After seeing how great the 1st episode of season 2 was, the excitement continues with David, Henry, and Regina trying to find a way to get Emma and Mary Margaret back from the Enchanted Forest.
The storyline continues to be interesting. Sure, we didn't see Emma and Mary Margaret until near the end of the episode, but at least it's still well-written. Not only does it expand two of the episodes from the first season "Hat Trick" and "The Stable Boy" where David (Charming) asks Mad Hatter (Jefferson, played by Sebastian Stan) if he could help make the hat work so he could try and get Emma and Snow White back and the scene where Regina tries to escape from Cora, who uses her magic to prevent her from doing so, until later, Regina's father Henry encourages her to find Rumpelstiltskin so he can help her, but the character interplay between the residents of Storybrooke including the seven dwarfs like Leroy (Grumpy), Archie (Jiminy Cricket), Mother Superior (The Blue Fairy), Marcus (Geppetto), and Jefferson (Mad Hatter) is spot on and it's what everyone wanted to see since the show started.
The directing is spot on, the writing continues to be engaging and smart, the pacing never drags, and Mark Isham continues to create more beautiful music for his score in the series. The performances continue to be excellent with Lana Parilla and Robert Carlyle still being scene stealers and Josh Dallas showing leadership qualities as both David/Charming especially when he delivers the speech.
"If you cross that line, you're going to be lost. Everyone who loves you will lose you. But there's something worse - you'll lose yourself. Look, I get wanting to leave here, I do. And I get that it's easier to let go of bad memories, but... Even bad memories are part of us. David, Storybrooke David, was - is - weak, confused. And he hurt the woman I love. I wouldn't give up being Charming just to be him, but, you know what? I wouldn't make the other trade, either. Because that David reminds me, not only of who I lost, but of who I want to be. My weaknesses, and my strengths. David, and the Prince. I am both - just like you. You are both. The town is both. We are both. Stay here, and every choice is open to you. Live in the woods if you want. Hell, live in a shoe if you want. Or eat frozen burritos and write software. Let's open Granny's and the school. And get back to work. I will protect you. She won't be able to hurt any of us. Not as long as I'm alive. Not as long as we all come together. As we did before. As we shall do again."
That speech along defined the characterization of David/Charming perfectly and it makes this episode worth it! I'm giving this a gold seal of approval.