Ep 5. That Still Small Voice

In the fifth episode of Once Upon a Time's first season, titled "That Still Small Voice," we dive deeper into the backstory of Jiminy Cricket (Raphael Sbarge). We learn that before he was a cricket, he was a man named Archie Hopper who was struggling to find his place in the world.

In the present day, Archie is struggling with his role as Storybrooke's therapist and feeling like he hasn't been able to help his patients as much as he would like. He confides in Emma (Jennifer Morrison), who suggests that he needs to work on his own problems before he can help others.

Meanwhile, in the fairy tale world, young Jiminy (played by Jarod Joseph) makes a deal with Rumplestiltskin (Robert Carlyle) to escape his overbearing parents. The deal goes awry, and Jiminy finds himself still trapped and now with a new responsibility to help a little boy.

Back in Storybrooke, Regina (Lana Parrilla) is up to her old tricks, manipulating and blackmailing Archie into doing her bidding. She wants him to convince Henry (Jared Gilmore) to give up his belief in the curse and fairy tales, which she sees as a threat to her power. However, Archie realizes he can't go through with it and stands up to Regina, leading to some tense confrontations.

As the episode progresses, we see parallels between the struggles of young Jiminy and Archie, both trying to find their way and make the right choices in difficult situations. It all culminates in a surprise twist that reveals just how interconnected all of the characters' lives truly are.

Overall, "That Still Small Voice" is a strong episode that delves into the complicated morality and personal struggles of its characters. It's a great showcase for Sbarge's acting talents, and the flashbacks to Young Jiminy's story provide emotional depth and context to his character.