Poll and discussion: What did you think of “The Return”?

Once Upon a Time is back!

What did you think?

Last time, we started the discussion in the “poll thread” comments, instead of waiting for the recap. I thought that worked out really well, so maybe we could try it again.

My first-impression comments and questions are after the jump (warning, if you’re in a later time zone and haven’t seen the episode yet — there are total spoilers there):

The show faked me out! As the episode unfolded, and it seemed to be leading up to the revelation that August was Baelfire, I was so proud of myself that I had figured it out weeks ago — I thought I had outsmarted the writers — thought that the writers hadn’t counted on everyone pooling their wisdom on the blogs and figuring it all out in advance — and then — fake out! It wasn’t Baelfire after all! I didn’t see that coming until the moment August-whoever-he-is picked up the knife. Wow, great twist, show.

Loved the moment where Rumple was pawing at the ground, after it closed up after Baelfire had gone through, when Rumpel finally decided to go through, but it was too late. Rumpel is always a moment too late — first with Baelfire, then with Belle — and he must live with his regrets always.

So we finally got an explanation of the curse.

And Emma is throwing down the gauntlet and challenging Regina over Henry.

It feels like this episode is a turning point in the show.

Questions (been adding some new ones as I think of them):

Were you surprised at the twist, or did you see it coming?

Who did August call in the first scene? Was he calling Henry, or was it a secret accomplice?

Now who do you think August is? Do you think he’s Pinocchio? What is he doing in Storybrooke?

How does August know so much — he has a drawing of Rumpel’s dagger, he calls Emma the “Savior” — I guess he could have just read about everything in Henry’s book — but if August is not the author of Henry’s book, then who is the author? And if August IS the author of Henry’s book, then how did he know everything?

Where (or who) is the real Baelfire?

Or … could there be a double twist and could August be Baelfire after all?