OUAT: Regina Embraces Herself

Last time on “Once:” Rumple captured Gideon and promised to help him, not wanting to see him turn to darkness. They discovered that the sword could only be reforged using the magic of the one who made it—the Blue Fairy. Gideon caught his fairy godmother but Rumple drained her magic, saving his son from the darkness. He kept the Blue Fairy in a catatonic state, hoping to restore her magic once he and Belle save Gideon.

In flashbacks, we met Beowulf, from one of the first Anglo-Saxon epics. He led an army against the ogres but were soundly defeated. Beowulf was about to be killed when Rumple showed up, using his powers as the Dark One to destroy all the ogres and end the First Ogres’ War. He was hailed as a hero by all—especially Bae—but Beowulf warned he was really a monster.

As villagers gave Bae a hard time due to his father, they came to ask Rumple for his help. They told of a monster called Grendel terrorizing nearby villages and that it killed all the warriors they sent to fight it. So they hoped Rumple would be able to do so. He and Bae set out to find him and Rumple admitted to feeling tempted to use his magic. He entrusted his dagger to Bae and promised to prove to everyone he wasn’t a monster.

Father and son discovered Grendel was really Beowulf. He was going to pin everything on Rumple, turning the villagers against him and letting Beowulf to be a hero again. Rumple tried to reason with him, tried to bring him to the village to prove he was the real Grendel, but Beowulf kept taunting him. Finally, Bae grew so angry, he ordered his father to kill the man and he did.

The darkness started to claim Bae so Rumple made him forget about what happened. Bae then believed his father had given in and ran away, repulsed by the monster he thought Rumple had become.

Meanwhile, Robin made an alliance with Zelena to break out of Storybrooke. They tried to use magic he stole from Regina to break the protection spell on the town line but it didn’t work. Regina caught them and she had it out with Robin. She then agreed to help him get out of dodge, as it were, and he thanked her. Later, she and Zelena had a conversation where she took responsibility for her actions as the Evil Queen. They then discovered Snake!Queen had escaped. The snake found Robin, bit him and turned back into Queenie. She immediately began flirting with him and he seemed intrigued.

Hook spent his day drinking at Granny’s, telling Archie that he was debating telling Emma he killed her grandfather or not. He said he wasn’t the man she deserved but Archie disagreed. Finally, Hook went home to discover Emma had found the ring. She told him yes but he still asked…without revealing his big secret.

Uh oh.

We open in the Enchanted Forest. Two children run into a cabin and then the black guards surround it. The Queen’s carriage pulls up and she asks where Snow White is. One guard tells her that Snow was spotted going into the cabin early that morning and there’s been no movement since. She orders him to gather the villagers so they can see what happens to their princess. Her father pleads with her, saying that killing Snow won’t endear the people to her. She doesn’t want that—she wants Snow’s heart.

Regina enters the cabin and approaches the bed where she thinks Snow is sleeping. She sticks her hand in…and comes out with a handful of straw. Regina storms out, killing a guard as she declares that Snow isn’t there. She tells the gathered villagers that they shouldn’t protect Snow because she doesn’t care for them or love them. But Regina does care and love them.

A familiar voice says that she’s lying. Everyone turns to find Tinkerbell emerging from the woods. Welcome back, Rose. Congrats on the success of iZombie! You rock as Liv! Anyway, she says that Regina doesn’t know anything about love and says she knows it because she was there when Regina threw away her chance at love. Regina asks if she should be living in a tulip somewhere. Tink ignores the dig and tells her that she’s there because it started with her. Because she showed her a future full of love with the Man with the Lion Tattoo. Tink tells Regina that he’s still out there and she should be with him. Regina replies that nobody and nothing dictates her future—especially pixie dust. Tink tells her that pixie dust only shows possibilities and it’s up to us to act on them.

So no, Regina wasn’t obligated to be with Robin. She chose to be.

Anyway, Tink’s not done. She says Regina doesn’t go after love because she feels she doesn’t deserve it. That hits a bit too close to home for Regina and she snaps at Tink. She then tells the villagers she’s going to spare Tink to prove that the pixie is wrong, that she is able to love and that she loves her people. She tells Tink to appreciate her gift.

(It's the Captain of our Ship! Hi, Tink!)

Back in Storybrooke, Robin asks Queenie why Regina didn’t mention having a Doppelganger. Queenie tells him it’s because Regina wants to hide her evil side. Robin realizes they have quite a bit in common, which annoys her. She says she’s a queen and he’s a commoner who sleeps on dirt. He tries to argue that point but when he fails, he says they should stick together and blow this joint. She says that New York isn’t where he belongs but rather back in the Wish Realm. Queenie promises to send him back there if he steals something for her.

Robin wonders why Queenie took him to a cemetery. She says there are more than bodies there. He asks her what she’s looking for but she says he’s just there to do what she says. She conjures up a shovel, hands it to him and tells him to dig. Robin looks slightly more concerned about this plot.

("You want me to do what?")

Emma shows off her engagement ring to her mother and Henry. The two congratulate her and Henry asks how Hook popped the question. Emma admits to jumping right to answering. Snow says she can’t wait to tell David they have a wedding to plan. Emma puts the brakes on that, saying she and Hook want to wait since Gideon is still out there and she needs to face him again. They don’t want to do anything until they know what’s going on there.

(Time to admire the ring!)

Regina says they have another problem—the Evil Queen. Zelena then jumps in and asks if Emma is sporting an engagement ring. She confirms she is and that Hook proposed. Regina congratulates her and hugs her awkwardly. Snow, though, is more focused on the Evil Queen. She asks if she’s still a snake. Regina doesn’t know, admitting she escaped. And she says if she managed that, then Queenie might have already been able to restore her human self. They have no clue what she might be up to.

Queenie watches Robin’s ass as he digs and he asks if she could use magic to do this. She says she could but where would the fun be? Besides, she figures he likes to get a little dirty. Slightly annoyed, Robin continues digging until his shovel hits something metallic. He pulls up a box and opens it. Queenie pulls out a pouch and reveals she has been looking for the shears. Robin’s not too pleased he’s been digging for scissors but she tells him that they are enchanted, able to cut someone from their fate. He asks if she’s going to use that on Regina. She says she plans on cutting herself from Regina so she can finally destroy her.

(Same, Queenie)

Hook hangs out by the docks and Captain Nemo stumbles across him. He tells Hook that he’s getting ready to head out with Liam and the rest of the crew as they take the Nautilus back out to sea. So he’s come to say goodbye and that he’s proud Hook put aside his quest for revenge, finding a family instead. Hook agrees but Nemo can tell something is wrong. Hook admits that his past is catching up with him and this time it involves Emma’s family. He says it’s something that they might not forgive him for and he might lose everything. Nemo says he has to ask for forgiveness anyway—either from Emma’s family or from himself or else the guilt will eat away at him. Hook looks torn.

(Nemo tries to counsel Hook)

Henry pulls out a box from one of his drawers. Queenie appears in the doorway, holding his pen and asking if he was looking for it. He asks her to give it back but she refuses. She wants to keep it as insurance that he won’t try to write her out of existence. He asks why he would do that and she says that it’s what Regina wants. Henry says that is because she sees Queenie as all her worst parts.

The way he says it catches Queenie off guard and she notes that he doesn’t think the same. Henry says he doesn’t think she’s all bad just as he knows Regina isn’t all good. He believes she can change and she asks if he was going to give her a push with his pen. He doesn’t know. He asks if she’s happy now that she got revenge on Snow. She admits she isn’t but she says she will be. He asks what she’s going to do and she tells him something he won’t like. She says he will see it’s for the best though and gives him something to give to Regina. Before he leaves, she says that no matter what anyone tells him, she loves him. He then leaves his room.

(All versions of Regina love Henry)

In the Enchanted Forest, Henry Sr. tries to talk to Regina. She says she won’t be swayed from getting revenge and ultimately her happiness. He says he wants to help her and asks if she remembers the first time she cantered on Rocinante. She says she does. Henry Sr. says that no matter where she rode, he could still see the smile on her face. Regina says that smile was because she had just met Daniel. Henry Sr. knows and says that he wants to help her find happiness. He just doesn’t think it’s getting revenge on Snow but if she’s certain, than he’s going to help her. She asks how he can help her. He shows her a book he says he hid from her, one from Cora’s collection. Henry Sr. says that it contains a way for them to find Snow White. Regina smiles, thanking him.

(He just wants his little girl to be happy)

Everyone studies Page 23, which has a message from Queenie to Regina, asking her to meet, well, her at the mayor’s office. 

(Ahh, Page 23)

Regina says that Page 23 represented the happy ending she thought she could have with Robin but it ended up being a cruel joke. And now Queenie was using it to tell Regina that she (Queenie) had Robin and would hurt him if she didn’t do what she said. Snow says that Regina can’t go meet with Queenie and Emma offers to go instead, saying it’s her fault Robin came here. Regina says she needs to go and stop Queenie before she hurts anyone else. Snow says that Queenie can’t hurt Regina without hurting herself since Gideon has the sword. Zelena says Queenie might have found another way. Henry says he hoped Queenie would change but he realizes he was wrong. Regina says she started this when she tried to kill Queenie on the roof in New York and so it’s time for their fight to end.

Robin is tied to a chair in Regina’s office and says that he didn’t agree to this when he offered to help Queenie. Unless of course she has other plans for him and things are about to get a bit R-rated. She tells him that’s not going to happen and he seems disappointed. Robin works his way out of the ropes but they keep tying him up, forcing him to undo them over and over until Queenie tells him that they are enchanted. She tells him he’s not going anywhere until Regina shows up so she can finally destroy her other half.

(Same, Robin)

He asks her if destroying Regina will really make her happy and points out that it will just make Regina a martyr. He warns her that no one will then be able to look at her without thinking of Regina—and he knows that’s pretty awful. She asks him what he thinks she should do. He says release him because he doesn’t belong in this world—and neither does she. Robin says he thinks Regina is right, that he is there for a reason. But he doesn’t think he’s there for Regina but for Queenie. He’s there to save her and she snaps, essentially telling him that she doesn’t need to be saved.

Henry Sr. and Regina walk through a snowy wood. She asks to see the book so she can just magic them to where they need to be. Her father says it’s not necessary because they’re there. He picks a poppy growing in the snow and a mystical portal appears at the top of stones that are set up as stairs. It’s all pastels and Regina realizes that none of Cora’s books could’ve brought them there as it’s dripping with light magic. Henry Sr. admits he lied and that Tinkerbell told him about it. She says he’s not going to help her find Snow White and he says he’s going to help her find her happiness before ushering her through the portal.

They step through to a green meadow full of flowers. There’s a statue of Cupid and Henry Sr. tells her he brought her there for the arrow it’s holding. He says it will bring her to the person she loves the most and be happy. She says that she thought he would be the last person to betray her. Taking the book from him, she approaches the statue and says she will still get what she came there for—her revenge.

(What a lovely little grove)

Hook kneels in front of a fire, holding a dreamcatcher. It plays the memory of him killing David’s father and Emma catches him. She’s shocked and he says he wanted to tell her but then she found the ring. He says he couldn’t deny her that happiness. She asks him how she could do this and he replies that he was a broken man for a long time and that he’s felt guilty about it since learning who he killed.

Emma doesn’t care that he killed her grandfather though. She’s more upset about the fact he was going to burn the memory instead of talking to her about it. He says he couldn’t do it, he couldn’t bear to hurt her or family again. Emma says that they would’ve forgiven him. She says it wouldn’t have been easy but they could’ve gotten through it together. She says she thought the man she was going to marry understood that they were a team but she guesses he doesn’t yet. Emma gives him back the ring, telling him to give it back when he figures everything out. She then heads upstairs while Hook broods.

(Gasp!)

Hook goes down to the docks where he meets up Nemo. He tells the captain that he didn’t take any of the advice the older man gave him and it blew up in his face. Nemo asks what he needs and Hook says he needs to find the man Emma needs inside him again. Hook recalls what Nemo said about the Nautilus helping a person find themselves. He asks Nemo if he can join his crew in order to that and Nemo welcomes him aboard, telling him that they will cast off at nightfall.

Regina barges into her office, relieved to find Robin relatively unharmed. He tells her she shouldn’t have come and she replies that she couldn’t let him get hurt. Robin disappears in a cloud of purple smoke as Queenie advances on her. She brandishes the golden shears and Regina starts to figure out her plan. She asks Queenie what she’s going to do once they’re cut from each other and Queenie tells her she’s going to do what Regina tried to do back in New York.

In Cupid’s Grove, Regina uses her mother’s book and makes a potion with the ingredients she had on hand. Henry Sr. continues to plead with her to use the arrow to find the man with the lion tattoo and to take a second chance at love. He says that it doesn’t come to many people. But Regina is still focused on her revenge. She says that there is a fine line between love and hate, dipping the arrow into the potion. The tip turns black and she conjures up a bow, saying it will now lead her to the person she hates the most—Snow White.

I think by this point we all know where this is really going.

Regina tells Queenie to cut them and says the town isn’t big enough for the both of them. Queenie agrees. She enchants the shears and a red beam shoots between her and Regina. Regina looks like she’s been tied to two poles, her arms above her head. She and Queenie have a staring contest before Queenie cuts the beam, severing their connection. Queenie conjures a sword and Regina does the same. They charge toward each other, swords clanging as they begin combat.

(That looks cool. And painful)

The arrow leads Regina and her father back to her palace. He asks why that is and Regina figures that Snow White knew she was gone and decided to raid it. Regina vows that Snow will pay and she storms home.

Regina watches as the arrow lands in her wardrobe and figures she caught Snow there. She opens it and finds only her dresses—no stepdaughter in sight. Regina wonders what went wrong and says that the arrow should’ve led her to the person she hates the most. At that, the door closes a bit and Regina is forced to look in her mirror. Henry Sr. gasps and just says her name sadly as they both realize that Regina hates herself the most. She lets out an angry scream and breaks her mirror with her magic, but she can still see her reflection in the broken shards.

(Oh, Regina)

This really was no surprise to many Regina fans. We’ve all known for a long time that Regina had low self-esteem thanks to the abuse suffered at Cora’s hands. It wasn’t helped by being married to a man several years her elder who was more fixated on his dead wife and his young daughter, leaving his young bride in the shadows. She blamed Snow rather than her mother but also felt guilty that she put Daniel in harm’s way. Even Robin recognized it—remember the vault scene? When she spoke about being evil, he corrected it and added “self-loathing” into it. He knew and slowly helped her see herself in a different light.

And the writers still abandoned such a beautiful love story and killed him off. Aww, hell, I get to use this gif again:

We return to the Regina/Queenie fight already in progress. Queenie gets the upper hand and separates Regina from her sword. She says that Regina tried to get rid of her because she couldn’t stand looking at the darkness but she can’t stand looking at the light. Regina uses her bowl of apples against Queenie and gets her sword away from her. She grabs it and Queenie rages. She asks if Regina thinks she’s better and stronger than her before using her magic to toss Regina into the mirror. Regina lets go of the sword and Queenie picks it up. She taunts Regina, saying that she thinks she filled the hole inside her with love, friendship and hope but she hasn’t. Queenie says she’s what’s inside Regina and she’ll always be.

Regina says she’s run and she uses her magic to bind Queenie up. She tells Queenie that she’s wrong—that everything she can’t stand to look at in Regina’s life are real. She then plunges her hand into Queenie’s chest and takes out her black heart. Queenie says she hates Regina and Regina starts to squeeze her heart. She looks down, though, and spots her reflection in the broken shards of mirror. It flashes back to the day she learned she hated herself the most and Regina has an epiphany. She looks up and tells Queenie that she doesn’t hate her. Not anymore.

She lets Queenie go and Queenie asks her what she’s doing. Regina replies that she’s going to do something they could never before—she’s going to be brave enough for the two of them and put aside the hatred. She pulls out her heart and presses it against Queenie’s. Her darkness mixes with Regina’s light. 

(Those look nothing like hearts)

She then shoves the hearts into their chests. Queenie asks what’s happening and Regina says she gave her some of her love—from Henry, Robin and the rest—as well as some of her light. She also took some of Queenie’s darkness. Now she loves herself and Queenie should as well. Queenie starts to tear up as Regina hugs her. After a few seconds, Queenie hugs back.

Queenie and Regina put Regina’s office back together. Queenie apologizes for the destruction but Regina is more worried about Robin. She wants to know that he’s okay. Queenie assures her that he is and that she kept her promise, sending him home. Regina wonders how she could send him to the Wish Realm and Queenie reveals she stole the Apprentice’s wand from Rumple. As Regina stares at Page 23, Queenie apologizes for not letting her say goodbye. Regina, though, says it’s better that way.
Queenie then asks Regina if she regrets not going into the tavern. Regina says she doesn’t because then she wouldn’t have Henry or her family or the town. And she can’t imagine her life without them. Queenie says that Page 23 isn’t her happy ending and she says it isn’t. (IT COULD BE, WRITERS! YOU YOURSELVES HAD REGINA SAY ROBIN WAS PART OF HER HAPPY ENDING!) She says Page 23 did give her hope when she needed it and she appreciated that. Queenie says she could use some of that and Regina asks if she means hope. She says yes and then says she needs some place where she could get a brand new start. Regina has an idea and says she knows just who to ask.

In Granny’s, Henry asks his mom if she really wants him to use his pen to send Queenie some place. She says she does and that it just has to be some place where she can get a fresh start. Snow and Zelena are in disbelief. Zelena says that Queenie just tried to kill them all and Snow says that Zelena raises a good point. She points out that Queenie cast a sleeping curse on her and David like a minute ago. But apparently everyone has forgotten everything Zelena has done to them despite the fact she’s never said sorry. Snow says that some people can’t be redeemed. Regina reminds her that she (Regina) was able to be redeemed and she wants to give Queenie the same chances she got. Zelena says that if she wakes up a few months from now with Queenie trying to strangle her, not to blame Zelena.

You shouldn’t be talking, Zelena. Why are you even here?

Queenie promises that she won’t do that and she apologizes for everything she’s done. She especially apologizes to Snow, who looks into her eyes. They exchange a nonverbal conversation that shows that Snow believes and forgives her while Queenie still carries the guilt. It’s a brilliant performance by both Lana Parrilla and Ginnifer Goodwin.

Henry says he knew she could be good and calls her Mom. Touched, Regina says he never called her that before and Henry says that she is his mom. They hug and Henry points out that she still has his pen. She hands it over and he asks if she’s ready. She nods and then turns back to Regina. They say goodbye and Regina makes Queenie promise to not waste a single moment of her fresh start.

(Ack! The regal believer feels are strong)

Taking his pen, Henry writes that the Evil Queen goes someplace where she can get a fresh start. The words glow and then so does Queenie. She gives Regina one last smile before she disappears. Henry wonders where she went and Regina says that while she can be sure, she does have an idea.

(Henry writes a new beginning for the Queen)

Queenie appears in dark street. She tries to talk to a passing couple but they ignore her. Two drunken men practically fall out of a building behind her, making Queenie realize she is outside THE tavern. She gazes through the windows in the door and spies Robin inside. He raises his tankard for a refill, showing off his lion tattoo. Smiling, she opens the door and steps inside, heading right for him.

When Robin sees her, he asks that she at least let him finish his drink before she kidnaps him. She says she’s not here for that and then apologizes. Surprised, he asks if her presence there meant the villain plan didn’t work out for her. She confirms it didn’t and says that for the first time in…forever…she’s okay with that. Queenie says she had a change of heart and to prove it, she would like to buy him a drink. Robin smiles and says that since it’s his realm, he’ll buy her a drink. She sits down as he pours her some ale, handing it to her. They toast each other and OUTLAW QUEEN FINALLY GETS THEIR DRINK!

Sorry, I need a moment.

Hook goes to the docks that night as it snows. And then he runs into Snow! She says she’s been looking for him and Emma before noticing that he has some things with him. He lies that he was taking them from the Jolly Roger and then asks why Snow wanted to see him and Emma. She says that Regina did it—she vanquished the Evil Queen. She reveals that Regina also redeemed her and gave her a happy ending. The news surprises Hook. Snow says it reminded her that love can save even the darkest of souls if you believe in it.

(Look at how happy this cutie is)

Snow then congratulates Hook on his engagement. She says that Emma has been waiting a long time for the right person to spend her life with and Snow is glad that she’s found that person in him. As she hugs Hook, he doesn’t hug back and looks like he’s going to his execution. She asks Hook to tell Emma that Regina is okay and then tells him to go home because it’s cold out. Hook pulls out the engagement ring and continues to brood.

Emma returns home and looks for Hook. But the house is empty and dark. She starts to grow despondent…

Hook boards the Nautilus and Nemo asks if he’s ready for an adventure. He is but he’s going to have it in Storybrooke. He says that villains can get a happy ending so he’s going to try for a second—or rather, third—chance himself and apologize to Emma. Nemo is proud of him and tells him so…just as the Nautilus starts moving. Nemo asks a passing crewman what’s going on and he’s like “Don’t know, don’t care.” He then reveals they’re moving with like no emotion. Nemo says he didn’t give the order to dive but Gideon says he did. Hook asks him what he’s doing and Gideon tells him that his plan is in motion and he needs Hook far away from Storybrooke. Gideon magics himself onto the dock and watches as the Nautilus disappears below the water’s surface.

(dun dun DUN!)

Emma realizes that Hook is gone and turns off the porch light, no longer expecting him to come home. Brokenhearted, she heads upstairs in her cold and dark house. Alone.

(Aww)

Okay, okay. We’ll deal with Captain Swan later. Because this episode is all for Evil Regals and something of a bone to Outlaw Queen fans.

As I said earlier, for a long time, fans of Regina have known that she suffered from low self-esteem thanks to her formative years being less than ideal. Most of us figured from the beginning that the only resolution for this storyline was for Regina to embrace the Evil Queen and realize she needed both her light and dark sides to be herself. That she needed to accept her darkness and learn to love it in order to love herself.

And that’s what she did.

I’m proud of her. That’s what you call character development.

Onto the Outlaw Queen front. I wasn’t thrilled with them bringing back a dark version of Robin and then still not fleshing him out. Once again, I’m not sure if the limited episodes was Adam and Eddy’s call or Sean’s, but I feel like it needed a few more to really tell this story. But I’m happy that some version of Outlaw Queen has gotten their happy ending.

However…

I will never give up hope that Original Recipe Robin will come back and Original Recipe Outlaw Queen can still get their happy ending. While I believe Regina has hers—Henry, Snow, family and friends, the respect of the town, etc.—she did say that Robin was part of her happy ending. So I will still hope he’s returned to her until either Lana leaves or the show ends.

Next time: Hook runs into Jasmine and Aladdin while trying to get home to Storybrooke. 

Screen caps from here.