Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: B | 351 USERS: B- YOU GRADE IT The Drama Queen
By Cindy McLennan | Season 2 | Episode 20 | Aired on 2013.04.28
After the smoke clears, Regina says she feels no different. Aside from her hair and "ghastly rags" she looks no different to me, either. Rumpy points to her mirror and tells her, "This is what the world will see." When we catch sight of Regina's reflection, we see what all the Enchanted Forestians will see when they look at this peasant: actress Bri Neal. A note to those who are reading prior to watching. We only see Bri Neal when Regina looks in a mirror. Lana Parrilla plays Regina-as-peasant throughout the episode. And despite my bellyaching about being tired of Regina-centric flashbacks, I'm glad it's Parrilla in the role. There's some emotional heavy lifting, and I'd feel let down had Lana not gotten to do it. Rumpy warns Regina that when she's out among the people, she might hear some hurtful criticism. Not understanding herself at all, Regina figures that won't matter to her. "When I'm done, they'll be singing my praises over her smoldering, villainous remains." At this point, I find myself thinking my "Drama Queen" headline is as woefully understated as Snow White's comment that Regina, "slips." We flash forward to...
Storybrooke. Day. Exterior. Regina finds Henry feeding the birds, which must be in his blood. She shows him a clipping from a magic beanstalk and says Emma, Snow and David have been growing magic beans in secret and keeping it from him. They want to take him to the Enchanted Forest without Regina. You know I have a soft spot for Henry, but I swear, if he throws a hissy fit about this being yet another of Emma's lies that makes her just as bad as Regina, I'll reach through the screen and yank out his heart myself. I'm happy to report that Henry doesn't go there, so I don't have to. He suggest perhaps everyone's going, and they just haven't told Regina yet.
Regina says they don't see the good in her. They only see the Evil Queen, which "...they made me." Oh great. My Regina Fatigue, which I last saw in the Enchanted Forest, has somehow managed to find a magic bean, open a portal and ooze over into Storybrooke. At any rate, Regina says she doesn't want to be evil anymore. This is her chance to go back, start over, and to be the hero this time. Henry admits he'd love that. Regina explains that built into the curse is a failsafe. Henry says, "Like a self-destruct button? Like you never did it?" Regina says that's right and it's the next best thing to turning back time. The thing is Storybrooke will disappear forever. "No need to worry, dear. We can get away, first -- back to the Enchanted Forest..." holding up the bean clipping, she adds, "...using this." Everyone else will die, of course, but because she says she has "no other choice," Regina actually expects Henry will understand. Let's put delusional atop "Drama Queen" and "She slips" in my pile of woefully inadequate descriptions.