Smash the Mirror: Part 2
- Episode aired Nov 16, 2014
- TV-PG
- 44m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
As everyone races to stop Emma from giving up her powers, Robin finds a clue that could point Regina to the elusive author of the storybook.As everyone races to stop Emma from giving up her powers, Robin finds a clue that could point Regina to the elusive author of the storybook.As everyone races to stop Emma from giving up her powers, Robin finds a clue that could point Regina to the elusive author of the storybook.
Emilie de Ravin
- Belle Gold
- (credit only)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe magic mirror that shows only ugliness, the mirror shattering, a shard in the eye making you see only the bad and making you mean towards your dear ones. Those plot elements are all in "The Snow Queen" by Hans Christian Anderson. In that story the enduring love of a forsaken dear one melted the mirror shards.
- GoofsThe Snow Queen tells Mr. Gold that she now wields "the magic of my three sisters." However, she has only two magical sisters, Elsa and Emma, so what she should have said was "the magic of my two sisters" or "the magic of three sisters" (the latter meaning herself and her two sisters).
- Quotes
Robin Hood: All due respect, I'm beginning to think your magic-library theory might be a tad off. Any book we want is hardly gonna be stacked beside...
[Pulls a random book off the shelf]
Robin Hood: "The Cat in the Hat." Why would a cat want a hat?
Will Scarlet: I've seen stranger.
- Crazy creditsThe opening sequence shows Emma's yellow car in a blizzard.
- ConnectionsReferences Tron (1982)
Featured review
Another smashed it episode
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.
Season 4 had a lot to live up after Season 3 being as impressive as it was. At this early stage of the season, one can see a lot of promise, some may argue that it is capitalising on 'Frozen's' success but there is much more to the season than that. This promise was apparent from the get go, with a great season opener in "A Tale of Two Sisters". The good to great quality continued, until dipping a little with "Family Business" and then returning to form with "The Snow Queen".
'Once Upon a Time' continues to be back on form with "Smash the Mirror: Part 2", a Season 4 highlight, like the first part of the "Smash the Mirror" two parter. Like what was said for "The Snow Queen", it's like the Snow Queen herself, underneath the icy exterior and demeanour is a very emotional and surprisingly complex heart. So far Season 4 has shown that the show is doing far more than capitalising on 'Frozen's' success or being a marketing ploy like it could have been.
There is so much to like about "Smash the Mirror: Part 2" and nothing to fault. It has a good deal of forward momentum, the characters are still interesting and true to character (the Snow Queen is just fascinating), not behaving idiotically, it doesn't feel like filler, it has entertainment value, nice character moments that mean a lot and a lot of heart. There are even much needed questions answered.
Especially good in the whole two-parter of "Smash the Mirror", like "The Snow Queen", are the characterisation of The Snow Queen and her back-story. Already she is proving herself to be a complex character and much more than a standard villain that she easily could have been, and her back-story is heart-wrenching, makes sense, is crystal clear without being simplistic and makes her a character to sympathise with as well as getting chills by.
Emma and Robin are both similarly interesting as are their roles in the episode. Robin's chemistry with Regina continues to intrigue and doesn't grind to a halt or go in circles
Gold has always been one of 'Once Upon a Time's' most interesting characters. "Smash the Mirror: Part 2" does nothing to change that, his role in the episode has great mysterious intrigue. Robin adds a great deal to the storytelling and his character shows signs of progression.
All the performances are delightful, most notably a remarkably nuanced Elizabeth Mitchell and from Robert Carlyle and Sean Maguire. As said a fair number of times, Jennifer Morrison and Emma as a character have come on a lot. A lot happens but it doesn't feel over-stuffed or underdone.
Furthermore, "Smash the Mirror: Part 2" 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. The music is haunting, ethereal and cleverly used with a memorable theme tune.
Writing has the right balance of humour, pathos, mystery and intrigue, no corn or cheesiness here. This aspect has come on such a long way since when 'Once Upon a Time' first started, much more complexity and nuance.
In summation, a Season 4 high point. 10/10 Bethany Cox
Season 4 had a lot to live up after Season 3 being as impressive as it was. At this early stage of the season, one can see a lot of promise, some may argue that it is capitalising on 'Frozen's' success but there is much more to the season than that. This promise was apparent from the get go, with a great season opener in "A Tale of Two Sisters". The good to great quality continued, until dipping a little with "Family Business" and then returning to form with "The Snow Queen".
'Once Upon a Time' continues to be back on form with "Smash the Mirror: Part 2", a Season 4 highlight, like the first part of the "Smash the Mirror" two parter. Like what was said for "The Snow Queen", it's like the Snow Queen herself, underneath the icy exterior and demeanour is a very emotional and surprisingly complex heart. So far Season 4 has shown that the show is doing far more than capitalising on 'Frozen's' success or being a marketing ploy like it could have been.
There is so much to like about "Smash the Mirror: Part 2" and nothing to fault. It has a good deal of forward momentum, the characters are still interesting and true to character (the Snow Queen is just fascinating), not behaving idiotically, it doesn't feel like filler, it has entertainment value, nice character moments that mean a lot and a lot of heart. There are even much needed questions answered.
Especially good in the whole two-parter of "Smash the Mirror", like "The Snow Queen", are the characterisation of The Snow Queen and her back-story. Already she is proving herself to be a complex character and much more than a standard villain that she easily could have been, and her back-story is heart-wrenching, makes sense, is crystal clear without being simplistic and makes her a character to sympathise with as well as getting chills by.
Emma and Robin are both similarly interesting as are their roles in the episode. Robin's chemistry with Regina continues to intrigue and doesn't grind to a halt or go in circles
Gold has always been one of 'Once Upon a Time's' most interesting characters. "Smash the Mirror: Part 2" does nothing to change that, his role in the episode has great mysterious intrigue. Robin adds a great deal to the storytelling and his character shows signs of progression.
All the performances are delightful, most notably a remarkably nuanced Elizabeth Mitchell and from Robert Carlyle and Sean Maguire. As said a fair number of times, Jennifer Morrison and Emma as a character have come on a lot. A lot happens but it doesn't feel over-stuffed or underdone.
Furthermore, "Smash the Mirror: Part 2" 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. The music is haunting, ethereal and cleverly used with a memorable theme tune.
Writing has the right balance of humour, pathos, mystery and intrigue, no corn or cheesiness here. This aspect has come on such a long way since when 'Once Upon a Time' first started, much more complexity and nuance.
In summation, a Season 4 high point. 10/10 Bethany Cox
helpful•43
- TheLittleSongbird
- May 26, 2018
Details
- Runtime44 minutes
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content