Tallahassee (4 Nov. 2012)

As Emma and Hook climb a beanstalk in search of a magic compass, Emma thinks about her past and how she met Henry's father. Meanwhile, Aurora in the Enchanted Forest and Henry in Storybrook both have the same nightmare.

Director:

David Barrett

Writers:

Edward Kitsis (creator), Adam Horowitz (creator),

Stars:

Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, Lana Parrilla

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Ginnifer Goodwin	...	Snow White / Mary Margaret Blanchard
Jennifer Morrison	...	Emma Swan
Lana Parrilla	...	Evil Queen / Regina Mills (credit only)
Josh Dallas	...	Prince Charming / David Nolan
Emilie de Ravin	...	Belle (credit only)
Jared Gilmore	...	Henry Mills (as Jared S. Gilmore)
Meghan Ory	...	Red Riding Hood / Ruby (credit only)
Robert Carlyle	...	Rumplestiltskin / Mr. Gold (credit only)
Eion Bailey	...	August W. Booth
Sarah Bolger	...	Princess Aurora
Jamie Chung	...	Mulan
Jorge Garcia	...	The Giant
Colin O'Donoghue	...	Hook / Killian Jones
Michael Raymond-James	...	Neal Cassady
Tony Alcantar	...	Cashier

Storyline

As Emma and Hook climb a beanstalk in search of a magic compass, Emma thinks about her past and how she met Henry's father. Meanwhile, Aurora in the Enchanted Forest and Henry in Storybrook both have the same nightmare.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Fantasy | Mystery | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 November 2012 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kitsis/Horowitz, ABC Studios

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Trivia

Neal Cassady was a member of the 1950s Beat Generation, inspiration to writers Alan Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and, in a later generation, Ken Kesey, among others. He was known, like the character sharing his name here, to have stolen cars and for his charm.

User Reviews

Once Upon a Time- Tallahassee

"Tallahassee" is one of those episodes of Once Upon a Time that, as of late, seems pretty few and far between. It's an episode that proves, for this show at least, that less is definitely more. A very Emma-centric hour, the sixth chapter of the second season already manages to stand out, not only because it gives the story a much-needed push forward, but also because it begins to answer some of the show's lingering questions.

Rather than divide its time between Storybrooke, the Enchanted Forest, a fairytale flashback, and perhaps even another magical world of its choosing as OUAT's oft to do, "Tallahassee" instead chooses to focus only on present-day Enchanted Forest and a very interesting chunk of Emma's pre-Storybrooke past—it's quite refreshing, really.

In the Enchanted Forest this week, Emma, Snow, Aurora, and Mulan, agree to Hook's plan of climbing up a giant-ridden beanstalk to retrieve a magical compass that will hopefully help them get back to Storybrooke. Emma, being the roughest and toughest of the ladies, decides she'll be the one to accompany the captain up, setting her fears aside and instead focusing her efforts on getting back home to Henry. Naturally, Emma's still having a bit of a hard time trusting the pirate (I, myself, haven't yet decided if he's an honest character—he very well may be just because everyone thinks he's so dishonest—but then again, that's half the pleasure of watching him), but it turns out they actually make a pretty good team; together they manage to knock out guest star and Lost alum Jorge Garcia's giant and retrieve the compass they set out to find. Not that that sways Emma in least—after realizing that the beanstalk's giant isn't as threatening as he seems (saw that one coming), she chooses to spare his life, and as a thank you of sorts, he, in turn, agrees to release Hook (who Emma has tricked and handcuffed) ten hours after she leaves, giving her and the princesses waiting for her below a decent head start.

A bit dramatic on her part? Perhaps; but subtlety's never been Emma's style, and, as is shown in this week's (non-fairytale!) flashback—probably one of the best this show's ever done—her inability to easily trust others isn't entirely unwarranted. The flashback begins with Emma picking the lock of a gorgeous (and familiar) yellow Bug, one she's surprised to find was stolen by someone before her. It turns out, the previous thief, who still inhabits the car, is none other than our season premiere Mystery Man, whose name we learn is Neal Cassidy (Michael Raymond-James). Falling for each other shortly after, Emma and Neal adopt a life of crime, touring the country in their yellow Bug and stealing necessary resources to get by. After deciding, one day, that their "Bonnie and Clyde" routine was getting a bit old, however, the two decide that after one last job, they'll settle down and make a home together in Tallahassee; but, as you probably guessed yourselves, things don't go according to plan.

Temporarily splitting up after stealing nearly $20,000 in watches, Neal is stopped by a second mystery man this episode; a man we haven't seen since last season: August (!!!). After showing Neal a mystery object that convinces him to believe in magic, August reveals the existence of Storybrooke's curse and tells Neal that Emma is the key to breaking that curse—all that Neal has to do is let Emma go on without him to fulfill her destiny. Initially reluctant (he really has fallen for her), Neal chooses to trust in August and tips off the police as to Emma's whereabouts—a tip that lands her in an Arizona jail for almost a year with nothing but their Bug (which Neal leaves her), and—surprise—baby Henry; at the end of the flashback and only two months into her sentence, Emma learns she's pregnant with Neal's baby—a baby he obviously knows nothing about. His sole consolation is the knowledge that August has promised to keep an eye out for Emma and will inform him via postcard when she's broken the curse.

To read the rest of the review (IMDb form too short) visit: http://custodianfilmcritic.com/once-upon-a-time-2-6-tallahassee/