Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A- | 689 USERS: A- YOU GRADE IT The Unstable Girl
By Cindy McLennan | Season 1 | Episode 18 | Aired on 2012.04.01
Enchanted Forest. Regina rides out to meet a waiting Daniel. He proposes a sunset picnic at Firefly Hill but Regina has to be home in an hour for tea. She's clearly parroting her mother when she says, "A lady never misses tea time." Daniel, tired of stealing kisses and moments, says it's time to tell Regina's parents about their love. Regina says it's not her parents that are the problem -- just her mother. I fight to keep my gorge from rising. Daniel understands Regina's family are landed gentry, while he's just a stable hand, but he points out that Cora started life as a miller's daughter (oh hi there, Rumpelstiltskin). Regina explains that Cora is all about upward social mobility. Again, Daniel insists they tell Cora. What can she do to them? Regina reminds Daniel of her mother's magical powers. Daniel counters that true love is the most powerful magic of all and can overcome anything.
Just then, a young girl rides by on a horse that is out of control. She screams for help. Regina mounts her horse, catches up to the girl and pulls her off the wild beast. Thanks to the casting coup of this and any other century, it's immediately clear this little girl is a young Snow White. She's played by 12-year-old Bailee Madison, who may look and act more like a 12-year-old Ginny Goodwin than the real Ginny Goodwin looked and acted at that age. I could spend the rest of this recap just raving about Bailee, but you've seen the episode, so I'd just be preaching to the choir.
Safe and sound, Snow thanks Regina for saving her life. Regina is truly sweet and concerned about the child. When Snow swears she'll never ride again, Regina tells her that's nonsense. The way to conquer fear is to face it. She must get back on that horse as soon as possible. Regina introduces herself. Snow, enchanted by her beautiful, kind heroine, does likewise and hugs Regina.
Storybrooke, Sheriff's Station. Gold wants Mary Margaret to give a pre-trial interview to the D.A. Emma is wisely against this. Gold persists in arguing that perception is everything. Mary is no killer, and surely the D.A. will see how sweet and kind she is. Giving this interview will engender trust with the jury. They're interrupted by Sidney who brings Emma a vase of tulips. Her superpower clearly still on the fritz, because she accepts Sidney's explanation that he just wants to brighten the place up. Kitsis and Horowitz explain why Emma's been less able to detect lies, lately. It's because she's emotionally invested. I accept their explanation. I just don't like it. It's on YouTube, if you want to see it for yourself.