeth that drives me crazy. She loves to uncover other deceivers but can't seem to recognize that SHE is that person, herself. Let's also remember that if we are going to judge what Hayden has done against what Elizabeth has done, Elizabeth loses by double-digits. She actively lied about Jakeson's identity for months, denying his child a father and keeping Jakeson away from his family because she was greedy and selfish. She ALSO knows that Nikolas tried to have Hayden killed and she helped cover it up. So she's an accessory-after-the-fact. All Hayden has done is lie about her name, and yes, she deceived her husband, but no one was almost murdered. I loved how Hayden called Elizabeth out on her crap and how men tend to want to put an ocean between them and her. She slapped Hayden because she doesn't like hearing the truth thrown in her face while she's spewing it to others.

Yeah, but how do you get over the fact that your father said he would be there for you and then SOLD you into slavery? You don't let go of that kind of betrayal, and the only reason I think that Liam didn't fall victim to drinking is because he felt that raising Killian was his responsibility. No, Hook explained exactly why he felt the way he did, and it was because he gave into the darkness immediately. He felt that all the progress he made towards redemption in season four was mitigated when he gave into the darkness as a Dark One. Killian ignored the fact that he was able to make the noble sacrifice in the end. It still shows that he is a good man who reacted badly. That man still exists, but I think Killian thought he would be stronger, even though in the end, he WAS stronger. Kilian is hard on himself, and I think he held Liam up as the best example of a true male hero who has never fallen or made poor decisions. Once Killian found out that Liam was even more capable of making bad decisions and turning to darkness than himself, he freed Killian from this idea that he needed to live up to his brother's example. I agree. It's been established that Liam was a self-righteous ass. I think a big part of him loved being on the pedestal his brother put him on and even liked that Killian screwed up to elevate Liam even more. In some ways, actually, they had a twisted relationship - one that Killian needed to be freed from finally. Now he can be his own man and not live in the shadow of his "perfect" brother. I agree with you. I think the episode was too fast moving, which tends to happen when the writers want to tell multiple stories at one. There should have been more time spent on establishing the Liam and Killian relationship, and even showing HOW Killian spiraled out of control as a young boy. I would have liked more emotion between the brothers, but it is what it is, and I still was able to enjoy it. It certainly could have been better. I prefer Regina also when she's less sarcastic and snarky. It was nice to hear her just give some good advice and not taking potshots at everyone. She's hardly perfect, and it was good to hear her admit that she and Hook actually have a lot in common. I like that Killian beats himself up because it shows me that he IS a good man. Good men tend to refuse to see the good in themselves whereas the bad men seem to think they are great and infallible from the get-go (i.e., Gold, Hades, etc). I think Killian has always wanted to become that good man but felt that he was just too lost after his brother and Milah's deaths and his revenge for Gold to warrant any consideration. That's why I like the Hook/Emma storyline. It was a very slow build romance that really fleshed out their relationship and both broken characters. I really believe in this love story and root for it. I wished the writers had given more of that same time to the Charmings love story. We only got their love story in season one and only in a handful of episodes. I mean they fell in love within three episodes, I think. I would have liked to have watched their love story evolve more slowly as well. I do think the story should have revolved essentially around Killian/Liam and Killian/Emma and leave the rest of the Henry/Cruella stuff for another episode. I don't get why the writers feel that they need to showcase everyone all the time. More focused episodes would be more satisfying.

I don't agree. I don't think a gambling drunk is his normal self. I think Killian was devastated by his father's betrayal, and like any younger child fell into drinking to cope. Throw in that his older brother seems to be good at everything, it made Killian feel inferior. I think once the brothers entered the Navy, Kilian found that he was a natural seaman and loved the ocean and through that became the Captain that he is now famous for being. He still drank but not to the point of getting drunk because he found his passion. Kilian changed into Captain Hook when his brother died and his "hero" lost and then once he lost Milah, he gave into his darker impulses. The flashbacks show that he was always a good man but damaged. The fact that once Emma came into his life and was showing him that he is capable of being a good man, he was able to fully embrace the man he always was and renounce his darker impulses I agree with you that it was rushed, but I buy Killian feeling that he was unworthy. If you look at it from his perspective - he and Emma had barely announced their "I love you's" before Emma was morphed into the Dark One. Then he goes to try and rescue her, only to find out that she turned him too. His bigger issue, which he mentioned to her last night, was that when she turned into the Dark One, she was fighting its dark pull while he completely gave into it when he found out he was a Dark One. For him, it was embarrassing, and he felt that Emma was the better person for being able to fight it. So in his mind he felt unworthy to go back to the living because I think he felt that he was becoming a better person only to realize that he still could give into darkness. He ignored the fact, as Emma rightly pointed out, that in the end, he was willing to sacrifice himself to save everyone. That's all that matters. That's the big reveal of who Killian Jones truly is - "What are you willing to do when the moment truly counts?" Save yourself or save the people you love? Killian passed that test with flying colors, but he couldn't see it because he was holding his brother Liam up as the gold standard of a true hero, the better man. Finding out that Liam was capable of dark impulses freed Killian from the pedestal he put his brother on. I think the story, itself, was a good one but agree that it was rushed. I would have preferred more dramatic moments than trying to tell so many stories at once, but I still enjoyed it. I loved that in the end Killian chose Emma and a future. I am anxious to see some James/David storytelling with OUAT. As much as I love Hook, I do love the Charmings and David especially. So if the writers can explore the James/David relationship, that would be great. How does it retcon any of these things? All these things could have been learned once he became a Navy man. Killian would have learned to navigate simply being a slave at sea for so many years. Just because he wasn't at the helm doesn't mean he wasn't watching and learning. I'm guessing he learned to dance and sword fight as a member of the Navy. I don't get how the episode changes Killian's past. Let's hope this continues. It seemed like the writers dropped a few breadcrumbs when Cruella mentioned to David that she can see the damage in him too. So I would like for the writers to explore that story more. I did too, and I didn't miss him, which tells me that there is no purpose to the character of Robin beyond being a love interest to Regina. I just don't feel any pull towards his character the way I do for Hook, Emma, Snow, Charming or any of the other characters.

I think it was more about him identifying his connection to Sonny, Griffin's patient, then renouncing his Q side. The fact that Michael has not made any effort to change his name back to Corinthos still makes me happy. What DOES piss me off royally is that these writers refuse to allow Michael anywhere near the Qs lately. Can someone explain why he's not allowed to visit Tracy in the hospital? Is there a reason why he can't check in on his aunt? Does he even know she's in the hospital? Instead, the writers believe that it's better for Michael to worry about Sabrina - who dumped him in favor of the murdering ex-boyfriend. (sigh) I really can't understand how these writers come up with their stories.

That's one thing that I'm 99.999% sure is that it did not happen off screen. Part of the CS story is that everything is done slowly. Season Two, they were introduced. Season Three was them realizing they had feelings for each other. Season Four was about them falling in love. Season Five is about obstacles and keeping them apart, first as Dark Ones and now as being trapped in the Underworld. I don't think we are going to get a big love scene since this is ABC Family television, but all the other couples got their moment. Snow and Charming; Regina and Robin (even though it was crypt sex) and even Belle and Rumple. As for those who believe that because Milah mentioned that she'd been with her lover and her son, and Emma didn't say anything that it confirms she slept with him, Emma doesn't comment on a lot of stuff people confront her with all the time. It's more true to say that she has been in love with both men. I mean Emma JUST admitted that she even loved the guy to start off this season. So when exactly did they find time to sleep together between her becoming the Dark One and then him becoming the Dark One and then him being killed by her? I guess stranger things have happened . . . but I'm still going to stick with the idea that they did not sleep together until it's proven otherwise. Regarding the mental institution spoilers and Snow, Charming, and Hook possibly going through a portal, I like it. Granted, I am getting very tired of the portals, but I do think that OUAT needs to focus some attention on the Charmings. I mean, when was the last time those two had a story? I can't even remember, and I like the idea of Hook spending some time away from Emma and with her parents. I like the David Hook relationship.

How can she be pregnant? Tbey've never slept together. They only just admitted they loved each other in the season finale. Everything takes a year with these two.

I thought the reunion scene with CS was too short, but they certainly made the most of it. That is the most vulnerable I've ever seen Hook - battered, bruised and exhausted. I loved him just collapsing against her because I've never seen the character like that before and yet he's still Killian Jones underneath. I don't think Rumple meant to condemn her to the Lost Souls She was shouting Emma's name to warn her that she saw Rumple with Hades, and he reacted to stop her. I saw both anguish on his face of "What did you make me do?!" to accepting his decision afterwards because her silence ultimately trumped his grief. I didn't mind Hook's condition. It just made the Underworld feel much more dangerous than just a romp to another realm ala Neverland. THIS place feels much more threatening because of what Hades did to Hook. I actually loved the drama of it all. I think Killian bought Rumple's story because he had JUST been a victim of Hades for weeks - being beaten and tortured. So why wouldn't he believe that he would doom Milah to the River of Lost Souls when Hades must know that Milah was Hook's previous love and was there to rescue him. Throw in that Killian was in pain and exhausted, his usual "You're lying, crocodile," was not on his radar. Also, in Hook's mind, why would Gold go through the trouble of rescuing him just to kill Milah? jmo Hades explained it - finally. He explained that Hook was refusing to do what he was told and more importantly, continued to have hope despite everything Hades was doing to him to break him. I'm guessing the torture started when Hook first arrived because he wouldn't do whatever Hades wanted. We've seen Hook consistently be snarky with Hades, despite the abuse. THEN his friends come to rescue him, which Hades must have known about the minute Gold summoned the boat. I'm guessing that's when Hades really started to have Hook beaten because Hook was bringing people down to rescue him, which Hades admitted he didn't initially like. Then Hook realized that Emma was there when she summoned him to his grave, which gave them both hope - further fueling Hades anger.