I am surprised by all the negative comments about the episode. Although it was not one of my favorite Once episodes, I was not upset by the curse twist or the splitting of the heart. I think Charming and Snow’s love is different than anyone else’s in the entire show. They have a connection like no one else. Do Belle and Rumple love each other, of course. As did Regina and Daniel. But none of them have the connection that S and C have. Their children are the sole products of true love. They can feel each other’s pain. They are connected on so many levels that our other couples haven’t quite reached yet. I don’t think splitting of hearts would work for just anyone. I think you need to have the incredibly stron emotion and connection to one another as though you already shared one heart in order for this to work. They reached that point.
As as for not paying the price I am kind of stuck between arguments. Snow simply performing the act shows what she was willing to sacrifice but I do agree that she kinda copped out of the price that needed to be paid. I do agree though that the price now will be what happens to one happens to the other. We lose C then we also lose S.