Tag Archives: Regina Mills

Mar 19 2013
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ABC, Once Upon a Time, Recaps

once upon a time recapping: welcome to storybrooke

Previously on Once Upon a Time: The Miller’s Daughter.

This week on Once Upon a Time, we learn that Henry wasn’t the first child Regina longed to call her own. Back in Storybrooke’s early days, a father and son from the “real world” wander into town and Regina is desperate to make them stay. In present day Storybrooke, Regina uncovers a spell that would kill Snow and make Henry hers – giving her everything she wants.

Once Upon a Time, Regina and Owen

In Storybrooke circa 1983, a father (John Pyper-Ferguson, who the nerdy among you may recognize from Battlestar Galactica and Caprica) and son are camping in the woods and bonding over making square knot key chains when a purple cloud of magic hurtles towards them. When they emerge from their tent, a tree has fallen on their car and the town of Storybrooke has appeared out of nowhere. Meanwhile, Regina basks in the glory of her successful curse, even going so far as to bring Mary Margaret to a comatose David’s bedside to secretly gloat. Her good mood is spoiled when Kurt and his son Owen interrupt her breakfast at Granny’s, and Graham (Hi, Graham! We missed you!) confirms they’re not part of the curse. Eager to be rid of them, Regina returns to the two at Granny’s to inform them their car will be repaired soon. Yet the monotony of town begins to wear on Regina, so she invites Kurt and Owen to a dinner of sub-par lasagna (forgot the red pepper flakes, perhaps?). Regina and Owen make apple turnovers and bond over talk of their dead mothers. She asks them to stay in town but Kurt refuses. Later, he walks in on Regina commanding Graham to prevent them leaving, leading to a car chase to the town line. When they’re cut off, Kurt tells Owen to run and when Regina sees how scared he is, she lets him go. Owen returns with state troopers to the town line, but Storybrooke is no longer there.

Once Upon a Time, Regina and Henry

In present day Storybrooke, Regina is mourning over her mother’s coffin when Rumpelstiltskin appears to pay his respects. She is determined to make Snow pay, but Rumple warns her that vengeance will cost her Henry. Meanwhile, Snow is so overcome with remorse that she refuses to get out bed, and Emma is forced to tell Henry that Snow was “partially responsible” for Cora’s death. Regina goes through Cora’s things and finds a small scroll. When Rumple and Charming later investigate the vault they discover she intends to cast the “Curse of the Empty Hearted.” It will give Regina everything she wants: it will force Henry to love her, and she needs the heart of her worst enemy, i.e. Snow, to complete the spell. At Granny’s, Nealfire invites Henry to stay with him in New York to avoid the curse, but Henry decides destroying magic is the best solution instead and sneaks out the back to enact his plan. Henry plans to drop dynamite down the wishing well, leading to a standoff between Regina and Emma, Neal, and Charming with him in the middle. Proving once again how much she loves her son, Regina destroys the curse and the others back down. Later, Snow goes to Regina and begs for death to end the feud and save their families. Yet when Regina rips out her heart, there is a spot of darkness on it – Snow’s actions have blackened it. Regina is content to return Snow’s heart and watch her destroy herself. Meanwhile, Greg captures the whole thing on his phone, and when he gets back in his car he’s got a square knot key chain – the adult Owen vows to find his father.

Next week, the real world inches closer to Storybrooke, and August(!!) returns.

Thoughts/Theories
• I’m a little confused about the dynamics of early Storybrooke. The episode seems to imply that everyone affected by the curse engaged in a repetitive routine day in and day out. So did the curse evolve over time? Did Regina change it when she brought Henry in? Otherwise, wouldn’t he eventually notice that the kids he went to school with never aged and Mary Margaret’s class made birdhouses every day? I’m not sure if this is a plot hole or something that will be explained as we get more of Storybrooke’s history.
• Ok, crazy theory time: how much do you want to bet Tamara is actually “Her?” This show rarely introduces “one-off” characters (as this episode proves), so she’s got to be connected somehow.

Nicole N. decided to justify the countless hours she spends watching television by writing about it here. She is currently terrified of Stanley’s oddly-shaped head on Project Runway. For more tv-centric musings, check out her tumblr.

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Mar 13 2013
1 Comment
ABC, Once Upon a Time, Recaps

once upon a time recapping: the miller’s daughter

Previously on Once Upon a Time: The Queen is Dead.

This week on Once Upon a Time, the battle for Storybrooke begins. Emma, Nealfire, Henry, and Rumpelstiltskin return to Storybrooke to reunite with Snow and Charming and face off against Cora and Regina. In the pre-Curse Enchanted Forest, we learn how a young Cora started on the path to becoming the Evil!Mommy we know and love to hate.

Once Upon a Time, Cora and Rumpelstiltskin

In the pre-curse Enchanted Forest, young Cora is a lowly miller’s daughter (played by Rose McGowan, of Charmed). When she goes to the palace to deliver a shipment of flour, Princess Eva (Snow’s mother) spitefully trips her. King Xavier (Joaquim de Almeida) forces to Cora to apologize to the princess, which does not sit well with her at all. She later sneaks back into the palace to crash the Prince’s masked ball – but the King is shrewd enough to recognize her from the straw on her dress. Refusing to be intimidated, she boasts that she can spin straw into gold, so the King locks her in a cell until she can demonstrate her talent: succeed, and she can marry the Prince; fail, and she dies. Rumpelstiltskin appears in her tower to save the day. In exchange for her “very important” firstborn, he offers to teach her how to spin straw into gold. Rumpelstiltskin and Cora bond over their desire for vengeance on those who made them feel small. She spins on command and wins the hand of the prince, but it’s not everything she’d hoped for as she’s fifth in line to be Queen. Cora would rather have Rumple, and he alters their deal: in exchange for giving him his child, he teachers her how to rip out hearts so she can exact her revenge on the King. When she goes to the King, he reminds her it’s a choice of love or power – so the heart Cora rips out is her own. She apologizes to Rumpelstiltskin, and later gives birth to Regina, who “will be queen” one day.

Once Upon a Time, Emma and Co.

In Storybrooke, things are looking dire. As they race towards home, Emma vows to save the ailing Rumpelstiltskin since he’s now “family,” despite the fact that Cora can potentially control him. He’s so far gone that his name has started to fade from the dagger, leading Cora to claim she has to become the Dark One lest all the power be lost – much to Regina’s dismay. Emma and Co. prepare for battle at Gold’s shop. Rumple produces the dark candle and encourages Snow to trade Cora’s life for his own by using the spell over her heart and returning it to her body; meanwhile, Emma uses her magic to cast a protection spell over the shop. Regina and Cora appear, Snow slips out a side door, Charming is thrown out the front, and Emma/Nealfire retreat to the back room. Cora senses something is wrong with her heart and sends Regina to the vault. Snow uses the candle over Cora’s heart. When Regina appears, Snow claims she wants Cora’s heart returned so she can love her daughter and give up on being the Dark One. While Cora works on the barrier, Rumple calls Belle to make a deathbed confession of love, and it’s enough to soften Nealfire’s disposition towards his father. Cora breaks through and whisks Nealfire and Emma away with magic, and is about to stab “the only man she ever truly loved” when Regina restores her heart. Mother and daughter have a brief moment of happiness before Cora collapses, claiming, “this would have been enough” as she dies. Snow tries to stop Regina, but it’s too late.

Next week, hell hath no fury like Regina scorned.

Thoughts/Theories
• We finally get our glimpse into Cora’s past, but it leaves more questions than answers. How did Cora go from the wife of a prince to a bitter social climber? How did Eva become the queen? Was Regina the rightful princess/queen all along? I want more of this storyline!
• I hate (like, haaaaaaaaaate) Rose McGowan, but she was absolutely spot on as a young, self-righteous, bitter Cora.

Nicole N. decided to justify the countless hours she spends watching television by writing about it here. She is currently terrified of Stanley’s oddly-shaped head on Project Runway. For more tv-centric musings, check out her tumblr.

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Mar 05 2013
2 Comments
ABC, Once Upon a Time, Recaps

once upon a time recapping: the queen is dead

Previously on Once Upon a Time: Manhattan.

This week on Once Upon a Time, revenge is on everyone’s mind. In New York, Hook finds Rumpelstiltskin and a return to Storybrooke is the only thing that can save him. In Storybrooke, Cora and Regina come out on top – but Snow is not giving up without a fight. Finally, in the pre-Curse Enchanted Forest, we learn what happened to Snow’s mother.

Once Upon a Time, Snow and the Queen

In the pre-curse Enchanted Forest, the court is preparing a ball for Snow’s birthday. The little princess is quite snooty – especially when she catches her servant Johanna (played by Lesley Nicol, better known as Downtown Abbey’s no-nonsense cook Mrs. Patmore) trying on the tiara she will inherit. The Queen (Rena Sofer) schools her daughter on how to be a benevolent ruler, but collapses in pain mid-lecture. The healers are at a loss, so Johanna mentions to Snow that the Blue Fairy might be able to help. The Blue Fairy offers Snow a forbidden magic to save her mother – a candle that will trade someone’s life for the Queen’s. Snow cries to her mother that she wasn’t strong enough to use dark magic to save her, but the Queen praises her goodness with her last breath. After the funeral, Cora appears to gloat over the Queen’s body – even if she wasn’t able to corrupt Snow with her Blue Fairy deception, she vows her daughter will be queen one day.

Recap from Once Upon a Fan

In New York, Emma and Rumpelstiltskin commiserate over the fact that their sons are not exactly happy with them. Nealfire treats Henry to some New York pizza that is “delicious, cheesy, and doesn’t lie,” but their bonding time is interrupted when Hook appears and stabs Rumple. Emma knocks out the pirate (seriously, how does he not have brain damage by now?) and locks him in the basement. Unfortunately his hook was poisoned and the only thing that can save Rumple is magic – meaning they need to return to Storybrooke, and fast. Nealfire offers to captain Hook’s ship back to Storybrooke – apparently the real world wasn’t his first stop after the Enchanted Forest – and works on getting them a car to get to the harbor. Emma receives an update via text from Snow, and gets Rumple to give up the location of his dagger so they can get before Cora does. Emma and Neal go to retrieve their ride – from Neal’s fiancé, Tamara.

Once Upon a Time, Snow and Regina

In Storybrooke, Snow is not in the mood to celebrate her birthday. A mysterious present contains her tiara, and she’s happy to discover that Johanna is in town. They have a tearful reunion, which is interrupted when Snow discovers Cora and Regina digging for the dagger off in the woods, with no success. Meanwhile, Hook attacks Charming at the sheriff station and retrieves his hook. Snow revives Charming and gives him the bad news – but she thinks she can turn Regina against her mother. The two meet at Granny’s; Snow offers Regina “one last chance” to be good, to which she replies “Hey, remember that time I saved your life and then you shunned me? No, thanks.” With help from Emma, Snow and Charming retrieve the dagger from the clock tower. Regina and Cora appear with Johanna in tow, and the revelation that Cora was responsible for the Queen’s death. It’s Johanna’s life for the dagger, and Snow caves, only to have them murder her anyway. With their cover blown, Regina worries what Cora’s endgame will be. Over Johanna’s grave, Snow vows to kill Regina.

Next week, Snow and Regina have an epic showdown, and apparently someone dies.

Thoughts/Theories
• Both Baelfire and Rumpelstiltskin are a “few centuries” old. So while Rumple was creating the curse, we can assume Balefire was in Neverland. I have only one question: can I have epic Baelfire and Hook Neverland adventures like, RIGHT NOW PLEASE?
• Stay tuned for Storybrooke: The Deadliest Small Town in Maine that No One Knew Existed – Until Now, a documentary that is sure to be in the works if this battle between good and evil escalates.
• Cora and Snow’s mother – hopefully there is more backstory to come.

Nicole N. decided to justify the countless hours she spends watching television by writing about it here. She is currently terrified of Stanley’s oddly-shaped head on Project Runway. For more tv-centric musings, check out her tumblr.

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Jan 07 2013
3 Comments
ABC, Once Upon a Time, Recaps

once upon a time recapping: the cricket game

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.

Once Upon a Time, Regina and Snow. Screencap from Once Upon a Fan.

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.

Once Upon a Time, Regina and Emma. Screencap from Once Upon a Fan.

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.

Once Upon a Time, Regina. Screencap from Once Upon a Fan.

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.

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Dec 03 2012
1 Comment
ABC, Once Upon a Time

once upon a time recapping: queen of hearts

Previously on Once Upon a Time: Into the Deep.

This week on Once Upon a Time, it’s the winter finale!

Once Upon a Time, Regina and Hook

In pre-curse Enchanted Forest, Hook stages a rescue in order to learn how to kill Rumpelstiltskin from Belle, which ends about as well as you’d expect. Regina (rocking an AWESOME dress) finds him in the cell and cuts him a deal. She intends to transport Rumpelstiltskin to land without magic, where he will be easily defeated. In order to do that, however, he needs to kill Cora for her first. With the aid of Jefferson’s hat, Regina sends Hook to Wonderland with a now enchanted hook to rip out her heart. The Queen of Hearts is none other than Cora (who else?), but Hook’s murderous attempt fails since she isn’t foolish enough to keep her heart where everyone else does. She uses him to bring her back, where she intends to steal Regina’s heart. However, as Cora feigns death, Regina admits she killed her mother because she loves her, and love is weakness. This prompts Cora to wait out the curse instead, so she can return to aid her daughter once it’s broken.

Once Upon a Time, Emma

In present day Enchanted Forest, Emma and Co. reach the cell, where they find an empty ink bottle and a parchment with Emma’s name written over and over. To add to the bad news, the heart-controlled Aurora lowers the gate and traps them in the cell. Cora and Hook arrive to steal the compass and gloat. They then go to Lake Nostos where Cora restores the waters – the final element they need to create a portal. Snow has an epiphany and realizes the parchment contains a spell written in the ink, and uses it to destroy the bars of the cell. Aurora asks to be left behind; Mulan promises to restore her heart. The heroes arrive at the lake just in time. In the heat of the fight, Hook saves Aurora’s heart just before it falls through the portal and gives it to Mulan, who rushes off to aid the princess. Emma and Hook have the most innuendo-filled fight ever until she gets the compass and clocks him in the face with it. Cora tries to steal Snow’s heart but Emma gets in the way. Emma’s special brand of magic – love – keeps her heart intact and knocks Cora down. They go through the portal. Mulan returns Aurora’s heart, and they vow to save Philip. Hook and Cora use plan B – a magic bean.

Once Upon a Time, Regina

In Storybrooke, with David under a sleeping curse, Mr. Gold and Regina have no way of knowing if their message got through. The only way to ensure that Cora doesn’t reach Storybrooke is to destroy the portal. Regina argues they could be preventing Emma and Snow from coming home, but Gold calls it a win-win: they either stop Cora or Regina becomes the only parent in Henry’s life. It’s enough to tempt her, so she lies to get Henry out of the way and then the two steal the fairy dust from the mine. Ruby and Leroy discover this and break the bad news to Henry. Gold and Regina go to the well that “restores that which was lost” and use the dust to create a barrier. In a heart-wrenching scene, Henry arrives and begs Regina to reconsider, asking her to have faith in him. She destroys the barrier just in time for Emma and Snow to return. Henry thanks Regina for choosing good, Snow revives Charming, and everyone goes off for a celebratory dinner at Granny’s – without inviting Regina, of course. Just when I’m starting to think this way too much of a happy ending (for everyone but the mayor), we zoom over to a pirate ship in the harbor, bringing Cora and Hook to poor Storybrooke.

Once Upon a Time, Cora and Hook

See you all in the new year!

Thoughts/Theories
• Hats off to Lana Parrilla, because she is killing it this season. Regina has grown so much, and deserved so much better than what she got this episode. C’mon Emma, SHOW SOME RESPECT, PLEASE.
• How much does influence does Rumpelstiltskin really have over Emma’s destiny? She may have her own special brand of magic, but I want to believe his power over her name will have some meaning in this plotline.
• I am so excited for all the havoc Hook and Cora are going to unleash!

Nicole N. decided to justify the countless hours she spends watching television by writing about it here. She is currently indulging her addiction to medical dramas by rewatching all of Grey’s Anatomy. Follow her on twitter @nicolemnelson and check out her tumblr.

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