The Crocodile (21 Oct. 2012)

Belle and Rumpelstiltskin's relationship takes a sudden turn when someone from her past suddenly reappears in her life. Meanwhile, Rumpelstiltskin's wife is kidnapped by a band of pirates.

Director:

David Solomon

Writers:

Edward Kitsis (creator), Adam Horowitz (creator),

Stars:

Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, Lana Parrilla

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Ginnifer Goodwin	...	Snow White / Mary Margaret Blanchard (credit only)
Jennifer Morrison	...	Emma Swan (credit only)
Lana Parrilla	...	Evil Queen / Regina Mills (credit only)
Josh Dallas	...	David Nolan
Emilie de Ravin	...	Belle
Jared Gilmore	...	Henry Mills (as Jared S. Gilmore)
Meghan Ory	...	Ruby
Robert Carlyle	...	Rumplestiltskin / Mr. Gold
Lee Arenberg	...	Grumpy / Leroy
Chris Gauthier	...	William Smee
Barbara Hershey	...	Cora
Eric Keenleyside	...	Moe French
Colin O'Donoghue	...	Captain Hook / Killian Jones
Rachel Shelley	...	Milah
Mike Coleman	...	Happy (as Michael Coleman)

Storyline

Belle and Rumpelstiltskin's relationship takes a sudden turn when someone from her past suddenly reappears in her life. Meanwhile, Rumpelstiltskin's wife is kidnapped by a band of pirates.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Fantasy | Mystery | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 October 2012 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kitsis/Horowitz, ABC Studios

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Quotes

Mr. Gold: It's not lost on me that I'm now here to ask for your help.
David Nolan: Well, then it shouldn't be lost on you when I say no.

User Reviews

The Crocodile

After last week's episode, I mentioned that my biggest concern for Once Upon a Time going forward would be its treatment of this season's central conflict, as well as its incorporation of new fairy tales and characters. Unfortunately, last night's fourth and highly-anticipated episode didn't do much to ease my worries, what with its introduction of three entirely new characters and the second total absence of our female leads and their plight to return home.

A mostly Rumplestiltskin-centric episode, "The Crocodile" divides its time between present-day Storybrooke and flashbacks to give us Rumple's tale of "redemption"—one that seems as though it ultimately wishes to plant the seeds for the elimination of Rumplestiltskin as a villain (with so many others, it's probably a smart move, but Rumple's so good at it, it'll be sad to see step down as a token baddie). The episode opens in Storybrooke where Belle catches Rumplestiltskin practicing magic, immediately assuming he's up to no good. Calling him a coward for refusing to change his sly ways or to be honest with her, Belle decides to leave him, but shortly after is snatched up by a mystery man who returns her to her long-lost father. The happy reunion between father and daughter is short-lived, however, when Moe (Eric Keenleyside) decides it best to wipe Belle's memory by sending her across the Storybrooke border via underground tunnels so that she may forget Rumplestiltskin, the "monster" she claims to love.

Agonized over her disappearance, Rumplestiltskin teams up with Ruby and Charming to seek her out, and together they manage to stop Belle's memory wipe before it's too late. Finally realizing his errors and learning from Charming that the key to any good relationship is honesty, Rumplestiltskin confides in Belle that the reason he was toying with magic was because he still holds out hope for reuniting with his son Baelfire; since he can no longer cross the town line to search for him, magic is pretty much his only option. And because Belle is in every way a Disney princess (right down to her wonder over iced tea), and therefore a huge softie, she decides to forgive Rumple, and things between them seem like they'll be just fine—then again it is kind of hard to turn down a man who endows you with an entire library (…or is that just me?).

The story offered in the flashback this week was, for me, slightly more interesting than Storybrooke's, but that probably had something to do with the incorporation of pirates and Colin O'Donoghue's debut as Killian Jones/Captain Hook. Reminding me of my Hot Topic days (it was a bad phase, I'll admit), Captain Jones becomes a prime source of conflict for Rumplestiltskin when he basically swoops into town and steals his wife. Milah (Rachel Shelley)—who internet buzz is rumoring to be The Hunchback of Notre Dame's Esmeralda (but who knows?)—disappointed by her husband's cowardice and feeling bogged down by a life she doesn't desire, becomes instantly enamored with Jones and runs off to join his crew, making it look as though she was kidnapped. Dismayed, Rumplestiltskin makes a feeble attempt to win back his wife, but realizing he could never best the captain, quickly loses hope.

To read the rest of the review (IMDb form too short) visit: http://custodianfilmcritic.com/once-upon-a-time-2-4-the-crocodile/