Ready or not, the series finale for The CW’s The Vampire Diaries is upon us, promising one last major battle for the Salvatore brothers. Series creators Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson wrote season eight episode 16 and Julie Plec, fittingly, directed the show’s last episode ever. We may not be seeing the end of some of the characters fans have grown to love over eight seasons (some may show up occasionally on The Originals), but “I Was Feeling Epic” will be the final goodbye for many memorable The Vampire Diaries characters including Nina Dobrev who returns for the series’ finale on March 10, 2017.
The season eight cast includes Paul Wesley as Stefan, Ian Somerhalder as Damon, Kat Graham as Bonnie, Michael Malarkey as Enzo, Candice King as Caroline, Matt Davis as Alaric, and Zach Roerig as Matt.
The ‘I Was Feeling Epic’ Plot: OLD FRIENDS – With the fate of Mystic Falls at stake, Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder) must fight their greatest enemy for one last battle.
Joel Edgerton plays Orc Cop Nicolas Jakoby in ‘Bright’ (Photo Credit: Netflix)
Netflix has unveiled the first photos of Joel Edgerton as Orc Police Officer Nicolas Jakoby in Bright. The sci-fi action thriller co-stars Will Smith as Scott Ward, Jakoby’s human partner, with Netflix targeting a December 2017 premiere. Directed by David Ayer (Suicide Squad, End of Watch) from a script by Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency‘s Max Landis, the cast also includes Noomi Rapace, Lucy Fry, Edgar Ramirez, Ike Barinholtz, Enrique Murciano, Jay Hernandez, Andrea Navedo, Veronica Ngo, Alex Meraz, Margaret Cho, Brad William Henke, Dawn Olivieri, and Kenneth Choi.
Netflix released the first three official photos from Bright along with a faux press release announcing Jakoby’s hiring: “Today, the South Central Los Angeles Police Force announced that Nicolas Jakoby, the first ever Orc Police Officer, joined the department solidifying their commitment to diversity and their acceptance of all communities and races. Jakoby will be partnering with the esteemed Human Officer Scott Ward and providing much needed insight into the Orc community in the Los Angeles area.”
A quote from Captain Perez (played by Andrea Navedo) was also included in the press release. “Orcs have been a part of our society for over a millennia and we welcome all who are ready and willing to serve on the force. Jakoby will be an excellent partner to Ward,” said Perez.
The Plot: Set in an alternate present-day where humans, orcs, elves and fairies have been coexisting since the beginning of time, this action-thriller follows two cops from very different backgrounds. Ward, a human (Will Smith), and Jakoby, an orc (Joel Edgerton), embark on a routine night patrol that will alter the future of their world as they know it. Battling both their own personal differences as well as an onslaught of enemies, they must work together to protect a young female elf and a thought-to-be-forgotten relic, which in the wrong hands could destroy everything.
Joel Edgerton and Will Smith in ‘Bright’ (Photo Credit: Netflix)Will Smith in ‘Bright’ (Photo Credit: Netflix)
The Pussycats were in a bit of a turmoil, Archie worked through his stage fright to perform live, and Veronica joined Josie and the Pussycats in The CW’s Riverdale season one episode six. And while all that was going on, episode six titled ‘Faster, Pussycats! Kill! Kill!’ also revealed Polly’s whereabouts, that she’s pregnant, and that she had no idea Jason is dead. Plus, Jughead kissed Betty creating the ‘Bughead’ ship.
Up next, episode seven titled ‘In a Lonely Place’ airing on March 9, 2017. Allison Anders directed from a script by Aaron Allen. The Riverdale cast includes KJ Apa as Archie Andrews, Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper, Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge, Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones, Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom, Marisol Nichols as Hermione Lodge, Mӓdchen Amick as Alice Cooper, Luke Perry as Fred Andrews, and Ashleigh Murray as Josie McCoy.
The ‘In a Lonely Place’ Plot: THE SEARCH IS ON — When a major piece of evidence is mysteriously destroyed, new rumors begin to swirl as to who was really behind Jason’s murder. Tensions build when Jughead’s (Sprouse) father returns to the fray and it’s revealed that he and Fred (Perry) have some unresolved issues between them. Meanwhile, Veronica (Mendes) takes matters into her own hands after her fight with Hermione (Nichols). Cheryl (Petsch) approaches Betty (Reinhart) with an unexpected proposal that leaves Betty torn.
Katherine McNamara and Dominic Sherwood in ‘Shadowhunters’ season 2 episode 8 (Photo by Ian Watson / Freeform)
Freeform has announced the premiere dates for Stitchers season three, The Fosters season five, and the series debut of The Bold Type. The network has also set a midseason two return date for Shadowhunters, based on the Mortal Instruments book series by Cassandra Clare. Stitchers will return for its third season on Monday, June 5, 2017 at 9pm ET/PT. The Fosters season five will kick off on July 11th at 8pm ET/PT, and Shadowhunters will air the remainder of season two beginning on June 5th at 8pm ET/PT. The network’s also set a July 11th debut for The Bold Type which will have a two-hour premiere beginning at 9pm ET/PT on July 11th.
Details on Shadowhunters Season 2, Part 2: Shadowhunters and Downworlders are reeling from what happened at the New York Institute in the winter finale. As the rift between the two sides grows larger, the team and their Downworld friends and lovers are put in the middle of the dangerous divide. Torn between the Clave’s rules and what they feel is right, Clary, Jace, Alec and Isabelle struggle to help forge a new beginning. Relationships will be tested, a new Shadowhunter named Sebastian will join the fray and the Seelie Queen will step out of the shadows in the summer season. The series stars Katherine McNamara, Dominic Sherwood, Alberto Rosende, Emeraude Toubia, Matthew Daddario, Isaiah Mustafa and Harry Shum Jr.
Stitchers Season 3 Details: Kirsten and the Stitchers team hack into the minds of the recently deceased to investigate diverse and unusual cases spanning from international relations to within their own families. New relationships will develop while others will end, and the true purpose of the Stitchers program will be revealed. Stitchers stars Emma Ishta, Kyle Harris, Ritesh Rajan, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Allison Scagliotti and Damon Dayoub.
The Fosters Season 5 Info: Winner of a Television Academy Honors Award and GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series, The Fosters follows a multi-ethnic family mix of adopted and biological teenaged kids being raised by two moms. The drama’s fifth season will include the milestone 100th episode. Teri Polo, Sherri Saum, Hayden Byerly, Noah Centineo, David Lambert, Maia Mitchell and Cierra Ramirez star in the award-winning series.
The Bold Type Details:The Bold Type, inspired by the life of Joanna Coles, chief content officer of Hearst Magazines, reveals a glimpse into the outrageous lives and loves of those responsible for the global women’s magazine Scarlet. The rising generation of Scarlet women leans on one another as they find their own voices in a sea of intimidating leaders. Together they explore sexuality, identity, love and fashion. The series stars Katie Stevens, Aisha Dee, Meghann Fahy, Sam Page, Matt Ward, and Melora Hardin as Jacqueline, editor in chief of Scarlet Magazine.
Tupac Shakur (Photo by The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) and Christopher “Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)
USA Network has cast Marcc Rose (Straight Outta Compton) and Wavyy Jonez to star in the upcoming true crime serial, Unsolved: The Murders of Biggie and Tupac. Rose will play Tupac Shakur and Jonez has signed on to play Christopher “Notorious B.I.G.” Smalls in the series based on former LAPD Detective Greg Kading’s experiences in the murder investigations detailed in his book, Murder Rap: The Untold Story of Biggie Smalls & Tupac Shakur Murder Investigations. Anthony Hemingway (The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story) is on board to direct and executive produce along with Mark Taylor and writer Kyle Long. Kading is involved as a consultant on the pilot and as a co-executive producer.
Rose and Jonez join Josh Duhamel (‘Detective Kading’), Jimmi Simpson (‘Detective Russell Poole’), and Bokeem Woodbine (‘Officer Daryn Dupree’) in the scripted series.
Rose’s first film role was playing Tupac in director F. Gary Gray’s critically acclaimed drama, Straight Outta Compton. Jonez will be making his acting debut as Biggie Smalls after being discovered during an open casting call. Jonez is a rapper who recently released his first mixtape, R.E.D. D.O.P.E. (Real Everyday Drama Doing Over People’s Expectation).
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts will be joining Boston for 21 cities on their 2017 Hyper Space Tour. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts will begin touring with Boston on June 14, 2017 in Mountain View, CA and then hit cities including Dallas, Toronto, and Los Angeles before finishing up on July 30th in Virginia. Tickets for the just-announced dates will go on sale beginning March 10th via LiveNation.com.
“I am thrilled to have Joan and her band on tour with us this summer,” said Boston’s Tom Scholz. “Not only is she an amazing rock and roll performing artist, but even more exciting to me is that she is a fellow vegetarian and shares compassion for animal welfare.”
According to the official tour update, one dollar from each ticket bought for this summer’s concerts “will be donated to Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, who are committed to ending the slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans, as well as Mercy for Animals, who utilize a broad range of strategic approaches that seek to expose cruelty, prosecute abusers, and inspire consumers to make compassionate food choices.”
Boston with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts Tour Dates:
Wed Jun 14 – Mountain View, CA at Shoreline Amphitheatre
Fri Jun 16 – Los Angeles, CA at Greek Theatre
Sun Jun 18 – Chula Vista, CA at Mattress Firm Amphitheatre
Wed Jun 28 – Houston, TX at Smart Financial Centre at Sugarland
Fri Jun 30 – Dallas, TX at Starplex Pavilion
Sun Jul 02 – Noblesville, IN at Klipsch Music Center
Wed Jul 05 – St. Louis, MO at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – STL
Fri Jul 07 – Tinley Park, IL at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – CHI
Sat Jul 08 – Dayton, OH at Rose Music Center at The Heights
Sun Jul 09 – Detroit, MI at DTE Energy Music Theatre
Tue Jul 11 – Toronto, ON at Budweiser Stage
Thu Jul 13 – Boston, MA at TD Garden
Wed Jul 19 – Alpharetta, GA at Verizon Amphitheatre
Thu Jul 20 – Virginia Beach, VA at Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
Sat Jul 22 – Wallingford, CT at Toyota Oakdale Theatre
Sun Jul 23 – Wantagh, NY at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Tue Jul 25 – Scranton, PA at The Pavilion at Montage Mountain
Thu Jul 27 – Camden, NJ at BB&T Pavilion
Fri Jul 28 – Pittsburgh, PA at KeyBank Pavilion
Sat Jul 29 – Syracuse, NY at Lakeview Amphitheater
Sun Jul 30 – Bristow, VA at Jiffy Lube Live
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes and Danai Gurira as Michonne in ‘The Walking Dead’ Season 7, Episode 12 (Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC)
“You’re leaving me with eight,” says Michonne (Danai Gurira), referring to the group of walkers they plan on splitting up and taking out. “You can handle eight,” replies Rick (Andrew Lincoln), flashing a friendly smile at his girlfriend in AMC’s horror/drama series, The Walking Dead, season seven episode 12.
It’s date night in zombieland as Rick and Michonne are out scavenging for weapons and supplies. As the episode begins, there’s a short montage of the couple entering abandoned places, finding canned goods, picking up a pistol here and there, stealing some batteries, and getting intimate every night before Michonne falls asleep and Rick stands watch. After a few days of this, Michonne suggests they head back, but Rick is really enjoying this little excursion. Since he seems so happy, Michonne agrees to stay out a few more days.
Back at Alexandria, Tara (Alanna Masterson) shows up to to help Rosita (Christian Serratos) take her stitches out but is too late. They, of course, start arguing about looking for guns with Rosita giving Tara grief mostly because she feels horribly guilty about Eugene being taken by Negan as well as Spencer and Olivia being murdered due to her actions and missed shot. Tara, not in the mood to put up with her bullsh*t, tells Rosita to save her fight for the Saviors and leaves.
Rosita visits Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) in his church and starts in on him, saying, “I’m here because I was stupid enough to listen to you,” referring back to Gabriel talking her out of her original plan. “It’s easier to be dead than alive,” says Gabriel, adding that if she needs to blame him for her being alive, he’ll have to just live with that and that the group still needs her. He tells her to think about how she’s going to make what needs to happen actually happen.
Back on the road, Rick and Michonne are tracking a deer and come across what looks like a camp. It’s actually an old carnival that looks pretty good considering it’s been quite a while since the fall of civilization. The two lovebirds notice all the walkers mulling about used to be soldiers and they are still armed…jackpot!
Rick and Michonne decide to climb up on the roof to get a better look around. They spot lots of zombie civilians and soldiers and have just decided to attempt to take them down and secure the guns when the roof they’re standing on gives way. They fall inside and start laughing, obviously not injured from crashing through the roof.
Back at Alexandria, Tara is talking to little Judith, bouncing ideas off Rick’s daughter who’s obviously too young to understand what she’s saying. She wonders if she should tell Rick about Oceanside and all the guns they have stocked up. She knows if she spills the beans, Oceanside will fight them instead of joining them to fight the Saviors. Tara also doesn’t want to go back on her word to Cyndie who saved her from being killed not once but twice.
Spending the night in the building they crash-landed into, Rick once again seems to be in no hurry to take on the walkers outside and hurry back to Alexandria. After a candlelight dinner, Michonne tells Rick that after it’s all over and Negan is dead, he should be the one to unite the different groups and lead. “You’d be good at it,” says Michonne. Rick isn’t interested but tells Michonne that he’s up for them building a future together and leading as a team which makes her blush and smile. Later, Michonne sleeps as Rick once again takes the night watch.
In the morning, Rick and Michonne head outside and make a plan to split up and take on the walkers. They decide to use a nearby abandoned car to block a hole in the fence to keep more walkers from joining the ones inside the fence, thus allowing them to slowly and systematically put them down. It doesn’t go as planned because Rick discovers too late that the car’s brakes don’t work and the car travels through the hole in the fence instead of blocking the hole. “I think we overshot it,” says Rick to Michonne who jumped in the trunk as it went through the fence.
Rick and Michonne exit the car via the sunroof and jump over a short temporary fence, still determined to split up the hungry walkers and put them down. It’s working out fine until Rick climbs what’s left of a Ferris Wheel to get a better look at something and sees the deer they were tracking. Wanting to get it for Michonne, Rick climbs a little higher for a better angle, and the pole he’s standing on gives out. He falls to the ground, and part of the group of walkers breaks off and comes at him. He scrambles for his gun and Michonne, who saw him fall but didn’t see the immediate aftermath, quickly makes her way over to him while taking down walkers.
Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira in ‘The Walking Dead’ (Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC)
Michonne is just a few steps away from where she believed Rick landed when she sees the group of walkers kneeling down eating something. She assumes it’s Rick, and in shock, she drops her sword and stands there, tears in her eyes. It’s a few seconds later that Rick emerges from his nearby hiding place and tosses Michonne her sword. He uses his now empty pistol to bash in the heads of walkers as Michonne snaps back into action. (Rick, knowing he was almost out of ammunition, shot the deer and let the walkers feed on it while he hid.) They continue putting down the walkers and afterward Michonne gives Rick a big hug.
On the drive back to Alexandria, Rick admits he hasn’t been sleeping because he’s been thinking about everything and everyone they’ve lost. He brings up Glenn and saving his life early on, even before they actually met, and how he couldn’t save him from Negan. Michonne tries to comfort Rick but also tells him she can’t lose him. Rick reminds her they’re going to lose people when they fight Negan and his Saviors and if he does fall, she has to be ready to lead everyone. That’s obviously something Michonne does not want to hear. (It’s clear in this scene why Rick wanted to stretch their scavenger hunt a couple of more days. He’s half expecting not to survive the big battle with Negan and is trying to enjoy what time he has left with Michonne.)
Rick, Michonne, Tara, and Rosita meet with Jadis (Pollyanna McIntosh) and her group. Jadis tells Rick the guns he’s delivering are not enough to honor their deal. Rick and Jadis go back and forth and finally agree on a new deal. He’ll head out and find more guns, taking 20 guns with him for protection and scavenging and leaving the rest. Rosita is noticeably annoyed, but Michonne tells Rick it’s fine and that they still have time.
Later in Alexandria, Tara heads out to see Rick who has shown up at her door asking if she knows why Rosita didn’t show up to take her watch. Tara suggests she went looking for more guns and tells him she needs to talk to him about something.
The final scene is Rosita visiting Abraham’s grave to talk to Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green). Rosita brings her up to speed about the group needing to deliver more guns, telling her she’s had it with waiting. She reveals a high-powered sniper’s rifle and the two agree to go on a suicide mission to assassinate Negan.
The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 12 Review:
Slow, dialogue-heavy, and fairly uneventful, episode 12 titled “Say Yes” was nothing more than a rather boring filler installment in the horror/drama series and perhaps one of the worst episodes of the series, period. It should have been titled “Date Night in Zombieland.”
The casual and cutesy dialogue between Rick and Michonne came across as forced between two actors who have shown they have solid chemistry together in earlier episodes. The deer looked horribly fake, and there was zero suspense during the ‘carnival walker close-call because of it being Rick in supposed jeopardy. The only real solid scene in this episode is between Rosita and Gabriel in his church when he tells her he’ll carry the blame for keeping her alive and forces her to focus on how she is going to help take down Negan.
With Tara about to tell Rick about Oceanside, it will be interesting to see if they can convince the ladies who lost so much at the hands of the Saviors to team up and hopefully stop them once and for all.
Logan‘s massive opening weekend was a fitting way to say goodbye to Hugh Jackman’s time as the steely-clawed mutant, Wolverine. The comic book-inspired film took over second place on the list of the biggest opening weekends for R-rated films and had the second biggest opening on IMAX screens for an R-rated movie. Logan also achieved the best opening of the stand-alone Wolverine films, topping 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine ($85 million) and 2013’s The Wolverine ($53 million).
Lana Parrilla and Jennifer Morrison in ‘Once Upon a Time’ (Photo by Jack Rowand/ABC)
We catch up with Once Upon a Time season six after its winter break with episode 11 titled ‘Tougher Than the Rest.’ The episode airing on March 5, 2017 begins in Minneapolis in 1990 with a young Emma tearing pages from a book of fairy tales to stay warm. A handsome young man approaches, asking what she’s doing and Emma tells him she ran away from a crappy group home. He grabs the story of the ugly duckling from her before she can toss it in the fire. He explains the best fairy tales are about transformations, reminding her the duckling becomes a beautiful swan.
They disagree over whether the duckling was a swan all along but just didn’t know it, or if her belief that she could be a swan transformed her into the creature. “If we believe in something strongly enough, we all have the power to change our fate,” the kind stranger says.
The stranger takes her to the police station where she tells the officer she’s been on the streets for a few days. Asked her name, she replies, “Emma,” and adds “Swan” after a little pause.
And now we’re back in the present day with Robin Hood (Sean Maguire) holding up Regina (Lana Parrilla) and Emma (Jennifer Morrison) as they were about to step through the portal and return to Storybrooke. Robin doesn’t recognize Regina, and she hands over her jewelry while looking heartbroken. He rushes off as Henry (Jared Gilmore) and two soldiers arrive on horseback, searching for the Evil Queen to make her pay for murdering his grandparents.
After Henry rides off continuing his search for the Evil Queen, Regina asks Emma how it’s possible Robin didn’t age, but everyone else did. Emma reminds her this place isn’t real, and Regina is anxious to go home. An idea pops into Emma’s head on how they might accomplish that.
Back in Storybrooke, Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) and David (Josh Dallas) search for the hooded figure, meaning to capture it before Emma returns. David’s determined to catch him before he can come anywhere near Emma. Hook, who is just as anxious, tries to be the voice of reason but David’s heavy into blaming himself for everything that’s going on because he made the wish to give the Evil Queen what she deserves. He refuses to wake Snow until he fixes everything, and Hook assures him he’s with him – despite any misgivings.
Over at Belle (Emilie de Ravin) and Rumple’s, they’re astounded their son, Gideon (Giles Matthey), is now 28 years old. He tells them time moved differently with the Black Fairy, and although she tried to make him evil, she failed. He always remembered Belle and the memory of her goodness is what kept him from turning to the dark side. But that said, he still wants to kill the Savior so he can become the new Savior, with all the powers that entails. He says he wants to free another realm from the Black Fairy, and Rumple (Robert Carlyle) tells his now-grown son it won’t be easy to kill Emma. However, he’s had a vision and has seen her death “at his hand.”
Emma’s idea for returning to Storybrooke involves a visit to Pinocchio. He gives her a huge hug, relieved she’s alive after being captured by the Evil Queen. Flash-forward a few minutes and Emma and Regina have revealed the truth and Pinocchio seems to accept it, mainly because his father believed in him. He wants to know how he can help, and Emma asks him to carve something to get them home. She reminds him his father made a magical wardrobe that transported her between worlds. Emma asks if he still has it, but unfortunately, Pinocchio dismantled it. However, he knows where the enchanted wood came from and thinks he might be able to replicate his father’s work. Regina somehow sneaks away, leaving a note instructing Emma to return home with Pinocchio. Regina says she can’t go back until she gets a question answered. Her question: is Robin better off without her?
Regina spots him in the tavern and enters as everyone screams, “The Evil Queen!” and flees – except for Robin. She asks if he’s happy and Robin replies, “You’re a strange one.” He says his life’s great and he couldn’t ask for more. Regina says, “So you were better off,” which, of course, Robin doesn’t understand. Teary-eyed, she gets up from the table, but he stops her from leaving. He wants to know why she cares about his happiness, but before she can answer the Sheriff of Nottingham arrives. He arrests Robin and is happy to get to arrest the Evil Queen as an added bonus.
Emma and Pinocchio find the enchanted tree, and he’s brought a special chisel to carve the wood. They discuss Emma’s role as the Savior in her world and how it’s her fate to die protecting her family. She tells him the sword in her hand is the one that will end her life. Their discussion’s interrupted by an older, ragged Kilian with long grey hair and a beer belly.
Once again to Storybrooke we go, with Rumple tracking down Gideon and Gideon declaring his mind’s made up and there’s no changing his path. Rumple tells Gideon that if he wants someone to pay for his painful childhood, then let it be him. Rumple takes the blame for not protecting his son and letting the Black Fairy take him. Rumple slaps Gideon, demanding he hit him back, but Gideon refuses (although his hand, which is hidden from his dad, does turn red hot.) Gideon tells Rumple he doesn’t need his help and vanishes.
Meanwhile, Killian claims he’ll kill Pinocchio in order to rescue Emma, but an exasperated Emma tries to convince him she doesn’t need rescuing. As Captain Hook takes a bow, Pinocchio easily disarms him, and Hook’s upset because there’s a reward out for returning Emma. Pinocchio wants to know how Emma knows this pirate and she confesses she lives with a version of him in the other world. As Pinocchio and Emma are preoccupied with discussing the other Hook, the paunchy Hook in this world snags the magical chisel. He wants to duel Pinocchio, but Emma sends him flying with a little magic.
Emma looks down at Killian’s unconscious body and says, “I really need to get home and get somebody off the rum…and the dessert.” She sends him back to the Jolly Roger, and even though he left the chisel behind, there’s a problem. The chisel’s broken and Pinocchio can’t fix it. He needs magic to carve the tree, saying he’s not as good as his father.
Sean Maguire in ‘Once Upon a Time’ (Photo by Jack Rowand/ABC)
The Sheriff of Nottingham has Regina and Robin locked up in a carriage, and Regina apologizes to Robin for his current predicament. He’s upset that now he’ll never be able to accomplish anything, and she reminds him of all the good he’s already done by stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. “Give to the poor? Why the hell would I do that?” asks Robin. She can’t believe he’s a common thief and that that makes him happy. She doesn’t believe it and wonders about Marian. Robin reveals he and Marian were never married because she died before they could wed. He has no one. Regina asks again if his life makes him happy, and Robin confesses he hasn’t been happy for a very long time.
Rumplestiltskin shows up, sending the Sheriff and his men flying through the air. He lets Regina and Robin out of the cage, but he won’t free her from her magical restraints because when he went looking for Belle and all he found were her bones. Belle starved to death, and Rumple wants Regina to pay for her death.
And now we’re back in Storybrooke with David talking to the sleeping Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin), telling her he can’t wake her until he finds the man who’s going to kill Emma. He swears he’ll stop the man and fix their problems.
Hook and David go over a map, trying to figure out where in Storybrooke this hooded man could be hiding. Belle joins them, revealing the man’s name is Gideon. Hook and David are incredulous because her son is an infant, so she explains he aged faster in the other realm. Belle says it’s not his fault he’s trying to kill Emma and adds that Rumple’s out looking for him now. Hook asks the right question: is Rumple stopping Gideon or aiding him? Belle admits she’s not sure. She thinks if she can talk to Gideon, she can stop him. She asks for their help, but David’s leery of promising not to hurt Gideon. Belle thinks they can keep him from hurting Emma and asks David and Hook to trust her.
Rumplestiltskin locks Robin and Regina in a cell, and Robin apparently has been told the whole “fake world” story and is trying to understand what it means for him. Robin’s surprisingly quick to believe in the other world where he was a folk hero, and the Evil Queen cared for him. Robin says he doesn’t mind believing that and asks if he’s a scoundrel in this other world. Regina says no and reveals he’s dead. He asks if the other Robin had a good life and Regina answers, “I think so. I hope so. He helped a lot of people which he was proud of.” Crying, she tells him he loved her. Robin says, “That sounds like it was a good life, even if it was too short.” (This scene is heartbreaking!) Robin then lightens the mood by easily breaking them out of the cell.
Emma’s decided to try carving the tree without Pinocchio’s help. It’s not working so she puts down the tools and opens a special box with her name on it that she finds in Pinocchio’s toolbox. Inside is a carved swan!
Emma confronts Pinocchio, asking about the swan. He says it’s a birthday present for a princess who has everything and that he’s always liked swans. He adds, “It reminds me of a story my father used to tell me when I was dreaming about becoming real.” They discuss “The Ugly Duckling,” with Pinocchio telling Emma his father always said if you believe in something hard enough, you can change your fate. She can’t believe she just heard the same words the young stranger said to her back in 1990 when she ran away from a horrible group home. Emma can’t believe the young man was Pinocchio, telling him his advice changed her life. Pinocchio smiles and says, “You became the swan.”
Emma hands Pinocchio a chisel, telling him he can do this if he believes he’s a master carver and as good as his father ever was. She tells him to change his fate.
Back at the enchanted tree, Pinocchio’s fate has changed and the chisel works. He creates a new wardrobe and Regina arrives with Robin in tow right after Pinocchio’s finished his work. Regina says they have to get out of there because everyone’s looking for them. She asks for a minute and apologizes to Robin that she dragged him into this. He hands her a feather and says it’s his lucky feather from a very lucky arrow. Regina is astonished, telling him when “her Robin” died, a feather got lost on its way to her from him. She thinks this feather means he’s in a good place and that he lives on in this Robin.
After Robin walks away, Emma asks Regina why she doesn’t just bring Robin with her to Storybrooke. Emma points out this Robin hasn’t aged and wonders if maybe the feather means Robin’s soul is in this Robin and it’s why he’s different from the rest of the familiar people they’ve run into in this world. Emma asks why she’d walk away if any part of her Robin is in this Robin, and Regina confesses it’s because she’s afraid of tempting fate. Emma declares, “We make our own fate,” and tells Regina it’s her turn to do that.
Robin’s been eavesdropping and tells Regina he’s in! She reminds him it might not work and he replies, “Then again, it might.” He’s willing to risk it, saying things are looking bleak for him in his world. Plus, maybe he’ll get to know Regina better – the woman who one version of him would die for. (I’m not crying, you are!)
Pinocchio opens the portal’s door and Emma steps through. Regina thanks Pinocchio for his help and then steps through.
Next, we see Emma in Storybrooke, sword in hand. Regina comes through next but no Robin. Regina confirms they went into the portal together and Emma tells her she’s sorry it didn’t work. Regina asks for a moment alone, and Emma leaves her to mourn Robin once again. Of course, that’s when Robin arrives, and Regina gives him a huge, lengthy hug, which she immediately apologizes for. He’s okay with the hug and Regina takes him to a vantage point where he can see the city of Storybrooke lit up at night. She officially welcomes him to Storybrooke.
Emma walks down the middle of Main Street, alone. Gideon appears behind her and Emma wants to know what he wants. The fight is on, with swords clanging as they duel. Gideon fairly easily disarms Emma and then makes his old sword vanish, keeping just Emma’s sword which she foresaw would cause her death. David, Hook, and Henry race up followed closely by Regina, Robin, Rumple, and Belle. Rumple yells for Gideon to wait, with Belle telling him he doesn’t have to do this. Before anyone can act, Gideon freezes them in place.
Gideon tells Emma he only wants to hurt her, not the others, as her hand begins to shake. He asks if she’s ready to die and she says she’s fated to die but won’t be doing that today, sending Gideon flying. The sword shatters and lands near his body. Emma holds a piece to Gideon’s throat as Rumple begs for his son’s life. Gideon says he doesn’t need his father’s help and vanishes.
The spell’s broken and everyone runs to give Emma a hug, except Belle and Rumple. Emma can’t believe that was Belle’s baby and Robin walks up and can’t believe Hook looks so spry. Everyone’s stunned to see Robin and Emma explains he’s the Robin from the alternate reality. Hook’s confused but latches onto the “spry” comment, wondering what happened to him in this alternate reality. Emma says it’s okay but that they’re switching to water. Hook asks, “What? For drinking?” and Emma says yes.
Emma pays a visit to Pinocchio who’s seated at a typewriter. She asks if he knew she was the young girl he told to go to the police station. He admits he knew and that he kept tabs on her as she was growing up. She shows him the pages of the “The Ugly Duckling” she still has in a box, and Pinocchio reveals he was happy when she picked Swan as her last name.
Rumple catches up with Belle and they have a heart-to-heart. Rumple says he wanted his son’s life to take its natural course and that he has the power to change his fate. He admits he was wrong in wanting to use the shears on Gideon. He confesses that in all his dark life he’s sought out those who are light which is why he sought out Belle. Rumple doesn’t want Gideon to kill Emma, calling it an irrational act of someone blind with pain. He doesn’t want that for his son. Belle says that she protected Gideon, even knowing what he wanted to do.
As Belle wonders if it’s too late to help him, Gideon’s shown in the clock tower. Rumple suggests that if there’s something they can do to help him, they should do it together. Gideon smashes the glass in the clock as miles away Rumple tells Belle war is coming to Storybrooke.
Joely Richardson as Glinda, Adria Arjona as Dorothy, and Rebeka Rea as Sylvie in ‘Emerald City’ season 1 episode 10 (Photo by: David Lukacs/NBC)
Season one of NBC’s engaging fantasy series, Emerald City, comes to an end with episode 10 titled ‘No Place Like Home.’ Airing on March 3, 2017, the season one finale opens with Nahara (Mia Mountain) begging Roquat (Julian Bleach) to spare her husband’s life, telling him Ojo will help him leave the Prison of the Abject if he does. The man may not be listening as he’s busy giving himself a new hand.
The Wizard’s guard show Eamonn (Mido Hamada) footage obtained by a monkey drone of an army of witches approaching Emerald City. Eamonn orders the gates closed and the guards to protect the city at all costs. As the army prepares for war, all the drones housed in the city soar into the sky and combine to spell out “Ozma.” Eamonn realizes exactly what this means just as Ozma leads the witches into Emerald City while clutching her family’s dagger. West (Ana Ularu) is close behind, happy the citizens are afraid of the witches.
Elsewhere, the stone giant stands guard outside the Wizard’s army’s settlement. The Wizard (Vincent D’Onofrio) enters his camp and Dorothy’s there to confront him. Dorothy (Adria Arjona) explains Nahara raised the stone giant after she assured her it would be used to stop the war and save Oz. The Wizard’s upset Dorothy didn’t kill Glinda, saying he only wants to protect this world. He wants Dorothy to head north again, but this time with the stone giant in tow. Dorothy wants to know what she’s supposed to do if Glinda doesn’t surrender and the Wizard shows her the guns that Queen Ev’s people built. Dorothy, upset, tells him he can’t use the guns to kill the young witches. The Wizard claims they’re not girls; they are the Beast Forever.
Mido Hamada as Eamonn, Jordan Loughran as Ozma, and Ana Ularu as West in ‘Grimm’ (Photo by: David Lukacs/NBC)
Back in Emerald City, Eamonn knows his fate and walks toward Ozma wearing the lion’s head mask. He bows at her feet and presents his sword. Ozma (Jordan Loughran) removes the lion’s head mask, overcome with grief and anger. Eamonn confesses he killed her mother and father in order to save himself. West believes Ozma should bleed him dry, but Ozma’s curious as to why he let her live when the Wizard ordered her killed. Eamonn says it was because he has a daughter her age and saw his daughter in Ozma’s eyes, judging him for his lack of courage. He presents her with her father’s crown as West hands Ozma her dagger. Instead of killing him, Ozma demands his family be brought to her.
Eamonn begs her to take her revenge out on him and leave his family alone. Ozma closes her eyes and when she opens them, she’s wiped the memories of Eamonn from his family’s memories. They don’t recognize him – not even his wife of decades. “You took away my family, now I took away yours,” says Ozma, casting Eamonn out of Emerald City forever and taking away all of his possessions. She’s doomed him to wander forever as a beast, with the witches placing the mask upon his head. The witches hiss at him as they force him from the city. (All that’s missing from the scene is a Game of Thrones-inspired “Shame” chant.)
West had been holding the crown, but now she hands it to her Queen. Ozma places it on her head and everyone – witches, townsfolk, and the Emerald City guards – kneel.
Jane (Gina McKee) races across a field, trying to catch up with Jack (Gerran Howell) who is determined to kill the Wizard. Jack makes it to the Wizard’s tent and takes out a few of his men. He’s about to kill the Wizard when Jane rushes up. The Wizard tells Jane her daughter is in Oz, saying the rip in the sky brought her daughter to this world. He yells, “Dorothy is here!” and Jane can’t believe it.
Dorothy and Toto rest for a brief moment not far from the Wizard’s army. Jane finds them there but before they can talk, a swarm of locusts arrive at the camp. The army is under attack, however, Dorothy manages to make herself a cylinder of protection into which Glinda (Joely Richardson) appears. Glinda can’t believe Dorothy’s still there and Dorothy tells her war isn’t necessary. Glinda mistakenly believes the Wizard animated the stone giant, and Dorothy explains she did it. Glinda says Roan was wrong about Dorothy, and Dorothy suggests she return to the north and forget about going to war. In the north, Glinda and her witches can live in peace. Sylvie (Rebeka Rea) appears out of the locusts and Glinda is sure Dorothy’s love for the young witch never wavered.
Unfortunately for Dorothy, Sylvie’s sided with Glinda and is able to make the stone giant start to crumble. Dorothy begs Sylvie to stop but she doesn’t, so Dorothy uses her magic to make the stone giant in Emerald City smash through the witches’ sacred temple. Center of the temple destroyed, the magic appears to be zapped from Glinda as the locusts retreat and the witches in the field who had been hidden from view are all exposed.
Sylvie’s still busy making the stone giant fall apart when the Wizard shoots her. The stone giant completely crumbles and as the fog of stone envelopes the field, the Wizard’s army begins firing on the witches. Jack walks through the army, calling for Jane. The soldiers shoot him at close range and smash his body as he screams in pain.
Dorothy gently handles Sylvie’s dead body as Glinda stands by blaming her for choosing the wrong side and causing all this death. Dorothy seeks out the Wizard, effortlessly tossing soldiers aside as they take aim. One-on-one with the Wizard, Dorothy demands he call off his army or she’ll shoot him. She doesn’t care that would mean she would never be able to go home and as the Wizard begs for his life, the dead witches (including Sylvie) come back to life and gather around Glinda. She reminds the Wizard, who’s still sprawled out on the ground at Dorothy’s feet, that only a witch can kill a witch. He’s confused because he believed the guns could kill the Beast Forever, but now it’s obvious the witches aren’t the Beast Forever. Glinda calls him a fool for believing so in the first place.
Back in the Prison of the Abject, Roquat has transformed into a winged creature. Roquat is the Beast Forever!
Glinda leads her witches to the temple in Emerald City as the Wizard trails behind Dorothy, tied up. After briefly glancing at the devastation done to the temple, Glinda and the witches enter the palace and find Princess Ozma and West by the throne. West tells her sister she’s taken Emerald City and declares they’re on the same side. West believes the Beast Forever is the only true fight left, but Glinda isn’t ready to mend fences. West reminds her the city belongs to Pastoria and introduces her sister to Ozma. West believes magic and reason can rule Oz side by side, but Glinda isn’t going for it. She won’t take her sister’s hand and proclaims only magic will rule Oz. West asks again for Glinda’s hand and just when it looks as if she’s about to give in, they hear a loud bang in the castle.
Back on the battlefield, Jack’s left arm and right leg are detached and lying near his body. His face bloody, he turns his head to the sky as the Beast Forever soars over the field.
Dorothy and the Wizard/Frank are in the castle and heading up to the machine that will send her back to Kansas. She tells Frank that she’s taking him with her because it’s best for Oz if he leaves. Frank begins turning the machine back on, saying it hasn’t been used in a long time. Frank doesn’t want to return to his world, telling Dorothy she’ll have to kill him. Dorothy reminds him if he stays Glinda or the Beast Forever will kill him, but if he returns to Kansas, he can live his life. He frantically tries to convince Dorothy he has nothing to go back to – adding that she was nothing in her old life either. Dorothy tells him she has to return to her uncle, aunt, and mother.
Frank seizes on Dorothy’s desire to return to her mother and tells Dorothy her mother is here in Oz. Of course, Dorothy believes he’s lying. Frank reveals her mother isn’t Karen Chapman. The truth is he sent people to kill Karen in Kansas because he thought she was going to return to Oz for him and for Jane. He screams at Dorothy that he won’t go back and as he’s about to destroy the machine, Jane appears out of nowhere and shoots him. Dorothy is devastated, telling him to get up since only he knows how to use the machine. Too late – ding dong, the Wizard’s dead.
Dorothy doesn’t know Jane and yells at her for killing Frank. Jane tells Dorothy she hasn’t seen her since she gave her to Karen to raise in Kansas while she stayed in Oz. Jane points out the five small black dots tattooed on Dorothy’s hand, explaining what the dots stand for. There’s one to keep Dorothy safe, one for good dreams, and one so that if Jane ever lost her, she could find her again. Jane says it’s time for them to go home, explaining she only left her with Karen to keep her safe.
Eamonn walks down the yellow brick road and pauses as the Beast Forever flies above him on its way to Emerald City.
Back at the castle, Jane explains she built the machine and knows exactly how it works. Frank took it for himself, but Jane is the real expert. She tells Dorothy to help her prepare the machine for the trip home.
And now, with only a few minutes left in season one, we return to check in on Roan (Oliver Jackson-Cohen). He’s still hanging on the cross outside the cabin where Dorothy left him, but he’s not dead yet. He raises his head a little and watches the Beast Forever fly by.
Dorothy and Jane look up into the twister that’s formed inside the machine. Jane opens the door and Dorothy steps in, but Jane doesn’t follow. Instead, she closes the door and sends her daughter back to Kansas. She’s still protecting Dorothy as she punches in the final sequence to send her back to Kansas.
Glinda, West, and Ozma turn to the sky as the Beast Forever soars above Emerald City.
Dorothy comes to back in Kansas in Karen Chapman’s yard. The place is torn up from the twister that originally sent Dorothy to Oz, and Dorothy races into the underground shelter where Karen is severely injured but clinging to life. Karen passes out just as Dorothy hugs her. It appears she stayed conscious to make sure Dorothy returned safely.
Dorothy’s back home but she looks lost. She plays with her food and then glances out the window at the scarecrow in the yard. She grabs her keys and tells her aunt (Holly Hayes) she’s going to check on Karen at the hospital. Her aunt warns her she needs to rest, convincing her to sit and relax for a minute. Dorothy takes a seat on the porch, watching her aunt shell walnuts. Aunt Em tells Dorothy the sheriff needs her to come to the station to finish her statement, and Dorothy confesses she doesn’t know what to say. After Aunt Em suggests telling the truth, Dorothy says, “I went to check on Karen. She was hurt so I went to go get help, and then I was swallowed up by a twister. 10 minutes later I wake up right where I left.” (Time apparently passes a lot less quickly in Kansas than in Oz.)
Aunt Em asks again if that’s all she remembers and it’s then that Dorothy looks at Em’s fingers. They are black up to the first joint, just like West’s. Aunt Em explains the discoloration is from cracking walnuts.
Dorothy decides to take a walk, but she stops when she sees a dog who looks a lot like Toto in the field just a few yards away from the scarecrow. She says his name and he lays down, allowing her to pet his head. She gets up and turns around and now Roan is standing just a few feet away. She tells herself she’s just dreaming, which doesn’t work. She backs up as he slowly approaches saying he’s not going to hurt her. Roan says her mother sent him because she’s been taken prisoner by the Beast Forever. Roan adds, “Only you can stop it.” Dorothy responds, “You’ve come to bring me back.” Roan replies, “I’ve come to bring you home.” They stare into each other’s eyes, just a foot or so apart.
