Once Upon A Time 7x16 “Breadcrumbs” Episode Review

Yes, I'm still watching this show and continue to have mixed reactions to the rebooted seventh season. It has been an awkward rollercoaster full of nice moments and "why does this storyline exist?". Since this is the confirmed final season as well, I'm going to stick it out for you fans who have given up on the magic of OUAT, which I don't blame any of you for. I skipped the entirety of the sixth season because I also got tiresome of it.

Ivy left Hyperion Heights, my favorite new character from the season, and I am not handling that well. She and Henry would've been perfect together if he didn't have that true love thing going on with Jacinda. Ugh! 

The latest episode puts Henry front and center trying to find his way in both present day and his flashback story. I'm not the biggest fan of Adult Henry being considered the main protagonist during this season. I prefer Regina who has been leading the charge since she woke up, but she's absent in this episode, so what can we do?

The flashback story is about Henry and his obsessive need to find his own story, to have his own legacy. He wants to propose to Cinderella (Ella/Jacinda) but feels he isn't good enough for her without a great story to his name or the ring. So when he goes to slay a dragon with Hook and Ella to impress her, he is disappointed to find no dragon but rather a loud snoring man living off the riches the dragon left behind. 

After that mess is dealt with, Nook (New Hook/Rogers) swoops in to help Henry out with finding his great story, claiming to have a map of Davy Jones' locker, his treasure and a ring he could use to propose to Ella. After a pirate brawl on the Jolly Roger and besting Black Beard, Henry figures out Nook set up the entire thing to give him a phony story, but the treasure is real and so is the ring. I mean, I guess that's cool? 

Which triggers a whirlpool and the real adventure to begin. Henry figures out that he needed to toss Davy Jones' ring into the whirlpool and to do that, they need to sail toward it. Black Beard tries to stop the insane plan, but Nook knocks him out and Henry manages to chuck the ring into the whirlpool. This saves everyone and Henry decides he doesn't need a great story to impress Ella; she already loves him for who he is. Henry returns home, does a "normal" proposal, and Ella accepts. I guess that's nice if you're into that.

Hyperion Heights Henry, on the other hand, is still struggling to get Jacinda. He meets his cousin Margot/Robin at Roni/Regina's bar, unknown to him of course. She praises him for his podcast and tells him everyone else in town can't stop talking about it. It's gotten popular enough that Henry lands a job offer in New York. He tells Jacinda, who is not pleased but acts supportive. 

Once he gets wrapped into Roger's and Weaver's/ Gold's investigation for the killer though, who we learned is Nick/Jack in the previous episode, he has a change of heart. Weaver needs his help in deciphering the killer's copy of Henry's book because the killer wrote several notes that might lead them to his identity. Henry figures out the Fairy Tale identity is Hansel, who is seeking revenge for his sister Gretel's death and that the killer will have scars on his arms. 

After helping the officers out, Henry continues onward to the airport despite his change of heart. He seems conflicted about the potential job offer and his love for Jacinda. Then his car gets a flat tire, caused by a shard of a glass slipper, he takes it as a sign that he needs to stay in Hyperion Heights. Nick comes to the rescue and offers him a ride back into town, which Henry accepts because they're friends...

Nick and Henry get to talking about the job offer in New York, Jacinda, and then the serial killer. Henry discloses to him about the Hansel theory and once he spots Nick's scars, he figures out the truth about his friend. He tries to escape the car, but Nick stabs him with a syringe and takes him prisoner at his apartment. His next target is Zelena/Kelly, sending her poisoned chocolates by the episode's end.

Other stuff that happened. I love the romance between Robin/Margot and Alice/Tilly. It's starting to get rediscovered through their cursed personas, and I can't wait until they can reunite without the curse holding them back.

I'm not the biggest fan of this episode. Regina's absence was felt,the only scenes I really enjoyed were the ones between Zelena and her daughter Margot plus my favorite ship Margot and Tilly. Those are the relationships I invested in.

Thanks for your time, comment below for your thoughts, I am sure we all have a lot to say about the direction this show took in its final season.