ONCE UPON A TIME: “The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter” & Death Comes to Storybrooke

Once Upon a Time closed out the first part of it’s inaugural season with an outstanding episode that brought us closer to understanding why the Evil Queen has it in for Snow White, answered the burning question of Sheriff Graham’s Fairy Tale identity, and delivered a heartbreaking final scene.

In Fairytale Land, we start out with Snow White mourning her father and the surprising revelation that the Evil Queen is her stepmother. I suppose it shouldn’t have been a huge surprise given the penchant for evil stepmother’s in fairy tales, but I really didn’t expect it. Nor did I expect the additional reveal that the Queen married Snow’s father, and killed him, to get back at her. We also found out that the root of all of this vengeance is that Snow betrayed the Queen’s secret. Now what secret could possibly be so huge or so personal that it was worth such an elaborate plan for revenge?

With her father gone, Snow is vulnerable but the Queen realizes that the next part of her plan must be executed “delicately” because Snow is beloved by her kingdom. (P.S. Snow White = actual royalty; Prince Charming = imposter. Well played.) A heartless Huntsman will serve the Queen’s needs, and the magic mirror shows her just the man for the job: Storybrooke’s Sheriff Graham. Although, he cried over the death of an animal, so “heartless” doesn’t seem like the correct adjective. In fact, he’s not devoid of compassion and eventually lets Snow escape into the forest with a whistle with which to call for help (presumably from the Seven Dwarves). The stag heart he returns with fools the Queen briefly, but when it fails to open her Evil Wall of Human Organs, the ruse is obvious. Her punishment is quick and ruthless: she rips out the Huntsman’s “heart” (figuratively) to use to control him, and banishes him to her bedchamber. So…he has to sleep with her but can’t feel emotions now? And if he displeases her, she can squeeze his “heart” causing a heart attack? Hardcore.

More interesting is what’s happening in Storybrooke. Upset after Emma discovered him leaving the Mayor’s house the night/episode before, Graham accuses her of avoiding him, then kisses her in classic chick flick style. What’s not part of the norm is that the kiss brings back memories of his life as the Huntsman, including his wolf companion, which then haunt his dreams. Emma pushes him away and, in his drunken state, he ends up at Regina’s again, because men are dumb. His vivid dream about his past life wakes him up and, upon hearing about the dream, gives Regina cause for concern. Is the curse losing its hold on Graham?

The good sheriff recognizes Mary Margaret from his dream and goes to talk with her about what he’s remembering, in a somewhat  jumbled fashion. She assumes he’s been talking to Henry about The Book, which sends Graham back to the Mayor’s house to talk with the boy. Henry is, of course, delighted to find someone who believes him about the stories in the book. Graham bumps into Emma and tries to explain what’s going on, but she doesn’t believe him, until she spots his wolf a few yards away. The pair follow the wolf to a vault in the cemetery where Graham believes his heart is secreted, but a search inside reveals nothing. Regina comes upon them then, naturally, and demands to know why they’re in her father’s tomb. Graham informs her that their relationship is over, and Regina decides it’s all Emma’s fault. Emma being Emma stands up for herself, and that physical confrontation that’s been brewing for weeks finally happens. Girlfight!

Emma decides “it’s not worth it” to keep fighting and stalks off with Graham right behind her. Regina proceeds into the vault, lays the flowers on her father’s casket, then moves the lid to reveal stairs down to the Queen’s Evil Wall of Human Organs! This is our second glimpse of passage between Storybrooke and Fairytale Land, and I can only wonder when Henry and/or Emma will find one of them. But for now, dread is building as Graham tends to Emma’s battle wounds and Regina opens the chest containing the Huntsman’s heart. Graham and Emma have a moment, he kisses her, and his memories come flooding back…just as Regina squeezes the heart into dust. The episode ends with Emma weeping over Graham’s lifeless body.

Is Graham truly dead? According to executive producers Adam Horowitz and Edward Katsis, yes, he’s the first Storybrooke casualty in the war that’s begun over the curse. Once Upon a Time is now on holiday hiatus until January (exact date hasn’t been announced), leaving us plenty of time to wonder what the repercussions of the events in this episode will be. If you can’t wait for new episodes, check out our exclusive spoilers on what’s coming up when Once Upon a Time returns.

New characters this week: The Huntsman