Once Upon a Time (TV Series) There's No Place Like Home (2014) User Reviews

Trying not to alter the past

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 1 May 2018]

When 'Once Upon a Time' first started it was highly addictive and made the most of a truly great and creative premise. Really loved the idea of turning familiar fairy tales on their heads and putting own interpretations on them and the show early on clearly had clearly had a ball. Watched it without fail every time it came on and it was often a highlight of the week. Which was why it was sad when it ran out of ideas and lost its magic in the later seasons.

Season 3 was a very solid one, for me there wasn't a misfire and even the weakest episodes ("Lost Girl" and "The New Neverland" as far as the previous episodes go) were decent. "Going Home", "The Heart of the Truest Believer", "Snow Drifts" and "A Curious Thing" were especially special of the numerous great episodes. "There's No Place Like Home" is another one of the best episodes of 'Once Upon a Time's' best season up to this point (and one of the best overall).

There is story advancing, lots of momentum and character progression, and everything concerning the past and how it connects with present events and how it may affect the future is highly intriguing, entertaining and emotionally impactful. A good deal happens but it doesn't feel too much. Revelations are both shocking and delightful, including the introductions of Maid Marian and Elsa. Emotional impact is huge, some of the biggest of the season, Emma's story has a lot of heart.

Particularly good here are how Rumplestiltskin is written, always one of my favourite 'Once Upon a Time' characters and "There's No Place Like Home" does nothing to change that, Mr Gold and Belle's heartfelt chemistry and Hook and Emma's witty but also beautifully tender chemistry. Found it easy to root for Emma, and didn't think her too passive or overwrought, she's written pretty poignantly.

Can't fault any of the acting, there is a lot of meat for everyone to sink their teeth into which all do with aplomb. Robert Carlyle, Colin O'Donoghue and Jennifer Morrison in particular.

Furthermore, "There's No Place Like Home" is a very handsomely mounted episode visually, the settings and costumes are both colourful and atmospheric, not too dark or garish and never cookie-cutter. It is photographed beautifully too. The music is haunting, ethereal and cleverly used with a memorable main theme.

Writing has the right balance of humour, pathos, mystery and intrigue.

Overall, a perfect way to end one of the show's better overall seasons. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Perfection!

[peace-delaney · 10/10 · 16 May 2014]

Elsa+Once Upon A Time= Perfection. The way they just stuck Elsa in there was perfect, I don't know if you guys predicted that but I definitely didn't and i think it is great. I also have a theory about what Elsa will be like: I think she will be seeking revenge on Rumpelstiltskin (assuming he is the one that imprisoned her in that vase) and that will make her the "villain" of the season, but really she will be misunderstood, like in the movie! I am so excited to see her character laid out in this series, because we all know the Once writers love changing characters.. *cough* Peter Pan *cough* and I am also interested to see if Elsa will be an addition the the very complicated family tree that has built up for the past three seasons. I also think it was smart for ABC to add Frozen because, let's face it, the just gained about 3 trillion viewers by just showing Elsa.. Pretty smart If you ask me. I am just so excited for the next season thus September, it'll be great!! But.. If they ruin Elsa so help me I will ruin them.

a m a z i n g

[taylorvisc · 10/10 · 30 July 2020]

This is literally my favorite episode of this whole entire series because of multiple factors.

The actors who play Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison) and Captain Killian "Hook" Jones (Colin O'Donoghue) play off of each other so well and have an amazing chemistry which is what got fans hooked (joke intended) on them in the first place. As they try to rewrite their mistakes from the previous episode, it's so compelling to see them working together since they are such fun characters and to see Hook dedicate himself to helping Emma because of his passionate feelings and to see Emma deny her feelings by banter, yet opening up to him in the end. Eventually, the pair right their wrongs and end up back in Storybrooke with the lovely message of finding home in your family and friends, after being away from her actual parents so long gave her the push to admit (to Killian I might add) that she needed them. It was also refreshing to see Killian be so supportive of Emma throughout the whole episode (something that Emma has needed for awhile) and that he ultimately helped her find her way back home. And, without intending to ever tell her, confessed that he sold his prized possession, the Rolly Joger, to help bring her home which motivated Emma to kiss him. This was such an amazing payoff for Captain Swan (the iconic ship name given to the couple) fans seeing that they hadn't kissed since earlier on in the season and the chemistry/tension between the pair was undeniable throughout the whole season.

Despite Emma and Killian brining back two problems to Storybrooke (one being a human ice maker and the other a long-lost lover), this episode had so much hope and possibility in it, really diving into the original message of the show and bringing it full circle by including a young Charming and Snow before they fell in love, allowing Emma to witness her parents fall in love. And it was a fun "Back to the Future" adventure that really brought Emma closer to everyone in her life.

Overall, literally my favorite episode with an amazing plot, acting, and payoff.

You traded your ship for me?

[sini-200 · 10/10 · 1 April 2023]

S3 finale is PERFECT!! Just everything you need from a finale. All about this two episode finale is amazing. The plot about Emma and Killian going back in past - iconic. The parallels between Captain Swan and Snow and Charming? Genious. Emma getting her first princess adventure, first royal ball with Killian? Legendary. Emma's realization that Storybrooke is her home, where she belongs with her family. I love everything about this episode. That scene with past Hook was hilarious!! One of my favorite scenes!! "We both know I'm his type" like pls Emma. And him getting jealous of past himself was so funny. And the fact that Emma was ready to run away again, from her problems, from magic and her feelings for Killian. But when she was away, she realized. How much she loved and missed her family. Home is a place when you leave, you just miss it.

AND THEN OF COURSE THE KISS!! I always loved Captain Swan. Killian's "I'd go to the end of the world for her" line, pure love. The fact that he was patient. He told her about his feelings but knew she was not ready yet. He waited for her. He waited until she was ready. He did everything for her, trading his precious ship (that in past episodes we knew how important it was for him) - trading his home just to find her. That is what you call true love.

With Emma correcting the past and returning to the future, she inadvertently gives rise to one villain, and leads to the introduction of what maybe another.

[Amari-Sali · 18 May 2014]

Let me just say the ending makes me roll my eyes so hard. If just because everything was setup so nicely that this could have been a series finale. Everything was fixed, everyone had someone and was in love, and then we learn Emma ruined it. Though considering how frustrating I have always found this series, why am I not surprised the final moments wouldn't only ruin things for one character, but introduce a possible villain who is part of a vastly overrated movie. More on that below.

Topic 1: Back to the Present – Emma, Snow, Hook and Charming

With Emma captured, Hook is ready to gear up for a rescue mission and get back his girl. The one who he would go to the ends of the earth for, even if he isn't fully sure she'd do the same. Thing is though, being the Emma has fond memories of breaking into places, and connecting, with Neal, she remembers she knows how to pick a lock, and with this she gives herself, and another prisoner, freedom. Which ruins Hook's rescue, but with Snow trying to take Regina on, while one rescue ends up being a slight dud, a new one pops up.

Issue is, after Regina captured Snow, she goes for an immediate execution by burning her at the stake, something which is done too quickly for Emma and company to stop Regina, leaving Snow seemingly dead and Emma on borrowed time before the time line catches up. Or so we are lead to believe. You see, Snow's dark fairy dust she used only a bit in an attempt to stop Regina, and the rest she used to save herself. And thanks to the power of the Blue Fairy, who sees through Emma's lies but keeps her secret, Snow is back to normal and all the main points of her and Charming's story are allowed to happen.

Leaving Hook, Emma, and this unnamed woman, off to Rumple's castle. Though not before knocking the unnamed woman out because she was becoming such a hassle. Issue is though, besides taking someone to the present and not knowing what effect that may have, Rumple seemingly can't make a time traveling potion. He can make one to forget all Emma told him about meeting his son, but not make a time travel potion, spell or what have you. This isn't to say though Emma can't. He gives her a wand he mentioned in the last episode and says that if she has magic, she can reverse the spell. However, with Emma seeing her powers as gone, and Rumple trapping the two of them in the place he keeps magic too powerful for even him, they seem trapped for eternity.

That is until Emma gets the point of all that has happened and realizes that she has finally found a home in Storybrooke, a connection to her parents, and maybe even Hook. With this realization, her powers comeback and power the wand, allowing her to open a time portal and escape. Hook and the unnamed woman go first, and before Emma can join them, Rumple grabs her. In these final moments in his castle, he asks why she was hesitant in speaking on Neal, and she admits the fact Neal dies. He forgives Rumple, but he dies. And you can see Rumple going through his thoughts about how he can save Neal, but Emma reminds him of the future that can happen if he changes things. So, oddly admitting defeat, Rumple lets her go and drinks the forgetting potion. Leaving us with a slightly funny scene of him wondering why he is in the basement.

Topic 2: All Is Joyful – Emma/ Hook; Regina/Robin Hood; Snow/ Charming; Rumple/ Belle

With Emma's return comes her storming into Grannies and embracing her parents and proclaiming she isn't going anywhere. Also, it is revealed her new baby brother will be named Neal, a sentiment surely not lost on Mr. Gold. And with this happy moment comes many others. Hook finally gets that kiss he has been vying for; Rumple and Belle get married by the well which the curse came from; Snow and Charming are in bliss; and Regina finally has found love, and a family. Well, until we are introduced to who Emma brought back anyway.

Topic 3: The Big Reveal – A Witch & A Lady

Introducing Maid Marian, Robin Hood's wife, his son's mother, and the woman who immediately kills off Regina's happiness. Seemingly making Regina ready to do another 180 degree turn, which Henry will surely undo, for she is upset Emma, like Snow, took away her seemingly last chance of happiness. But, it seems she won't be the only villain to worry about. An urn looking thing came with Emma and co. from the past, and rather than seep out a green ooze and mist, it is blue. The ooze centers itself in the middle of the summoning area and up rises the queen from Frozen. Making it seem amongst the tons of villains they could have chosen, they rather pick the newest one. Though I do feel a bit strange with her arrival, if just because Zelena's defeat seemed so odd. Her body shattered, her pendant activated the curse, and now the Frozen queen appears. And to me, if Zelena is truly gone, that has to be the saddest defeat of a villain on this show since Cora. Hopefully the queen from Frozen does better.