Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A- | 88 USERS: B YOU GRADE IT Live Together. Die Alone.
By Cindy McLennan | Season 2 | Episode 2 | Aired on 10.07.2012
L'enchantement. Cora watches Regina dress for her wedding to Leopold. When she asks Regina what the big gift is, Regina says she doesn't know. Cora speculates that it's a portrait, uncovers it and, working her evilest mommy magic that requires no actual magic except the perversion of love, sighs in mock disappointment. "Oh, a looking glass. Not nearly as personal. I wonder sometimes if the people really love you." Regina cringes as she says she's doing her best. Cora apologizes (but in that way you can tell she's totally not sorry), then leads her beautiful daughter toward the mirror. She starts crowing about the life Regina will be able to lead. "The king's not a strong man. The kingdom will be yours. Raise the tributes. Form a personal guard. Let everyone know where the true power lies, and you will hold the hearts of your people in your hands." Literally. (Come back, Graham!) Regina turns her back to Cora. "Is that what you would do, mother?" That's exactly what Cora would do. Regina explains she doesn't want to be Cora and tries to rush at her mother. Cora casts some sort of containment spell around her daughter and demands to know what she's doing. Cora says she's not that easy to get rid of, but as she taunts her daughter about being stuck with her forever, Rumpy appears in the mirror behind Cora and makes shoving motions. Regina summons her inner strength and breaks free of Cora's spell. She again rushes her mother and shoves her right into the mirror. Once Cora disappears, the looking glass returns to normal but for a second, then shatters all over Regina's chamber. Regina looks at her own white gloved hands in horror. We flash forward to...
Storybrooke. Charming passes the caravan of exiting cars and blocks the road with his truck. Jiminy gets out of his car and hollers at Charming to get out of their way. "We have a right to go." Standing on the bed of his truck, Charming asks the crowd to listen to him. "If you cross that line, you're going to be lost. Everyone who loves you will lose you. But there's something worse. You'll lose yourself. Look, I get wanting to leave here. I do. And I get that it's easier to let go of bad memories, but even bad memories are part of us. David -- Storybrooke David was...is...weak, confused, and he hurt the woman I love. I wouldn't give up Charming just to be him. But you know what? I wouldn't make the other trade, either." Why the hell not? He was weak, confused and hurt the woman you love?
Digression: I actually like that these uncursed characters are a combination of their Enchanted and Storybrooke selves. I just don't like that line of dialogue, but I shouldn't be interrupted royalty, so continue, Charming....