Once Upon a Time wrapped season two with “And Straight On ’til Morning,” a game-changing episode that may have succeeded in setting the series up for a better third season.

The Players:

• Director: Dean White
• Writer: Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz
• Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, Lana Parrilla, Josh Dallas, Jared S. Gilmore, Robert Carlyle

Episode Title: “And Straight On ’til Morning”

The finale of Once packed quite a punch, especially with the surprise reveal about Peter Pan and Neverland. We learn that Peter is the presumed Big Bad of season three. We also discover that Neal survived his gunshot-ridden cross-dimension travel, so that’s a big “yay.”

The Good:

• Peter Pan, Villian: We learn that Peter Pan isn’t such a nice such a nice guy. Young Neal is a lost boy, but Pan is a shadow-ripping monster who even scares Captain Hook. It’s about time Once set up a real villain instead of depending on B-list Fairytale Land cast-offs and the odd weeks when Regina and Gold fall off the wagon.
• Badass Bae: In one of the best Fairytale Land (well, technically Neverland) flashbacks, we learn about Baelfire and Hook’s connection. Bae held his own aboard the Jolly Roger. When the Lost Ones come looking for him on Pan’s orders, he hides in the rafters,ninja-style.
• Oh, Henry: By the end of the episode, Henry is kidnapped by Greg and Tamara. It would seem on Pan’s orders. Here’s hoping he stays locked away until November sweeps.
• Neal is ALIVE: At the end of the episode, we get a wonderful, wonderful glimpse at season three. Neal is safe in Fairytale Land with Aurora and Mulan!

The So-So:

• Stopping the Fail Safe: Greg and Tamara activate the fail safe to destroy Storybrooke almost immediately, which is refreshing. Too often, villains wait for no reason to set a plan like that in motion. Regina, in yet another effort to win Henry’s love, volunteers to hold the magic at bay long enough for the core good guys to escape via magic bean. Snow White/Mary Margaret, still plagued by guilt about Cora’s murder, convinces Emma to do the “harder” thing and try to save the town with Regina. It doesn’t turn out to be all that hard, as Emma joins Regina in channeling the magic and destroys the fail safe in no time flat.

Overall:

“And Straight On ’til Morning” goes a long way toward redeeming a mediocre season. The plots are still a mess, but the direction established for the fall seem more focused and engaging. That’s more than we can say about anything that’s happened on the show since January.

Rating: 8/10

Once Upon a Time airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

What did you think of this week’s show?

Finally, with “Second Star to the Right,” Once Upon a Time found its groove again. The disappointingly-uneven season came together with the episode, which explores the truth behind Neverland in the Once universe.

The Players:

• Director: Ralph Hemecker
• Writer: Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg
• Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, Lana Parrilla, Josh Dallas, Jared S. Gilmore, Robert Carlyle

Episode Title: “Second Star to the Right”

Neal takes after his father, when it comes to filling multiple roles. Not only is he Emma’s ex-lover, father of Henry and son of Rumpelstiltskin; he’s kind of Peter Pan. In “Second Star to the Right,” we learn how he made his way from Fairytale Land to Neverland. In present day Storybrooke, Tamara and Greg’s plan is mostly revealed.

The Good:

• Neal/Bae/Peter: In every iteration we’ve seen so far, Neal shines – and his version of Peter Pan is no different. Perhaps the biggest draw to tune in for the finale is to see Pan in action. Neal’s decision to sacrifice himself when he and Emma are hanging over a portal opened by Tamara was one of the season’s true emotion-evoking moments.
• Mr. Gold’s Magic Trick: For a show so preoccupied with magic, it often takes a backseat in storytelling. This week, was a rare Once treat: magic that progressed the plot without entering deus ex machina territory. Using a mixture of Regina and Mary Margaret, Mr. Gold is able to link their experiences to help the Good Guys find the kidnapped Regina. The magic gives them clues, but not an easy answer.
• Lacey: Belle as a bad girl is one of the most entertaining twists of the season. Will she motivate Gold to return to the dark side and stop Henry from possibly fulfilling the prophecy?

The So-So:

• Bumbling Baddies: Greg and Tamara are an even less satisfying duo than Cora and Hook. Their motives are vague, but uninteresting. Their tactics are obvious, but executed in the most convoluted ways. They monologue like Bond villains (while electrocuting Regina like they’re playing Count Rugen to her Dread Pirate Roberts (Note to Once writers: You already have your Princess Bride.).

The Bad:

• The Failsafe: Bumbling as they might be, Greg and Tamara succeed in lifting a very important trinket off Regina – a black gem that acts as a fail-safe to the Storybrooke curse. When activated, it will blow up the town. When you wait until the penultimate episode to set up a master plan, this is what happens.

Overall:

“Second Star to the Right” is a great episode, but might prove to be too little too late. It hinges on the interest level of the character on whom it focuses. Luckily, Neal/Bae/Peter Pan is part of the top tier there.

Rating: 8/10

Once Upon a Time airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

What did you think of this week’s show?

“The Evil Queen” sets Once Upon a Time up for its second season finale. The episode focuses on Regina’s latest fall into darkness, along with flashbacks of her Fairytale Land attempts at goodness to foreshadow her impending inner conflict.

The Players:

• Director: Gwyneth Horder-Payton
• Writer: Jane Espenson and Christine Boylan
• Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, Lana Parrilla, Josh Dallas, Jared S. Gilmore, Robert Carlyle

Episode Title: “The Evil Queen”

Once is scrambling to play catch-up for the season’s final battle of good vs. evil. Owen and Tamara put their plot into motion, leaving audiences with not one, but two sets of villains to root against.

The Good:

• Neal’s Snoop Detector: Emma and Henry, two of the most useless characters in the series, attempt to revive their worth with Operation Praying Mantis. It’s contrived to prove that Tamara (Neal’s new love) is up to no good.While Emma and Henry are predictably bad, Neal’s reaction to the snooping is actually quite charming. Something makes us think Emma might be a little more likable if they reunite.

The So-So:

• Fairytale Land Flashbacks: Usually, Regina flashbacks are great (almost as good as Rumpelstiltskin flashbacks). This week, they weren’t. Regina has Rumpel change her appearance so she can blend in with the peasant folk and ends up being nursed back to health by none other than Snow White. During a heart-to-heart, Snow admits that she believes there’s still good in Regina. Just as Regina’s obviously making the choice to be good, Snow discovers a group of people slaughtered by the Evil Queen’s henchmen. Snow promptly retracts her support of Regina and realizes that the old woman she’s been helping is her stepmother in disguise. An anti-climactic non-battle in which Regina scurries away follows. Snooze.

The Bad:

• Regina’s Confrontation with Owen and Tamara: As mysterious season-long villains go, Owen and Tamara have already been disappointing and confusing at best. They turned their villainy up a notch to mildly annoying. Using unidentified “science,” they block Regina’s powers with a bracelet made of unidentified-but-wicked-strong metals and fibers. Bwahaha?
• Hook: What a shame for someone so hot to be so lame. Hook had a lot of potential out of the gate (more than Owen and Tamara combined), but it’s been squandered as he proves himself little more than a lackey with no real ambitions or ideas of his own (beyond his tunnel vision for killing the “crocodile,” of course).

Overall:

“The Evil Queen” is one of the most disappointing Once episodes this season. It feels like it’s leading up to something epic, but nothing happens to create any suspense. The show is at risk of being more interested in itself than its audience is, which could prove problematic if not fixed by the finale.

Rating: 5/10

Once Upon a Time airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

What did you think of this week’s show?

“Lacey” pulls a Once Upon a Time reversal. It shows what happens when a Storybrooke resident reverts to their curse personality. Meanwhile in Fairytale Land, another not-quite-fairytale character is introduced.

The Players:

• Director: Milan Cheylov
• Writer: Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz
• Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, Lana Parrilla, Josh Dallas, Jared S. Gilmore, Robert Carlyle

Episode Title: “Lacey”

Once returns to one of the season’s biggest loose ends: The fate of Belle. After she was shot over the town line, she lost her memories, much to the disappointment of Mr. Gold. Regina helps jog her memory – but the wrong set. With nothing more than a matchbook, she brings back Lacey, Belle’s bar slut alter ego from the Storybrooke curse.

The Good:

• Gold Kills Henry (Kind of): The episode opens on Henry’s birthday celebration in Mr. Gold’s store. After he blows out his candles, Gold tells him about his gift: He can choose any item from the store he would like. Henry chooses a wand and Gold explains that wands are powerful and offers to show him how to use it. He proceeds to turn Henry into a ceramic boy and smash him. Why? Because Henry will be his undoing, according to the prophecy. Gold wakes in a cliched cold sweat from the dream (yes, unfortunately, Henry is still with us), but it’s hard to ignore that foreshadowing.
• Regina’s Little Mischief: This is a Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold episode, but Regina still finds a way to make her presence known. She destroys Belle’s memories knowing that Gold can’t use magic to bring her back. Little moments like this, in which she toys with people for no particular reason, remind us why Regina is such a great villain.
• Lacey: As Lacey, Belle couldn’t be less, well Belle-like. She drinks, toys with men and most importantly, she’s on the prowl for a bad boy. Where Belle inspired Rumpel to be the best version of himself, Lacey embraces the evil side of him. Looks like both of our recovering villains will take walks on the dark side before the season’s over.

The So-So:

• Robin Hood: This week’s episode was hyped with the introduction of a new Fairytale Land character: Robin Hood. When Robin tries to steal a wand from Rumpelstiltskin, he’s imprisoned and tortured. Belle, being the kind soul she is, helps him escape and Rumpel later spares him upon learning that Maid Marion is pregnant. The incident serves to explain Belle’s growing feelings for her Beast, but Robin was a bit wasted.

Overall:

“Lacey” further explored the history of Belle and Rumpelstiltskin’s relationship. But as a stand alone episode, it leaves a little to be desired. Robin Hood is peripheral to the story, despite his hype in the ads and for once, the Storybrooke plot was far more interesting than its Fairytale Land counterpart.

Rating: 7/10

Once Upon a Time airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

What did you think of this week’s show?

In “Selfless, Brave and True,” Once Upon a Time (kind of) sacrifices another beloved character. Meanwhile, a growing team of real world villains has set up shop in Storybrooke.

The Players:

• Director: Ralph Hemecker
• Writer: Robert Hull and Kalinda Vazquez
• Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, Lana Parrilla, Josh Dallas, Jared S. Gilmore, Robert Carlyle

Episode Title: “Selfless, Brave and True”

Once is notorious for introducing characters, only to send them away with little explanation. Remember August (aka Pinocchio)? He makes a return this week, redeeming himself with a dose of selfless truth after a slew of lies and bad decisions rendered him wooden.

The Good:

• August Returns: August has been one of Once’s most mysterious characters. The earthly embodiment of Pinocchio, he was sent along with Emma in the enchanted wardrobe, escaping the curse. Unfortunately, he didn’t stay on the path of good, abandoning Emma and making shady decisions along the way. Eventually, the deceit catches up with him and he becomes wooden again. This was the last we’d heard of August. This week’s episode caught us up on where he’s been since – in Asia, seeking the help of a man known as The Dragon.
• Regina Wises Up: The villains of Storybrooke are anything but bumbling. Regina stays true to her smarts, discovering Greg’s identity (i.e.: He’s really Owen, the little boy who escaped Storybrooke in 1983). She tells him that his father isn’t there, but don’t think that’s the last we’ll see of the “stranger.” She also proves her wit is still sharp, quipping to Mary Margaret that she should try the fish special at Granny’s – the blackened sole.
• Out, Damn Spot: Mary Margaret confesses to David that the heart Regina snatched (and put back in) has a black spot on it. He consoles her, of course, but this is big: The good guys know Mary Margaret has the potential for evil now. For her part, Emma thinks Mary Margaret should just get over it, considering how evil Cora was and all. Finally, something from Emma we can agree with.

The So-So:

• Tamara: Neal’s fiance, Tamara, comes to town complete with a meet-cute story about bumping into Neal with her coffee. Emma urges him to tell her everything, but that may not have been the best plan. We later learn that she and August crossed paths back at The Dragon’s establishment. She was there seeking a cure for her cancer and August robbed her. If it redeems him at all, she didn’t really have cancer; she was lying to get magic. Oh, and she’s romantically entangled with Greg/Owen, unless that was a platonic makeout session at the end of the episode. Only time will tell if she’s a better villain than Cora.

The Bad:

• Goodbye, August: Tamara’s major act of evil is the murdering of August, whom she kills to keep quiet. He dies, but only kind of. August the grown, earthly man dies but Pinocchio, the wooden boy lives. The Blue Fairy is able to help, but making him a real boy makes him, well, a boy. August is gone and Pinocchio has no memory of Tamara. It’s as if Once is trying not to have any hot men in its cast.

Overall:

“Selfless, Brave and True” forgoes frequent flashbacks to Fairytale Land in favor of real world plot development, which is fitting. Tamara and Greg are positioned as the new villains, replacing the drab duo of Hook and Cora. How will Fairytale Land’s former residents fare against earthly foes? Will Greg and Tamara be a common enemy for Regina and the good guys?

Rating: 7/10

Once Upon a Time airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

What did you think of this week’s show?

Once Upon a Time went old school with another origin story in “Welcome to Storybrooke.” The episode explores the town’s early days, and explains the motives of its most mysterious resident.

The Players:

• Director: Dave Barrett
• Writer: Ian Goldberg and Andrew Chambliss
• Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, Lana Parrilla, Josh Dallas, Jared S. Gilmore, Robert Carlyle

Episode Title: “Welcome to Storybrooke”

Until Emma showed up in Storybrooke, the town had been frozen in time. This episode takes viewers back to 1983 when Regina first broke ground and sheds light on the new stranger.

The Good:

• Regina Declares War: Last week, Mary Margaret caused the death of Regina’s mother, Cora. This week, Regina escalated the bloodshed vowing to kill Mary Margaret and ending the shaky truce between good and evil. She unearths an ancient, powerful curse to do the job and Gold knows the only way to end the war: More death.
• Origins Explained: The truth behind Storybrooke’s stranger has come into focus. Back in 1983, Regina encountered a father and son who were camping in the woods when Storybrooke appeared. Bored by the sleepy town’s lack of change, she invited them to stay. When they refused, she tried to keep them as prisoners. The son escaped and attempted to bring help but when he returned, Storybrooke had vanished. Now, guess who that little boy grew up to be…
• Snow, Corrupted: In an attempt to end the feud, Mary Margaret goes to Regina and offers up her life. Regina pulls out  her heart, but notices the beginnings of a black spot: Snow White has been corrupted. Regina decides to return the heart and watch the corruption take hold because that’s way more fun.

The Bad:

• Henry Takes Action: Neal and Emma try to talk Henry into going to New York, where he’ll be safe. They won’t be winning any Parents of the Year awards, because after agreeing to go away, Henry heads straight to the wishing well to “fix” the situation. He throws dynamite into the well, hoping to destroy the magic. Eventually, Regina agrees to end the curse because of his explosive tantrum.

Overall:

“Welcome to Storybrooke” is a rare instance of a flashback episode answering more questions than it raises. The stranger was around too long without explanation and now his true motives have come to light. Bringing in a human (i.e. non-fairytale) adversary helps ground the series.

Rating: 7/10

Once Upon a Time airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

What did you think of this week’s show?

This week, Once Upon a Time upped the intensity with “The Miller’s Daughter.” The powers of good and evil struggle to find balance as a major character bites the dust so another can live.

The Players:

• Director: Ralph Hemecker
• Writer: Jane Espenson
• Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, Lana Parrilla, Josh Dallas, Jared S. Gilmore, Robert Carlyle

Episode Title: “The Miller’s Daughter”

After nearly two seasons, we finally get the Rumpelstiltskin Fairytale Land flashback we’ve all been waiting for: “The Miller’s Daughter” sees Rumpel spinning straw into gold (and explains the origin of his complicated relationship with Cora and Regina). Meanwhile in Storybrooke, Mary Margaret (Snow White) struggles with her continued desire to see Cora dead.

The Good:

• Snow Stays Bad: Last week ended with a surprising vow from Snow White: To kill Cora. It was totally out of character for her. The obvious move would be a quick return to her senses, but Once went more daring, allowing Snow to stay vengeful. She doesn’t kill Cora herself, but her actions directly lead to Regina doing in her own mother. Ouch!
• Gold Lives: The magic of Once in convoluted at best, but we’ll take it if it means keeping Mr. Gold around. The spell that killed Cora was the same one offered to Snow many years ago. In exchange for Cora’s death, the gravely injured Gold was able to live. A worthwhile sacrifice, if for nothing else but the series’ plot.
• Rose McGowan as Young Cora: Once has done its fair share of stunt casting, but so far it’s pulled mostly from the Lost roster. Rose McGowan guest starred as the young Cora and brought a seductive, evil quality necessary to round out her backstory.

The Bad:

• Emma Doing Magic: The series continues to struggle to find purpose for the original Dream Team of Emma and Henry. This week, Gold mentored Emma in the art of spellcasting, complete with wisdom about it being an emotional, not intellectual pursuit. Emma as the sorcerer’s apprentice? This will definitely end in disaster.

Overall:

“The Miller’s Daughter” offered some long-awaited answers and filled in a vital part of Rumpelstiltskin’s story. Cora’s death was welcome (at least for some fans) and the flashbacks were solid. Still, it doesn’t hold up to “The Queen is Dead.” The show has struggled to find its footing in the second half of the season and “The Miller’s Daughter” is plagued by the same difficulties as week’s past.

Rating: 7/10

Once Upon a Time airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

What did you think of this week’s show?

Once Upon a Time’s best villains operate in shades of gray. This week, one of the good guys vere to the dark side. In “The Queen is Dead,” Snow White’s endless benevolence finally ran out. The result? She vows to kill one of the series biggest baddies.

The Players:

• Director: Gwyneth Horder-Payton
• Writer: Daniel T. Thomsen and David H. Goodman
• Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, Lana Parrilla, Josh Dallas, Jared S. Gilmore, Robert Carlyle, Colin O’Donoghue

Episode Title: “The Queen is Dead”

Once again, the story of Once is split into three parts. Storybrooke and FairytaleLand are standard, but now we can add New York to the mix. In all three, loyalties and goodness are tested.

The Good:

• Bailee Madison Nails It (Again): Any episode featuring a flashback to Snow’s younger days is a guaranteed treat. It’s thanks in part to guest star Bailee Madison, who captures Ginnifer Goodwin’s mannerisms in an eery way. If the show’s special effects didn’t lean toward screensaver territory, we might even suspect she was really Goodwin aided with lots of CGI.
• Young Snow: Young Snow joined the ranks of conflicted fairytale characters as she struggled with the death of her mother. She chose not to use dark magic to prevent it. We got a glimpse at Snow as the girl she might have become with different parents. A spoiled princess convinced of her own importance. A quick lecture from Mom changes all that. It was a little unbelievable until it became a dying wish, rather than a regular scolding.
• Peter, Is That You?: At this point, anyone not positive that Neal is really Peter Pan should stop watching the series all together. How can we be sure? He’s familiar with Hook. He says he knows how to captain a pirate ship. He says that he traveled to another realm before ours (and that if he hadn’t, he would be a very old man by now).
• Snow Goes Rogue: Okay, so she’s not exactly rogue, but Snow does reach the end of her rope. After realizing Cora murdered her mother so Regina could become queen, she vows to kill her. For a gal who’s never wished death on anyone, this is a pretty big deal.

The So-So:

• Henry: Henry is upgraded to so-so this week, for a handful of sassy comments and for asking Mr. Gold if he could call him grandpa.

Overall:

“The Queen is Dead” might be the strongest episode since the winter premiere. The past and present plots worked together, without feeling rushed or messy. Plus, the build up to Neal’s reveal as Pan is a lot of fun.

Rating: 8/10

Once Upon a Time airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

What did you think of this week’s show?

Sunday, Once Upon a Time returned in a big way — a giant way to be exact. An old friend (and sometimes foe) from Fairytale Land came to Storybrooke, as one of the show’s most important characters skipped town.

The Players:

• Director: Guy Ferland
• Writer: Christine Boylan and Kalinda Vazquez
• Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, Lana Parrilla, Josh Dallas, Jared S. Gilmore, Robert Carlyle, Colin O’Donoghue

Episode Title: “Tiny”

Anton the giant returned with a back-story and ticket to Storybrooke, courtesy of Cora. It turns out Charming’s less gallant doppelganger James, slaughtered his family. That means trouble for David, who finds himself in Anton’s cross-hairs.

The Good:

• Jac…queline: Score one for feminism! Once cast the famous Giant slayer Jack as a woman, Jacqueline. Even though she’s painted as a villain (slaughtering Anton’s fam and looting his treasure) and meets her demise almost immediately, it was a refreshing take on the character.
• Not So Charming: David’s one of those unwaveringly good guys, who can get a little boring. This week, we got to see Josh Dallas stretch his bad boy muscles as James. It was nice to see a beloved character in a new element.

The So-So:

• Ruby’s Warning: In her attempts to get the stranger to leave Storybrooke, Ruby pulls the “pay no attention to that man behind the curtain” routine. She was overcompensating for Storybrooke’s weirdness with exaggerated declarations of its banality. If the stranger weren’t already suspicious of something more to the town, he definitely is now.

The Bad:

• Mr. Gold’s Memory: Emma, Henry and Gold left Storybrooke in search of Gold’s long lost son. Doesn’t leaving Storybrooke make the Fairytale Land characters lose their memories? We thought so, but apparently an enchanted scarf is enough to keep those magical memories locked away. Better not take it off, unless the TSA makes you at the airport. Then you’ll definitely lose all of your…magic? Okay, we give up.

Overall:

“Tiny” had its fun moments, but overall the episode left much to be desired. It made a mockery of some favorites and completely disregarded the show’s internal logic for the sake of new plot twists. Let’s hope Once shapes up before it loses its magic for good.

Rating: 6/10

Once Upon a Time airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

What did you think of this week’s show?

After a season of more questions than answers, American Horror Story tried to wrap its divergent stories in one neat bow. With the finale, “Madness Ends,” we discovered the fate of Briarcliff’s former residents.

The Players:

• Director: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
• Writer: Tim Minear
• Cast: Zachary Quinto, Joseph Fiennes, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Lizzie Brocheré, Jessica Lange

Episode Title: “Madness Ends”

Set mostly in present day and told via flashbacks, “Madness Ends” attempts to close all the loose ends. Lana is being interviewed about her impressive journalistic career and gives insight into what eventually became of our Briarcliff favorites.

The Good:

• Old Lady Lana: It’s satisfying to see that Lana not only had an illustrious career, but she’s being honored for her achievements. In present day, she’s being interviewed for a piece by the Kennedy Center and finally opens up about some hidden truths about her past (i.e. her son didn’t die in childbirth). The rest of the stories have endings that are too neat (and too tainted by the still-unexplained aliens), but Lana’s victory feels earned.
• Mother/Son Showdown: As promised, Johnny appears to enact his revenge on Lana for giving him up. He sneaks in during her interview and confronts her when it’s over — gun in hand. Lana uses the power of compassion to talk him down and just when you think they’re going to be a happy family, BAM! Lana shoots Johnny, killing him and ending the Bloody Face line.

The So-So:

• Timothy’s End: The story with the least audience interest got the least attention. Monsignor Timothy moved on from Briarcliff before Lana was able to shut it down. But she confronted him later, after he was promoted within the church. Even though he denies his involvement officially, actions speak louder than words when he commits suicide soon after.

The Bad:

• Kit and Jude’s Death stories: We learn that Kit continued visiting Jude and eventually brought her to live with his family. She was still crazy until his daughter took her to the woods for some unspecified alien voodoo. Jude becomes more or less herself, able to live out the remainder of her days (about six months) happily with the Walker family. As for Kit, he’s diagnosed with pancreatic cancer when he’s 40 and disappears. Apparently, he was called home by the aliens before his death.
• The Aliens: Why, Ryan Murphy? Why? The aliens have loomed overhead all season, but ultimately to no end. They’re a clunky deus ex machina and dragged down the quality of the entire season.

Overall:

The AHS: Asylum finale managed to tie up its loose ends, but not necessarily to any satisfaction. The season was really Lana’s story and hers ends nicely, but the array of supporting characters (most of whom were never adequately developed), were more or less written off in random deaths. The aliens were never explained, and not in a good way. They seemed to swoop in when the writers found themselves in a corner. Recently, AHS has lost a lot of momentum and “Madness Ends” might have been the biggest disappointment of all.

Rating: 6/10

American Horror Story: Asylum airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on FX.

What did you think of this week’s episode?

Once Upon a Time shook things up this week with the addition of an outsider, played by Ethan Embry. The battle lines between good and evil blurred even more as everyone in town struggled to deal with the consequences of last week’s major twists.

The Players:

• Director: Milan Cheylov
• Writer: Jane Espenson
• Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, Lana Parrilla, Josh Dallas, Jared S. Gilmore, Robert Carlyle, Colin O’Donoghue

Episode Title: “In the Name of the Brother”

Dr. Whale was thrust back in the spotlight this week when a stranger in Storybrooke needed medical attention. Meanwhile, recovering baddies Regina and Rumple/Mr. Gold backslid thanks to interference by the comically evil Cora.

The Good:

• Ethan Embry!: The stranger who comes into Storybrooke (but if he’ll really be a stranger or merely an August-like fairy tale wanderer remains to be seen) is played by Ethan Embry, who hasn’t quite reached the distinction of character actor, but will probably make his mark as such eventually. He’s just well-known enough that the stranger shouldn’t be underestimated, but obscure enough not to be the product of short-term stunt casting. Color us intrigued.
• Evil Backsliding: Storybrooke’s biggest villains, Regina and Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold, have been trying to redeem themselves. Regina is out to win Henry’s love and Mr. Gold is desperate to prove himself worthy to Belle. Their depth and conflict drive the show and make them much more compelling than their white horse riding counterparts on the side of good. Cora, Regina’s evil mother, is problematic within the series space because she, unlike the other villains, doesn’t deal in shades of gray. This week, she played the only role worth playing: The serpent, tempting our favorite villains back to the side of evil, at least temporarily.

The So-So:

• Belle’s Memory Loss: Belle lost her memory at the end of last week’s “The Outsider,” after setting foot outside of Storybrooke. We’ve learned that her memories can be restored, with the right magic talisman. Surely, Rumple/Gold will eventually get his hands on this, but it kind of takes the urgency out of Belle’s condition.

The Bad:

• Dr. Whale This week’s flashback segment delved back into the black and white origins of Dr. Whale, who we came to realize earlier this season is actually Dr. Frankenstein. He feels out of place, and not just because he doesn’t hail from the Enchanted Forest. He’s not good enough at what he does to be a clear asset, nor bad enough to drive significant conflict, leaving the audience wondering, “What’s the point?”

Overall:

“In the Name of the Brother” should have been a great episode, coming on the heels of the major plot twist of Belle’s memory loss, but it squandered a lot of opportunity focusing on uninteresting and unrelated characters (like Dr. Whale) when it could have hit major developmental notes for Rumple and Belle and their past. It points Regina and Gold in interesting new directions, but does little else of note.

Rating: 6/10

Once Upon a Time airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

What did you think of this week’s show?

American Horror Story has one episode left and there’s no telling how it all ends. Last night, “Continuum” took us two years into the future to 1969, when the horrors of Briarcliff are done for some (Lana), but  getting worse for others (Sister Jude).

The Players:

• Director: Craig Zisk
• Writer: Ryan Murphy
• Cast: Zachary Quinto, Joseph Fiennes, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Lizzie Brocheré, Jessica Lange

Episode Title: “Continuum”

It’s two years later, the major players are still grappling with their time at Briarcliff. Kit’s recovering from a tragedy involving Grace and Alma (more on that below), Lana’s a big success after penning a tell-all about her experiences, yet she still hasn’t exposed the asylum. Meanwhile, Sister Jude’s losing her mind more and more every day.

The Good:

• Lana’s Success: We’ve all been rooting for Lana Winters since day one. Now, in 1969, she’s a successful author, having written a best-seller about her plight. Unfortunately, she’s left out some key details – like her relationship with Wendy and the truth about Briarcliff. She’s haunted by her lies in the form of hallucinations during a reading from her book. One criticism comes to life when Kit approaches her at a signing with a demand: Sister Jude is alive and she must use her position to get the truth out.
• Hey, Jude: Sister Jude is still a patient at Briarcliff in 1969. Of course, she’s under the impression it’s 1967 and that Monsignor Timothy is lobbying for her release. She believes that only a week has passed since he made that promise, rather than years. Her crazy just keeps increasing.
• Johnny’s Got a Gun: In the present, Baby Bloody Face is out to solve his mommy issues once and for all. His plan is very simple, very Terminator-esque. Armed with a copy of Lana’s book and a raging vendetta, he sets out to find her (she must be ancient by now) and shoot her in the head.

The So-So:

• The Aliens Will Never, Ever Make Sense: Were the aliens even real? At this point, their plot has all but dried up. Kit’s major trauma is that they ruined his bizarre little family. When he and Grace arrived home to find Alma and yet another child, they decided to work as one happy, Big Love unit. Unfortunately, Kit’s ladies have vastly different opinions about their time with the guys from space. Grace can’t stop talking about it and Alma just wants to forget. Eventually, Kit asks Grace to tone down the alien talk, which is upsetting Alma. Alma makes sure she won’t talk about them anymore by murdering her with an ax, earning a one-way ticket to Briarcliff.

Overall:

While the Lana/Johnny plot is heating up, other stories are sputtering out. Sister Jude is spiraling into her own insanity, losing the spunk that made us love her in the beginning and Kit has lost it all – without any clear explanation of the aliens. If AHS pulls it all together next week, we’ll be impressed.

Rating: 7/10

American Horror Story: Asylum airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on FX.

What did you think of this week’s episode?