Tag Archives: Regina

Nov 26 2012
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ABC, Once Upon a Time

once upon a time recapping: into the deep

Previously on Once Upon a Time: Child of the Moon.

My fellow OUaTers, I’ve missed you! A big thank you to the lovely TVDM Editor Nicole for covering my recaps when life pulled me into a land without magic. This week on Once Upon a Time, with Jefferson’s hat destroyed, Henry and Aurora’s netherworld connection may be the only way Snow and Emma can get home. In Storybrooke, Charming makes a sacrifice for a chance to see Snow again. In the Enchanted Forest, Cora remains one step ahead of our heroes.

Once Upon a Time, Captain Hook

In present day Enchanted Forest, we catch up with Hook as he escapes the beanstalk. Cora catches up with him also, and is none too pleased he is missing the compass. Her plan is to use heart-controlled “zombies” to get it back. Meanwhile, Snow and Emma realize they can use Aurora’s dreams to communicate with Henry, and through him, that master of all things magic: Rumpelstiltskin. When Aurora goes back under, she is unable to learn anything more – especially since the zombies attack mid-dream, and she gets captured. Aurora refuses to bargain with Cora and gets knocked out for her trouble. Our heroes only have until sundown to save her, but Emma won’t give up the compass. Since Snow has been under a sleeping curse before, she offers to go back to get the information they need. However, she requires a sleeping potion, and the poppies they need to make it are hard to find (of course). In the meantime, Hook rouses Aurora and frees her, since what hurts Cora helps him. In the netherworld, Snow is surprised to meet Charming. He tells her what she needs to know but her kiss won’t revive him. Snow wakes up in a panic about Charming, and Mulan is missing with the amulet too. Cora is not pleased to find Hook instead of Aurora, but he offers a gift. Emma and Snow catch up with Mulan, but Aurora appears before the encounter gets too violent. She sings Hook’s praises, explaining how he rescued her and only wants to help. We cut to Cora using Aurora’s heart, stolen by Hook, to spin these lies and get the pirate back into Emma’s good graces, and closer to the compass.

Once Upon a Time, Emma and Snow

In Storybrooke, Henry connects to Aurora through his dreams and brings Charming and Regina the unfortunate news that Cora plans to visit Storybrooke. The threat of Cora is enough to get Gold on their side. Henry is eager for his chance to be a hero and return to the netherworld. Gold informs him that a supply of the ink used in the magic quill that defeated him remains in his old cell, and should be enough to stop Cora. Unfortunately Henry is unable to get this across before Aurora disappears, and his encounter with the netherworld leaves him badly burned. Neither Regina nor Charming are willing to send him back to try again. With Aurora gone, Charming believes Snow will be there in the netherworld to meet him, and offers to undergo a sleeping curse to reach her. The only catch is he may never wake up (though he believes Snow’s kiss will revive him) and that as first-time curse sufferer, he will have to navigate the netherworld to find the burning room himself. As Regina prepares the curse, Henry remarks he is proud she’s using her magic for good, and they share a moment. Charming goes under, and finds the burning room, but breaks the amulet in the process. He tells Snow what she needs to know but her kiss won’t revive him. Henry frets over the still-sleeping Charming, but the outcome doesn’t look good.

Once Upon a Time, Snow and Charming

Next week, mid-season finale!

Thoughts/Theories
• Point of interest: Philip may not be dead (yay!). According to Cora, the wraith merely transported his soul to another realm.
• Just when we thought Hook was a rogue with a heart of gold, he turns out to be a rogue that steals hearts. I still love him though.
• I am really into Regina’s redemption arc. Her drive to prove herself to Henry just kills me. Love when they have those mother/son moments.

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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Oct 28 2012
3 Comments
ABC, Once Upon a Time

once upon a time recapping: the doctor

Previously on Once Upon a Time: The Crocodile.

This week on Once Upon a Time, it’s all about monsters. In the past, we learn how Rumpelstiltskin’s manipulation sent Regina down her dark path. In Storybrooke, Regina’s past, specifically Daniel, comes back to haunt her. And in the Enchanted Forest, Emma and Snow must team up with Hook to defeat Cora.

Once Upon a Time, Regina and Jefferson

In the pre-curse Enchanted Forest, Rumpelstiltskin attempts to tutor Regina on how to control – and kill – others by ripping out their hearts, but she’s not willing to go that far. When Rumpelstiltskin asks what’s holding her back, she reveals she wants to bring someone back from the dead. He informs her that it’s impossible, but Jefferson (who just happens to stop by at that moment) says there is a man who could help. “The Doctor,” a.k.a Dr. Whale, is brought to the palace. In order for his experiment to work, he needs an enchanted heart. Regina is still unwilling to snatch one, but her mother left a vast supply. Yet even though The Doctor uses “something greater than magic,” he fails. With Daniel lost, Regina returns to Rumpelstiltskin ready to crush hearts and continue her education. Rumpelstiltskin thanks The Doctor for fulfilling his end of the bargain, and in exchange gives him a heart to create “his own monster.” The Doctor insists his powers transcend magic, but Rumpelstiltskin warns that whatever it is, it comes with a price, and Jefferson transports him home. Back in his black and white realm, he uses the heart – and science – to reanimate a corpse. The assistant congratulates Dr. Frankenstein for bringing his brother back to life.

Once Upon a Time, Dr. Whale

In Storybrooke, Whale asks Charming if the “all the lands” still exist. His answer is a punch in the face (for the time Whale slept with Snow) and yes, which is why he’s trying to get back. Meanwhile, Regina is seeking help from Dr. Hopper to keep her promise to Henry. Whale interrupts her session, demanding to be sent back to his land since her curse only “transported the living.” However, that’s not exactly true, since Regina has kept Daniel magically preserved in her heart vault. Hopper tells her to let go of her past; Regina storms out and sees her past standing on the corner. Daniel is missing from the vault, and when she finds Dr. Whale, he’s missing an arm. He used one of her hearts to bring Daniel back and created a “monster.” Regina tracks him to the stables, but she’s only able to get through to him for a few seconds before she’s forced to use magic to destroy him. She returns to Dr. Hopper. Whale goes to Mr. Gold to reattach his arm. Whale confesses he revived Daniel in the hopes Regina would send him back to his brother so he could “try again,” since the first time ended badly. Gold forces “Victor” to admit he needs magic, and restores his arm.

Once Upon a Time, Emma and Snow

In the Enchanted Forest, Emma and company make it back to Haven, only to discover that Cora has killed everyone by ripping out their hearts. Under the bodies they do find one survivor – Hook. Mulan believes he’s a blacksmith, but he’s unable to get his lies past Emma. The threat of being dinner for ogres is enough to get him talking. Cora sent him to learn everything he could about Storybrooke, and the enchantment from the wardrobe remains in the ashes. The only thing Cora needs is a magical compass, but Hook is willing to help them get it instead – if he gets to come along. Their target is at the top of a very large beanstalk, guarded by a giant.

Next week, we get a glimpse into Emma’s past!

Thoughts/Theories
• Point of interest: Jefferson’s hat only transports between magical realms. Speaking of, I’m not 100% certain where this fits into his timeline, but it must be prior to his mushroom selling days with Grace. I’d be interested to see how he got to that point, because this version of him is quite nefarious.
• Whose heart did Whale use? Whose heart did Rumpelstiltskin give him? Do the original owners of the hearts affect the outcome? I have a feeling this will play out later on.
• Are there any other characters from different lands wandering around? The plot thickens.

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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Sep 30 2012
3 Comments
ABC, Once Upon a Time, Recaps

once upon a time recapping: broken

Previously on Once Upon a Time: A Land Without Magic.

This week on Once Upon a Time, magic is here! This curse is broken, the citizens of Storybrooke remember who they are, and Mr. Gold’s strange brand of magic is unleashed upon the town. As Emma and the others try to decide what to do with Regina, Mr. Gold sets his own revenge plans in motion – with unexpected results. Meanwhile, we are introduced to some new faces in the Enchanted Forest, where everything is not as it seems.

In New York, a mysterious man (played by Michael Raymond James) returns to his apartment. A dove flies to his window with a postcard from Storybrooke bearing one word – broken.

Once Upon a Time, Emma and Regina

In Storybrooke, the ominous cloud unleashed by Mr. Gold washes over the town, though no one seems negatively affected. Charming and Snow tearfully embrace their daughter for the first time in 28 years and I’m already reaching for the tissues. Before they can even begin to untangle their emotions, the Mother Superior informs them that magic has returned, and Archie warns them that Dr. Whale is leading an angry mob to Regina’s. Emma and her parents arrive just in time to rescue a powerless Regina from the mob’s wrath and drag her to jail. Meanwhile, Belle tells Mr. Gold of her imprisonment at Regina’s hands and makes him promise not to kill her. He takes this promise literately and instead summons a wraith to do his dirty work for him.

Ms. Blanchard wants to get to know her daughter, but Emma is struggling with her own feelings of abandonment. They confront Mr. Gold about the magic he released, but he argues that he’s done nothing wrong. Before they can glean anything more from him, the wraith makes its presence known in Storybrooke. Emma insists they’re not done; Mr. Gold reminds her she owes him a favor. Belle expresses her disappointment in Mr. Gold’s lie, though she stays with him in the hope he’ll become a better man. Emma, Ms. Blanchard, and David fend off the wraith attacking Regina, but the only way to stop it is to send it elsewhere, via Jefferson’s hat. They set a trap for the wraith, but Emma gets sucked in too. Unwilling to lose her daughter again, Ms. Blanchard follows her in but David is too late. Upon learning what happened, Henry refuses to talk to Regina until she brings them back. David takes his grandson takes his grandson home and promises to find them.

Once Upon a Time David and Henry

In the Enchanted Forest, a prince and a masked warrior ride through a barren wasteland. They reach a crumbling palace, where Princess Aurora (played by the incredibly gorgeous Sarah Bolger of The Tudors fame) lays sleeping. Prince Philip promises to tell his beloved “the truth” upon her awakening. His kiss breaks the curse, but before he can share the whole story they are attacked by a dark creature. They fend it off, and in the aftermath the warrior reveals her identity – Mulan (played by Jamie Chung of Real World fame). She explains that they were attacked by a wraith, a soul-sucking creature that marks its victims. Though they appear to be unscathed, Philip hides a mark on his hand. When the three stop for the night, Philip sneaks off to meet his fate. The women realize the truth and head after him. They reach him just in time to watch him fall victim to the wraith. The two lay Philip to rest at the palace, and Mulan reveals the whole truth – that a curse swept almost everyone away 28 years ago, except for a small corner of the land where they remained frozen until recently, when the curse weakened. Before the two leave for the safe haven, they hear a crash and discover Emma and Ms. Blanchard.

The two worlds collide!

Thoughts/Theories
• Just when we thought everyone was going to be brought together, they’re torn apart yet again. I commend the writers for keeping the two storylines relevant and interconnected now that curse is broken, plus Ms. Blanchard and Emma need some time one on one to work their feelings out, but at the same time – ARGH!
• The mysterious man from the beginning of the episode has to be Baelfire, right?
• Interesting that Regina’s magic didn’t seem to work until Emma touched her. Wondering what the significance of that is.
• WHO IS WHALE? No one seems to know. There was an intriguing undercurrent to his interaction with Regina this episode, and I want to know more. The mystery is killing me.

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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Apr 30 2012
3 Comments
ABC, Recaps

once upon a time: the stranger

Previously on Once Upon a Time: The Return

This week on Once Upon a Time, an apparently dying August tries to push Emma into her destiny, revealing information about her past and his connection to the curse. Regina, meanwhile, sets her sights on David. In the Enchanted Forest, we cover the backstory of Geppetto and Pinocchio, and their role in creation of the magic wardrobe that saved baby Emma.

Once Upon a Time, Geppetto and Pinocchio

In the Enchanted Forest, Geppetto and Pinocchio the puppet are lost at sea, about to be eaten by a whale. Pinocchio saves the life vest for his father, and jumps into the water. When Geppetto washes ashore, Pinocchio is back to a lifeless puppet, until the Blue Fairy turns him into a real boy – with the warning that he must remain brave, truthful, and unselfish to stay that way. Later, the Blue Fairy visits Geppetto, warning him of the impending curse and Snow White’s child, and asks him to build the magical wardrobe that could save her.

When they retrieve the tree for the wardrobe, the Blue Fairy explains that it only has enough magic for two people. Geppetto worries that the curse will turn Pinocchio back into wood, and only agrees to build the wardrobe if Pinocchio can go through. As Snow goes into labor, the Blue Fairy tells Geppetto that Snow must go through with Emma, but once she leaves Geppetto makes Pinocchio promise he will lead the savior to her destiny and sends him through instead. Pinocchio/August explodes through a tree trunk into the real world, and baby Emma appears shortly after. The two end up in a foster home (?) with cruel caretakers, and when another boy offers Pinocchio/August the chance to run away with him, he takes it – leaving Emma behind.

Once Upon a Time, Emma and August

In Storybrooke, August installs a deadbolt in Ms. Blanchard apartment to keep out Regina’s skeleton keys, and Emma announces that she intends to fight for custody of her son. Henry calls in with an Operation Cobra “code red,” and Emma goes to meet him at Granny’s – though August attempts to convince her to come with him instead to “see the big picture” on how to defeat Regina, but she doesn’t bite. Henry’s “code red” is a new story in the book featuring Pinocchio, but it isn’t finished. Back at the hotel, August’s leg starts hurting him again, and he pulls up his pant cuff to reveal a wooden leg. Aha! The truth of his identity is finally known! Ms. Blanchard returns to school, and when she runs into Regina she forgives her for the setup, pitying the mayor for the loneliness that causes her to destroy other’s happiness.

August goes to Mr. Gold, asking him to steer Emma away from a custody battle so he can direct her towards breaking the curse, and he agrees. When Mr. Gold turns her down, Emma goes to August as they planned. Meanwhile, Regina has car trouble and David drives her home, and reluctantly stays for dinner. Afterwards, Regina gets a little too friendly and David runs out the door. August and Emma leave Storybrooke and go to a diner – the same diner where baby Emma brought. August knows this because he was the one who found her. August takes her to the woods where they came through and reveals everything: that he’s Pinocchio, that he added the story to the book (and they’re living out the ending), and that he was halfway across the world when she decided to stay in Storybrooke and his leg became a “painful reminder of how far [he] strayed.”

But when he shows her his wooden leg, Emma is in such denial that she literately can’t see anything wrong. He begs her to help, and she freaks out at the responsibility. Henry is the only thing she can fight for – everyone else is screwed. Later that night, a defeated August visits Marco’s (aka Geppetto) workshop and helps with a broken clock. He mentions how he tried to keep a promise to his father too late, but Marco says as long as he tried, it was good enough, and August offers to help at the shop. Across town, Emma calls Henry on the walkie and has him come downstairs. She asks if he wants to live with her, and when he says yes, she decides to take him and leave Storybrooke. Oh, Emma, will you ever learn?

Once Upon a Time, Henry

Next week, bad things happen when you try to leave Storybrooke, and Snow White meets the poisoned apple.

Thoughts/Theories
o Of course I didn’t see it coming that August is actually Pinocchio, as usual. However, I totally called it that August is the boy that saved Emma!
o I’m not sure what the weird Regina/David seduction subplot was about this episode. Does it have some greater significance? What do you all think?

Nicole N. decided to justify the countless hours she spends watching television by writing about it here. She enjoys a challenge and is currently re-watching all 15 seasons of ER. Follow her @nicolemnelson

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Feb 20 2012
4 Comments
ABC, New for Fall 2011, Recaps

once upon a time recapping: what happened to frederick

Previously on Once Upon a Time: Skin Deep

This week on Once Upon a Time: people vanish, objects reappear, and the Mysterious Stranger finally has a name, but is no less mysterious in either deed or motive. In Storybrooke, David fails yet again to tell his wife the truth, but Regina has no problem revealing the affair, leaving Ms. Blanchard and Kathryn as collateral damage. In the Enchanted Forest, Charming proves to be the more honorable of the two by restoring Abigail’s lost love before setting out in pursuit of Snow.

Once Upon a Time, Charming and the Siren

We start in the Enchanted forest. The timing is a little tricky here, picking up towards the end of 7:15 A.M. – Snow has left, Charming thinks she doesn’t love him, and the wedding is not officially called off yet. Charming is on the run from King George’s men, and they seem to have every intent of killing him. We cut awkwardly to a bound Charming, but it’s Abigail who’s found him. She knows the truth about Snow, and she wants to help him escape because she has no desire to marry him either. Charming is suspicious of her motives, and she reveals that she loves another – her betrothed, Frederick, who was accidentally turned to gold protecting King Midas. There is a magical lake that could restore him and Charming agrees to get what she needs, despite the deadly creature that guards it. That creature just happens to be a siren, who transforms herself to look like Snow to lure him into the water, and he almost drowns before escaping at the last second. He restores Frederick to Abigail, and sets out to find Snow. We’re now where 7:15 A.M ended, when Charming meets Red Riding Hood at the woods. She tells him Snow truly does love him, and they set off with King George on their tail.

Once Upon a Time, Mary Margaret and David

In Storybrooke, Kathryn has been accepted been into law school, and she wants David to come with her to Boston. He later meets with Ms. Blanchard, and she argues that he needs to tell Kathryn the truth. The next day, Emma runs into the Mysterious Stranger outside of Granny’s, and he gives his name – August W. Booth – to secure a date with her. Inside, Ms. Blanchard reveals that she been seeing David, to which Emma is like “duh,” noting the “plunging necklines” were a giveaway. Ms. Blanchard is convinced David will tell the truth – and we cut to him doing just the opposite, telling Kathryn he can’t go to Boston because of some bs story about not connecting. Meanwhile, August appears to be restoring the Book or adding pages. Kathryn runs to Regina, who reveals David’s infidelity. Kathryn then runs to Ms. Blanchard, bitch slapping her in hall at school and telling her to enjoy her liar boyfriend. August takes Emma for that drink, which just happens to be from a well fed by a “magical” underground lake that will return something lost to her. He waxes poetic about having faith, while Emma only believes what she can see. Everyone in town is calling Ms. Blanchard a tramp, and she’s fed up with David and his lack of backbone. Their relationship is destructive, and she tells him it’s over. Emma finds the Book in the gutter by her car and returns it to Henry; Kathryn tells Regina her marriage was like “an illusion,” that she’s left a note giving David and Ms. Blanchard her blessing, and she still intends to go to Boston. The Mayor takes her skeleton keys (complete with skulls) to get the note from Kathryn’s home, which she burns. Kathryn, meanwhile, has left for Boston. The curse does its thing, however, and Frederick/Gym Teacher finds her car abandoned on the side of the road.

Once Upon a Time, Emma and Stranger/August

Thoughts/Theories
o August W. Booth, who are you, really? What have you done to the Book, and how long will it be before we find out?
o For those keeping score: Graham is dead (sniffle), and now Kathryn is missing. Mr. Gold knows truth but seems outside of Regina’s influence – for now.
o If Storybrooke is connected to the Enchanted Forest, as evidenced by Snow’s coffin hidden deep in a mine shaft underground, does that mean this “magical” underground lake is the same one Charming visited? The way August was going on about the mystical powers of water, I believe it has some significance, but you can’t trust anything with this show. We shall (hopefully) see.

Quotes
August – If you need evidence for everything, Emma, you’re going to find yourself stuck in one place for a long time.

Nicole N. decided to justify the countless hours she spends watching television by writing about it here. She enjoys a challenge and is currently re-watching all 15 seasons of ER. Follow her @nicolemnelson

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