Once Upon A Time 7x22 "Leaving Storybrooke" Episode Review

Major Spoilers in this episode review! WARNING!

The moment we waited for arrived. The last episode of Once Upon A Time aired and it was... a mixture of feelings. While I loved how the show began, where it ended up... I don't know. I cried for sure because this was always Regina's season. 

The show advertised this as Henry Mills' journey, but somewhere along the way, this became Regina's last chance to shine and to reach the happy ending she deserved. New characters got added to the last season and most of them didn't work (Victoria, Ella/Jacinda, Tiana, Gothel).

The only ones who worked for me were Alice, Robin, and Ivy. How Ivy had the chance for a real redemption arc alongside Regina, but they tossed her aside the minute she made amends with her sister. Alice and Robin were the highlight of the season but not enough screentime was given to them. They deserved better.

"Leaving Storybrooke" is filled with nostalgia that I allowed them to get away with a lot.

Alice and Robin arrived in Storybrooke but are considered intruders. Remember, they went back in time when the curse took them. The residents of Storybrooke do not know them and attack them. Then they run into Zelena and a younger Robin driving somewhere.

They convince Zelena about their situation and gets her help in saving everyone. The scene between Robin and her mother worked really well. The timeline nonsense is confusing, but whatever, it's the series finale, roll with it!

Regina and Wish Realm (WR) Henry had issues to work through. She considered him "her son" and tried to convince him he didn't have to kill her to find happiness. He was filled with so much darkness, which broke Regina's heart. Their scenes together were moving but awkward if you really think about it. It took the power of her love for him to stop WR Henry.

The evolution of Hook and Rumple was amazing to see in this finale, even though this was with a different Hook ("Nook"). Their friendship evolved from enemies to true friends: the only real friend Rumple had. The reason he never killed him despite his immense power at the time.

When he sacrificed himself to save Nook and cure him of the poisoned heart, it felt genuine and a fitting end to the Dark One. Regina's farewell was beautiful, sweet, and deep for the centuries-long bond they held with each other. She knew Rumple deserved his happy ending and believed he would find his way to Belle in the afterlife.

Rumple ended up getting what he wanted: he reunited with Belle and it was amazing to see him get what he wants. He earned his way to her. No tricks, no darkness, no killing... only a drive to protect the family he had left: Nook, Regina, Henry, and Alice. 

Prince Charming and Snow White also made their way back to save the day. They learned Henry and Regina was in trouble and gathered the team for an inspirational speech. I missed Snow White's speeches about the goodness and how they always managed to find each other.

Then the ending after Wish Realm Rumple was defeated. 

Regina cast another "curse" but instead of separating people, she reunited all the realms into one area: Storybrooke. Agrabah, the Enchanted Forest, the new Enchanted Forest, the Wish Realm, etc. all became one inside Storybrooke. 

She must have merged the timelines too because WR Henry is still young, Robin is still her age, and Prince Neal (Snow and Charming's son) is only a young boy. It hurts less if you don't think about it too much. But all the people voted to have Regina lead them because she got them all together.

Regina achieved her redemption! She is escorted by both Henrys to the coronation (did anyone else find it weird WR Henry refers to Regina as "mom"?), but she looks around and sees someone is missing. Emma isn't here and Regina wonders if she'll make it. Luckily, Emma arrived but came late with her baby Hope and OG Hook. 

This is a sweet scene and I loved every minute of it!

Emma calls her "Madame Mayor" and Regina calls her "Miss Swan". These two have come a long way from the pilot. It is beautiful and the greatest happy ending or rather happy beginning. Cue the musical episode for the final musical number!

But no one sung. Regina is now the "Good Queen" and rules Storybrooke as a benevolent person surrounded by everyone she loves.

The finale had a lot of problems and they are hard to ignore. But they acknowledged the Lily storyline and gave us an answer: Zorro is Lily's dragon father! We have wondered this for the longest time. At least there's that... 

I'm going to miss this show. I'll probably rewatch the first three seasons at some point because the show should've stopped around there realistically. It dragged for too long afterwards and my interest diminished during fourth season onward.

Comment and share how we're feeling about the happy endings. Did we like the final ending? Will we miss the show? I think I will. But all stories have to end at some point.