Well, we just started the final season here yesterday at long last.
**vaguely spoilery below**
I've read comments that suggest this season wasn't well-received (which I think was inevitable after getting rid of most of the main cast. Though the three they
did keep - Regina, Hook and Gold - would be, I imagine, a lot of viewers' favourites). I'll admit that I wasn't really keeping track of what versions of the characters we were seeing at any given time, but the fact that there was quite a bit of 'newness' going on probably contributed to me at least not nodding off (which I was in danger of doing through Season 5).
I didn't hate Henry as a kid (which is quite the feat, since most kid characters in movies/TV shows annoy me), but he could be annoying at times. Still, he was one of the more tolerable kid characters in shows I watch. However, it is interesting to see him now grown up. Whether he gets less or more irritating, now that he's an adult, remains to be seen. His daughter, on the other hand, is already rather annoying. I don't remember Henry being this annoying when he was basically doing the same thing with showing up on Emma's door. Yes, he was persistent, but that was back when he was still at least (mostly) likable. Henry's kid isn't
terrible, but she isn't exactly likable at this point either. Hopefully she gets better, not worse.
I was probably one of the few who didn't hate Dania Ramirez when she was in Heroes. I actually felt sorry for her character, Maya. I actually remember first seeing her as one of the less annoying potentials in Season 7 of
Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Despite not playing particularly memorable (or even 'good') characters in the few things I've seen her in, I've still liked her. Not sure yet how I feel about her character in this show. There were times she was alright, then other times where she verged on the annoying - I guess that'll be the case with most of these new characters this season. I don't 'hate' her yet...so that's something. Also, she's easy on the eyes - so that also helps (though I definitely prefer her in her regular clothes, rather than the Cinderella dress - looks like they tried to make it look at least similar to the one Lily James wore in the 2015 movie version of Cinderella - but, really, nothing can come close to matching that dress's epic sparklyness).
I have read comments saying how there doesn't seem much (if any) 'chemistry' between adult Henry and Jacinda/Cinderella...but I guess I'm pretty easygoing when it comes to think actors have 'chemistry', as I haven't minded their interaction (the her punching Henry, after saying there needed to be a twist, and stealing his motorbike was rather eyeroll worthy. At least she came to appreciate what he'd done for her by the end of the second episode). They also look good together, I think.
Speaking of the second episode - it was so good to see Emma again and have her interact with the the few remaining characters from the show. I think the way they wrote it - with Emma and Hook going back through the portal to live with Snow & Charming and the rest was the best possible option. If the show had separated Emma & Hook, they would've no doubt felt the wrath of the 'Captain Swan' shippers (and I would've hated it if they'd just written Emma offscreen - by having her go missing, or put under a curse or any manner of contrivances they could think up to not have her appear - with the vain hope of Jennifer Morrison possibly returning. At least this way no one has to really worry about Emma & Hook and whether they're living happily ever after together or not, since it seems that they indeed
will be).
And what allowed this^ to happen was the fact that Hook wasn't actually the Hook we thought - it was Alt. Hook (aka 'old fat Hook' - who made his amusing debut last season). I'm sure Colin was having a ball playing the alternate version of Hook (despite what he looked like - though maybe even *because* of it). I'm sure it was probably fun for him to play someone that was so un-Hook-like. Even after he wound up looking the same as normal Hook, Colin still played Alt. Hook differently - which was nice/appreciated. Should be interesting seeing him teamed up with Regina (I refuse to call her by her new name) and Henry.
In the minuses column - what happened to Gabrielle Anwar? I'll just say she looks considerably different to the last time I saw her in something. Not sure if I'll be able to enjoy her character or not. I was also rather disappointed with this new version of Gold. I'm not sure what accent Robert Carlyle was going for...but it seemed to fade in and out at times. I also found his scenes boring - which I never used to, as he was one of the more compelling actors in the show.
I'd read about Adelaide Kane being cast for this season. After finishing
Reign, I'm glad I get to see her in another show (however short-lived it might be). It's just disappointing that she's not a regular...but oh well. I'll take whatever Adelaide Kane I can get.
Anyway, while I certainly wasn't 'blown away' by these first two episodes of the new (and final) season...I didn't necessarily 'hate' them either. At least with some much 'new' going on, it should hopefully keep me interested for a while. Of course, given how bad others have said they found this season, I might not end up liking it much at all either. Will just have to wait and see.
After watching episodes 3 Season 7, I'm starting to see why some people aren't so fond of new Cinderella/Jacinda.
Her asking people for their signatures to help save her daughter's garden was admirable, and the people were good to do so...but then she throws all the signatures away (or, more accurately,
burns them) because Gabrielle Anwar offers her a shiny new condo? Way to show your appreciation for all those people who supported you trying to save your daughter's garden, Jacinda. I'm amazed that she not only managed to track everyone down again, but that they were willing to give her their signatures again. Anyway, I'm not overly fond of her character after this incident.
Episode 4, 'Beauty', was much better.
Firstly, it got me interested in Robert Carlyle again (after finding him rather boring in the previous three episodes). I've always liked Emile de Ravin as Belle in this show, and I even managed to hang in there through all the back and forth/turning good and bad Rumple went through and their constant fighting/getting back together. So it was nice to not only have Emilie/Belle back (as I thought everyone except Regina, Hook and Gold were gone from this show for good), but also to have an episode devoted to her and Rumple which pretty much wrapped up their story. It showed them living out their lives together (with Belle getting older, but not Rumple) and then the reveal that she'd misled him into thinking they'd find a way to get rid of the dagger and render him human so that he'd give up on the pursuit of it and just live happily with her. I know some people had issues with her 'tricking' him this way...but, honestly, given the amount of times he's lied to/tricked
her, I'd say they're about even when it comes to that.
I also appreciated that the makeup team didn't go overboard with aging Emilie de Ravin to play old Belle.
While I'm guessing they might bring Belle back for the final (I haven't read any spoilers, so I have no clue if this was Emilie's final episode on the show or not), I think this was a fitting end to OUAT's version of Beauty & the Beast.
Something else I liked this episode was Gold's (yes, I'm still refusing to use the new character names for him, Regina and Hook) interaction with this new Alice. At first I wasn't sure about this version of Alice, as I had really liked Sophie Lowe's interpretation of the character in
Once Upon A Time in Wonderland (which I eventually got to see on TV here - although it was out of order with the season of OUAT it was meant to be set prior to, but I enjoyed it well enough and wouldn't have minded more...it certainly couldn't have been much worse than the last few seasons of this show), but this episode at least got me interested in new Alice. She was quirky/a bit 'wacky', but managed to not annoy me too much (and I enjoyed all the Alice in Wonderland references too). She was fun - which this show is in desperate need of.
Their interaction was the most I've liked Robert Carlyle so far this season (when he was not playing Rumple and interacting with Belle). I wouldn't be opposed to seeing more of their interaction (or, really, Alice's interaction with
any of the other characters. I think she'd liven them up a bit). She's definitely the most entertaining character so far this season.
Though not far behind is Adelaide Kane's character of Ivy. Yes, she's 'bitchy', but I knew I liked her character as soon as she referred to Lucy as Jacinda's 'spawn'. I'was glad to see that they started to work in some layers to her character, and I finally get now why some people thought Henry and Jacinda didn't have that much chemistry. It becomes rather obvious once you see him interacting with someone he most definitely
does have chemistry with - which, in this case, is Ivy.
I realise that Jacinda/Cinderella is probably intended as his endgame love interest, but it'd be a waste for the writers not to capitalise on the chemistry Adelaide Kane has with the actor playing older Henry. I hope for more interaction with them (though I know that'll probably lead to Jacinda jealousy and whatnot).
Anyway, I thought episode 4 of Season 7 was easily the best so far. Here's hoping there's more like it (though I'm guessing that's probably not likely, given what I've heard about this season. Still...I'm not yet ready to say goodbye to the characters I've grown to enjoy over the course of the show - the ones who are
still around, that is - so I'm appreciating the time left with them...even if the writing isn't up to snuff).