‘Once Upon A Time’ Season 2 Spoilers: Is Evil Queen Regina Not That Evil?
"Once Upon A Time" keeps revealing some major shockers. During the season premiere viewers saw that the Enchanted Forest still exists, and even watched Snow White and Emma get sucked into it. Now during the second episode, "We Are Both," fans see that the time that the Fairytale characters spent in Storybrooke for the past 28 years is going to pay a toll on them.
This past episode found the residents of Storybrooke struggling after the curse broke. Prince Charming was juggling caring for his grandson and looking for his wife and daughter, and the Seven Dwarfs discovered a terrible twist on the curse - No one can step outside Storybrooke without risking their Fairytale memories. While all these character plot lines played an important part in the story, the real heavy hitter in "We Are Both" was Regina.
In season one of "Once Upon A Time," viewers discovered that Regina's hatred for Snow White stemmed from a young Snow White telling Regina's mother, Cora, that Regina was in love with Daniel, the stable boy. Although Snow White did not know it at the time, Cora would end up killing Daniel. This week, viewers saw more of Regina's life before she became known as the Evil Queen.
In a flashback to right before Regina's wedding to Snow White's father, Regina could be seen trying to flee town. Before she could get away though, a barrier spell (cast by her mother) stops her. Although Regina only wishes to flee so she won't have to marry the king, her mother tells her that the barrier spell was designed "to keep you where you belong." (Sounds like something similar to the Storybrooke boundary curse.)
Back in the castle before her wedding, Regina asks her father how her mother became power hungry and entangled in magic. Her father replies that someone brought magic to her, making her like she is today.
Surprise! It turns out that Cora received a spell book from Rumpelstiltskin. Calling upon Rumpelstiltskin for help, Regina reveals to him that she wants to use magic to be free from her mother, not to hurt anyone. Granting her wish, Rumpelstiltskin gifts Regina with a mirror that will act as a portal. All Regina needs to do is push her mother into it. Although doubting her ability to push her own mother into the portal, an argument with her mother and a fit of rage allows Regina to push Cora into the portal without a second doubt. With her mother gone, Regina finally leaves the castle, but runs into Rumpelstiltskin one more time. "Let me guide you," Rumpelstiltskin tells Regina. Fearing that she'll turn into her mother, Regina initially refuses, but soon after reconsiders Rumpelstiltskin's offer of magic.
The flashback did more than give viewers some insight into how Regina became the Evil Queen she is today. It actually opened up Regina's eyes. Regaining magic in Storybrooke through Cora's old spell book, Regina uses the power (and fear that comes along with it) to take Henry home. Once she takes her son home though she quickly realizes that she is doing to him what her mother did to her.
"If you hold onto someone too hard it doesn't make them love you," Regina acknowledges, allowing Henry to leave with David. "I'm sort I lied to you...I want you to be here because you want to be here not because I forced you or because of magic. I want to redeem myself."
So, will the rest of season two of "Once Upon A Time" find Regina on a path of redemption? Or will Regina once again regain her title of Evil Queen? Judging by what happened after she told Henry to grab his things, we have a feeling that Regina may be turning over a new leaf. Initially lying to the Storybrooke residents that the Enchanted Forest is gone, Regina comes clean to David, telling him that while it does exist, she doesn't know how to get back.
Even more shocking than Regina's change of heart, was an appearance of a character in the old Enchanted Forest. As fans know, Emma and Snow White are now stuck in the Enchanted Forest, but the Forest is far from the way it used to be. Now being held prisoner by Mulan, the pair get thrown into a celll with another prisoner -- Cora.
With her mother still alive, do you think Regina will stop being evil? Sound off in the comments section below!