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Previously on Once Upon a Time: Queen of Hearts.

This week on Once Upon a Time, everyone is reunited, but their happiness doesn’t last long. In Storybrooke, Emma tries to give Regina a chance, but Cora’s plans to “break” her daughter lead to accusations of murder and destroy any chance of chance of reconciliation between Henry’s two moms. In the pre-curse Enchanted Forest, we learn that Regina was not so adept at accepting second chances.

In the pre-curse Enchanted Forest, King George’s forces are defeated and Regina tries one last time to kill Snow. Unfortunately for her, Snow and Charming anticipate this and with the help of the Blue Fairy they block her magic and capture her. After some debate, it’s decided that the evil queen must be executed. At the execution, Snow spares her at the last second, unwilling to kill the woman who saved her life without giving her a chance to change. Rumpelstiltskin is of course happy to provide Snow with a way to “test” Regina. Snow visits Regina in her cell (with a dagger hidden up her sleeve) and offers to let her escape. But the minute she’s free Regina pins Snow and plunges the dagger into her gut. Snow is fine, however, and thanks to Rumpelstiltskin’s protection spell, there is nothing Regina can do to harm either Snow or Charming in their land ever again. Rumpelstiltskin later visits a sulky Regina, reminding her that she can’t harm Snow in this land, but other lands are up for grabs.

In Storybrooke, Cora and Hook make landfall. Hook’s ready to get his vengeance, but Cora demonstrates that magic is here – by hilariously turning the world’s dumbest fisherman (played by David Nykl of Stargate Atlantis fame, ha!) into a fish – and that going after Rumpelstiltskin is not a good idea. She conceals the ship and they decide to do some recon. The next morning, Emma and Henry walk in on Snow and Charming having some sexytime and she is hilariously traumatized. Later, Granny’s hosts a welcome home party – and they’re none too pleased when Regina appears. Emma argues to her parents that the mayor is trying to change. When Regina leaves early, Emma follows her out the door and reveals she’s giving her a chance based on Archie’s advice. Regina tentatively asks to see Henry, but Emma gets on her high horse and shuts her down. Regina is not pleased with Archie; Ruby happens to see them argue. Cora later walks into his office disguised as Regina, and kills him in front of his dog, Pongo. So when Emma and Ruby discover the body they immediately suspect Regina, who is appropriately flabbergasted by the accusation. To her credit, Emma believes her in spite of her parent’s misgivings. Suspecting a frame job, they go to Mr. Gold – who laughs off their accusations and suggests they question Pongo instead. With the help of a dream catcher and Emma’s magic, they recover the dog’s memory of “Regina” killing Archie. Enraged, Emma confronts Regina, accusing her of being incapable of change and promising she’ll never see Henry again. This of course leads the mayor to lose her cool and use magic to attack Emma, who nastily states that Regina just proved her point. Regina disappears, only to later watch from a distance as Emma tells Henry his mother is a murder, leaving her effectively “broken.” A gloating Cora returns to Hook, offering him a gift – someone privy to all of Storybrooke’s secrets. Cut to Archie, tied up in the ship’s hold.

Next week, Rumpelstiltskin and Hook face off.

Thoughts/Theories
• I never thought I would say this, but I’m starting to side with Regina in the Battle of the Two Moms. She has a valid point – she did take care of Henry for ten years. And no matter how she’s treated him in the past, these last few episodes have shown that she really, truly loves him – enough to consider sacrificing her own happiness. I repeat, Emma, SHOW SOME RESPECT.
• I’m glad Archie’s alive and somewhat well, but of course the question remains – who did Cora murder? Not that I want Archie or any other main character to die, but having it be someone who won’t be missed feels like a bit of a cop out.

Nicole N. decided to justify the countless hours she spends watching television by writing about it here. She is currently upping her political savvy by watching all of The West Wing. For other tv-centric writings, check out her tumblr.