# Once Upon A Time - Nov. 4, 2012 - "Tallahassee" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 4, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-upon-a-time-nov-4-2012-tallahassee/639894 "2012-11-04T22:44:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-upon-a-time-nov-4-2012-tallahassee/639894/21 "2012-11-05T16:43:22Z")
Well, it was a _couple_ of months, at least yes, but the graphic at both the beginning and end of the flashback scenes said “11 years ago” - so not clear how long, but less than a year. We don’t know how long it was prior to that that August had been searching, so his two years isn’t really useful. Come to think of it, we were never actually in Tallahassee in this episode, were we? The opening scene with the car theft was Portland, Oregon, and the closing scene in the prison was Phoenix, Arizona. So there’s more backstory to be filled in there about when Emma actually goes to Tallahassee, presumably looking for Loverboy, since we know she spent two years there at some point. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-upon-a-time-nov-4-2012-tallahassee/639894/22 "2012-11-05T16:53:13Z")
> [@Just\_Ed](#): > > Well, it was a _couple_ of months, at least yes, but the graphic at both the beginning and end of the flashback scenes said “11 years ago” - so not clear how long, but less than a year. We don’t know how long it was prior to that that August had been searching, so his two years isn’t really useful. > > Come to think of it, we were never actually in Tallahassee in this episode, were we? The opening scene with the car theft was Portland, Oregon, and the closing scene in the prison was Phoenix, Arizona. So there’s more backstory to be filled in there about when Emma actually goes to Tallahassee, presumably looking for Loverboy, since we know she spent two years there at some point. I’d say 3 months would be about right - and right - she never made it to Tallahassee until after release. Time lining it - we ‘know’ that Henry was 10 on Emma’s birhtday - we don’t know what side of 10 (early mid or late) - but that puts him being born no later than Emma’s 18th birthday - go back 9 months and there is only 3 months left for “11 years ago” - my main thing is we were given only the highlites of their adventures during that timeframe. 3 Months is more than enough time for a teenage girl to fall in love with a mysterious stranger and make all kinds of bad decisions. I think 3 minutes is enough time given Emma’s abandonment and bad girl issues. ---
**Author:** ![Paranoid\_Randroid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paranoid_randroid/32/18_2.png) [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-upon-a-time-nov-4-2012-tallahassee/639894/23 "2012-11-05T17:03:06Z")
> [@simster](#): > > Hook is insightful and empathetic to “lost boys” (orphans) - He’s on good terms with Cora becuase both of them (him and Cora) see the other as a means to an end - its a partnership of eeevillll. That makes me curious: could they be leading up to a reveal in which Hook and the Lost Boys are not antagonistic? That’s feels a little at odds with Hook’s traditional villainy. > [@Just\_Ed](#): > > Well, not only that, but I dunno, maybe I’m being old-fashioned, but I didn’t buy that a 17-year-old Emma was so self-possessed and grown up to be a car thief and to immediately take up with another thief and plan a life together in such a short time. Perhaps I’m not viewing this correctly, but it doesn’t seem very grown up to be a car thief; who falls almost immediately in love with another loser car thief; and who (probably delusionally) believes she’ll spend the rest of an idyllic life with said thief, okay let’s rob just one more convenience store, I swear this’ll be our last. Anyway, I suspect a lot of 17-year-olds believe they can plan out their lives only to wonder a few years later what they could’ve been thinking. ---
**Author:** ![Paranoid\_Randroid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paranoid_randroid/32/18_2.png) [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-upon-a-time-nov-4-2012-tallahassee/639894/24 "2012-11-05T17:07:35Z")
Oh, and was that ominous music when car thief dude handed Booth the bundles of cash? I suppose he must’ve veered off for a few more years of giving in to temptation. Have we seen Giancarlo Esposito at all this season? Is he still on the cast? I know he has a more prominent role on Revolution now. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-upon-a-time-nov-4-2012-tallahassee/639894/25 "2012-11-05T17:13:28Z")
> [@well\_he\_s\_back](#): > > What the hell did August show Emma’s loser boyfriend to convince him so quickly? Marcellus Washburn’s briefcase. I’m surprised she was in Portland. That’s usually a Grimm place. And did anyone else note that her boyfriend was named [Neal Cassidy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neal_Cassady)? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-upon-a-time-nov-4-2012-tallahassee/639894/26 "2012-11-05T17:13:46Z")
> [@simster](#): > > 3 Months is more than enough time for a teenage girl to fall in love with a mysterious stranger and make all kinds of bad decisions. I think 3 minutes is enough time given Emma’s abandonment and bad girl issues. You’re probably right, and I’m not arguing the timeline, just that it seemed _too_ fast for me. And your point regarding the highlights of the couple’s relationship is true. I guess I just missed it being developed more onscreen (the relationship, that is). > [@Paranoid\_Randroid](#): > > Perhaps I’m not viewing this correctly, but it doesn’t seem very grown up to be a car thief; who falls almost immediately in love with another loser car thief; and who (probably delusionally) believes she’ll spend the rest of an idyllic life with said thief, okay let’s rob just one more convenience store, I swear this’ll be our last. Anyway, I suspect a lot of 17-year-olds believe they can plan out their lives only to wonder a few years later what they could’ve been thinking. Well, the self-possessed part of it (to my mind) was the ease and self-assurance with which she stole the car. And I don’t think the relationship was meant to be either an idyll or a delusion; this guy was portrayed as her “true love” so the future they were planning - whether or not it included future thievery - is (I think) meant to be believed. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-upon-a-time-nov-4-2012-tallahassee/639894/27 "2012-11-05T17:20:52Z")
I just watched this show today because I heard Jorge Garcia would be in it and I love him madly. It’s a pretty cute show! I might have to go back and watch it from the beginning but this episode kept my interest despite not knowing anything about the regular characters. And there was Jorge! \<3 ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-upon-a-time-nov-4-2012-tallahassee/639894/28 "2012-11-05T17:22:50Z")
> [@Paranoid\_Randroid](#): > > Oh, and was that ominous music when car thief dude handed Booth the bundles of cash? I suppose he must’ve veered off for a few more years of giving in to temptation. Booth was in Phuket (which is where the car keys had been mailed from) until his leg started reverting to wood. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-upon-a-time-nov-4-2012-tallahassee/639894/29 "2012-11-05T17:33:21Z")
> [@Grey](#): > > Booth was in Phuket (which is where the car keys had been mailed from) until his leg started reverting to wood. Well, in his defense - he did know exactly where Emma would be for the next 11 months - so, not like he had anything else pressing to do. ---
**Author:** ![Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stark_Raven_Mad)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-upon-a-time-nov-4-2012-tallahassee/639894/30 "2012-11-05T17:48:52Z")
> [@Just\_Ed](#): > > You’re probably right, and I’m not arguing the timeline, just that it seemed _too_ fast for me. And your point regarding the highlights of the couple’s relationship is true. I guess I just missed it being developed more onscreen (the relationship, that is) _(snipped)_ I don’t know - I think we tend approach the non-HEAL (i.e., set in the more-or-less Real World) bits with different expectations. People are probably less bothered by everyone else falling head over heels in love because it tends to happen inside of HEAL and inside of story frameworks that we’re very much used to. The fact that Emma is _Snow White and Prince Charming’s kid_ pretty much makes falling in love at first sight like that her genetic destiny (at least within the show’s logic). ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-upon-a-time-nov-4-2012-tallahassee/639894/31 "2012-11-05T17:52:34Z")
> [@Stark\_Raven\_Mad](#): > > I don’t know - I think we tend approach the non-HEAL (i.e., set in the more-or-less Real World) bits with different expectations. People are probably less bothered by everyone else falling head over heels in love because it tends to happen inside of HEAL and inside of story frameworks that we’re very much used to. The fact that Emma is _Snow White and Prince Charming’s kid_ pretty much makes falling in love at first sight like that her genetic destiny (at least within the show’s logic). Also a good point. And really, it wasn’t that big of a deal to me, just struck me as odd, that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-upon-a-time-nov-4-2012-tallahassee/639894/32 "2012-11-05T18:52:17Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > I just watched this show today because I heard Jorge Garcia would be in it and I love him madly. It’s a pretty cute show! I might have to go back and watch it from the beginning but this episode kept my interest despite not knowing anything about the regular characters. And there was Jorge! \<3 One of us… one of us… one of us… It’s a fun show. Dramatic at times, but it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It is pretty heavily serialized so going back and watching earlier episodes is recommended but–as you note–you could just jump in now and still be entertained and get up to speed fairly quickly. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-upon-a-time-nov-4-2012-tallahassee/639894/33 "2012-11-05T19:38:56Z")
I like the show and just…watch. Without fretting too much about timelines. I will admit I watch for Robert Carlyle (Mr. Gold/Rumplestiltskin). He is so awesome! ---
**Author:** ![Bpelta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Bpelta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bpelta)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-upon-a-time-nov-4-2012-tallahassee/639894/34 "2012-11-05T20:35:03Z")
I really liked this episode. Emma was probably smitten by Hook and, as she thought her her instincts were wrong with Cassady, ran away from this potential lover too. It’s possible Baelfire took on a new identity with the name Neal Cassady when he came to this world. I really don’t like the idea that his real name is Neal Cassady. That would be a little much, even for this show… 😛 Neal Cassady died in 1968. Paranoid Randroid noted the ominous music when August took the money. I also wondered about that…and where that money went. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-upon-a-time-nov-4-2012-tallahassee/639894/35 "2012-11-05T20:47:38Z")
More questions - Why did August go to Thailand? Is there a Donkey Island there? Does anybody else find Neal as unappealing as I did? Am I the only one who dislikes Hook? (I see the writers having him steal Belle’s heart before he tries to kill Gold.) Snarky comment - Since Disney bought Star Wars, maybe Princess Leia or Yoda will show up in an episode… ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-upon-a-time-nov-4-2012-tallahassee/639894/36 "2012-11-05T22:09:35Z")
I’m worried that they blew the budget on special effects for this episode. ---
**Author:** ![Rollo\_Tomasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@Rollo\_Tomasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rollo_Tomasi)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-upon-a-time-nov-4-2012-tallahassee/639894/37 "2012-11-05T23:06:56Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > I’m worried that they blew the budget on special effects for this episode. If they did, that’s pretty sad, because that’s some of the worst green screen I’ve ever seen. I liked the episode overall, though. Good to see August again. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-upon-a-time-nov-4-2012-tallahassee/639894/38 "2012-11-05T23:28:31Z")
> [@running\_piglet\_cheese](#): > > Why did August think going to jail and being betrayed by her “true love” would be best for Emma? Not really understanding how that improved her life considering how cynical and bitter she ended up. By getting her to straighten up and fly right, not just drifting through life with a loser boyfriend making a living by petty theft. After being locked up and dumped she really knows the consequences of not doing the right thing, forging her into the no nonsense purveyor of justice who came to save Storybrooke (even if she didn’t know it at first). ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-upon-a-time-nov-4-2012-tallahassee/639894/39 "2012-11-06T03:58:19Z")
Doesn’t the ‘Mystery Box’ have a typrewritter in it. And didn’t we already get to see inside the box in season 1? ---
**Author:** ![running\_piglet\_cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/22d042/32.png) [@running\_piglet\_cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_piglet_cheese)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-upon-a-time-nov-4-2012-tallahassee/639894/40 "2012-11-06T05:15:15Z")
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