‘Once Upon a Time’ season 3, episode 2 review: Belle appears, and the ‘Lost Girl’ revealed

Two episodes into “Once Upon a Time” season 3, and we can at least say now that the plan is a little bit clearer when it comes to our current Big Bad character in Peter Pan: He wants to keep Henry around Neverland. The twist? He wants to ensure that he does it in a way that Henry doesn’t even want to leave.

This little revelation was dropped at the end of “Lost Girl,” an episode that was largely all about what happens when someone feels abandoned and separated from those they love. Emma realized that the only way that she would be able to figure out “who she really is” is by admitting that she still hasn’t gotten over being abandoning by her parents, even if they had a good reason. We have to be honest here: The show is getting a little repetitive by constantly talking about the mother/daughter, father/son, and the mother/son relationships. Time and time again, the theme here is constantly all about family, and it feels already like we are wandered down the same road time and time again.

If there is anything else to milk from this story, it is probably the twist that Henry may not have forgiven his mother; but even then, we’d like to see something more out of these characters beyond these central themes that were around most of last season. This is why the Rumpelstiltskin story is to us much more interesting to us, since there is something different being brought to the table. It took an appearance from Belle to remind him of the good that lies within him, as he tries to rescue Henry in his own way. Given the history that there is between him and Pan, his story is a little bit more interesting … and complicated.

Did you like “Lost Girl,” or feel unfortunately like the show is more pulling us in circles here with similar storylines time and time again? Be sure to share your thoughts below! Click here if you want to check out more “Once Upon a Time” news, including a preview for next week’s installment.

Photo: ABC