Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: B+ | 4 USERS: B YOU GRADE IT Take Heart
By Cindy McLennan | Season 2 | Episode 16 | Aired on 03.10.2013
It's possible Regina didn't take two stupid pills this morning because she realizes Cora is working her own agenda. Sadly, she must have taken one stupid pill, because she reveals her suspicion to Cora, who blabbers obfuscations about how she is doing all of this for the sake of their family, so that they don't spend the rest of what she assumes would be their short lives on their knees, in front of the Charmings. Yeah, still not sympathetic, Cora, which is actually just fine by me. I know this show is about love, hope, redemption and all that jazz, but I am happy no one is telling me I have to sympathize with Hitler.
Enchanted Past. Somehow, somewhere, the peasant Cora, who was just told she wasn't getting paid, and had been worrying about her next meal, arrives at the royal masquerade ball, wearing a sumptuous crimson gown. She grabs a mask and goes to chat up Prince Henry (Zak Santiago), all the while pretending she doesn't know he is Prince Henry. She makes a little jab about the King courting wealthy women to purchase his son. When Henry remarks on her frankness, Cora plays a little I'm a silly goose, and somehow this inspires Henry to ask her to waltz. Wait. That's not waltzing! No wonder she turns evil.
It's not long before King Xavier cuts in. He asks Cora if she really believed a stolen gown (really, she stole it?) and a mask would keep him from recognizing her, points out that her gown is flecked with straw. This scene is visually beautiful, but all of the flashbacks leave me cold this week. I seem to be in the minority about that, though, so I'll sally forth.
After Cora accuses Xavier of selling off his own flesh and blood, Xavier comments on her insolence, and I'm with him. Jane Espenson, you know how I just said I love you, right? Well, I totally do. I am sad to say I do not feel the same way about how you've written young Cora's demeanor. She is overly forthright in a way that neither jibes with her station, nor with Barbara Hershey's Cora, who is such a cool customer, butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. Since young Cora is being played by a 40 year old, rather than a 17 year old, I can't believe she hasn't learned to hold her tongue but a little and better wield her feminine wiles. Xavier allows that the kingdom is cash poor and lords it over Cora that he's still miles above her. It's then that Cora tells him she can turn straw into gold, but since he's insulted her, she won't help. She wishes him good luck in whoring out his son and tries to leave. Xavier stops Cora and then humiliates her in front of all his guests, by loudly mocking her foolhardy claim. Cora says she just needs time to gather her thoughts. Xavier tells her she can spend the night trying. If she succeeds, she can marry the prince. If she fails, she will die. Die, young Cora. Die!