Once Upon a Time (TV Series) Going Home (2013) User Reviews

Going, going, gone

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 25 March 2018]

When 'Once Upon a Time' first started it was highly addictive and made the most of a truly great and creative premise. Really loved the idea of turning familiar fairy tales on their heads and putting own interpretations on them and the show early on clearly had clearly had a ball. Watched it without fail every time it came on and it was often a highlight of the week. Which was why it was sad when it ran out of ideas and lost its magic in the later seasons.

"Going Home" is one of the most (near-universally) acclaimed Season 3 episodes and one of the most acclaimed of 'Once Upon a Time' up to this point. It is not difficult at all to see why that is the case. Season 3 is back on top form after lapsing a little with "The New Neverland" with its most hard-hitting and emotional episode yet, and a strong contender for its best. Also one of the best of the early seasons and up to this point of the show, and perhaps of the show in general. It's only a mid-season finale but it actually feels like a season finale.

Things feel as if they are moving forward, with existing ideas coming to a close and new ones being introduced with enormous potential. The time jump is really quite something to take in and intrigues hugely. Regina and Mr Gold are especially well-realised of the well-rounded characterisation, which also feels like it is progressing.

Most striking about "Going Home" is the emotional impact. None of the previous 'Once Upon a Time' episodes emotionally affected or moved me as much as "Going Home" did, especially with the single most devastating scene (which won't be spoilt) of the show up to this point and one of the show's most hard-hitting.

All the performances are without complaint, with Robert Carlyle being exceptional. He has always been one of the consistently great actors on 'Once Upon a Time', but this is him at his most heart-wrenching.

Furthermore, "Going Home" is a very handsomely mounted episode visually, the settings and costumes are both colourful and atmospheric, not too dark or garish and never cookie-cutter. It is photographed beautifully too. Which is why it is sad the Medusa was so poorly done. The music is haunting, ethereal and cleverly used with a memorable main theme. Writing has the right balance of humour, pathos, mystery and intrigue.

In conclusion, wonderful and quite special episode. This is how to do a mid-season finale. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Another day, another curse

[sini-200 · 8/10 · 26 March 2023]

'Going Home' is good conclusion to a mid season finale. It ends the Peter Pan arc, which is a shame because I think Pan was one of the best villains in Once Upon a time. But before he goes he leaves Storybrooke with another new curse. I'm still quite confused where he got the curse from, but the Henry/Pan switch was interesting to watch.

As I did like the episode, but it seemed weird how easily Emma was ready to leave her family. I know it was for Henry, and saving him, but still - wasn't she just episodes ago saying to Mary Margaret not to give up (about David's curse?) And now she just leaves without thinking of solution? Especially with forgetting everything... but the end of episode was nicely done.

After almost 3 ½ seasons, Once Upon A Time decides it is time to hit the reset button, but not before creating an episode which damn near feels like a series finale.

[Amari-Sali · 15 December 2013]

For perhaps the first time, maybe ever, Once Upon a Time had a rather well written, and performed, episode. Though, admittedly, I still have qualms over the Snow, Charming and Emma characters, even they did well as we watched the episode play out so well that it could have easily been a series finale, if you took out the cliff hanger. So, with that said, let's speak on the episode.

To begin, Peter Pan becomes the formidable villain he once was, even as it seems Rumple and crew are making a comeback. He puts together all things needed for the curse and sacrifices poor Felix as the person who contains the heart he is closest to and, with this, the curse begins. However, naturally, our heroes fight against Pan's doing and find a way to stop him, but all this comes at a price.

Leading me to speak on one of the oddest things about this episode: everyone getting an emotional reaction. As probably known by those who have seen my past reviews of the series, I really am not fond of Snow, Charming and their daughter Emma. But, as defeat looms over their heads, we get the first, of many, parent/ child moments which really pull at your heart strings. For Emma and Snow, they share slight regrets when it comes to their decisions to give up their child, but knowing that ultimately it was for the best.

But then we have Regina and Mr. Gold who, as usual, steal the show. Starting with Regina, we see in her a woman who has sacrificed everything, and while she may have found Henry as the one person who sees her as redeemable, as Mr. Gold notes, villains don't get happy endings. So, in order to fight off Pan's incoming curse, and save Henry in the process, she has to let go the one thing she has of worth. Remember, her mother is dead, she killed her father, and the few people she loved, or really liked, outside of them are gone. Henry was all that was left and in order to save him, she had to break her own curse and return everyone to the Enchanted Forest, sans Henry since he wasn't born in their world. So, with heavy heart, she gives the reigns of being mother to Emma, and though Regina won't be remembered, though she may remember Henry, she at least makes it so the last 11 years are of bliss with his birth mother, making for a truly touching end, at least for now.

But, while Regina's ending seems like it may be temporary, the same can't fully be said for Mr. Gold. I mentioned last episode about the show killing off characters, and in this episode they do kill off Peter Pan's shadow, and revive the Blue Fairy in the process, but when it comes to Pan's defeat there are issues. To begin on that tale we must talk about the history between Pan and Rumple, and even bring Baelfire into it. As we know, no man in that family had a reliable father, and in the moments leading to Rumple and Pan's final battle, it seems Rumple just wanted some type of regret out of his father, but alas there was nothing but a bitter man who saw his child as nothing more than a ball and chain. A man who would sooner kill his grandson, to hurt his own kid, than be any semblance of a man. Making him becoming a boy more fitting than ever. However, Rumple finds that truly the prophecy is right. The boy will be his undoing and though this has been aimed at Henry, it seems the boy his father is/was is what does him in. For, Pan is ready to kill all the lead characters, Baelfire being first, and Rumple shows up with the dark one's dagger and pierces through his father's back, while in a embrace, and pierces himself as well. The former coward shows he has heart and the courage to give up everything, as Snow and Charming did, so that his child could have a chance at hope and happiness. Now, will Rumple appear in the 2nd half or is that Carlyle's real exit, it is hard to tell. Either way, the tears were just rolling.

Making so, overall, this is undoubtedly the best episode of the series. Not just because it seemed so on point with emotional reaction, as well as good use of characters, but because it feels like a series finale. All plots are done for Storybrooke so when things start anew in the 2nd half, set a year later, we should have a possibly fresh series. My only question is will they have it where we will be split between New York and the Enchanted Forest? Who is the villain to replace Pan? Being that Hook, I believe, was from Europe, how in the world is he alive and seemingly still crossing realms to warn Emma of whatever is happening in the Enchanted Forest? In a few months, hopefully we'll have some answers.

it's official this show is *DEAD* this shouldn't be called once....

[granitodiaz · 1/10 · 18 February 2014]

it should be call what it is. LOST 5.0 except not a very good or inspired one. once upon a time can officially join all the dead scifi shows that try to be lost but could never touch it...never. once is now in the list with Alcatraz, flashforward, that unmemorable nbc show with the kid and the plane and the memories see I even forgot the name. unmemorable! rehash are some of the proper terms.

once was only any good in season 1. season 2 I was in at the beginning then it dragged. and now season 3 what a joke.

the biggest joke is that this is LOST! A mediocre one at that.

does this sound familiar.

season 1 it ends with them leaving their land and going back to fairytale land. from a well a magical spell is released and it ends with not knowing what's going to happen. aka the hatch. and what happens on season 2.... oh they have to go back. THEY HAVE TO GO BACK! does that classic plot line or line sound familiar! but what really pisses me off is what just happen in the latest episode. so they leave story brook and it cuts to someone going around doing house stuff cooking all in the meantime playing music then someone knocks on the door everything stops and its jack looking into the hatch with lock, even Juliet in the others camp... I mean its captain hook telling emma she needs to remember. remember wait like that show where they left the island and they focused on its last season about remembering their previous life and how their memories were rewritten to forget their life on the island. wait i'm I talking about once upon a time or lost!

the writer for this show which obviously were writers for that other show needs to remember. remember! that this isn't lost.

I could really give so many examples. but to carbon copy a whole scene worst whole story lines from lost is just lazy.