Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A+ | 384 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT PANic And PANcakes
By Cindy McLennan | Season 3 | Episode 11 | Aired on 12.15.2013
Emma can't hide the alarm in her voice. "Alone?" Regina says, "No, you will take him, because you're the savior. You were created to break the curse, and once again, you can escape it." Emma says, "I don't want to." She grabs Henry tight as she adds, "We'll both go back with everyone." Regina says that isn't an option. "I can't be with him. If I don't pay the price, none of this will work."
Thunder claps. Snow says, "Emma, you have to go." Emma: "I just found you." Snow says, "And now it's time for you to leave us again. For your best chance. For his." Emma looks around. "No. No. I'm... not... done. I'm the savior, right? I'm supposed to bring back all the happy endings." Snow tells her happy endings aren't always what we think they will be. "Look around you. You've touched the lives of everyone here." The camera pans to Hook's stricken face, then to Neal's. Poor Emma says, "But we're a family." Snow says, "Yes, and we always will be. You gave us that." Charming adds, "You and Henry can be a family, and you can get your wish. You can be like everyone else. You can be happy. Snow slaps on the smile of false bravado. "It's time to believe in yourself, Emma. It's time for you to find hope." Oh man.
Thank goodness Regina lightens the mood (that's not a typo). "I've known you for some time, and all I've wanted was for you to get the hell out of my life, so I could be with my son. But really, what I want is for Henry to be happy. We have no choice. You have to go." Hook looks down. Snow looks at her daughter. Emma stares into space. "Okay." Meanwhile, I'm worried those cars a block away are going to wipe out the entire main cast. Commercial.
We return to Phoenix, 11 years ago. Emma screams in pain. The lights flicker and short out. Henry is born. The doctor announces, "It's a boy, Emma." He seems concerned by her refusal to even look at her baby, until a nurse whispers that Emma is putting the child up for adoption. The doctor tells her, "Just so you know, you can change your mind." Sobbing, Emma says, "No, I can't be a mother. We cut to the...
Storybrooke Town Line. The rest of the Dwarfs have joined the crew, as have Blue and Archie, even though the only vehicle in sight is Emma's little bug. Really, couldn't Neal have hot-wired his father's Caddy, and Charming grabbed the truck? Did these people take the time to walk all that way? I can see the curse in the background, for crying out loud.
It's hugs all around. Emma who has been talking to Belle (so yay, someone finally remembered the poor thing exists and just lost her love) goes to Charming and Snow. They wrap her in their arms. Henry joins in for a Charming clan hug, before moving on to address Regina. He says this isn't fair and is all his fault. "If I hadn't gone to get Emma. If I just lived under the curse with you, none of this ever would have happened. I thought I was alone. I thought you didn't love me, but I was wrong." Regina says she was wrong, too. "It wasn't your fault. It's mine. I cast a curse out of vengeance. And I'm--I'm a villain. You heard Mr. Gold. Villains don't get happy endings. Henry's is choked up as he says, "You're not a villain. You're my mom." The two hug.