On the most part, Henry Mills was very poorly used in Season 7. Being reduced to a bland, one-dimensional accessory sort of character restricted to an over-exposed, cliched, dragged out subplot. A subplot severely hurt by out of date soap-opera passing for dialogue and non-existent chemistry with the show's worst ever character (am aware that my vocal dislike for Jacinda is going to test people's patience but that's just my feelings as she is one of the season's biggest flaws).
"Is This Henry Mills" was something of a refreshment though. It sees Henry at his most interesting and likeable all season and in a long time and it is the only Season 7 episode that seemed to know what to do with him and used him well. "Is This Henry Mills" may not be one of the best ever 'Once Upon a Time' episodes, but for me it is easily the best since "Wake Up Call" (which feels like a long time ago) and one of the season's top five episodes.
Like Season 7 in general, if this has been mentioned more than once in other 'Once Upon a Time' reviews of mine it is because pretty much the whole season suffered from this, "Is This Henry Mills" does try to focus on too many characters and tries to do a little too much. Other episodes did a far worse job at this, as the primary characters focused on are the most interesting they've been in a while and the story has more emotional impact and is less convoluted as before.
My only other issue is Tilly's defeat of Gothel being too easy and too convenient.
However, Henry's character development takes a huge step in the right direction as indicated above. Being a compelling, rootable and well used character with a story that doesn't dumb him down and moves development forward without being distracted by too much deadweight Jacinda. "Is This Henry Mills" has the most character development and plot advancement since "Beauty" (another one of the season's best) and for the better, for the first time in a while things felt like they were progressing rather than getting stuck or going backwards.
Furthermore, Henry's conflict is intense and moving and to see Regina having come on so much since 'Once Upon a Time' first began was a delight. Henry's past finishes very movingly, the ending with Facilier is one of the character's most satisfying moments and Weaver and Rumplestiltskin together was the single most genius individual touch of Season 7. The episode is well made, fittingly scored, there is far less soap and camp than in the previous episodes of the season and some of the season's best acting is here too. Particularly Andrew J. West, Lana Parrilla and Robert Carlyle (Jared Gilmore too).
Overall, surprisingly very good. 8/10
"Is This Henry Mills" was something of a refreshment though. It sees Henry at his most interesting and likeable all season and in a long time and it is the only Season 7 episode that seemed to know what to do with him and used him well. "Is This Henry Mills" may not be one of the best ever 'Once Upon a Time' episodes, but for me it is easily the best since "Wake Up Call" (which feels like a long time ago) and one of the season's top five episodes.
Like Season 7 in general, if this has been mentioned more than once in other 'Once Upon a Time' reviews of mine it is because pretty much the whole season suffered from this, "Is This Henry Mills" does try to focus on too many characters and tries to do a little too much. Other episodes did a far worse job at this, as the primary characters focused on are the most interesting they've been in a while and the story has more emotional impact and is less convoluted as before.
My only other issue is Tilly's defeat of Gothel being too easy and too convenient.
However, Henry's character development takes a huge step in the right direction as indicated above. Being a compelling, rootable and well used character with a story that doesn't dumb him down and moves development forward without being distracted by too much deadweight Jacinda. "Is This Henry Mills" has the most character development and plot advancement since "Beauty" (another one of the season's best) and for the better, for the first time in a while things felt like they were progressing rather than getting stuck or going backwards.
Furthermore, Henry's conflict is intense and moving and to see Regina having come on so much since 'Once Upon a Time' first began was a delight. Henry's past finishes very movingly, the ending with Facilier is one of the character's most satisfying moments and Weaver and Rumplestiltskin together was the single most genius individual touch of Season 7. The episode is well made, fittingly scored, there is far less soap and camp than in the previous episodes of the season and some of the season's best acting is here too. Particularly Andrew J. West, Lana Parrilla and Robert Carlyle (Jared Gilmore too).
Overall, surprisingly very good. 8/10