Contributor: John Keegan
Written by David H. Goodman and Robert Hull
Directed by Dean White
The fall portion of the second season started off strong, with the return of magic and the widening of scope to encompass both Storybrooke and the Enchanted Forest. It didn’t take long for things to descend into the muddled mess that was all too typical of the first season, as character motivations and plot details fell to inconsistency and convenience. For many, the question became: could the series bounce back with its winter premiere?
One of the more intriguing plot threads of the season was the semi-redemptive actions of Regina and Mr. Gold. With a common enemy in Cora, it made sense for them to struggle their way towards some kind of accommodation with the rest of the townspeople. This was especially true of Regina, who was directly responsible for the loss of so much in their lives.
This is the third time that the writers have used the notion of someone being publicly lambasted for being an apparent murderer, so one would think that Emma wouldn’t be the only one to be willing to stand up for Regina. Granted, Cora did a nice enough job of framing her daughter, so it wouldn’t have mattered as much in the end, but I would hate to do anything out of the ordinary in Storybrooke. They turn into a mob all too easily.
As Regina struggled with the fact that the town was willing to think the worst of her, there were flashbacks detailing what happened when she was captured in the Enchanted Forest, just after Charming and Snow took back the kingdom. Everyone wanted Regina executed, but Snow appealed for mercy and exile, instead. It’s also revealed that Rumples gave Snow a protection spell, which meant that Regina couldn’t harm her in the Enchanted Forest. Since another world wouldn’t have the same prohibition, it becomes the trigger for Regina ultimately casting the curse.
The idea of Regina going back to her wicked ways has me wavering. On the one hand, I liked the idea of Regina having enough layers to her character to allow for her redemption; while her reasons for hating Snow and being evil in the first place were disappointing, they did demonstrate that she was capable of being a good and generous person. I was sold on the notion of telling the story of Regina finding that person within herself again, especially in the face of a foe who, in the end, was really the villain who stole her love away.
On the other hand, Regina has been holding back, to some extent, out of the hope of retaining Henry’s love. After all, he was named, it seems, for her father, and therefore was the remnant of goodness and love in her world. Without the hope of living up to Henry’s expectations, why would she bother holding back anymore? Having nothing left to lose can be empowering in all the wrong ways, and it could make Regina a terrible weapon in Cora’s hands.
Of course, with Archie still alive and in Cora’s hands, it’s entirely possible that Regina’s return to previous form could be a temporary situation. Yes, the town was willing to think the worst of her, but the evidence pointed right at her. Emma went pretty far in her attempt to prove Regina’s innocence. This could be little more than a delaying tactic, meant to help string out the Cora/Hook villain alliance longer into the season. After all, as long as the regulars are battling Regina and dealing with Rumples and his plans, Cora will have free reign to prepare her eventual onslaught.
Writing: 1/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 1/4
Final Score: 6/10
