Once Upon a Time season 7, episode 3 review: The Garden of Forking Paths

In the latest episode of Once Upon a Time, Cinderella forms an alliance with Tiana in an effort to defeat Lady Tremaine. Here are our thoughts on “The Garden of Forking Paths.”

The latest episode of Once Upon a Time was full of revelations, but that of Cinderella (Dania Ramirez) being somewhat responsible for her stepsister Anastasia’s death was perhaps the biggest. We also learned why a fairy tale princess would want to kill her Prince Charming (Liam Hall) instead of living happily ever after with him—the prince conspired with Lady Tremaine (Gabrielle Anwar) to murder her father! Yep, that’ll do it.

I’m curious to know what went on for Cinderella to be involved with Anastasia’s death. I’m sure there was bad blood there, but it’s Cinderella—princesses can’t be villains!

Right?

At least we (kind of) know what Lady T is up to now as she appears to have brought Anastasia’s coffin to Hyperion Heights: she’s obviously still trying to bring Anastasia back to life with Henry’s (Andrew J. West) heart, and if/when that fails, she’ll take her step-granddaughter Lucy’s (Alison Fernandez) heart. Yikes.

You would think because everyone is under Victoria’s curse that they’d be compliant with her, but instead, they rebelled and signed Jacinda’s petition to keep Lucy’s community garden in one piece. Vicky should really update her curse to the latest iOS build.

Also, after spending time with Jacinda and Lucy, you can tell Henry wants to believe Lucy when she says they’re his real family. My heart broke for him when he found the tombstones belonging to his fake family.

Moving on to Tiana (Mekia Cox). I love, love, love that she’s leader of the Enchanted Forest’s Resistance against Lady T! But Cinderella had a point: where was the Resistance when her father was murdered? Anyway, I hope you’re not expecting any Star Wars-like battles. (Get it? Because Resistance. … Okay, that wasn’t that funny.) But I am looking forward to the Resistance destroying House Tremaine.

… I need to stop mashing up all these fandoms.

Anyway, unfortunately, we are still no closer to finding out what Weaver (Robert Carlyle) is really up to. But considering that Belle (Emilie de Ravin) is back next week, maybe we’ll get clued in sooner than later. I’m really hoping for the former, but my guess is that he’s Wish!Rumple. Nah, that’d be too easy. And it’s been done already! I’m sure the writers are more creative than that. I just hope the new twist (whatever it may be) flows well enough and makes sense. I have my reserves about the Hook twist, but if you want to know, ask me later; I’m here to review the current episode.

Regina (Lana Parrilla), on the other hand, is finally fitting in with the new storybook—in the Enchanted Forest, anyway. One thing I love about Roni? People go to her for help, as if she’s the mayor. You can take Regina out of Storybrooke, but you can’t take the mayor out of Regina.

Can I just say, though, how proud I am of her? Just when Cinderella was about to take another person’s heart in lieu of Henry’s, Regina stops her, explaining that that kind of sacrifice is never okay, and that it took her a long time to learn that. I’ve never seen a character develop as Regina did—her growth was amazing and truly the highlight of the first storybook for me, and now she is one of my favorite characters of all-time.

Lastly, who was that woman Vicky had chained up? I’m Team Her, though, because she also hates Vicky. I can’t wait to learn more about her.

Hold onto your glass slippers, Oncers—the new storybook is finally taking shape, and things just got even more interesting. Of course, there are still holes in the story to which I would like to have filled, but it’s still early in the season. I know the potential of this show—I know it’ll take off.

Once Upon a Time airs Fridays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

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