Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A- | 283 USERS: A- YOU GRADE IT Happy Birthday
By Cindy McLennan | Season 2 | Episode 15 | Aired on 2013.03.03
Well, that's an interesting turn. I can't wait to learn Cora and Eva's backstory. I've seen criticism of Sofer's performance as Eva, but so far, there isn't much to the role. I've enjoyed Sofer since her General Hospital days (I stopped watching Heroes somewhere in the second season I think, but I don't remember disliking her on that show). I wonder what her connection to Cora is. Cora sounds like a jealous sister in her monologue, but age-wise, Sofer is closer to Parrilla than to Hershey. I guess I'll just have to be patient, which is not my strong suit.
Storybrooke. Clock Tower. Snow begs Cora and Regina not to harm Johanna, but they're not good listeners. They want the dagger. As Johanna begs Snow not to give in, Charming draws his gun, but Cora easily magics it out of his hand, which leaves a person wondering why she doesn't just magically snatch the dagger from Snow's hand. I think there could be a magical explanation for this (one we haven't been given). I mean, it's a magical object, so maybe Snow has some magical hold on it while it is in her possession. Story-wise, though, we got our explanation in the last scene. Cora wants to turn Snow's heart dark, so she wants Snow to make the decision, and feel the consequences. That said, I do have problems with magic in Storybrooke. We're currently getting pelted with snow (not Snow White, but white snow) so I'm not sure I'm going to get into that rant, today. Suffice it to say, magic doesn't seem all that different, but its use is arbitrary (like, oh, say, digging a hole in the woods, manually, versus magically rifling through Belle's purse).
In the recaplet, I covered this scene in detail, so excuse me while I plagiarize myself. Cora taunts Snow about following her mother's example at all costs. "All she ever wanted was for you to be good." Upon hearing that, Snow realizes that years ago, it wasn't Blue who gave her the dark magic candle, but rather Clue, and that Cora was behind Eva's death. Even Regina is startled at this revelation and Cora's admission that she did it all to make her daughter the queen, but Regina bounces back quickly. She tightens her grip on Johanna's heart and demands the dagger. After some back and forth with Cora, Snow throws down the dagger and falls to her knees. When Cora magically snatches it up, Regina restores Johanna's heart. But do we all live happily ever after? No. Johanna stumbles toward Snow and Charming who hold onto her, but Cora isn't finished. With a wave of her hand, the Mother of All Evil magically defenestrates Johanna, which is horrible, but it does give me the chance to use defenestrate. Yes, it will never not please me to use that word. I've seen criticism of Regina standing idly by and allowing this to happen, but the magical defenestration is so quick, I don't think Regina had a chance. Mind you, I also don't think she would have taken the chance, had it presented itself. And in a "capital murder" sense, Regina is already guilty of Johanna's death, so I'm not inclined to pile on.