‘Once Upon a Time’ season 4 finale review: Merlin and Emma Swan’s new darkness
There were many unexpected developments that took place on the final episode of “Once Upon a Time” season 4, but we would be remiss to say that there was one very expected development: The identity of the new Author. Of course, it was Henry. It is a nice full-circle moment for the show, given that the character first surfaced on the pilot storybook in hand years ago, claiming that he could show Emma Swan the truth about a variety of fairy tale characters in a town.
Apparently, Henry has seen “Spider-Man,” since he knows that with great power comes great responsibility. He realizes that he cannot just use the book in order to do whatever he wants, and that includes making his dream of reviving his father into a reality. While all of this happened, though, he worried about the fate of his grandfather Rumpelstiltskin. There was so much darkness in his heart that he was about to lose his own life.
The good news is that after the Author was stopped completely, there was a chance to save Rumple. The issue was sapping the power out of him, which is something that the Apprentice was able to help with. He’s no longer the Dark One! Unfortunately, what we were reminded of here is that there still needs to be a vessel. Also strangely like Spider-Man and the symbiote, it has to be tied to a person! Who’s that person now? It is none other than Emma Swan, arguably one of the worst people to be evil since we already know about that capacity for darkness that lied within her.
So while our heroes are for the most part okay (Captain Hook was not killed in the alternate universe, after all!), they are left with some huge dilemmas going into the fifth season. How in the world do you handle what happened to Emma now, and is there any way that Henry can pave a better future? We like the twist of it all, and learning that Merlin is the Sorcerer, and really the only person who can turn this around completely. Grade: A-.
What did you think about the “Once Upon a Time” finale, and is there a particular twist that stands out? Share with a comment, and click here to see some of what we’d like to see in season 5! Also, you can sign up to get some other TV magic on all we cover via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: ABC.)
rosie1843
June 25, 2015 @ 4:20 pm
[“It is none other than Emma Swan, arguably one of the worst people to be evil since we already know about that capacity for darkness that lied within her.”]
A good assessment of Emma’s true nature. She was already morally corrupt when she first arrived in Storybrooke.
WML
May 11, 2015 @ 3:05 am
I posted earlier that they are setting Lily up as a powerful sorceress, who can challenge the Dark One. Why else would they show her holding her crescent moon pendant? She is the daughter of a great wizard (Merlin) and a powerful with (Maleficent). Next season will be a quest for Merlin, I suppose. But what will they do with Rumple?
This finale is still not as good as the finales for the first or second season. But at least they’re not going too Disney next year, from the looks of it. Of course, this is ABC, who cancelled a great show (Forever) and kept drivel (Galavant), so anything can happen.
AngelS
May 11, 2015 @ 7:28 am
I don’t think it’s quite that simple. There are a number of possibilities as to why the show chose to highlight Lily and her pendant.
That crescent moon might foreshadow a totally different fate for Lily: as Lady of the Lake. The crescent moon is frequently associated with the Lady and other priestesses, ie “The Mists of Avalon.”
It’s also possible that its presence hints that Lily is, or will become, Merlin’s nemesis Madam Mim from Disney’s “Sword in the Stone.”
A third possibility: Lily’s dragon father is none other than Merlin himself, making Lily a Pendragon.
I think you are right on the money re: next season’s purpose. #FindMerlin is already trending on Twitter!
WML
May 11, 2015 @ 12:54 pm
Let’s hope they go Arthurian, not Disney, in the search for Merlin quest.
AngelS
May 11, 2015 @ 5:46 pm
Agreed!
Lily
May 11, 2015 @ 3:15 pm
If Lily is a Pendragon, then her father would be King Arthur. Also if anything, Morgan Le Fay was the original Dark One and Merlin’s nemesis.
AngelS
May 11, 2015 @ 5:46 pm
Not necessarily.
Arthur wasn’t the only member of his family; depending on which version of the tale you are referring to, he had at least two uncles, three aunts, two sisters, two cousins, one niece, four nephews and one nephew/son. He even has illegitimate children: Amr, Melora and Mordred.
Among those Pendragon relatives: Merlin himself. In several versions of the Arthurian legend, he is either a brother of Uther Pendragon (Arthur’s father), or the son of Ambrosius (Uther’s brother). He also has a twin, Ganieda.
In the early tales, Morgan was usually a positive character. It happened to a lot of female characters during the Vulgate Cycle: they were made evil, or eliminated entirely.
The Apprentice said Merlin created the dagger and Dark One to trap a powerful person. In many tales, he’s trapped in a cave or tree by his protege, Nimue, who became Lady of the Lake. This may be a new spin on that tale.
But this is Disney, and in their version, Madam Mim is Merlin’s foil. She also turns into a dragon. Appears to be a theme on OUAT lately!
Lily
May 11, 2015 @ 7:55 pm
Assuming Merlin is imprisoned in a tree, on OUaT…. one guess, it is the Tree of Wisdom (or whatever it was called) from 4.13. Which was punishment for tethering the Darkness to a human soul, and condemning him/her to a lifetime of evil. Though, my theory is that Morgan Le Fay was the original Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and willingly sacrificed herself to became the first Dark One.
PS: OUaT might be owned by Disney, but most of the characters are based on folklore.
AngelS
May 11, 2015 @ 5:56 pm
Sorry about the long responses. I am a lifelong Arthurian fanatic. I have been hoping for Merlin’s appearance on OUAT ever since the first glance of the Round Table (it once again made an appearance in last night’s episode, during Evil Queen Snow’s council meeting).
I hope that the Merlin storyline will bring back Lancelot (we have only Cora’s word that he’s dead, and she is not exactly a trustworthy source) and answer the questions about the missing Lady and her dried-up lake. It could even open up the door to other UK-based Disney characters like Alice, Wendy and Merida. I would love to see Jefferson return…I think he and Ruby would make the coolest couple in Storybrooke!