Fairyland Past
Regina looks out over a burning city when a messenger
arrives to inform her that Snow and Charming have defeated King George and that
Regina’s forces stand alone – and out matched. (Regina, in deference to it
being a battle, is wearing a scale mail collar which still doesn’t cover her
plunging neckline. At least it’s better than a chain mail bikini. Actually the
worst I’d seen is a plate thong – can you even imagine the chafing?). Since
Snow and Charming have been separated, she orders her men to keep them apart
while she hunts Snow.
She catches up with Snow and Snow offers to parlay with
her for Regina’s surrender. Yeah, that’s not going to happen. Regina prepares
to kill Snow and is ambushed by the Blue Fairy who imprisons her with magic –
it was a trap.
Together, the magical council gathers to decide what to
do with Regina , after passing ideas back and forth, Charming says the only way
they can be safe is to execute Regina, despite Snow’s misgivings.
In prison, Regina is visited by her father and they have
a touching declaration of their love. He begs her to show regret for what she’s
done, to show she can change, to convince Snow and Charming not to execute her.
When taken out to execution, Jiminy Cricket urge Regina to clear her conscience as she stands on the block. Yeaaah doesn’t quite work out that way and Regina has a villainous rant instead. Despite that, Snow can’t bring herself to allow the execution to go forwards.
Snow argues with Charming that the Queen was once good and can be good again, she holds out hope that Regina may change. Time for Rumplestiltskin to drop in and add his take on matters. He offers Snow a test to see if the Queen can be redeemed (despite – apparently – wanting her dead, though Rumplestiltskin laughs at the idea that she knows his motives, which is probably true).
She goes to see Regina (“defying” her prince. Why is it
defiance? Aren’t they supposed to be equals?) to let her go and express her
believe that Regina can change. Regina leaves her cell, bemused by Snow’s trust
and grabs her by the throat – Snow pulls a dagger but Regina takes it off her
and stabs Snow. Who doesn’t die or bleed or nothing – the guards and Charming
pop up, Rumplestiltskin cast a defence spell using Regina’s hair, meaning she
can’t hurt Snow or Charming. They banish Regina with the magic preventing her
ever from hurting them.
Of course that leaves her free to destroy their kingdom,
kill their friends or, say, curse the whole lot of them but Snow and Charming
were never the brightest ruling couple.
She returns to her dark castle – and is visited by
Rumplestiltskin to cheer her up on Snow White’s and Charming’s wedding day – by
pointing out the clause in the protection spell, Regina can’t hurt them “in
this land” in another land? They’re not protected.
Therefore motivating the Queen to find the curse rather
than to keep attacking them in this land and therefore transporting them to
Storybrooke where Rumplestiltskin can look for his son. Oh, that’s some quality
plotting.
Storybrooke
Present
Hook and Cora have arrived in Storybrooke – looking awfully
dramatic. Hook instantly sets off to kill his Crocodile (Rumplestiltskin) and
Cora appears in front of him in a puff of blue smoke telling him not to. He
huffs that she’s stopping him getting his vengeance, she points out she’s doing
that using magic – which means magic is here, which means Rumplestiltskin is
far from helpless. Time for a more careful plan (and turning the harbour master
into a fish, because).
Charming and Snow are in bed together, finally getting it
on when Emma and Henry walk in on them. Line of the week, shockingly, goes to
Charming “It’s impressive we can still provide her with a few traumatic
childhood memories at this stage in the game.” See, this is why open plan
houses are a terrible idea!
On to Grannies for the party (and the relief of cooking
food you didn’t have to kill first). Everyone parties, has a toast – and Regina
arrives with a dish and ringing silence descends. Grumpy wonders why she’s
there but Emma tells Snow that she invited her – that they wouldn’t be home if
it weren’t for Regina (thank you! Someone finally recognises Regina’s worth and
her efforts!). She makes an impassioned plea on Regina’s behalf to Snow and
Charming.
Regina stays and everyone eats her lasagne – but no-one
talks to her. As she leaves, Emma runs after her and tries to convince her to stay
for cake. They talk and Emma is glad Regina spent some time with Henry and
Regina wishes Henry could spend the night occasionally. Emma is hesitant and
Regina snaps, since Emma has only looked after Henry for 5 minutes compared to
the years Regina has. Emma turns to leave and Regina apologises. Emma
acknowledges Regina’s attempts to change – and reveals Dr. Archie Hopper
(Jiminy Cricket) has talked to Emma about Regina (umm… I think Regina is
supposed to be able to expect some confidentiality from the doctor.)
Through a telescope Cora and Hook watch Regina and Hook
asks Cora if she’s broken – Cora says not yet.
The next day, Regina confronts Archie about his breach of
confidence. She also reminds him that his PHD is from a curse – which is when
Ruby decides to run up and check if everything’s ok (underlying implication,
she’s there to protect Archie from Regina). Regina makes the ominous statement
that Archie should be happy she’s changed.
Later that night, Ruby spots Regina going to see Archie.
She asks to talk with him and his dog, Pongo, barks at her (I’m laying odds on
it being Cora in disguise). She freezes
Pongo and uses some black magic smokey stuff on Dr. Archie before leaving and
transforming into Cora (told you).
The next day, Pongo runs to Red and Emma and, using Red’s
wolf skills, communicates something’s wrong – the find Archie’s dead body.
Regina is brought in for questioning by Emma and Regina
is shocked that Archie is dead and she insists she was home all evening – and why
would she throw everything away. Besides, she’s a devious, capable killer, if
she wanted Archie dead he would be dead and she wouldn’t be caught. Charming
doesn’t believe her (why’s he even there? When did Emma need his help?) and
insists Regina’s incapable of change.
Outside the cell, Emma (with her super lie detection
power, remember) rejects locking Regina up – she didn’t do it. Regina was
genuinely shocked, she’s also in prison with all her magic, the old Regina
would have reduced the building to ashes. And Emma, as someone who changed her
life, knows the look of someone who genuinely wants to change. Charming points
out they know her better and Emma counters that – in the kingdom she was the
evil queen, here she’s Regina and Emma is sheriff and is holding to “innocent
until proven guilty” (uh, if you want to hold to that principle you might want
to have a court and a trial, just saying.)
They search Archie’s office and find that Regina’s file
is missing. Charming – who really needs a new name because that doesn’t fit –
is all for condemning Regina on this massive amount of proof (they have massive
amounts of proof? Does he have proof I haven’t seen?) But Emma is suspicious by
how easily all the evidence has been acquired. So who would frame her – and resort
to killing to do it?
They go to see Rumplestiltskin (oh, c’mon isn’t framing Regina a bit basic for him?) Rumple denies all knowledge, naturally but offers a spell they can use to get information from Pongo the dog. And he wants Emma to use it, since she apparently has magic inside her and it will free him from accusations of tampering. Using a dream catcher, he harvests Pongo’s memories and has Emma will them into being – and we see Regina kill Archie. Emma accepts Regina’s guilt and goes storming out after her
They confront her and Regina proclaims her innocence and
warns Emma there’s always a price to pay with magic. She also demands to speak
to Henry to give her side of the story, she doesn’t want Emma poisoning his
mind against her. Emma screams that Henry isn’t Regina’s son and the Blue Fairy
throws fairy dust at Regina to imprison her. Regina catches it and casts it aside – same trick
doesn’t work twice and throws Emma aside with magic for trying to keep her son
from her. Emma holds this up as proof that Regina hasn’t changed and will
always be the same (ugh, she used magic when you threatened to take her child
from her? That hardly makes her evil – you are still alive after all). Regina
vanishes in a puff of smoke.
Waiting for Henry arriving on the bus, Emma panics about
how hard it will be to tell Henry that someone he loves was killed by someone
else he loves and that she’s not a good mother and doesn’t know how to be.
Charming reassures her that she’s a great mother (he knows from his own 5
minutes of parenting experience).
Emma takes Henry away to break the news to him, while
Regina watches tearfully from a car
Cora returns to Hook, successful because her daughter has
now lost everything (“mum of the year” as Hook points out). She also has a
captive who they can use to reveal all of Storybrooke’s deepest secrets – and
Rumplestiltskin’s weaknesses: Dr. Archie Hopper. Yes, he’s still alive. She did
kill someone but “how should she know who, she’s only just arrived!” and Hook
adds “disguised in death to look like him, as if death weren’t bad enough”.
These 2 have some real zingers.
I am extremely glad to see Emma reaching out to Regina.
Though I’m also glad that Snow and Charming aren’t just brushing aside the
whole “hey she tried to kill us repeatedly” but, particularly how the last
episode ended, I think this was more than needed. It gives me a lot more hope.
I’m also glad to see Regina’s temper fraying over Emma deciding she knows what’s
best for Henry. It was an excellent scene with lots of depth and nuance and
layers. Regina’s evil past but also her past as Henry’s actual parent – far more
so than Emma.
Well that was my initial thought and then we have the
frame on Regina, all that redemption ruined and Emma screaming “he’s not your
son” at her. 2 steps forward, 20 steps back. Surely the fact they aren’t all
dead shows how much she’s changed?
