A flashback to Snow’s childhood reveals her mother’s murder. Many residents of Storybrooke search for the Dark One’s dagger, while Hook causes trouble in New York. Here is a recap and review of “The Queen is Dead.”
Recap:
The day before young Snow White’s birthday celebration, her mother, Queen Eva, lectures her about being “good.” Queen Eva then falls severely ill, prompting Snow to seek help from their servant, Johanna, who directs Snow to her mother’s friend, the Blue Fairy. The Blue Fairy gives Snow a candle to be lit over a human sacrifice, but Snow will not trade a life for her mother’s. Johanna crowns Snow before the funeral. After the service, the Blue Fairy swoops into the empty room and transforms into Cora, who admits poisoning the Queen and swears to darken Snow’s soul.
Johanna sends Mary Margaret a birthday present, her crown, which inspires Mary Margaret to visit Johanna. Hearing a noise from the woods, Mary Margaret creeps over to see Regina and Cora digging for the dagger. Meanwhile at the sheriff’s station, Hook steals back his hook. Mary Margaret plans to bring Regina to their side; however, Regina tells Mary Margaret to stay out of the way.
While Neal bonds with Henry, Mr. Gold asks Emma to convince Neal to return to Storybrooke, but Emma believes he has already cashed in her favor. Emma suavely suggests to Neal that he come back with them, when Hook barges in and stabs and poisons Gold. In order to get the antidote, they plan for Neal to sail Hook’s ship back to Storybrooke. (Neal encountered Hook in another land, which also prevented him from aging.) As Emma and Neal are acquiring a car to transport them all to the ship, Neal’s fiancee, Tamara, walks up.
Teaming up with Mary Margaret and David, Mother Superior attempts to break into Mr. Gold’s shop, but cannot get through the protection spell. Mary Margaret and David soon find the dagger in the clock tower. Immediately, Cora and Regina appear with Johanna as a hostage. Regina rips Johanna’s heart out, wanting the dagger in return for Johanna’s life. Mary Margaret figures out that Cora was behind her mother’s death and releases the dagger. Regina replaces Johanna’s heart, but Cora flings Johanna out the window. Mary Margaret mourns Johanna in the cemetery and questions all of her past decisions, culminating in a vow to kill Cora.
Review:
“The Queen is Dead” functioned mostly as a setup for Mary Margaret’s imminent descent, but nevertheless, it was an intriguing hour looking back at a few of the most pivotal moments in young Snow’s life. This episode was split between fairytale life lessons and real world struggles with less of a distinction between right and wrong, and overall, was a worthwhile watch.
On occasion, Once Upon A Time can verge over the edge into what seems like a slightly obvious after-school special, and this episode was a prime example. While Rena Sofer was a great casting choice for Snow’s mother (and pulled off that sparkly, sparkly dress very well), Queen Eva lecturing young Snow about being equally kind to everyone and ruling justly was partially an annoyance in what was otherwise a solidly written episode. On the other hand, this stark split between the overly good royalty and the unreasonably evil Cora made the point clear that a person should belong to one side or the other. But, in the battle between good and evil, Cora has changed the field. Her assertion that power wins over either side blurs the line and allows for leeway in anyone’s actions, including Snow’s.
This episode made the viewer question if doing right or good is merely being passive, while doing wrong is acting antagonistically. From Mary Margaret’s list of “right decisions” mentioned in the end, it appears that her actions are mostly for the sake of preventing the harmful results that would have occurred without her interference (i.e. Regina’s execution, a permanent curse), so her declaration to kill Cora supports this idea in that it is a more active, antagonistic plan instead of reacting to an attack or situation. However, one must remember that Snow White has been known to wield a sword and fight her way when necessary, so she can still uphold the good when forging her own path.
If Mary Margaret were to kill Cora, I believe it would tarnish the character beyond an acceptable extent. Considering Once Upon A Time is a show constantly filled with the message of hope and goodness, having one of the most righteous lead characters complete this path would contradict the show’s message, but it could also potentially strengthen the message of redemption. We have seen the writers pull of strange and difficult feat before, such as Ruby being the wolf, and I trust that the writers have a firm grasp on this dilemma. This greatly excites me for the continuation of Mary Margaret’s story, being a favorite character of mine, and for the opportunity to see just how diverse Ginnifer Goodwin can be.
Moving on to other storylines, the drama between parent and child for Gold and Neal progressed beyond last episode’s one-way effort. While it was not surprising that Neal was willing to do whatever was needed to save his father from Hook’s poison, it was slightly surprising to hear Neal call Gold, “Papa,” instead of simply not addressing him with a term of paternal endearment. Perhaps Neal has more of an affection for his father than he lets on, or more of an agenda against Hook than he implied when he mentioned knowing Hook in a Never(grow up)land. Is Neal Peter Pan? Nothing anymore is too far “out there” to consider where the show may go, and Peter Pan would certainly be a welcomed addition.
Why was Henry not more startled when Mr. Gold practically blamed him for causing bad events? Henry may have chocked it up to the poison in Gold’s system, but Henry is a perceptive and intelligent enough kid to recognize when something unfavorable is coming his way, which is what will make Gold’s revenge mission have an extra level of excitement.
In the inevitable “families are reunited and split apart” circle, it looks as if Emma’s second chance with Neal is not a possibility in the foreseeable future given his engaged status. It is not unreasonable to assume that his romance may experience rocky times ahead, but rekindling what he had with Emma will come with a fair share of fan dissenters as supporters. Not to question Emma’s judgment, but she has a habit of choosing unavailable men (Sheriff Graham also) and it is no wonder she closes herself off. She deserves to find her own happy ending with a man who isn’t connected to someone who wants to kill or steal her son.
Speaking of stealing Henry, Regina’s cooperative relationship with her mother has persisted too long. Even through Regina, like everyone, desires acceptance from others, especially parents, not to see that Cora always has her own interests at heart makes Regina appear too weak and submissive. A woman who was once the Evil Queen, though currently on a path of redemption, is allowing others to walk over her without resisting. Regina’s conversation with Cora is her office provided a faint glimmer of hope that Regina now understands her mother’s self-centered nature and will sever this tie to reestablish herself as the originally seen powerful and fascinating woman.
