Well it wasn't even Jamie Chung playing Mulan in the season finale. They had to use a stand-in because Jamie Chung couldn't be there. It's why Mulan is wearing the face covering. Not sure what that means for next season. Sarah Bolger said that Mulan has not been recast, but they could also have Mulan go off on her own again if Jamie Chung can't film scenes.
^ That's true, but it wasn't something they intentionally did; as Ory explains in a recent interview, the story changed and evolved over the course of the season and her role ended up being far less substantial than had originally been envisioned when they made her a regular.
Which was disapointing, because I really liked her story in season 1. At least Intelligence looks like it could be pretty good IMO.
I imagine that also explains what happened to King George, who seems to be set up as a potential major villain and then... vanishes.
I rather would have had King George be a bad guy than Cora. However having Hook be a bad guy and Peter Pan be a bad guy is pretty cool.
I suspect that by leaving Belle in Storybrook, we'll see more of our secondary characters (Red, Granny, Jimminey, George) come out to play.
Just caught up on the show... I actually think the opposite as the above post. I saw the cliffhanger as a simplifying move, in order to greatly reduce the supporting cast. It's not a coincidence that every truly important character from this season was on that boat. I don't think we'll be seeing Storybrooke much next season.
Cliffhanger plots are very commonly contract negotiations. Fortunately there's always someone who will praise the high art displayed.
I agree. I could easily see next season's cliffhanger be the main players returning to Storybrooke only to find it deserted/destroyed.
Emilie de Ravin remains a series regular. Since Belle stayed behind, logic says that we'll see Storybrooke in any stories featuring her.
The writers also came out and said that you will see Storybrooke next season. That they have bell, the blue fairy, the dwarves, the giant. It just won't be in every episode.
Well they did it with Lost for significant time. Others island/Main Island Mainland(rescued)/Main Island Lost in time/Present time
That's why I hedged with 'not very much'. I didn't realize that de Ravin was a series regular at all, though, so fair point both of you. Still, as soon as every really important character all loaded up on the same boat, I did give a little chuckle. It seemed to so transparently serve the function stj mentions.
SDCC 2013 part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTUhngEUhoQ [yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTUhngEUhoQ[/yt] Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bA0xXudVgY [yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bA0xXudVgY[/yt] OuaT in Wonderland: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETZ_F1krC0o [yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETZ_F1krC0o[/yt]