Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A- | 601 USERS: B+ YOU GRADE IT Might As Well Jump
By Cindy McLennan | Season 2 | Episode 1 | Aired on 2012.09.30
Storybrooke. Charming feels up the floor, like that's going to reopen the portal. He cries a little (oh and writers, directors and actor -- I love this crying, I am not kidding you, but I'm suddenly afraid you'll mistake my reveling for mocking, which I guess it kind of is, but I mock only with love; Charming is awesome), and turns his attention to Regina. "WHERE ARE THEY?" Regina says (and probably lies) that she has no idea. Charming demands to know if the women are dead. Regina non-answers that the curse destroyed all the lands. Charming reiterates. "ARE THEY DEAD?" Regina: "I DON'T KNOW." He closes in on Regina as he says he should have killed her, himself. Regina's all, "What's stopping you," but then she magics him up against the wall. The trees on her awesome wallpaper spring to life and twist into his restraints. As Charming chokes, Regina mocks him for thinking he's a heroic prince, when he's really just the son of a shepherd (and a kindred spirit to Jack Shephard). She says, "I should have killed you when I could. And now...now I can." Um? So you are killing him when you could...can whatever. It's not just me, right? That taunt was just weird.
Red and Henry arrive. The boy yells out, "Mom!" Regina stops herself, turns toward her son and turns on the charm. "It's okay. You're safe now." When she touches Henry, her living wall paper releases Charming and goes back to sleep. Red rushes to Charming's side. Henry: "Where's my mom and where's..." Regina: "They're gone. They fell through a portal. They're... Henry, I'm sorry." Henry: "No you're not. You really are the Evil Queen. I don't want to see you again." Regina: "No, don't say that." She touches his face. "I love you." Henry: "Then prove it. Get Emma and Mary Margaret back, and until then, leave me -- leave everyone alone." Regina asks where he'll go. Charming answers for his grandson. "With me." He walks to Henry's side and leads the boy out. Red follows, turning back only once, to give Regina her best, "The better to eat you with..." glare. That's all well and good, but clearly Regina has her magic back, and Charming certainly knows it, so why doesn't he demand she try out the hat trick (oh and man, I wish NHL would settle this accursed strike), before he leaves? TV TALK, I hate you.