The Evil Queen seeks to get her hands on Dr. Jekyll's serum. Snow has her first day back as a school teacher. Hook tries to save Belle from Mr. Gold.The Evil Queen seeks to get her hands on Dr. Jekyll's serum. Snow has her first day back as a school teacher. Hook tries to save Belle from Mr. Gold.The Evil Queen seeks to get her hands on Dr. Jekyll's serum. Snow has her first day back as a school teacher. Hook tries to save Belle from Mr. Gold.
- Henry Mills
- (as Jared S. Gilmore)
- Zelena
- (credit only)
- Doc
- (as a different name)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaGold cuts his hair at the start. This was incorporated into the story because Robert Carlyle had to cut his hair for his role in T2 Trainspotting (2017).
- GoofsThe equation Mary Margaret writes on the board is close to accurate, although her notation is not done well. Because of her improper notation, the equation appears to be F times x is equal to the opposite of F times y. The actual equation should be F sub x is equal to the opposite of F sub y. Her request that someone solve for x is nonsense, as x is not its own element, it is just a way of notating the first force F, which is the force acted upon the first body, from the second force. Her later attempt to demonstrate Newton's third law is even more ridiculous and demonstrates only that she has no understanding of Newton's third law and should probably take an introductory physics class before she tries to teach anything other than building birdhouses.
- Quotes
David Nolan: Leroy, you and Doc keep an eye on things here.
Leroy: Yeah, don't worry, brother. We've been keeping an eye on things since the day we hatched.
Dr. Henry Jekyll: Wonderful. I-I was hoping someone would make a run to Granny's for a mutton sandwich. And, uh, extra pickles.
Leroy: [Gives him a death look] Dwarfs aren't errand boys.
Dr. Henry Jekyll: ...It helps me think.
Leroy: It better, or you're gonna see *my* dark side.
- Crazy creditsThe opening sequence shows Big Ben clock tower in London.
Season 6 started off very promisingly, with three very good to great previous episodes. "Strange Case" was comparatively a disappointment, not a bad episode at all with a lot of great elements but something of a strange one, one of the lesser ones of the sixth season and the weakest perhaps since Season 5's "Our Decay".
Beginning with the issues, while a vast majority of the acting is fine, there are exceptions. Emilie DeRavin doesn't inject much personality to Belle and everything about Karen David's performance and how Shirin/Jasmine are written screams of forced.
One of "Strange Case's" biggest issues is Snow's subplot, it was pointless and the lessons were just cheesy in writing and cringe-worthy to watch. The character of Shirin/Jasmine felt shoe-horned in and mainly there to set things up for the next episode, likewise with the perplexing ending that held no relevance to what came before.
Belle is very bland and despite trying to give a fresh dynamic her relationship with Rumplestiltskin has felt pretty tired recently and doesn't say much new or feel fresh. While there is pathos and intrigue in the writing, other parts are cheesy and soapy especially in the Snow subplot and the outcome of the main storyline lacked clarity for my taste.
However, loved the back-story for Jekyll. It was intriguing and had intensity and emotion. It is very eventful and has complexity but is at least coherent, not feeling too cluttered. The good versus evil conflict is familiar but there is enough to the characters and enough twists to it to stop it from being too clichéd. One of "Strange Case's" biggest assets is the big twist, one of the latter seasons' most unexpected and cleverest, pretty ingenious actually.
Rumplestilskin/Gold continues to be as ever awesome, just love all the different sides to this always fascinating character that has always been a large reason for 'Once Upon a Time' working as a show mostly. Continue to like Regina's development and the writers' refraining from making her an archetypal villain or softening her too much. Seeing different sides to Jekyll and Hyde and how well they contrast with one another is done very well too.
The acting from the solid ensemble cast is hard to find fault with on the most part, excepting the two mentioned. Hank Harris gives his best acting here as Jekyll, having charm but also smooth menace. Lana Parrilla makes Regina rootable in a way that's moving, while also showing an intense side that doesn't get camp. Robert Carlyle is never less than riveting, he has fun with Gold/Rumplestiltskin and has the right amount of charisma, gravitas and shadiness that doesn't make him a standard villain or a character softened too much. Jennifer Morrison handles her increasingly conflicted material beautifully, have really felt for Emma. Elizabeth Blackmore is a heartfelt Mary.
Furthermore, "Strange Case" is a very handsomely mounted episode visually, the settings and costumes are both colourful and atmospheric, not too dark or garish and never looking artifical. It is photographed beautifully too. Victorian London is especially impressive. The music is haunting, ethereal and cleverly used with a memorable theme tune.
Overall, great in many areas but quite a strange episode at points. 6/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- Oct 3, 2018
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