If you haven't read, HarperTeen is released a copy of Insurgent by Veronica Roth for the holiday's. This special new copy includesAll things that make me really want the new edition. The only problem with this is the fact that I already have not one, but TWO copies of Insurgent. One being the copy that I bought when it came out, the second a signed copy from BEA. At this rate I'm going to own 5 copies of this books. I have no self control and it's hard to see the bad in buying a book that you already have just because it has a few extra things... How can you not get the book with Four's point of veiw????
- "Free Four": This pivotal thirteen-page scene from Divergent, retold from Tobias's point of view, reveals unknown facts and fascinating details about Four's character, his past, his own initiation, and his thoughts about new Dauntless initiate Tris Prior.
- A ribbon bookmark
- An exclusive, full-color foldout poster
- Faction tattoos
Forty-eight pages of bonus content, including interviews with Veronica Roth, playlists, faction party tips, and much more!"
- Deckled edges
Well HarperTeen, you got me to buy this book, AGAIN! How many of you are going to repurchase Insurgent for the collectors edition?
The episode opens with Puck (Mark Salling), Mercedes (Amber Riley), Mike (Harry Shum Jr.), Santana (Naya Rivera), and Quinn (Dianna Agron) returning to the McKinley stage (and Finn) with a performance of "Homeward Bound" / "Home." Musically, it's pretty good, and in terms of staging, it works very well. The number is pleasant, and gives a satisfying reintroduction, especially for Quinn, who is the sole graduate no longer in the main cast, and "Thanksgiving" marks her first return this season.
Taking the leap and setting aside these complaints, we next get to see Quinn, Santana, and Brittany reunited for "Come See About Me." It's a great number for them, and it does feel like other pieces that they have done in the past. It may not be necessary to school the students with it, but it's enjoyable for the audience. I also like when the cracks do show between Quinn and Santana, not sweeping any drama under the rug, and acknowledging that, although they are friends, their relationship isn't perfect.
The Warblers are back in peak form with "Whistle" and "Live While We're Young." During their recent attempt to recruit Blaine (Darren Criss), the music falls flat, but "Thanksgiving" proves that they still have it. This is what the group is known for, and why fans of Glee worship them. Fantastic performance!
That being said, it would be a shame to see them lose Sectionals, and there are a couple of ways to salvage this. One, Dalton Academy could win and later be disqualified. They've become villains since Blaine left them, so it's conceivable that they could step out of line enough to warrant such a punishment. The Mennonites might not be able to travel all the way to Regionals, because of their religious beliefs preventing use of vehicles required for long distance travel (ignoring the stage lights they used earlier). That would leave the New Directions to compete by default. It would, indeed, be a hollow victory, but at least it would get them to Regionals.
In the midst of this, Rachel and Brody seem to be making up. She is hurt because he slept with her enemy. He points out that he had no reason not to, but he won't do it again to avoid hurting her. This is an adult attitude, and seeing this helps Rachel transition into a different world, maturing.
The opening of "Made to Suffer" unveils a new group of survivors. There isn't a clear leader among them, but one name will jump out to fans of The Walking Dead comic book: Tyreese (Chad Coleman, The Wire). In the books, Tyreese joins the group very early on, before they even get to Hershel's (Scott Wilson) farm. On the page, Tyreese serves as the muscle and pretty loyal best friend to Rick (Andrew Lincoln). Given the decision to keep Shane (Jon Bernthal) alive on TV longer, and the inclusion of non-comic character Daryl (Norman Reedus), Tyreese seemed unnecessary. But, with how things play out in this episode, now seems the perfect time to bring him in.
The tragic leave behind is Daryl. Hanging back to cover the rear (and probably hoping to get a glimpse of his brother, Merle (Michael Rooker)), Daryl is captured by the Governor's (David Morrissey) men and held responsible for the attack as a "terrorist."
This exposure occurs because Michonne (Danai Gurira) attacks the Governor. She goes to his apartment to settle the score for him sending men to kill her. While there, she slays the Governor's zombie daughter, Penny, breaks some of his fish tanks full of Walker heads, and takes out one of the Governor's eyes. Visuals speak louder than words, and seeing all this, Andrea is starting to have doubts about the man she is sleeping with.
First, though, there may already be a danger in the prison. The way that Axel (Lew Temple) acts towards Carol (Melissa McBride) and Beth (Emily Kinney) while the tough members of the group are away is creepy. I'm a little surprised he didn't rape and / or murder either girl in "Made to Suffer." I do worry that it's coming, though, and we may soon lose another member of our little group, long before the Governor arrives at the gate.
The biggest message to come out of "Queen of Hearts" is the power of true love. Emma (Jennifer Morrison) discovers her name written in magic ink in a cell, which enables her and her friends to escape after being locked up. Cora (Barbara Hershey) learns that she cannot remove Emma's heart. Rumplestiltskin (Robert Carlyle) admits he has nothing to do with, and doesn't even know the full extent of, Emma's power. It feels like a bit of a Harry Potter rip off, but clearly true love is the most powerful force in Once Upon a Time, and it will make sure, as Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin) asserts, that good will always triumph over evil.
Emma has huge talents that we are just beginning to glimpse, but she cannot stop Cora and Hook alone. She merely holds them off so that she and Snow can make their escape before, and now that things will be deteriorating, she will need all the help that she can get. The problem is, most of the talents of good guys on the show are limited, standing little chance against great mahic, so her best bets for helpful allies are Rumplestiltskin and Regina (Lana Parrilla), whose allegiances are circumspect.
The "Duh!" moment in "Queen of Hearts" is when Cora is revealed to be the Queen of Hearts in Wonderland. Given her penchant for stealing the blood pumping organ from people, this is something I should have seen coming from a mile away. And yet, like many of Once Upon a Time's great twists, I somehow did not put the pieces together until the last moment. It's touches like this, the seeds planted months, even a year, beforehand, that prove that this show has some of the best writing on television. Other awesome callback bits in "Queen of Hearts" include a return to the lake, Rumple's use of the fairy wand, seeing Cora create the dome that saved part of fairy tale world, and the logic leap many viewers are making that Rumple planned very well in advance, allowing himself to get captured before the curse.
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