“Bleeding Through”
**SPOILERS**
“Envy’s just another word for ambition.”
Spoken like a true witch, green to the core. It is our past that shapes our future, but it is also our past that can hold us back. And in the case of Zelena it does both. So envious of the life she almost had that she’s willing to do whatever it takes to change that.
Full of complex family ties, our Once Upon a Time characters discover their family history is even more complicated than they knew. No new family members to deal with this time around, but the family history of good and evil is tangled. In uncovering Zelena’s history, an ugly truth about Snow’s mother (Princess Eva) is revealed. Princess Eva wasn’t the nubile innocent she was thought to be, underneath it all was a cunning woman who threw young Cora under the bus for the throne. Cora wasn’t an evil woman, but she was a vengeful one. If it weren’t for Princess Eva, Cora would have married her prince and kept baby Zelena.
As you can imagine, Zelena blames Princess Eva for the life she was robbed of. Now we know Zelena’s master plan, cast a time travel spell and right the obvious wrongs. She has collected David’s courage, Regina’s resilient heart and Rumple’s brains. The final ingredient to tie it all together is Snow White’s baby. A special baby with a link to Zelena’s past, which is why this time travel spell should work when others have failed. We know she can’t be allowed to proceed, since that would mean the end of our favorite characters, so the question becomes who will stop her?
Faking his desire for her, Rumple seduces Zelena in a steamy scene not often seen in OUAT. It was scorching material I wouldn’t mind seeing repeated between another couple (perhaps Swan and Hook?). But it was all for naught, Rumple was after his dagger which he failed to retrieve. He should’ve known better, of course it’s protected; Zelena’s envious not dumb. I am disappointed with Rumple’s recent stance of defeat. Perhaps he lost the fight when he lost Neil, but Belle is still out there and so is Henry. Instead of enlisting help to fight off his oppressor he’s just given up.
Reflecting on the past has forced Regina to face her present and it results in tremendous character growth. Not only does Regina try to make amends to Belle, but she’s finally ready for love. Robin Hood failed to protect her heart and while the old Regina would have punished him, the new one meets this snafu with compassion and understanding. The Evil Queen may be in need of a new moniker and soon!
Rose McGowen returns to OUAT in flashbacks and as Cora’s ghost in present day Storybrooke. I love seeing McGowen in this role. Reminds me of her days on Charmed. She brings a freshness to Cora’s past that makes her at once intimidating and irresistible. Cora manages to bring out the best in Regina, whose good side was on full display. She put herself between a very pregnant Snow and what she thought was a vengeful ghost. Turns out Cora’s ghost just wanted to “show” Snow what really happened so long ago.
Once Zelena is disposed of (it’s inevitable) and now that Regina, Rumple and Hook are no longer villains, who will the OUAT antagonist be? Will we get one recurring villain (a la Rumple or Regina) or will we be treated to new villains constantly being vanquished? I hate to say it, but I might miss having Rumple and/or Regina in the villain role. A hero shines not in spite of their antagonist, but because of them ergo they are equally important.
Aurora Snow Says
Episode Rating:
[Rating:4/5]
