Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A | 4 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT Mother Knows Best
By Cindy McLennan | Season 2 | Episode 9 | Aired on 12.02.2012
Finding her alone, Rumpy tells Regina, "Congratulations. You've just reunited mother and son. Maybe one day, they'll even invite you to dinner." As Regina's eyes well with tears, we cut to the streets of Storybrooke. As the Charmings and their most faithful companions make their way down the street, the camera pans from them to the clock tower, and then out to the horizon. Through the mist, a pirate ship appears. On deck are Cora and Hook. Collapsing his spyglass, Hook says, "There it is." Cora adds, "Storybrooke," because I guess she was afraid we'd think she was going to Sunnydale.
"Queen of Hearts" may already be one of my favorite episodes. I know I'm sort of an easy sell, because I've been pining for the family to be reunited, but there's so much more to it. I'm glad to see that Regina enchanted Hook's hook, which is how he was able to rip out Aurora's heart, and she limited the enchantment, too, so we won't have him ripping out hearts willy nilly. I love both that Emma is powerful in her own right and that she is profoundly touched by the fact that she is powerful, and that she's the product of true love. Regina's desire to redeem herself in Henry's eyes gives her character so much depth, as does her pain at watching her boy leave with his biological family. Her Majesty's road to redemption will be nothing if not rocky, particularly with Mommy Dearest coming to town. Yes, I just plagiarized myself. Happy Holidays!
I'll be back in January, with coverage of the second half of season 2. I hope you have a Happy Hanukkah, a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and whatever else you may celebrate or enjoy. In the meantime, please grade the episode at the top of the page and then come on over to the forum, and be good to each other.