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
Just out of the Charmings' view, the old man rises and is enveloped in pillar of purple smoke. When it clears to reveal Regina, exactly no one is surprised. Looking over her shoulder, Regina says to herself, "Jail cell," then shakes her head. "I don't think so." This is really of little consequence, though. I mean, suppose they had managed to keep the beans and whatnot a secret. How in the world did they expect to survive after presenting Regina with this foolish "choice." We flash back to the...
Enchanted Forest. Knifingham Palace. Regina enters her chamber and calls out for Rumpelstiltskin, but he's already there, warming himself before her fire. She rages about the peasants continuing loyalty to Snow, despite the fact that Regina is their Queen. Rumpy reminds her she did just slaughter an entire village. "Maybe that's why they call you the 'Evil Queen'." As delusional as ever, Regina blahs about how she's not evil. I love this character and adore Lana Parrilla's performance, but am exceedingly sick of flashbacks that revolve around Regina. At this point, they're doing her a disservice. If I seem to short change the flashbacks tonight, that's why; I'm trying not to dwell on it -- on her. Rumpy advises that Snow's people will never love Regina. She insists Snow's death will be the game changer. She wants Rumpy to teach her Cora's shapeshifting spell. Rumpy laughs that it took Cora months to learn. Regina asks Rumpy to put the spell on her. He says if he does that, she won't control it, and will have no magic while the spell is active. Regina says she won't need magic. She just needs to get close enough to Snow to, "...snap her neck with my bare hands."
Rumpy agrees to cast the spell and tells Regina that once the deed is done, she should call on him. "Only I can return you to your regal self." Regina asks his price. He labels it a "boring matter of state," and explains, "I need you to cut off all trade with King George's realm." Okay, despite my Regina flashback fatigue, that's rather brilliant plotting. I do love watching Rumpy snap every single piece into place. When Regina asks why she'd do that to King George, Rumpy says, "I need him bankrupt. What's it to you?" Realizing she'll get nowhere with the imp, Regina agrees without hammering out the details and guarantees of the deal. Rumpy does his little jazz hands and Regina is enveloped in a cloud of royal blue smoke.