Once Upon a Time: The Girl in the Tower

First Aired March 23rd, 2018

Alice/Tilly (played by Rose Reynolds) celebrates her birthday in her tower with only her toys for company, when she blows out the candles a troll rips off the roof but instead of attacking he rescues her. In the present Wish Hook/Rogers (played by Colin O’Donoghue) rescues Tilly who is wanted for murder.

Alice is captured by Robin (played by Tiera Skovbye) after being mistaken for a spy, Robin goes to kill the troll that saved Alice because it’s supposedly been attacking villages and Alice tries to stop her. They go to a village recently attacked and when Alice defends the troll they become angry and lock up both women. While locked up Robin tells Alice about life in the modern world and they bond, but when Robin frees herself she leaves Alice behind to hunt the troll. In the present, Regina (played by Lana Parrilla) and Lucy (played by Allison Fernandez) plan to investigate Dr.Facilier/Samdi (played by Daniel Francis) to see if he has any way to save Henry (played by Andrew J. Fernandez). Rogers and Tilly go to Henry’s apartment to hide out, Tilly can’t remember where she was at the time so Rogers and Henry go to find an alibi. Tilly finds proof she was at the grocery store but when she goes there nobody can remember who she is.

You would think a troll is the last thing you’d want crashing your birthday party but for Alice he was a godsend. Perhaps his rampage was because he was searching for more captured girls but he hadn’t gotten lucky again. Alice’s relationship to the troll was kind of like King Kong; the giant monster that nobody but her understands. And it was great to see Robin’s backstory explored more especially how she and eventual love interest Alice first met. Tilly thinks she found her alibi but nobody can remember who she is, but the show is never clear why that is. Is magic keeping people from recognizing her or is the implication Tilly is forgettable and therefore doesn’t ‘exist’ like most people? Either scenario would work great in the story we just need an idea of what’s happening. Also Regina teaming up with Lucy is cute at first but it’s never a good idea recruiting a kid to go against an evil magician.

The villagers prepare to attack the troll, Robin shows up to kill hoping to honor her father’s legacy but Alice tackles her. The villagers turn on them when Robin stands up for Alice but they’re rescued by a familiar looking yellow bug car. They find Alice’s tower and Alice breaks down wondering if life alone outside the tower is any better. Robin thinks Alice created the troll when she wished to be free and that it came back for her; Alice tells the troll that she’s happy and when they touch he turns into a statue. In the present, Regina lures Samdi out of his apartment so Lucy can search it but Zelena/The Wicked Witch (played by Rebecca Mader) confronts them. Samdi leaves and Lucy barely escapes without being caught, but she finds tarot cards with the death card out. Tilly finds her backpack with hair clippings from the victims and worries she might be the killer. While talking to the troll statue Tilly resolves to leave and gets saved from a car by Robin. Rogers arrives to take her in but Tilly points out a security camera in the statue’s eye that can prove where she was at the time of the murder.

The return of the yellow bug car was nostalgic for die-hard fans but I would have preferred a cameo by the Savior herself. Robin wanting to honor her late father is a storyline that came out of left field but it’s a relatable one. Alice interacting with the troll was kind of sweet, it was like the troll is Alice’s giant fairy godparent. Although I’m not sure if it’s considered a happy ending since the troll was made a statue once she didn’t need him instead of going off somewhere. It’s not surprising that a recon mission head up by a ten year old went south but at least she managed to find something. Tarot cards were the last thing I would have expected but it suggests that Samdi has magic and if he does that’s not good for anyone. After getting through the classic tropes of a frame Tilly is once again saved by her statue troll. It is highly suspicious that it had a camera but it helped save Tilly so I guess who cares.

Samdi confronts Regina and she in turn asks what he’s after, and he reveals he wants the Dark One Dagger. Using the cards Samdi tells Regina she could be destined for love but she refuses to let him go after Rumpelstiltskin/Gold/Weaver (played by Robert Carlyle). Robin comes to the bar, under a cursed identity ‘Margot’ and Zelena is hurt to have to lie about herself to her daughter. Rogers offers Tilly a room in his place to keep her safe and she gladly accepts.

I don’t know if Samdi meant he and Regina could be together or another guy but his tone was very ominous. Regina has the worst history with love and it would be great for the show to end with her finding someone (who isn’t evil or ends up being killed). Zelena and Rogers both have their kids back with the wrinkle that nobody knows who they are. Although I don’t understand why Regina doesn’t wake them like she did Zelena. They would all be happy to be reunited obviously but could also help her save Henry.

Quotes/Thoughts

“I guess the only thing I’m meant for is a life of wallowing. It’s cool though, good for the writing.”

Alice and Robin first met with one of them being caught in a cage, that’s a common way people to meet their soulmates; the new version of meeting in a bar I guess.

“What’s the point of being free if you’re all alone?”

It’s amazing how at least once a season there’s someone who wants that Dark One Dagger.

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