Once Upon a Time Episode Disussion thread 6x18: Where Bluebirds Fly
 

Overall I liked this episode. It had lots of Regina, which is always a good thing. :)

Episdoe spoilers below





I think I was supposed to feel sorry for Zelena in this episode, but I didn't. I understand that Zelena is much like Regina in that she grew up in an abusive situation. It seemed to me that Regina was mostly isolated, while Zelena was more of an outcast, but they made similar life choices. Zelena took a step in the right direction in this episode. Her magic is extremely important to her, so her choice to give it up was a big deal. However I'm not sure she would have gotten involved if the Black Fairy hadn't threatened her and the baby directly. It's in her best interest for the Black Fairy to be defeated. I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt though because it's a really good first step.

The problem is that Zelena wants Regina to accept her, but she doesn't seem to feel any guilt for what she's done. Can she really blame Regina for not wanting her around? I don't mean Robin's death, but trying to wipe Regina out of existence in season 3, then impersonating Marian and sexually violating Robin so she could get pregnant with his child and then repeatedly taunting them about it every chance she got. Regina did horrible things too, maybe worse things, but the difference is that she acknowledges those things. In the season 5 finale, she told Emma that she did "terrible, unspeakable things" that she can never make up for. She realizes that the Charming family have a right to hate her, even though they don't. I need to hear something like that from Zelena. Then I could probably get behind a redemption story for her.

More Regina is always amazing so looking forward to this episode :D

I think the episode's conclusion made this episode worthwhile. I thought it was the biggest turning point for Zelena thus far where she made the selfless decision to give up her magic to derail the Black Fairy's agenda. I also found it a bit moving that Zelena came back and admitted to Regina that she was basically all she really had and leaving for Oz wasn't the answer. The one other aspect I liked was I found that the young actress who played young Zelena did a good job.

Now back tracking a bit ....

I was annoyed by how Zelena downplayed her own role in what contributed to Robin's demise. Hades was only going after Regina in the first place over her and while Zelena was technically being duped, her rationale on how Regina losing Robin Hood was in any way comparable to losing Hades in mere days just really irked me. Not to mention the insinuation that she gave up so much by letting Regina live instead? She is just completely dismissive of Regina's feelings over everything that involved her soulmate and her sister - treating it like Regina is a nuisance who just needs to get over it.

I thought it was cool we got some Zelena, Regina, & Black Fairy confrontation but I think the episode went overboard trying to reinforce how much more powerful Zelena is over Regina. It made me want to roll my eyes that Zelena said it more than once and then they had BF toss Regina like a rag doll to further prove the point. Don't get me wrong, I get Regina isn't technically the EQ anymore but I haven't seen where that should dilute her magic when she successfully went up against her EQ counterpart pretty evenly matched.

BF doesn't need light magic either, I get that, she wanted dark unstable magic to alter the fairy crystals but downplaying Regina like that kind of takes me back to s3. Only this time, her insignificant status will stick now, unlike s3, because Emma will likely defeat BF on her own in the end with some form of light magic because she is the Savior? So I am hoping for one scene next episode where Regina can send the BF on her @$$ at least once! Lol.

I very much enjoyed the actress who played young Zelena as well. Great casting choice there.

Very much agree on this.

They seem do this quite often with Regina. It happened with Zelena in season 3 and the one scene she had with Ingrid in season 4. I think she got knocked out by Maleficent once in season 4 too. It seems like they started her out as being very powerful in the first couple of seasons and now they've gone back on that. I'm hoping to see her knock the Black Fairy on her @$$ at least once too. Let her get in at least one good shot. :lol:

Yup.

I'm not sure what the idea is behind this unless it was multi-faceted and at the expense of her to benefit other characters ... 1) A&E love Bex and wanted to push for her character, Zelena, to hold importance and they did that through her magic 2) because Emma has light magic as a product of TL and being a Savior, they wanted to downplay Regina & her magic for that? Which is a little strange since they went on to establish that Regina & Emma can usually get things done better magically when they both work together. Where they seemed to really undermine Regina more in the magical department is under all other dark magic practitioners ... ie. Rumple, Zelena, Ingrid, & even with Maleficient.

It never really bothered me with Rumple. Rumple is usually one step ahead of everyone else.

It bothers me mostly with Zelena because it keeps coming up. It's interesting that earlier in the season the EQ was able to easily take Zelena down. Zelena hadn't even managed to get to her feet yet when the EQ was ready to kill her. I think Regina was right when she said the only thing that stopped the EQ was Regina threatening to crush their shared heart. This does help me to appreciate Zelena's sacrifice of giving up her magic though because it's obvious that her feelings of self worth are based in magical abilities. I bet Regina's are a bit too, just not as much as Zelena's.

It definitely seems Emma and Regina are both at their most powerful when they work together. I'm not sure it will be that way this season though since the Hot Seat said the final battle would be Emma's alone to fight.

That didn't bother me either with Rumple. He was established as the Dark One and was that way long before Regina was born. I always accepted that he was the teacher, she the student, BUT I thought in s2 it was insinuated early she was very powerful and he sought her out for that reason to cast the curse, being Cora's daughter. What was also interesting in the Rumple|Regina dynamic was that she was his one student who came so close to giving him a run for his money :lol: It made things interesting. Then ... insert Zelena. :rolleyes: It completely revised that entire set up.

I included Rumple in the list because it applies. The difference being it makes sense in the established narrative.

I also get the sense that Zelena held on so tightly to the magic because since the very moment she found out about Cora keeping Regina, she was in immediate competition with her sister (ie. Not counting what they told us in 'Sisters' since they didn't remember anyway and they shoe-horned that into the timeline as far as I'm concerned). Regina became skilled at her magic, used it quite often to serve her revenge, but I don't think Regina embraced her magic as her actual self-identity. I think Zelena did which is quite similar to Rumple who feels he needs the power. So in that sense, needing to be the best at magic makes sense from Zelena's own perspective. It's all she had to hold onto.

But speaking of which, I thought Zelena's magical ability was just thrown in out of left field with no explanation as to why it exhibited itself so strongly as a baby. There's seem to be nothing exceptional about her bio father who was simply a 'player' for lack of a better word and while we can assume both Zelena & Regina inherited a gift for it through Cora, no canonical story ever established that. We just know Rumple taught Cora too.

Yeah, I know.

I would have preferred this final battle to be a bit more ensemble for a potential series storyline closure, with each of the main characters having their part to play in this with the Savior to all overcome it. But that Hot Seat question did say this final battle is basically all about Emma. Which is great if you're more of an Emma fan, or just an Emma fan, and feel the series is more about her than every other character but I don't and I didn't watch the show through that lens.

I'm basically just following through now for Lana scenes. And I was curious about the Black Fairy but I accept that Regina is done with any story as of now right up to the end. She'll be background and go out that way unless there is a s7 she comes back for and they place a 'hint' on where they might take her character in the future new story.

I can't wait to read all your thoughts but won't till I have watched the episode tomorrow :love: :D

Emma, does the show air on Wednesdays where you live?

havent had a chance to watch it yet but i hopefull will today :)

I will be watching this tonight I am looking forward to it!

enjoy it hon :)

I just watched it :) will give a full report tomorrow as well

Sherry yes I watch the show on UK Netflix and we get it on Wednesdays :nod:

OMG the episode was so good I really enjoyed all the Zelena back story and Regina and Zelena's relationship was at the for front of this episode too which was amazing. I love the sacrifice Zelena made for her family, Robin and Regina :love:

i agree that Young zelena was a good cast

It also bothers me that zelena is "the most powerful" more powerful than Regina. bla bla.

I sometimes think that bex acting is a bit over the top because of the faces she makes as the wicked witch but I did enjoy the storyline and learning a bit more about zelena

I am also glad that she admitted that Regina was all she got but she HAS TO acknowledge tghat she DID BAD THINGS. she might not be to blame fully for robins death but she is to blame for violating him, sexual assaulting him and getting pregnant just to get back at her sister. as Long as she doesnt even say sorry for that I cant feel sorry for Zelena and forgive her