Henry’s story, hunting for the Candy Killer, Tilly at work. Plus, some comparisons between this episode and season 1 episodes as we pick breadcrumbs up from the episode and goes in-depth thematically in our full-discussion of 7×16 “Breadcrumbs”.
Seriously, is someone writing this season with the “Author’s Pen” with the vial of “Squid Ink”?
— Keeper of Squid Ink
Knowing that the next episode is called “Breadcrumbs” when we met Gretel was interesting, except it helped with the surprised when she died. As an episode in general, “Breadcrumbs” was disjointed; the themes of the plot is a bit hard to digest. Some subplots are cool in a sense but if you’re looking for actual plot lines, it was very difficult to follow. That being said, Tilly’s parts were rather enjoyable.
It’s interesting that Smee and Blackbeard haven’t agreed a day and yet they are both Wish Realm characters and should be old and grey as the only one who was aged down was Nook as we saw in episode 7×02 A Pirate’s Life.  Also, I’m pretty sure Blackbeard should be Whitebeard by this time.
— DeAndre
Confused about the timeline as we are? Check out our timelines page where Keb does a great job trying to fit everything together!
Henry’s Story
“Breadcrumbs” was a little bit boring and clichéd, save for the end. It was adorable that they were trying to set Henry up like he was a 10-year-old. And although they spent too much time on the set up, we liked the twist in the end, as well as the last scene of the ruse. We loved Henry’s proposal to Ella, plus when he realized that he doesn’t have to be this big, famous hero.
I don’t know how my story goes, I wasn’t born in a land with magic and I may not get a fairy tale life with a perfect ending.  But you are the best and bravest woman that I have ever met and if you could make a leap of faith with me, I would like to build a house right here for the two of us and see what kind of a life we can make together. It is just a pretty ring. And just like this lake it doesn’t come with anything else.  Ella, I can’t offer you a legend, but I can offer you my heart.
And even before Henry’s proposal, he said, “I don’t need a great story, I just want a great life; the best life I can make with the people I love”. That’s all most of us can hope for, anyway. It was a pretty good payoff for sitting through another tale of Henry’s insecurity, which we loved.
Going back a little bit about our “Sisterhood” podcast, Michelle sent us a feedback about Flynn’s Barcade:
In regards, to your podcast on ”Sisterhood” ONCE333, and on your discussion of the Flynn’s Barcade in the episode,  it is a reference to Tron Legacy (2010),  in which in the film, Flynn’s Arcade is shown in the beginning and ending of the film and the main character is called  Kevin Flynn played by Jeff Bridges. Also the screenplay and story is by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz.
— Michelle
Prince Henry of Storybrooke is actually pretty accurate, so it’s a bit confusing why he left in the first place to “find his own story.” Everybody else is a character in someone else’s story and he is the grandson of Snow White and Prince Charming. He also brought the Savior, Emma Swan back to break the curse and fight the final battle. Why does Henry think he needs to realm jump and find some other story book that he thinks he’s in?