"Once Upon a Time" Recap: "Mother"

Written by Shae

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

Let’s talk about this for a moment, shall we? Because, really, what just happened!? With Regina and Robin talking in the bar, I honestly thought that they were going to break up or something, but then everyone piles in the cars and heads to StoryBrooke. With Emma still pissed at Snow and Charming, it’s a little disconcerting, but she never turned dark. I’m fairly certain she’s incapable of doing that at this point, but, you know, whatevers. Lily, on the other hand, seems a little underwhelmed with meeting her mom. I honestly felt so bad for Maleficent when Lily was going to leave. 

I wasn’t sure I’d like Maleficent in this series, but really? She’s kind of a sweet heart. She’s amazing and deserves to be happy. Her outlook on Lily wanting revenge made me tear up. While Lily wants Snow and Charming to suffer, Maleficent wants to get to know her…that’s all. It’s so sweet it hurts. Of course, Lily decides she doesn’t want that and leaves. When Maleficent showed up at Charming and Snow’s house to talk, to ask for advice? I might have aw’ed a bit. Mortal enemies brought together by something as endearing as motherhood? Without question Snow and Charming head out to help the dragon.

Regina, on the other hand, is taking the author into her own hands. Gold is dying, and Regina isn’t about to help. She takes Isaac and then goes to Lily. Why? Because the savior's darkness resides in her, so really, if she gets her angry enough and steals her blood, the ink can be made and she can have what she truly wants, her happy ending. This entire time, Regina has been searching for things to make her happy. Her mother took that away by killing her true love, or so they thought. Still, in the past, Cora tried to make things ‘better’. She tried hooking Regina up with the Sheriff of Nottingham. Why? So Regina would have children and have a bloodline to stop Snow from taking over the kingdom. Simple, and possibly caring? No, Cora really wanted to kill off Regina and be the major influence in the child’s life…or so Regina thinks. 

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This causes Regina to make a drastic decision; which answers a question that has bothered me for many seasons now. A potion takes away Regina’s ability to have children…it hurts Cora, and above all, hurts Regina too. But, that’s all right, because she has a son, Henry. Zelena being pregnant nearly pushes Regina to make a horrible choice. She was going to have the Author write Zelena out of their lives for good, but at the last second decides not to do that…their mother was horrible, and it’s not them against each other anymore. Instead of finding her happy ending in Robin, Regina chooses to find it in herself. She decides not to do anything with Zelena, and instead, leaves. She’s accepting who she is and choosing to feel at home in the world…

Lily, on the other hand is off on a rampage as a Dragon. When Snow, Maleficent, and Charming find her, she’s a little out of control. Snow receives a nasty smack to the head, and Maleficent runs off to chase after her daughter. Lily finally calms down enough to turn normal, and the two sit. Maleficent finally breaks down those walls Lily has up so tightly. She’s afraid of ruining anything, of pushing Maleficent to disappointment. Maleficent convinces her to stay a week and that no matter what, she loves her. Lily concedes on staying, and a relationship may be blooming between the two. It must be going around because Emma heals Snow and finally makes amends. She doesn’t want to hurt herself or them by not talking to them. She’s hurt, but the past is in the past and Snow and Charming have done nothing but try to make up for everything.

Isaac isn’t pleased with being yanked around, but he has his ink, so he goes back to Rumple, and that’s where the show ends. Next week is a finale that is two hours long and sure to answer all the questions we have had…or it may leave us with massive cliff hangers, because you know, that’s what this show does sometimes. It yanks your feels around.

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