ARGH! That was so good.
Snow Flake’s mourning dress was AH MAY ZING. Brilliant costuming.
Favourite moments: Snow’s crisis of faith – is being good worth it? Is it right when all she wants is to protect the people she loves? Also LOVED the twist of the Cora/Blue Fairy thing. I had read the boards earlier today so I knew it was coming, but even with spoilers it was still brilliant.
Cora’s dead bed speech to the Queen (did anyone call her Eva in the episode or was that just the casting call name? Sometimes the casting call names change in the episode and I’m pretty sure that the Queen was never referred to by name) Solid gold AND I think it was pretty indicative that Cora and the Queen were sisters. The analogy that struck me was Esme and Lily Weatherwax in the Discworld book Witches Abroad (which is a tongue in cheek retelling of several fairytales, specifically Cinderella, with a new spin on what really makes a good witch good). At the end of that book, Esme, who is bad tempered, practical and obtuse to social niceties, dresses in regulation witches’ black, scares the life out of her neighbours and all in all seems to be the Bad Witch in her mannerisms, concludes that she had to be the Good Witch in her family – she had to be the one who always did the right thing. This was because her sister Lily ran off to be the Bad Witch – the nice fairy godmother style witch, all wonderful ballgowns and enchantments, but her intentions are really manipulative and awful. The juxtaposition of Nasty/Good Witch and Lovely/Bad Witch are excellent, and with the tongue in cheek characterisations removed, it reminded me of Cora and the Queen.
Cora is the Bad Witch, clearly. She learned her magic from the Dark One, uses Dark Magic constantly, has no hesitation in manipulating everyone in the world(s) to get what she wants. The Queen had a confidante in the Blue Fairy – what if she was the Good Witch? If she learned Good Magic, used it to protect the kingdom and used it sparingly because she understands that all magic comes with a price??
Sisters, enemies – somehow or other, Cora and Eva/the Queen know each other and go WAY back. Sisters is the easy option. Maybe both married into royal families, but Eva got the better deal and Cora was kicked out? (by George – I do like the theory that Cora was involved with George somehow) Maybe there was a Charming-like adoption thing that went on for the miller’s daughters, and Cora was the one left behind?
So many possibilities. So excited for the rest of the season!
Also, Emma continues to bring the lulz. This week my favourite bit was “You know how to captain a pirate ship?” and then the look on her face when Nealfire says “Yeah. Really. I do.”
Now. Rumple being a git to Henry. It wasn’t just his outburst post-stabbing. He was also being rude to Henry post-pizza. The line that looked so cute on paper (“Should I call you grandpa now?” “you can call me whatever you like”) was delivered perfectly – RC showed that Rumple has realised Henry is the boy he vowed to kill, and now he’s worried about what his undoing will be and what he should do with the conundrum of not wanting to kill family. Gold class acting there.