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 5 had a lot to live up to after Season 4 being as impressive as it was. As far as Season 4's episodes go, they were all decent to brilliant with the only small dip being "Family Business" (though "Heart of Gold" was uneven) and the best being the "Smash the Mirror" two parter, "Best Laid Plans", "Mother" and the first part of "Operation Mongoose". So was expecting a good deal from Season 5 and "The Dark Swan" didn't disappoint at all. All the episodes between that and this ranged to me from decent to brilliant.
"Swan Song" is good still but a bit of a let down, especially with some of the previous episodes being so strong. Am afraid to say that my opinion is in agreement of the conflicted opinions here rather than the generally positive consensus from the critics. There are a lot of great things but there were a few things that could have been significantly better.
Its main problem is that there is too much going on and there is a jumpy nature to it, meaning it can get too over-complicated. Plot points are not as clear as they should and some don't feel resolved or finished through. Some of the writing is a bit cornball and could have been tighter.
Also do agree about Rumplestiltskin. Absolutely adore the character, but how he's written is both inconsistent and senseless, actually feeling like his character writing had gone backwards when he is actually one of the show's most complex characters.
However, there is lots of evidence of forward momentum and character development advancing and the set up for what's to come showing potential. The story has enough moments where it is absorbing and balanced with assurance and coherence on the whole. What really makes "Swan Song" is the character interaction, particularly with Hook and Emma, and the emotional impact, the final moments do wrench the heart and Hook's development is interesting and doesn't go round in circles.
All the acting is strong, with deeply felt performances from Jennifer Morrison and Colin O'Donoghue. Can never fault Lana Parrilla, Rebecca Mader and especially Robert Carlyle either.
Furthermore, "Swan Song" 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 theme tune.
Writing has the right balance of humour, pathos, mystery and intrigue mostly, though as said it is not perfect. This aspect has come on such a long way since when 'Once Upon a Time' first started, much more complexity and nuance, or at least at this point before it took a nosedive in the last season.
Altogether, decent episode but could have been better. 7/10 Bethany Cox
Season 5 had a lot to live up to after Season 4 being as impressive as it was. As far as Season 4's episodes go, they were all decent to brilliant with the only small dip being "Family Business" (though "Heart of Gold" was uneven) and the best being the "Smash the Mirror" two parter, "Best Laid Plans", "Mother" and the first part of "Operation Mongoose". So was expecting a good deal from Season 5 and "The Dark Swan" didn't disappoint at all. All the episodes between that and this ranged to me from decent to brilliant.
"Swan Song" is good still but a bit of a let down, especially with some of the previous episodes being so strong. Am afraid to say that my opinion is in agreement of the conflicted opinions here rather than the generally positive consensus from the critics. There are a lot of great things but there were a few things that could have been significantly better.
Its main problem is that there is too much going on and there is a jumpy nature to it, meaning it can get too over-complicated. Plot points are not as clear as they should and some don't feel resolved or finished through. Some of the writing is a bit cornball and could have been tighter.
Also do agree about Rumplestiltskin. Absolutely adore the character, but how he's written is both inconsistent and senseless, actually feeling like his character writing had gone backwards when he is actually one of the show's most complex characters.
However, there is lots of evidence of forward momentum and character development advancing and the set up for what's to come showing potential. The story has enough moments where it is absorbing and balanced with assurance and coherence on the whole. What really makes "Swan Song" is the character interaction, particularly with Hook and Emma, and the emotional impact, the final moments do wrench the heart and Hook's development is interesting and doesn't go round in circles.
All the acting is strong, with deeply felt performances from Jennifer Morrison and Colin O'Donoghue. Can never fault Lana Parrilla, Rebecca Mader and especially Robert Carlyle either.
Furthermore, "Swan Song" 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 theme tune.
Writing has the right balance of humour, pathos, mystery and intrigue mostly, though as said it is not perfect. This aspect has come on such a long way since when 'Once Upon a Time' first started, much more complexity and nuance, or at least at this point before it took a nosedive in the last season.
Altogether, decent episode but could have been better. 7/10 Bethany Cox
