Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: C | 386 USERS: B- YOU GRADE IT PANache
By Cindy McLennan | Season 3 | Episode 9 | Aired on 12.01.2013
After the break, we rejoin our heroines, this time on the Jolly Roger. Regina has already forced Henry's heart back into his chest. It takes him long enough to revive, that Emma wonders if they're too late. No, honey. There's still too much time left in the episode. If you save Henry now, it's just a fake-out.
Regina calls out, "Henry," and then, "Honey!" The boy wakes with a gasp. He hugs his moms. Neal catches a glimpse of Henry's panicked expression and tells him, "Take it easy, buddy." Henry babbles an apology revolving around his desire to save magic. Today, child, everything is forgiven. Today. By the way, this is the last moment in the episode in which Emma acts like a mother, even an inexperienced, regret and guilt-laden one.
Henry cries that he wanted to be a hero. His maternal, and oh so regret and guilt-laden grandparents assure him there is plenty of time in the future for that. Hook charms, "Welcome back, young sir. Only the best for our guest of honor, don't you think? Captain's quarters." Aye aye. Oh wait. Never mind. Regina will lead the child to his bed, with a promise to tuck him in. We flash back to...
Storybrooke, 11 years ago. A happy baby Henry wriggles in his bassinet, while Archie visits with Regina. Archie is so pleased at her progress. Regina, never one to duck an ego massage, takes it all in. She can't leave it there though. She admits she's dreading the day when Henry's birth mother finds him. Archie reminds her the adoption was a closed one. Regina says, "Yes, but I'm worried something bigger than the law is at play. Fate. Destiny." When Archie suggests she's made her own destiny, Regina says there's still someone out there who can destroy it. Archie explains how worrying about the future detracts from enjoying the present. As a person with an anxiety disorder, whose proclivity to contingency-think is at the root of it all, I have to back up Archie. He tells our Evil Queen to revel in the love she's feeling -- revel at being a mother. Regina gazes down at her bouncing baby boy, as she takes to heart this wise counsel. We cut to the...
Cemetery. Mills' family crypt. Inside, Regina lays a hand on her father's nameplate and thanks him. I think I hear his ghost yell, "You're not welcome!" Regina ignores that and lays Henry in his baby seat, but doesn't buckle him in, because she likes it when I panic. She opens the door to her hidden chamber, and there's a quick time cut.
Whatever magical relics Regina brought with her from L'enchantment are benign enough that they've now buckled Henry in. Thank you, relics. I can breathe again. Regina turns to Henry. Her voice is soft and sweet. "Once upon a time there was a Queen, and she cast a glorious curse that gave her everything she wanted, or so she thought. She despaired when she learned that revenge was not enough. She was lonely, and so she searched the land for a little boy to be her prince, and then, she found him. And though they lived happily, it was not ever after."
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