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OUAT 5x09 FULL.mp4 * Onehub

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Heidi Elizabeth Marcum

The Bear King- Okay... so this episode, while I really enjoy it overall... I have to say that it's one of my least favorite episodes, not only in this season, but throughout the entire show. First... one of my reasons is because after such a phenomenal episode that ends on such a fantastic, mind-blowing cliffhanger, I was so, so, so excited to find out what was going to happen next. And while we do see what comes next for King Arthur and Zelena after their defeat within the previous episode, we get no more development with Killian upon him becoming the Dark One, or with Emma and the rest of the heroes. They aren't even in this episode at all, other than Mary Margaret and David within a brief flashback moment, which for me... makes this episode feel like it's almost a slap in the face. Because seeing what comes for Killian and Emma next is all I wanted to see afterwards. And second... This episode doesn't really add a whole lot to the overarching storyline throughout this season at all and for me, it is a little disappointing, as much as I love Red, Merida, and Mulan. However, with all that being said... I do really enjoy this episode for what it is like I said above. I especially love that Merida's storyline allows for the creators to bring back two characters we haven't seen in quite awhile... Red Riding Hood and Mulan, both characters I really like throughout this show for the most part. And I really do love how these three strong women interact with one another, as they help one another with each of their quests and save one another. To back up a bit... I like how this episode follows up on what comes of Arthur and Zelena once they're defeated in their battle with the heroes in the forest. Now that Killian was able to steal Excalibur back from Arthur for Emma, Arthur and Zelena seek out a new weapon they can use to help them to once again to try to stop the heroes, but also so Arthur can take back Camelot and fulfill his prophecy to repair a broken kingdom the way he sees it. And while Zelena couldn't care less about helping him do this, she helps Arthur because she knows that for now... he is her only hope of getting her revenge against the heroes and to protect her baby from them too. To continue on their quest, Arthur asks Zelena to magic them to DunBroch so they can go after a magical helm he learned about after he fought in a war against the kingdom's former King, King Fergus whom we learn later in the episode that Arthur had killed in battle years earlier. I love that this backstory brings in not only King Fergus and Queen Elinor from Brave, but also the old witch from the Disney movie as well, each of whom were casted really well. And this episode also brings back the leaders of the other three clans as well. But I will come back to the backstory shortly. In the meantime... Merida is struggling with becoming DunBroch's new Queen since her father has died. Not only is she unsure of herself as the clans' leader, but the leaders of the clans are also still unsure that she deserves to be their Queen, as they continue to make trouble for her even after she showed her strength when she saved her brothers from them back in the episode... The Bear and the Bow, a title I recently learned was brought about because The Bear and the Bow was the original title for the Disney movie, until they decided to change it to Brave instead. I really like that. When the old witch invades DunBroch's castle to interrupt Merida's coronation and threatens to turn the entire kingdom into bears unless Merida returns the helm she had given to Merida's father years ago, the clansmen once again see Merida to be weak and turn against her, thinking she doesn't have the courage to find the helm. And against her mother's wishes, Merida decides to follow the path her father left behind to find the helm first in order to continue to prove herself to the clansmen. This brings Merida to seek out Mulan, whom we learn in the backstory had been a mentor and trainer to help sharpen Merida's fighting skills, hired by King Fergus because he knew how much his daughter longed to be a skilled warrior just like him. However, when Merida finds Mulan, it's shown that Mulan has lost her own way, having become a mercenary for whomever pays her. I like that Mulan has lost her way as she struggles with her own troubles. However, I don't like that her reason for losing her way is just because she waited too long to tell Aurora she loved her, revealed back in season three's episode, Quite a Common Fairy. I'm not a fan of this part of Mulan's storyline, and I would have preferred it if her reasons for becoming a mercenary had more to do with a possible fallout or even trouble she might have run into after her time spent among Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men, as it had been established in the end of Quite a Common Fairy that she had joined with them. I think Mulan becoming a mercenary because she lost out on a chance of having love with a woman who never would have loved her back the way she wanted because Aurora was in love with Phillip, makes her character feel a bit weak. Outside of that... I really love the conversation between Merida and Queen Elinor, as Merida convinces her mother why she must go on her quest to find the helm, in order to prove herself worthy of being DunBroch's Queen and of following in her father's footsteps. As well as to find her father's killer as well. I think what I love most about Merida's story is seeing how much she truly loves her father, and seeing how close they were to one another. But this scene also shows how close she and her mother have become since the events within the Disney movie too. But back to Merida seeking out Mulan... Merida is finally able to convince Mulan to help her on her quest, but because Merida pays her and not because of loyalty and their friendship. I like how Merida keeps trying to help Mulan in spite of Mulan trying to close herself off from her. Eventually, this leads them both down separate paths, until Mulan realizes her mistakes in pushing Merida away. And in trying to make things right between her and Merida, Mulan goes to the witch for help, which comes to Mulan confronting a wolf that the witch has trapped, then her freeing the wolf that turns out to be Red Riding Hood. I love seeing Red again, and learning the reason the writers came up with to help explain Meghan Ory's absence from the show all this time. That Red left Storybrooke upon feeling restless and alone, and yearning to seek out her old wolf pack, through a flashback scene that takes place within the ending from season three's finale... There's No Place Like Home, when Red shares with Mary Margaret her yearning to find her family and that she was given a magic bean from Tiny so she could leave. This explanation is definitely plausible, and I can understand why Ruby would feel the need to leave. However, I wish they could have kept her a part of the main cast like she was back in season one and in the first half of season two, and so we could have seen her eventually come to take over Granny's like was revealed for her character back in season one's episode, Red Handed. I love that episode's ending between Ruby and Granny. Sadly... Meghan Ory chose to leave Once Upon a Time to take up roles in other shows that didn't survive past one season. However, Red and Mulan team up and soon find Merida, then together they seek out Arthur and Zelena again with Red's sense of smell, as they look for Merida's father's killer. In an earlier confrontation with the villains, Merida gives up on her quest when Arthur and Zelena make her think she's failed her father. Mulan realized she needed to make up for her mistake in failing to help her friend, which leads her to seeking out the old witch only to find Red instead. Together, they find out the truth about King Fergus wanting to use the helm to lead his army against King Arthur in victory, only for him to have chosen not to use the helm upon realizing that it was wrong to force his men to fight unless it was of their choosing to fight for him, thank to his daughter's final words to him as she asks him how it is he gives his men the strength to fight a war they fear they will lose. And when Merida battles Arthur, while Mulan and Red take care of Zelena, she is able to find the helm. But just before Arthur can kill her to try to take the helm from her, the three leaders of the other clans arrive and defend their Queen, seeing how deserving she truly is of Fergus' crown because of her bravery and courage to do what's right for all of DunBroch. I really love this moment, and while there is no established ship for Merida throughout her story in Once Upon a Time, just as there is no love interest for her in Brave either in order to establish her to be a woman strong enough to rule her kingdom without a man by her side, I can't actually help but want to see Merida and Lord Macintosh in a relationship. He is an idiot in the Disney movie, and more of a bully in this show within these two episodes he appears in. However, in the end, we can see he's really changed and has come to respect and like Merida nonetheless. I love seeing him and the other clansmen kneel before her. So beautiful. And I really like the momentary chemistry between him and Merida in the end, whether it was meant for us to feel this chemistry between them or not. In the end... Merida is finally crowned Queen upon earning her people's respect and loyalty, and then when the old witch appears to take back the helm and is told that Merida destroyed it in order to keep the weapon out of the wrong hands, the old witch reveals that was what she hoped for Merida all along. I love how Merida's quest was all a test in order to help her find the strength in herself to be DunBroch's Queen. And after the old witch gives Merida a gift, that gift allows for Merida to speak with her father one last time through the Ale of Seonaidh, an ale from Celtic Mythology believed to have the power to speak with the souls of the dead. I love how Celtic Mythology is brought about in this episode, and how Merida is able to say goodbye to her father, and allowing for him to tell his daughter how proud he is of her. This is a beautiful scene, and my favorite scene throughout the episode. I also love the scene when Merida thanks Mulan and Red for their help, and how Red offers Mulan a new purpose to help her to find her pack, to which Mulan agrees. I like the friendship establish between these three women. It's just nice to see, and it's good to see Red and Mulan again. As for the overall backstory, with Arthur being the soldier who murdered her father on the battlefield, and Merida believing she had failed to save him that day... I do like the overall story. It's developed well with King Fergus seeking victory through magical means, only to discover it's wrong to force his people to fight for him against their will. And I like how the old witch helps him, seeing once again another opportunity to offer Fergus and later Merida a chance to prove themselves. Thank you again for this reaction! I hope you will watch the Disney movie, Brave whether it wins the polls or not. And even more so... I really, really, really hope you will watch the next two episodes of Once Upon a Time very soon because they are two of my all time favorite episodes... not just throughout season five, but throughout the entire show, along with the previous episode titled, Birth. They are phenomenal!!!! I'm so happy you consider Birth and its major twist to be one of your favorite episodes and twists of the entire show so far!!! If you thought Birth was so good... just you wait! You are absolutely going to love these next two episodes, Jay!!! So, until then, my friend...

Samuel

I was always pretty ambivalent towards this episode, because on the one hand it's a really good episode, and it ties up some interesting things with Merida and Arthur's history, and seeing Ruby and Mulan is always such a pleasure - definitely a shame they weren't brought back more often, they also have great chemistry together in their scenes. And on the other hand it feels kind of like a filler episode in a way, because it leaves the main cast basically forgotten for an episode, but I will say that even though it feels somewhat random this episode, it kind of would be the only time to show this specific story, and tie up certain things, because the next couple of episodes are heavy with Dark Ones storylines! So you're right, it's going to lead up to some big stuff this one! I've never watched Brave myself, I started it once - I think it was actually just before Merida was introduced in OUaT, cos I felt like I'd like to know a bit about her before, but somehow the movie just didn't catch my interest, and I stopped probably 15minutes in. I have often thought of revisiting it and giving it another go, but then again I feel like it would maybe mess up my feelings with Merida xD I also believe that pretty much all of Merida's storyline in OUaT takes place after Brave, but obviously I can't be sure since I didn't finish it, just seems like it from her scenes in OUaT and from what I remember about the beginning of the movie itself. Oh, and about the next two episodes, I hope you'll watch them together like the previous finales :) Looking forward to it!

Heidi Elizabeth Marcum

It would absolutely be amazing if you could watch the next two episodes together, Jay!!! Please! Please! Please! Please!!!

Krista Han

I actually really like this episode and it kind of gives us a nice break from the main people and gives a chance for Merida to shine and finally get to the bottom of everything. :) I've watched this episode like almost 10 times :D And I agree with everyone, the next two episodes are definitely something you need to watch together.

Miguelito

Well, I’m glad to see I’m not the only one. But i feel like this episode doesn’t fit in after the amazing reveal of the 2 Dark Ones!! Especially since these episodes aired back to back it kinda just felt a little weird, I mean I did really like the episode, it just isn’t one of my favorites. Love getting to see Mulan and Red again! :) we’re almost at that 100 mark! 🤪

Anonymous

honestly not a fan of this episode really. Like it is a good episode like you said, but i found it so weirdly placed into the whole storyline. I would have much rather continued watching the main storyline because of the huge cliffhanger they left us on

Anonymous

I did enjoy seeing Mulan again though, most underrated character in my opinion. And I loved that the writers addressed her having feelings for Aurora (the ship that sadly never got to shine).

Monica Torres

this was a good episode, it was just so badly placed in the lineup. it belonged earlier on in the season when Merida was introduced. after such a huge episode though it felt odd. The next two episodes NEED to be aired together. Their the mid season finale episodes and they are BONKERS! You thought learning Killian was a dark one was a twist just wait! I hope you get to these two quickly, you won’t wanna wait.

Alex A Alvarenga

I'm really glad that you enjoyed the Merida character Disney thought she was going to bring in ratings which I loved her but I feel like season 5A some of the storylines is kind of mix and place weirdly in episodes like this episode should have been with the Merida Ark but anyways glad you enjoyed it the second half of the season I think you're really going to enjoy keep up the great work and I'll definitely keep subscribing I'm kind of glad you don't rush into Once Upon a Time have a good one Aloha from the islands