Really liked to loved Seasons 1-4 and most of Season 5. It was with the Underworld arc where 'Once Upon a Time' became less consistent and the inconsistency continued with Season 6, the best episodes being very good and the worst being very average. On the most part the seventh and final season was a disappointment, starting off shaky, improving for a brief period and then ranging from mediocre to just scraping decent for most of the rest of the season.
"The Eighth Witch" is Season 7's tenth episode, out of twenty two, and although it is not a perfect or great outing by any stretch it is on the most part one of the season's better episodes and quite good. One subplot, one character especially and less than great dialogue lets it down, but "The Eighth Witch" at the same time is lifted by one particularly great character given strong development that is some of the best for any individual character all season.
Will start with "The Eighth Witch's" good things. It is beautifully and atmospherically photographed with settings and costumes that give a sense of wonder. The music doesn't ever sound cheap or out-of-kilter, fitting well with the mood and never found myself questioning its placement. Some of the writing provokes thought and intrigues and moves, especially for Drizella and Regina. Generally the story is compelling, things move forward and it feels like stuff is moving into place. Complete with some nice twists and turns that may not shock but do intrigue and don't perplex. Gothel has an intriguing role and Anastasia's shows a lot of promise and heart.
Best-developed character though in "The Eighth Witch" is Drizella, with a good mix of darkly tense and affecting. Similarly Regina's role, especially her conflict on casting the curse or not, has much emotional impact and Zelena returning is always welcome and in a way that it feels like she never left. Adelaide Kane, a high point of the season in general, is a breath of fresh air and Lana Parrilla, Emma Booth and Rebecca Mader are also good support.
On the other hand, not too surprisingly but rather frustratingly Henry and Jacinda's roles are one-dimensional and add little. There is very little chemistry between them, which didn't improve for the rest of the season, and Dania Ramirez has no charm whatsoever and is quite irritating. Other parts of the dialogue are soapy and very cheesy.
Really didn't buy Drizella's reaction at Henry and Regina being out of town, or should we say lack of it. That does not strike me as something that she would just brush under the rug.
Summing up though, quite decent though for this season. 7/10
"The Eighth Witch" is Season 7's tenth episode, out of twenty two, and although it is not a perfect or great outing by any stretch it is on the most part one of the season's better episodes and quite good. One subplot, one character especially and less than great dialogue lets it down, but "The Eighth Witch" at the same time is lifted by one particularly great character given strong development that is some of the best for any individual character all season.
Will start with "The Eighth Witch's" good things. It is beautifully and atmospherically photographed with settings and costumes that give a sense of wonder. The music doesn't ever sound cheap or out-of-kilter, fitting well with the mood and never found myself questioning its placement. Some of the writing provokes thought and intrigues and moves, especially for Drizella and Regina. Generally the story is compelling, things move forward and it feels like stuff is moving into place. Complete with some nice twists and turns that may not shock but do intrigue and don't perplex. Gothel has an intriguing role and Anastasia's shows a lot of promise and heart.
Best-developed character though in "The Eighth Witch" is Drizella, with a good mix of darkly tense and affecting. Similarly Regina's role, especially her conflict on casting the curse or not, has much emotional impact and Zelena returning is always welcome and in a way that it feels like she never left. Adelaide Kane, a high point of the season in general, is a breath of fresh air and Lana Parrilla, Emma Booth and Rebecca Mader are also good support.
On the other hand, not too surprisingly but rather frustratingly Henry and Jacinda's roles are one-dimensional and add little. There is very little chemistry between them, which didn't improve for the rest of the season, and Dania Ramirez has no charm whatsoever and is quite irritating. Other parts of the dialogue are soapy and very cheesy.
Really didn't buy Drizella's reaction at Henry and Regina being out of town, or should we say lack of it. That does not strike me as something that she would just brush under the rug.
Summing up though, quite decent though for this season. 7/10
